The words "Chaos Dao Source" were like sparks thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the emotions hidden within all probing divine senses! Greed, shock, killing intent, disbelief… various thoughts intertwined, causing the pressure above the Starry Courtyard to increase several times over. Even space let out cracking sounds from being unable to bear the burden!
The Northern Nether Snow Domain Lord's icy divine sense, like a tangible chain of cold ice, tightly bound Xuán Yī, who was floating in mid-air with chaotic aura, the covetous intent within it unconcealed.
Xuānyuán Fèngwǔ roared, and the Nirvana True Fire surged into the sky, attempting to burn away the divine sense, "Insolence! Who dares lay a hand on someone from my Immortal Dao Palace!"
Dōngfāng Míngyuè waved her jade hand, and ten thousand miles of ice spread out, freezing the void. She said coldly, "Lord of the Northern Nether, this place is not your Snow Domain. You cannot run rampant here!"
Yu Linglong, Dàntái Liúlí, and Miao Yin Buddha Son also stepped forward simultaneously, their auras linking together to form a solid barrier, protecting Xuán Yī behind them and confronting the malicious probing from all directions. At this moment, despite their different thoughts and positions, they exhibited astonishing unity when facing the outside enemy coveting Xuán Yī (or rather, the secret he held).
The Northern Nether Snow Domain Lord's divine sense let out an enigmatic cold snort. It did not forcibly clash but slowly withdrew like a venomous snake, yet the icy warning and interest remained in everyone's hearts: "Chaos Dao Source… hehe, interesting. This Lord will wait and see."
All other divine senses also withdrew during this brief confrontation, but everyone knew this was merely the calm before the storm. The trace of "Chaos Dao Source" on Xuán Yī had already become the sweetest poison bait, attracting countless sharks.In the center of the field, the conflict between the Buddha-demon energy and Chaos Dao rhyme surrounding Xuán Yī seemed to have reached a critical point. He suddenly spat out a mouthful of dark golden blood, his body swayed, and he finally slowly opened his eyes.
Those Purple Eyes appeared exceptionally deep and weary at this moment, with golden Sanskrit and black demonic patterns flashing fleetingly in their depths. He forcibly sealed the Buddha-demon power, enough to blow apart a starfield, deep within his body at the cost of his own shattered Dao Source. The price was heavy; his aura was now even weaker than before, like a candle in the wind, but at least, he appeared calm on the surface.
He glanced at Yáoguāng, who was being supported by Yu Linglong, still unconscious but with a stable aura, then looked at the women protecting him, nodding slightly. His voice was hoarse, "Thank you."
Following that, his gaze swept across the void, as if able to penetrate infinite distances and see the ill-intentioned gazes hidden among the guests. His eyes returned to a state of placid emptiness, but beneath that calm, a coldness colder than ten thousand-year-old profound ice was hidden.
"Three days have passed," he said softly, as if stating a fact unrelated to himself. "It is time to go to the Myriad Dao Altar."
…
The Myriad Dao Altar was located on the highest floating divine mountain at the core of the Immortal Dao Palace. It was less a celestial altar and more an independent realm carved out by supreme power!
The altar's base was carved from a single piece of "Chaos Primal Stone," naturally imbued with hundreds of millions of Great Dao patterns, constantly absorbing fragments of laws from all the heavens and myriad worlds. Around the altar stood three thousand sky-reaching jade pillars. Each pillar top burned with a cluster of "Dao Fire" of varying colors, representing a fundamental Great Dao existing between heaven and earth!The flames blazed, and the light intertwined, illuminating the entire realm with bizarre splendor and vast Dao Charm like the sea.
At this moment, countless immortals had already gathered around the altar!
Myriad streams of multicolored light and auspicious energy! Countless magnificent palaces, ferocious warships, and colossal wild beast mounts floated in the void. Cultivators from the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, various star domains, and ancient races were gathered together. Some had the demeanor of immortals, some exuded demonic energy, some possessed supreme demonic might, and some emanated Buddhist light… The auras were mixed, with varying strengths and weaknesses, but without exception, they were all powerful figures or peerless geniuses.
