Heavenly Decline

Before Emperor Daye could finish speaking, he had already made his move!

But then Emperor Daye Ying Xian opened his arms, and suddenly, the great mountains, rivers and streams in this world began to emit a mysterious aura, which then connected to form a terrifying array!

Emperor Daye, standing within this grand formation, once again possessed an incomparably majestic aura!

He simply flipped his palm and clapped it!

Heaven-Seizing Seal!

At that moment, the illusory image of the great river that stretched across the sky beneath Luan Shu's seat suddenly surged, and the flow of the river abruptly stopped.

Luan Shu's expression changed slightly. He flicked his whisk repeatedly, and streams of the Calamity Sea Dao Origin poured into the illusory river like water bursting its banks, trying to stabilize the river water that was about to collapse.

But Emperor Daye's Heavenly Decline Method was too domineering.

The moment the gray-white mist touched the illusory image of the great river, the originally extremely condensed Calamity Sea Dao Origin began to age and disintegrate in a strange way.

The river water changed from deep black to grayish-white, and then from grayish-white to nothingness.

The surging waves on the river grew smaller and weaker until they finally subsided completely, turning into a stagnant pool.

The distorted faces floating in the river disappeared one after another into the mist, without even having time to utter a wail.

In just a few breaths, the illusory image of the great river that stretched across the sky completely dried up and dissipated under the erosion of the gray-white mist, leaving only a few wisps of faint white water vapor, which were blown away without a trace by the mist.

Luan Shu let out a muffled groan, and the black lotus platform beneath him trembled violently, nearly knocking him off.

Bai Lingze has already made his move!

He pushed the sonic waves of the Divine Hymn surrounding him to their limit, and the golden sonic waves surged toward Emperor Daye like a golden ocean.

The hymns became high-pitched and stirring at that moment, as if hundreds of gods were chanting an ancient and majestic war song at the same time.

The war song transformed into profound truths and into a tangible force of suppression, overwhelming Emperor Daye.

But...

When Bai Lingze's Longevity Bridge Divine Ability collided with Emperor Daye's Heavenly Decline Method, the sound waves of those Divine Hymn began to twist and deform in a strange way.

The hymns that originally contained profound truths became chaotic and disordered under the erosion of the Heavenly Decline Method and Mist.

The essence of the Heavenly Decline Method lies in "disorder".

It transforms everything that is orderly into chaos.

Amidst this chaos...

Countless golden sonic runes began to collide and diminish with each other.

The sound waves that were originally meant to attack Emperor Daye collided with each other midway and gradually dissipated.

The spiritual energy that Bai Lingze injected into the sound waves also weakened rapidly amidst this chaos, eventually dissipating completely.

Bai Lingze's pupils contracted slightly, and a truly solemn look appeared in his eyes.

The incredibly powerful Yu Jiangwei was also in a difficult situation at this moment.

Her two Dao Substitute Body were also shrouded in that grayish-white mist.

The Dao Substitute Body on the left, wielding a misty longsword, was about to unleash a sword light at Emperor Daye, but as the sword light took shape, the spiritual energy within her body began to disintegrate in a strange way.

The highly condensed Dao Origin, as if being eroded from within, began to disintegrate and dissipate inch by inch.

The same applies to the Dao Substitute Body on the right.

The protective mist surrounding her grew thinner and dimmer under the erosion of the grayish-white mist.

She tried to activate the Dao Origin within her body to resist this erosion, but as soon as the Dao Origin began to circulate, it began to disintegrate and dissipate uncontrollably.

Yu Jiangwei couldn't help but sigh, "The Heavenly Decline Method isn't considered a particularly powerful Killing Power Divine Ability, yet it possesses such might in the hands of Emperor Daye."

Emperor Daye stood amidst the surging gray-white mist, his profound and vast Dao Origin fluctuations still like waves. He lowered his head, a smile playing on his lips, gazing into the Void.

This moment!

Emperor Daye looked down at these four unparalleled Dao Foundation Realm experts!

He raised his right hand, and another wisp of mist from the Heavenly Decline Method surged toward Daoist Zhuxu.

Daoist Zhuxu's expression changed drastically, and he pushed the nine-tiered altar to its limit.

However, the mist of that Heavenly Decline Method was too domineering. The dark red runes on the altar crumbled inch by inch under the erosion of the mist, and the altar itself began to tremble violently, on the verge of collapsing completely.

At that moment, Emperor Daye suddenly stepped forward.

As he took that step, the Void beneath his feet exploded with a deafening roar, and golden Dao Origin surged wildly into the gray-white mist that stretched for hundreds of miles like a burst dam.

The mist suddenly surged at that moment, rushing towards the four Dao Foundation Realm cultivators simultaneously.

Luan Shu's Great River Divine Ability had completely collapsed, and the black lotus platform beneath him had been riddled with holes by the mist of the Heavenly Decline Method.

