Eternal Shadow, Life-Annihilation Choice

The oppressive pressure from the purple Tampering Vortex was like the sky collapsing, pinning the Mystic Talisman tightly within its core. The self-detonation power of the Lord of Tampering, after merging with the Origin of the domain, was carrying the profound meaning of "Tampering Myriad Daos," madly eroding the barrier of the Life-Annihilation Guardian Array. The Mystic Talisman's true form, a purple-gold crystal, was already covered in purple cracks. The Power of Life and Death was forcibly distorted, and the Origin of the Heart of Myriad Daos was like a candle in the wind, liable to extinguish at any moment.

"Mystic Talisman, give up resisting!" The Lord of Tampering's voice carried a mad laughter. Countless strange runes appeared in the purple vortex. "The Lord of Eternity is already waiting nearby. All Daos will eventually return to eternity; the cycle of life and death is merely a futile struggle!"

The Mystic Talisman looked in the direction indicated by the Lord of Tampering. At the edge of the Tampering domain, an invisible figure stood quietly. This "Eternal Shadow" had no energy fluctuations, yet it caused the Power of Life and Death to stagnate, as if time and space had lost all meaning before him. The Mystic Talisman could clearly feel that the Eternal Shadow's power far surpassed all known existences. He wasn't trying to destroy the Myriad Daos, but to incorporate them into the law of "eternal unchanging," completely freezing the cycle of life and death.

"Eternity is not the end; life and death are the foundation of the Myriad Daos!" The Mystic Talisman burned the last of its Heart of Myriad Daos Origin. The Life-Annihilation Balance Talisman erupted with a brilliant stream of black and white light, temporarily holding back the erosion of the purple vortex. "You attempt to tamper with life and death, but you are merely a puppet of the Lord of Eternity!"

The Eternal Shadow did not respond. He merely raised a hand and waved, injecting an invisible "Eternal Power" into the purple vortex. The vortex's power instantly surged, and the barrier of the Life-Annihilation Guardian Array cracked open. The Mystic Talisman was forced back by the immense impact, golden talisman blood seeping from its lips, and the purple cracks on its true form widened further.

"With the Myriad Dao Life and Death as a blade, shatter the eternal shackles!" The Mystic Talisman showed no sign of retreat. It completely merged its core of the Talisman Path with the Heart of Myriad Daos. The Life-Annihilation Balance Talisman transformed into a "Myriad Dao Life-Annihilation Talisman," its surface inscribed with the life and death trajectories of all Great Dao Worlds. "The Myriad Daos do not wish to be frozen by eternity; the cycle of life and death is true freedom!"

The black and white light emanating from the Myriad Dao Life-Annihilation Talisman collided with the purple vortex. Countless tampering runes were purified by the Power of Life and Death, and the Lord of Tampering's aura began to rapidly weaken. However, the intervention of Eternal Power reversed the situation once more. The invisible force froze the flow of the Power of Life and Death, the light of the Myriad Dao Life-Annihilation Talisman gradually dimmed, and the Mystic Talisman's movements became sluggish, as if bound by invisible shackles.

Just then, a massive pillar of life and death light erupted from the direction of the Primordial Chaos Realm. The figure of the Void Ancestor emerged from the light pillar, followed by Daoist Yang Mei, Dong Hua, the powerhouses of the Three Clans, and countless Oneness Practitioners. The power of the Belief of All Spirits surged into the Tampering domain like a tide, injecting endless Power of Life and Death into the Mystic Talisman.

"Eternal Shadow, you have overstepped your bounds!" The Void Ancestor's Power of Life and Death resonated with the Mystic Talisman, and the black and white light surged, unfreezing the Power of Life and Death. "Life and death, and eternity should each fulfill their responsibilities. Your attempt to freeze the Myriad Daos will inevitably lead to greater imbalance!"

The Eternal Shadow finally spoke, his voice carrying a cold indifference. "The cycle of life and death only leads to constant internal strife within the Myriad Daos. Only through eternity can the Myriad Daos endure forever." He waved his hand, and countless invisible eternal shackles coiled towards everyone. Where the shackles passed, the Power of Life and Death was forcibly frozen, and the Oneness Practitioners were bound, unable to move.

