The Heavenly Way Enforces the Law, the Four Directions Play a Game

The moment billions of divine rays tore through the dim firmament, the sounds of slaughter across the entire Ancient Secret Realm came to an eerie, sudden halt.

That light was no ordinary spiritual manifestation; it was clear, majestic, and carried the inherent solemnity of the laws of heaven and earth. Cascading from the nine heavens, it draped over the wilderness like an invisible, colossal net. The previously surging black mist of the Heavens-Dao-Destroyers, the violently colliding Desolation Origin, and the lingering, malevolent aura of the Ancient Supreme Remnant all seemed to hit a pause button the instant the divine light touched them. Their frenzied power was forcibly frozen in mid-air, and even the murderous, baleful aura permeating the air was largely cleansed.

Lin Chen raised a hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. Though the surging blood in his body calmed slightly, the heaviness in his heart only increased. Behind him, Son Goku and Vegeta both tensed their bodies, their gazes locked onto the path of light that had broken through the sky, their expressions filled with vigilance.

First came the eternally supreme Mysterious Shadow, then the swarms of Heavens-Dao-Destroyers, and finally the dying, desperate counterattack of the Ancient Supreme Remnant. These three factions had already turned the secret realm upside down, and now that a fourth force of powerhouses had emerged, the situation had completely spiraled out of everyone's control.

"Outer-Realm Heavenly Dao Enforcer..." Lin Chen repeated the title in a low voice, and the ancient memory fragments dormant in his sea of consciousness began to stir once more.

In those blurred images from the Chaos Era, figures similar to these—those who upheld order and judged all things—had appeared. They belonged to no faction and stood transcendent above the great powers of the heavens. They acted in accordance with the fundamental laws of the universe, appearing to suppress any anomaly that threatened to disrupt order or overturn the Great Dao. During the Dao-Destroying Rebellion that once swept through Chaos, aside from the death match between the supreme existences and the Dao-Destroyers, such figures seemed to have intervened as well. However, the ages were too distant and his memories too fragmented to ever piece together the complete truth.

In the void, the Ancient Supreme Remnant, which had been trapped by chains of origin, was originally gathering strength, waiting for an opportunity to stir up trouble again. The moment the Heavenly Dao light fell upon its body, its several-zhang-tall frame shuddered violently. Deep dread and fear flashed through its blood-colored pupils, and its previously restless aura instantly withered.

"Heavenly Dao Enforcer... to think they were actually drawn here." The voice of the Supreme Remnant carried a hint of bitterness and a trace of unwillingness. "When the great catastrophe ended, these fellows vanished, hiding in the depths of the laws of the heavens. Now that the origin has shifted and war rages on all sides, this behemoth has finally been disturbed."

Having lived through the ancient ages and witnessed the Chaos catastrophe firsthand, it knew the terror of the Heavenly Dao Enforcers better than anyone present. Their combat prowess might not necessarily crush the supreme beings of Chaos, but they wielded the laws of heaven and earth; every move they made could borrow the momentum of the heavens. When it came to containment and suppression, none could surpass them.

In mid-air, the Mysterious Shadow, wreathed in black mist, also halted its offensive.

It had been manipulating the Desolation Origin, simultaneously blocking the army of Dao-Destroyers and secretly shielding Lin Chen to prevent the core origin from being snatched by others. Now, facing the descending divine light, the black mist shrouding its body rippled slowly. It retracted most of its biting killing intent, yet it showed not a hint of retreat.

Having lain dormant for eons and plotted until now, it could not possibly abandon the origin right before its eyes just because of a group of Enforcers.

"You have quite the ability, to disturb even the reclusive Heavenly Dao lineage." The Shadow's voice remained ancient and low, devoid of emotion, as its gaze swept across the depths of the light path. "During the great catastrophe, you watched with cold eyes, letting the likes of the Dao-Destroyers wreak havoc on Chaos. Now that old matters are brought up again, you are the first to arrive to uphold 'justice'?"

Its words were laced with sarcasm; clearly, a rift had formed between the two sides long before the dawn of time.

