Under the suppression of the Nine-Colored Fire Phoenix, the Chaotic Fire Domain collapsed to a radius of ten feet, and Li Mu's Chaos Dao Body was covered in spiderweb-like charred cracks.
Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor lightly tapped her fingertip, and the Nirvana Wheel emerged from her glabella. Nine chains entwined with fire runes pierced through the fire domain, nailing Li Mu's limbs to the Void Realm. Nirvana Fire surged madly along the chains, and his Chaos Dao Foundation emitted a crisp sound like shattering porcelain.
"To endure three breaths under this Emperor's Nine Hells Heart-Burning Chains, you are stronger than those so-called demon gods!" Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor, stepping on a fiery lotus, approached, her Phoenix eyes reflecting Li Mu's gradually dimming Chaos Dao Body: "The Chaotic Great Dao will ultimately belong to me…"
The intense pain made Li Mu's Divine Sense exceptionally clear. He suddenly discovered that the chains piercing his body were not solid—each chain was woven from dense fire Dao spiritual runes. While burning his Chaos Dao Body, these fire runes were also constantly reorganizing their own structure.
When the seventh "Nirvana Fire Rune" invaded his heart, Li Mu's Chaotic Dao Domain suddenly writhed in response, actually beginning to mimic the trajectory of the fire runes!
At this moment, Li Mu had already 'seen' the truth of the 'Nirvana Fire Origin'. They were similar to the Three Thousand Divine Runes he understood, yet completely different.
The Nirvana Fire Origin naturally bred from the Dao Domain of Fire. Its patterns contained Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's insights and transformations from undergoing eight Nirvanas. They were not simple Law condensations, but the ultimate evolution of the Dao of Fire, the most primal truth of fire in the world.
As Li Mu's Chaos Dao Runes mimicked these fire runes, they gradually displayed an unprecedented change. The originally dull Chaos Dao Runes began to emit a faint golden-red light, ignited by the Nirvana Fire. As the Chaos Dao Body neared fragmentation, stimulated by the Nirvana Fire Origin, it erupted with astonishing vitality.
"So that's how it is!" A hint of realization flashed in Li Mu's eyes: "Nirvana is not destruction, but Rebirth. Chaos is not an end, but a beginning."
"So this is the True Meaning of Nirvana!" Li Mu laughed wildly amidst the agony of his Divine Soul being incinerated. He actively released his Dao Embryo's defenses, and the last wisp of Chaos Fire outlined a complete "Nirvana Essence" deep within his Dao Foundation.
Just as Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor thought victory was assured, Li Mu's Chaos Dao Body suddenly burst forth with dazzling light. The cracks eroded by the Nirvana Fire Runes healed at a visible speed, replaced by brand new Dao Runes interwoven with the power of Chaos and Nirvana.
"You!" Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's pupils constricted. She clearly felt that the Nine Hells Heart-Burning Chains she had implanted into Li Mu's body were being assimilated by some force. Her proud Nirvana Fire had now become nourishment for Li Mu's transformation!
Li Mu slowly raised his head, his eyes reflecting the intertwined scene of Chaos and flames. He bowed slightly to Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor and said gratefully, "Thank you, Immortal Emperor, for your assistance. If not for your Nine Hells Heart-Burning Chains, I would not have been able to glimpse the true meaning of Nirvana Fire."
Upon hearing this, Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's expression drastically changed, and she became furious. She never expected that the killing trap she had set would become an opportunity for Li Mu's Breakthrough!
The Nine Hells Heart-Burning Chains trembled violently. Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor was alarmed to feel a terrifying suction force from the end of the chains. Her Nirvana Essence, cultivated for ten thousand years, was pouring out uncontrollably, continuously surging into Li Mu's body.
Li Mu's charred Chaos Dao Body peeled off inch by inch, revealing a new body internally flowing with gold and silver dual-colored Dao Runes—his left half entwined with Chaos Fire, his right half flickering with Nirvana Golden Fire.
"A courtesy in return, slash!"
Li Mu shattered the chains around him, and the broken chains transformed into a sky full of fiery feathers. The moment his palms came together, two distinct flames, Chaos and Nirvana, spiraled and intertwined, condensing into a flaming longsword inscribed with Chaos Dao Runes in his palm. He swung it out.
