Ten-Thousand-Year Trial, Shadow of the End

Initial Runes descended like a plague of locusts, densely battering the Three-Colored Light Screen. Each collision erupted with the ultimate roar of creation and destruction, the light screen shuddering violently. Xuan Fu's Initial Rune Seal flickered unsteadily, and the three-colored crystal of his talisman body was covered in fine cracks. He could clearly feel the power of origin within the runes trying to tear apart the structure of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, re-assimilating the New Great Dao back into the rule system of the Initial Realm.

"Hold the core of the light screen!" Xuan Fu's voice rang out across Chaos and Desolation. The Initial Rune Seal erupted with dazzling three-colored light, patching the light screen's breaches one by one. "All living beings, use Chaos-Desolation Qi as a guide to form the 'Myriad Spirits United Formation.' The power of the Great Dao is not for one alone—it must be guarded by all!"

As the words fell, the living beings of the Desolate Land responded one after another. The Three Clan Experts transformed into three massive pillars of origin light—Dragon Clan's water-blue, Phoenix Clan's fire-red, and Kirin Clan's earth-yellow—pouring into the light screen. Donghua's Wood Spirit Power became a boundless forest, entwining and reinforcing the screen. Daoist Yang Mei's Power of Space layered countless space barriers to cushion the rune impacts. Countless lower beings also channeled their meager Chaos-Desolation Qi, like trickling streams merging into a river, enriching the three-colored radiance of the light screen.

The assault of the Initial Runes grew fiercer. Some runes broke through the space barriers, slamming into the light screen and exploding. The power of creation tried to twist the laws of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, while the power of destruction frantically eroded the screen's foundation. The cracks on Xuan Fu's talisman body widened, golden talisman blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. The luster of the Initial Rune Seal dimmed gradually—though his World Lord's Power was on par with the Initial Gods, the opponent controlled the origin of the Initial Realm, supplying runes endlessly, while Xuan Fu had to divide his focus to stabilize the entire New Great Dao, consuming far more energy.

"If this continues, we won't last a thousand years!" Daoist Yang Mei roared, his Power of Space nearly exhausted, his robes shredded by the shockwaves of exploding runes. "The Initial Runes are targeting the fusion nodes of Chaos and Desolation. We must counterattack and destroy the source of their condensation!"

A flash of resolve passed through Xuan Fu's eyes. He knew Daoist Yang Mei was right—passive defense would eventually drain them. He burned a portion of his World Lord Origin, and the Initial Rune Seal transformed into a streak of three-colored light, piercing through the light screen toward the cluster of Initial God projections. "Fellow Daoist Donghua, take over the light screen for now!"

"Be careful, Daoist!" Donghua immediately activated all his Wood Spirit Power, coordinating with the Three Clans' Origin Power and the Myriad Spirits United Formation to barely stabilize the light screen's operation.

Xuan Fu's figure weaved through the rain of runes. The Initial Rune Seal scattered countless three-colored talismans, each containing the complete rhythm of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao. They annihilated each other upon colliding with the Initial Runes, forming massive energy vortices. His goal wasn't to kill the Initial Gods—their strength matched his, and they were merely projections—but to destroy the "Initial Rune Altar" before them, the core of rune condensation.

"Arrogant fool!" The leading Initial God snorted coldly. The powers of creation and destruction intertwined into a massive light blade, slashing toward Xuan Fu. Where the blade passed, Chaos-Desolation Qi was forcibly decomposed, and space barriers shattered inch by inch.

Xuan Fu didn't dodge. He pushed the Initial Rune Seal to its limit, condensing three-colored light into a "Chaos-Desolation Talisman" that clashed with the light blade. A thunderous boom rang out as both the blade and the talisman disintegrated simultaneously. The massive shockwave sent Xuan Fu staggering back repeatedly, widening the cracks on his talisman body and spraying golden talisman blood. Yet, using the shockwave as cover, he instantly reached the front of the Initial Rune Altar.

The Initial Rune Altar was woven from countless Initial Runes, emitting a pressure identical to the Initial Realm's origin, continuously birthing new runes. Without hesitation, Xuan Fu slammed the Initial Rune Seal hard onto the altar. The three-colored light surged, and the law power of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao frantically eroded the altar's structure.

"Stop!" The Initial Gods struck simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of light blades, runes, and energy spheres at Xuan Fu. He shielded himself with the Initial Rune Seal, spreading a three-colored light screen to block the dense attacks while intensifying his erosion of the altar. The runes on the altar's surface rapidly faded, replaced by the three-colored light of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, drastically slowing the rate of rune birth.

Just as the altar was about to collapse, a majestic voice echoed from the depths of the Initial Realm: "How dare you!"

A pressure far surpassing all the Initial Gods descended. A massive black shadow emerged from a rift in the Initial Realm, formless and surrounded by the ultimate rhythm of "ending all things"—the Shadow of the End that Xuan Fu had sensed before. The shadow merely raised a hand, and a terrifying Power of Annihilation shot toward Xuan Fu. Where it passed, the laws of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao wailed in agony, and the three-colored light of the Initial Rune Seal instantly dimmed.