Above the firmament, the divine light converged as figures clad in pearlescent holy armor, their bodies wreathed in glowing law-runes, stepped forth. They stood tall and straight, their faces hidden behind halos, making their true appearances impossible to discern. Yet, the power of the laws radiating from each of them was as heavy as a mountain, causing the space of the secret realm to cave in slightly. The leader stood at the very front, holding a shimmering Law Staff engraved with dense ancient runes; it was the one who had issued the heavenly decree moments ago.

"The Chaos Origin has shifted, and evil, Dao-defying entities are causing chaos, disrupting the balance of the heavens. We act under the decree of the Heavenly Dao to suppress them." The leader's voice was cold, devoid of any personal emotion. Their gaze swept slowly across the scene, finally resting on the three factions and Lin Chen at the center. "Past grievances are now history. With the flames of war spreading here, if this continues, not only will this Ancient Secret Realm be completely destroyed, but the surrounding star systems will also be affected. Cease your actions immediately and return to your places."

The simple statement carried an unarguable, iron-fisted attitude.

Within the army of Dao-Destroyers, several leading powerhouses let out a series of sinister, cold laughs.

"Cease? Hahahaha, how laughable!" One Dao-Destroyer stepped out of the ranks, the blood-colored patterns on its body flickering violently. "Back then, the Heavenly Dao favored the so-called orthodox, joining forces to suppress us and branding us as Dao-defying demons, forcing us to flee into the darkness to survive for eons. Now that the Supreme Origin has appeared, it is our chance to turn the tables. You think you can make us retreat with a few words? Keep dreaming!"

"So what if you are Heavenly Dao Enforcers? If we truly fight to the death, who wins and who loses remains to be seen!"

The Dao-Destroyers were incensed, their evil power surging once more, showing signs of reigniting the battle. They were born in defiance of the Dao and had never been bound by rules, so naturally, they would not obediently follow the Enforcers' orders.

The leader of the Enforcers remained unmoved, tapping the Law Staff lightly.

Hum—

Invisible power of the laws spread outward, transforming into pale golden light-runes that shrouded the entire battlefield like a net of heaven. Any evil power touched by these runes was continuously dissolved and suppressed, and the previously fierce offensive instantly stalled.

"Obstinate." The leader spoke calmly. "The Dao-Destroyer lineage has always defied the laws of heaven and earth. Since you refuse to repent today and insist on causing chaos, we have no choice but to act according to the law and suppress you."

As the words fell, the leader waved a hand, and the dozens of Heavenly Dao Enforcers behind them moved in unison.

Pearlescent divine light crisscrossed, transforming into thousands of blades of law that swept across the sky toward the army of Dao-Destroyers. Wherever the sword light passed, the decaying black mist disintegrated, and those eerie blood-colored patterns were countered by the power of the laws, forced into retreat step by step.

In an instant, the secret realm was once again divided into several battlefields.

The Heavenly Dao Enforcers clashed head-on with the Heavens-Dao-Destroyers, the collision of light and black mist roaring as energy ripples surged wave after wave. The two mortal enemies, previously at daggers drawn, were forced into a chaotic battle, and the scene grew increasingly frantic.

The Mysterious Shadow stood to the side, not rushing to strike, merely watching the slaughter with cold eyes. Its goal had always been Lin Chen; the struggles of the others were, in its eyes, mere trifles. However, it also understood that with all four factions gathered, rashly seizing the origin would inevitably draw the combined fire of the Heavenly Dao Enforcers, the Dao-Destroyers, and even the Supreme Remnant, which would be a losing trade.

Thus, it simply held its ground, the Desolation Origin flowing around it as it kept a faint, lingering tether of attraction locked onto Lin Chen. Like a hunter stalking its prey, it waited patiently for the most opportune moment to strike.

The Ancient Supreme Remnant, bound by chains, rolled its eyes, its mind racing.

Its strength was less than one-tenth of its peak, and it had no chance of winning against any single faction alone. The current four-way melee was the perfect opportunity for it to escape. While everyone's attention was focused on the war and Lin Chen, it quietly mobilized the last trace of origin power within its body, bit by bit eroding the black chains wrapped around it. The chains were formed from the Supreme Chaos Origin and were incredibly tough, but as the Shadow was distracted by the overall situation, the power of the chains inevitably weakened.

Bit by bit, thread by thread, fine cracks quietly appeared on the surface of the chains.

Lin Chen took in everything around him, weighing his options.

