Chapter 515
You all, step back.
"The opportunity to reach the heavens has not yet arrived; forcing it will be futile. This position will remain vacant for now. You may all step down."
Suspended for now? Retreat?
These few simple words, like a bolt from the blue, utterly shattered all the eagerly awaiting experts below!
They fought fiercely, revealing their most secret skills, but in the end... the Dao Ancestor simply said "suspend for now" and "step back," and it was over?
A huge sense of loss, resentment, and even anger at being mocked welled up inside me.
Di Jun Taiyi's face was ashen, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms.
The Eastern King secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but on his face, he perfectly showed regret.
Kunpeng's eyes held a sinister glint, Styx Ancestor's bloodshot eyes narrowed slightly, Zhen Yuanzi shook his head and sighed, and Fuxi's brows furrowed...
But no one dared to voice any objection.
"I will respectfully obey the decree of the Dao Ancestor."
Suppressing their emotions, everyone bowed and paid their respects, their voices filled with complex emotions.
Immediately, figures filled with disappointment transformed into streaks of light and sadly departed from Zixiao Palace.
The vast palace instantly became empty, leaving only Hongjun on the high platform, and Laozi, Yuanshi, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti bowing and standing below.
Hongjun's gaze fell on the five people who remained, and his expression softened slightly.
"Now that you have entered my sect, you should have a treasure to protect your path. Follow me."
Before he finished speaking, Hongjun waved his sleeve, and the space instantly shifted.
Everyone felt a blur before their eyes and found themselves in a strange, chaotic space.
Ahead, a massive, ancient, and weathered rock wall, seemingly built from chaotic, stubborn rocks, stands tall. It shimmers with precious light and auspicious energy, and countless innate spiritual treasures are embedded in it, emanating terrifying auras that are sometimes sharp, sometimes heavy, and sometimes mysterious!
It is the legendary Treasure Distribution Rock!
Even those with the temperament of Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi couldn't help but catch their breath at this moment, their eyes revealing fervor.
Nuwa's beautiful eyes shone brightly. Jieyin and Zhunti trembled with excitement, their eyes filled with greed and longing.
Hongjun raised his hand and gestured, and the Treasure Dividing Rock shone brightly!
A banner, swirling with chaotic energy and radiating supreme power capable of splitting the heavens and earth and tearing apart the primordial chaos, flew out and landed in the hands of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.
"Yuanshi, this is the Pangu Banner, one of the three treasures of creation, unparalleled in attack and destruction, capable of suppressing the destiny of the Chan Sect!"
"Thank you, Teacher, for this wonderful gift!"
Yuanshi Tianzun was overjoyed and respectfully accepted the banner. Feeling the earth-shattering power within it, he was filled with boundless pride.
Immediately afterwards, a scroll depicting flowing black and white, yin and yang in harmony, seemingly containing the ultimate truths of the universe, flew out and landed in Lao Tzu's hands.
"Laozi, this is the Taiji Diagram, one of the Three Treasures of Creation. It stabilizes the earth, water, fire, and wind, transforms yin and yang and the five elements, and can suppress the destiny of humanity!"
"Thank you, Teacher Xie."
Lao Tzu calmly accepted it, a look of satisfaction appearing on his usually placid face.
Then came a four-legged square cauldron, a long banner embroidered with mountains, rivers, and the nation, a tree branch shimmering with seven-colored light, a twelve-tiered golden banner, and a ruyi scepter that was neither gold nor jade…
One by one, the powerful innate spiritual treasures flew toward Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and others.
"Nuwa, I bestow upon you the Qiankun Cauldron (a replica) and the Map of Mountains and Rivers..."
"Guide, I bestow upon you the Seven Treasures Tree..."
"Cundi, I bestow upon you the blessed vajra..."
With each precious item acquired, the five were overjoyed and expressed their gratitude.
Especially for Jieyin and Zhunti, looking at the spiritual treasures in their hands, which, though not as powerful as the Pangu Banner or the Taiji Diagram, were still extraordinary, their resentment at being merely nominal disciples dissipated considerably.
