Deep Cultivation of the Yi Principle

Xuanjizi grasped the conceptual realm of The Unchanging Change and pioneered the method of Yi Li Ding Ji, acting like the first bonfire lit amidst a pervasive, toxic miasma; though it failed to disperse all the gloom, it pointed the way forward for the entire Academy and served as a potent stimulant. Hope was rekindled, replacing the previous despair and anxiety.

The Academy delved deep, and a hundred flowers bloomed.

Under the guidance and selfless instruction of Xuanjizi, the core disciples of the Academy began to study this nascent concept of "Change" in depth.

Combining it with the characteristics of their own Literary Heart, they attempted to integrate it into their respective cultivation and divine abilities, presenting a scene where a hundred flowers bloomed.

Elder Teng was no longer satisfied with merely slowing the withering of plants; with his profound insight into life and his Benevolent Resilience Literary Heart, he began to deduce the wonders of the Cycle of Wither and Flourish.

He carved out a small experimental plot in the Medicine Garden, no longer forcibly isolating the Aura of Annihilation, but instead guiding his own Literary Qi to simulate the natural laws of the four seasons' cycle and the alternation of life and death, enveloping the eroded spiritual plants.

At first, the withering of the spiritual plants accelerated, but at the very moment their vitality was about to be completely severed, a sprout—purer and more resilient—stubbornly germinated from the decayed roots.

The vitality it contained was even more refined than before!

Although the success rate was low and it was extremely taxing on the mind, this was undoubtedly a perilous path of incorporating annihilation into the cycle of life, breaking through to establish something new.

Yun Xi's path of protection also underwent a transformation.

Her Guardian Bastion Literary Palace was no longer just a solid barrier; it evolved into two layers, with the outer layer flowing like water.

It continuously engaged in "Void-Real" conversion with the encroaching Aura of Annihilation, guiding and diffusing a portion of the erosive force;

the inner layer became increasingly dense, ensuring the core remained intact. She called this method the Void-Real Symbiosis Shield; while it could not eradicate the threat, it greatly enhanced the resilience and endurance of her defense.

Jin Li attempted to integrate the concept of "Change" into his fierce Tongue-and-Sword.

He no longer pursued extreme sharpness, but instead allowed his blade of intent to carry a hint of the Flow of Metal and Stone during his attacks.

Upon hitting a target, it not only caused damage but also briefly disrupted the structural stability of the opponent's power, which was exceptionally effective against enemies relying on specific energy or law-based forms.

Mingxin focused her primary energy on deduction. Relying on her Wisdom Light Literary Heart and combining it with the concept of "Change,"

she began to attempt to build a simple model capable of more accurately predicting the flow and changing patterns of the Aura of Annihilation.

Although progress was slow, it laid the foundation for potential proactive responses in the future.

Even Huiming, who came from the West, was deeply shocked after coming into contact with this conceptual realm of The Unchanging Change, his eyes flashing with brilliance.

It seemed to resonate strangely with certain profound methods of the West he knew; his cultivation became increasingly diligent, and his sense of identification with the Academy deepened imperceptibly.

Xuanjizi himself, while consolidating Yi Li Ding Ji, began to ponder deeper questions: The Aura of Annihilation was endless, so what was its root?

Passive defense and containment were not long-term solutions; could he find its source and solve the problem at its root?

He attempted several times to track the flow of the Aura of Annihilation using his newly comprehended Literary Qi of "Change."

He sensed that it seemed to have a faint, yet Essentially Connected, pull toward a certain direction deep within the East Sea.

This filled his heart with doubts, and he cast his gaze once again toward that deep expanse of sea under the rule of the Dragon Palace.

Cracks in the Dragon Palace, panic spreads.

Just as the Academy was united and forging ahead, the East Sea Dragon Palace began to show unprecedented cracks due to the frustration of their plans and the fear of the unknown.

The consequences of Ao Guang and the Turtle Prime Minister forcibly invoking the Aura of Annihilation began to manifest.

Several Dragon Race princes who participated in the ritual suffered varying degrees of regression in their cultivation due to excessive depletion and the backlash of the Aura of Annihilation's bizarre power.

