Lord of the Dao Source, Talismans Set the Universe

The Lord of the Dao Source's rainbow light curtain spread like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting apart, enveloping the Initial Realm and the Chaos Great Desolation. Countless Great Dao origins flowed within it: the creation of the beginning, the destruction of the end, and myriad laws of being and non-being, life and death, yin and yang. Yet there was not the slightest disorder. Instead, they condensed into a terrifying pressure that ruled over all Daos, making even Xuan Fu's Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman tremble involuntarily.

"End, you have rashly disturbed the balance of the Dao Source. You must be punished." The Lord of the Dao Source's voice held neither joy nor sorrow, like the judgment of the Great Dao itself. A stream of light shot from the rainbow curtain and instantly pierced the Shadow of the End's Dao Source Core. The black giant let out a deathly roar unlike any wail of agony. Beginning-End Void Power rapidly collapsed, and its immense body turned into wisps of Black Mist, forcibly dragged back into the depths of the Initial Realm by the light curtain. It had clearly suffered unimaginable punishment.

Xuan Fu and the others were all stunned. They had not expected the Lord of the Dao Source's first target to be the Shadow of the End. But before they could sigh in relief, the Lord of the Dao Source's gaze locked onto Xuan Fu through the light curtain. Rainbow light gathered once more, carrying unquestionable majesty. "Xuan Fu, you stole the resonance of the Dao Source and created the Chaos Great Desolation Dao. Though it accords with the Path of Balance, you have arbitrarily altered the rules of the Initial Realm. You must return with this Venerable One to the Initial Realm, be bestowed the title of 'Lord of Myriad Talismans,' and guard the Dao Source nodes for all eternity."

Though these words seemed like a reward, alarm bells rang wildly in Xuan Fu's heart. He could feel that while the Lord of the Dao Source bore no malice, his aura carried a powerful desire for control—guarding the Dao Source nodes supposedly meant binding him to the Initial Realm. The Chaos Great Desolation Dao would then become a subsidiary Dao of the Initial Realm, losing its current independent status.

"Lord of the Dao Source, the Chaos Great Desolation Dao was Built by All Spirits. It is not the achievement of this junior alone." Xuan Fu clenched the Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman, its four-colored radiance echoing with the beliefs of countless living beings. "This junior is willing to safeguard the balance of the Dao Source, but I will not abandon the myriad spirits of the Chaos Great Desolation. If you insist, this junior can only fight to the death!"

"Stubborn and Ignorant." The Lord of the Dao Source's voice turned colder. Countless Great Dao runes flew from the rainbow curtain, transforming into thousands upon thousands of Law Chains that coiled toward Xuan Fu and the Chaos Great Desolation Dao. These chains did not carry the Power of Destruction, but they held the profound principle of "forcible ordering." Wherever they passed, Chaos-Desolation Qi was forcibly absorbed into the law system of the Initial Realm, and the Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman's radiance was suppressed until it became dim.

"Fight side by side!" Daoist Yang Mei was the first to react. Power of Space transformed into countless sharp blades that slashed toward the Law Chains. Donghua's Wood Spirit Power, the Three Clans' Origin Power, and the Three Envoys' powers of Nirvana, death, and demonic contamination all poured into the Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman one after another. Xuan Fu completely burned his World Lord Origin. The talisman's light surged, and countless talisman patterns flew forth, colliding with the Law Chains as they tried to break free from the restraints of forced ordering.

But the Lord of the Dao Source's power was simply too terrifying. The Law Chains wrapped around them layer by layer like a spiderweb. The Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman's patterns were suppressed one by one, and the laws of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao began to fall into disorder. The Passage of Being and Non-Being shook violently, as though it might be forcibly merged into the Initial Realm at any moment. Xuan Fu could feel his talisman Dao origin slowly being assimilated by Dao Source Power. If this continued, he would lose control over the Chaos Great Desolation Dao.

"With all spirits as the blade, with the Dao Source as ink, paint and set the universe!" A flash of resolve appeared in Xuan Fu's eyes as he suddenly hurled the Myriad Dao Returns to Origin Talisman high into the air. The talisman erupted with brilliant light, drawing every living being, every spirit vein, and every law of the Chaos Great Desolation into itself. The belief of all spirits became the purest black ink, while the resonance of the Dao Source became a golden brushstroke. Xuan Fu's talisman body transformed into an enormous talisman brush, dipping into the ink of all spirits and sweeping toward the Law Chains and rainbow light curtain.