The sword light was like a rainbow, tearing through the Void Realm. The flaming longsword, interwoven with the power of Chaos and Nirvana, streaked across the sky, pointing directly at Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor.
Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor retreated a thousand miles. Behind her, her fiery wings burst open with three thousand natal tail feathers. Each feather ignited a Nirvana Fire in the Void Realm, instantly transforming into a wall of fire.
With a loud "boom," the moment the sword's edge touched the fire wall, the power of Chaos and Nirvana spun wildly like Yin and Yang fish. The three thousand Nirvana feathers actually faded from their crimson-gold luster under the Dao Rhyme's impact, turning into a sky full of gray-white dust that fluttered down.
"Hmph! Even if you have glimpsed the true meaning of Nirvana, what of it? This Emperor has undergone eight Nirvanas! How can you, a junior who has just scratched the surface, compare?!" A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's Phoenix eyes. She formed hand seals, and the Nirvana Wheel at her glabella spun rapidly. The nine fire rune chains disintegrated one after another, transforming into completely different fire Dao Dharma Idols.
The Nether Profound Phoenix circulated blue-black nether flames throughout its body. When its wings spread, rhombic ice crystals condensed in the Void Realm. Wherever the Bone Spirit Cold Flame passed, stars froze into pale sculptures;
The Red Lotus Sin Phoenix was entwined with blood-colored chains, and Karmic Fire Red Lotuses bloomed sequentially between its wings, reflecting the sins and Karma of its opponent's past and present lives;
The Li Fire Sword Phoenix transformed into a pure white Sword Tomb. One hundred and eight thousand feathers condensed from Southern Bright Li Fire floated in formation, exuding endless fire element Sword Intent;
The Ziwei Star Phoenix flapped its wings, stirring the surrounding stars. The Ziwei Heavenly Fire trailing from its tail feathers wove a Milky Way star map in the Void Realm, and falling meteors, dragging pale purple flame tails, sealed all escape routes;
The Nirvana Fire Phoenix was surrounded by a golden-yellow flame halo. Each flap of its wings caused ancient fire runes to appear in the Void Realm. Time and space intertwined, possessing the power to reverse life and death and reshape all things.
The Pure World Azure Phoenix's vertical pupil on its forehead erupted with a green-blue beam of light. Wherever the Pure World Azure Flame passed, even Chaos Qi was purified into pure Spiritual Qi;
The Great Sun Golden Phoenix transformed into a three-legged Golden Crow form. Its pure to the extreme True Sun Fire scorched the space into glazed holes;
The Grand Yin Ice Phoenix was as transparent as crystal throughout its body. Its silver-white Grand Yin True Fire actually caused Li Mu's Chaos Fire to stagnate;
And at the highest point, the Heaven Burning Extinction Phoenix's wings were entwined with dark purple burning flames. Each flap of its wings plowed terrifying spatial-temporal cracks in the Void Realm.
"Nine Extremes Return to Origin!"
Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor rapidly formed Phoenix seals with her hands. The nine Fire Phoenix Dharma Idols suddenly linked head to tail, forming a ring. The extreme cold of the Nether Profound Phoenix and the annihilation of the Grand Yin Ice Phoenix fused. The Karma of the Red Lotus Sin Phoenix and the purification of the Pure World Azure Phoenix clashed. Nine mutually reinforcing and restraining Dao Fires erupted with destructive aura transcending time and space within the Reincarnation formation, giving birth to a Destruction Phoenix.
Under the impact of this power, Li Mu's Chaotic Fire Domain was instantly severely damaged. His newly reforged Chaos Dao Body immediately turned charred black, and the Chaos Fire was actually torn off and swallowed by the Destruction Phoenix.
The Destruction Phoenix's wings stirred up a world-burning fire tide. Li Mu's Chaos Dao Body carbonized and peeled off in the dark purple flames. The moment his bones shattered, a wisp of Nirvana Golden Flame suddenly leaped from deep within his Dao Foundation—it was precisely the Nirvana Essence previously devoured from Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor!
"Bathed in Fire Nirvana!"
