Chapter 336: Seizing Divine Soul from the Heavenly Dao
In the dark, turbulent sky, black and red lightning danced like Dragons and snakes.
The surging aftermath tore through the dark layers of clouds, revealing the profound Chaos turbulence behind them.
The function of the Sacred Artifact's Origin was merely to serve as a guide in the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, allowing them to trace the Heavenly Dao, sever the connection between the Sacred Artifacts and it, and thus cause them to lose their divine power in the Human Realm.
However, for a Sacred Artifact to change ownership, there was one most crucial condition to fulfill: the original wielder must die.
The timing was also most suitable at this moment, as it was precisely during the interregnum of power selection.
These high and mighty figures had been trying their best to break free from their restraints and Ascend to the Immortal Realm, so their Physical Bodies should have already withered and were no longer at their peak.
Therefore, they did not lie.
Through the Heavenly Secrets glimpsed by the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, no matter how the variables changed, they always accomplished this feat, winning every time.
However, the desire for control has always been a deep-seated flaw in the Human Race; they would not peacefully surrender the power in their hands with just a few words.
Thus, a great battle was inevitable.
The Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion was the first to erupt into combat.
Beneath the low, dark sun, Chu Xiong, the Chu Family Patriarch, clad in purple robes, arrived with an intense Evil Qi, bringing forth countless killing lights with a flip of his hand, like a meteor falling to earth.
The yellowish-green sky instantly darkened the moment he arrived, leaving only the overwhelming firelight in the distant sky.
The Xuan Yuan Immortal Mansion Sect Master appeared from the mountain peak, meeting him with an open palm, his eyes beginning to tremble incessantly.
Then, in the northwest of Yong Province, as a straight black light descended from the sky, the Mountain and Sea Pavilion’s Sacred Palace was instantly engulfed in a roar.
Even the Five-Color Cliff collapsed with a rumble, being blasted into flat ground amidst the swirling Qi waves.
The Mountain and Sea Pavilion Sect Master walked out with a grim expression from the Sacred Palace, which had fallen with the mountain but had not collapsed, and roared as he charged towards the second beam of black light that had struck.
Then, the Wei Family Old Ancestor pressed down from above.
Closely following him was the Li Family Old Ancestor, who landed on Wenda Mountain.
He held a short blade, dressed in bright yellow robes embroidered with five-clawed Golden Dragons, and his figure, having recovered its Qi and blood, resembled a young emperor in his prime.
The Li Family was originally a former imperial Family that failed in the struggle for supremacy during the era of warring states. After the establishment of the Great Xia, they had existed as an ordinary Sect.
But old people from the old era always have some lingering habits, and are enthusiastic about wearing yellow robes.
“Boom!!!!”
A massive blade light descended ferociously.
The Asked the Dao Sect Sect Master met it head-on with the jade orb in his hand, his expression gradually changing.
The battles between those in the Linxian Realm were powerful enough to be described as shaking heaven and earth; even a thousand miles away, the Tear marks filled the long sky.
Endless immortal light spread out wave after wave for a thousand miles.
At the same time, because this Realm was too close to the Heavenly Dao, the entire Qingyun was affected.
Countless mountain ranges shook wildly as if Earth Dragons were turning over, and endless torrential rain poured down from all directions without warning, causing the water levels of the Nu River and Mist River to surge instantly, then burst their banks.
That scene was as if the dome of the sky had shattered and the Heavenly River had poured down, far more terrifying than the so-called corpse tide.
Beneath the Six Great Immortal Sects’ Dao grounds, countless Sects that had gathered due to the corpse tide once again fled frantically.
“What in the world is happening?”
“Go, quick, go! A Linxian Realm expert is fighting!”
“The world is turning upside down—”
The matter of the Zheng Family Old Ancestor appearing in Qi Ridge in the Linxian Realm was no secret; all the great Sects were aware of it.
Now, with the millennium Sects joining forces and planning for several years, many people understood that a Linxian Realm expert would definitely appear in the end.
Beneath the terrifying sky, countless fleeing figures streaked across, not daring to stop or look back even a hundred miles away.
At this moment, in Shengjing City, Chong Wang’s residence.
Witnessing the murderous light in the distance and the chaotic sky, countless cultivators residing in the courtyard turned ashen.
“They did it, the Chu Family, the Li Family, the Wei Family—first the corpse tide, then the Sacred Artifacts, then the Linxian Realm attacking the mountains, each step tightly linked.”
“Nonsense! What right do they have to influence Sacred Artifacts?!”
The Patriarchs of the Qiu Family, Huang Family, Sheng Family, and others looked at Chong Wang, their terrified eyes carrying an unconscious denial.
Chong Wang, with a pale face, pointed at the city wall: “The matter of the great formation already proves that the Sacred Artifacts have indeed failed. This is the true calamity.”
