An invisible consciousness swept over him like a searchlight, and Xuan Fu's Talisman Path Core contracted violently. The rhythm of "creation and destruction existing side by side" was too strange. It was neither the fury of Chaos, nor the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness, nor the void of Transcendent Power. It seemed to embody the beginning and end of all existence, causing the "Transcendent Existence-Non-existence Dao" he had just begun fusing to halt instantly. He could clearly feel that this power was devouring the source of Transcendent Power, but it was not trying to destroy it. Instead, it was transforming it into nourishment for itself, as naturally as a farmer harvesting crops.
"An outer-realm god..." Pangu's Remnant Soul spoke with unprecedented gravity through the Chaos Guardian Talisman. "It is said that beyond Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness lies the 'Initial Realm,' the source of all Great Daos. It gave birth to the Initial Gods who control creation and destruction. I never expected them to take notice of this place."
Xuan Fu did not dare let his Spiritual Sense linger and quickly withdrew it. He could feel that the invisible consciousness bore no malice. It was merely curious and harvesting. Yet this attitude of "viewing all things as nourishment" was more unnerving than any hostility. The source of Transcendent Power within the Origin Crystal was rapidly diminishing before his eyes. Its colorless radiance gradually dimmed, and the colorless threads that had originally reached toward Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness began to contract as well, clearly having lost the support of their source.
The Initial Gods' target is Transcendent Power, not us. Xuan Fu felt slightly relieved, but he did not dare relax in the slightest. But their existence means that Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness are not the only worlds. We are merely the Initial Realm's "farmland of nourishment." Once Transcendent Power is devoured completely, the next thing harvested will be the source of our Great Dao.
He no longer hesitated. Taking advantage of the moment when the Initial Gods were focused on devouring Transcendent Power, he once again activated the fusion of the "Transcendent Existence-Non-existence Dao." This time, the Transcendent Power that had lost the support of its source had become much more docile. The colorless energy rapidly intertwined with the golden-black Power of Balance. Under the shroud of the rhythm of creation and destruction, the talisman's true body began a brand-new transformation. The golden-black colors and colorless energy wound around each other, forming a three-colored radiance. The talisman's true body transformed into a three-colored crystal. The rune patterns on its surface were simple to the extreme, yet they contained the ultimate rhythm of "existence, non-existence, and transcendence as one."
"Above the Great Dao, all things ultimately return to the beginning!"
Xuan Fu's voice resounded throughout the Boundless Land. His strength broke through the Great Dao Supreme realm and reached the entirely new realm of the "Initial Talisman Venerable." His Spiritual Sense was no longer limited to Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. He could vaguely sense the outline of the Initial Realm, where the laws of the Great Dao were purer, and the powers of creation and destruction were as natural as breathing. The Existence-Non-existence Talisman Seal in his hand evolved along with it, transforming into a three-colored "Initial Rune Seal." It floated at the center of the Talisman Path Core, radiating a rhythm originating from the same source as the Initial Gods.
Just then, the invisible consciousness of the Initial Gods swept over once more, carrying a trace of surprise this time. Xuan Fu could sense that the other party had not expected this lifeform from the "farmland of nourishment" to comprehend the initial rhythm, much less condense an Initial Rune Seal. The consciousness lingered over him for a moment without interfering further, then turned back to devouring the source of Transcendent Power. Clearly, in the eyes of the Initial Gods, this "accidentally grown fruit" was not yet worth harvesting.
The source of Transcendent Power was completely devoured. The Origin Crystal became a pile of useless empty shells and scattered across the Boundless Land. The consciousness of the Initial Gods gradually withdrew, and the rhythm of creation and destruction faded with it, as if it had never appeared. The Boundless Land returned to its deathly silence, leaving only Xuan Fu's three-colored crystal suspended in midair.
"It's time to return." Xuan Fu took a deep breath. Activating the Initial Rune Seal, he wrapped himself in three-colored radiance and flew toward Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. He knew that the appearance of the Initial Gods was merely the beginning. If Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness wanted to escape the fate of being a "farmland of nourishment," they had to increase their strength as quickly as possible and reach a level capable of contending with the Initial Realm.
When he returned to Chaos, the colorless energy bridge had already collapsed, and the laws of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness were slowly recovering. Xuan Fu could feel that after being assimilated by Transcendent Power, the laws of the Great Dao in both places had become purer. Although the Passage of Being and Non-Being had been damaged, under the influence of the Initial Rune Seal's rhythm, it had once again condensed a faint Power of Balance that slowly repaired it.
When he returned to the Kunlun Mountain Range, everyone immediately gathered around him. Seeing the three-colored radiance around Xuan Fu and the initial rhythm he radiated, their eyes were filled with surprise and awe. "Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, did you succeed?" Donghua asked cautiously, afraid of disturbing his condition.