The charred skeleton stretched in the sea of fire, and new flesh and blood reshaped at a visible speed. The Chaos Fire, carrying the Destruction Phoenix's world-burning flames, melted into gray-gold dual-colored Nirvana Dao Runes within his Meridians. Li Mu's right arm was the first to be reborn, and the Chaos Fire Lotus appearing in his palm actually swallowed all the surrounding world-burning fire waves.
"Again!" Li Mu actively crashed into the second world-burning fire wave. The violent destructive power tore apart his reborn Dao Body, but just as his heart was about to stop, the Nirvana Golden Flame forcibly reconnected his heart Meridians. The shattered bones were plated with dark purple fire runes during reorganization. When his left leg was reborn, it actually carried the tearing characteristic of the World-Burning Phoenix, shattering a hundred miles of fire sea with a single step.
For the third time, Li Mu allowed the destructive fire tide to engulf his head. The moment his Sea of Consciousness disintegrated, the Nirvana Essence transformed into a golden bridge spanning the Void, regrouping his scattered Divine Soul. Nine-turn fire wheels appeared deep within his reborn pupils, allowing him to directly observe the energy flow trajectory of the Destruction Phoenix.
Fourth time, fifth time, sixth time, ..., the Destruction Phoenix destroyed Li Mu's Chaos Dao Body again and again.
However, Li Mu was always able to be reborn repeatedly within the Destruction Phoenix's fire domain.
Li Mu rose from the ashes for the ninety-ninth time. His reborn Dao Body was already covered in Nirvana Dao Runes. The Chaotic Fire Domain no longer passively defended, but actively devoured the world-burning flames like a greedy beast. Each time it swallowed a mass of dark purple flames, an abstruse fire rune appeared on the surface of his Dao Body.
When the Destruction Phoenix launched its hundredth attack, Li Mu suddenly spread his arms and embraced the fire tide. The moment the violent energy, enough to burn Immortal Artifacts, touched his chest, three thousand Nirvana Dao Runes lit up simultaneously, actually transforming the destructive power into surging vitality!
"My turn!"
Li Mu's cold voice suddenly echoed from the sea of fire, carrying a detachment beyond life and death.
Suddenly, the Destruction Phoenix's world-burning fire tide abruptly stagnated in front of Li Mu, as if it had encountered its natural nemesis.
Li Mu raised his hand and lightly tapped. The Chaotic Fire Domain instantly expanded, swallowing all the Destruction Phoenix's flames. The dark purple flames, enough to incinerate stars, were like mud oxen entering the sea within the Chaotic Fire Domain, disappearing without a trace.
"Your Destruction Fire is, after all, only a part of the Dao of Fire!" Li Mu looked directly at Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor, the figure of the Destruction Phoenix reflected in his eyes, as if he had seen through its essence. He said faintly, "And I have glimpsed the source of the Dao of Fire."
Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's face drastically changed. She felt her power and the Destruction Phoenix's power rapidly weakening. The Destruction Phoenix, formed by the Fusion of the nine great Dharma Idols, was actually gradually disintegrating within Li Mu's Chaotic Fire Domain, transforming into nine pure Fire Origins, their power completely devoured by the Chaotic Fire Domain.
"No! This is impossible!" Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor shrieked. The Nirvana Wheel at her glabella spun madly, attempting to reclaim her Origin.
Just then, Li Mu simply waved his hand, and nine gray-gold chains emerged from the Chaotic Fire Domain, firmly locking the Nirvana Wheel.
"Your Nirvana Wheel is, after all, merely an imitation of the Dao of Fire, never truly transcending!" Li Mu's voice was like a grand bell, shaking Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's Divine Soul: "And the Chaos Fire I control is also the root of the Great Dao."
Before his words finished, Li Mu's Chaotic Fire Domain abruptly contracted, transforming into a pulsating Chaos Fire Seed. Countless abstruse Dao Runes appeared on the surface of the Fire Seed, containing both Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's True Meaning of Nirvana and Li Mu's own Chaotic Great Dao.
"Chaos Nirvana, All Fires Return to Origin!"
Li Mu let out a low shout, forming abstruse Dao seals with his hands. In an instant, all the flames in the entire Star Domain converged towards him. Whether it was Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's Nirvana Fire or the Destruction Phoenix's world-burning flames, all transformed into the most primitive Ancestral Qi of Fire under the pull of the Chaos Fire Seed.
