Chapter 147

A deathly stillness as black as ink surged in the void, an ancient aura permeating the skies over the entire Qingshi Jun.

The many powerful beings who had previously appeared in the vision all changed countenance, revealing looks of terror.

This is… the oppressive might of the Great Dao's rules.

The Xuan Ming Holy Land dispatched a Dao stage Supreme Elder!

The Dao stage is divided into three realms; the first is Merging Dao, integrating the rules into oneself, enabling transformation, altering oneself, forging a Dao foundation, and stepping onto the true path of longevity.

The second realm is Uniting Dao, already able to mobilize the power of the Great Dao for cultivation, continually comprehending the rules; with a wave of the hand, stars shatter, and heaven and earth reside within the palm.

The third realm is the Life and Death Tribulation Realm; having undergone life and death, able to see through the mortal world, only then can one possess a sliver of opportunity to break through to Saint.

As for Saints… even in the vast expanse of ancient ages, they are exceedingly rare; each is a supreme existence, renowned throughout antiquity and the present.

In this present era, those who have attained Merging Dao hardly appear at all, for the rules are incomplete; if they wish to await the great age's revival and obtain longevity, they must fall into slumber, continually waiting.

"Xuan Yin Elder, I never expected him to still be alive… rumors say that 1,500 years ago he already had the aura of passing away; surely he obtained a longevity-extending great elixir from some secret place, allowing him to survive to this day."

"He likely sensed the Nirvanic aura of the ominous phoenix, emerged directly from seclusion, seeking a sliver of life."

A mighty Venerable realm cultivator spoke, stepping on a lotus, his aura flowing, quite extraordinary; he looked warily at the fleet of warships.

The Venerables present were almost all hegemonic forces of the other thirty-six domains, little different from the Wan Hai Men, Floating Light Sect, and similar powers.

"Hummm!"

A faint deathly aura entwined the warships, within which several silhouettes gradually coalesced.

The leader wore a plain cloth robe, his body withered and bent, leaning on a cane, as if a gust could topple him.

His eyes held a faint killing intent; originally, his own master had been contested for a dao companion by a powerful one of the Xuan Yang Sect, suffered a crushing defeat, and was ridiculed.

Even when he went out to train, he could hear these words, causing Xuan Yin Elder great displeasure; he was also of the original war faction, personally going to the Wu tribe to request that an ancient being place a curse.

Thus, at this moment, he was extremely astonished.

Who would have thought that after thousands of years, the Xuan Yang Sect had not perished, and still had several newly risen Venerables?

Could it be that the curse from back then has failed?

Yang Heavenly Venerable, seeing this, his deep pupils emitted an icy chill.

"Xuan Yin Elder… hum, you still cling to life; how could I, the old one, go ahead first?"

Back then, when the two sides went to war, the Xuan Yang Sect was at a disadvantage, but… an ancient great sect that had once been on good terms intervened, ultimately turning it into a slaughter among the younger generation.

However, this Xuan Yin Elder, in his youth, repeatedly struck out with the strength of the older generation, seeking to slay me in the cradle.

Yang Heavenly Venerable still remembers this matter.

Originally, after attaining late-stage Venerable, I went to the Western Sea Main Region intending to assassinate him, but upon learning he had broken through the Dao stage, I called it off.

"You are ever confident, as always; alas, you have not realized that if I wished to crush you, it would be as easy as squashing an ant."

Xuan Yin Elder stepped forward, the ancient pressure like a tide, bearing myriad rule-forces, directly charging to slay Yang Heavenly Venerable.

Intending to make him kneel on the spot, losing all face.

Originally, my several attempts all let him escape.

He has remained a thorn in my throat; I wish to suppress and kill him.

"Scram!"

Yang Heavenly Venerable, with a wave of his hand, summoned a sudden gale, heaven and earth changed color, raging flames blocked every pressure entirely.

These years, he too has been sealed by the curse, never breaking through the Dao stage, but… his mastery of the fire Dao has nearly reached the Merging Dao realm.

Moreover, with the Niepan Jie Ling present, Yang Heavenly Venerable feels no fear, even harboring the idea of striking to suppress and kill him.

"Boom—!"

A deep, heavy boom, like thunder, exploded suddenly.

Raging air waves spread in all directions; a brief clash left many Venerables from other regions astonished.

This old geezer… has actually become stronger again?

Is he not suffering from depleted qi and blood, about to perish?

The Xuan Yang Sect once shone brightly, possessing a true Dao stage overseeing it, comparable to the holy lands of the same era, but its foundation was insufficient, its accumulation lacking.

