Was This How an Ancestral Artifact Was Used?

Cangling Nan Household.

The rift leading to the Nine Netherworlds has widened to a hundred feet.

Nine Netherworlds aura of demonic energy from the Netherworld Earth Surge from within, flowing down the edges of the crack, bypassing the kneeling Nan Household disciples, and spreading in all directions.

Wherever it goes, the laws of heaven and earth are eroded and rewritten. The rules of this world are being replaced little by little, turning the entire Cangling City into a demonic realm.

Nan Zhongwei stood directly in front of the crevice.

Compared to before, he seemed like a different person, his gaze deep and unfathomable, his aura a mixture of destructive violence and noble majesty, like a demon emperor.

The Nan Household disciples, who were kneeling and worshipping the Devil Lord, all looked at him with envy and awe.

Suddenly, he looked up at the sky.

At this moment, the demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds expanded outwards like a tide, about to cross the boundary of the Cangling Mountains.

The next moment.

The sky above Cangling City suddenly darkened.

The Void surged like a raging sea, as if someone had poured an entire chaotic ocean onto the sky.

A majestic Dharma Aspect spread out above the Cangling, stirring up the sea of clouds for thousands of miles around, with purple lightning surging and thunder roaring within.

The laws of heaven and earth within a hundred miles of the entire Cangling City were almost frozen at this moment, and the demonic tide that was spreading outward was forcibly pushed back.

This is the Dharma Aspect created by the Daoist Shouzheng, the [Chaotic Nether Qi Sea].

On the day of the breakthrough, the entire sea of clouds in the Eastern Wilderness was drawn towards Floating Hill Mountain. Cultivators from the Central Plains could see a gray-white curtain hanging down from the horizon, as if the sky had been torn open.

At this moment, the Daoist's Dharma Aspect manifested deep within the sea of clouds. His Shouzheng face was faintly visible, his Daoist robes fluttering, and his expression calm. The serene composure of Meditative Concentration in meditation that he usually possessed had vanished, replaced by a vast, profound, and seemingly all-encompassing aura.

He looked down and, without the slightest hesitation, stomped down.

In an instant, raging clouds rolled in, and fierce winds surged like waterfalls and waves, filling the space between heaven and earth, Chaotic Nether Qi Sea to churn violently.

This single strike would be enough to annihilate the entire Cangling City!

However, none of the Nan Household disciples below panicked. Instead, they all prostrated themselves on the ground, their foreheads pressed tightly against the cold, blood-patterned ground, their eyes burning with a fanatical fervor, as if they had offered their Primordial Spirit and flesh entirely to the being behind the rift.

The pupil in the crack flickered slightly.

Nan Zhongwei sneered, took a step forward, and raised one palm to the sky.

Boom!

The laws of heaven and earth above the entire Cangling City suddenly froze, as if a taut drumhead had been struck by a heavy hammer, and all sound was annihilated in an instant.

Nan Zhongwei slowly lowered his hand. His face was still the same as it had been a few days ago, but it possessed an ancient and noble quality that did not belong to the mortal world, like the reflection of Devil Lord in the Mortal Realm.

"Shouzheng," he spoke, his voice calm yet carrying a chilling hoarseness, "Having not stepped outside the mountain gate for a hundred years, has your cultivation improved or regressed?"

Before he finished speaking, he raised his hand and struck the sky with his palm.

The pitch-black Six Desires Devil Flame condensed into a gigantic hand that blotted out the sky. Wherever it passed, the Void was corroded and turned into nothingness, and even the gray mist in the Chaotic Nether Qi Sea was burned into a huge hole.

Boom--!

The Qi Sea churned, and the pure and turbid Qi surged wildly to block the gap, but the Six Desires Devil Flame was so domineering that it burned the Qi Sea until it shrank continuously.

The Daoist Shouzheng swayed slightly, scrutinizing Nan Zhongwei, who had only recently entered the External Scenery Realm, with a profound gaze.

Is this the power of the Devil Lord?

In a short period of time, an External Scenery was elevated to the level of Immortals and Gods.

Whatever the cost, this power is terrifying!

