Dragon Body Stained with Malevolence, Three Clans in Peril

Ao Guang's figure appeared at the valley entrance, the water vapor around him already turbid. His originally clear draconic might was now laced with strands of golden Annihilation Power, like ink mixed into clear water, forming an eerie black-gold energy flow. A faint trace of bloodshot red flickered in his eyes, and though his steps seemed steady, they carried an undercurrent of restless volatility—clearly, the Talisman Seal Fragments within him had begun eroding his mind.

"Fellow Daoist Ao Guang, why do you have Annihilation Power inside you?" Donghua spoke first, his Wood Spirit Power quietly circulating to form an invisible barrier before him. "Did you come into contact with a Demonic Beast or corpse infected by the talisman seal?"

Ao Guang grinned, his smile stiff and forced. "Just a little contamination from killing a few residual Demonic Beasts—nothing worth mentioning." His gaze swept across the lingering Annihilation aura in the valley, and when it landed on Xuan Fu, the bloodshot red grew more pronounced. "I heard you two killed a Residual Soul Clone, so I came specially to help clean up the remnants, and... to seek some talisman guidance from Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman."

Xuan Fu's instincts screamed danger. Ao Guang's tone seemed normal, but he dodged the real issue, and his eyes kept locking onto the Nirvana Seal inside Xuan Fu—clearly drawn by the seal fragments, wanting to seize the complete seal within him. Old Ancestor Nirvana's move was insidious: not only infecting the Three Clan Experts, but using the Same Origin Power attraction of the seals to make them slaughter each other, reaping the benefits.

"Fellow Daoist Ao Guang jokes. With my meager talisman skill, how dare I show off before a Dragon Clan grandmaster?" Xuan Fu took a half-step back without a sound, his Rigid-Soft Talisman Power secretly circulating. "The Annihilation Power inside you is no small matter. If not cleansed quickly, it might erode your mind. Why not return with us to Jade Void Palace and use the Innate Jade Fluid and Soul-Suppressing Array for purification?"

"Purification?" Ao Guang's voice suddenly rose, tinged with madness. "I am the Dragon Clan Crown Prince—how could I be troubled by mere evil power! Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, the Nirvana Seal inside you is so pure. Why not lend it to me for a look? Perhaps it could help me fully refine this power!"

Before the words faded, Ao Guang's black-gold energy surged, water vapor and Annihilation Power weaving into a ferocious black-gold dragon shadow that lunged at Xuan Fu. Where the dragon shadow passed, space corroded into long scars, carrying the terrifying pressure of "Return to Nothingness"—clearly fusing Dragon Clan divine abilities with Annihilation Power, its might far surpassing the Demon Spider Commander.

"Not good! The seal has already taken his mind!" Donghua's face changed drastically. Wood Spirit Power erupted instantly, countless emerald vines bursting from the ground like a dam before Xuan Fu. The vines, thick with life force, clashed with the black-gold dragon shadow, emitting a sizzling corrosion sound as the emerald light rapidly dimmed.

Xuan Fu didn't hesitate. He activated the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman, cyan-gold talisman power wrapped in the life force of a Purification Talisman, forming a sword that stabbed straight at the dragon shadow's core. He knew the Talisman Seal Fragments inside Ao Guang were the power source—only by shattering them could he temporarily wake him; otherwise, once the Annihilation Power fully took control, Ao Guang would become another Demon Spider Commander.

Clang!

The talisman blade collided with the black-gold dragon shadow. Cyan-gold and black-gold light intertwined and exploded, the massive Energy Shockwave blasting a gully several zhang deep into the valley floor. Xuan Fu only felt his arm go numb, his talisman power in chaos—Ao Guang's fused strength was far fiercer than he'd imagined. The black-gold dragon shadow, struck at its core, let out a mournful dragon roar, a crack appearing on its surface as Annihilation Power leaked out, turning surrounding rocks to ash instantly.

"Ant! How dare you wound me!" Ao Guang roared. The black-gold dragon shadow reformed, larger than before, and spat a black-gold Annihilation Dragon Breath sweeping toward Xuan Fu and Donghua. The breath combined Annihilation Power and corrosion force, annihilating even the air itself as it passed, leaving a vacuum zone.