In fact, from the beginning of the corpse tide, this entire event had been repeatedly shattering everyone's perceptions.
The millennium Sects joining forces in rebellion, and no news returning from the marching army for many days, but in fact, everyone had never been that nervous.
Ultimately, it was because they subconsciously felt that there were Sacred Artifacts suppressing things—this was a habit the Human Race had cultivated for a thousand years.
But at this moment, they finally realized that the world was about to turn upside down.
With a Linxian Realm expert entering the Immortal Sect, and the Sacred Artifacts failing at this moment, the Immortal Sect would no longer be the invincible Immortal Sect of the world.
Indeed, the Qingyun Sects had always harbored private grievances against the high and mighty Immortal Sects, and many ambitious individuals had even dreamed of replacing them.
Some, filled with hatred for the Immortal Sects, even wished for a few of them to perish.
But when they truly saw things change from impossible to happening, they still felt fear from the depths of their hearts.
Because during the years the Immortal Sects were in the world, the lives of these people were at least stable.
Although they occasionally heard that the main lineage of the Immortal Sect violated the qingyun immortal rules but received no punishment, at least it could indeed limit many man-made disasters.
No one dared to imagine what kind of tomorrow they would face if the Immortal Sects fell after this calamity and the world's authority was seized by others.
On Nishan Peak, the three Palace Master who remained had already changed their expressions.
They had already learned the full extent of the death trap through Divine Soul communication, and finally believed everything Chu Yu had said earlier.
They had prepared for so many years, and they truly would not leave any chance of survival for the Six Great Immortal Sects at the very end.
However, those who felt this more deeply were actually the people in Risheng County.
Mountain and Sea Pavilion was closest to them, and they had already felt the aftershocks of the battle there, indicating that things were imminent and that the killing game had begun.
No one in the field knew what that towering black light was, but they understood that since it required the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice as its foundation, they only needed to interrupt the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice.
In fact, stopping the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice was not difficult; on the contrary, it was very simple.
That was to kill the person performing the sacrifice, which would cause the entire ritual to be interrupted and dissipate.
They had just scanned with their Divine Sense, and the one presiding over this Heavenly Dao Sacrifice was the former Xuan Yuan Saint, Chu Xian.
Similar to cultivation, performing a sacrifice to the Heavenly Dao also required extremely high Comprehension Ability; otherwise, in the past, many people would not have been able to comprehend anything during the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, especially since he was not merely performing a sacrifice, but manipulating something.
Therefore, they were not surprised that he was the sacrificer.
Chu Xian was indeed a Prodigy of astonishing talent, but also a killer.
However, this area of heaven and earth had been completely sealed by Evil Qi, and even just reaching this point was the limit for the Six Great Immortal Sects.
And once they entered the range of the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, they would be attracted by the Heavenly Dao, become lost, and die by dissolving into the Dao, completely powerless.
Countless people in the area looked back at Shang Xiyao, Huo Xingzhong, and the siblings Chen Luo and Chen Xi.
They were direct disciples of the Immortal Sects; those demons wanted to seize their Family's Dao lineage. In everyone's eyes, they should do something.
But none of the four moved, merely standing with grim expressions. Although their eyes appeared cold, a hint of fear could be seen within them.
In a certain death situation with no opportunity, they dared not try.
“Return to the Sect, I want to die fighting alongside my father.”
Huo Xingzhong clenched his fist, then a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
And hearing this, the expressions around him became strange.
Because everyone knew that if he wanted to die fighting alongside his father, he could do so right here. The so-called ‘returning to the Sect to die fighting’ was simply because they knew in their hearts that compared to the certain death situation before them, returning to the Sect might offer a sliver of hope.
However, before they could leave, a cry of terror and alarm suddenly came from the south side of the city wall.
“Disloyal disciple!!!!”
“Senior Brother!!!!”
The disciples of the Six Great Immortal Sects were instantly pulled back to their senses, looking towards the Kun Gate.
On the city wall, Cao Jinsong and others widened their eyes, their expressions instantly changing, their eyes even turning red from the surge of Qi and blood.
Everyone immediately looked in the direction they were staring, and saw Ji You had already stepped and leaped in, holding a long sword with an expressionless face, descending into the dense Evil Qi.
He jumped very decisively, and very suddenly.
Cao Jinsong had always worried that he would try to be the tall one because of Yan Shuyi, and had been vigilant here, but when he made his move, he only managed to pull off a torn strip of cloth from his back.
The other people on the city wall also instantly widened their eyes, looking at that figure in disbelief.
Especially Ding Yao and Zhuo Wanqiu, whose minds instantly boomed as if exploding, their faces turning pale.
Even those demons who had stopped and were waiting for victory now showed a trace of disbelief, looking down from above with eyes full of confusion.
“Is he mad?!”
