An Immortal's Figure Vanished into a Misty Village

"Senior, do you think this will make me stop?" Golden light flashed beneath Su Yao's feet, and each teleportation took him a hundred miles away, yet he was still unable to widen the distance between himself and Cang Lan.

"No rush, the dust of the mortal world will only grow heavier each day." Cang Lan's voice remained calm. "If the Abbot insists on staying in Nanzhao, one day, your radiant glow will never shine again."

Su Yao said no more. He swung the Vermilion Brightness Sword in his hand, and nine heat patterns lit up at the same time. A scorching Sword Intent wrapped in the Balmy Wind wind swept towards Cang Lan behind him.

Cang Lan simply raised her sleeve and flicked it gently.

The phrase "Grass-Blade Lives" emerged from his chest, and a grass-green phantom spread across the sky. Billions of blades of grass surged like green waves, enveloping the blazing Sword Intent before dissipating into nothingness.

"The killing Spirit Treasure of the Balmy Wind Dao is indeed quite good," Cang Lan commented calmly, his gaze always following Su Yao. "Unfortunately, in the past, the Five Emperors used the Five Virtues to complete the Human Dao, Dao of Grass Blades was one of them. Grass and mustard are insignificant and lowly, but their strength lies in their continuous nature. Fire may be fierce, but it cannot burn away wild grass. The Abbot's sword is still lacking in refinement."

He paused, then his tone suddenly turned somber, carrying a chilling undertone:

"As a direct descendant of the Jade Pure One Sect, the Abbot must know about the calamity in the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation during the Investiture of the Gods. Since then, it has been no secret that the Human Dao world can defile the Immortal Dao."

Su Yao's expression changed slightly.

He was naturally aware of this.

Although the Yunzhong Ancestor was fortunate enough to escape the calamity of the Turbid Qi eroding his immortal body, the True Qi and Purple Qi that represented the immortal body and the immortal intent, as well as the Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang that represented the initial opening of the Immortal Dao, were truly afflicted in the mortal world.

The Rainbow Clouds Path is the closest to immortality, apart from the five paths of Purity, Truth, Purple, Lesser Yang, and Lesser Yin. The patriarch had many exchanges with the first three and comprehended the Qi of Mysterious Clarity that the latter two generated from the interaction of Lesser Yin and Lesser Yang. Only then did he use heaven and earth to prove himself and empty the existence of the Rainbow Clouds Path.

It is precisely because of this cause and effect that Human Dao cultivators can use this origin to defile the Rainbow Clouds with their worldly aura, which is a realm higher than their own.

This is the only method, apart from the three masters, that has the potential to restrain Rainbow Clouds Dao.

However, the conditions for doing this are equally demanding; the cultivation level of Human Dao cultivator must be significantly higher than that of a cultivator of the Rainbow Clouds.

However, the Cang Lan before him was Great True Person with the Four Divine Abilities of the Purple Mansion, three Divine Ability higher than Su Yao. These three Divine Ability alone made a world of difference, since in cultivation, one plus one does not equal two.

Having thought this through, Su Yao felt no lingering hope.

He said no more, sheathed Vermilion Brightness Sword, and with a flick of his right hand, Zhengji was already in his palm.

Cang Lan raised an eyebrow slightly. "Change swords?"

Su Yao did not answer.

He gently stroked the sword, and the morning glow and the golden palace appeared together.

The golden palace, carrying the Heavenly Clouds the sky, descended upon Cang Lan, like a celestial palace falling from the heavens, with a rain of rosy clouds covering the sky and the earth.

A hint of seriousness finally appeared in Cang Lan's eyes.

"That's more like it." He said, clasping his hands together. The worldly aura around him suddenly receded, replaced by an extremely rich warm yellow glow. "Ten Thousand Households' Wishes" was activated again, but instead of a bright light, it was a thin layer of wish power shield that protected his entire body.

The golden palace crashed onto the protective barrier of vows, as if a stone had sunk into the sea.

The rosy rain falls upon the shroud of wishes, like rain entering rivers.

Su Yao's pupils contracted.

This "Ten Thousand Households' Wishes" even managed to engulf the rosy glow of "Morning Clouds Crossing," which goes beyond the scope of ordinary "defense" and is more like...

