Kongming's claws carried a sharpness capable of tearing through chaos, stopping less than three feet from Xuan Fu's talisman array. The pitch-black Power of Space condensed into substance, and the air around the claws was compressed until it gave off ear-piercing booms. Xuan Fu could even feel the Rigid-Soft Power on the talisman array fluctuating violently, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
At this critical moment, the Chaos Crystal suddenly erupted with a golden radiance that soared ten thousand feet into the sky.
The Mysterious Aura hidden within the crystal erupted in an instant. It was no longer the cold indifference from before, but instead carried an immense, boundless pressure. Like the Heavenly Dao descending, it instantly enveloped the entire plain. Wherever the golden light passed, the Power of Space on Kongming's claws melted away like snow under the sun. The claws' speed abruptly slowed, while cracks even began to appear across the scales covered in Space Veins.
"What... what kind of power is this?!" the Kongming Demon God roared in shock and fury, fear appearing in his eyes for the first time. He could sense that this power far surpassed his understanding. It was even more terrifying than the master of that cold gaze from before, as though it were a direct manifestation of the Chaos Origin.
Xuan Fu was also shaken by the sudden pressure, causing his blood and qi (talisman runes) to roil. The Rigid-Soft Talisman Array across his body trembled violently, yet under the golden light, it unexpectedly grew even more stable. He keenly sensed that the Great Dao rhythm contained within the golden light shared the same lineage as Pangu's Sky-Opening Trajectory, yet it was purer and more profound, as though it were the Origin Core of the Creation Dao.
Under the reflection of the golden light, the Sky-Opening Trajectory on the Chaos Crystal's surface seemed to come alive. One strand after another of green-gold patterns peeled away from the crystal, resembling tiny snakes as they flew toward Xuan Fu's talisman body. Xuan Fu's heart stirred. He did not resist, instead opening his talisman core and allowing the patterns to merge into him.
With every pattern that merged into him, Xuan Fu's comprehension of the Rigid-Soft Dao deepened. The Rigid-Soft Talisman Power that had still seemed somewhat awkward before now resembled sweet rain after a long drought, becoming increasingly smooth and harmonious. The fierce Sky-Opening Power, gentle Power of Space, and warm Power of Life intertwined perfectly. The radiance on the talisman's surface grew brighter, and its size expanded again, reaching the size of a middle finger. The pressure it released faintly surpassed that of an ordinary low-tier Demon God.
"No! That is my opportunity!" The Kongming Demon God stared at the scene, his eyes filled with greed and unwillingness. Though he knew this mysterious power was terrifying, he still could not bear to abandon the enormous opportunity before him. He suddenly roused all his Origin Power, disregarding the damage to his claws, and pounced at Xuan Fu once more, aiming directly at the detached Sky-Opening Trajectories.
Xuan Fu had been prepared. The Rigid-Soft Talisman Power erupted instantly. With a flash of green-gold light, a Rigid and Soft Harmony talisman blade condensed. It carried both the fierceness of Creation and the cunning sharpness of space as it slashed straight toward Kongming's claws.
"Clang!"
The ringing of metal rang across the plain as the talisman blade collided with the claws. Kongming felt an unmatched fierce force travel along his claws, throwing his Origin Power into disorder. At the same time, a gentle force spread up his arm, attempting to dissolve his Origin Power. To his horror, he discovered that his Power of Space could not completely withstand the talisman blade. The cracks across his claws multiplied rapidly.
"Ant! How dare you injure me!" Kongming raged. He opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of black Origin Blood. The blood transformed into a pitch-black Space River that surged toward Xuan Fu. This was his innate divine ability, containing pure Space Origin and possessing power far beyond the Space Blade from before.
Xuan Fu did not dare to be careless. He immediately drew upon the Chaos Crystal's golden light and drove the Rigid-Soft Talisman Array to its limit. The green-gold talisman array resonated with the golden light, forming a solid barrier. The Space River slammed into the barrier with a thunderous boom. The barrier trembled violently, yet it never shattered.
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the golden light of the Chaos Crystal suddenly surged again, and a hazy phantom slowly emerged from within the crystal.
The phantom's features could not be seen. Only a towering outline that reached the heavens and earth was visible, surrounded by the trajectories of the Creation Dao. The pressure it released caused the entire chaos to tremble. When the Kongming Demon God saw the phantom, he was scared out of his wits. He no longer dared to fight and turned to flee.
"Trying to leave?"
A dignified voice rang out. It did not come from the phantom, but instead echoed directly within the depths of their Spiritual Senses. As the voice fell, the phantom lightly pointed, and a streak of golden light shot toward Kongming. Kongming felt the space around him instantly become sealed. No matter how he urged his Power of Space, he could not move even an inch. He could only watch helplessly as the golden light drew closer.
