Ants?
Yu Jiangwei stood atop the mountain peak, her robes fluttering, like an immortal. The hidden Dao Origin emanating from her caused the clouds and mist within several feet to freeze, daring not to approach even slightly.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing through layers of Void, landing on the distant horizon.
There, two powerful forces were clashing violently.
The impact created a deafening roar, and the spiritual light and Dao Origin intertwined, dyeing half the sky a magnificent yet terrifying crimson-gold color.
With her profound supernatural Divine Ability, even from such a great distance, she could clearly see Daoist Shurong [Chi Jianshu] operating the Star-Illuminating Palace Great Art in the distance!
The phantom of the Big Dipper hung high in the sky, showering down brilliant starlight, and was constantly clashing with the powerful figure from the Calamity Sea.
The starlight and the power of the Calamity Sea eroded and wore each other down, and for a time neither could overcome the other.
"Daoist Shurong's great Divine Ability is indeed quite murderous, truly worthy of being called a [Killing Power Great Art]."
Yu Jiangwei's mind raced, and she looked again at the Void light screen.
On the light screen, in the city of Nanchi Prefecture, Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran were still able to barely hold off the two cultivators from the Calamity Sea with the help of that mysterious spiritual treasure.
The runes on the magical artifact flowed, and although cracks had appeared, it stubbornly held on, preventing the two from Thunder Pool.
But the Daoist Fire Tuo had already approached the last starlight restriction surrounding the Guiding Passage Formation.
The crimson flames around him burned wildly as if they were alive, enveloping his entire body in a dazzling firelight. He formed hand seals, and a series of profound fire spells poured down on the restriction like a torrential rain.
The barrier trembled violently under such a fierce attack; its starlight dimmed, cracks appeared, and it was on the verge of being completely breached.
Yu Jiangwei watched this scene and shook her head slightly.
"Dao-Below Academy was the first Xuanmen to come to this Cave Heaven- heaven," she said softly. "But it was burdened by many matters, and its projection array was not particularly profound, causing it to miss its best opportunity."
With that thought in mind, she lost interest in the situation in Nanche Prefectural City.
Chi Jianshu was entangled by the powerful figure from the Calamity Sea, while Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran were merely projections of the Twelve Levels of Qi Circulation, and they couldn't hold out for long against the Daoist Fire Tuo.
Once the Daoist Fire Tuo breaks through that restriction, the Guiding Passage Formation will be like a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.
Once this great formation is destroyed, all the plans that Dao-Below Academy has made in this world will be in vain, leaving them with no chance of recovery.
"Calamity Sea has gained the upper hand," she murmured to herself. "He will surely modify the Dao-Below Academy's Guiding Passage Formation, using it as a springboard to bring more powerful beings to this world. At that time, the situation in this realm will be completely different."
Having made up her mind, she turned around, her dark robes fluttering Subtle Insight in the wind, and prepared to leave with the people behind her.
"Now that Calamity Sea has gained the upper hand, he will surely modify the Dao-Below Academy's Guiding Passage Formation ... Let us wait until Calamity Sea has modified the array before we come again."
Her command carried an unquestionable authority.
Upon hearing this, both the male and female cultivators from Candleflame Star respectfully agreed.
The azure mark on the man's forehead shone brightly, and the pale purple mist surrounding the woman also subtly receded.
The two were highly skilled, yet they dared not overstep their bounds in front of Yu Jiangwei.
Lin Longyue stood to the side and also bowed.
"The Dao-Below Academy is no longer as prosperous as it once was." The cultivator with the azure mark on his forehead spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of emotion, as well as a sense of indifference.
Such is the nature of the cultivation world; rise and fall are merely common occurrences.
Even a behemoth with True Lord in charge can not escape the day when its fortunes decline.
Thinking this, he turned around, preparing to leave with Yu Jiangwei.
But just then!
Suddenly, a bolt of lightning burst forth from the distant Void, which had been obscured by fire and smoke!
One moment the sky was dark and chaotic, the next it was split open by a dazzling bolt of lightning!
The lightning was so intense and dazzling that it was like a thunderclap in the Void, tearing through layers of clouds and the pervasive smoke and dust, illuminating the entire sky!
Yu Jiangwei stopped in her tracks, which she had already taken.
She turned around, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
Then he raised his head, his gaze piercing through the churning clouds and the lingering lightning, landing on the spot where the lightning had suddenly appeared.
Then, from the dark Void in the distance, a cloud of mist was seen breaking through the air and approaching!
