Crossing the Chaos, Befriending Hong Yun

Above the Nine Heavens, fierce astral winds howled.

Li Qingxiao flew upstream, piercing through the nine layers of astral wind at the outermost edge of the Primordial World.

For ordinary Taiyi Golden Immortals, the astral winds of the Nine Heavens were enough to strip flesh from bone and scatter the soul.

Yet before Li Qingxiao's protective immortal radiance as an Early Great Encompassment Golden Immortal,

they were no more than a gentle breeze brushing his face, unable to stir even the corner of his robes.

However, when he truly crossed the Primordial World's membrane and entered the edge of the Chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens,

the scene before him changed utterly in an instant.

There was no up or down, left or right here, nor any distinction between past and future. Everywhere he looked was a vast expanse of gray.

Violent, disorderly Chaos Currents writhed through the void like countless frenzied dragons tearing at one another.

The fundamental laws of earth, water, fire, and wind had completely collapsed here, becoming Chaos storms capable of shredding everything as they roared without cease.

"So this is the Chaos? As expected, it is the first great chasm separating all living beings."

Li Qingxiao stopped and murmured.

Listening to the Dao at Purple Heaven Palace was not a privilege just anyone possessed.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's words, "All those fated may come and listen," concealed a deeper meaning.

The chaotic astral winds Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens were the cruelest threshold of selection!

As Li Qingxiao observed his surroundings, several streaks of light desperately rushed upward from the Primordial World's membrane below.

They were several peak Taiyi Golden Immortal cultivators who had come from some remote immortal mountain.

"The Saint's Great Dao is an opportunity not to be missed. We must contend for it!"

The old Daoist leading them wore a fervent expression. A heart-protecting mirror at the level of a mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure floated above his head as he plunged headlong into the Chaos.

Yet he had traveled less than a hundred zhang beyond the Primordial World's membrane.

"Rumble!"

A gray Chaos Current, mixed with violent earth, water, fire, and wind,

crashed into the heart-protecting mirror like a massive hammer swung down by a god.

With a crisp crack, the mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure failed to last even half a breath.

It instantly filled with cracks before exploding with a deafening blast!

"No—!"

The old Daoist's terrified scream had barely reached his throat before his entire body was swept into the chaotic astral winds.

A Taiyi Golden Immortal body capable of withstanding the collapse of mountains and rivers was no sturdier than paper before the Chaos Currents.

In an instant, he was ground into a spray of blood mist. Even his primordial spirit was completely worn away, turned into nothingness.

The other cultivators who had attempted to force their way through were frightened out of their wits at the sight.

They immediately scrambled back into the Primordial World and never again dared utter the word "contend."

Cruel!

Utterly cruel!

Without the cultivation of a Daluo Golden Immortal or a top-tier defensive spirit treasure, entering the Chaos meant certain death!

Having witnessed this, Li Qingxiao's expression did not change.

With a thought, rings of flawless, pure ripples spread beneath his feet.

The phantom of the Twelfth-Grade Purifying White Lotus silently bloomed beneath him, casting down countless streams of luminous white World-Cleansing Divine Light that enveloped his entire body.

Then, with his hands clasped behind his back like an exiled immortal descending to the mortal world, Li Qingxiao stepped into the depths of the incomparably violent Chaos.

An astonishing sight unfolded.

When the Chaos Currents and earth, water, fire, and wind that could instantly shred even Taiyi Golden Immortals came within three zhang of Li Qingxiao,

the moment they touched the luminous white World-Cleansing Divine Light,

all their violent malice was forcibly soothed in an instant.

They were directly purified into the gentlest and purest innate spiritual energy, which flowed back into Li Qingxiao's body!

Others struggled desperately in the Chaos, passing through the gates of death.

Li Qingxiao, however, strolled leisurely through it, even using the Chaos Currents to cultivate and replenish his magical power!

Immune to ten thousand laws and able to purify all things—such was the unrivaled dominance of a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!

Li Qingxiao thus traveled easily through the Chaos.

After an unknown length of time, a vast expanse of dazzling earthen-yellow light suddenly appeared amid the gray Chaos Currents ahead.

The light curtain was incomparably dense, with faint phantoms of the Primordial World, endless mountains, rivers, and earth veins flowing and fading across its surface.

No matter how violently the chaotic astral winds outside bombarded it, the earthen-yellow light curtain remained as steady as Mount Tai, keeping them firmly at bay.

"A Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure—the Earth Book formed from the Earth's membrane?"

Li Qingxiao's eyes flashed as he instantly recognized the origin of the light curtain.

He slowed down and looked closely.

Beneath the Earth Book, two Daoists were being protected.

The one on the left wore a crimson Daoist robe. His face was round, his expression kind, and he was curiously looking around.

The one on the right wore an earthen-yellow Daoist robe. His face was lean and composed, his long beard fluttered in the wind, and he was fully focused on channeling his magical power to maintain the Earth Book's defense.

"Ancestor Hong Yun, the Primordial World's greatest good man, and Zhen Yuanzi, ancestor of the Earth Immortals."

Li Qingxiao recognized these two central figures of myth at a glance.

At that moment, Hong Yun, dressed in crimson, also noticed Li Qingxiao approaching from behind.

When Hong Yun saw Li Qingxiao traveling alone, without even a proper magic treasure in hand, relying only on the phantom of a White Lotus beneath his feet,

yet remaining untouched by ten thousand laws in the Chaos, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"Ah! Fellow Daoist ahead, please wait!"

Hong Yun was naturally warm and hospitable. Even in this dangerous Chaos, he could not help taking the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"What a profound protective divine ability! What deep foundations in the Great Dao! I am Hong Yun. Greetings, Fellow Daoist!"

Zhen Yuanzi beside him also turned to look.

When he saw Li Qingxiao's leisurely bearing, a trace of shock and gravity likewise crossed his lean face.

He only dared travel through the Chaos with Hong Yun because he possessed the Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Earth Book.

Just who was this young man before him?

Li Qingxiao knew of Hong Yun's tragic fate in the future "seat-yielding dispute."

He intended to forge a small karmic bond of goodwill now, laying the groundwork for competing for seats at Purple Heaven Palace later.

With a slight smile, he stepped upon the White Lotus and came to a stop three zhang before the two men, cupping his hands in greeting.

"I am Li Qingxiao, a wandering cultivator. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi."

"So you are Fellow Daoist Qingxiao!"

Hong Yun warmly moved closer, repeatedly praising him through the Earth Book's light curtain.

"Fellow Daoist, your defensive method is truly remarkable. You can treat such violent Chaos Currents as though they were nothing. I am deeply impressed!"

Zhen Yuanzi was more cautious. He carefully sensed Li Qingxiao's aura and discovered that although Li Qingxiao was only in the early stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm,

the transcendent Dao aura around him made even Zhen Yuanzi, a mid-stage Daluo Golden Immortal, feel a pang of alarm.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qingxiao."

Zhen Yuanzi gave a slight nod.

"The Chaos is fraught with danger. If you do not mind, Fellow Daoist, why not travel with the two of us? We can look after one another."

"That is precisely what I hoped for."

Li Qingxiao readily agreed.

The three flew side by side toward the depths of the Chaos.

Along the way, Hong Yun enthusiastically conversed with Li Qingxiao about the Dao, speaking at length about the Primordial World's strange tales and curiosities.

He even openly shared his own cultivation insights, showing not the slightest bit of wariness.