The four factions each had their own schemes. The Heavenly Dao Enforcers appeared to uphold justice, but no one could guarantee they didn't have designs on his strand of Chaos Origin. The Dao-Destroyers viewed him as a must-have prize to consume and strengthen themselves. The Mysterious Shadow was bent on merging with him to restore the ancient origin. Even the dying Supreme Remnant wanted to use the chaos to eliminate him and end the hopes of the other factions.

He was like a treasure coveted by all, pushed to the very center of the storm, with danger lurking in every direction.

"Vegeta, Goku, the situation is becoming increasingly complex." Lin Chen lowered his voice, channeling the Dragon Ball origin through his fingertips to reinforce the defensive barrier around him. "Although these Heavenly Dao Enforcers are fighting the Dao-Destroyers, their gazes sweep over here from time to time. We cannot let our guard down."

Son Goku gripped his Power Pole, beads of sweat forming on his temples as his injuries throbbed with pain. "I can see that these people aren't benevolent either. With the four-way melee, we're caught in the middle; one wrong move and we'll be caught in the crossfire."

Vegeta's expression was grim as he scanned the battlefield. "Fighting head-on is a dead end. The Shadow, the Dao-Destroyers, the Enforcers, the Remnant—every faction is far stronger than us. The best way forward is to take advantage of the chaos to find an exit from the secret realm and evacuate. If we stay here, we'll eventually be targeted by everyone."

Evacuation was the most prudent choice.

Lin Chen agreed with this sentiment. There were still too many mysteries left unsolved—his own origins, the truth behind the ancient catastrophe, and the entanglements of the various factions—but now was certainly not the time to delve into them. With his current strength, staying would only lead to a senseless death. Only by escaping and accumulating power would he have the chance to uncover the truth later.

Having made up his mind, Lin Chen began to secretly observe the surrounding terrain, searching for a passage out of the secret realm. This Ancient Secret Realm was already dilapidated, its spatial structure in disarray, and most conventional paths had been destroyed by the aftermath of the battle. Finding a safe exit would not be easy.

Just as he was distracted by searching for a retreat, the Mysterious Shadow in the void suddenly moved.

It seemed to have seen through Lin Chen's intentions and was unwilling to give him a chance to escape. The black mist around it surged violently, no longer hiding its strength. A strand of Desolation Origin, condensed to the extreme, detached from its main body and transformed into a streak of black light, silently hurtling toward Lin Chen.

The strike was incredibly fast, suppressing all sound and avoiding the main battlefield to aim directly at Lin Chen himself.

"Watch out!" Vegeta detected the movement instantly and shouted a sharp warning.

Lin Chen reacted with lightning speed. The power of the Dragon Soul within him erupted, and the seven-colored Dragon Ball glowed brilliantly, forming a thick defensive barrier before him.

Bang!

The black streak slammed heavily into the barrier. A dull, thunderous sound echoed as the defensive shield vibrated violently, large cracks appearing on its surface. Lin Chen stumbled back repeatedly, the origin power within him triggered once more, causing his meridians to ache as if a force were forcibly tugging at his soul.

"Don't even think about escaping." The Mysterious Shadow's voice rang in his ears, laced with certainty. "Our origins are connected; even if you flee to the furthest corners of the Heavens, I will track you down. Struggling is merely futile."

Just as the Mysterious Shadow moved to pin Lin Chen down, the Fall-Path Leader, locked in battle on the other side, seized the opening.

It broke free from the Heavenly Dao Enforcers, abandoned the direct confrontation, and transformed into a blood-red afterimage, tearing across the battlefield with Lin Chen as its target.

"The Supreme Origin shall be mine!"

A cold, sinister shout echoed as a dense wave of Fall-Path evil power descended, overwhelming and oppressive. The power of decay and erosion surged forward; its mere aura was enough to unsettle the soul.

Two offensives—one black, one red—struck at Lin Chen from front and back.

Caught in a pincer attack!

Lin Chen gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the turbulence of his origin within, and pushed the power of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Soul to their limits. While parrying the Mysterious Shadow's origin attack, he simultaneously resisted the erosion of the Fall-Path evil power. Under the dual pressure, his body swayed slightly, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth once more.

Seeing this, Son Goku, who was behind him, ignored his own severe injuries and leaped up. He swung his Power Pole, unleashing a vast expanse of golden light as he smashed it fiercely toward the Fall-Path Leader, hoping to share the burden for Lin Chen.