The cloud was moving at an unbelievable speed, like a pale golden meteor shooting against the current, trailing a long beam of light, crashing headlong towards the Nanche Prefectural City!
And above those clouds stood a young man dressed in black!
The young man had a handsome face and was only in his early twenties, but the profound and imposing aura he exuded was completely unlike that of someone his age.
His aura was at its peak, and his spiritual energy surged and moved like a walking furnace, scorching and distorting the air in his path.
He stood atop the clouds, his robes fluttering, his long hair dancing wildly in the wind, his entire being like a god emerging from Thunder Pool, his power unparalleled!
Yu Jiangwei raised her eyebrows slightly.
The other two powerful Candleflame Star also noticed the cloud that had broken through the air, and their faces showed surprise as well.
The man with the azure mark on his forehead narrowed his eyes, a faint light swirling deep within his pupils, clearly indicating that he was using some kind of detection technique.
The woman, surrounded by a pale purple mist, also raised her head, a hint of interest flashing in her cold eyes.
"Who is this person?" The woman in the purple mist spoke first, her voice tinged with surprise. "Calamity Sea attacked Dao-Below Academy, this person came alone. How dare he come to Nanche Prefectural City? Could it be that Dao-Below Academy is hiding some kind of trick?"
As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on the approaching blue cloud, her eyes filled with confusion.
Suddenly, a strange golden light shone from the eyes of the male cultivator, Candleflame Star, piercing through the Void and landing on the black-clad youth.
He stared intently for a moment, then suddenly let out a soft exclamation, his tone becoming even more surprised. "This person is indeed strange... His aura seems imposing, but upon closer inspection, he is actually a powerful being who has possessed another body, not an avatar created out of thin air..."
He paused, his brows furrowing even deeper. "However... although this person has already entered the Twelve Levels of Qi Circulation, Dao Seed Realm suspended in the air within his Qi Sea, it has not yet condensed into Dao Platform."
"Has not yet formed Dao Platform?" Upon hearing this, the woman in purple mist looked even more surprised. "A mere Dao Seed Realm cultivator dares to come to this battlefield and interfere in the struggle between the Calamity Sea and the Dao Palace?"
She paused slightly at this point. "Then this person should not be from the Dao-Below Academy... but rather someone from the Calamity Sea, who has come to assist that Daoist Fire Tuo to ensure everything goes smoothly?"
She turned her head to look at Yu Jiangwei, seemingly wanting to get a definite answer from this powerful figure from the Candleflame Star.
At that moment, Lin Longyue, who had been silent all along, suddenly changed her expression, and a deep surprise flashed in her eyes.
She stared intently at the figure walking on clouds in the Void, at that face she knew all too well, and her breath hitched slightly.
Yu Jiangwei ordinary person; even if Lin Longyue's change in expression only happened for a fleeting moment, how could it escape her notice?
She turned her head, her deep eyes falling on Lin Longyue, her gaze calm yet carrying an invisible pressure.
Lin Longyue sensed the immortal's gaze, her heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously swallowed.
She dared not conceal anything and said, "I... I know this person."
"His name is Chen Lingxi, and like me... he is also a native of this Weiji Grotto-Heaven!"
Chen Lingxi?
Upon hearing these three words, both the male and female cultivators from Candleflame Star showed unusual expressions.
The man with the azure mark on his forehead was the first to react. He raised his head and looked up at the Immortal Ranking that stood majestically in the sky.
Purple qi swirled around the Immortal Ranking, and names flowed about.
His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the twenty-eighth person.
The three characters engraved with a pale purple light were the words "Chen Lingxi," and their origin was clearly marked by the four characters "Weiji Grotto-Heaven."
"A native of the Weiji Grotto-Heaven?" The man repeated in a low voice, a hint of surprise in his tone. "A mere native being of a Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven, yet able to cultivate to the Twelve Levels of Qi Circulation, and even ascend to twenty-eighth place on the Immortal Ranking? This..."
He hadn't finished speaking, but the disbelief in his voice was already evident.
"Since he's not from the Calamity Sea," the woman in purple mist interjected, "He's only at the Twelve Levels of Qi Circulation and hasn't yet condensed his Dao Platform, yet he's stormed into Nanche Prefectural City alone... That Daoist Fire Tuo's avatar has already condensed his Dao Platform, and his combat power is far beyond what Qi Circulation Realm Dao Seed Realm can contend with."
"Wouldn't he be sending himself to his death in vain?"
Upon hearing this, a deep sense of worry flashed in Lin Longyue's eyes.
