Number One Under Quasi-Saint!

The Qilin strode through clouds, the gourd gleamed with light, and a monkey followed behind.

Dao Xuan sat cross-legged on the Qilin's back. His Blue Gauze Headband fluttered in the wind, his face was like fine jade, his eyes were clear and his brows were elegant, and his aura was peaceful.

Gourd Baby sat on the Seven-Colored Gourd, his little face still flushed with excitement. He chattered animatedly to the Six-Eared Macaque, describing what they had just witnessed.

"Little monkey, little monkey! Did you see it? Teacher's fan, with a whoosh, it scorched the big bird's feathers! And that big seal, with a rumble, it smashed those bad guys away!"

The Six-Eared Macaque ran behind Gourd Baby, its six ears perked straight up, its eyes filled with fervent admiration.

"I saw it, I saw it! The immortal's divine might is peerless, his magic power boundless! How could those petty criminals be a match for the immortal in even one move!"

Its heart surged with emotion.

To follow such a mighty being was truly a stroke of immense fortune!

Dao Xuan listened to the childish chatter and the monkey's flattery from behind him, a slight smile gracing his lips.

This time, obtaining the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin had been quite fruitful.

This treasure had infinite uses, and it would provide him with an additional layer of reliance when traveling through the Great Desolation in the future.

He swept his divine sense over the warm, ancient-looking copper coin with wings on either side, nestled within his sleeve, feeling satisfied.

However...

Dao Xuan had still underestimated the allure of a Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure to these cultivators of the Great Desolation.

Or rather...

He had overestimated the "family fortunes" and "resolve" of these Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Great Witches.

Though the Great Desolation was vast, Innate Spiritual Treasures were finite.

A single Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was enough to drive great powers mad and make major sects envious!

Let alone a heaven-defying item like the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin, which specialized in countering all treasures!

An innocent man is guilty only because he possesses a treasure.

Though Dao Xuan was powerful, in the face of immense greed, there would always be those willing to take a risk.

After traveling for about a million miles.

Ahead lay a continuous expanse of crimson mountain ranges. The rocks were jagged, and not a blade of grass grew. It was named Crimson Flame Ridge.

The Fiend Qi here was dense, and the space was subtly turbulent.

Just as Dao Xuan was about to detour...

An unexpected change occurred!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

From all directions, a total of twenty-four terrifying pillars of light shot up into the sky!

The pillars of light were of different colors: demonic energy, fiend qi, immortal light, demonic flames... they were mixed and chaotic, yet strangely intertwined!

Instantly, they connected to form a colossal light curtain that blotted out the sun and shrouded the sky!

On the light curtain, runes flowed, and chains of Dao principles crisscrossed, emitting a terrifying power that could imprison, space and suppress magic power!

A massive formation, covering an area of ten thousand miles, instantly took shape!

Trapping Dao Xuan, the Qilin, Gourd Baby, and the Six-Eared Macaque within it!

"Not good! It's an ambush!" The Six-Eared Macaque's six ears trembled frantically, and it cried out in shock, its voice filled with horror!

"Teacher!" Gourd Baby's little face turned ashen with fear, and he clutched the Seven-Colored Gourd tightly.

Dao Xuan's pupils contracted, and his divine sense surged out like a tide.

Outside the light curtain, indistinct figures flickered, revealing over twenty presences!

Leading them was the injured Great Witch from the top of Falling Gold Mountain!

Beside him was Qing Luan, who should have been swept into the void turbulence!

Although his feathers were scorched black, one wing drooped, and his aura was weak, the ferocity in his eyes burned even brighter!

Surrounding them were over twenty other beings with imposing auras!

There was a demon clan magnate wearing the Nine-Cloud Blazing Crown, clad in scale armor, wielding a golden axe!

There was a War Witch with a blue face, red hair, exposed fangs, and fiend qi soaring to the heavens!

There were old rogue cultivators with tattered Daoist robes, their immortal demeanor gone, their eyes filled with venom!

There were even several figures with mysterious auras, shrouded entirely in black robes!

Among them were three late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortals (the Great Witch, Qing Luan, and one black-robed figure), five mid-stage, and over ten early-stage!

This lineup was more than double the strength they had faced at Falling Gold Mountain!

What made Dao Xuan even more surprised was...

The Great Witch represented the Witch Clan, and Qing Luan represented the Demon Clan!

The Witch Clan and the Demon Clan had been locked in a bitter struggle, with endless bloodshed, since their inception!