When Xuán Yī, surrounded by his fiancées (including the unconscious Yáoguāng, who was held aloft by Yu Linglong's spiritual energy), stepped onto the plaza paved with Chaos Primal Stone at the Myriad Dao Altar, the entire noisy realm fell silent for a moment.
Countless gazes, like spotlights, instantly focused on him.
Curiosity, scrutiny, contempt, jealousy, greed, killing intent… emotions of all kinds, unconcealed.
A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator.
A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator simultaneously chosen by twenty-six top forces.
A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator rumored to possess the "Chaos Dao Source."
He had silver hair and Purple Eyes, his appearance still handsome, but his face was pale, his aura weak, and his steps even somewhat unsteady. Compared to the surrounding cultivators with profound auras and restrained divine light, he appeared so out of place, so… eyesore.
"Hmph, a mere Foundation Establishment, what qualifications does he have to occupy so much destiny?" a descendant of an ancient divine race snorted coldly. His voice was not loud but carried clearly throughout the entire venue, filled with undisguised hostility.
"I'm afraid he's all reputation and relies on the lingering glory of the Immortal Dao Palace," a stern young man with an ancient sword on his back stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Chaos Dao Source? A joke. If it were truly the Chaos Dao Source, how could he have fallen to the Foundation Establishment realm? It's probably some similar phenomenon, spread by rumor," an old man surrounded by starlight shook his head, stroking his beard, his tone full of doubt.
Whispers like a tide arose, with doubt and contempt as the main themes.
Xuán Yī seemed not to hear these discussions. He walked step by step towards the center of the Myriad Dao Altar, where a towering platform stood – the seat for the Immortal Dao Palace Lord to preside over the ceremony. His steps were slow but steady.
Dōngfāng Míngyuè, Xuānyuán Fèngwǔ, and the others followed behind him, sensing the countless tangible gazes and the pressure contained within them. Their expressions varied, but they silently endured, forming an invisible united front with Xuán Yī.
Just as Xuán Yī was about to step onto the platform stairs—
"Wait!"
A cold voice suddenly rang out.
The crowd parted, and a cultivator clad in black robes, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood, stepped forward. A strange aura of deathly stillness emanated from him, out of place with the vibrant life force surrounding him.
"I am a successor of the Netherworld Ghost Manor, Yōu Hái," the black-robed cultivator said hoarsely, like bones grinding. "I have long heard that His Excellency Xuán Yī once turned the tide and slew an evil god with his sword. I am not talented, but I wish to-"
He paused, then continued, his voice filled with a subtle, yet undeniable, malicious intent: "–challenge you here at the beginning of the Myriad Sects Worship Ceremony, so that we may all witness if the hero of yesteryear still possesses his former glory today?"
His words, though seemingly polite, were full of provocation and malice! He pointedly challenged a "Foundation Establishment stage cultivator" in front of all the myriad sects! His intention was as clear as day!
The entire venue fell silent again. All eyes turned to Xuán Yī, awaiting his response.
If he accepted? To fight a successor from the Netherworld Ghost Manor (whose aura was at least late Nascent Soul stage) as a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be to invite humiliation, possibly even leading to immediate death!
If he refused? It would confirm the rumors of him being "all reputation" and "relying on the Dao Palace." All the mystery and buildup from before would be greatly diminished, and the Immortal Dao Palace would also lose face.
This was a scheme! A scheme to completely crush Xuán Yī into the dust!
Xuānyuán Fèngwǔ was furious and about to speak, but Xuán Yī stopped her with a look.
Xuán Yī stopped walking and slowly turned around, looking at the black-robed cultivator named Yōu Hái. His face was still pale, but there were no emotional fluctuations in his Purple Eyes.
He spoke softly, his voice calmly spreading throughout the entire Myriad Dao Altar:
"You wish to fight?"
"I can."
He paused, and under everyone's astonished gaze, he continued:
"However, when I make a move, I must pay a price."
"Are you prepared... to pay the price?"