Though time flows, the Ancestral Demon Mountain remains unchanged, perpetually shrouded in black mist and forever desolate. Only a few dozen powerful cultivators reside here in seclusion, accompanied by puppet servants and mountain guardians who attend to them.
At the mountain peak, outside the cave abode.
Dongbo Xueying sat there, flipping through a golden book. The tome was crafted from sheets of peculiar metal, each inscribed with dense, ancient characters of an unknown script. Though he couldn’t read the words, their meaning naturally flowed into his mind. Over the years, he had long memorized every piece of information within the book, yet he still brought it out from the cave abode to peruse from time to time.
The Ancestral Demon Mountain housed many precious scriptures, which could be taken to one’s cave for study—but they were strictly forbidden from being removed from the mountain.
*”This foreign senior’s comprehension of fluctuations is so profound it leaves me in awe. If he were the stars in the sky, I would merely be a mortal gazing up from the earth.”* Every time Dongbo Xueying read this scripture, he couldn’t help but feel reverence. These were the invaluable legacies left behind by the Ancestors. This particular tome was a lone surviving fragment, missing both its beginning and large portions of its latter sections. Dongbo Xueying didn’t even know its name, only learning from its contents that its author was an existence called *”Lord Tianbo of the Island.”*
*”Without these scriptures, creating my own supreme technique would have been far more difficult.”* Dongbo Xueying shook his head.
He had ambition.
A great ambition.
The Silent Emperor, for instance, had developed his own supreme technique based on the *Blood Demon Scroll (Volume Two)*, tailoring it to suit himself.
Dongbo Xueying had previously combined the Dao of Slaughter and the Dao of Fluctuations, drawing from the secret art *”Domain of Slaughter”* within the Cosmic Envoy system, to forge his own *”Domain of Slaughter.”*
These were all creations inspired by the insights of his predecessors.
But because both the Dao of Fluctuations and the Dao of Slaughter were exceptionally suited for combat, Dongbo Xueying had long desired to merge the two into a supreme battle technique. The *”Domain of Slaughter”* leaned more toward area control—what he needed was a combat technique, one even suitable for spearplay!
Yet, there were no similar scriptures, no precedent set by past experts. Perhaps such a technique existed, but it was nowhere to be found among the scriptures of the Ancestral Demon Mountain. After all, mastering both the Dao of Slaughter and the Dao of Fluctuations, then combining them into a profound battle art—such a feat was far too rare.
Without a reference, the path ahead was shrouded in mist. How should he proceed?
He had to forge his own way. He needed a deeper and broader understanding of slaughter and fluctuations. Fortunately, within the Ancestral Demon Mountain, he had access to countless precious scriptures that broadened his horizons, revealing endless possibilities in cultivation.
Nourished by these scriptures, grounded in the foundations of the Dao of Slaughter and the Dao of Fluctuations, and aided by the high efficiency of cultivation within the Ancestral Demon Mountain’s cave abodes—along with his own innate comprehension—he had finally succeeded in creating the first chapter of his supreme technique: *”Storm of the Dao.”*
It was only the first chapter because he had yet to reach the Eternal level in either Dao. According to his vision, *”Storm of the Dao”* could be continuously refined and elevated.
Yet even this first chapter had demanded his utmost effort. With it alone, he could already rival a Paragon!
**”Hmm.”**
From afar, a puppet woman approached, her figure flickering several times before arriving near Dongbo Xueying.
*”Venerable Dongbo,”* the puppet woman said respectfully. *”I come under the orders of my master, Venerable Lie Yang, to inform you that your battle shall take place tomorrow.”*
*”Venerable Lie Yang?”* Dongbo Xueying’s eyes brightened. *”Finally! Six million years have passed, and Venerable Lie Yang has at last emerged from seclusion.”*
*”Good. Then the battle shall be tomorrow.”* Dongbo Xueying smiled.
The puppet woman bowed respectfully before turning and departing.
Dongbo Xueying stood, watching her leave from afar, his eyes brimming with anticipation. *”You’ve made me wait six million years. My strength now far surpasses what it was when I first entered the Ancestral Demon Mountain. Lie Yang… I’ve heard he once defeated a Paragon. I wonder if he’ll be a match for me.”*
Though his cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds within the Ancestral Demon Mountain, he had yet to engage in a single battle.
