Chapter 605: The Fall of Tongxuan, Karmic Fire Becomes Law

Beyond the imperial palace of Huangji Lingxiao, towering above the mortal world, unseen by ordinary beings within the vast expanse of Tianwai Tian.

There, a great sun illuminated all directions.

Amidst the blinding light too fierce for ordinary cultivators to behold, stood a magnificent golden crow with three legs on its belly and feathers like molten gold.

Layers of talismanic chains extended from the dome of the celestial realm, winding and entwining around its body, binding it tightly.

Even the tiniest downy feather was entangled with nearly ten thousand talismanic characters.

With the shift of divine eras, the golden crow no longer needed to embody the sun and patrol the mortal realm.

Now, with the dawn of the Immortal Dao era, “Yang” must be merely “Yang.”

Once the supreme Sun Star Lord, the mightiest among Star Lord-level deities, he had now fallen into obscurity, a caged bird within the Tongxuan prison, stripped of all freedom.

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

Since this golden crow had previously attacked him with solar golden flame, capturing it would earn him a favor from Taiping Daoist—why not?

Thus, the golden crow, who should have been captured only after the Immortal Dao era had begun for some time…

…met this tragic fate.

On the earth below, jagged peaks rose like swords amid strange rocks, while auspicious beasts wandered beside spiritual springs.

Mist and auroras rose like vapor, radiant and shimmering.

Among the clouds, divine phoenixes spread 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 the grandeur of a celestial paradise—its aura truly extraordinary.

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

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 was merely one of his incarnations.

After all, in today’s mortal world, Taiping Daoist—a singular aberration capable of erasing Tongxuan—made it unsafe for the true form to walk among mortals.

The one seated opposite him was also one of the former Divine Dao Emperors.

Regardless of divine rank, in terms of cultivation depth, he surpassed the Heavenly Sovereign by a thread.

Yet at this moment, both of their eyes, brimming with infinite power, flickered with a hint of shock.

And that shock 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, a deep crimson, eerily alluring flame began to slowly rise from the depths of their souls.

At first, it was but a negligible wisp—but within a fraction of an instant, the seductive deep red karmic fire surged violently, filling their five viscera and six bowels, spreading through all 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 mortal size under the karmic flames.

At this moment, the once lofty Divine Dao Heavenly Sovereign and Divine Dao Emperor, who had looked down upon mortals from above, now resembled ordinary humans before cultivation, gritting their teeth and struggling desperately.

Deep crimson surged beneath their skin, like molten lava churning.

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, and recreating heaven and earth—was utterly useless.

That deep crimson, seductive 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, nor blocked!

Their magic power could not even touch it!

Finally…

“Eeeehhhhh—!!!”

The screams echoed throughout the entire celestial realm.

Even their unshakable, iron-willed natures could not bear it—they rolled on the ground, howling in agony, utterly disregarding dignity.

Amidst the roaring karmic flames, something seemed to be burned away; their spiritual signatures weakened visibly before their eyes.

Above the dome of the celestial realm.

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

It saw the two Tongxuan Lords, completely out of control, writhing and rolling on the ground.

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

What is happening?!

Soon, he sensed the talismanic chains binding him gradually weakening.

Huh?!

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

Without caring what had occurred, he surged his magic power 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 unnaturally smooth, a glimmer of joy flashed in his eyes.

Just as his right wing fully broke free…

“Jiejiejie!”

The sinister laugh suddenly echoed.

He froze.

Instantly, he sensed the deep crimson, seductive karmic flame—born of evil karma—slowly rising from within his soul.

Karmic fire?

Pfft, whatever fire it is!

He was the three-legged golden crow, the supreme yang divine beast!

Not long…

The screams within the celestial realm became three.

If Tongxuan Lords could not escape the karmic fire, how could HeDao cultivators hope to flee?

…

…

Inside a teahouse.

Jiang Lin and He Yunqi stared, stunned, at the sea of fire blanketing the entire sky.

Karmic fire punishing evil?

The instant that single flame spark fell from the jade slip, they instantly understood the full story.

Ten years from now, as the beginning of the first ascension.

All who reached HeDao but carried heavy karmic sins and refused to repent would suffer the punishment of karmic fire consuming their bodies.

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

For those below HeDao, the mortal world would handle it themselves.

Suddenly!

From within the sea of fire blanketing the entire sky, a celestial realm filled with chilling winds and thick, dark, sinister energy pierced into the mortal world, plummeting downward, wrapped in roaring karmic flames.

Boom!

Boom boom boom!

Mingyou Li Celestial Realm!

The Tianwai Tian where Mingyou Demon Ancestor dwelled.

Among all Tongxuan, Mingyou Demon Ancestor was infamous for his cruel, malevolent nature—he delighted in patricide, filicide, maternal infanticide, and children killing their mothers.

He was the originator of this world’s methods of harvesting life and transforming beings into beasts!

Jiang Lin had once even thought that when his own death approached, he would drag Mingyou Demon Ancestor up with him…

Yet now…

Wuuu~!

A mournful cry rang through heaven and earth.

All living beings heard it; sorrow filled their hearts, overwhelming them with grief, making them want to wail aloud.

Even He Yunqi felt profound sorrow within his chest.

Despite unwillingness, tears streamed uncontrollably from his eyes.

Only certain Tongxuan and HeDao cultivators untouched by karmic fire, the Xuanling Daoist within Huangji Lingxiao Palace, and Jiang Lin across from He Yunqi remained unaffected.

The deep crimson sword scar on their foreheads glowed brilliantly, severing all influence, shielding them from external contamination.

It was a natural phenomenon born from the fall of a Tongxuan Lord.

Though he had anticipated it, seeing this scene still filled Jiang Lin with shock.

Karmic fire punishing evil…

Could it be that a Tongxuan was truly cultivated to death?!

"Hmph!"

Somewhere in the void, a cold snort echoed.

The sorrow that had permeated heaven and earth vanished instantly!

In its place, countless sacred golden lights rained down from the blazing fire sea, dyeing the entire world a brilliant gold.

Amid solemn chanting, celestial flowers fell from the flames of the heavens, and golden lotuses surged from the earth.

"Return to Void is incomplete; the Immortal Path is not ended. May those who come after strive hard."

Jiang Lin: "..."