"Is this the power of Immortals and Gods?" Nan Zhongwei looked down at his palm, his expression one of rapture, then slowly looked up. "It's as if everything in the world is within my grasp. Shouzheng, how did you manage to wield such power, yet willingly choose to guard a grave in Floating Hill Mountain?"

"Absolutely foolish!"

In an instant, without any build-up, without any warning, and without even a fluctuation of his aura, Nan Zhongwei took a step and appeared directly in the Void ten feet in front of the Daoist Shouzheng!

The speed was so fast that even those Daoist Shouzheng didn't have time to react!

With a deafening roar, the Six Desires Devil Flame and the Chaotic Nether Qi Sea collided violently, the shockwaves exploding in a ring shape and instantly carving out a large blank space within the Sea of Qi.

On that enormous Dharma Aspect, which was thousands of feet tall, a shocking hole was blasted out, and even with the circulation of pure and impure energies, it was difficult to close the hole in a short time.

Within a few breaths of exchanging blows, the Daoist Shouzheng had already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

"I've long heard of the seven forbidden techniques of Floating Hill Mountain, which are said to bring death upon use, yet each is an unparalleled Divine Ability capable of defeating opponents of higher ranks." Nan Zhongwei grew increasingly arrogant and smug, his loud laughter echoing for hundreds of miles, filled with undisguised mockery. "You, Shouzheng, as the mountain lord, how many of these have you mastered? Why are you hiding them away, unwilling to reveal them? Is it that you can't use them, or... are you afraid to use them for fear of death?"

Instead of launching a direct attack, he hovered outside the Qi Sea, toying with the mountain lord like a cat playing with a mouse, enjoying the sight of him completely suppressing the usually aloof mountain lord.

The Daoist Shouzheng stood at the core of his Qi Sea, his Daoist robes fluttering in the wind, yet his expression remained calm and composed, showing no sign of anger.

He could naturally tell that this was a tactic to provoke him.

Moreover, even if he killed Nan Zhongwei, it would be of no use. As long as the rift is not closed, the power of the Nine Netherworlds will not be interrupted. Even if he forcibly replaced Nan Zhongwei with forbidden techniques, there will soon be a second Nan Zhongwei.

Therefore, at this moment he gathered his Qi Sea, focusing on stalling and suppressing the Nine Netherworlds Demonic Tide below, while simultaneously resisting Nan Zhongwei's Fire of Six Desires.

Nan Zhongwei hovered in the Void, demonic flames surging around him. Because the Devil Lord intended to win over Shouzheng, he could only be patient and changed his tone, adding a touch of persuasive enticement:

"Shouzheng, why are you stubbornly insisting? Don't you know in your heart? Your Chaotic Nether Qi Sea Dharma Aspect isn't weak among Dharma Aspect of all time, yet it's only ranked ninth on the Heaven Ranking. Why is that? Because your path forward is blocked!"

"Now that the Devil Lord has descended, his power is unstoppable. Your resistance is futile, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. It's laughable. You don't understand the tide of history. If you surrender now, the Devil Lord can guide you onto a new Dao Path. With your talent, it's not unrealistic for you to become the sole ruler of your Forming a Heaven of One's Own!"

Shouzheng did not answer. Under the scorching of the Six Desires Devil Flame, the Chaotic Nether Qi Sea was already riddled with holes and full of huge craters. It seemed that defeat was inevitable and it was only a matter of time!

In Floating Hill Mountain.

Shouguan and the old Zhenyan priest Zhenyan stood side by side, their expressions solemn as they gazed at the distant battlefield.

"This is beyond Immortals and Gods..." Shouguan shocked. Her invincible senior brother was actually suppressed by a puppet temporarily put in place by the Devil Lord.

Judging from the current situation, I'm afraid my senior brother won't be able to hold out for much longer!

[Chaotic Nether Qi Sea] was powerless to resist Nan Zhongwei's strange flames and was completely suppressed.

Zhenyan, standing to the side, also looked grave.

The Fire of Six Desires comes from the Devil Lord, and its power is extremely high. It is normal for those Shouzheng. This is a difference in the fundamental level, which cannot be made up for by Divine Ability or techniques.

His gaze involuntarily fell upon the Daoist temple deep within the mountain gate. If nothing else changed today, both Floating Hill Mountain and the Eastern Wilderness would be in imminent danger...