At this moment, to deal with him and to snatch the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin, they temporarily put aside their deep-seated hatred from the Sea of Blood and joined forces to set up this heaven-shattering killing formation!

Treasures move people's hearts, to this extent... Dao Xuan sighed inwardly, then his expression turned to ice.

"Dao Xuan! Hand over the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin! We'll spare your life!" The Great Witch's voice boomed like thunder, shaking the great formation.

"Hmph! The foremost disciple of Xuanmen? Today, I will make you perish and your spiritual treasure change hands!" Qing Luan's voice was sharp and filled with venom.

"Fellow Daoists! This scoundrel possesses a great treasure. Kill him, and we'll split the spoils equally!" An old rogue cultivator incited.

"Attack!"

BOOM!

The great formation was instantly pushed to its limit!

Countless chains of laws intertwined and strangled downwards like venomous dragons!

Demonic fire, fiend qi, immortal light, demonic lightning... various terrifying divine abilities attacked, bombarding Dao Xuan at the core of the formation like a torrential rain from all directions!

The Five Spirit Qilin roared, its Five-Colored Divine Light surging around its body as it resisted with all its might, but it was suppressed by the power of the great formation, its light dimming.

Above Dao Xuan's head, the Mysterious Yellow Ruler appeared, its Mysterious Yellow Qi of Merit descending to protect his body.

Beneath his feet, the Pure World White Lotus bloomed, its pure divine light flowing.

In his left hand, the Four Symbols Banana Fan, and in his right, the Nine Dragon Myriad Treasure Seal!

Four supreme treasures were unleashed simultaneously, directly confronting the ultimate killing formation set up by over twenty Grand Unity experts!

RUMBLE!

Terrifying explosions continuously erupted within the formation!

Space shattered inch by inch, only to be forcibly mended by the power of the great formation!

Dao Xuan stood like a reef in a stormy sea, unmoving!

But the power of the great formation was inexhaustible. The combined attack of over twenty Grand Unity experts was truly terrifying in its might!

The Merit Qi of the Mysterious Yellow Ruler vibrated violently!

The divine light of the Pure World White Lotus also flickered slightly!

Although Dao Xuan was unharmed, his magical power was being consumed at an enormous rate. For the moment, he was trapped, unable to break free from the formation!

"Teacher, be careful!" The Gourd Baby, seeing Dao Xuan being besieged, was extremely anxious and wanted to rush over to help, controlling the Seven-Colored Gourd.

"Young Master, you mustn't!" The Six-Eared Macaque was greatly alarmed and tried to stop him.

At this moment!

Another unexpected event occurred!

The black-robed figure, who had been lurking outside the formation with the most mysterious and chilling aura, had a cold glint in his eyes!

He did not participate in the frontal assault but secretly formed a hand seal, activating an extremely hidden killing intent within the great formation!

A spatial blade, condensed to its extreme, almost silent, and using the fluctuations of the great formation as cover, suddenly attacked from the Gourd Baby's rear like a venomous snake!

The target was the Gourd Baby, whose mind was entirely focused on Dao Xuan!

"Gourd Baby!" Dao Xuan's divine sense had been covering the entire scene, and he instantly sensed it. He let out a furious roar, and the Mysterious Yellow Ruler's light surged, sending out a stream of Mysterious Yellow Qi to intercept!

But the distance was too great, and he was being interfered with by the power of the great formation!

SWISH!

The spatial blade, though weakened by more than half by the Mysterious Yellow Qi, narrowly grazed the edge of the Seven-Colored Gourd!

PUFF!

The Seven-Colored Gourd Leaf Immortal Robe on the Gourd Baby's body flashed, blocking most of its power, but the residual force still made his small face turn pale. He let out a muffled groan, and a shallow bloody gash appeared on his shoulder!

A wisp of pale golden blood seeped out!

"Ah!" The Gourd Baby cried out in pain, his small face instantly turning ashen.

"Young Master!" The Six-Eared Macaque's eyes were about to split!

"You... are seeking death!!!"

Dao Xuan's voice, like the cold ice of the netherworld, instantly echoed throughout the entire space of the great formation!

An unprecedented, bone-chilling killing intent erupted from Dao Xuan like a tangible entity!

The intensity of this killing intent actually caused the frantically operating great formation to falter for a moment!

The over twenty Grand Unity experts who were attacking felt a chill in their hearts simultaneously!

They had never seen such terrifying killing intent!

It was as if some taboo had been touched!

Dao Xuan's eyes, which had always been as calm as still water, were now burning with celestial rage!