His face was pale, and he kept flicking the whisk in his hand, trying to protect himself with the remaining Dao Origin of the Calamity Sea, but the Dao Origin was like a drop in the ocean under the erosion of the mist, and was completely useless.

Bai Lingze's Longevity Bridge Divine Ability had completely fallen into chaos, and the originally orderly golden sound wave ocean had completely turned into a chaotic mess.

He gritted his teeth and urged the remaining Dao Origin within his body, trying to stabilize his dissipating Divine Ability. However, the mist of the Heavenly Decline Method clung to his Divine Ability like a bone-deep infection, and no matter how he struggled, he could not get rid of it.

Yu Jiangwei's two Dao Substitute Body had begun to blur. The gray-white mist was constantly eroding her spiritual energy, making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain these two incarnations.

She merged her two Dao Substitute Body together and simultaneously activated the remaining Dao Origin within her body, attempting to break through the shackles of this mist with the strongest attack. However, the Heavenly Decline Method was like an invisible cage, trapping her within it.

Daoist Zhuxu was in the most sorry state.

His nine-tiered altar had completely collapsed, and the spirit tablet placed on the top of the altar had also been shattered into dust by the erosion of the mist.

He himself was forced to retreat repeatedly by the mist, his face pale, and the Dao Origin fluctuations around him had become extremely weak.

Bai Lingze frowned and looked up at the Void.

"If it were an ordinary Dao Foundation Middle Stage cultivator, they wouldn't be this powerful... This Emperor Daye seems to be empowered by some kind of formation; his Killing Power is unimaginable!"

Bai Lingze muttered to himself.

"A Qi-Less Grotto-Heaven, a barren wasteland devoid of spiritual energy, could actually give birth to such a figure..."

He shook his head, then turned to look at another part of the sky, where golden light surged and thunder rumbled, as if a powerful being was approaching.

"That's good... It's better that such a person dies here, so he doesn't actually get that last chance of survival!"

--

Chen Lingxi and the others were still standing on that hilltop.

He stood atop the mountain, gazing at the Nanche Prefectural City, which had been completely swallowed by the gray-white mist, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"This is the Dao Foundation Middle Stage..." Chen Lingxi murmured to himself, his eyes flashing with uncertain light.

Just then, he suddenly sensed something and sent a wisp of his Divine Sense into the Hongdong Bag, taking out the Three-Mystery Mirror.

On the surface of the Three-Mystery Mirror, the black Mystic Light symbolizing Zhao Duanxuan was rushing towards this place at an unimaginable speed.

It was so fast, like a black lightning bolt.

At that speed, Zhao Duanxuan would arrive in Nanche Prefectural City in no time.

Chen Lingxi couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Zhao Duanxuan's aura is at its peak. If he stays here any longer, and Emperor Daye retreats, I will inevitably become his target."

The group then departed, traveling thousands of miles away.

They traveled on clouds until they reached a distance of a thousand miles.

At that moment, they suddenly sensed something and turned their heads to look in the direction of Nanche Province.

Then, in the distant Void, a golden light suddenly shone forth, like a real sun rising from the horizon.

The oppressive force contained within that golden light was in no way inferior to the terrifying aura that Emperor Daye had just displayed, and was even slightly stronger.

Chen Lingxi used the Qi Observation technique to look at the source of the golden light from a great distance.

He vaguely sensed Zhao Duanxuan's imposing presence.

That terror, that depth.

The power contained within that aura was so vast and boundless that even from a distance of a thousand miles, it still caused the spiritual energy in his Qi Sea to surge involuntarily.

"Immortal Ranking... truly lives up to its reputation." Chen Lingxi murmured to himself, "It seems that Zhao Duanxuan's projection avatar must also Dao Foundation Middle Stage."

As he thought of this, the azure cloud beneath his feet, interspersed with pale golden lightning, suddenly erupted and sped toward the distant horizon.

They flew for several more hours.

The terrifying aura emanating from the direction of Nanche Province on the horizon gradually subsided.

The gray-white mist that had spread for hundreds of miles had dissipated completely at some point, and the great battle between those Dao Foundation Realm experts had probably come to an end.

Daoist Shurong Chi Jianshu caught up with the group, and then descended into the distance, landing on the summit of a desolate mountain.

Chen Lingxi and the others followed closely behind, descending from the clouds and landing on the mountain peak.

Everyone found a place to sit cross-legged, closed their eyes and began to regulate their breathing to recover the spiritual energy consumed during their rapid flight.

Chen Lingxi sat cross-legged on a protruding rock, closed his eyes, concentrated, and circulated the Six-Qi True Method.

The surging spiritual energy in his Qi Sea flowed slowly like a great river, gradually washing away the fatigue brought on by the rapid flight.

A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.

Daoist Shurong Chi Jianshu stood not far from him, their crimson robes fluttering Subtle Insight in the wind.

She stood with her hands behind her back on the edge of the mountain peak, gazing in the direction of Nanche Province, lost in thought.