She gazed at the ever-receding blue clouds, and at the black-clad youth standing atop them, her heart churning with emotion.
Right now!
The bolt of lightning and cloud of energy had already shot into the Nanche Prefectural City.
Chen Lingxi stood atop the cloud, like a fallen star, his robes fluttering, his body crackling with lightning, carrying a terrifying aura that, though not yet at the Dao Foundation Realm, far surpassed that of ordinary Qi Circulation Realm cultivators, as he crashed into the Nanche Prefectural City!
In an instant, the raging flames in the city were all extinguished!
The Daoist Fire Tuo was focused entirely on breaking the last starlight restriction, his mind completely absorbed in it, and he never expected that someone would dare to interfere from behind.
When he sensed the sudden intrusion of that aura, Chen Lingxi had already approached him like a ghost, closing in on him within a hundred feet!
Daoist Fire Tuo frowned and had no choice but to temporarily halt his attack on the restriction and turn around.
His fiery eyes fell on Chen Lingxi, scanning her up and down, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"What is the purpose of the Qi Circulation Realm Dao Seed Realm?"
At that moment, Lin Suri, who was standing in front of the Guiding Passage Formation, also sensed this familiar aura.
He suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of emotion in them.
"Brother Chen, it is truly inappropriate of you to come to this dangerous place."
He silently recited a phrase in his mind, and without thinking too much, he focused all his attention on the Guiding Passage Formation, trying his best to maintain its operation.
Jiang Xiu and Wei Qingran also sensed Chen Lingxi's arrival.
"Chen Lingxi!"
"Fellow Daoist Chen!"
The two exchanged a glance, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes.
Seeing that he dared to venture alone into this seemingly hopeless situation to offer assistance, he was deeply shaken.
Daoist Fire Tuo naturally heard Jiang Xiu and the others' exclamations of surprise.
He looked at Chen Lingxi and suddenly asked, "The Weiji Grotto-Heaven... a native?"
He shook his head, with some emotion in his tone. "It's interesting that such a character can be born in Weiji Dongtian."
But then, the Daoist Fire Tuo felt a little regretful.
He stood before the still-intact starlight barrier, flames surging around him, turning the ruins within dozens of feet into lava.
He stared at Chen Lingxi, his tone carrying a hint of murderous intent. "You, are you here to rescue this Dao-Below Academy?"
As Chen Lingxi feet, the clouds slowly dissipated.
He landed before that luxurious building.
He did not answer Daoist Fire Tuo's question, but simply stood there, his aura surging to its peak like a tidal wave.
The spiritual energy circulated wildly within his body, emitting a roar like muffled thunder!
He raised his head and met the fiery eyes of the Daoist Fire Tuo, his gaze calm as still water.
Daoist Fire Tuo shook his head slightly, the regret in his eyes growing even stronger.
He sighed, his voice echoing through the sea of fire. "Those without Qi are like ants, destined from birth to struggle in the mud and eventually die silently."
"You originally had some luck; to be able to cultivate to the Twelve Levels of Qi Circulation in this Qi-less land is already considered defying the heavens."
He paused, and the crimson flames around him suddenly surged. "But you shouldn't have come here."
"You were originally destined to die in the flames of the World-Refining Furnace when this Cave Heaven was being refined, just like any other ant. That was your predetermined fate."
But you insist on getting involved in this conflict for no reason, interfering in my Calamity Sea affairs."
His voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap exploding in the sea of fire. "This will make you die even faster!"
Before he finished speaking, the flames around Daoist Fire Tuo suddenly erupted!
But then, the Daoist Fire Tuo's burly body suddenly trembled, and the surging spiritual energy within him, enhanced by the Dao Platform, burst forth like a flood bursting its banks, intertwining and entwining with the unique power of the Calamity Sea, transforming into a towering pillar of crimson fire!
The pillar of fire was over ten feet thick, piercing straight into the sky, burning a huge hole in the churning sea of clouds above.
The scorching heat from the pillar of fire swept outwards like a tsunami, instantly turning broken wood and beams in the ruins into ashes, and burning the bluestone ground until it cracked, bulged, and then turned into molten lava.
Several surrounding streets began to melt and collapse under the impact of this terrifying force!
Chen Lingxi stood in the very center of that sea of fire, his aura equally imposing!
"Ants?" he suddenly asked...
The moment he finished speaking!
Within the simple Inner Divine Palace within his body, the phantom of the Great Heaven-Inviting Great Sage, sitting cross-legged on the high platform, suddenly opened its eyes!