The Gourd Baby was injured!

This little fellow, whom he had enlightened, regarded as a nephew, and had brought along to travel the Great Desolation, was injured right before his eyes!

Though it was only a superficial wound, this was an utter humiliation!

It had even touched his sensitive spot!

"Good! Very good!" Dao Xuan laughed in extreme anger.

"Today, not a single one of you will leave!"

He no longer held back anything!

The Mysterious Yellow Ruler above his head hummed, and the vast merit energy transformed from mere defense into a Mysterious Yellow divine light that tore through the heavens and earth!

"Mysterious Yellow Sky Splitting!"

Dao Xuan let out a sharp cry!

The Mysterious Yellow divine light surged, carrying the supreme will to split the heavens and earth and separate the pure from the turbid, slashing fiercely towards the massive light screen that enveloped the sky!

Screech--!

Like a hot knife through butter!

The deadly array, laid out by over twenty Grand Unity experts, was actually sliced open by this Mysterious Yellow divine light, creating a huge rift!

"Gourd Baby! Six-Eared! Get out!" Dao Xuan's voice was icy cold.

"Teacher!" Gourd Baby wanted to say something more.

"Go!" Six-Eared Macaque reacted extremely quickly, knowing that staying would only be a burden. He grabbed Gourd Baby and activated the Seven-Colored Gourd!

"Whoosh!"

The Seven-Colored Gourd turned into a streak of light and, following the rift, instantly shot out of the array's range, propelled by Dao Xuan's secretly added magical power to tens of thousands of miles away!

"Trying to escape?!" Qing Luan shrieked, attempting to pursue.

"Your opponent is this humble Daoist!" Dao Xuan's icy voice was like a maggot on the bone, exploding in his Primordial Spirit!

The Pure World White Lotus shone brilliantly, instantly stabilizing the space within the array!

He fiercely fanned the Four Symbols Banana Fan towards the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the sneak-attacking black-robed figure!

Whoosh--!

This time, it was no longer a spatial storm!

But the purest, most extreme chaotic Four Symbols Origin!

Earth! Fire! Wind! Water!

The four-colored origin energies intertwined, transforming into a chaotic torrent that instantly engulfed Qing Luan and the black-robed figure!

"No--!" Qing Luan only had time to let out a desperate shriek before his proud Qing Luan true form, like ice and snow melting in the sun, instantly turned to ashes in the chaotic torrent!

The black-robed figure was annihilated, body and soul, without even a chance to scream!

"Kill!" The Great Witch roared, his bone spear stabbing with the power to shatter stars!

The other Grand Unity experts' eyes turned red, and they unleashed their magic treasures and divine abilities at Dao Xuan without regard for their own safety!

"Suppress!" Dao Xuan summoned the Nine Dragon Myriad Treasure Seal with his right hand!

The seal transformed into an ancient divine mountain, nine dragons roaring, and imperial dragon energy suppressing the heavens!

Several Innate Spiritual Treasures (mostly mid-to-low grade) that were hurled at him were struck by the dragon energy, their light instantly dimming as they wailed and flew backward. Two of the lower-grade ones even developed cracks!

The Grand Unity experts controlling the treasures suffered mental damage and spat blood!

"Mysterious Yellow--Law Breaking!" Dao Xuan pointed his fingers like a sword, activating the origin of the Mysterious Yellow Ruler!

A condensed Mysterious Yellow sword energy, ignoring spatial distance, instantly pierced the brow of an old Daoist rogue cultivator!

The old Daoist's eyes instantly dimmed, his Primordial Spirit directly erased by the merit power!

"Pure World--Demon Cleansing!" The Pure World White Lotus spun, and billions of purifying divine lights, like sharp swords, swept towards those black-robed figures with strange auras and demonic energy.

"Ah!" Amidst the screams, the demonic energy rapidly dissolved like snow meeting the sun, and several black-robed figures instantly turned to ashes!

Dao Xuan was like a tiger entering a flock of sheep!

The Mysterious Yellow Ruler above his head was the main attacker, breaking laws and repelling all evil!

The Pure World White Lotus beneath his feet was the main defender, stabilizing space and being impervious to all methods!

His left hand, the Banana Fan, summoned the chaotic Four Symbols, burning the heavens and boiling the seas!

His right hand, the Myriad Treasure Seal, suppressed the heavens and commanded all treasures!

The four supreme treasures in his hands worked in perfect harmony, their power unleashed to the extreme!

His figure was like lightning as he shuttled through the array.