"The Abbot guessed it?" Cang Lan smiled. "The mortal Human Dao is the greatest counter to the Mysterious Gate Immortal Dao. Our paths are different. If you attack me with Sword Intent, I can neutralize it with mortal power; if you suppress me with radiant light, I can counter it with the will of the people. As one weakens and the other strengthens, in the end, only the Abbot will be defeated."

Su Yao remained silent.

Human Dao Common People Dao excel at is precisely "using billions of people to wear down the essence of the Immortal Dao." Too many ants can kill an elephant, and too much grass can crush a seedling; this is the simplest yet most unsolvable truth.

Su Yao knew in his heart that he was not entirely without a chance to break the deadlock.

It is a well-known fact that Human Dao mortal world can taint the Immortal Dao of immortality. However, all things in the universe follow a natural cycle of mutual generation and restraint, and there is never any one-sided suppression.

After the Human Sovereign comprehended the Dao of Azure Firmament in the past, the Sword Intent has existed in the world ever since.

What is Sword Intent? It is the anger of a common man, the fleeting sharpness of a mortal wielding a three-foot sword, daring to question even immortals and gods.

That sword strike wasn't based on celestial Law Power, but on the word "human".

A common man's anger can cause blood to splatter three feet deep.

This is precisely the most fundamental restraint that the Azure Firmament Sect exerts against Human Dao.

The aspirations of hundreds of millions of people are indeed boundless and immeasurable, but in the final analysis, they are composed of individual "commoners." The Sword Intent cuts not at its power, but at its heart. A single sword strike can shatter the illusions of countless people, for within that sword lies the true nature of "humanity."

Su Yao's "Crimson Dawn Unstained Night-Illuminating Clear Light Sword Intent" is a sword that shines brightly and remains untainted by dust. It follows the path of Azure Firmament Dao and uses the "human anger" within the Sword Intent to break through the mortal Human Dao. Unfortunately, this Sword Intent has not yet been truly perfected. If he were given another ten or twenty years, he would no longer fear the mortal world.

But now, time waits for no one.

Although he still possessed one item, the Great Yin Feather Robe he wore, known as the "Spring and Autumn Concealed Sundial Feather Robe," which subtly embodied the mystical principles of Spring and Autumn and could originally ward off the influence of the mortal world, its effectiveness was negligible when facing a Great True Person of the Human Dao with the Four Divine Abilities.

Moreover, Su Yao had used this treasure in public more than once, so since the other party had come specifically to deal with him, they must have prepared a way to counter it.

In addition, Cang Lan is now pursuing too closely, and the influence of the mortal world has already seeped into Rising Yang Spirit Platform.

His time has never been in his own hands.

"So what you want, senior, is to keep chasing me like this, wearing me down little by little?" Su Yao said in a deep voice.

"No," Cang Lan retorted first, then added, "I won't kill you, nor would I dare to. But if you choose to stay in Nanzhao, I will pursue you for one day; if you stay for a year, I will pursue you for a year."

"Your path is too pure." Cang Lan gazed at him, her amber eyes as calm as tea. "It's time for you to get involved in this mortal world."

Su Yao said no more.

A flash of golden light, and it continued its escape.

Cang Lan moved unhurriedly, his green robe fluttering, following him like a shadow.

Above the Great Void, two streaks of light, like long tails, headed west. Ahead, golden light flashed as Su Yao fled at top speed; behind, the mortal world surged as Cang Lan pursued.

"Master, why don't we make a bet?" Cang Lan's voice came steadily as before. "Let's see if your Golden Light Across the Land reaches its limit first, or if my Human Dao body can catch up with your radiant glow."

Ignoring the warning, Su Yao dashed off towards Golden Ao Mountain, golden light flashing beneath his feet.

But that wisp of yellowish-brown turbidity had already seeped into his Purple Mansion Dharma Body along with the Sword Intent and the rosy light.

Like an extremely thin thread, it pulled the immortal down to the mortal realm.

Golden light and mortal world, one after the other, receded further and further into the distance at the end of the Great Void.

There is evidence to prove it:

Golden light suddenly breaks through the layers of clouds, and the mortal world chases closely after the dust and grime.

A faint trace of rosy clouds stained her robes, a thread of fate that tugs at the heartstrings of humanity.

Return, return, the fairy's shadow disappears into the misty village.