Suddenly.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

"Shouzheng, I don't care if you drag your feet."

Nan Zhongwei's voice was filled with a composure that suggested he was in complete control.

"The longer you drag this out, the wider the rift in the Nine Netherworlds will open, and the more power the Devil Lord will bestow upon me. Everything is already set in stone!"

Bang--!

A deafeningly loud bang.

The entire Chaotic Nether Qi Sea trembled violently. The grayish-white air waves at the edge, like ice being struck by a heavy hammer, exploded with a ring of spiderweb-like cracks, and then collapsed inch by inch!

The Daoist Shouzheng swayed slightly, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Nan Zhongwei's smile grew even more smug, as if he were watching his prey put up a desperate resistance and struggle.

At that moment, his pupils darkened slightly as he received a decree from the Devil Lord deep within the rift.

The mockery on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a ferocious grin, and the demonic flames around him surged several times over.

"Shouzheng, the Devil Lord has lost patience and is no longer willing to recruit such a stubborn and unyielding person as you."

"Today, I will personally pluck your head, carry it to flatten Floating Hill Mountain, and let the entire Eastern Wilderness see the consequences of stubborn resistance!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a crack suddenly appeared in the Void behind him, echoing the crack in the ancestral home.

A blurry, enormous, and suffocating phantom of Devil Lord slowly rose up, projecting itself across countless layers of Void.

Even a mere outline dimmed the entire sky of the Eastern Wilderness.

In that instant, Shouzheng felt a real chill.

This suppression came from the very source level, a level far superior to any opponent he had encountered in his cultivation so far.

It's like using "Tao" to crush "Fa".

Nan Zhongwei slowly raised his right palm, his five fingers pressed together like a knife, with demonic flames swirling around it.

"Shouzheng, the game is over."

The palm strike slowly descended.

There was still no sound, and no warning.

Where the blade flashed, it left a dark mark in the Void lingered for a long time, as if it were about to tear apart the sky of the Eastern Wilderness.

Shouzheng dodged the direct attack by sidestepping, but the entire Chaotic Nether Qi Sea had nowhere to hide and was cleaved in two by the black blade light.

At this point, the already riddled Qi Sea completely dissipated.

But Nan Zhongwei's expression turned serious.

The expected overwhelming victory led to an unexpected turn of events.

The Qi Sea dispersed, but instead of the expected collapse of the Dharma Aspect and disintegration of the Dao Foundation, it was not empty within. Like the seabed revealed after the tide recedes, it showed remnants buried by time and mist for thousands of years.

Broken mountains and cities, desolate ancient battlefields, collapsed altars, broken stone tablets...

Broken spears and halberds were stuck diagonally in the scorched earth, and tattered flags fluttered in the wind all over the mountains and fields. Countless blurry figures floated uncertainly in the sea of qi.

Those figures stood with swords drawn, knelt chanting scriptures, or bowed their heads to the earth with their backs to the sky, as if they were still praying for this land in their final moments...

This is the history of suffering and struggle in the Eastern Wilderness over thousands of years.

Today, they have long become history, "scars" and the past of the Eastern Wilderness that have been healed and gradually forgotten over thousands of years.

But no one expected that Shouzheng would incorporate into his own Dharma Aspect the suffering that had been soothed and the vitality that had been preserved in the entire Eastern Wilderness for thousands of years, along with the achievements and obsessions of the sages of Floating Hill Mountain throughout the ages.

"Making a big fuss!"

Nan Zhongwei shouted sternly,

"What are the achievements of our forefathers, what is the concern for the common people? They are all illusions before absolute power! Shouzheng, you still dwell on the past, while we, the Nan Household, are destined to usher in a new era!"

"Break!"

With another palm strike, Nan Zhongwei unleashed the full power poured in by the Devil Lord.

The pitch-black Six Desires Devil Flame surged to both sides along the slash marks left by the sword light, etching fine cracks into the sky and earth, like a painting being torn apart.

This time, however, the Daoist Shouzheng did not back down.

He took a step forward, his fist thrusting out.

Behind him, countless afterimages seemed to come alive at the same moment, raising their heads as if they had heard some kind of call that transcended thousands of years.