"Overestimating yourself." The Fall-Path Leader let out a cold snort and casually flicked a palm of blood-red wind.

Bang!

Son Goku, having struck in haste and still suffering from unhealed wounds, was hit instantly by the palm wind. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the ruins with continuous, stifled groans.

"Goku!" Lin Chen's heart tightened. In that split second of distraction, a corner of his defensive barrier was breached once again.

At this critical juncture, several beams of pearlescent light—the Laws—suddenly shot in from the side, precisely blocking the offensives of the Fall-Path Leader and the Mysterious Shadow.

It was the Heavenly Dao Enforcers.

The Enforcer leader held the Law Staff, eyes cold as he looked at the two powerhouses. "The flames of war are harming the innocent. You act recklessly to seize the origin, treating the laws of the Heavenly Dao as nothing. It seems I must suppress you all together."

In an instant, the Heavenly Dao Enforcers struck simultaneously, intercepting both the Fall-Path Leader and the Mysterious Shadow.

The situation shifted once more. What was once a four-way melee had now formed a stalemate, with the Heavenly Dao Enforcers acting as a central check, targeting the Shadow and the Fall-Path practitioners while keeping a watch on Lin Chen and the Supreme remnant soul.

The two intercepted powerhouses wore grim expressions.

The Fall-Path Leader's face was dark; it dared not rush forward recklessly. The Heavenly Dao Enforcers fought by borrowing the momentum of heaven and earth, making them extremely troublesome to engage head-on. The Mysterious Shadow also fell into a slight silence; having been interrupted repeatedly, its plan to seize the origin had failed time and again.

The battlefield fell into an eerie equilibrium, with all parties keeping each other in check, none daring to be the first to break the deadlock.

Lin Chen took the opportunity to help the fallen Son Goku up, and the three of them leaned against a broken wall to catch their breath. The crisis was temporarily averted, but everyone knew this calm was merely the illusion before a storm.

The four factions were wary of one another, yet each harbored their own ulterior motives; the balance could collapse at any moment.

Just as the atmosphere reached a suffocating peak and everyone was on edge, waiting for the next round of battle to erupt:

Deep within the secret realm, in the core area long buried by ruins and silent for eons, a low rumble suddenly echoed.

The ground began to heave and shake violently. Deep, bottomless fissures spread from beneath the earth, and an ancient aura, dense to the extreme, surged toward the sky through the cracks. Unlike the Desolation Power, the Fall-Path evil power, or the laws of the Heavenly Dao, this aura was vast, heavy, and carried a deathly silence that spanned chaos and eternity, as if a colossal entity that had slumbered for endless years was slowly awakening.

The flow of power throughout the entire secret realm turned chaotic in an instant. The powerhouses from all four sides turned their heads in unison, gazing toward the depths of the realm with shock.

The black mist around the Mysterious Shadow churned violently, and for the first time, it displayed clear emotional fluctuation, exclaiming, "Beneath the earth... it actually hides this?"

Greed and wariness intertwined in the Fall-Path Leader's eyes as it muttered to itself, "The core of the Eternal Secret Realm, the forbidden land rumored to be left behind by the Chaos Cataclysm... could the legends be true?"

The Law Staff in the Heavenly Dao Enforcer leader's hand trembled slightly, and his tone was grave. "The disturbance underground, this strange aura—it is certainly no good omen. This place truly hides an even greater secret."

Lin Chen's heart gave a violent jolt, and he instinctively looked toward the quaking heart of the secret realm.

He could clearly feel that the ancient aura rising from beneath the earth was resonating with the Dragon Ball origin within his own body, as well as that strand of homologous Desolation Power.

What exactly was suppressed deep underground?

And just as everyone's gaze was drawn to the heart of the secret realm, a cold, ghostly whisper drifted silently into everyone's consciousness. It was impossible to tell the source, yet it carried a chill that pierced through the ages:

"Long have I slumbered, and now the strong have gathered... perfect. Use your flesh, blood, and origins to awaken those who sleep here—the Chaos Ancient Clan."

The moment the voice faded, the rumbling from underground surged violently. Within the pitch-black fissures, pairs of eyes glowing with a ghostly green light slowly opened.