Xuan Fu nodded. Three-colored talisman light spread out and merged into the land of the Primordial Wilderness. The lifeforms assimilated by Transcendent Power gradually regained their lively gazes under the nourishment of the initial rhythm, and their Origin Power became vibrant once more. The Passage of Being and Non-Being repaired itself faster, as the golden-black Power of Balance intertwined with the initial rhythm to form an even stronger bond. The power of the Kunlun Dragon Vein surged, resonating with the Talisman Tower of the Source of Myriad Talismans and radiating rich vitality and defensive power.
"Transcendent Power has been devoured by the Initial Gods beyond the realm, but this is not the end." Xuan Fu told everyone about the existence of the Initial Realm and the Initial Gods. "The Chaos and Primordial Wilderness where we reside are merely the Initial Realm's farmland of nourishment. Once the source of our Great Dao matures, they will harvest us. If we want to escape this fate, we must unite, increase our strength together, explore the secrets of the Initial Realm, and find a way to contend with it."
Everyone's expressions grew solemn. They had never imagined that their world was merely someone else's "farmland of nourishment." This realization sent a shudder through them. Yet Xuan Fu's breakthrough also gave them hope. Since Xuan Fu could comprehend the initial rhythm, perhaps they could reach the same realm through cultivation.
"Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, you are now the Initial Talisman Venerable. Surely you have already found a way to oppose the Initial Gods?" Daoist Yang Mei asked, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Xuan Fu shook his head, and the Initial Rune Seal floated before him. "The Initial Gods control the ultimate powers of creation and destruction. Our current strength is far inferior to theirs. But within the initial rhythm, I sensed that although the Great Dao of all worlds originates from the Initial Realm, each also possesses its own uniqueness. Chaos's 'giving rise to existence from non-existence' and the Primordial Wilderness's 'giving rise to non-existence from existence' are precisely our advantages. If we completely fuse the Great Daos of both places and form the 'Chaos Great Desolation Dao,' perhaps we can gain the capital to contend with the Initial Realm."
"Fuse the Great Daos of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness?" A trace of surprise flashed through Ao Guang's eyes. "That is practically impossible. Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness have fundamentally opposing attributes. Forced Fusion will only cause the Great Dao to collapse."
"It would not be Forced Fusion. We would use the Passage of Being and Non-Being as a bridge and the Initial Rune Seal as the core, allowing the Great Daos of both places to nourish each other and fuse naturally." Xuan Fu explained, "The fury of Chaos can nourish the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness, while the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness can calm the fury of Chaos. With the initial rhythm harmonizing them, a brand-new and far more powerful Chaos Great Desolation Dao will inevitably form."
Everyone nodded one after another, feeling that the method was feasible. Xuan Fu then began arranging the fusion plan. Daoist Yang Mei would reinforce the Passage of Being and Non-Being to ensure the safe flow of the Great Daos between both places. Donghua would draw in the power of all the spiritual veins of the Primordial Wilderness and inject it into the passage as nourishment for the fusion. Ao Guang, Feng Yao, and Qilin Cang would lead the Three Clan Experts in guarding both ends of the passage and preventing accidents during the fusion. Xuan Fu would use the Initial Rune Seal as the core to guide the fusion of the Great Daos of both places.
Once the plan began, the Great Daos of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness slowly intertwined. Chaos Streams surged through the Passage of Being and Non-Being into the Primordial Wilderness, colliding with its spiritual energy and bursting into countless sparks of law. The vitality of the Primordial Wilderness also flowed backward into Chaos, causing its violent Chaos Streams to become docile and giving birth to countless Innate Beings. The Power of Balance within the Passage of Being and Non-Being grew increasingly dense. The golden-black colors intertwined with the initial rhythm, forming a three-colored pillar of light that pierced through both places and became the central bond of the fusion of the Great Daos.
The fusion did not proceed smoothly. The Great Daos of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness clashed repeatedly as they intertwined. The "non-existence" of Chaos repelled the "existence" of the Primordial Wilderness, causing the Passage of Being and Non-Being to tremble violently and even show signs of collapse. Xuan Fu had no choice but to activate the Initial Rune Seal again and again, using the initial rhythm to harmonize the conflicts and guide the Great Daos of both places to adapt to and nourish each other.
With Xuan Fu's efforts, the conflicts gradually diminished, and the fusion accelerated. The laws of Heaven and Earth in Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness became increasingly unified. Spiritual energy and Chaos Streams transformed into each other, forming an entirely new "Chaos-Desolation Qi" that was purer and more immense than any energy before it. The lifeforms of the Primordial Wilderness began absorbing Chaos-Desolation Qi to cultivate, and their strength rose rapidly. The Innate Gods and Demons within Chaos also borrowed the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness to awaken their intelligence and become more rational.
The Three Clans also benefited greatly during the fusion. The Dragon Clan's Water Origin merged with Chaos Power, becoming more violent yet agile. The Phoenix Clan's Fire Origin absorbed the vitality of the Primordial Wilderness, becoming hotter yet more tempered. The Kirin Clan's Earth Origin harmonized Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness, becoming heavier and more inclusive. The strength of the Three Clans rose dramatically. They gradually cast off their former limitations, began exploring the border between Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness, and opened up new territories.