This punch contains no magical transformations, no Divine Ability powers or unpredictable changes; it only embodies the indomitable spirit of "human determination can overcome nature," representing the Shouzheng Martial Dao martial arts and the unwavering principles of Floating Hill Mountain!

The fist and the flash of the blade collided.

Instead of a deafening roar, an eerie silence descended.

The Fire of Six Desires raged wildly, burning the Shouzheng Dharma Aspect, yet for the first time, a stalemate ensued.

Nan Zhongwei's pupils constricted sharply. The overwhelming force he had anticipated did not materialize. Shouzheng... had actually blocked the Devil Lord's Six Desires Heart Fire!?

"Impossible!!" Nan Zhongwei roared, his Immortals and Gods bloodline suddenly igniting, further strengthening his Six Desires Heart Fire. The flames surged, engulfing Shouzheng within them.

However, the next moment, a figure burst forth with inner fire, and before Nan Zhongwei could react, a fist that seemed to grasp the heavens and the earth was thrust out!

The moment the fist was thrown, it stirred up a storm, its extreme domineering and ferocious power causing the surrounding air currents to shift, leaving Nan Zhongwei with no way to escape!

Nan Zhongwei, who had just been in complete control, was shocked. He felt his mind being pulled by the punch and had no time to react before being hit by the heavy blow!

In an instant, half of his body, which had been strengthened and enhanced by demonic energy, was completely vaporized and disappeared under this punch!

"Your Martial Dao are terrible."

A soft voice echoed between heaven and earth.

Even if one possesses the power of Devil Lord, it's nothing more than... a child wielding a giant hammer.

The next moment, the shockwave suddenly exploded beneath Shouzheng's feet!

Beneath his feet, it seemed as if the earth shook and the sky trembled. He stepped on the wind and rose up, his fist force rising again. The wind and torrent swept across the sky, with the power to bring down the heavens!

Before the punch landed, the wind and clouds had already shifted.

This punch crashed down from the sky, but it wasn't aimed at Nan Zhongwei. Instead, it went straight for the hundred-foot-long rift in the Nan Household land.

With a single punch, the crack trembled violently, and the surging demonic energy at its edges was forcibly dispersed by the force of the punch. The area that was expanding visibly began to shrink inward.

However, Shouzheng showed no joy, for the vertical pupil within the rift remained devoid of any emotion.

There was no surprise, no anger, just absolute indifference.

Among the kneeling disciples of the Nan Household below, about a third of their bodies suddenly exploded, their flesh and Primordial Spirit mixing into a cloud of blood mist that surged into the healing cracks at the edge of the fissure.

Where the blood mist passed, the cracks not only instantly stabilized but also became even more solid than before.

The remaining members of the Nan Household ignored this, remaining prostrate on the ground, chanting prayers incessantly, as if their exploding kin were nothing more than firewood offered to the Devil Lord.

Shouzheng's heart sank, and his gaze swept over the remaining members of the Nan Household below.

They remained kneeling on the ground, and more than half of them showed no fear on their faces, but rather an expression of longing, as if they were waiting for their share of "sacrifice" to come.

Their minds had been completely warped by the power of the Nine Netherworlds.

If he were to eliminate them himself, it would only widen the rift further. The only reason these members of the Nan Household are still alive is because that Devil Lord still needs them...

A black blade of light suddenly attacked from the side.

"Shouzheng, do you think you can cut off the passage?"

Nan Zhongwei, whose body had been half-blown apart by him, attacked again, his body restored, though barely recognizable as human. His voice sounded as if it came from the depths of hell, sending chills down one's spine.

His body, replenished by the demonic energy of the Nine Netherworlds, had completely transformed into a demonic form, radiating an even stronger aura than before.

Shouzheng frowned slightly and sighed inwardly. It was truly an unequal battle. Without equal strength, there was no chance of winning.

He raised his hand to deflect Nan Zhongwei's attack, which was powerful but lacked any method or understanding of the principles of law and Tao, and then retreated.

Young Hero Yu Young Hero Yu, if you don't make a move soon, I'm afraid I'll be in danger too.

Daoist temple.

Zhang Buyu stood at the threshold, his gaze blank and helpless.

Brother Yu... Brother Yu... he... lifted the Immortal Cauldron?

Suddenly.

A buzzing sound came from the Daoist temple.

