“Dao Yi, what’s wrong with you?” Liu Ruyan’s face paled. She sensed two unsettling auras emerging from within him, a primal intuition telling her they harbored intense hatred for her. The realization sent a shockwave through her.
It wasn't just Liu Ruyan; everyone present was stunned. Dao Yi was widely known as the strongest in the Southern Wilds. His self-created Grand Dao Scripture was a monumental work, so profound it made others feel he belonged to a different era entirely. Many powerful factions and families had borrowed from its Dao Rhyme to craft their own cultivation methods. Later, Dao Yi had even personally forged the Supreme Scripture for Liu Ruyan—a completely different path! All the powerful cultivators revered and respected him. He had managed to comprehend two Great Daos: one, the Body in Harmony with the Dao, and the other, a path that defied the heavens! Dao Yi’s philosophy was utterly groundbreaking. They often sought his guidance, feeling that his mastery over the Great Dao transcended theirs, making him seem less like a man and more like a god.
In the arena, countless eyes fixated on the transformations unfolding around Dao Yi. Boom! Dao Yi sat down cross-legged, the Dao Rhyme around him flowing like a gurgling stream. The sheer oppressive power of his ‘Dao’ and ‘Stance’ sent shivers down everyone’s spines. Was this Dao Yi’s true strength?
Dao Yi, however, was secretly astonished. His internal world was undergoing a drastic change. In that fleeting moment, two new obsessions had formed within him. One was a pure, unadulterated desire for longevity. The other was an intense hatred for Liu Ruyan, coupled with a yearning to enter the Buddhist Sect. Instantly, two more Dao Rhymes manifested around him.
The crowd erupted in gasps. “What’s happening? Did Dao Yi comprehend two entirely new Great Daos just because that eerie Bronze Ancient Palace appeared?” “This is terrifying! We didn’t sense anything at all!” “The gap between us and Dao Yi is simply immense!”
The Dao Rhyme of longevity was ethereal and indistinct, making everyone’s scalp tingle. It felt like gazing upon a distant, profound Great Dao, yet it remained hazy, seemingly within reach but impossibly far. As the obsession to enter the Buddhist Sect took hold, a golden light erupted from Dao Yi, and the profound mysteries of Buddhism manifested. Chants echoed from the void above. The crowd was utterly bewildered. Buddhist Dao?
But just as quickly, Dao Yi forcibly suppressed both obsessions. He slowly opened his eyes, looking at Liu Ruyan. “Ruyan, I’m fine.”
Liu Ruyan let out a breath of relief, walking up to Dao Yi and patting her ample chest. “Dao Yi, you scared me half to death just now.”
Just then, a Buddhist cultivator slowly approached from the crowd. He bowed slightly to Dao Yi, a smile on his face. “Amitabha! This humble monk hails from the Western Desert Spirit Mountain Temple. I have long heard of Dao Yi’s renown, and seeing you today, it is indeed extraordinary. I invite you to my Spirit Mountain Temple to study the Dharma, for I perceive within you the makings of a true Buddhist cultivator!”
Dao Yi shook his head. “Buddhism originates from Daoism! Why bother traveling to the Western Desert?”
Liu Ruyan pouted. “Exactly! Why don’t you come to my Supreme Profound Sect or the Grand Dao Sect to study the Dao instead?”
The Buddhist cultivator simply smiled, no longer pressing the issue. Liu Ruyan looked at Dao Yi. “Perhaps it was the influence of that ancient palace just now.” Dao Yi nodded. “Perhaps.”
As their voices faded, a Heaven and Earth Phenomenon suddenly erupted not far away. Everyone’s gaze snapped towards it.
There, Xuanji Holy Lord Bai Li sat cross-legged in a long gown, her body radiating divine splendor. A five-colored halo shimmered above her head, and her entire being glowed with dazzling brilliance, like a goddess descended to the mortal realm—pure, ethereal, and utterly sacred. The power of Xuanji’s Art poured forth ceaselessly. Simultaneously, wisps of Eerie Power continuously swirled around her.