This was not an attack, but a Chaos Great Desolation Myriad Dao Diagram. Wherever the talisman brush passed, countless talisman patterns interwove into mountains, rivers, living beings, and laws, gathering every essence of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao into the diagram. The instant the scroll unfurled, it radiated the resonance of "independent among myriad Daos, becoming a universe of its own." The Law Chains' ordering power was forcibly blocked, and even the rainbow light curtain's pressure faltered slightly.

A flash of surprise appeared in the Lord of the Dao Source's eyes. The rainbow light curtain swelled again as countless Great Dao origins formed a giant hand that struck toward the Myriad Dao Diagram. "Since you refuse to submit to order, then this Dao shall be erased completely!"

The instant the giant hand collided with the Myriad Dao Diagram, the entire Initial Realm and Chaos Great Desolation fell into extreme energy turbulence. Dao Source Power tried to tear apart the scroll, while the Myriad Dao Diagram stubbornly resisted with the belief of all spirits and the resonance of the Dao Source. The talisman patterns upon it collapsed and reformed again and again. The beliefs of the living beings fluctuated violently as well, and many weaker creatures fainted beneath the unbearable pressure.

Xuan Fu's talisman body cracked continuously beneath the energy impact. Golden Talisman Blood sprayed across the Myriad Dao Diagram, and every drop made the scroll's radiance surge another measure. He could feel his life rapidly draining away, but as long as the Myriad Dao Diagram remained intact, the Chaos Great Desolation Dao still had a sliver of hope. "All spirits and I shall live and die together!"

Just as his talisman body was about to collapse, an ancient rune suddenly erupted from the Myriad Dao Diagram—it was the phantom of the first rune from when Chaos Beginning first opened, the Origin Imprint of the Primordial Chaos Talisman Ancestor. Nourished by the belief of all spirits and Xuan Fu's essence blood, this rune awakened and merged with the Myriad Dao Diagram. The scroll's resonance instantly became complete, and it actually began absorbing the Lord of the Dao Source's attacking power, transforming it into nourishment for itself.

"A remnant imprint of the Primordial Chaos?" The Lord of the Dao Source's voice fluctuated for the first time, and the rainbow light curtain's attack paused slightly.

Xuan Fu rejoiced in his heart. He had never expected the Myriad Dao Diagram to awaken the Origin Imprint of the Primordial Chaos Talisman Ancestor. Seizing this opening, he poured his last trace of origin into the talisman brush and added its final stroke to the Myriad Dao Diagram. This stroke fused the Dao Source resonance Without Beginning or End with the belief of all spirits, completely stabilizing the scroll and forming an independent Universe Talisman Realm beyond the Initial Realm, enveloping the entire Chaos Great Desolation within it.

The instant the Universe Talisman Realm took form, the Lord of the Dao Source's giant hand was forcibly bounced away, and the Law Chains also shattered one after another. Talisman patterns flowed across the realm's surface. It possessed defenses that even the Lord of the Dao Source could not forcibly break, while autonomously absorbing heaven-and-earth energy to nourish the Chaos Great Desolation Dao within. It had truly become a universe of its own.

The Lord of the Dao Source's rainbow light curtain fell silent for a moment, then slowly contracted. His voice passed through the talisman realm, carrying a trace of recognition. "What the Primordial Chaos Talisman Ancestor failed to accomplish back then, you have achieved with the strength of all spirits. This Universe Talisman Realm accords with the balance of the Dao Source while preserving the independence of myriad Daos. This Venerable One will no longer insist."

A stream of light shot from the rainbow curtain, forming a seven-colored Dao Source Seal that landed before Xuan Fu. "This seal can communicate with the Dao Source. Should the danger of world destruction arise, it can draw upon Dao Source Power for aid. From this day onward, you are the Universe Talisman Venerable. The Chaos Great Desolation Dao shall be a parallel Dao of the Dao Source. Neither shall govern the other; together, they shall protect balance."

Xuan Fu accepted the Dao Source Seal. The Dao Source Power within it instantly merged into the Universe Talisman Realm, making its defenses even stronger. He bowed. "Thank you, Lord of the Dao Source, for granting this. This junior will surely safeguard the Dao Source balance and never allow the Chaos Great Desolation to become a source of chaos."

The Lord of the Dao Source's rainbow light curtain lingered no longer, slowly retreating into the depths of the Initial Realm. The rift in the Initial Realm closed along with it, leaving behind only the seven-colored light of the Dao Source Seal to maintain the balance between the two places.

The Shadow of the End had been punished, and the Lord of the Dao Source had retreated. The Chaos Great Desolation had finally completely escaped the fate of being controlled and harvested. Within the Universe Talisman Realm, all spirits cheered in jubilation. Mountains and rivers regained their vitality, Chaos-Desolation Qi grew ever purer, and the Three Clan Experts and hidden great powers also sighed in relief, smiles of survival after catastrophe appearing on their faces.