—
**The next day.**
*Creak.*
The wooden door swung open as Dongbo Xueying stepped out of his cave abode, his gaze calm. He strode forward along the rugged mountain path, leaving behind faint afterimages in his wake. An elderly puppet servant followed respectfully behind him.
*”Dongbo, I heard you’re fighting Lie Yang today?”* A woman clad in golden armor, her body covered in crimson scales, called out from another cave abode nearby.
*”Your Highness,”* Dongbo Xueying replied with a smile. *”I’m heading to the arena now.”*
This woman was the second eldest of the three children of the Serpentcloud Emperor—*Jiaoyun Can*—and by far the strongest among them, far surpassing her elder brother and younger brother. She had entered the Ancestral Demon Mountain long ago. Even though the Third Prince, Jiaoyun Liu, had since become a Paragon, the gap between him and his sister remained vast.
*”A battle to determine the strongest Venerable? I’ll join you.”* With a single step, Jiaoyun Can appeared beside Dongbo Xueying.
*”Then let’s go together.”* Dongbo Xueying walked side by side with her.
*”That Lie Yang is quite formidable. When he first appeared, he swiftly rose to become the strongest Venerable and entered the inner layer of the Ancestral Demon Mountain—a place even I’ve never set foot in. Are you confident you can defeat him?”* Jiaoyun Can’s features were striking, her brows sharp as swords. She typically cultivated in her golden armor, a reflection of her temperament.
Dongbo Xueying chuckled. *”Whether I’m confident or not, this battle is unavoidable. And I’m eager to see just how strong he truly is.”*
*”You seem quite self-assured.”* Jiaoyun Can smirked.
As they walked, other Paragons joined them along the way. After all, a battle to determine the strongest Venerable—aside from the repetitive challenges of those ranked second or third—was a rare spectacle. A complete newcomer emerging to challenge the reigning strongest Venerable was an event worth witnessing.
In fact, such newcomers stood a better chance of victory. Their sudden appearance made their strength unpredictable, whereas those who had lost multiple times before had little hope of overturning the outcome.
*”Dongbo, this won’t be an easy fight.”*
*”Dongbo Xueying, Lie Yang has held the title of strongest Venerable for too long. Defeat him!”*
By the time Dongbo Xueying arrived at the arena, many Paragons had already gathered, some shouting encouragement. Most of them were Paragons cultivating in the outer layer, and thus naturally inclined to support Dongbo Xueying. Over the years, he had frequently borrowed scriptures and befriended many of the Paragons who frequented the archives. They held a favorable impression of this amiable young Venerable.
The arena, deep green in hue, stood within the outer layer of the Ancestral Demon Mountain.
Shortly after Dongbo Xueying’s arrival, the other protagonist of this battle made his entrance.
*”Venerable Lie Yang.”* Dongbo Xueying looked into the distance.
Emerging from the mist-shrouded depths of the Ancestral Demon Mountain’s inner layer were two figures. The one trailing behind was the puppet woman, while the man leading the way wore robes that left his arms bare. His skin was a glossy, dark tan, and his silver hair was braided into dozens of thin strands. He walked barefoot, his entire body exuding a terrifying aura.
A battle saber rested in its sheath on his back, and his sharp eyes carried an oppressive weight.
*”Dongbo, he looks similar to you. Are you from the same universe?”* Jiaoyun Can called out from the sidelines.
*”No.”*
But it was Lie Yang who answered. His piercing gaze fixed on Dongbo Xueying as the corner of his lips curled slightly. *”I know every Venerable from my home universe, and he is not one of them. Besides, all the Venerables from my universe have braided hair—he does not.”*
With that, he took a single step and *whooshed* onto the arena platform. Then, staring at Dongbo Xueying, he said, *”Come, Venerable Dongbo. Let me see your strength.”*
*”Very well.”*
Dongbo Xueying leaped onto the platform as well.
The moment both combatants stood upon the ancient, deep-green arena, the intricate patterns carved into its surface began to glow. Countless black formations materialized in the surrounding air, completely enclosing the battlefield.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage