Within the Talisman Path Core, golden annihilation light, four-colored life-destruction light, black-and-white yin-yang light, and pitch-black Demonic Contamination Power intertwined and clashed. It was like territories divided among four factions, and every collision made Xuan Fu's talisman body tremble violently as cracks spread like a spiderweb. He forcibly condensed his Spiritual Sense to a needlepoint and drove it into the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal. This seal, which had nearly devoured him before, had now become the only key to breaking the deadlock.
"The Demonic Contamination Power stems from imbalance. Life and destruction, yin and yang, and annihilation are all Paths of Balance. Why can't the demonic power be incorporated as well?"
A flash of insight crossed Xuan Fu's mind as his Spiritual Sense raced. His Talisman Path had always centered on "fusion." From the Chaos Origin to baleful spirits and vitality, then to annihilation and yin-yang, he had never confined himself to a single power. Though the Demonic Contamination Power was strange and evil, its essence was still a biased manifestation of the Great Dao. If its bias could be corrected with the Power of Balance, it might not be impossible to turn it to his own use.
Without further hesitation, Xuan Fu activated the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal. Golden light surged, stabilizing the turbulence within the core like a divine needle anchoring the sea. Then he guided the "life" and "destruction" of the Life-Destruction Talisman Path into a cycle. The black-and-white yin-yang light became a bridge, linking the Demonic Contamination Power with the other four forces. It was a desperate gamble, like building a single-plank bridge over a cliff ten thousand feet deep. The slightest mistake would mean eternal damnation.
The Demonic Contamination Power was indeed unruly. Pitch-black patterns struggled frantically, attempting to break free, only to provoke the backlash of the other four forces. The energy within the Talisman Path Core instantly spiraled out of control. Xuan Fu felt a mouthful of Talisman Blood surge into his throat, while the cracks in his talisman body widened in an instant, nearly causing it to collapse. "Focus!" he roared, squeezing his Spiritual Sense to its limit and forcibly guiding the five powers in the sequence of "life—destruction—yin—yang—annihilation—demonic."
Once, twice, three times...
The process was like sailing against the current. Every cycle came with severe depletion of Origin Power. Yet as the cycles multiplied, the repulsion among the five powers gradually weakened. Within the balanced cycle, the pitch-black Demonic Contamination Power surprisingly began to shed its vicious aura and grow pure. Xuan Fu's talisman body also rapidly repaired itself during the process. The cracks slowly closed, and a faint black-gold sheen surfaced over the Four-Color Crystal, making it appear even deeper and more mysterious.
Outside Taiji Valley, the sounds of slaughter had weakened to the point of near silence. Donghua was drenched in blood, his Wood Spirit Power dim and dull, while his emerald vines had been corroded into tatters by the Demonic Contamination Power. Ao Guang's dragon robe was in ruins, his whiskers disheveled, and his body covered in wounds deep enough to expose bone. Feng Yao's flames had dwindled to faint sparks, and her aura was feeble. Most of Qilin Cang's earthen armor had shattered, yet he stood firmly before the three, shielding them from the attacks of the Demon Bone General.
Behind the Demon Bone General, dozens of demon generals surrounded him. The Demonic Contamination Power gathered into a colossal demonic pillar that came crushing toward the four. "Give up. Your companion has already become Lord Demon Ancestor's puppet. You won't escape death either!" The Demon Bone General's voice carried a cruel smile as his bone claw slammed down toward Donghua's head.
At that critical moment, a dazzling five-colored radiance suddenly erupted from within Taiji Valley and shot into the heavens. Wherever the radiance passed, the Demonic Contamination Power in the air melted away like snow meeting fire. The demonic pillar also shattered under its impact. The Demon Bone General's expression changed drastically as he sensed an aura far stronger than before surging from the valley. It carried the Great Dao rhythm of "all laws in balance, life and destruction at liberty," causing even his Demonic Contamination Power to tremble involuntarily.
"This is impossible! He actually mastered the Demonic Contamination Power?!"
