Relying on their newly comprehended principle of "Yi," Xuanjizi and the other Core Disciples had temporarily stabilized the Academy's situation and established several Safe Points untouched by the corrosion of the Aura of Annihilation. But it was ultimately only a temporary fix.
The Aura of Annihilation originating from the Chasm of Guixu still clung like a Bone-Attached Sore, permeating most of the Academy and continuously draining the Literary Radiance Dao Charm while hindering the disciples' normal cultivation.
Moreover, Yi Li Ding Ji placed an enormous burden on the mind and spirit. In the long run, the disciples would not be able to endure it either.
Just as the stalemate continued and a shadow still hung over everyone's hearts, an indescribable, gentle yet vast will that encompassed the heavens and soothed all laws—
Slowly awakened from the Chaos Space at the Academy's core, spreading soundlessly like spilled mercury.
It was Sage Wanhua!
He did not manifest in person, yet his will had already enveloped the entire Myriad Dao Academy, as well as the Ten Thousand Mile Sea Region surrounding it!
Every Academy disciple, whether meditating, discussing the Dao, or using Yi Li Ding Ji to maintain the Safe Points,
Felt it at the same moment. They all stopped what they were doing, rose solemnly, faced the Academy's core, and bowed their heads respectfully.
An indescribable sense of reassurance and reverence rose from the depths of their hearts.
"The disturbance has lasted long enough. It is time for it to end."
Wanhua's calm voice did not travel through the air. Instead, it resounded directly within the depths of every living being's mind, carrying an unshakeable stability.
The next instant, there was no earth-shattering phenomenon, nor did any dazzling Divine Light erupt.
Yet every living being in the Academy and the surrounding sea region clearly "saw"—or rather, sensed—a sight beyond vision.
The originally Formless and Intangible Aura of Annihilation that filled the air and relentlessly corroded the Literary Radiance Dao Charm—
Seemed to answer the summons of some Supreme Rule, gathering from every direction toward a single point above the Academy!
No longer did it seep through in silence. Instead, like countless rivers returning to the sea, it manifested as faint Twisted Gray Shadows that seemed capable of devouring all light, surging madly toward that point.
At the point of convergence, a slowly unfurling Book Phantom of ancient, chaotic hues had appeared at some unknown moment—it was the projection of the Myriad Dao Celestial Tome!
There were no actual words upon the Book Phantom, only endless Dao Patterns naturally arising, fading, and circulating.
When the vast Aura of Annihilation poured into the Book Phantom, it did not trigger an explosion or confrontation.
The Dao Patterns on its pages glimmered faintly, as though the most accomplished scholar were reviewing a profound and dangerous Chapter of Paradox.
Analysis, dismantling, reconstruction, ordering... a process that transcended the ordinary concept of purification was taking place soundlessly within the Book Phantom.
The Aura of Annihilation, representing "endings" and "nothingness," before it—
Seemed to have become a special kind of "knowledge" or Law Phenomenon that could be understood, analyzed, and even incorporated into its own system.
In but a few moments, the gathered Aura of Annihilation, enough to make even Taiyi Golden Immortals feel helpless and despairing—
Was completely "swallowed," broken down, and absorbed by the Book Phantom! The Book Phantom's radiance seemed to deepen slightly before slowly fading away.
At the same time, the invisible oppressive feeling that had shrouded the Academy for days, along with the corrosive force that had slowed Literary Qi and withered vegetation, vanished without a trace like Morning Mist completely scattered by sunlight!
The sky regained its clarity, and the Literary Radiance Pillar became pure and resplendent once more, shining brilliantly!
All plants within the Academy that had been affected by the Aura of Annihilation stopped withering and burst forth with new vitality!
The disciples felt their bodies lighten, their Literary Qi circulating more smoothly than ever before. Their Sea of Consciousness was clear, and the obstacles encountered in their prior cultivation suddenly opened up!
"Thank you for your grace, Teacher!"
Led by Xuanjizi, all the Academy disciples bowed together, their voices filled with excitement and boundless reverence.
The crisis they had struggled desperately to endure and explore for days without resolving had been, in the Sage's eyes, no more than a wave of his hand!
Yet Wanhua's will did not immediately withdraw.