Xuan Fu's heart tightened. The phantom's strength had already exceeded his imagination, and it was probably close to, or had even reached, the level of Pangu. He did not take the opportunity to attack Kongming. Instead, he once again restrained his aura and merged himself into the golden light, as though merging into the Great Dao, avoiding the phantom's attention.
The golden light landed on Kongming. It did not erupt with world-destroying power, yet it instantly stripped away part of the Space Origin within his body. Kongming let out a shrill cry of agony, and his aura weakened instantly. The Power of Space around him became chaotic, clearly suffering a severe injury. The phantom seemed to have no intention of pursuing him to the death. Once the binding power loosened, Kongming, like a startled bird, transformed into a streak of pitch-black light and fled deep into the chaos without looking back.
After dealing with Kongming, the phantom's gaze (faint and indistinct pressure) fell upon Xuan Fu. Xuan Fu's talisman body tensed involuntarily, his Spiritual Sense fully focused as he prepared to face anything. He could sense that the phantom held no malice toward him. Instead, it carried a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.
The phantom said nothing. It merely pointed lightly, and another streak of golden light shot toward Xuan Fu. This golden light was completely different from the one that had stripped away Kongming's Origin Power. It was gentle and pure, containing rich insights into the Creation Dao. Xuan Fu was delighted and immediately opened his talisman core, absorbing with all his strength the insights contained within the golden light.
The profundities of the Creation Dao surged into his Spiritual Sense like floodwaters bursting through a dam. His previous understanding of "rigid" and "soft" now seemed like peering at a leopard through a tube. The true Rigid-Soft Dao was not a simple stacking of powers, but two extreme manifestations of the Great Dao. The rigid could create heaven and earth, while the soft could Embrace All Things. Only through Rigid and Soft Harmony could all techniques evolve.
The talisman patterns spun wildly, engraving and digesting these insights one by one. Xuan Fu could feel his talisman system undergoing a qualitative leap. The Rigid-Soft Talisman Power grew increasingly harmonious, and he could even initially imitate the Sky-Opening Trajectory, condensing more powerful talismans and talisman arrays.
No one knew how much time had passed. Once the insights within the golden light had been fully absorbed, the phantom gradually became transparent. In the end, it transformed into a streak of light and merged back into the Chaos Crystal. The crystal's radiance also subsided, returning to its previous appearance. Only the Sky-Opening Trajectory on its surface had become clearer and more profound.
Xuan Fu slowly opened his eyes (his Spiritual Sense settling), his heart filled with shock and gratitude. This opportunity was more bountiful than all his previous gains combined. It had not only completely stabilized the foundation of his Rigid-Soft Talisman Dao, but had also raised his strength by several levels. The range of his Spiritual Sense had expanded to ten thousand miles, while the resilience and power of his talisman body far surpassed those of an ordinary low-tier Demon God.
He bowed deeply toward the Chaos Crystal, treating it as thanks to the phantom. Though he did not know the phantom's identity, it had not only helped him drive away Kongming but had also gifted him such precious insights into the Great Dao. He would remember this favor.
At this moment, aside from the Chaos Crystal and the scattered Origin Fragments, there was no other movement on the plain. Xuan Fu did not linger and immediately began collecting the Origin Fragments. These fragments contained Origins of different attributes. Although they were not as precious as the Sky-Opening Trajectory, they could still be used to perfect his talisman system.
After collecting the fragments, Xuan Fu looked toward the Chaos Crystal once more. He could sense that the phantom's aura and the Origin of the Creation Dao still remained inside the crystal. If he could comprehend the Dao here for a long time, he would certainly achieve even greater improvement. But he also knew that this place was no longer safe. Though Kongming had fled, there was no guarantee he would not return, or that he would not attract other, stronger Demon Gods.
More importantly, the prototype of the Primordial Wilderness had become increasingly clear. The separation of the Pure and Turbid Energies was accelerating, the outlines of distant mountain ranges were growing more distinct, and the spiritual qi between heaven and earth was beginning to grow denser. He knew that the Primordial Wilderness era was about to officially begin, and the curtain on the Three Clans Hegemony was about to rise. He had to hurry to the Primordial Continent, find a safe place to settle, and prepare for the coming Tribulation.
Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Fu urged his Rigid-Soft Talisman Power and transformed into a streak of green-gold light, flying toward the Primordial Continent. With the enhancement of the Rigid-Soft Talisman Power, his escape speed was several times faster than before. Like a meteor, he tore through the chaos toward that newly born world.
As he flew, Xuan Fu continuously spread out his Spiritual Sense to investigate the surrounding environment. The number of Demon Gods in the chaos had dwindled. Most had already fled into the Primordial Continent, or had perished during the earlier Sky-Opening tribulation and their mutual slaughter. Occasionally, he encountered a few surviving Demon Gods, but their auras were all feeble. Upon sensing the pressure emanating from Xuan Fu, they all avoided him.