Xuan Fu and Donghua quickly dodged. The breath struck where they'd stood, blasting a massive pit that continuously spewed black evil energy—clearly fully contaminated by Annihilation Power.

"If this continues, we're done for!" Donghua gasped, stabilizing his form. His Wood Spirit Power was heavily drained, his face pale. "Ao Guang's strength already far surpasses ours, and now with Annihilation Power fused, he's even more unstoppable. We can't contend head-on!"

Xuan Fu nodded in agreement. He could feel the Talisman Seal Fragments inside Ao Guang rapidly absorbing the Annihilation aura around them, his power still rising. If they dragged it out, let alone shattering the fragments, they'd both be killed by Ao Guang.

"I have to use the Nirvana Seal to restrain him!" A flash of resolve crossed Xuan Fu's eyes. He suddenly activated the Nirvana Seal within him, Golden Patterns surging as the seal's Annihilation Power was released without reserve. This force resonated strongly with the fragments inside Ao Guang, freezing the black-gold dragon shadow's movements instantly. Ao Guang's face twisted in pain—the two Same Origin Powers clashing, briefly tearing at his mind.

"Now!"

Seizing the gap, Xuan Fu activated the Universe Folding Talisman, turning into a cyan-gold streamer that appeared before Ao Guang in an instant. Instead of attacking, he pressed a Purification Talisman and a Demon Suppressing Talisman simultaneously onto Ao Guang's brow. Emerald and cyan-gold light erupted together, flowing through Ao Guang's meridians toward the Talisman Seal Fragments, enveloping them.

"Get off!" Ao Guang roared, trying to Break Free, but the Same Origin Power held him back, slowing his movements. The Purification Talisman's life force madly devoured the evil energy, while the Demon Suppressing Talisman's binding force locked the fragments, preventing them from absorbing more Annihilation Power.

Donghua seized the chance to attack. Wood Spirit Power turned into countless fine vines, burrowing into Ao Guang's meridians, coordinating with the Purification and Demon Suppressing Talismans to form a stable purification barrier, completely isolating the Talisman Seal Fragments from Ao Guang's origin.

"Ahhh—!"

Ao Guang let out a pained roar. The two forces inside him clashed violently, black-gold energy and emerald, cyan-gold light intertwining on his skin in eerie streams. His mind was torn between Annihilation Power and his own origin, his eyes flickering between bloodshot red and clarity.

Xuan Fu Grit his Teeth, continuously pouring in talisman power to reinforce the purification barrier. He could feel the Talisman Seal Fragments inside Ao Guang, though stubborn, were gradually shrinking under the combined pressure of three forces, the spread of Annihilation Power completely halted.

Half an hour later, the Talisman Seal Fragments inside Ao Guang were finally fully Stripped Away, turning into a Golden Streamer that Xuan Fu stored in his space. Without the fragments' support, the black-gold energy on Ao Guang's surface quickly receded, his eyes clearing, though his face was pale and his aura weak.

"What... what did I do?" Ao Guang stared blankly at his hands, then at the ravaged valley and the exhausted looks of Xuan Fu and Donghua. Realization dawned, and guilt filled his face. "Thank you both for saving me. If not for you, I would have become Old Ancestor Nirvana's puppet and committed a grave mistake!"

"Don't blame yourself, Fellow Daoist. You're a victim too." Xuan Fu waved a hand, withdrawing the Nirvana Seal. "Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal is too strange—it can infect through aura, impossible to guard against."

Donghua nodded. "The priority now is to find out how many in the Three Clans are infected. If we let this go, the Three Clans will fall into civil war, and Old Ancestor Nirvana will Break Free."

At the mention of the Three Clans, Ao Guang's face grew grim. "To be honest, before I came, I received word from my clan. Many Dragon Clan cultivators have symptoms like mine—chaotic minds, out-of-control power—clearly infected by the seal. The Phoenix and Kirin Clans are likely in the same boat."