The Mystic Talisman and the Void Ancestor joined forces. The Power of Life and Death transformed into countless sharp blades, severing the approaching eternal shackles. However, Eternal Power was too strong; for every shackle severed, another would immediately take its place. The strength of both was rapidly depleted, and their life and death light began to dim.

"Using oneself as a guide, detonate the Origin of Life and Death!" Seeing the situation favor him, the Lord of Tampering suddenly burned his remaining Origin of Tampering. The purple vortex surged again, lunging towards the Mystic Talisman and the Void Ancestor. "Return to eternity together!"

The Mystic Talisman's heart sank. He knew that with only his and the Void Ancestor's strength, they could not simultaneously resist the self-detonation of the Lord of Tampering and the attack of the Eternal Shadow. Without hesitation, he pushed the power of the Myriad Dao Life-Annihilation Talisman to its limit, simultaneously drawing upon the power of the Belief of All Spirits to construct a "Myriad Dao Samsara Array" at the center of the Tampering domain.

Within the array, countless life and death runes danced, drawing in the energy of the Tampering domain, Eternal Power, and the Power of Life and Death. The Mystic Talisman's voice echoed throughout the Myriad Daos: "Beings of the Myriad Daos, the time for choice has come! Will you choose the freezing of eternity, or the freedom of life and death? If you choose freedom, then burn your beliefs and detonate the Samsara Array with me!"

The response of All Spirits echoed like thunder. Countless beings spontaneously burned their beliefs, and pure power surged into the Myriad Dao Samsara Array through the Primordial Chaos Bond. The Power of Life and Death within the array surged, colliding with the Tampering Power and Eternal Power, forming a massive energy vortex. The entire Tampering domain shook violently, on the verge of complete collapse.

A flicker of surprise flashed in the Eternal Shadow's eyes, clearly not expecting All Spirits to choose the freedom of life and death. He no longer hesitated, Eternal Power surged, and countless eternal shackles condensed into a massive "Eternal Talisman Seal," smashing towards the Myriad Dao Samsara Array in an attempt to forcibly freeze all power within the array.

"Life and death are endless, samsara is eternal!" The Mystic Talisman and the Void Ancestor simultaneously burned their Origins of Life and Death. The black and white light of the Myriad Dao Samsara Array surged, colliding with the Eternal Talisman Seal. The moment these two extreme powers clashed, the Tampering domain completely disintegrated, countless energy fragments splashing towards the Myriad Daos. The freezing power of the Eternal Talisman Seal was forcibly dissolved by the Power of Life and Death, and the Eternal Shadow's figure also became slightly blurred.

The purple vortex of the Lord of Tampering completely dissipated in the energy collision. His true form was struck by both the Power of Life and Death and Eternal Power, transforming into a wisp of purple remnant soul, fleeing towards the Eternal domain at the edge of the Myriad Daos. "Mystic Talisman, I will return!"

The Mystic Talisman did not pursue. He knew that the most important thing at the moment was to deal with the Eternal Shadow. He and the Void Ancestor joined forces, their Power of Life and Death transforming into a massive Life-Annihilation Talisman Blade, slashing towards the Eternal Shadow. "Eternal Shadow, leave the Myriad Daos, or we will not be polite!"

The Eternal Shadow's figure solidified again, Eternal Power surging to form an invisible defensive barrier, blocking the attack of the Life-Annihilation Talisman Blade. "You cannot stop the trend of eternity; the Myriad Daos will eventually return to eternity." He waved his hand, and Eternal Power spread towards the Myriad Daos. Wherever it passed, the Power of Life and Death was forcibly frozen, and beings in some Great Dao Worlds began to show signs of stagnation.