Every strike, and a Grand Unity expert would fall!

Some were dismembered!

Some turned to ashes!

Some had their Primordial Spirits annihilated!

Brutal!

Overbearing!

Heartless!

Inside the great formation, it had become an Asura's slaughterhouse!

That Great Witch's eyes were about to split. He burned his vital blood without regard for anything, his fiend qi soaring into the sky, his bone spear transforming into a ten-thousand-zhang dark light and stabbing over!

"A mere speck of dust dares to shine?" Dao Xuan's eyes were ice-cold.

The Mysterious Yellow Ruler flickered, carrying the power of supreme merit, and smashed heavily onto the bone spear!

Crack!

The witch clan bone spear, which had drunk the blood of countless powerful beings, snapped in response!

The Mysterious Yellow Ruler's momentum did not decrease and heavily smashed into the Great Witch's chest!

Puff!

The Great Witch's incredibly powerful Ancestral Witch body (near-perfect) was like paper, his chest instantly caved in!

The violent power of merit surged into his body, wreaking havoc!

"Ugh..." The Great Witch's eyes were filled with unwillingness and disbelief. His massive body crashed down, his aura extinguished!

The last demon clan powerhouse, wearing the Nine-Cloud Blazing Crown and wielding the Gleaming Gold Axe, still attempted a desperate struggle.

"Roar!"

Dao Xuan didn't even look. The Nine Dragon Myriad Treasure Seal descended!

Boom! He was directly smashed into a pulp!

In just the time it takes for a cup of tea to brew.

Inside the great formation, corpses littered the ground, and blood dyed the sky.

Over twenty Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Great Witches had all been executed!

Not a single one survived!

A thick scent of blood and shattered spiritual energy permeated the air.

The massive light barrier, having lost its controllers, let out a mournful cry and shattered inch by inch, disappearing into the heavens and earth.

Crimson Flame Ridge returned to its dead silence.

Only the mess and wreckage on the ground told of the brutality of moments before.

Dao Xuan stood in the void.

The Blue Gauze Headband remained, his face like fine jade, his eyes clear and brows elegant.

However, the icy killing intent radiating from him had not completely dissipated, making him look like a god returning from a battlefield of Asuras.

The Five Spirit Qilin let out a low growl and walked to his side.

Dao Xuan's gaze swept across the battlefield.

His divine sense moved slightly.

Several masterless magic treasures were drawn to him.

A tattered black banner, emitting a strange aura that could guide souls and captivate spirits (Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Soul Guiding Banner).

A bronze ancient sword, more than half broken, with stars inscribed on its blade (Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Damaged · Star Sword).

A small, earth-yellow seal covered in cracks (Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Wutu Seal).

A string of bone beads that had lost their luster (Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Witch Bone Beads).

And a Bagua Mirror with a scorched edge (Low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Bagua Mirror).

Dao Xuan looked at the few damaged or low-grade spiritual treasures in his hand, his brow furrowed.

"Over twenty Grand Unity beings... and this is all they have?"

His tone was calm, yet it carried an indescribable... disdain?

"Truly... poor."

Dao Xuan shook his head and casually put away these spoils of war.

Even the smallest gain is still a gain; he could take them back for Yushu, Xuanji, and the others to play with while refining.

The anger in his heart, sparked by the Gourd Baby's injury, subsided with the execution of these enemies.

More than anything, he felt a sense of pity for these "poor" Grand Unity beings.

Though the Great Desolation was vast, resources were not distributed equally.

Many rogue cultivator Grand Unity beings were fortunate to possess a suitable low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Unlike him, who had the backing of the Xuanmen, was a disciple of a Saint, and possessed abundant wealth.

This battle was a display of thunderous methods, killing over twenty Grand Unity beings (including Great Witches), among whom were many late-stage existences.

The news, once it spread, would surely shake the heavens and earth!

Dao Xuan's name would no longer be merely "Xuanmen's chief disciple."

But rather...

The foremost person beneath the Quasi-Saints!

He no longer lingered.

With a pat on the Qilin's neck, The Five Spirit Qilin let out a long cry and rose into the clouds.

Dao Xuan's divine sense stirred, sensing the aura of Gourd Baby and Six-Eared Macaque tens of thousands of miles away, flying in that direction.

Crimson Flame Ridge was left with only dead silence and legend.

A terrifying legend about Xuanmen's chief disciple, Dao Xuan, slaughtering over twenty Grand Unity cultivators in a fit of rage.

The waters of the Great Desolation had grown deeper.