His vast perception followed the exceedingly concealed yet fundamentally linked Source Pull he had detected while analyzing the Aura of Annihilation.
Like Formless and Intangible tendrils, it instantly crossed the Endless Sea Region and precisely projected itself into the deepest part of the East Sea's Sea Eye, where the Chasm of Guixu lay!
His "gaze" pierced through the Dragon Palace's layers upon layers of restrictions and concealment formations, clearly "seeing" the Ethereal Light Fissure attached to the Sea Eye's barrier, constantly twisting and shifting.
As well as the lingering aura of the Dragon Clan Core's Mad Bloodline around the fissure, and the cracked Dragon Pattern Array Disk.
"So it was you. You set yourselves on fire, yet still dared to drag the innocent into it."
A trace of icy intent colored Wanhua's voice as it directly resounded within the minds of the Turtle Prime Minister, Ao Guang, and the other Dragon Clan Core members involved in this matter!
Ao Guang and the Turtle Prime Minister, already overwhelmed by the failed plan and the internal rifts it had caused—
Heard this Holy Word striking directly at their souls, and were instantly frightened out of their wits. Their dragon bodies stiffened, and even their thoughts nearly froze!
He knew! He knew everything!
Overwhelming terror instantly engulfed them, leaving them unable to form even the slightest thought of defense.
"The seal has been damaged, and the Annihilation Undercurrent has stirred. This will not end here."
Wanhua's voice continued, no longer directed solely at the Dragon Palace. "There are also Outer Demonic Thoughts spying through the fissure, intending to profit from the chaos."
Before his words had faded, his vast will swept like an invisible searchlight toward an apparently ordinary Dark Water Area beyond the Dragon Palace!
"Hiss—!"
That stretch of water seemed like ice dropped into boiling oil, violently churning!
A hazy mass of Demonic Mist, formed from countless negative emotions and Twisted Shadows, was forced to reveal itself. It let out a piercing shriek, while two scarlet points of light within it brimmed with shock and resentment!
They were the Formless Heavenly Demons that had been spying on them earlier!
"S-Sage?!" An incredulous, shrill howl came from within the Demonic Mist. "How could you possibly discover us?!"
They had relied on being Formless and Intangible, specializing in attacks upon the mind and possessing exceptional concealment techniques. Yet before the discerning will of a Primordial Chaos Sage, they had nowhere to hide!
"Leave the East Sea, or remain here forever." Wanhua's voice contained not the slightest emotion, yet it held the absolute will of Word of Law.
The Demonic Mist twisted violently, clearly enduring immense pressure. With an unwilling shriek, it abruptly exploded into hundreds of millions of tiny Demonic Thoughts.
They fled in every direction, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Though they had not been erased on the spot, their scheme to spy upon the East Sea and take advantage of the chaos had been completely exposed. They had also clearly suffered considerable fright and injury.
Wanhua's will receded like the tide, returning to the Academy's core.
In the depths of the Sea Eye, within the Dragon Palace, deathly silence reigned. Ao Guang and the Turtle Prime Minister collapsed to the ground, drenched in cold sweat, as though they had just passed through Ghost Gate Pass.
Not only had their plan failed completely, but the Aura of Annihilation they had drawn in had also been effortlessly resolved.
Even the Outer Heavenly Demons lurking in secret had been exposed by the Sage. The Dragon Palace had become nothing more than a laughingstock in the Sage's eyes.
Though Wanhua had not immediately punished the Dragon Palace after this incident, the meaning of his warning was unmistakably clear.
At the same time, he had displayed to the entire Primordial Era—and to certain beings hidden even deeper—his unfathomable power and Wisdom Eye that saw through all things.
The Myriad Dao Academy's crisis had temporarily eased, and Literary Radiance had revived.
Yet the "Outer Demonic Thoughts" and "Annihilation Undercurrent has stirred" spoken of by the Sage were like new dark clouds, foretelling that the Primordial Era's future—
Would no longer be limited merely to internal strife, but might face threats from beyond this world.
Xuanjizi and the others gazed up at the clear sky, their hearts full of gratitude toward their teacher. Yet the words "Outer Demonic Thoughts" also left them feeling a heavier sense of responsibility and urgency.
Their path of cultivation seemed only to have just touched upon the opening of a truly vast and turbulent epic.
Before you continue