Xuan Fu's heart jolted. He tried to flee but found his space locked by the Power of Annihilation, unable to move. He could only push the Initial Rune Seal's power to its peak. The three-colored light clashed with the Power of Annihilation. There was no earth-shattering explosion—only a silent annihilation. The laws of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao were swiftly erased by the Power of Annihilation, and the cracks on Xuan Fu's talisman body spread completely, nearly shattering him.

"Lord of the End!" The Initial Gods bowed respectfully, their voices tinged with awe.

The Shadow of the End ignored them, fixing its icy gaze on Xuan Fu. Its voice was like ten-thousand-year-old frost: "The rules of the Initial Realm are not to be defiled. Any Great Dao that dares to break free will meet its end."

Just as Xuan Fu was about to be completely annihilated by the Power of Annihilation, a dazzling pillar of light suddenly erupted from the direction of Chaos and Desolation. It was the power of the Myriad Spirits United Formation reaching its peak. Donghua, Daoist Yang Mei, the Three Clan Experts, and countless living beings had fully bound their origins to the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, channeling their last strength to Xuan Fu with the resolve of "Martyrdom of Myriad Spirits."

"Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman, we stand with you!" Donghua's voice carried finality as his Wood Spirit Power burned into gold. "The Chaos Great Desolation Dao is our shared home—it must not be destroyed!"

The power of myriad spirits surged into Xuan Fu like a tidal wave. The cracks on his talisman body healed rapidly, and the three-colored light of the Initial Rune Seal blazed once more. Xuan Fu felt the Belief of All Spirits—the yearning for freedom, the defense of home, the rebellion against fate. These beliefs transformed into the purest power, merging into the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, making the New Great Dao's laws more robust, actually resisting the erosion of the Power of Annihilation.

"With myriad spirits as the foundation, with the Great Dao as the blade!" Xuan Fu's voice carried unprecedented authority. The Initial Rune Seal fully fused with the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, his form swelling to ten thousand zhang, three-colored light enveloping Chaos and Desolation. "Shadow of the End, you can end a Great Dao, but you cannot end the belief of living beings!"

Xuan Fu raised a hand and waved. Three-colored light condensed into a massive talisman blade, carrying the belief of myriad spirits and the law power of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, slashing toward the Shadow of the End. Where the blade passed, the Power of Annihilation was forcibly torn apart. The Initial Rune Altar collapsed with a roar under the blade's pressure, and countless Initial Runes, losing their source, disintegrated one after another.

A flicker of surprise passed through the Shadow of the End's eyes, followed by a cold smile. "Interesting beliefs, but they still cannot change the outcome of the end." It raised a hand, condensing a black "End Rune Seal" that clashed with Xuan Fu's talisman blade.

At the moment of collision between the two ultimate forces, Chaos and Desolation trembled violently. The Passage of Being and Non-Being nearly collapsed, and the rift in the Initial Realm widened severalfold. Three-colored light and black light annihilated each other, sending energy shockwaves in all directions. Countless Initial God projections were torn apart instantly. Innate Beings in Chaos fled into Desolation for cover, and the mountains, rivers, and terrain of the Desolate Land were reshaped by the shockwaves.

Xuan Fu was blasted backward by the immense impact. Cracks reappeared on his talisman body, and the flow of myriad spirits' power briefly faltered. He could feel that the Shadow of the End's strength far exceeded his imagination. The power of the End Rune Seal could nearly annihilate all Great Dao laws. Without the support of myriad spirits' belief, he would have been completely ended.

The Shadow of the End was also pushed back several li by the talisman blade's force, its black form turning somewhat illusory, clearly having expended significant energy. "Unexpected. With mere belief of myriad spirits, you managed to block my attack." Its voice carried a hint of surprise. "But belief will eventually fade. The fate of the end cannot be changed. This ten-thousand-year trial ends here."

The Shadow of the End raised a hand, and the Power of Annihilation surged, spreading toward Chaos and Desolation. This time, it didn't target Xuan Fu but directly attacked the foundation of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao—the Passage of Being and Non-Being. If the passage was destroyed, the fusion of Chaos and Desolation's Great Daos would fail completely, and the Chaos Great Desolation Dao would collapse on its own.

"No! Guard the Passage of Being and Non-Being!" Xuan Fu's heart raced as he mobilized his remaining power, flying toward the passage.

Donghua, Daoist Yang Mei, and the others also reacted instantly. Countless forces converged on the passage, forming a solid defensive barrier. The Power of Annihilation clashed with the barrier, instantly covering it with countless cracks. The Power of Balance within the passage was rapidly annihilated, and the passage walls began to disintegrate inch by inch.

Xuan Fu reached the front of the passage, pressing the Initial Rune Seal against the passage wall. Three-colored light poured into it, attempting to repair the disintegrating parts. But the Power of Annihilation eroded too quickly. The passage walls crumbled faster and faster, the fusion of Chaos and Desolation's Great Daos began to falter, the Chaos-Desolation Qi in both realms clashed, and the belief of living beings started to waver.