Xuan Fu did not provoke them. He simply focused on flying toward the Primordial Continent. He could sense that as the distance shortened, the rules between heaven and earth became increasingly clear. The clear qi rose to become the heavens, the turbid qi sank to become the earth, and the prototypes of mountains, rivers, and streams were taking shape. Innate Spiritual Qi circulated between heaven and earth, nurturing countless Innate Beings.
At last, after flying for roughly one chaos hour, Xuan Fu set foot upon the land of the Primordial Continent.
The soil beneath his feet was firm and contained dense earth-attributed Origin Power, purer and gentler than the Origin Power in the chaos. Mountain ranges stretched all around, covered in unknown innate vegetation that released faint spiritual qi. The sky was azure, with white clouds drifting through it, forming a stark contrast with the darkness of the chaos.
"So this is the Primordial Wilderness..." A trace of emotion rippled through Xuan Fu's Spiritual Sense.
Unlike the violent, deathly silence of the chaos, the Primordial Wilderness was filled with vitality and vigor. The spiritual qi between heaven and earth was so dense it was almost liquid. With every breath, he could feel spiritual qi flowing through his talisman patterns and into his body, nourishing his Origin Power. At the same time, he could also sense countless dangers hidden across the Primordial Continent. Roars of enormous beasts occasionally came from the distant forests, while powerful Innate Beings sometimes flew across the sky, releasing heart-pounding pressure.
Xuan Fu did not rashly venture into the Heart of the Great Desolation. Instead, he chose to temporarily settle in a valley near the edge of the chaos. The spiritual qi here was not as dense as in the interior, but the area was secluded, safe, and unlikely to be discovered by other experts.
He inspected the valley and, after confirming that no other beings lived there, began arranging talisman arrays. Using the Rigid-Soft Talisman Power as a foundation and combining it with Space Runes and Life Talisman Runes, he laid down three layers of talisman arrays around the valley: stealth, warning, and defense. The Stealth Talisman Array could completely conceal the valley's aura and prevent Spiritual Sense from detecting it. The Warning Talisman Array could sense any unusual movement within ten thousand miles. The Defense Talisman Array would automatically activate when attacked, forming a Rigid and Soft Harmony barrier.
Only after arranging the talisman arrays did Xuan Fu relax. In this unfamiliar Primordial Continent, the talisman arrays were his only source of security.
He found a flat rock and sat down, beginning to organize his recent gains. The insights into the Sky-Opening Trajectory from the Chaos Crystal, the various Origin Fragments he had collected, and the perfection of his Rigid-Soft Talisman Dao all required time to digest and refine. He took out the Origin Fragments one by one, sorted them by attribute, and gradually merged them into his talisman body.
The earth-attributed fragments gave his talismans a hint of weight and stability. The metal-attributed fragments sharpened the talisman blade. The water-attributed fragments gave his talisman power a hint of fluidity. As the various Origins merged into him, Xuan Fu's talisman system grew increasingly complete. The radiance of his talisman body became brighter, and the pressure it released grew stronger.
After refining all the fragments, Xuan Fu began trying to condense a new talisman. With the Rigid-Soft Talisman Power as its core and various Origins of space, life, fire, and earth integrated within it, a green-gold talisman slowly condensed in his hand. This talisman was called the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman. It possessed the fierceness of Creation and could easily break through a Space Barrier, while also possessing the gentleness of space and protecting him as it broke through worlds. Its power was several times greater than that of the Space Escape Talisman from before.
Looking at the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman in his hand, Xuan Fu's heart filled with a sense of accomplishment. This was the first high-tier talisman he had condensed after entering the Primordial Wilderness, as well as the best proof of his increased strength.
Just as he was preparing to continue studying the Talisman Dao, the Warning Talisman Array suddenly sent over a faint ripple.
Xuan Fu's heart tightened. He immediately restrained his aura and urged his Spiritual Sense along the Warning Talisman Array's detection. He saw an enormous figure rapidly approaching through the sky ten thousand miles away. It resembled a giant dragon, with dense water vapor swirling around its body. The pressure it released far surpassed that of any Demon God he had encountered before. Clearly, it was a powerful native Innate Being of the Primordial Wilderness.
What startled him even more was that the figure was flying directly toward the valley where he was.
Xuan Fu immediately rose and gripped the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman in his hand. At the same time, he activated the Defense Talisman Array, preparing for battle or escape. He did not know the figure's purpose. Had it merely passed by, been attracted by the valley's spiritual qi, or noticed his presence?
As the figure drew closer, Xuan Fu could clearly sense the water vapor around it growing denser. It was even affecting the spiritual qi around the valley. The humidity in the air rose sharply, and a thin layer of water began to appear across the ground.
This was the aura of the Dragon Clan!
