When Ao Guang's figure appeared at the valley entrance, the water vapor around him had already turned murky. Threads of golden Annihilation Power were mixed into his originally clear dragon might, like ink blending into clear water and forming a bizarre black-gold current. A barely perceptible hint of crimson tinged his eyes. His steps seemed steady, yet faintly conveyed a restless sense of losing control. Clearly, the Nirvana Seal Fragments within him had begun eroding his mind.
"Fellow Daoist Ao Guang, why is there Annihilation Power in your body?" Donghua asked first. Wood Spirit Power quietly circulated, forming an invisible barrier before him. "Did you come into contact with fiendish creatures or corpses infected by the talisman seal?"
Ao Guang grinned, though his smile was somewhat stiff. "I merely came into contact with a little of it while killing a few remaining fiendish creatures. It's only a bit of evil force—nothing worth mentioning." His gaze swept over the lingering annihilative aura in the valley. When it landed on Xuan Fu, the crimson in his eyes grew even more pronounced. "I heard that you two Fellow Daoists killed a Residual Soul Clone. This Venerable One came to help clear out the remaining evil creatures and, incidentally... seek some guidance from Fellow Daoist Xuan Fu on the Dao of talismans."
Alarm bells rang in Xuan Fu's heart. Ao Guang's tone seemed normal, but he was evading the key points, and his gaze remained fixed on the Nirvana Seal within Xuan Fu's body. Clearly, he had been drawn by the Talisman Seal Fragments and wanted to seize the complete seal inside him. Old Ancestor Nirvana's move was exceptionally sinister. Not only had he infected the Three Clan Experts, he was also using the talisman seals' attraction to their Same Origin Power to make them slaughter one another and reap the benefits afterward.
"Fellow Daoist Ao Guang, you jest. With my modest attainments in the Dao of talismans, how would I dare display my skills before a great expert of the Dragon Clan?" Xuan Fu calmly took half a step back as Rigid-Soft Talisman Power circulated in secret. "The Annihilation Power within your body is no small matter. If it isn't removed quickly, it may erode your mind. Why not return with us to Jade Void Palace and use Innate Jade Fluid and the Soul-Suppressing Array to purify it?"
"Purify it?" Ao Guang's voice suddenly rose, carrying a hint of madness. "This Venerable One is the Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan. How could a mere evil force trouble me? Fellow Daoist Xuan Fu, the Nirvana Seal within you is so pure. Why not lend it to this Venerable One for a look? Perhaps it can help me completely refine this power!"
Before he finished speaking, black-gold currents surged around Ao Guang. Water vapor and Annihilation Power intertwined into a savage black-gold dragon phantom that lunged toward Xuan Fu. Wherever it passed, it corroded long trails through space and carried the terrifying pressure of Return to Nothingness. Clearly, he had fused the Dragon Clan's divine ability with Annihilation Power, making its might far surpass that of the Demon Spider Commander earlier.
"Not good! The talisman seal has already taken control of his mind!" Donghua cried out in shock. Wood Spirit Power erupted in an instant, and countless emerald vines drilled out of the ground, blocking Xuan Fu like a dam. The vines carried rich vitality, but the moment they collided with the black-gold dragon phantom, they gave off sizzling sounds of corrosion, and their emerald radiance rapidly dimmed.
Xuan Fu did not hesitate in the slightest. He activated the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman, and blue-gold talisman power wrapped in the vitality of the Purification Talisman transformed into a sharp sword that stabbed directly toward the core of the black-gold dragon phantom. He knew that the Talisman Seal Fragments within Ao Guang were the source of his power. Only by shattering the fragments could he temporarily restore Ao Guang's clarity. Otherwise, once Annihilation Power completely took control, Ao Guang would become a second Demon Spider Commander.
"Clang!"
The talisman blade collided with the black-gold dragon phantom. Blue-gold and black-gold radiance intertwined and burst outward, while a massive Energy Shockwave blasted several-zhang-deep trenches into the valley floor. Xuan Fu's arm went numb, and his talisman power became chaotic. Ao Guang's fused strength was far more formidable than he had imagined. Yet the black-gold dragon phantom had also been struck at its core by the talisman blade. It let out a shrill dragon cry, and a crack appeared across its surface. Annihilation Power leaked out, instantly reducing the surrounding rocks to dust.
"Ant! How dare you injure this Venerable One!" Ao Guang roared. The black-gold dragon phantom condensed once more, larger than before. At the same time, he opened his mouth and spat out a black-gold stream of annihilative dragon breath that swept toward Xuan Fu and Donghua. The Annihilation Power and corrosive force within it piled atop one another. Wherever it passed, even the air was completely annihilated, forming a vacuum.
Xuan Fu and Donghua hurriedly fled. The dragon breath struck where they had been standing, blasting open a huge pit. Black evil aura continuously surged from within it, clearly having been thoroughly polluted by Annihilation Power.
"This can't continue!" Donghua said between breaths as he steadied himself. His Wood Spirit Power had been greatly depleted, leaving his face somewhat pale. "Ao Guang's strength was already far beyond ours. Now that he's fused with Annihilation Power, he's even more powerful. We have no way to resist him head-on!"
Xuan Fu nodded in agreement. He could sense the Talisman Seal Fragments within Ao Guang rapidly absorbing the surrounding annihilative aura, and his strength was still rising. If this dragged on, not only would they be unable to shatter the fragments, the two of them might also be killed by Ao Guang.
"We have to use the Nirvana Talisman to restrain him!" A trace of determination flashed through Xuan Fu's eyes. He abruptly activated the Nirvana Talisman within him, and golden patterns surged. The Annihilation Power contained within the seal was released without reservation. This power resonated intensely with the fragments inside Ao Guang. The black-gold dragon phantom's movements instantly slowed, and pain contorted Ao Guang's face. Clearly, the two streams of Same Origin Power were clashing, causing his mind to struggle briefly.
"Now!"
Xuan Fu seized the opening and activated the Universe Folding Talisman. It transformed into a gold-and-cyan streamer and instantly appeared before Ao Guang. He did not attack. Instead, he pressed the Purification Talisman and Demon Suppressing Talisman onto Ao Guang's brow at the same time. Emerald and blue-gold radiance erupted together, flowing through Ao Guang's meridians and surging inward toward the Talisman Seal Fragments.
"Get out!" Ao Guang roared as he tried to break free, but the Same Origin Power of Annihilation restrained him, slowing his movements. The vitality of the Purification Talisman frantically devoured the evil aura, while the suppressive power of the Demon Suppressing Talisman firmly bound the Talisman Seal Fragments, preventing them from absorbing more Annihilation Power.
Donghua also took the opportunity to attack. Wood Spirit Power transformed into countless tiny vines that burrowed into Ao Guang's meridians. Working together with the Purification Talisman and Demon Suppressing Talisman, they formed a sturdy purification barrier that completely isolated the Talisman Seal Fragments from Ao Guang's origin.
"Urghhh—!"
Ao Guang let out a pained howl. The two forces within him collided violently, while black-gold currents and emerald and blue-gold radiance continuously intertwined across his body, forming bizarre streamers. His mind was repeatedly tugged between Annihilation Power and his own origin. His eyes alternated between crimson and clear.
Xuan Fu clenched his teeth and continuously poured in talisman power, reinforcing the purification barrier. He could sense that although the Talisman Seal Fragments inside Ao Guang were stubborn, they had begun to shrink under the combined suppression of the three forces. The spread of Annihilation Power had also been completely halted.
After half an hour, the Talisman Seal Fragments within Ao Guang were finally stripped away completely. They transformed into a golden streamer and were taken into Xuan Fu's storage space. Without the fragments' support, the black-gold currents around Ao Guang rapidly faded. His eyes cleared as well, though his face was pale and his aura was terribly weak.
"I... What did I do just now?" Ao Guang stared blankly at his hands, then at the ravaged valley around him and the exhausted appearances of Xuan Fu and Donghua. He immediately understood what had happened, and guilt appeared on his face. "Thank you both for saving me. If not for you, this Venerable One would probably have become Old Ancestor Nirvana's puppet and committed a grave mistake!"
"Fellow Daoist, you needn't blame yourself. You were also a victim." Xuan Fu waved his hand and withdrew the Nirvana Talisman within him. "Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal is too bizarre. It can infect others through their aura, making it impossible to guard against."
Donghua also nodded. "Our most urgent task now is to find out how many members of the Three Clans have been infected by the talisman seals. If this continues unchecked, the Three Clans will inevitably fall into internal strife. By then, Old Ancestor Nirvana will be able to take advantage of the chaos and break out of his seal."
At the mention of the Three Clans, Ao Guang's expression grew solemn. "To be honest, before coming here, this Venerable One had already received a message from my clan. Quite a few Dragon Clan cultivators have developed symptoms similar to mine. Their minds are confused and their powers are out of control. Clearly, they have all been infected by the talisman seals. The Phoenix Clan and Kirin Clan have probably encountered the same situation."
