Chapter 1216: Contact

He no longer merely views the Return to the Void as a concluding power, but sees it as an indispensable part of the cosmic cycle of birth and extinction! His Dao is the sovereign way of walking upon this ultimate cycle!

Boom—!!!

Like the sound of heaven and earth being split open, this tremendous roar did not come from the outside, but originated from the depths of his soul and spirit! In his sea of consciousness, the Source Star Core suddenly burst forth with unprecedented brilliant light, completely merging with his soul-spirit nascent infant!

Within his dantian, the vast chaotic Return-to-the-Void qi was no longer just a surging river; it began to collapse inward and condense, as if reenacting the birth of the cosmic singularity!

An aura that surpasses Void Refining and truly begins to touch the source of the heavenly and earthly laws slowly awakened within him, spreading outward!

On the mountain peak, wind and clouds shifted abruptly! It was not spiritual qi gathering, but the laws of this heaven and earth began to manifest and resonate! In the sky appeared a huge gray vortex, as if connecting to the universe's end; on the ground, plants instantly withered and flourished, rocks weathered and recondensed, depicting the ultimate scene of birth and extinction!

"This is…… a Dao-Union phenomenon?!" Xiao Ran and Wang Tie, who were on watch duty in the distance, stared in shock, feeling that vast aura which seemed to breathe with heaven and earth and share fate with the laws, their hearts shaken beyond words!

Qing Lin tightly gripped her spear, excited, feeling that her master was entering a brand-new, inconceivable realm!

Within the mountain peak's restriction, Han Wuxian slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were no longer the deep starry sky, but turned into two bottomless chaotic vortices, as if able to swallow all light and perception. His aura was deep as the sea, yet perfectly blended with the surrounding heaven and earth; with a single thought, he seemed able to draw upon the power of the laws within a radius of a thousand li!

Initial Dao-Union!

Relying on the accumulation from successive battles and his final realization, he naturally stepped into this realm! Henceforth, he truly possessed the confidence to contend with a Great Vehicle Stage devil like Yan Buji!

He sensed within his body the more refined, more vast chaotic Return-to-the-Void qi, as if containing the power of cosmic birth and extinction, and in his soul-spirit the crystal-clear, intimate connection with the heavenly and earthly laws.

"This is the power of Dao-Union……" Han Wuxian slowly clenched his fist, feeling that mighty force capable of moving mountains and rivers, with words becoming law, "Only the final step of 'body and Dao united' remains to reach Great Vehicle, to fully imprint his great Dao upon heaven and earth……"

He knew that step required deeper accumulation and opportunity, cannot be rushed. But now, his Initial Dao-Union cultivation, combined with his Return-to-the-Void Dao far surpassing his peers, was enough to let him face any challenge!

He restrained the outward phenomena and aura, returning to simplicity, yet the divine light in his chaotic eyes proclaimed that he had undergone a complete transformation!

"The time has come." Han Wuxian rose, his gaze seeming to pierce layer after layer of mountains, looking toward the direction of the Mist-Hidden Ghost Ruins.

Yan Buji, your secluded cultivation should end now.

Our scores should be settled completely!

He took a step and already appeared before Xiao Ran and the others.

Feeling Han Wuxian's utterly different, unfathomable aura, Xiao Ran, Wang Tie, and Qing Lin were all emotionally stirred, bowing in salute: "Congratulations, Brother Han, on breaking through to Dao-Union!"

Han Wuxian slightly nodded: "Regarding the liaison, how is the progress?"

Zhao Qian hurried forward, his face filled with excitement and reverence: "Reporting to Senior Han! We have some leads! The remnants of the Flowing Cloud Alliance and Elder Liu Ling of the Wind-Following Valley have responded, willing to join forces! Moreover, we have contacted the Heavenly Craft Sect and the Hundred Herbs Valley, likewise persecuted by the Hidden Shadow Pavilion! They have agreed to meet secretly three days later at the Soul-Severing Cliff!"