Dull, dark spots that seemed to be decayed by time appeared on their dragon bodies, and their dragon scales lost their luster. A sense of decay and rot permeated the entire core of the Dragon Palace.

More terrifyingly, even though they strictly sealed the news, the intelligence that "the Myriad Dao Academy seems to have found a way to counter that mysterious power" quietly spread among the high-ranking members of the Dragon Race like a plague.

Panic spread uncontrollably.

"It's over... even the Aura of Annihilation can't do anything to them... what hope is there for my Dragon Race...?"

"We shouldn't have listened to the Turtle Prime Minister back then and taken such a risky move! Now, not only have we failed to take revenge, but we may have invited even more terrible consequences!"

"If Sage Wanhua traces the source of this aura... won't my Dragon Palace follow in the footsteps of the Water Army and be completely wiped out?!"

Questioning, complaining, and even secret accusations against the decisions of the Dragon King and the Turtle Prime Minister began to circulate among the Dragon princes and powerful generals.

The once monolithic ruling class of the Dragon Palace showed clearly visible cracks.

The Seventh Prince, Ao Xin, was in a state of constant anxiety; he knew he was the fuse for all the conflicts and feared that his father, in despair, would hand him over to appease the Sage's wrath.

On this day, a Dragon prince known for his upright character finally lashed out during the council: "Your Majesty! Turtle Prime Minister!

Things have come to this, are we still going to sit and wait for death?

If the Myriad Dao Academy can truly neutralize the Aura of Annihilation, the next step will inevitably be to trace the source! We must make plans early!"

"Plans? What other plans are there?" another prince sneered. "Seek peace? With what? Go and provide more materials for people to refine treasures?"

The hall was immediately in chaos, with endless arguing.

The Turtle Prime Minister's face was ashen, and he remained silent. Ao Guang looked at the divided clan below and listened to the arguments filled with despair and panic, only to feel a surge of blood rushing to his throat again, his dragon body swaying slightly.

The Dragon Race he was so proud of had reached the brink of such disintegration under his own hands!

"Enough!" Ao Guang slammed the dragon throne, his voice hoarse and weary. "This matter... will be discussed later! Everyone, withdraw!"

He waved the dragons away powerlessly and sat slumped alone on the cold dragon throne, staring at the empty hall.

For the first time, deep regret appeared in his eyes. Perhaps... from the very beginning, he should never have provoked the Myriad Dao Academy...

Peering from the shadows, a new shadow

However, the catastrophe at the Dragon Palace could not mask all the prying eyes.

Just as the East Sea was caught in treacherous turmoil due to the internal strife of the Dragon Palace and the Aura of Annihilation, no one noticed that in the depths of a desolate sea area far from the academy and the Dragon Palace, something was stirring.

A blurry mass of black mist, seemingly coalescing from countless Negative Emotions and Twisted Shadows, was silently observing everything.

Within the black mist, two points of scarlet light flickered unsteadily, like the eyes of a demon.

"The aura of annihilation... though faint, it is indeed that intoxicating Power of Termination..."

A hoarse voice, filled with greed, whispered from within the black mist, "Those fools of the Dragon Race actually managed to trigger such power... although they failed, they have provided an excellent coordinate..."

"Myriad Dao Academy... Literary Dao... Order... these are the most delicious food for us Formless Heavenly Demons...

Especially when this order is eroded by annihilation, revealing its flaws..." another sharp voice chimed in, carrying a hair-raising malice.

"Wait... patiently wait... when the academy is most deeply entangled with the annihilation and the Dragon Palace.

That will be the moment for us to descend and feast... The Primordial Era needs more chaos and... despair!"

The black mist slowly sank into the deeper seabed and vanished, as if it had never appeared at all.

But a malice, colder and purer than the hatred of the Dragon Race, had already drifted into the wind of the East Sea like spores.

While Xuanjizi and the academy disciples were struggling to combat the annihilation and stabilize their internal affairs, they remained unaware that a greater crisis, originating from beyond the realm and targeting the mind and order, had already opened its scarlet eyes in the darkness, coveting this Pure Land of Literary Radiance that had just begun to see the light of dawn.

With internal troubles unresolved and external threats arriving, the fate of the Myriad Dao Academy was being drawn into an even more turbulent vortex of undercurrents.