Chapter 605

Within the vast expanse of Tianwai Tian, higher than the Huangji Lingxiao Palace, towering above the mortal world, invisible to ordinary beings.

There, a great sun illuminated all directions.

Amidst the blinding light too fierce for ordinary cultivators to behold, was a majestic golden crow, its belly bearing three legs, its feathers like molten gold.

Layers of talismanic chains extended from the dome of the cave heaven, winding and intertwining around its body, binding it tightly.

Even the tiniest downy feather was entwined with nearly ten thousand talismans.

With the shift of the Immortal and Divine eras, there was no longer need for the Jin Wu to embody the Sun and oversee the mortal realm.

Now, in the opening of the Immortal Dao era, "Yang" could only be "Yang."

The former Supreme Sun Star Lord, the mightiest among Star Lord-level divine beings, thus descended into a secluded Tongxuan cage, a captive bird with no freedom.

At that time, Taiping Daoren was at the peak of his fame, possessing sword scars capable of severing Tongxuan.

Since this Jin Wu had previously attacked him with Solar Golden Flame, capturing it would still earn him a favor from Taiping Daoren—why not?

So, the Jin Wu, who should have been captured only after the Immortal Dao era had begun for some time…

…met this tragic fate.

Upon the earth below, jagged peaks rose like swords, strange rocks clustered everywhere, while auspicious beasts wandered beside spiritual springs.

Mist and auroras rose like smoke, radiant hues steamed upward.

Among the clouds, divine phoenixes flapped their wings, and azure dragons glided through the air.

Daoists of immortal bearing sat atop qilins, some holding feather dusters, others cradling long lutes…

Gazing afar, one could only feel it was a true immortal cave heaven scene, its aura undeniably extraordinary.

Yet at the very center of heaven and earth stood two colossal beings, towering beyond measure, as if the entire cave heaven scene were but their ornament and backdrop.

One of them had a blurred face, its eyes manifesting the cyclical changes of seasons and solar terms, its gaze reflecting yin-yang and the Four Symbols, the ten directions of the cosmos.

It was none other than the Divine Dao Heavenly Sovereign of the previous Divine Era!

The one who had approached He Yunqi earlier was merely one of its incarnations.

After all, in today's mortal world, there existed Taiping Daoren—a deviant capable of erasing Tongxuan—so the true form walking among mortals was truly unsafe.

And the one seated opposite him in this place was also one of the former Divine Dao Emperors.

Regardless of divine rank, in terms of cultivation depth, he was even slightly superior to the Heavenly Sovereign.

Yet at this moment, both of their eyes, brimming with infinite power, simultaneously flickered with a trace of surprise.

And that trace of surprise quickly turned to terror!

"Jiejiejie!"

A sinister laugh, as if rising from the deepest abyss of the netherworld.

Even though they were Tongxuan Lords, they still felt a chilling coldness in their hearts.

What is this?

Before they could comprehend it, they felt a deep red, eerily alluring flame slowly rising from the depths of their souls.

At first, it was but a negligible wisp—but in an instant of one hundred millionth of a billionth of a second, the bewitchingly deep red karmic fire surged violently, filling their five viscera and six bowels, spreading through their three souls and seven spirits!

The unbearable searing pain that followed felt as if their bodies and souls had been torn apart and then cruelly fused together!

Even their Tongxuan bodies, towering beyond measure and radiating divine might, could not endure this agony, rapidly shrinking back to the size of ordinary mortals.

At this moment, the former Divine Dao Heavenly Sovereign and Divine Dao Emperor, who had once towered above all, gazing down upon mortals, felt as if they had returned to their pre-cultivation mortal days, gritting their teeth and struggling to endure.

Deep red surged beneath their skin, like rolling magma.

Their perception teetered on the edge of dissolution.

They tried to extinguish it, but their magic power—capable of reforging earth, wind, water, and fire, recreating heaven and earth—was utterly useless.

That deep red, bewitching karmic fire existed on an entirely different plane.

It arose from the heart, from the Dao.

Born of evil karma, it could not be avoided, could not be blocked!

Their magic power could not even touch it!

Finally…

"Eeeehhhhh—!!!"

The screams echoed throughout the entire cave heaven.

Even their unshakable, resolute wills could not withstand it—they began rolling on the ground, howling without dignity.