The Chaos Fire Seed hung in the Starry Sky, with myriad fire Dao submitting. Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor's nine-colored Immortal Robe had long faded to plain white, and the Nirvana Wheel at her glabella was covered in spiderweb cracks. She looked at the Origin Fire Seed, confined by Chaos chains, and a determined cold light suddenly erupted from her Phoenix eyes.
"This Emperor has roamed the myriad Realms for one hundred thousand years, how could I fall here!"
Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor fiercely bit her tongue, and the essence blood she spat out condensed into an ancient seal character "Burn" in the air. The moment the character touched the Chaos chains, three thousand natal tail feathers emerged from the Void Realm, each igniting a blood-colored soul fire—it was actually burning her own cultivation to forcibly activate a forbidden technique!
"Nirvana Sacrificial Dao, Nine Feathers Break the Void!"
Nine feathers entwined with spatial-temporal Dao Runes suddenly exploded. The terrifying energy impact shook the Chaos chains, creating cracks.
The next moment, Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor transformed into a streak of light and escaped into the crack. A gnashing sound came from her afterimage: "When this Emperor's nine feathers are reborn, I will surely grind you to dust!"
Li Mu stood in the Void Realm, looking at the direction Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor had escaped, and frowned. He wanted to pursue her and eliminate the root of the problem, but he was powerless.
Although today's battle seemed to be in his favor, the forbidden technique Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor used at the cost of her own cultivation was by no means ordinary. If this woman escaped, she would be even more difficult to deal with when she returned in the future.
"Chaos Nirvana is both the beginning of all things and the end of all things. Even if she escapes with her life today, she has already sown Karma, and will surely suffer backlash in the future!"
Li Mu seemed to be speaking to others when he suddenly uttered this sentence. At the same time, he extended his hand, retrieved the Chaos Fire Seed, and his entire aura became profound and incomparably abstruse.
"Dao Friend Li, what you said is absolutely true!"
A profound yellow ancient sword tore through the air, and Grand Profound Sword Revered appeared with it. He stood beside Li Mu, his gaze solemn as he looked at the direction Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor had escaped. He said with emotion, "This woman is ruthless in her methods and deep in her schemes. Her escape today must be due to some hidden trump card. However, Dao Friend Li's ability to fuse Chaos Fire with the Dao of Nirvana is truly astonishing. Given time, you will surely reach an even higher level."
A hint of complexity appeared in Grand Profound Sword Revered's eyes as he looked at Li Mu.
Li Mu's fierce battle with the Eternal Demon God was grand in scale. Grand Profound Sword Revered had arrived early, observing the battle from the side, ready to lend aid at any time.
However, Li Mu, with his own strength, turned the tide, decisively defeating the Eternal Demon God in the Dao Domain Origin battle, forcing him to flee with injuries, which greatly shocked Grand Profound Sword Revered.
Subsequently, Li Mu fought Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor again, and even glimpsed the mysteries of the Dao of Fire between life and death. He fused Chaos Fire with the Dao of Nirvana, severely injuring Celestial Phoenix Immortal Emperor, forcing her to sacrifice an arm to escape.
This astonishing Comprehension Ability and peerless Aptitude caused huge waves in Grand Profound Sword Revered's heart. Beyond the shock, there was even more emotion.
"Above Mahayana is the Ultimate Path Realm, the supreme Realm countless Cultivators dream of. Those who step into this Realm can initially comprehend the Laws of heaven and earth and wield the power to turn clouds and rain." Grand Profound Sword Revered slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of yearning as he continued, "Above the Ultimate Path Realm, there is even the Dao Ancestor Realm. If one can achieve Dao Ancestor, one can transcend the restraints of heaven and earth, shine with the sun and moon, and live as long as heaven and earth. Their Divine Abilities are vast, beyond what we can imagine."
At this point, Grand Profound Sword Revered's gaze once again fell on Li Mu, his eyes flickering with an unusual light: "Dao Friend Li, your battle today not only demonstrated astonishing strength but also revealed extraordinary Comprehension Ability. Given time, you will surely step into the Ultimate Path Realm, and even become a supreme expert of the Dao Ancestor Realm!" (End of Chapter)