Xuan Fu slowly flew out of the valley, five-colored talisman light swirling around him. The colors corresponded to the five powers of life, destruction, yin, yang, and demonic. His talisman body had transformed into a Four-Color Crystal hovering above his head, and the pressure it radiated had reached the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, faintly touching the threshold of Sainthood. His eyes were clear and deep, without the slightest sign of demonic corruption. He had completely incorporated the Demonic Contamination Power into his Talisman Path, making it part of the Great Dao of Balance.
"Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman!" Donghua and the Three Clan Experts exclaimed when they saw this, wild joy flashing through their eyes as their previously feeble auras instantly revived.
Xuan Fu wasted no words. With a wave of his hand, the five-colored talisman light transformed into countless talisman blades and slashed toward the demon generals. These talisman blades contained the Power of Balance. They could purify demonic contamination while striking directly at the demon generals' origins. The demon generals had no way to resist. They screamed as their bodies disintegrated, turning into wisps of black vapor.
The Demon Bone General's face went deathly pale, and he turned to flee. How could Xuan Fu give him the chance? He activated the Power of Space, appearing behind him in an instant. Five-colored talisman light condensed into a massive talisman—the Myriad Laws Balance Talisman—and slammed into the Demon Bone General's back.
"Boom!"
The instant the talisman erupted, the Demonic Contamination Power within the Demon Bone General was purified. Without its support, his black demonic bones snapped inch by inch. He let out a shrill wail before ultimately turning into a pile of ordinary bones scattered across the ground.
After dealing with the demon generals, Xuan Fu turned and landed beside Donghua and the Three Clan Experts. He raised his hand and shot several streams of five-colored talisman light into the four of them. Wherever the light passed, the Demonic Contamination Power within their bodies was rapidly purified, and their wounds began to slowly heal. "Thank you for saving us, Fellow Daoist," Donghua said gratefully, a smile of survival appearing on his face.
Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang also thanked him one after another, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Xuan Fu. They had never expected that Xuan Fu would not only resolve the crisis of demonic contamination but also use it to break through to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, far surpassing them in strength.
Just as everyone relaxed, Xuan Fu's expression suddenly changed. The five-colored talisman light around him began to tremble violently. He could sense an even more terrifying aura coming from the depths of the Chaos. It was several times stronger than the pressure previously released by Demon Ancestor Luohu. Clearly, the Demon Ancestor had personally taken action. Moreover, this aura was not heading toward the Kunlun Mountain Range. It was flying toward the central region of the Primordial Wilderness.
"Not good! The Demon Ancestor's target isn't me. It's the Heart of the Great Desolation!" Xuan Fu said solemnly. "He deliberately sent the Demon Bone General to restrain us while he used the opportunity to head for the Heart of the Great Desolation. He wants to contaminate the Primordial Wilderness's origin!"
Everyone's expressions instantly turned grave. The Heart of the Great Desolation was the place with the densest spiritual energy and the greatest number of living beings. If it were contaminated by the Demon Ancestor's Demonic Contamination Power, the consequences would be unimaginable. The entire Primordial Wilderness might become a demonic land.
"We'll head to the Heart of the Great Desolation immediately!" Donghua said solemnly, determination flashing in his eyes.
Xuan Fu nodded without hesitation. He led everyone into a streak of five-colored light toward the Heart of the Great Desolation. Along the way, they saw countless contaminated living beings. The once-peaceful land of the Primordial Wilderness had become a scene of devastation, with its people suffering and thick demonic contamination filling the air. The sight was horrifying.
"The Demon Ancestor is moving too quickly. He has already contaminated a vast region." Feng Yao's voice was choked with emotion as she looked at a contaminated branch of the Phoenix Clan below, grief filling her eyes.
Xuan Fu's heart was heavy as well. He could sense the Demon Ancestor's Demonic Contamination Power spreading rapidly, intertwining with the origin of the Primordial Wilderness and forming a colossal barrier of demonic contamination that enveloped the Heart of the Great Desolation. To purify it completely, they had to kill the Demon Ancestor himself. Otherwise, everything would be futile.