Looking at his disciples below, who were filled with joy, Hongjun felt much of the gloom that had been brought about by Tongtian and Luohou dissipate.
Although Tongtian's escape from control was an accident, and it remains to be seen whether Yuanfeng can break through, the core pieces have been placed, and with the bestowal of great treasures, the overall situation is still in our grasp.
"Luo Hou... So what if you break through to the fourth level? The Demon Realm has a shallow foundation and its laws are just beginning to emerge. How can it possibly nurture a second Primordial being who has proven the Dao through the laws?"
That Yuan Feng, is he merely clinging to life by relying on the remnants of Chaos, attempting to break through to the Primordial Realm? Wishful thinking! Once the Six Sages return to their positions, wielding the might of Heaven, you are nothing but a lone commander, easily annihilated with a flick of the wrist!
Hongjun sneered inwardly, filled with confidence that he could control the future of the Demon Clan.
However, just as his thoughts began to race and he felt a sense of composure as if he were in complete control—
A tremendous roar, seemingly originating from the depths of chaos or from the end of endless time and space, resounded throughout the entire primordial world without warning!
This sound was not thunder, yet it was even more awe-inspiring than thunder, carrying a supreme Daoist charm that signified a leap in the essence of life and a resonance with the origin of laws!
Immediately afterwards, the sky above the western wilderness, where the Demon Realm was located, was suddenly filled with endless divine light!
Red, yellow, blue, white, black!
The five-colored divine light, like the first ray of light after the creation of the world, pierced through the barriers of the demon realm and soared straight into the primordial heavens!
Within the light, an unimaginably enormous phantom of a five-colored divine phoenix appeared!
The phoenix feathers were magnificent, each one flowing with a different primordial law aura. When its wings were spread, it seemed to be able to cover the entire Western world!
A vast, ancient, sacred, yet reborn Primordial Great Luo pressure swept across the primordial world!
Five-colored divine light flowed around him, and the power of the five elements intertwined, surged, and finally merged perfectly into one!
A brand new, eternally indestructible aura belonging to the Primordial Golden Immortal, like the midday sun, blazing and undeniably proclaimed her existence!
Yuan Feng!
She succeeded! Taking advantage of the Demon Realm's ascension, she activated her own Primordial Dao Fruit, broke through the shackles, and ascended to the realm of Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal!
He became the third Grand Luo Immortal of the Demon Clan!
He is the second Primordial Great Luo Golden Immortal to successfully prove the Dao through the laws, following in the footsteps of Luo Hou!
The primordial world fell silent in an instant!
All living beings, regardless of their cultivation level or location, were shocked by the sudden overwhelming pressure and the dazzling five-colored divine light, their minds and spirits trembling violently!
"Hun... Hunyuan Daluo! Yuan Feng has broken through!"
"Five-Colored Divine Light! The Laws of the Five Elements!"
She really succeeded!
"The Demon Clan... the Demon Clan has actually produced another Grand Luo Immortal! And one who has even attained enlightenment through the laws!"
Oh my god!
How long has it been? Luo Hou just broke through, and Yuan Feng has already succeeded! Is the Demon Realm's fortune truly so abundant?!
Horror! Disbelief! A mix of emotions surged within the hearts of all living beings in the primordial world.
Before the Treasure Dividing Rock, the composure on the face of Dao Ancestor Hongjun froze instantly!
He suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing through endless space, staring intently at the five-colored phoenix phantom soaring in the western sky, radiating a primordial pressure, his pupils suddenly shrinking to the size of pinpoints!
"No...impossible!"
Even with Hongjun's composure, he couldn't help but let out a low roar, his voice filled with extreme shock and...absurdity!
He had just concluded in his heart that the Demon Clan could never produce another Law Primordial being, and that Yuan Feng's breakthrough was wishful thinking!
The words seemed to still ring in his ears when reality gave him a resounding slap in the face!
How can this be? !
The Demon Realm has only recently been upgraded. No matter how abundant its origin or how manifest its laws, it is impossible for it to support a Perfected Primordial Golden Immortal to cross that insurmountable barrier in such a short time!