Xuan Fu's heart sank. Sure enough, Old Ancestor Nirvana's target was not merely him, but the entire Three Clans. The Three Clans had already been embroiled in endless disputes over spirit veins, territory, and other matters. Now that they had been infected by the talisman seals, they would inevitably grow suspicious of and attack one another, ultimately heading toward destruction. Old Ancestor Nirvana could then reap the benefits, absorbing the vast amount of origin produced by the Three Clans' fall and speeding up his escape from the seal.
"We must immediately notify the Three Clans and have them stop their internal fighting and join forces against the infection from the Nirvana Talisman!" Donghua said gravely. "At the same time, we must ask the seniors of Jade Void Palace to act and set up Soul-Suppressing Arrays in the territories of the Three Clans, helping the infected cultivators purify the fragments within them."
Ao Guang nodded in agreement. "This Venerable One will return to the Dragon Clan at once to calm the clansmen. I'll also contact Feng Yao and Qilin Cang and tell them the truth. However, the Three Clans have accumulated deep grudges. Getting them to set aside their disputes will likely be no easy task."
"Where there's a will, there's a way," Xuan Fu said. "Fellow Daoist Donghua and I will go with you. Perhaps we can resolve some of their suspicions through the Dao of talismans and Wood Spirit Power. Moreover, only when the Three Clans witness the dangers of the infection and Old Ancestor Nirvana's scheme with their own eyes will they truly understand the importance of joining forces."
After reaching an agreement, the three of them did not linger and immediately flew toward the Dragon Clan's territory. Along the way, they encountered many more cultivators from the Three Clans who had been infected by the talisman seals. Most of them had already lost their minds completely and become monsters who knew only slaughter. Xuan Fu and Donghua could only subdue them and temporarily seal the Talisman Seal Fragments within their bodies, awaiting later purification.
The closer they came to the Dragon Clan's territory, the more infected cultivators they encountered, and the more concentrated the annihilative aura in the air became. In the distant Dragon Clan settlement, flames already soared into the sky. Faint sounds of fighting and dragon cries drifted over, clearly indicating that internal chaos had broken out within the Dragon Clan.
"Not good! The Dragon Clan has already fallen into internal strife!" Ao Guang's expression changed dramatically, and he accelerated. "If we let the chaos spread, the entire Dragon Clan will be destroyed!"
Xuan Fu and Donghua were also anxious. They urged their fastest speeds and followed Ao Guang toward the Dragon Clan's territory.
When they arrived at the Dragon Clan's territory, the sight before them left all three stunned. The orderly Dragon Clan settlement of old had become a living hell. Countless Dragon Clan cultivators slaughtered one another. Black-gold Annihilation Power and blue water vapor intertwined, while Dragon Clan corpses covered the ground. Blood dyed the earth red, and the air reeked of blood and evil aura.
Feng Yao and Qilin Cang were also there. Each led their clan's elites in a standoff against the Dragon Clan's rebels. The Phoenix Clan's flames and the Kirin Clan's earthen armor collided with the Dragon Clan's annihilative water vapor, making the battle exceptionally fierce. Clearly, many of their clansmen had also been infected and forced to participate in the slaughter.
"Ao Guang! You've finally returned!" When Feng Yao saw Ao Guang, anger flashed in her eyes. "Your clansmen have been infected by evil force and are attacking the Phoenix Clan and Kirin Clan like madmen. You must give us an explanation!"
Qilin Cang also said solemnly, "Ao Guang, if this matter cannot be resolved properly, the alliance between the Three Clans will be completely broken. From this day onward, it will be a fight to the death!"
Ao Guang hurriedly explained, "Feng Yao, Qilin Cang, this was not the Dragon Clan's intention! Our clansmen were infected by Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal, causing them to lose their minds and attack like madmen. Fellow Daoists Xuan Fu and Donghua can testify. They have already purified the Talisman Seal Fragments within me!"
Feng Yao and Qilin Cang looked suspiciously at Xuan Fu and Donghua. Xuan Fu stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Fellow Daoists, this is absolutely true. Old Ancestor Nirvana's talisman seal can infect others through their aura and deliberately provoke internal strife among the Three Clans so that he can absorb their origin and break out of his seal. Many members of all three clans have now been infected. If you continue slaughtering one another, you will only let Old Ancestor Nirvana reap the benefits."
To prove that he was telling the truth, Xuan Fu took out a fragment stripped from a rebel's body. The golden fragment radiated dense Annihilation Power in his hand. It was exactly the same as the fragments previously found within the Demon Spider Commander and Ao Guang.
Feng Yao and Qilin Cang's expressions instantly grew solemn when they saw the fragment. They each recalled the infected cultivators within their clans. Their symptoms indeed matched Xuan Fu's description, and the suspicion in their hearts gradually faded.