Just as they were about to reach the Heart of the Great Desolation, a massive demonic shadow appeared in the sky ahead. It stood ten thousand zhang tall, its entire body condensed from pitch-black Demonic Contamination Power. Its features were blurred, save for a pair of eyes radiating crimson light. It was none other than the avatar of Demon Ancestor Luohu. Countless corrupted living beings of the Primordial Wilderness surrounded him, forming a massive demonic formation that frantically absorbed the Origin Power of the Primordial Wilderness.
"Xuan Fu, you indeed haven't disappointed this Venerable One." Demon Ancestor Luohu's voice resounded throughout the Primordial Wilderness, carrying overwhelming demonic pressure. "You have mastered the Demonic Contamination Power, yet still cling to your so-called righteous path. How laughable. Today, this Venerable One will show you what true power is!"
Before his voice faded, Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar suddenly raised a hand. Countless black demonic flames shot out from the demonic formation like a torrential rain toward the group. The Demonic Contamination Power within the flames was incredibly dense. Wherever they passed, they corroded long trails through space.
"Join forces and hold them back!" Xuan Fu shouted. The five-colored talisman light surged, forming a massive barrier before everyone. Donghua, Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang also activated their Origin Power, merging it into the barrier to reinforce its defenses.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The demonic flames struck the barrier with deafening explosions. The barrier trembled violently as cracks appeared across it. The avatar of Demon Ancestor Luohu was far stronger than the Demon Bone General, having reached the Saint level. Even with Xuan Fu's breakthrough to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm and the aid of the four clan experts, they could only barely withstand it.
Xuan Fu knew he could not remain on the defensive. He drew a deep breath and unleashed the Five-Colored Talisman Path with all his strength. The five-colored talisman light condensed into a massive talisman blade that slashed toward Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar. This blade contained the Great Dao power of Myriad Laws Balance and was the strongest attack he could currently unleash. Wherever it passed, the demonic flames were instantly purified, and space was forcibly split apart.
A trace of surprise flashed through Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar's eyes, followed by a cold smile. "Not a bad attack, but it's still not enough to injure this Venerable One!" He waved his hand, and countless corrupted living beings surged from the demonic formation, forming a massive demonic wall before the talisman blade.
"Boom!"
The talisman blade collided with the demonic wall. The colossal Energy Shockwave scattered the surrounding demonic aura. The wall shattered instantly, and countless corrupted living beings were purified. However, the talisman blade's power was also weakened by more than half, leaving only a shallow mark on Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar.
"Useless! This Venerable One's avatar was formed from the Origin Power of the Primordial Wilderness and Demonic Contamination Power. Unless you break through to the Saint realm, you cannot kill it!" Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar threw back its head and laughed wildly. It activated the demonic formation once more, sending countless black demonic chains flying out to coil around everyone.
Xuan Fu's heart sank. He knew Demon Ancestor Luohu was not lying. There was a world of difference between Saints and Quasi-Saints. With his current strength, killing a Saint-level avatar was practically impossible. But he did not give up. Determination flashed through his eyes as he began frantically circulating the Five-Colored Talisman Path, preparing to burn his origin and unleash his strongest strike.
At that moment, countless streams of spiritual light suddenly came from every direction of the Primordial Wilderness. They converged into a massive torrent of radiance and surged toward Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar. Xuan Fu was startled. Following the direction of the light, he saw the phantom of the Jade Void Palace, Daoist Yang Mei, and countless reclusive experts of the Primordial Wilderness rushing toward the Heart of the Great Desolation.
"Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, we've come to lend you a hand!" The voice of the Jade Void Palace resounded through the heavens, carrying a gentle yet powerful pressure.
Daoist Yang Mei also nodded at Xuan Fu. His azure robes billowed as his Power of Space surged, attacking Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar.
Xuan Fu was overjoyed. He knew this was the shared will of every expert in the Primordial Wilderness. Without further hesitation, he activated the Five-Colored Talisman Path and coordinated with the torrent of spiritual light to launch their strongest attack at Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar.