Unless... unless Rahu's "Way of the World" truly has the power to defy fate!
Unless the potential of the Demon Realm far exceeds his expectations!
Just as Hongjun's mind trembled violently, and his Dao heart became unstable due to this sudden and enormous change, a voice filled with demonic majesty and undisguised mockery and sarcasm resounded directly deep within his primordial spirit: "Old man Hongjun, how do you feel? Does your face hurt? I've said it before, the rise of the demonic path is unstoppable! Your Heavenly Dao is nothing but withered bones in a tomb! Just watch, this primordial world is about to change! Hahahaha!"
It's Rahu!
Hongjun, whose mind was already agitated by the huge accident and Luo Hou's deliberate provocation, could no longer suppress the surging blood and qi in his chest and the extreme shame and anger of being slapped in the face. He felt a sweet taste in his throat and suddenly spat out a mouthful of pale golden holy blood containing the aura of the laws of heaven!
Drops of golden blood fell into the chaotic aura before the Treasure Dividing Rock, making a sizzling sound.
"teacher!"
"Daozu!"
The five people below, Laozi, Yuanshi, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, who were immersed in the joy of obtaining the treasure, were stunned by this sudden change!
Seeing the golden bloodstains remaining at the corner of Hongjun's mouth, the five people's faces were filled with horror and disbelief!
The Dao Ancestor… the Dao Ancestor was actually so angry that he vomited blood?!
"Quickly! Activate the grand formation!"
The attendant Haotian, who was standing to the side, reacted the fastest. His face turned ashen, and he screamed, frantically making hand seals.
Outside Zixiao Palace, the previously hidden chaotic light curtain instantly lit up, its radiance flowing and completely enveloping and isolating the entire palace, shielding it from the earth-shattering phenomenon of Yuan Feng's breakthrough and the uproar among the people of the primordial world.
The atmosphere inside the palace was oppressive, like the deathly stillness before a storm.
Hongjun slowly raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. His face was so gloomy it could drip water. For the first time, an uncontrollable, overwhelming rage and... a fear that even he himself was unwilling to admit ignited deep within his cold eyes.
The chaotic light curtain that separated the inside and outside of Zixiao Palace completely closed, isolating it from all the noise and tremors of the outside world.
Inside the palace, the atmosphere was as oppressive as solidified lead.
Hongjun Daozu sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his face terribly gloomy. Although the faint golden bloodstain at the corner of his mouth had disappeared, the rage that almost burned everything and the cold killing intent permeated every corner of the hall.
The attendant Haotian stood to the side with his head bowed, not daring to breathe, but his heart was already churning with turbulent waves.
He had followed the Dao Ancestor for countless eons, and had never seen the Dao Ancestor so out of control? He was so angry with Rahu that he vomited blood!
This is absolutely mind-blowing!
Considering the previous ascension of the Demon Realm, Rahu's breakthrough to the fourth heaven, and now Yuan Feng's attainment of the Primordial Chaos Realm...
The demons were on a roll, pressing forward relentlessly, while the Dao Ancestor, despite having six Saintly positions, was constantly on the defensive and suffered repeated humiliations!
"Can the Dao Ancestor really suppress Rahu?"
A thought he had never had before crept into Haotian's mind, sending chills down his spine.
He was just a mere child. If the Dao Ancestor lost power and the Heavenly Dao collapsed, what would become of him, who depended on the Zixiao Palace? The road ahead was instantly shrouded in a heavy shadow.
In the primordial world, with the closure of the Purple Cloud Palace, the enormous waves caused by Yuan Feng's breakthrough gradually subsided.
But beneath the surface of calm, undercurrents are surging and people's hearts are restless.
Countless living beings, whether gods, immortals, demons, or monsters, were filled with indescribable tremors at this moment.
Hongjun Daozu, the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, is supreme and should have been the sole benchmark of the primordial world.
In just a few days, Luo Hou broke through to the fourth level of the Heavenly Realm, his power rivaling that of the Dao Ancestor. Then, his subordinate Yuan Feng successfully attained the Primordial Dao!