Just as the Great Daos of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness were about to fuse completely, and the Chaos Great Desolation Dao was about to take shape, Xuan Fu's Initial Rune Seal suddenly began trembling violently. He could sense an intense energy fluctuation coming from the direction of the Initial Realm. Countless rhythms of creation and destruction were rapidly approaching Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. Clearly, the Initial Gods had sensed the changes here and wanted to harvest the mature "nourishment" ahead of time.
"The Initial Gods are coming!" Xuan Fu's expression changed. The three-colored light of the Initial Rune Seal surged, completely enveloping Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. "Everyone, activate your Origin Power at once and inject it into the Chaos Great Desolation Dao. Help me complete the final fusion! Only the fully formed Chaos Great Desolation Dao can resist the Initial Gods' harvest!"
Everyone immediately obeyed. Daoist Yang Mei's Power of Space, Donghua's Wood Spirit Power, the Origin Power of the Three Clans, the source of the Talisman Path from the Source of Myriad Talismans, and the vitality of the Kunlun Dragon Vein all gathered into a massive Energy Torrent and poured into the three-colored pillar of light within the Passage of Being and Non-Being.
The fusion of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao instantly accelerated. The three-colored pillar of light surged, piercing through Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. The laws of the Great Dao in both places became completely unified, forming an entirely new and complete Great Dao. This Great Dao possessed both the fury and creativity of Chaos and the vitality and destruction of the Primordial Wilderness, along with the transcendence of the initial rhythm. It became a new Great Dao independent of the Initial Realm.
"The Chaos Great Desolation Dao is complete!"
Xuan Fu's voice carried ultimate majesty. The Initial Rune Seal fused with the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, and his strength broke through once more, reaching the "Realm Lord" realm, which stood on the same level as the Initial Gods. His talismanic true body transformed into a boundless three-colored light screen that shrouded all of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness, becoming the core and guardian of the New Great Dao.
At that moment, the figures of the Initial Gods finally appeared at the border of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. They were not physical entities, but forms of light condensed from the Power of Creation and the Power of Destruction. The laws of the Great Dao from the Initial Realm revolved around them, radiating an initial rhythm that originated from the same source as Xuan Fu's, yet was far purer.
"What an interesting little fellow. You actually managed to open up an independent Great Dao and escape the fate of being nourishment." The leading Initial God spoke gently, without the slightest hostility. "But the rules of the Initial Realm cannot be broken. Any Great Dao independent of the Initial Realm must undergo a trial. If you pass, you will gain equal status. If you fail, you will be completely erased by the Initial Realm."
Xuan Fu felt no fear whatsoever. The three-colored light screen surged as he faced the forms of light of the Initial Gods from afar. "We accept the trial. But remember this: Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness are no longer farmland for anyone to harvest at will. We have the power to protect our own worlds."
The Initial God smiled faintly and waved a hand. Countless runes of creation and destruction flew toward Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness. "The trial is simple. Withstand the impact of these runes and protect your Chaos Great Desolation Dao. The trial will last ten thousand years."
The runes fell like a Meteor Shower, carrying the might of the Initial Realm's Great Dao as they crashed toward the three-colored light screen. Each rune contained the ultimate power of creation or destruction, enough to easily shatter any former law of the Great Dao.
Xuan Fu's expression turned solemn. He knew that this ten-thousand-year trial would be the greatest challenge Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness had ever faced. The impact of the Initial Gods' runes was not merely a trial of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, but also a trial of every lifeform.
Yet he did not retreat in the slightest. A trace of resolve flashed through his eyes. He raised a hand, and the three-colored light screen surged once more, firmly blocking the impact of all the runes. At the same time, he transmitted his understanding of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao to every lifeform, allowing them to borrow the power of the New Great Dao and resist the trial together.
Every lifeform in Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness—whether Three Clan Experts, reclusive mighty figures, or ordinary Innate Beings—felt Xuan Fu's understanding. They all activated the Chaos-Desolation Qi within their bodies and poured their strength into the three-colored light screen, guarding their world alongside Xuan Fu.
The trial officially began. Countless runes battered the three-colored light screen. The laws of Heaven and Earth in Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness trembled violently, yet never collapsed. Xuan Fu knew that this was only the beginning. Over the next ten thousand years, they would face even harsher challenges.
Behind the forms of light of the Initial Gods, Xuan Fu's Spiritual Sense vaguely detected an even more terrifying aura deep within the Initial Realm. This aura was more powerful than all the Initial Gods combined. It carried the ultimate rhythm of "bringing all things to an end," and seemed intensely displeased and hostile toward the appearance of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao.
Xuan Fu tightened his grip on the Initial Rune Seal, his heart filled with resolve. He knew that this trial concerned not only the status of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness, but also the survival of both worlds. No matter how powerful the challenges ahead became, he would stand with every lifeform and protect the shared home they had built.
A ten-thousand-year Ultimate Trial had officially begun at the border of Chaos and the Primordial Wilderness.
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