The Mystic Talisman's heart leaped in alarm. He knew that the spread of Eternal Power would lead to the gradual freezing of the Myriad Daos, eventually turning them into a dead and silent world without life and death. Without hesitation, he poured all the power of the Myriad Dao Samsara Array into the Life-Annihilation Talisman Blade and, joining forces with the Void Ancestor, slashed towards the Eternal Shadow once more. "For the freedom of the Myriad Daos, we will fight you to the end today!"

The moment the Life-Annihilation Talisman Blade collided with the Eternal barrier, countless life and death runes and eternal runes annihilated each other. The immense energy shockwave shook the space at the edge of the Myriad Daos, causing it to collapse. The Mystic Talisman and the Void Ancestor were sent reeling backward, their auras weak, their Power of Life and Death completely depleted. The Eternal Shadow's figure also became more blurred, clearly having suffered significant damage.

Just then, from the deepest part of the Myriad Daos, an extremely ancient aura emanated. This aura did not come from life and death, nor from eternity, but from the "neutral domain outside the Myriad Daos," carrying the ultimate rhythm of "balancing life and death with eternity," causing both sides engaged in fierce battle to involuntarily stop.

The Mystic Talisman and the Eternal Shadow simultaneously looked towards the depths of the Myriad Daos. A golden figure slowly emerged. This figure wore ancient Taoist robes and was surrounded by the balanced power of life and death and eternity. It was the "Lord of Balance," the arbitrator of life and death and eternity.

"Eternal Shadow, you have overstepped your bounds by attempting to freeze the Myriad Daos, violating the law of balance." The Lord of Balance's voice carried authority, and golden light enveloped the Myriad Daos, unfreezing the Power of Life and Death. "Return to the Eternal domain immediately, or you will face the sanctions of the law of balance!"

The Eternal Shadow's figure fluctuated, clearly showing apprehension towards the Lord of Balance. He no longer insisted, merely casting a deep look at the Mystic Talisman. Eternal Power retracted, and his figure gradually dissipated. "Mystic Talisman, the next time we meet, the Myriad Daos will return to eternity."

After the Eternal Shadow left, the Lord of Balance's gaze fell upon the Mystic Talisman, his eyes filled with approval. "Mystic Talisman, you have protected the freedom of life and death in the Myriad Daos. Well done. However, the remnant soul of the Lord of Tampering has not yet been eliminated, and the Eternal Shadow will not give up. The crisis of the Myriad Daos is far from over."

The Mystic Talisman bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your assistance, Lord of Balance. This junior will eliminate the remnant soul of the Lord of Tampering and the Tampering Seed as soon as possible to protect the balance of life and death in the Myriad Daos."

The Lord of Balance nodded, and golden light flowed into the Mystic Talisman's body, repairing his damaged Talisman Path core. "This is the Power of Balance. It will help you recover quickly and suppress the Tampering Seeds within the Myriad Daos. Remember, the balance between life and death and eternity is the key to the longevity of the Myriad Daos."

The Lord of Balance's figure gradually dissipated, leaving behind a Balance Talisman Seal floating in the center of the Myriad Daos, emitting the power of balancing life and death with eternity. The Mystic Talisman clenched the Balance Talisman Seal, his heart filled with determination. He knew that although the crisis had been temporarily resolved, the threats from the Lord of Tampering and the Eternal Shadow still existed. A longer war of protection had just begun.

Just as the Mystic Talisman was about to return to the Primordial Chaos Realm to eliminate the Tampering Seed, his Spiritual Sense suddenly detected an extremely faint anomaly emanating from the Balance Talisman Seal at the center of the Myriad Daos. This anomaly did not come from the Lord of Balance, nor from the Lord of Tampering or the Eternal Shadow, but from the "unknown domain outside of balance," carrying a strange rhythm of "breaking the balance," causing even his Power of Life and Death Balance to tremble.

The Mystic Talisman's heart grew solemn. He knew that behind this anomaly might lie a more terrifying Ultimate Existence. And this being's objective seemed to be to break the balance between life and death and eternity, plunging the Myriad Daos into new chaos.

An ultimate adventure concerning the balance of life and death and eternity had quietly begun at the center of the Myriad Daos.