Nourished by the Dao Source Seal, the cracks in Xuan Fu's talisman body rapidly healed. Not only did his strength return to its peak, but after absorbing Dao Source Power, he faintly showed signs of breaking through the World Lord realm. He connected the Universe Talisman Realm with the Passage of Being and Non-Being and the Source of Myriad Talismans Talisman Tower, forming a stable defensive system to ensure the lasting peace and security of the Chaos Great Desolation Dao.

The Three Envoys looked at Xuan Fu with eyes full of reverence. Demon Ancestor Luohu clasped his hands and said, "Universe Talisman Venerable, although the Shadow of the End has been punished, its remaining forces still lurk within the Initial Realm and may strike back in the future. We are willing to remain in the Chaos Great Desolation and assist the Talisman Venerable in guarding it, to atone for our past sins."

The Netherworld Ghost Lord and Old Ancestor Nirvana also nodded one after another. They knew well that only by relying upon the Chaos Great Desolation Dao could they escape the fate of being controlled by the Initial Realm.

Xuan Fu nodded. "Past grudges have become drifting clouds and smoke. Now, we are all Guardians of Balance for the Dao Source. The three of you may choose places in the Chaos Great Desolation for secluded cultivation. Should danger arise, I will need your full support."

Daoist Yang Mei, Donghua, and the others also stepped forward one after another to discuss the plans for future defense. The Three Clans would protect the Great Desolation land and the Chaos Boundary, Donghua would lead Wood Spirit cultivators in nourishing the spirit veins, Daoist Yang Mei would set up spatial warning formations, and the Three Envoys would guard the core of the Universe Talisman Realm, forming an all-encompassing defensive system.

Just as everything was getting on track and Xuan Fu was preparing to enter seclusion to consolidate his strength and assault a higher realm, the Dao Source Seal in his hand suddenly began to tremble violently. A vague consciousness came from within the seal, carrying an intense warning. "Universe Talisman Venerable, an abnormal fluctuation has appeared in the depths of the Dao Source. The Chaos Singularity is suspected to be on the verge of reviving. This singularity is the Void Core from before the Dao Source was born. If it awakens, it will devour every Great Dao, including the Initial Realm and the Chaos Great Desolation."

Xuan Fu's heart tightened. His Spiritual Sense probed into the depths of the Dao Source through the Dao Source Seal. Sure enough, there was an extremely faint yet extraordinarily strange fluctuation there. It was neither beginning nor end, nor was it the Dao Source. It was a pure "nothing," more fundamental than the Shadow of the End's Absolute Void, carrying the terrifying resonance of "devour all things and return to the singularity."

"Chaos Singularity..." Xuan Fu clenched the Dao Source Seal, his heart filled with gravity. He had not expected that just after escaping the threats of the Shadow of the End and the Lord of the Dao Source, he would face an even more ancient and terrifying crisis.

What frightened him even more was that, through his Spiritual Sense, he discovered the Chaos Singularity's fluctuations echoing with a faint aura within the Universe Talisman Realm—it was a Void Talisman Fragment that had previously been merged into the talisman realm but never completely purified. This fragment had actually resonated with the Chaos Singularity, becoming the fuse for its revival.

Xuan Fu's face instantly turned deathly pale. He knew the revival of the Chaos Singularity could no longer be stopped. The only hope was to find a way to restrain it before it fully awakened. The consciousness transmitted by the Dao Source Seal indicated that the only thing capable of opposing the Chaos Singularity was the legendary Primordial Chaos Talisman Core, the "beginning of the Dao Source." Yet only the remnant soul of the Primordial Chaos Talisman Ancestor knew where this core lay.

But the remnant soul of the Primordial Chaos Talisman Ancestor had long since merged into the Universe Talisman Realm. To awaken it and ask for the core's location, he would have to risk activating the realm's core power. This might create a flaw in the talisman realm's defenses, giving the Chaos Singularity an opening to exploit.

An ultimate adventure concerning the survival of every Great Dao and every world was already imminent. Xuan Fu looked at the Dao Source Seal in his hand and the Universe Talisman Realm, a flash of determination appearing in his eyes. No matter how perilous the road ahead, he had to find the Primordial Chaos Talisman Core, stop the Chaos Singularity's revival, and protect this hard-won independence and balance.

Deep within the Dao Source, the Chaos Singularity's fluctuations grew increasingly intense. The resonance of that Void Talisman Fragment also became clearer and clearer, as if counting down, foretelling the approach of destruction.