Chen Lingxi stood up, walked to Daoist Shurong's side, and bowed to her.

"Senior."

Daoist Shurong turned his head slightly, glanced at him, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes. "Chen Lingxi, your timely assistance, your slaying of that Daoist Fire Tuo, and your rescue of my nephew Su Ri and the others are truly appreciated by Pool-Soul Institute."

Chen Lingxi shook her head and said, "Senior, you flatter me."

The Dao-Below Academy helped me acquire great Divine Ability and negotiated with the Xi Family on my behalf. Chen Lingxi will never forget this kindness.

What I did today was simply my duty.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Shurong looked Chen Lingxi over carefully and suddenly said, "Chen Lingxi... if you can really escape alive, you can come to my Dao-Below Academy."

I will personally request the Lord of the Pool Soul to grant you the protection of my Pool-Soul Institute."

Chen Lingxi secretly noted it down, thanked Daoist Shurong, and then cupped his hands in greeting to Lin Suri, Jiang Xiu, and Wei Qingran.

"Gentlemen, now that this matter is settled, I shall take my leave."

Lin Suri stood up, walked to Chen Lingxi, lingered on him for a moment, and suddenly said, "Brother Chen, the Divine Ability Jade and the Thunder-Prison Spirit Branch will soon descend completely."

I will send you a message then..."

Chen Lingxi nodded and bowed respectfully to Lin Suri: "Thank you, Brother Dao."

Having said that, he lingered no longer. The azure clouds beneath his feet, interspersed with pale golden lightning, silently propelled him into the sky, transforming him into a pale golden rainbow that sped away into the distance.

He soared through the clouds for thousands of miles, finally arriving at a desolate mountain within the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

The desolate mountain was not high, but it was extremely remote, with no human habitation for hundreds of miles around.

He found a secluded cave halfway up the mountain and sat down cross-legged inside.

Chen Lingxi did not immediately begin cultivating, but instead looked up at the Void.

But then, amidst the purple qi swirling around the Immortal Ranking in the Void, the rankings changed once again.

Emperor Daye has become the second.

Yu Jiangwei changed to the third...

"Emperor Daye was so powerful, yet he couldn't even surpass Zhao Duanxuan?"

Chen Lingxi was greatly puzzled.

But then again, Zhao Duanxuan was a member of the Quexing Xi Family, and this Cave Heaven belonged to the Quexing Xi Family.

"... Perhaps the Quexing Xi Family possesses other mysterious methods capable of projecting a powerful figure like Zhao Duanxuan."

Chen Lingxi head slightly, then closed her eyes and focused her mind, sinking a wisp of consciousness into the Divine Chamber deep within her mind.

The Divine Chamber Void, and the thick fog churned as usual.

Those few lines of golden tadpole-shaped characters still hung high in the Void, radiating a warm and bright glow.

Chen Lingxi's consciousness landed on Sight-Roaming's group, and with a slight thought, she activated Wandering Sight Divine Ability.

His perspective suddenly shifted to a higher level at that moment.

He seemed to break free from the shackles of his physical body, transforming into an invisible bird that soared into the sky, crossing mountains and rivers, and soaring over the majestic palace walls of the Great Zhou Imperial City, before landing straight into the depths of the capital.

His gaze finally settled on that familiar side hall.

Then they saw Emperor Daye Ying Xian of Daye sitting cross-legged on a futon in the side hall.

The deep and vast Dao Origin fluctuations around him had disappeared, and he had returned to his usual appearance as an old man.

Although he is much younger than before, he can still not be called a man in his prime.

Beneath his seemingly calm face, a hint of fatigue was visible, and his breathing was extremely disordered.

"It seems that Zhao Duanxuan is quite capable; even Emperor Daye Zhao Duanxuan suffered a loss at his hands."

Chen Lingxi pondered silently and continued reading.

Not far from the Emperor Daye, in the very center of the palace, hung two figures firmly bound by golden restrictions.

The two figures were none other than Luan Shu and Daoist Zhuxu.

These two Dao Foundation Realm Incarnations from the Great Xuanzhuo Realm were currently being held captive in a golden cage by Emperor Daye using some extremely mysterious restriction, unable to move.

The restriction was extremely strange, like countless fine golden threads wrapped around their bodies, firmly locking away their Dao Origin, Divine Sense, and even all the vitality within their avatars.

Under this restriction, the two avatars could not dissipate on their own and were trapped in that small space.

Emperor Daye then sat cross-legged in front of the two avatars, his gaze intense.

The two golden flames in his eyes were slowly flickering, and between the flickering flames, countless fine runes were faintly flowing, exuding an indescribable ancient aura.

It was that complete Cauldron Vessel [Weaving Delusion Golden Eyes].

Emperor Daye stared intently at Luan Shu and Daoist Zhuxu, who were suspended in mid-air, with his eyes burning with golden flames, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

Chen Lingxi blank for a moment.

"What does Emperor Daye intend to do with these two Dao Foundation Realm Incarnations?"