Amidst the blazing karmic fire, something seemed to be burned away; their spiritual auras weakened visibly before their eyes.

Above the cave heaven's dome.

The three-legged golden crow, bound by layers of talismanic chains like a caged bird, listless and dull, suddenly lifted its head, its gaze piercing through the chains to look downward.

It saw the two Tongxuan beings, completely stripped of control, writhing and rolling on the ground.

Especially the faint, distant screams—his golden eyes flickered with surprise.

What is going on?!

Soon, he felt the restrictions of the surrounding talismanic chains gradually weakening.

Huh?!

His heart leapt—he immediately realized this was his chance to escape!

Without pausing to wonder what had happened, he surged his magic power, ready to flee this "cage."

Crack~!

His molten-gold wings slowly rose, accompanied by the faint, brittle snaps of countless talismanic chains shattering.

Feeling the escape process unusually smooth, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes.

Just as his right wing had fully broken free…

"Hehehehe!"

A sinister laugh suddenly rang out.

He paused.

Then he sensed, deep within his soul, a slowly rising, bewitching deep-red flame born of karmic sin,

Karmic fire?

Bah, whatever kind of fire it is!

He was a three-legged Jin Wu, the utmost-yang divine beast!

Not long after…

The screams within the grotto-heaven became three.

Even those at Tongxuan must endure the karmic fire's tribulation; how could those at Hedao possibly escape?

……

……

Inside the teahouse.

Jiang Lin and He Yunqi stared somewhat dumbfounded at the sea of fire that blanketed the entire firmament.

Karmic fire punishes evil?

The instant that single spark of flame fell from the jade slip, they had immediately understood the whole story from beginning to end.

Taking ten years as the term, with the first ascension as the starting point.

All those whose merit reached Hedao, whose karmic sins ran deep yet who refused to repent, shall suffer the punishment of karmic fire consuming their bodies.

The heavier the karmic sin, the fiercer the karmic fire!

As for those below Hedao, the mortal world shall handle them on its own.

Suddenly!

Within the sea of fire blanketing the entire firmament, a grotto-heaven reeking of yin wind and emanating a thick, dark, gloomy aura broke through into the mortal world, plummeting downward wrapped in raging karmic fire.

Boom!

Rumble rumble rumble!

The Mingyou Grotto-Heaven!

The heaven-beyond-heaven where the Mingyou Demon Ancestor dwells.

Among the many Tongxuan, the Mingyou Demon Ancestor was notorious for his depraved, vicious nature, taking greatest delight in such human-relation tragedies as fathers killing sons, sons murdering fathers, mothers drowning their children, and children slaying their mothers.

He was the originator of this world's methods of harvesting the living and dismembering them, of fashioning beasts from men!

Jiang Lin had once thought that, on the day his life was about to end, he must drag this Mingyou Demon Ancestor along with him…

Yet now…

Wuuu~!

A single wail of lamentation resounded through heaven and earth.

All living beings of the world heard it; sorrow welled up in their hearts, grief rising from within, as if they could not help but weep aloud.

Even He Yunqi felt his heart aching with grief no less.

Even though he was unwilling, tears still flowed out uncontrollably.

Only certain Tongxuan and Hedao who had not been burned by karmic fire, Xuanling Daoren within the Imperial Extreme Soaring Palace, and Jiang Lin sitting across from He Yunqi were unaffected.

The deep-red sword-mark between his brows blazed brilliantly, severing all, shielding him from being tainted by the outside.

It was because a Tongxuan had fallen—an uncanny scene spontaneously born of heaven and earth.

Although he had long anticipated it, seeing this scene with his own eyes still left Jiang Lin's heart unavoidably shaken.

Karmic fire punishes evil…

It had actually refined a Tongxuan to death?!

"Hmph!"

In the unseen depths, there seemed to be a cold snort.

The sorrow that had spread through heaven and earth instantly vanished into empty air!

In its place, within the raging sea of fire, countless strands of sacred golden light rained down, dyeing the entire world in brilliant gold.

Amid solemn and majestic chanting, celestial flowers fell from the fiery waves of the firmament, and golden lotuses surged up from the earth.

"The Return-to-the-Empty is not yet ended, the path to immortality is not severed—may those who come after strive."

Jiang Lin: "…"