“Doesn’t he hate the Immortal Sect the most? What does the destruction of the Six Great Immortal Sects have to do with him?!”
“Bang!!”
With a dull thud, everyone realized that Ji You had fallen heavily to the ground.
The altar city wall was very high, but for cultivators, it was negligible; such a clumsy landing posture was impossible.
The only possibility was that he lost consciousness the moment he stepped in, which was why he fell to the ground.
He had entered the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice.
The Heavenly Dao Sacrifice itself was connected to the Heavenly Dao; compared to arduous cultivation, this ritual was like a carriage, a carriage that self-carried Divine Souls away.
The Divine Soul that is taken away will be led into the Heavenly Dao, allowing the cultivator to gain a clearer and more direct comprehension of the Heavenly Dao.
However, this process requires a sacrifice.
The Human Race's Divine Soul is extremely tiny within the boundless Heavenly Dao, not even comparable to a drop in the ocean. Only with a sacrifice as guidance can they find their way back; otherwise, they will inevitably assimilate into the Dao of Heaven and never return.
The Six Great Immortal Sects forbid any Family members from cultivating immortality, yet for so many years, they have lived an extraordinary existence by relying on this profession, which shows its importance.
This is common knowledge, and Ji You's intrusion into the altar this time was naturally expected.
The most terrifying thing is that without a sacrifice, no one can rescue him from the Heavenly Dao. Even if a sacrifice is found, the sacrifice won't be able to see his location because he wasn't followed.
This is exile, the most terrifying, endless exile.
Huo Xingzhong and Shang Xiyao watched this scene, their eyes turning slightly cold.
Ji You entering the altar alone at this moment actually put them in an awkward position, as they were the direct disciples after all.
But it was fortunate that he had now assimilated into the Dao here, which proved to everyone that they, the direct disciples, were not afraid, but merely rational enough.
To know it's a dead end yet still go, is like a moth flying into a flame.
However, a moth flying into a flame is not a heroic act, but rather foolishness.
The two tightened their sleeves, intending to leave, but before they could turn, they suddenly saw that everyone had not withdrawn their gaze, but instead fixed their eyes, their brows furrowing slightly. So, they looked again.
From leaping out to falling, in just a few breaths, Ji You indeed made no movements.
But a cluster of eerie blue flames shot out from his body, initially just a faint flicker, then constantly flickering, gradually beginning to cover his body.
Just as everyone was surprised, causing everyone to be unable to help but be surprised, a groan echoed from within the altar.
A few breaths later, Ji You slowly crawled up from the ground.
“?!”
“He—he didn’t have his Divine Soul enter Heaven?!”
Amidst the stunned exclamations, Ji You was like a drunkard who had consumed too much alcohol, his steps unsteady, swaying left and right, appearing disoriented.
Then, with a bang, he took a step forward.
In an instant, a golden light-shadow, strikingly similar to his figure, vibrated out from his body, as if something within him was being forcefully pulled outwards, creating a strong resistance with his own being.
But that golden light-shadow couldn't successfully break free; instead, it returned when he stopped his steps.
Then came the second step; the golden light-shadow appeared once again, struggling with dazzling light, causing ripples to spread all around, and golden radiance to fly, as if ink splattered from an overturned inkstone, yet it still couldn't be separated from him?
Then came the third step, the fourth step. Ji You was like a water bottle full of water, walking unsteadily, his steps seeming incredibly heavy.
As his steps vibrated, the golden soul continued to spill out again and again, but each step was slightly less than the previous one.
Few in the Human Race cultivate the Physical Body, because the Physical Body restricts the Divine Soul, leading to a weakening of the connection between Heaven and man.
Moreover, when the Physical Body becomes too powerful, it can even completely imprison the Divine Thought.
Ji You has been Body Refining for several years and has always paid special attention to this matter, adding flour when there's too much water, and water when there's too much flour, maintaining a subtle balance.
As the Divine Soul continuously grew stronger, the Physical Body's restraint also continuously increased.
The relationship between these two seemed to be relatively static, but in reality, both the Divine Soul's strength and the Physical Body's restraint were continuously increasing.
He didn't believe that someone could force him to comprehend the Heavenly Dao he didn't want to comprehend.
Ji You gritted his teeth, continued to keep the spiritual flame in his body burning, and then stepped out again.
This was his third major hurdle.
The moment he fell, he began his third major hurdle.
A strong sense of restraint continuously enveloped him, as if to crush him.
But what was originally an obstacle to breaking through, now became the strongest tug-of-war between his Physical Body and Divine Soul, keeping his spirit and form tightly bound.
Five steps, six steps...
In everyone's sight, Ji You's steps gradually became steady, while the golden light-shadow's body trembled less and less.
Most crucially, when he took the first two steps, the golden light-shadow only returned after he stopped.
But in the subsequent steps, each time it was forcefully dragged back.