A blue light burst forth from the patterns on the cauldron's body, and the Immortal Cauldron trembled as if enraged, trying to break free from his grip.

However, wisps of Qi of Dao and Virtue descended along the Vajra Bracelet, like an invisible chain binding the cauldron and locking the celestial light within its walls.

The Immortal Cauldron trembled for a few breaths, as if it had finally confirmed Yu Tunzhou's identity.

"Which generation of disciples of the Daode Lineage are you?"

The voice of the cauldron spirit came again, and the previous shock, anger, and acrimony vanished, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity and scrutiny.

The previous aura only made it overthink, but the dazzling bracelet in front of it instantly brought it back to its senses!

It is not powerless to resist in the present moment.

Today, the world has changed drastically. Dharma Aspect equivalent to the realm of Immortals and Gods are extremely rare, and the peerless divine weapons of various families have all fallen into silence, their power stopping at the Peak External Scenery.

Among them, it is an exception. As a divine weapon of destiny, it has been worshipped by Floating Hill Mountain for many years and has not gone through a long period of dormancy. It can be said to be a rare exception in this world. Without considering the consequences or its own foundation, it can unleash power comparable to the peak of Immortals and Gods.

Even the four immortal swords of Highest Purity cannot compare to it in the present day.

The legendary supreme divine weapon pressing down on it is currently not even at the Peak External Scenery.

Therefore, it can break free at any time if it wants to.

Just thinking about its habitually sharp and sarcastic remarks made it feel a little guilty, so it simply went along with it to avoid further angering this unknown being.

Yu Tunzhou, carrying the Immortal Cauldron, walked out of the Daoist temple. Upon hearing this, he sneered, "You don't even recognize the Eight-Nine Mysterious Art, nor can you distinguish the Eight Sceneries of Xuandu from my Daode Lineage. Do you even deserve to ask my name?"

The Eight-Nine Mysterious Art... the crude and brutal training I just criticized, is it actually the supreme immortal Immortal Method of the Jade Void Lineage?

The cauldron's body flashed with a frenzied blue light.

The Eight Sceneries of Xuandu... Xuandu Heaven Eight Sceneries Palace, the Heavenly Lord of Dao and Virtue of Morality?

The more it thought about it, the more uneasy it felt. Its previous arrogance had long since vanished, and it cautiously asked, "May I ask which high-ranking immortal of the Daoist School are? I was forged by the Human Emperor, and in the past, I received guidance from the Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng..."

It is said that he gave guidance, but in fact, the Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng was once the teacher of the Human Emperor and instructed the Human Emperor on the technique of forging divine weapons. This weapon was forged by the Human Emperor himself.

When the Human Emperor forged it, Heavenly Venerable Guangcheng had already gone into seclusion.

"I took the Supreme Taishang as my master, and he bestowed upon me the Daoist name Xuandu, placing me only below the Three Pure Ones."

"The Twelve Golden Immortal and the Immortals of the Chan and Jie sects are all below me in terms of seniority."

"Heavenly Emperor and the Buddhas of the Western Heaven Paradise must show me respect and deference when I travel."

"If Guangchengzi were here today, he would have to respectfully address me as Senior Brother Xuandu."

"Tell me, which generation of disciple of the Daoist School do I belong to?"

Following the Huntian scheme of the Yu Tunzhou, it wouldn't be scared to death!

As expected, the shimmering blue light on the cauldron suddenly went out, as if a lamp had been extinguished, plunging it into complete silence.

Yu Tunzhou sneered inwardly; this guy seemed to be the type who responded better to force than gentleness.

He carried the Immortal Cauldron and walked straight out of the Daoist temple, his gaze fixed on the direction of Cangling City. Even though it was thousands of miles away, he could feel the terrifying aura emanating from that direction!

"Enough with the nonsense! You are a divine weapon left behind by the Human Emperor. Now that the Nine Netherworlds has broken through, do you intend to stand idly by?" Yu Tunzhou scoffed. "Follow me to repel the Devil Lord. I won't bother with your past offenses!"

"That's only right!" Hearing that there was still room for maneuver in the previous matter, the cauldron spirit quickly responded, his tone respectful, "Great Immortal has graced the Eastern Wilderness with your presence, and I will certainly do my utmost to assist you, but..."