"I never thought this would be Old Ancestor Nirvana's scheme!" Feng Yao gritted her teeth. "This Venerable One thought the Dragon Clan had deliberately provoked us and nearly caused a terrible disaster."
Qilin Cang also nodded. "There's no time to lose. We'll immediately stop the internal fighting and join forces to purify the infected clansmen. Fellow Daoists Xuan Fu and Donghua, please lend us your assistance."
"Of course. We cannot shirk our duty." Xuan Fu and Donghua nodded at the same time.
Afterward, the Three Clan Experts joined forces. Xuan Fu was responsible for setting up the Purification Talisman Array and Demon Suppressing Talisman Array, while Donghua used Wood Spirit Power to provide nourishment and support. Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang led their elites in bringing the infected cultivators into the arrays for purification. Under the combined effects of the talisman arrays and Wood Spirit Power, the Talisman Seal Fragments within the infected cultivators were stripped away one by one, and their minds gradually recovered.
After a full day and night of battle, the internal strife among the Three Clans finally subsided. Most of the infected cultivators were purified, while a small number who had been completely devoured by Annihilation Power were forced to be killed. Although the Three Clans had suffered heavy losses, they had at least resolved the crisis for the time being, set aside their old grudges, and formed an alliance against Old Ancestor Nirvana.
Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the Nirvana Talisman within Xuan Fu suddenly began to tremble violently, and golden patterns spread wildly. His Spiritual Sense sank uncontrollably into the talisman seal, where he saw a scene that chilled him to the bone. Deep within the seal beneath Kunlun Underground, the enormous Black Talisman Array had already begun rotating completely. The blurred figure at its center grew increasingly clear, dense golden Annihilation Power coiling around it. The seal's radiance had dimmed to the extreme and could break at any moment.
"Not good! Old Ancestor Nirvana is about to break out of his seal!" Xuan Fu's expression changed drastically, and his voice trembled slightly.
Ao Guang, Feng Yao, Qilin Cang, and Donghua all turned toward him, shock on their faces. "What did you say?!"
Xuan Fu was just about to explain when his Spiritual Sense suddenly caught a terrifying aura rapidly spreading from the direction of the Kunlun Mountain Range. This aura was denser and more violent than ever before, carrying the terrifying pressure of All Things Return to Nothingness. Wherever it passed, heaven and earth changed color and spiritual energy stagnated. Even the talisman arrays in the Three Clan settlement began to tremble violently.
"It's Old Ancestor Nirvana's aura! He really broke out of his seal!" Donghua's face instantly turned deathly pale.
Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang also sensed the terrifying aura, and their eyes filled with dread. Although they were Three Clan Experts, they understood that before Old Ancestor Nirvana, who had escaped his seal, their strength was like ants trying to shake a tree. They had no chance of resisting.
Xuan Fu tightened his grip around the Nirvana Talisman in his hand, his heart filled with resolve. He knew that an Ultimate Showdown concerning the survival of the Primordial Wilderness was about to erupt. The Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal within him was both the greatest hidden danger and possibly their only hope.
At that moment, his Spiritual Sense suddenly caught a familiar aura approaching from the distant Chaos. The aura was gentle yet vast, carrying the rhythm of the Great Dao of Space. It was none other than Daoist Yang Mei!
Daoist Yang Mei had actually returned at this moment!
Joy rose in Xuan Fu's heart. He was just about to speak when he suddenly sensed Old Ancestor Nirvana's aura turn. It was no longer approaching the Three Clan settlement, but flying toward the Chaos.
Clearly, Old Ancestor Nirvana had also sensed the presence of Daoist Yang Mei and wanted to kill this Chaos expert 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 gigantic golden talisman seal slowly condensing at the Boundary of Chaos and Primordial. It resonated intensely 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. Clearly, it was Old Ancestor Nirvana's true talisman seal!
A collision between Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness, a confrontation between two Chaos experts, was about to unfold beneath the heavens. Xuan Fu and the Three Clan Experts were caught in the middle, and their situation grew increasingly perilous.
Just as everyone stood at a loss, the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal within Xuan Fu suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light, enveloping his entire body. He could feel the talisman seal pulling him toward the Boundary of Chaos and Primordial.
He tried to resist, but discovered that his body was already beyond his control.
Xuan Fu looked at Donghua and the Three Clan Experts, whose faces were filled with concern. His heart was filled with helplessness and resolve. He knew that he was about to be drawn into an Ultimate Showdown far beyond his imagination, and that the result of this battle would determine the fate of the entire Primordial Wilderness and Chaos.
Before you continue