The five-colored talisman blade intertwined with the torrent of spiritual light, forming an even more immense energy attack. Carrying the hopes of every living being in the Primordial Wilderness, it slashed toward Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar.
Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar finally changed expression. A trace of fear flashed through its eyes. "Do you think this is enough to defeat this Venerable One? Naive!" It frantically activated the demonic formation, causing both the Demonic Contamination Power and the Origin Power of the Primordial Wilderness to surge once more in an attempt to withstand the attack.
But this time, it was facing the power of the entire Primordial Wilderness.
"Boom!"
The energy attack collided with the demonic formation, producing a deafening roar that shook the universe. The demonic formation shattered instantly. Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar was struck by the attack and let out a shrill wail as its body began rapidly disintegrating.
"No—! This Venerable One will not admit defeat! The Tribulation of the Primordial Wilderness has only just begun. You will all become sacrifices to the demonic!"
Demon Ancestor Luohu's avatar completely disintegrated, turning into wisps of black demonic contamination that dispersed into the air. Yet Xuan Fu could feel that the demonic contamination had not vanished completely. Instead, it had slipped into the origin of the Primordial Wilderness, waiting for a chance to revive.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, victorious smiles appearing on their faces. The crisis facing the Primordial Wilderness had finally been quelled, at least for the time being.
Xuan Fu looked at the land of the Primordial Wilderness below as it gradually regained its vitality, but he felt no relaxation whatsoever. He could sense that, deep within the Chaos, the aura of Demon Ancestor Luohu's true body had grown even denser. Clearly, he was gathering power to unleash an even greater tribulation. Moreover, although the Demonic Contamination Power within his Five-Colored Talisman Path had been brought under control through balance, it still trembled faintly, as if responding to some distant evil presence.
Just then, his Spiritual Sense suddenly caught a familiar aura coming from the Extreme West. This aura carried dense power of death and decay. It was entirely different from Demon Ancestor Luohu's Demonic Contamination Power, yet it was equally evil and terrifying.
Xuan Fu's heart tightened as he followed the aura with his Spiritual Sense. In the sky above the Extreme West, a massive Black Crack was slowly expanding. Countless Black Shadows radiating an aura of death surged continuously from within it.
"This is... the aura of the Netherworld?" Donghua also sensed the anomaly, his expression turning solemn. "The Netherworld is supposed to be part of the Primordial Wilderness's cycle of reincarnation. Why has such dense Power of Death appeared?"
Xuan Fu's expression grew even graver. He could sense that the Black Shadows were targeting the living beings of the Primordial Wilderness who had just endured the crisis of demonic contamination. A new crisis seemed to be descending in silence.
What frightened him even more was that, deep within his Spiritual Sense, he seemed to see a blurred figure slowly opening its eyes in the depths of the Netherworld. Those eyes were filled with the aura of death and destruction, and they resonated intensely with the aura of the Chaos Annihilation Talisman Seal.
Xuan Fu clenched the Myriad Laws Balance Talisman in his hand, determination filling his heart. He knew the peace of the Primordial Wilderness was only temporary, and an even greater storm lay ahead. As an expert who had mastered the Myriad Laws Balance Talisman Path, he had to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the Primordial Wilderness.
Just as everyone prepared to head to the Extreme West to investigate, the Five-Colored Talisman Path within Xuan Fu suddenly trembled violently. A black talisman pattern slowly emerged from the Talisman Path Core, resonating intensely with the figure deep within the Netherworld.
This talisman pattern was the final mark Demon Ancestor Luohu had left within him. It was also the bridge connecting him to the evil presence in the Netherworld.
Xuan Fu's face instantly turned deathly pale. He had never expected Demon Ancestor Luohu's scheme to run so deep. He not only wanted to contaminate the Primordial Wilderness but had also joined forces with the evil presence of the Netherworld, seeking to completely destroy the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness.
A greater crisis concerning the survival of the Primordial Wilderness had quietly begun to unfold.
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