At the peak of Kunlun Mountain, Yang Chen stood with his eyes closed.
His body remained still, but his Divine Soul was undergoing an earth-shattering transformation.
Just moments ago, that earth-yellow sphere of light, carrying the Kirin Clan's merit accumulated over endless ages and the supreme principles of the earth, gave him no time to react. It plunged straight into his inner sanctuary and merged with his True Spirit.
Boom!
Endless profound truths did not enter him like an empowerment. They were more like a breached celestial river, carrying the weight of the entire primordial land as they violently scoured every inch of his consciousness.
The Law of Earth.
At that moment, beneath his feet was no longer the cold rock of Kunlun Mountain.
His perception pierced through the surface, through the mountains' foundations, and connected with the earth veins lying dormant deep within countless strata, pulsing like enormous dragons.
He "heard" them.
Not with his ears, but with his Divine Soul.
He heard a volcano on the distant shores of the Eastern Sea gathering its fury for its next eruption deep beneath the ocean. He heard ten-thousand-year-old black ice beneath the far northern tundra giving faint, fragmented groans at the subtle fluctuations of the earth veins. He heard the breathing contained within every grain of soil in the fertile lands of the central region—heavy, steady, and nurturing all things.
Virtue of Bearing.
Bearing all things.
Those four words were no longer hollow phrases from ancient texts.
They became an instinct. So long as both feet stood upon the earth, he could command the boundless power of the earth veins and wield it as his own with absolute control.
Empowered by the Law of Earth, Yang Chen's mana began recovering and growing on its own at a terrifying pace, cycling endlessly and flourishing without end.
Standing upon the earth, he was eternal.
At the same time, two entirely different powers within him also reached perfect equilibrium.
Every drop of his blood and every inch of his flesh and bones contained a vast ocean lying dormant within. This was the tyrannical physique bestowed by Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood, one capable of rivaling the ancient ancestral shamans. Every gesture carried power enough to tear apart the heavens.
Deep within his inner sanctuary, a seven-colored divine flame burned quietly. It was the Nirvana Fire formed from the Phoenix Clan Origin. The immense vitality contained within was an extra life for him, his ultimate trump card that would allow him to rise from the flames and be reborn when faced with Death of Body and Dao.
Dragon's Power governed slaughter.
Phoenix's Fire governed vitality.
Kirin Law governed bearing and defense.
Attack. Defense. Life.
The three most fundamental sources of power from the ancient overlords had actually formed a flawless, impregnable cycle within this "debtor."
Compared to before he resolved the karma of the three clans, his strength had increased by far more than tenfold!
Yang Chen slowly opened his eyes, and an indifferent golden gleam flashed through the depths of his pupils.
He raised a hand and looked down at his palm.
The lines on his palm were distinct, as though they contained the mountains, rivers, and veins of the entire primordial world.
There was not the slightest relief in his heart after repaying this karma.
Instead, he felt an unprecedented satisfaction at having everything firmly within his grasp.
Resolved karma?
No.
How could this be called resolving karma?
This was clearly a perfect exploitation, one that sucked the creditors dry to the bone and squeezed out every last shred of value!
The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans thought they could use ancient karma to keep him in check. Little did they know that they, along with their final "inheritance," had become stepping stones for his growth.
He had devoured them clean, not even spitting out the scraps of their bones.
Yang Chen's thoughts stirred slightly and sank into the deathly silent Sea of Karmic Force within him.
In a corner of the abyss.
Three vast wills that had once stirred the primordial world and shone alongside the sun and moon were now curled up there, trembling in fear.
Ancestral Dragon's remnant soul had lost all dragon might. Only a vague phantom remained, filled with extreme terror at the slightest fluctuation of energy.
Phoenix Ancestor's soul flame was dim as a candle guttering in the wind. None of her former pride in burning the nine heavens remained; all that was left was the lowly struggle to survive.
First Qilin's will—his mighty divine mountain had already collapsed, leaving behind only a handful of dust mixed with endless regret and terror.
Creditors?
Now, they had lost even the courage to raise their heads and look at Yang Chen.
They finally understood what kind of monster they had provoked.
Their only thought now was to hide and erase their presence as thoroughly as possible, afraid that the high and mighty demon king might spare them another glance.
A cold curve appeared at the corner of Yang Chen's lips.
He withdrew his thoughts, too lazy to pay any more attention to these three utterly ruined "old friends."
His gaze returned to the foot of the mountain.
Outside Kunlun Mountain, the heavy silence, enough to crush mountains, still persisted.
Led by the Four Seas Dragon Kings, several thousand elite dragons remained prostrated on the ground, not daring even to breathe loudly.
They knew nothing of the thrilling "division of spoils" that had just taken place within Yang Chen.
They remained immersed in the immense joy and unease of "acknowledging their ancestor and returning to their roots," waiting for the final judgment of their progenitor.
Ao Guang's aged dragon body trembled slightly from his prolonged excitement and tension.
His heart, which had lived through countless epochs, pounded as though it were about to burst out of his throat.
Yang Chen looked at the dark mass below him, at those dragon faces filled with fanaticism, reverence, and a hint of fawning. The cold curve in his eyes gradually turned into an amused smile.
These fellows would make a fine group of free enforcers.
These "filial descendants" who had come knocking at his door might prove quite useful in the future.
He cleared his throat.
A calm, gentle voice, carrying not the slightest hint of pressure, clearly entered the ears of every dragon.
"Enough."
Just two words, yet they were like the voice of the Heavenly Dao, making every dragon below shudder violently.
Yang Chen spoke casually, as though he had merely swatted a few flies to death.
"Those ignorant fools who did not know their place have already been dealt with."
"You have done well."
Yang Chen's gaze settled upon Ao Guang at the forefront, carrying just the right measure of "approval."
"From now on, remain in the Four Seas with peace of mind. If there is anything important, I will summon you."
Boom!
These few words completely ignited the wild joy within the Divine Souls of the Four Seas Dragon Kings and the thousands of elite dragons.
He acknowledged them!
Old Ancestor had not only acknowledged their status, but also affirmed their loyalty!
"Your descendants shall obey Old Ancestor's decree!"
Ao Guang suddenly raised his head. Tears were already streaming down his aged dragon face. With all his strength, he slammed his head heavily into the dirt once more. His voice was hoarse with overwhelming excitement, yet his roar unleashed a sound wave that shook heaven and earth.
"We respectfully see off Old Ancestor!"
"We respectfully see off Old Ancestor!"
The thousands of dragons behind him shouted in unison, their voices shaking the clouds.
Thus, the boundless karma originating from the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans—a burden enough to reduce even a Sage to ashes in an instant—came to a perfect end with Yang Chen's overwhelming victory.
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