Xuan Fu's heart sank. Old Ancestor Nirvana's target wasn't just him—it was the entire Three Clans. Already rife with disputes over spirit veins and territory, the infected clans would inevitably suspect and attack each other, heading toward destruction. Old Ancestor Nirvana would reap the benefits, absorbing the massive origin energy from their fall to accelerate his escape.

"We must notify the Three Clans immediately to stop infighting and fight the infection together!" Donghua said gravely. "At the same time, we need the Jade Void Palace seniors to set up Soul-Suppressing Arrays in the clan territories to help infected cultivators purify the fragments."

Ao Guang nodded. "I'll return to the Dragon Clan to calm my people and contact Feng Yao and Qilin Cang to tell them the truth. But the Three Clans' grudges run deep—getting them to set aside their disputes won't be easy."

"Where there's a will, there's a way." Xuan Fu said. "I'll go with Fellow Daoist Donghua. With talisman and Wood Spirit Power, we might ease some suspicions. Only by showing the Three Clans the harm of infection and Old Ancestor Nirvana's scheme will they truly realize the importance of unity."

With the discussion settled, the three set off immediately toward Dragon Clan territory. Along the way, they encountered many infected Three Clan cultivators, most already fully mad, reduced to mindless killing monsters. Xuan Fu and Donghua had to subdue them, temporarily sealing the Talisman Seal Fragments for later purification.

The closer they got to Dragon Clan territory, the more infected cultivators they saw, and the denser the Annihilation aura in the air. In the distance, flames rose from the Dragon Clan settlement, with faint sounds of battle and dragon roars—civil war had already broken out.

"Not good! The Dragon Clan is in chaos!" Ao Guang's face changed, speeding up. "If the chaos spreads, the entire Dragon Clan will be destroyed!"

Xuan Fu and Donghua, equally anxious, pushed to their fastest speeds, following Ao Guang toward the Dragon Clan territory.

When they arrived, the sight left them stunned. The once orderly Dragon Clan settlement was now a hellscape. Countless Dragon Clan cultivators fought each other, black-gold Annihilation Power and blue water vapor intertwining. The ground was littered with dragon corpses, blood staining the earth, the air thick with blood and evil energy.

Feng Yao and Qilin Cang were there too, each leading their clan elites in a standoff against the Dragon Clan rebels. Phoenix flames and Kirin earth armor clashed with Dragon Clan Annihilation water vapor in fierce battle—clearly, many of their own clansmen were also infected, forced into the slaughter.

"Ao Guang! You're finally back!" Feng Yao's eyes flashed with anger. "Your clansmen, infected with evil power, are attacking my Phoenix and Kirin Clans madly. You owe us an explanation!"

Qilin Cang added grimly, "Ao Guang, if this isn't resolved properly, the Three Clans' pact is broken, and it'll be war to the death!"

Ao Guang quickly explained, "Feng Yao, Qilin Cang, this isn't the Dragon Clan's intention! Our clansmen were infected by Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal, losing their minds and attacking wildly. Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman and Donghua can vouch for me—they've already purified the Talisman Seal Fragments in my body!"

Feng Yao and Qilin Cang looked skeptically at Xuan Fu and Donghua. Xuan Fu stepped forward, cupping his hands. "Fellow Daoists, this is true. Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal infects through aura, specifically to incite civil war among the Three Clans, so he can absorb origin energy and Break Free. Many in all Three Clans are infected. If we keep fighting, we'll only play into his hands."

To prove his words, Xuan Fu took out a Talisman Seal Fragment stripped from a rebel. The golden fragment in his hand radiated dense Annihilation Power, identical to those from the Demon Spider Commander and Ao Guang.

Seeing the fragment, Feng Yao and Qilin Cang's faces turned serious. They recalled infected cultivators in their own clans, symptoms matching Xuan Fu's description, and their suspicions gradually faded.

"To think it was Old Ancestor Nirvana's scheme!" Feng Yao gritted her teeth. "I almost thought the Dragon Clan was provoking us—nearly made a grave mistake."

Qilin Cang nodded. "No time to waste. Let's stop the infighting and join forces to purify the infected. Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, Fellow Daoist Donghua, please lend us your aid."