Seeing this scene, the disciples of the Six Great Immortal Sects stared for a long time, and shock and incomprehension gradually appeared in their eyes.
He entered the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, but he did not assimilate into the Dao; instead, he began to step towards the depths of the altar.
And at this moment, both his state and the light-shadow oscillating on his body made people feel incomprehensible.
“How could this be? What is he doing?”
“He is forcefully snatching his Divine Soul from the Heavenly Dao.”
Zuoqiuyaong furrowed his brows, saying this while staring at the figure taking steady steps, his eyes growing deeper.
At this moment, Ji You, surrounded by Evil Qi, walked more and more steadily, his steps faster and faster. Then he suddenly clenched his fist, and as the Qi surged through his body, a wave of wind rose around him.
At this moment, the golden light-shadow no longer appeared. Instead, what replaced it was an endless golden surge like waves in his eyes, erasing his disorientation and confusion, replacing it with gradual clarity.
Zuoqiuyaong saw this scene and gently opened his mouth: “It seems the Heavenly Dao couldn’t snatch him away.”
“???”
Hearing this, all the disciples of the Six Great Immortal Sects and the world's Sects looked bewildered.
The Heavenly Dao drawing a person’s Divine Soul into Heaven is an involuntary act. How could anyone resist the Heavenly Dao, or even contend with it?
However, the truth was, Ji You had indeed entered the Human Race altar where the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice had already begun.
The Heavenly Dao strongly invited, but he did not respond.
The original dead end suddenly had a variable, leaving everyone unable to react for a moment.
Ji You had always been extraordinary, but they hadn't expected that this almost certain killing intent could actually be torn open by him in such a shocking way.
With a loud bang, everyone suddenly snapped back to reality, seeing the figure amidst the Evil Qi had already stepped and charged towards the center of the altar, instantly holding their breath.
Evil Qi inherently possesses the ability to obscure Divine Souls, and from a distance, no one could capture his figure anymore, only those at Perfection in the Upper Five Realms.
They watched him without blinking, as he sprinted wildly through the dark, dense fog.
The Human Race altar was incredibly vast, but for cultivators, this distance was nothing.
Ji You strode forward, passing countless cultivators who had once shone brightly at the Youxian Assembly. As he approached the center, he saw one or two figures sitting cross-legged.
Among them, one had a towering black light roaring between its Heavenly Spirit.
Suddenly, Ji You drew his arm back like a full bow, stepping forward like a wild beast, while his Azure Edge in hand whistled down.
Clang!!!
A pair of crimson iron hands suddenly clamped down on the Dao Sword, and the powerful impact directly cut a long mark through the surrounding Evil Qi.
Chu Xian caught the sword with both hands, his entire body suddenly retreating ten zhang. Then he looked up at the figure before him, a hint of disbelief in his eyes.
Because during the Heavenly Dao Sacrifice, it was impossible for anyone to enter this place midway.
He had verified this countless times. “Ji You?”
“It seems I just need to kill you.”
“?”
Ji You looked at the black light on his Heavenly Spirit, suddenly vibrated his sword, and stomped forward, the Dao Sword in his hand emitting a clear sword hum.
The Sword Qi, soaring to the heavens and carrying intense sword pressure, unleashed a series of explosions as it came crashing down.
Chu Xian suddenly flicked his robe, meeting it head-on with his crimson iron hands, instantly feeling a powerful Qi directly pressing down on his arms.
With a puff, his purple sleeve suddenly burst open.
The exposed arms now had veins bulging, and the skin rapidly turned red at a visible speed, causing his eyes to constrict sharply.
But before he could react for a moment, the next sword strike, like a surging torrent, swept across.
Amidst the dense sparks, the sword strike was like a violent storm, unleashing powerful Qi and sharp Sword Qi.
Chu Xian, within it, continuously swung his arms, his crimson iron hands like red-hot branding irons, clashing dozens of times in an instant with Ji You's furiously descending Dao Sword.
Just as a heaven-encircling round slash was being worn down by his iron hands, this former Xuan Yuan Saint suddenly curved his lips, and from the opening in his sword swing, he abruptly clenched his hand into a claw, exploding the air as he fiercely thrust towards Ji You's chest.
But at this moment, Chu Xian's smile suddenly froze on his face.
Amidst the violent Qi waves, Ji You suddenly grabbed a sword from within the Qi waves, and the whistling Sword Qi had already burst forth before him.
With a bang, Chu Xian was violently sent flying like a kite with a broken string, smashing a deep pit into the altar.
“It seems to be trembling.”
“??”
Although the people standing on the encircling wall couldn't see through the Evil Qi, they could see the flashes of sword light, and they felt a chill in their hearts at how fierce he could be within the Evil Qi.
It wasn't until someone spoke that they looked back at the black light soaring into the sky.
After a long wait, the black light indeed began to tremble slightly.
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