"Good." Han Wuxian's chaotic eyes flashed a light, "Three days later, Soul-Severing Cliff."

Deep within the Meteor Star Mountain Range, the heavenly and earthly phenomena triggered by Han Wuxian's Dao-Union breakthrough, though promptly restrained, still left behind the leaked aura that touched the source of the laws, like a huge stone dropped into a calm lake, drawing the attention of many hidden existences.

Three days later, Soul-Severing Cliff.

This place is not a cliff, but a vast expanse of stone forest formed by countless black strange rocks, with complex terrain easy to conceal, and legend says it can somewhat interfere with divine sense probes, making it one of the places in Zhong Tian Zhi Yu where various forces conduct secret transactions.

When Han Wuxian arrived with Xiao Ran, Wang Tie, Qing Lin, and Zhao Qian whose injuries had considerably improved, several hidden caves and stone shadows deep in the stone forest already hosted multiple groups.

Under the leadership of Mid Void Refining Elder Yue Shan, the remnants of the Flowing Cloud Alliance numbered about twenty-plus, each bearing indignation and fatigue, yet their eyes were firm. The Wind-Following Valley, led by Elder Liu Ling, had fewer than ten, all experts in evasion techniques. Additionally, there were a few cultivators from the Heavenly Craft Sect skilled in forging and setting up formations, and a few medical experts from the Hundred Herbs Valley; though their sects are small, they all bear blood feuds with the Hidden Shadow Pavilion because their disciples were either captured and killed or their resource lands seized.

All forces combined totaled no more than fifty or sixty, the highest cultivation being Mid Void Refining, appearing rather meager compared to the Hidden Shadow Pavilion's massive power. Yet when they saw Han Wuxian's party, especially sensing his unfathomable Dao-Union aura that seemed to merge with heaven and earth, the originally somewhat apprehensive and pessimistic atmosphere instantly lifted!

"Junior Yue Shan (Liu Ling) pays respects to Senior Han!" The two leading elders hurried forward, bowing respectfully, eyes full of hope. The others also bowed, regarding Han Wuxian as their sole hope against the Hidden Shadow Pavilion.

Han Wuxian glanced over everyone, taking in their states, slightly nodded: "You need not stand on ceremony. The Hidden Shadow Pavilion acts against the way, Yan Buji harbors great ambition; we unite for self-preservation and to rid this realm of harm."

His voice was calm, yet carried a convincing power.

"Senior Han," an old man with white hair and beard, holding a compass, from the Heavenly Craft Sect stepped forward, worried, "It's not that we lack confidence, but the Hidden Shadow Pavilion's forces are vast, and moreover there is a Great Vehicle Stage devil like Grey Mist Yama presiding; with only us…… I fear……"

His words represented the worries of many present.

Before Han Wuxian could speak, Zhao Qian excitedly said: "Elder Lu, you don't know! Senior Han's divine powers are unmatched! A few days ago in the Black Wind Desert, with a flick of his finger he slew the Hidden Shadow Pavilion's Blood Fiend, Gold Fiend, and Yin Bone late Void Refining elders! He also personally destroyed the core nest where that devil cultivated the Holy Fetus! Such strength, what fear is there of Yan Buji?!"

Upon these words, the whole crowd gasped!

Three late Void Refining elders slain in an instant? The core nest destroyed?

The crowd's gaze toward Han Wuxian instantly shifted from hope to utter awe and shock! They then realized that this Dao-Union senior before them was no ordinary early Dao-Union cultivator; his strength likely approached Great Vehicle!

Han Wuxian waved his hand to stop Zhao Qian's boasting, his gaze turning to Elder Lu of the Heavenly Craft Sect: "Elder Lu's concern is not unfounded. In a direct confrontation we are indeed at a disadvantage. But the way of the devil lies in losing the Dao and having few allies; internally they are far from monolithic. And we, too, are not without advantages."