Just as the Passage of Being and Non-Being was about to collapse completely, light erupted simultaneously from the core areas of Chaos and Desolation. In the depths of Chaos, Pangu's Remnant Soul appeared once more, the phantom of the Sky-Opening Axe carrying the Remnant Aura of Pangu's Creation, flying toward the passage. In the Desolate Land's Kunlun Mountain Range, the Talisman Tower, Source of Myriad Talismans, burst forth with dazzling talisman origin, resonating with Pangu's Remnant Soul's power.

"Xuan Fu, use the Remnant Aura of Pangu's Creation as the bones and the talisman origin as the veins to reshape the Passage of Being and Non-Being!" Pangu's Remnant Soul's voice echoed across Chaos and Desolation. "The Chaos Great Desolation Dao is not just your Great Dao—it is the Great Dao of Pangu's creation and the proliferation of myriad spirits. Its foundation is far more solid than you imagine!"

Xuan Fu rejoiced in his heart and immediately followed suit. He merged the Remnant Aura of Pangu's Creation and the talisman origin into the Initial Rune Seal. Three-colored light intertwined with the golden light of the Sky-Opening Axe and the talisman light of the tower. The passage's disintegration stopped instantly. The cracks on the passage walls healed rapidly, becoming even sturdier, and the flow of Chaos-Desolation Qi within the passage grew smoother.

The reshaped Passage of Being and Non-Being was no longer a mere energy bond but became the core hub of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, containing the three forces of creation, talisman, and myriad spirits. It emitted an even more majestic pressure, actually resisting the erosion of the Power of Annihilation.

The Shadow of the End's expression turned grim. It hadn't expected the foundation of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao to be so solid. It didn't continue its attack but slowly retreated, its black form gradually merging back into the rift of the Initial Realm. "This trial, you have passed. The Chaos Great Desolation Dao has earned equal status in the Initial Realm. But the fate of the end will not change. The next time we meet will be your true end."

After the Shadow of the End vanished, the remaining Initial God projections also withdrew. The rift in the Initial Realm gradually closed. Chaos and Desolation had finally escaped the fate of being harvested.

Xuan Fu sighed in relief, his form slowly descending. The light of his talisman body gradually receded, and the power of the Myriad Spirits United Formation dissipated. Living beings cheered and celebrated this hard-won victory. The Great Dao of Chaos and Desolation was fully stabilized. The Chaos-Desolation Qi became purer, and the fusion of the two realms grew tighter, forming a truly unified world.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Mystic Talisman! Congratulations to the Chaos Great Desolation Dao!" Donghua, Daoist Yang Mei, and the others gathered around, their faces showing smiles of survival.

Xuan Fu nodded, but his heart remained tense. He could feel that although the Shadow of the End had retreated, the rhythm of "ending all things" hadn't disappeared. Instead, it lurked in the depths of the Initial Realm, waiting for another chance to strike. Moreover, in the Shadow of the End's aura, he detected a familiar fluctuation—the residual traces of Old Ancestor Nirvana, Netherworld Ghost Lord, and Demon Ancestor Luohu. Clearly, the appearance of these forbidden beings was no coincidence but connected to the Shadow of the End.

Just then, Xuan Fu's Initial Rune Seal suddenly trembled violently. His spiritual sense sank into the seal, revealing a bizarre scene: deep within the Initial Realm, the Shadow of the End stood with countless black shadows—all of them Great Dao Lords who had been ended. Among them were Old Ancestor Nirvana, Netherworld Ghost Lord, and Demon Ancestor Luohu, being transformed by the Shadow of the End into "Envoys of the End," preparing a new assault on the Chaos Great Desolation Dao.

Xuan Fu's expression instantly turned grave. He knew the Shadow of the End's retreat was only temporary. A far more terrifying crisis was brewing. Though the Chaos Great Desolation Dao had earned equal status, it had also become a thorn in the Shadow of the End's side. The next attack would surely be on a scale of destruction.

What unsettled him more was that, at the edge of his spiritual sense, he could feel a faint Initial Rune quietly reviving in some corner of Chaos and Desolation. This rune didn't come from the Initial Gods' trial but was a mutated rune spontaneously generated under the nourishment of myriad spirits' belief. It contained the eerie rhythm of "the coexistence of beginning and end," seemingly evolving toward an unknown direction.

Xuan Fu tightened his grip on the Initial Rune Seal, his heart filled with resolve. He knew that to face the coming crisis, he must rapidly strengthen the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, cultivate more experts, and explore the secrets of the Shadow of the End to find its weakness.

As everyone reveled in the joy of victory, Xuan Fu suddenly looked up toward the direction of the Initial Realm, a flash of vigilance in his eyes. He could feel the Shadow of the End's aura rapidly approaching. Clearly, they weren't being given much time to prepare.

An ultimate battle, one that would decide the life and death of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao, was already drawing near, silently and unnoticed.