Chapter 253: The Heavenly Dao

Zhang Xiaofan had never imagined that upon opening his eyes, he would find himself in such a world.

What lay before him was far from the hidden stone cave deep within a mountain’s belly that he had envisioned. Instead, it was an ancient, desolate, and strange place.

An immense, endless expanse of barren desert stretched out before him, devoid of any trees or flowers, only the deep gray of rocks and sand. The howling wind swept across the desert, carrying a mournful wail. Above, the sky was a bizarre canopy, with thick, deep purple clouds pressing down as if suffocating the land. Lightning bolts, blindingly white, ripped through the sky, their brilliance lighting up the horizon.

In the far distance, a ring of dark green light shimmered, particularly luminous, as if a beacon of radiant light at the end of the darkness. Countless meteors streaked across the sky, casting a fiery, brilliant glow that transformed into a magnificent and awe-inspiring celestial spectacle.

After a moment, Zhang Xiaofan slowly retracted his gaze, his shock gradually subsiding. He saw a grand altar not far ahead, crafted from immense gray stones, with steps on all sides and seven levels. On the altar stood seven colossal pillars, each of a different color, towering to incredible heights. Any ordinary person on this altar would look as insignificant as an ant. In the center of the altar, an ancient, crudely designed tripod stood, and beside it, an old man, his face etched with weariness, looked at Zhang Xiaofan with a profound gaze.

Zhang Xiaofan’s body jolted. This incredibly aged man was none other than Dao Xuan Zhenren, the current patriarch of the Azure Ethereal Conclave.

Dao Xuan Zhenren, now without the sinister black aura that usually surrounded him, appeared far from the usual authoritative and divine figure. He seemed to be breathing heavily, and as he watched Ghost Li approach, he smiled and said, “I didn’t expect you to cross the ‘Illusory Moon Path’ on your own. Impressive indeed.”

Zhang Xiaofan remained silent for a moment, then turned to see a stone door standing where he had entered. Unlike the desolate surroundings, this one-yard tall, six-foot wide stone door was dark, and beyond it, a faint, swirling mist could be seen, suggesting a not-too-long passage.

Gazing at the darkness, Zhang Xiaofan felt a lingering sense of unease. But after a brief moment, a faint smile tugged at his lips, and he turned back to face Dao Xuan Zhenren.

This man, who had directly killed his most respected master, Tian Yisui, and indirectly led to the death of his mistress, Su Ru, now appeared weak and without malice. Yet, Zhang Xiaofan felt no desire for revenge.

“Are you alright?”

He slowly approached Dao Xuan Zhenren and spoke quietly.

Dao Xuan Zhenren looked at him, a strange smile flickering on his weary face. He did not ask about past grievances but instead inquired, “Why have you come here?”

Zhang Xiaofan paused, then replied calmly, “I felt I should come, so I came.”

Dao Xuan Zhenren laughed, his laughter growing louder, almost frenzied. “A fine answer, indeed,” he cackled. Zhang Xiaofan watched silently, not interrupting or asking further questions.

After a long while, Dao Xuan Zhenren’s laughter subsided, his face still showing deep fatigue, but his eyes began to gleam with a sharp, bright light.

“Do you not wish to avenge your master?” Dao Xuan Zhenren asked softly.

Zhang Xiaofan did not respond, his gaze calm and peaceful, with a hint of compassion. The small monkey, Xiao Hui, in his arms seemed restless, shifting and climbing back onto his shoulder.

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s body trembled slightly, and his expression changed. The fatigue dissipated, and his eyes grew sharper and brighter, as if the commanding presence of old was returning to him.

The terrifying, invisible power emanating from Dao Xuan Zhenren was palpable even to Zhang Xiaofan, standing nearby.

Slowly, he rose to his feet, tendrils of black mist rising from his body, swirling around him. His violent aura returned, and he fixed his gaze on Zhang Xiaofan, a sinister smile forming on his lips.

“Or are you afraid?”

Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted behind Dao Xuan Zhenren, shattering the ancient tripod into pieces. Amidst the smoke and debris, a broken sword appeared, embedded in the hard stone base. It resembled neither stone nor jade, but its ancient form exuded a formidable presence—it was the Divinebane Nexus.