"Of course, it's our duty." Xuan Fu and Donghua nodded in unison.

The Three Clan Experts then joined forces. Xuan Fu set up Purification Talisman Arrays and Demon Suppressing Talisman Arrays, while Donghua used Wood Spirit Power to nourish and assist. Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang led elites to guide infected cultivators into the arrays for purification. Under the combined power of the talisman arrays and Wood Spirit Power, the Talisman Seal Fragments in the infected were stripped one by one, their minds gradually restored.

After a day and night of hard fighting, the Three Clans' civil war finally subsided. Most infected cultivators were purified, with only a few fully consumed by Annihilation Power forced to be killed. Though the Three Clans suffered heavy losses, the crisis was averted, and they set aside their grudges to form an alliance against Old Ancestor Nirvana.

Just as everyone Sighed in Relief, the Nirvana Seal inside Xuan Fu suddenly trembled violently, Golden Patterns spreading wildly. His Spiritual Sense was involuntarily pulled into the seal, revealing a chilling scene: deep in the Kunlun Underground, the massive Black Talisman Array had fully activated. The blurry figure at its center grew clearer, surrounded by dense golden Annihilation Power. The seal's light had dimmed to its limit, on the verge of shattering at any moment.

"Not good! Old Ancestor Nirvana is about to break the seal!" Xuan Fu's face changed drastically, his voice trembling slightly.

Ao Guang, Feng Yao, Qilin Cang, and Donghua all looked at him, shock spreading across their faces. "What did you say?!"

Just as Xuan Fu was about to explain, his Spiritual Sense suddenly caught a terrifying aura spreading rapidly from the direction of the Kunlun Mountain Range. This aura was denser and more violent than ever before, carrying the dreadful pressure of "All Things Return to Nothingness." Wherever it passed, heaven and earth changed color, spiritual energy stagnated, and even the formation arrays in the Three Clan settlements began to tremble violently.

"It's Old Ancestor Nirvana's aura! He really broke the seal!" Donghua's face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang also felt this terrifying aura, their eyes filled with fear. Though they were Three Clan Experts, they understood that facing the unsealed Old Ancestor Nirvana, their strength was like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly unable to Contend Against him.

Xuan Fu tightened his grip on the Nirvana Talisman, his heart filled with resolve. He knew that a final battle, one that would decide the fate of the Primordial, was about to erupt. And the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal within him was both the greatest hidden danger and possibly the only hope.

Just then, his Spiritual Sense suddenly caught a familiar aura coming from the distant Chaos. This aura was gentle and vast, carrying the rhythm of the Space Dao—it was Daoist Yang Mei!

Daoist Yang Mei had returned at this very moment!

Xuan Fu rejoiced in his heart and was about to speak when he suddenly sensed Old Ancestor Nirvana's aura shift direction. Instead of heading toward the Three Clan settlements, it flew toward Chaos.

Clearly, Old Ancestor Nirvana had also detected Daoist Yang Mei's presence and wanted to slay this Chaos Great Power first before turning back to deal with them.

What shocked Xuan Fu even more was that at the edge of his Spiritual Sense, he seemed to see a massive golden talisman seal slowly condensing at the Boundary of Chaos and Primordial, resonating strongly with the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal within him.

The power of that talisman seal was far purer and more terrifying than the one inside him—it was clearly Old Ancestor Nirvana's original talisman seal!

A collision between Chaos and Primordial, a duel between two Chaos Great Powers, was about to unfold between heaven and earth. And Xuan Fu, along with the Three Clan Experts, were caught in the middle, their situation growing ever more perilous.

Just as everyone was at a loss, the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal within Xuan Fu suddenly erupted with a blinding golden light, enveloping his entire body. He could feel the talisman seal pulling him, flying toward the Boundary of Chaos and Primordial.

He tried to resist, but found his body no longer under his control.

Xuan Fu looked at Donghua and the Three Clan Experts beside him, their faces full of worry, and his heart was filled with helplessness and resolve. He knew he was about to be drawn into a final showdown far beyond his imagination, and the outcome of this duel would decide the fate of both the Primordial and Chaos.