It lowered its voice and transmitted its message: "Since two hundred years ago, I have vaguely sensed that someone is secretly watching me. This feeling has become stronger in recent years, and I suspect that a powerful being is hiding behind the scenes, spying on me."

Yu Tunzhou's Thoughts Arose.

Is there some Immortals and Gods being hidden in Floating Hill Mountain?

"Retreat the Nine Netherworlds Devil Lord first, then we can discuss other matters."

His eyes were calm as he glanced at the figures on the main mountain of Fuqiu.

"Great Immortal, you truly care for the world!" The cauldron spirit recalled how the disciples of Floating Hill Mountain had praised him in the past, and then recited the same words, offering a few compliments.

Buzz--

Before Yu Tunzhou could speak, the cauldron itself trembled, Daoist School was forcibly torn open in the Void in front of it.

Without hesitation, Yu Tunzhou Immortal Cauldron into the room, carrying the immortal cauldron.

Above Cangling City.

The demonic energy surged like a tide, completely encroaching upon the surrounding area and turning it into a demonic realm. Even a powerful Dharma Aspect like Shouzheng found it increasingly difficult to mobilize the laws of magic.

"Buzz--"

A clear and resonant ding sound came from the horizon, dispelling the surrounding Netherworld Nine Netherworlds energy.

Nan Zhongwei's pupils contracted sharply, and he turned his head abruptly to look.

A figure in a green robe appeared, walking calmly through the air, carrying an ancient bronze cauldron in his right hand.

The azure light cascading from the cauldron's mouth resembled an inverted Tianhe. Wherever it passed, demonic energy dissipated, and the laws of nature returned to their proper place, forcefully carving out a clear and bright realm within the pitch-black demonic domain.

"You are... Yu Tunzhou?!"

Nan Zhongwei's murderous intent intensified.

It is because of this child that the Nan Household has been forced to this point!

Yu Tunzhou glanced at the inhuman, demon-like fellow and didn't bother to waste words with him.

With a flick of his wrist, he raised the ancient bronze cauldron and swept it horizontally!

Nan Zhongwei's pupils constricted sharply, and he laughed in extreme anger:

"How dare a mere junior with Divine Ability act so arrogantly!"

But the next moment, Nan Zhongwei's expression changed drastically. He was horrified to find himself frozen in place. Even with demonic energy surrounding him, he was still rejected by the entire world and could not move an inch!

With a sweep of the cauldron, only Nan Zhongwei's severed head remained, hanging forlornly in the Void. The ferocity on his face had not yet faded, but his eyes had already shifted from astonishment to terror.

Even with the surging demonic energy, it was no longer possible to reshape his physical body.

The Yu Tunzhou without stopping for even a moment.

With a flick of his wrist, the bronze cauldron spun half a circle in his palm and was then lifted high above his head. The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers patterns on the cauldron lit up one by one, transforming into a heavy, overwhelming pressure that forced the surrounding demonic energy to retreat!

"Town!"

The Yu Tunzhou and exhaled, its voice ringing out like metal and stone falling to the ground.

The raised bronze cauldron, carrying immense force, crashed down upon Cangling City, which had already become a ghost town!

Deep within the rift, the enormous vertical pupil finally showed signs of distress, revealing a somber expression.

"Presumptuous!"

A chilling will exploded along the crack, and an unfathomable and vast evil power surged toward Yu Tunzhou.

Boom--!!!

The Yu Tunzhou, enveloped in the azure light of the cauldron, making it impervious to all magic. When the cauldron crashed down, the deafening roar echoed across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, and the earth undulated like waves. The Cangling City, which had been turned into a demonic realm, was instantly reduced to ashes!

In the end, only the Nan Household in the center of Cangling City survived, protected by the power of the rift.

Seeing this, Yu Tunzhou still didn't waste any words. He raised the Immortal Cauldron and smashed it into the crack again, with a force as powerful as the entire sky collapsing!

The vertical pupil deep within the rift suddenly contracted, its indifference vanishing, replaced by a hint of anger.

The Daoist Shouzheng witnessed this scene from not far away was also deeply moved.

So this is how Ancestral Artifact were used?

only...

Doesn't this seem a bit too rough...?