“Ha ha ha ha….” The black mist enveloped Dao Xuan Zhenren, and he reached out, summoning the Divinebane Nexus. The ancient sword shook, then slowly pulled itself from the ground, flying into Dao Xuan Zhenren’s hand.

“Since you are so useless, let me send you to join your master, ha ha ha….” With a fierce grip on the sword’s hilt, the entire altar trembled. A surge of immense power erupted, and the seven colored pillars lit up, their light growing more intense, converging into a dazzling rainbow that shot up into the sky.

High above, the thick purple clouds began to shift, and a huge crack appeared, revealing a fantastical, ever-changing moon, radiating a myriad of colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. The moon’s light was both beautiful and mysterious.

When the seven-colored beams of light from the pillars converged and pierced through the clouds, they merged with the moon, amplifying its brilliance. The moon’s light grew so intense that it manifested a seven-colored, glowing sword, dispersing the dark clouds and radiating an overwhelming aura.

Zhang Xiaofan’s face paled. He recognized the formation well—it was the invincible Divinebane Sword Array. Though there were no swarms of small swords, the main sword’s power under the moon’s light seemed even more formidable than when it was summoned on the Seven Peaks.

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s face was now completely covered in black mist, and his icy laughter sent chills down Zhang Xiaofan’s spine. “Within this Illusory Moon Cave, the Divinebane Nexus’s power is magnified tenfold. Even the mightiest immortal would find no escape, meet your end!”

As he spoke, he raised the Divinebane Nexus, and the sky and earth shook. Thunder roared, and the giant sword in the sky turned, aiming at Zhang Xiaofan.

Before the sword could strike, a fierce wind blew, and Zhang Xiaofan knew that no mortal could withstand this destructive force. He prepared to dodge, but the moon above flashed, and a beam of light descended, pinning him down, causing him to fall to his knees. The ground beneath him cracked, spreading out in a wide radius.

Though the sword had not yet struck, its power was already devastating. The broken Divinebane Nexus, under the moon’s light, seemed even more powerful than before. Such a force could reduce even a mighty immortal to ashes.

Zhang Xiaofan, though of high cultivation and having experienced life and death, found himself powerless against this supernatural might. He could only sigh and await his fate.

But in this moment of crisis, his heart was calm, and he felt no fear, as if he were returning home, a faint smile on his lips.

However, fate seemed to have other plans. As Zhang Xiaofan resigned himself to his fate, a voice echoed from afar.

“Senior Brother, stop….”

The voice was young and serene, yet carried a hint of passion and fervor, capable of stirring the hearts of those who heard it.

The Divinebane Nexus, poised to bring ruin and destruction, suddenly halted. The once all-powerful Dao Xuan Zhenren, now visibly aged, stared in disbelief, the black mist dissipating from his face.

“You… Junior Brother Wan…”

The pressure on Zhang Xiaofan suddenly lifted, and the cracks in the ground closed, as if they had never been. Turning, he saw a white-robed figure standing at the stone door.

It was a young, handsome man with piercing eyes and a warm, gentle smile. Despite the strong winds, he stood with an air of grace and confidence, evoking a sense of respect and admiration in Zhang Xiaofan.

The sky above, the moon shimmered.

Once the twin stars of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, they had reunited in this surreal realm, amidst the chaos and confusion of memories.

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s body trembled, and the Divinebane Nexus lowered. He stepped down from the altar, walking towards the white-robed figure, not looking back at Zhang Xiaofan.

The white-robed figure, radiating youthful energy, gazed at Dao Xuan Zhenren with a warm smile. “Senior Brother, it’s been a long time.”

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s body shook, and tears welled up in his dry eyes. “Junior Brother… is it really you?”

The white-robed figure smiled. “Senior Brother, why haven’t you awoken yet?”

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s eyes were filled with confusion. “Awaken? What do you mean?”

The white-robed figure spoke gently, “You’ve always been wise. You should let go of your attachment to the mundane and the pursuit of power. We both cultivated for the same reasons, didn’t we?”

Dao Xuan Zhenren’s body quivered, and he looked like an old man, struggling to understand his path in the final moments of his life.

“We… cultivate… for what…?”

The white-robed figure smiled warmly, his face glowing with a gentle light. “Senior Brother, let it go.”

With a resounding thud, the Divinebane Nexus fell from Dao Xuan Zhenren’s hands, like a common sword, broken and discarded.

