Brilliant rays flashed through her beautiful eyes as she blinked.
She guessed that, having obtained so many resources, Li Dao would surely find somewhere to absorb them.
Most of those resources could not be taken out of the Void God Realm, so she was certain he was still inside it.
As long as they intensified their search, they would find him.
What Li Dao had done amounted to a vicious slap in the face for major powers like theirs.
Unless they executed him, they would struggle to deter other petty scoundrels.
Yet not long after word of Li Dao's deeds spread, several small clans came under attack.
The attackers all went by the name "Screw Your Lord Dao," using it as they plundered homes and robbed their victims.
"Fellow Daoist Jin Ming, then it's settled. If you encounter that little thief, you must be careful."
Jin Ming nodded, the fighting spirit and fury in his eyes undiminished.
In his view, Li Dao was merely an opportunist who relied on cheap tricks. If they ever met, he would make Li Dao regret coming into this world!
The entire Void God Realm trembled over Li Dao alone.
A month passed in a flash, and over that month, Li Dao's reputation gradually spread into the Great Wilderness.
The search for him showed no signs of abating. Instead, the clamor only grew.
Some powers declared that if Li Dao joined them, they would betroth their clan's divine maiden to him.
Others went even further, offering to groom him as their next successor.
None of this, however, affected Li Dao as he cultivated in seclusion.
Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
Li Dao sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. The resources before him had originally formed a small mountain, shimmering with radiant light.
Now, all that remained was a pile of shriveled, lusterless dregs.
In contrast, wondrous streams of light flowed around Li Dao, and a refreshing fragrance suffused his entire body.
His expression was solemn. Though his face was still a little youthful, it was already clear that he would one day become a handsome, graceful young man.
Behind him, four great suns hung together in the air, as though they would burn away every impurity in the world.
Beneath his skin, golden Dao patterns slowly spread, continually strengthening his physique.
He rubbed a softly glowing precious bone in his hand, resting his divine sense upon it as he continued to comprehend its bone text.
Over the past month, he had successfully opened his fourth cave heaven with the resources he had plundered.
His strength had advanced another step, and he had also comprehended the Treasure Art obtained from the Yin-Yang Flood Dragon.
His current self could easily defeat his former self!
With a thought, a stone stele slowly appeared before him, gleaming like crystal yet possessing the weight of a mountain.
The characters "Suppress" and "Law" upon it had gained a mysterious aura. With the slightest tremor, waves of terrifying pressure swept outward.
Wherever those ripples passed, every beast withdrew, casting awed looks toward the peak where Li Dao stood.
Since half a month earlier, the beasts of Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain had known that an extraordinary being had arrived among them.
His aura alone told them how terrifying his strength was.
Thus, not a single vicious beast chose to remain within ten li of Li Dao.
More importantly, they sensed a trace of tension permeating the air.
An elusive feeling hung over them, as though wind and rain were about to descend.
Outside Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, several cultivators in different attire landed on a solitary peak. They exchanged glances before one of them spoke:
"Is that brat hiding in there?"
"He should be. The beasts have been keeping their distance since half a month ago. It must be that madman!" another replied.
"You've all notified the people backing you, haven't you? When will they arrive?"
"They're already on their way. We only need to keep watch over him here. Whatever happens, don't let him escape again!"
Inside his cave abode, Li Dao leisurely opened his eyes. Lotus-shaped Dao patterns flashed within them as his divine sense swept outward.
He had long since discovered the people outside Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, and his expression remained unruffled.
"Struggle to cross, struggle to cross; contend for the Dao, contend for the Dao."
"Let's see what you lot are capable of."
He slowly rose and took a step, his figure appearing outside the cave abode.
Looking into the distance, he saw a dark mass of people heading toward him.
"They say that little demon king has been staying here in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. He really is arrogant!"
"We're only here to watch the show. Don't get dragged into it."
"The Rain Clan, Demon Spirit Lake, and even Martial King Manor. Tsk, tsk, they're really sparing no expense."
"People from the Stone Kingdom's Heaven Mending Pavilion and Deer-Chasing Academy have come too!"
"Could that little demon king fall here in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain today?"
"An arrogant fool like him deserves to die!"
The Rain Clan members led by Yu Zimo and the Demon Spirit Lake contingent led by Jin Ming closed in on Li Dao's location in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.
"They only sent disciples of the younger generation?"
"Could they be hoping to pave the way for their clan's youngsters with my death?"
Li Dao slowly withdrew his gaze and smiled, understanding what those clans had in mind.
"A contest between the younger generation. If they win, they'll step over me to rise."
"If they lose, their reputations won't suffer too much damage."
He could not help sighing inwardly. These clans certainly had a few tricks up their sleeves.
Unfortunately, all their schemes would ultimately have to answer to strength.
As word of Li Dao's presence in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain spread, flying vicious beasts packed the sky above the mountain.
At the forefront, a divine light capable of piercing through all things rose in Yu Zimo's eyes. From afar, she spotted Li Dao standing atop the peak.
Whoosh!
Li Dao sensed her gaze and looked back, lotus-shaped Dao patterns flickering in his eyes.
In an instant, metallic clashes erupted in the empty air.
The deep blue light in Yu Zimo's eyes blazed, and strange runes surged around her.
"Let's see just who you really are!"
An even more powerful aura burst forth and rushed toward Li Dao. Her gaze seemed capable of seeing through time and space.
Li Dao also sensed the uncanny power within her eyes. His body trembled slightly, and a nearly tangible Mystic Yellow Great Furnace immediately enveloped him.
Dong!
Like morning bells and evening drums, muffled clashes resounded through the void, though no actual collision could be heard.
Within Yu Zimo's deep blue vision, Li Dao gradually became transparent, until only a golden seed remained in the void.
Hum, hum, hum-
The golden seed rested silently in the void. Neither time nor space could touch it; the time and space of countless ages gave way before it.
"What is this thing?"
Just as she tried to see it more clearly, a hand reached out from some unfathomable place and seized the seed.
In the next instant, every strange vision shattered inch by inch, and pale purple tears of blood flowed from the corners of Yu Zimo's eyes.
She let out a muffled groan, her eyes filled with horror as her face turned as white as paper.
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