Xuan Fu's heart stirred. With the Primordial Wilderness newly emerged, the Dragon Clan, as one of the Three Clans, had already begun moving across the Primordial Continent. Judging from the aura of this figure, it was clearly an expert of the Dragon Clan, and might even be a high-ranking member.
He did not choose to attack first, nor did he immediately flee. Instead, he remained hidden in the valley and observed the other party's movements. The Dragon Clan was powerful. If conflict could be avoided, that would naturally be best. If it could not, he could still use the Rigid-Soft World-Breaking Talisman to escape.
Just as the Dragon Clan figure came within a thousand miles of the valley, it suddenly stopped.
Xuan Fu could sense the Spiritual Sense of the Dragon Clan expert sweeping across the area around the valley. Clearly, it had discovered the talisman arrays he had laid down. When its Spiritual Sense swept across the arrays, it paused for a moment, seemingly surprised by their intricacy.
A moment later, a dignified voice rang across the valley. "Which fellow Daoist is cultivating here? I am Ao Guang of the Dragon Clan. I happened to pass by and saw that the spiritual qi here is dense. I wish to borrow this blessed land for a time. Fellow Daoist, please show yourself."
Ao Guang?
Xuan Fu's heart tightened. He had not expected the visitor to be such an important figure of the Dragon Clan. Among the Three Clans at the dawn of the Primordial Wilderness, the Dragon Clan was the strongest. Ao Guang's strength was certainly unfathomable.
After hesitating for a moment, Xuan Fu ultimately decided to show himself. One could hide for a while, but not forever. Sooner or later, he would have to deal with the Three Clans on the Primordial Continent. Rather than passively hide, it was better to make contact and learn the Dragon Clan's attitude.
Xuan Fu activated the Stealth Talisman Array and slowly walked out of the valley, transforming into the human form of a cultivator in azure robes. He cupped his hands toward Ao Guang and said, "This junior is Xuan Fu. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Ao Guang. This valley is merely where I have temporarily settled. If Fellow Daoist needs to use it, this junior will naturally yield it to you."
He did not reveal his true identity or strength. Instead, he referred to himself as a junior and maintained a humble attitude, expressing goodwill while leaving himself room to maneuver.
Ao Guang slowly descended and transformed into a dignified middle-aged man dressed in dragon robes. He sized Xuan Fu up, surprise flashing through his eyes. "Oh? You are actually a Talisman Dao cultivator? Your talisman arrays are quite ingenious. That is rare."
There was no malice in Ao Guang's tone. Instead, it carried a hint of appreciation. Clearly, Xuan Fu's attainments in the Talisman Dao had aroused his interest.
Xuan Fu relaxed slightly and smiled. "Fellow Daoist praises me too highly. This junior merely knows a little about the Talisman Dao. It is nothing worth mentioning."
While the two were conversing, Xuan Fu's Spiritual Sense suddenly caught two more powerful auras rapidly approaching through the sky a thousand miles away.
One aura carried scorching flames, while the other carried heavy earth-attributed power. They repelled Ao Guang's water-vapor aura, clearly coming from the other two clans—the Phoenix Clan and the Kirin Clan!
Ao Guang also sensed the two auras. His expression shifted slightly, and his gaze toward Xuan Fu grew more complicated. "I did not expect the Phoenix Clan and Kirin Clan to come as well. It seems the spiritual qi in this valley has truly attracted quite a few people."
Xuan Fu's heart sank. The simultaneous arrival of experts from the Three Clans was clearly no coincidence. This valley was probably more than merely rich in spiritual qi.
He instinctively looked toward the depths of the valley and carefully probed it again with his Spiritual Sense. This time, he discovered something unusual. Deep beneath the valley lay a faint spiritual vein. Its source seemed connected to the Origin Land of the Primordial Wilderness, releasing extremely pure Innate Spiritual Qi.
So that was it!
Xuan Fu understood. The reason the Three Clans had gathered here was probably that they had all been attracted by this hidden spiritual vein.
At that moment, the figures of the Phoenix Clan and Kirin Clan had already appeared in sight. The Phoenix Clan Elder transformed into a woman dressed in a fiery red dress, flames swirling around her. The Kirin Clan expert transformed into a man clad in ocher battle armor, his aura heavy as a mountain.
The gazes of the two landed on Ao Guang and Xuan Fu, carrying clear hostility and wariness.
The curtain on the Three Clans Hegemony seemed to have been raised early in this secluded valley.
Xuan Fu stood between them, looking at the experts from the three sides eyeing one another hungrily. He inwardly cursed his bad luck. He had only wanted to find a place to cultivate in seclusion, yet he had unexpectedly been dragged into the conflict among the Three Clans.
What startled him even more was that, at the edge of his Spiritual Sense, he once again detected a familiar aura.
It was the aura of the Kongming Demon God!
Kongming had actually followed the experts of the Three Clans here!
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