A peaceful smile spread across Dao Xuan Zhenren’s face, mirroring the white-robed figure’s. “I was… foolish… to wait so long to understand…”

He took a step forward, reaching out as if to embrace something, but his body faltered, and he collapsed to the ground, his life fading away, leaving only a faint, gentle smile.

The world fell silent, save for the distant howl of the wind.

The once-mighty Dao Xuan Zhenren had passed quietly, and Zhang Xiaofan stood in silence, watching the events unfold.

The white-robed figure, now somewhat blurred, turned to Zhang Xiaofan, his smile warm and appreciative. “Child, you have done well, truly well.”

Confused, Zhang Xiaofan did not understand the praise, but the white-robed figure did not explain. Instead, he gestured, and the fallen Divinebane Nexus rose, floating towards Zhang Xiaofan.

“Child, this Divinebane Nexus is a supreme power, meant to destroy demons and gods, and should not exist in this world. But since it is here, it needs a rightful owner.”

Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback, unsure of what to say. “Senior, you…”

The white-robed figure smiled. “You were called here by this sword. You are the chosen one.”

Shaking his head, Zhang Xiaofan replied, “Senior, you and Dao Xuan Zhenren were both unparalleled geniuses. If even you two could not fully master this power, how can I, a mere disciple, take on such a responsibility?”

The white-robed figure smiled. “You will know when you take up the Divinebane Nexus. This power is not of this world and cannot be controlled by human means.”

Pausing, Zhang Xiaofan asked, “What do you mean, Senior?”

The white-robed figure explained, “You are the only one to have the chance to understand all four volumes of the ‘Heavenly Book.’ Among countless beings, why is it only you who can hear the Divinebane Nexus’s call?”

Stunned, Zhang Xiaofan exclaimed, “Could it be that the Divinebane Nexus is… the fifth volume of the ‘Heavenly Book’?”

The white-robed figure nodded. “Yes, and the key to mastering this power lies not in one’s cultivation, but in the strength of one’s heart. Only those who have faced countless trials and tribulations, and have a heart tempered by fire, can truly wield this power.”

The Divinebane Nexus floated towards Zhang Xiaofan, and the white-robed figure’s form began to fade. “Child, take this power and understand the true meaning of the ‘Heavenly Book.'”

Zhang Xiaofan, with a solemn expression, reached out and grasped the hilt of the Divinebane Nexus.

Thunder roared, and the sky split open, revealing a massive column of light that enveloped Zhang Xiaofan. He flew back, landing on the altar, and the seven-colored pillars lit up, their light intertwining and forming a giant, glowing sword, soaring into the sky.

In the heavens, a line of golden script appeared, each character towering hundreds of feet high:

“The heavens show no mercy, treating all living beings as mere sacrificial offerings.”

Meanwhile, at the peak of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, the sky was no longer clear and blue but overshadowed by a blood-red cloud, descending towards the mountain. The sect was in chaos, with the demonic forces of the Cult invading with unprecedented ferocity. Many of the righteous cultivators had fallen, and some had been bewitched by the Cult’s dark magic, turning against their former allies.

The once-dominant advantage of the righteous factions had been overturned, and the Cult’s leader, the Ghost King, had even enslaved the surrounding populace, turning them into mindless killing machines. The combined forces now numbered over ten thousand, more formidable than any previous calamity.

At the Azure Ethereal Conclave, only the surviving disciples and a few remaining allies remained. The arrival of the monks from the Temple of Heavenly Sound brought a glimmer of hope, but their numbers were few, and most bore signs of battle.

The monks, led by Abbot Pu Hong, arrived, and the Azure Ethereal Conclave welcomed them, but the grim reality was evident. The elder monk, Pu Hong, explained, “Our temple has suffered greatly, and many of our brethren have perished. The only hope now lies in the Divinebane Nexus, which can turn the tide of this calamity.”

The Azure Ethereal Conclave, however, revealed that the Divinebane Nexus and its master, Dao Xuan Zhenren, had disappeared. The situation seemed dire, and the despair was palpable.

Suddenly, a desperate cry echoed from outside, and the sound of a monstrous horde approached. A frantic disciple rushed in, trembling, and shouted, “The demonic Cult has reached the mountain!”

Everyone stood in shock, the air thick with despair. Among them, Lu Xueqi quietly turned, her face devoid of fear, but filled with a gentle longing.