On the other hand, the Dao Ancestor's three lectures at Zixiao Palace seemed grand and impressive, with disciples being accepted and treasures bestowed upon them. But what was the result? The Tongtian Sect Leader publicly refused to become his disciple, severely humiliating the Dao Ancestor.
The carefully selected disciples have not yet attained sainthood.
In the end, even the Dao Ancestor himself was so angry that he vomited blood in the Purple Cloud Palace!
This comparison clearly shows the superiority of the latter!
"Are the demons... truly about to rise?"
"That 'Way of the World' is so miraculous! Rahu used this method to open up the Demon Realm, and in just three thousand years he successfully ascended to a higher level. With the feedback, he broke through his own limits, and the Primordial Phoenix proved its Dao! This efficiency... is simply astonishing!"
"On the other hand, the Primordial Purple Qi, the foundation for becoming a saint, sounds mysterious, but in the end it is entrusted to the Way of Heaven and is subject to human control."
Moreover… even the Dao Ancestor only possessed seven strands; how fierce was the competition?
"Perhaps... that 'Way of the World' is the true, smooth path?"
Such thoughts arose and spread in the minds of countless cultivators.
In an instant, the "World's Way" jade slip, which had previously been shelved or scorned, was once again dug out by countless beings, who held it in their hands and studied and comprehended it with great eagerness!
An undercurrent is quietly changing the cultivation landscape of the primordial world.
Countless cultivators began to try to understand the profound laws of creation and to deduce the construction of their own inner world. Even the insignificant rudimentary form of space allowed them to see another possibility than becoming a saint through merit.
The Demon Realm, deep within the Demon Palace of Mount Sumeru.
The figure of Rahu appeared silently.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his majestic demonic body radiating the immense pressure of the fourth level of the Primordial Chaos Realm. Although he had restrained it, the invisible aura of surpassing all ages still made the entire Demon Palace appear even more profound and majestic.
With a smug smile on his lips, he moved two figures from their respective secluded meditation chambers into the main hall with a slight thought.
It was Di Jun and Qinglian Boy.
Di Jun, dressed in a golden robe, exuded a deep and thoughtful aura, his brows furrowed in contemplation, as if he were still processing the insights gained from the Demon Realm's ascension.
The Azure Lotus Child still had that exquisitely beautiful appearance, but his aura was more harmonious, with the Daoist charm of the Chaotic Azure Lotus flowing faintly around him.
"Hahaha!"
Looking at the two of them, Rahu couldn't help but burst into laughter, his laughter filled with joy and self-satisfaction.
"This three lectures at Zixiao Palace are truly a moment of triumph for our Demon Clan! Old man Hongjun must be furious!"
His gaze was intense, tinged with a hint of smugness, as he looked at Di Jun and Qinglian Tongzi.
"Do you all know that the Demon Realm's ascension has been successfully completed! Its origins are boiling, its laws are manifesting, and its potential is boundless! Taking advantage of this momentum, I have broken through my barriers in one fell swoop and ascended to the fourth level of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm! My power is even greater than before!"
He paused, then his voice grew even louder, filled with arrogance.
"Not only that! That girl Yuan Feng also lived up to my expectations, taking advantage of the great fortune of the Demon Realm's transformation to activate the Primordial Dao Fruit and successfully attained the Dao! Now, my Demon Clan has three Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortals! Such a grand occasion has never been seen in the Primordial World before?"
As Luo Hou spoke, he carefully observed the reactions of Di Jun and Qinglian Tongzi, hoping to see expressions of shock, admiration, or even awe on their faces.
however--
Di Jun merely raised his eyes slightly, a faint, almost formulaic smile appearing on his face, and nodded.
"Congratulations, Demon Ancestor! Congratulations, Demon Ancestor! The Demon Realm has been upgraded, the Demon Ancestor has broken through, and Yuan Feng has attained enlightenment. This is a sign of the great prosperity of our Demon Clan."
His tone was calm, revealing little emotion. (End of Chapter)