The crowd gasped again. “Did Xuanji Holy Lord comprehend something too?” “This is terrifying! Has Xuanji Holy Lord perhaps found a Dao method to counter the Eerie Power?” “It’s such a tragedy for Xuanji Holy Lord. Ever since that Eerie Power flooded the Southern Wilds, everyone in Xuanji Holy Land perished overnight, leaving only her.”
Xuanji Holy Lord’s peerless beauty was renowned across all Five Domains. At that moment, everyone’s hearts pounded as they stared intently at her. She was a woman of unparalleled perfection! Unfortunately, she was aloof, her heart solely devoted to the Dao, completely ignoring the admiration of men.
In the crowd, someone asked with concern, “Xuanji Holy Lord, have you comprehended a Dao method to counter the Eerie Power?” Xuanji Holy Lord shook her head. “I have not.”
A moment later, Xuanji Holy Lord slowly opened her eyes and suddenly declared, “I know what I must do.” The crowd, puzzled, asked, “What is that?”
Xuanji Holy Lord replied, “I will gather all the Eerie Power in the Southern Wilds, create a forbidden zone, and within that zone, I will comprehend a method to suppress it.”
Everyone was utterly dumbfounded. A terrifying thought! No one had ever conceived of such a thing! This was an act to save the entire Southern Wilds! The very essence of Universal Love! The crowd’s gaze towards Xuanji Holy Lord turned to one of profound reverence.
Even Dao Yi was somewhat surprised. He said, “Xuanji Holy Lord, I can assist you.” Xuanji Holy Lord shook her head. “No need.”
For some reason, she didn’t particularly like Dao Yi and rarely discussed Dao methods with him. She couldn’t even explain why. It was an ingrained obsession, a flicker of resentment that arose in her heart whenever she saw him. Thus, she generally avoided interacting with Dao Yi.
The crowd also noticed this, mistakenly believing that Xuanji Holy Lord was avoiding Dao Yi because he had become Dao-companions with Liu Ruyan. This only made everyone admire Xuanji Holy Lord even more! They were drawn by her beauty, captivated by her talent, and loyal to her character! In the Southern Wilds, the number of powerful cultivators secretly admiring Xuanji Holy Lord was countless!
Soon after, Xuanji Holy Lord tore through space and departed. Dao Yi looked at Liu Ruyan. “Ruyan, let’s head back too.” Boom! The two also left together.
Watching Dao Yi and Liu Ruyan’s retreating figures, everyone secretly shook their heads. A grey-robed elder muttered, “I always felt Liu Ruyan wasn’t worthy of Dao Yi. That woman has more curves than brains and is quite selfish. Even a hero can fall for a beauty, and Dao Yi has certainly fallen!”
Another chimed in, “Indeed! Xuanji Holy Lord is so stunningly beautiful, why aren’t she and Dao Yi a couple? They’d be a perfect match! I think Xuanji Holy Lord’s beauty, figure, and temperament completely overshadow Liu Ruyan’s.”
Someone else remarked, “Xuanji Holy Lord is solely devoted to the Dao. Even a genius as astonishing as Dao Yi couldn’t capture her attention.”
Another person quipped, “But Xuanji Holy Lord not liking Dao Yi actually gives us a chance! If you can’t have Xuanji Holy Lord, and I can’t have Xuanji Holy Lord, then no one else should either. Just thinking about it is enough.” The crowd burst into laughter.
Meanwhile, Xuanji Holy Lord’s Jade foot descended, landing in the desolate ruins of Xuanji Holy Land. The entire area was barren, ravaged by Eerie Power. Everyone there had perished save for her, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had been corrupted, turning it into a dead zone.
Xuanji Holy Lord murmured, “I will create a forbidden zone here!” Just then, a Green-skirted Girl suddenly descended. “I can help you with that!”