Its decline was also swift.

Xuan Yin Elder's expression was full of sinister viciousness, hard to see to the extreme.

"Your comprehension of the Great Dao is indeed extremely strong."

"But… the curse limits you."

"Without breaking through the Dao stage, you are ultimately just a mortal."

"I give you one chance; now, as long as you withdraw and do not meddle in the affair of opportunity, within a hundred years the Xuan Ming Holy Land will not send troops."

He is confident he can suppress and kill Yang Heavenly Venerable.

But… he is likely to be injured, his qi and blood depletion too severe; he should have passed away 1,500 years ago, and his current strength is less than half.

Each move consumes essence blood.

Xuan Yin Elder wishes to live a second life in reverse; he does not want to be injured, lest he stumble and meet with mishap.

After all, nowadays those who have attained Merging Dao are unwilling to risk their lives; they hide themselves, waiting for a chance for the great era to open.

After the rules are perfected, breaking through realms will become easy; without such shackles as now, it would be as easy as ascending to heaven, yet now it is extremely difficult.

Furthermore, this Yang Heavenly Venerable also faces his limit, deathly aura entwined; in a hundred years, the Xuan Yang Sect can be destroyed with a flick of the finger.

"Hand over the passage of the ancient relic, Yang Heavenly Venerable; this is not something your Xuan Yang Sect can monopolize." A Venerable at the side spoke harshly.

The Xuan Ming Holy Land led a team, greed surged; even if the Phoenix opportunity was obtained by Xuan Yin Elder, with one less powerful contender for contention, other opportunities will ultimately belong to a greater share.

"Hummm!"

In the void, strands of aura began to stir, exploring toward the entrance of the ancient relic.

Yang Heavenly Venerable, seeing this, his gaze icy cold, he scanned all directions: "I remember you, the Second Elder of the Heaven Sword Sect; if you dare to step forward, before my limit arrives I will surely visit your mountain gate, unto death."

Lin Wu Ren et al. burst forth a terrifying aura, seeking to overturn heaven and earth, directly blocking several Venerables and launching a forceful strike.

The vast, sea-like spiritual energy surged forth, gathering into a Dao seal and then went forth to attack and kill.

Now, at this critical moment, the Junior Uncle; if anyone dares to disturb, they don't mind sending these people to their deaths.

Even if they have just been promoted to Venerable.

But… having accumulated for thousands of years, equivalent to profound foundation yielding modest results, blocking these few early- and mid-stage Venerable cultivators is not difficult.

"Since you are unwilling, then there is no need for the Profound Yang Sect to remain."

"Send word to the holy land, dispatch the strong, encircle and slay the Profound Yang Sect!"

Profound Yin Elder calmly spoke, directly stepping out of the war vessel, the blood and qi surged on his skin, his withered wrinkles disappeared, and he wished to act.

He did not want to delay; the Profound Nether Holy Land is relatively close to Canglan Yu, and he happened to have just left seclusion, thus he could coincidentally catch up.

If other ancient great sects' Dao-Integrating powerhouses descend, this opportunity will not be his.

That aura of rebirth…… is astonishing, like a phoenix reborn in fire, drawing upon the power of the Great Dao.

No matter what, there must be a battle.

If one could obtain the Phoenix True Law, be reborn once, there would still be a chance in the future!

"Kill!"

Yang Heaven Venerable had no nonsense; on his right hand, a lustrous divine radiance surged, and a crystal-clear heavenly-tier spiritual herb appeared.

Directly swallowing it, his blood and qi instantly became vigorous, but… a hint of sorrow appeared in his eyes, for these heavenly herbs were originally meant for him to break through the Dao stage, yet now he could only use them in a single battle.

Vast flames gathered, coalescing into fiery dragons that roared across the sky.

Now… he only hopes that Qin Yu and the others can come out as soon as possible.

If his blood and qi are vigorous and he is at peak condition, encountering the current Profound Yin Elder, he would still have the strength for a battle, and his essence and blood would still be enough to burn.

But now… only a desperate, all-or-nothing fight remains.

They hadn't even had time to react; the previous phoenix aura was so tremendous that it actually shook the Great Dao, causing these undying old ones to crawl out of their coffins, thinking there was an opportunity and wanting to seize it.

But… if they abandon the passage of the ancient relic, later when Qin Yu and the others come out, they will surely be captured.

Therefore, they can only act!

"Boom!"

In an instant, the two sides collided; formations floated, Dao manifestations appeared, and the heaven and earth of Qingshi Jun were about to be overturned.