On the verge of death, Wang Siyuan’s many threads of karmic connection had dissipated with his demise, leaving only a small portion that could link his present life to the afterlife and next reincarnation. In Meng Qi’s eyes, the vast illusory starry night around Wang Siyuan suddenly emptied, and the brilliant threads of stars in the sky snapped one by one, transforming the once densely packed sensation into openness and clarity.
The remaining karmic threads were scattered and sparse, stretching outward. Among them, three threads particularly filled Meng Qi with dread, making him unwilling to make contact. One thread was dark red and thick, exuding an aura of chaos and madness. It pierced through Wang Siyuan’s dharma body and true spirit, flying into an unknown height, disappearing into a strange half-sky filled with ever-changing clouds. Just looking at it caused Meng Qi’s skin to prickle with goosebumps, evoking an instinctive sense of panic and fear. Compared to this karmic thread, even the previously seen “Celestial Dao monster” was like a firefly attempting to rival the sun.
Another thread exuded a chilling yin aura, condensed with the essence of death. It connected to the “King of Fengdu’s” black fist, a symbol of the six paths of reincarnation. If it touched Meng Qi, he would die instantly. For others, it might result in rebirth as an animal, falling into hell, or becoming a hungry ghost. However, for Meng Qi, it would mean complete annihilation—because he had no afterlife!
The third thread was ethereal and mysterious, its destination unknown. Though Meng Qi could faintly discern its nature, his innate intuition from the Root of All Effects and the Eight-Nine Mystical Arts warned him instinctively to avoid it.
Beyond these three threads, the others were relatively manageable. A dazzling, colorless radiance emanated from Meng Qi’s ancient glazed lamp, growing increasingly intense as the black and white energies separated and multiplied, weaving an illusory realm entirely composed of karma. With a graceful sweep of his peerless blade, he sliced through the void beside Wang Siyuan, drawing the karmic threads toward himself. The dark red, chaotic thread convulsed violently, desperately lashing out at Meng Qi. The thread saturated with the essence of death was dense and unyielding, nearly resisting his pull. Once severed from Wang Siyuan’s dharma body, it transformed into a net, ensnaring Meng Qi in an attempt to drag him into death in Wang’s stead.
The seemingly ordinary ethereal thread, though appearing normal, gave an unsettling, inescapable sensation when it adhered to the peerless blade.
At this moment, the illusory karmic world illuminated by the Dao Yi Glazed Lamp shrank, merging with Meng Qi’s form, instantly rendering him solemn and detached, transcending all karmic bonds.
As the peerless blade retracted, the chaotic dark red thread, the heavy yin net of death, and the mysterious karmic strand all brushed past Meng Qi, leaving him drained and unable to choose the weakest remaining thread to bear.
Suddenly, a seemingly ordinary, radiant star thread drifted forward, attaching itself to Meng Qi first.
Boom!
Instantly, scenes flashed before Meng Qi’s eyes: a naive child playing with counting rods, eyes alight with fascination; a quiet youth watching his grandfather and elders of the main bloodline pass away, his expression emotionless and cold; a severe illness nearly ending his life, lying in bed with tightly shut eyes; a graceful young scholar coughing blood while deciphering the “Mathematical Classic,” refining the Luo Shu without a thought for anything else; a calculating and enigmatic young master wandering the martial world, playing the zither or chess, searching for things beyond his predictions; a thin back bent over ancient texts, imagining myths and playing imaginary chess matches; a pale-faced figure with burning, frenzied eyes clad in white…
In an instant, the past resurfaced, flashing through Meng Qi’s mind like a fleeting glimpse of Wang Siyuan’s entire life.
A life accompanied only by loneliness and madness!
This peculiar thread of karma… Meng Qi frowned in bewilderment. He had never encountered such a karmic connection before, nor did he comprehend its implications. Yet, at this very moment, mighty figures were locked in fierce combat, and the Dongtian Forbidden Spell could collapse at any instant, rendering the situation perilous. Therefore, after successfully severing one thread, he cast a final glance at Wang Siyuan before turning away. His green robe fluttered as he disappeared beyond the tomb-laden mountains.
With a single slash of the blade, he departed gracefully—an image Meng Qi had always dreamed of embodying as a swordsman. Yet, his current mood was heavy and sorrowful. In that final glance, he had seen Wang Siyuan’s face, momentarily free from all karmic ties, the twisted agony vanishing as if he had finally escaped the terrifying event he had faced before death, returning to peace.
After that peace, Wang Siyuan’s eyes opened, clear and pure, a faint smile curving his lips before his dharma body rapidly dissipated like a dream or a bubble.
In a fleeting moment, the great young master had completely vanished from the world, like a spring dream that never lingers, like morning clouds that vanish without a trace, leaving not a single trace behind.
Had the great young master of the Wang family truly perished?
Had he, who sought only death and peace, finally achieved his wish?
Meng Qi closed his eyes briefly, not looking back as he stepped out of the ancestral hall of the Wang family.
…
The karmic threads reverberated, attempting to return to Wang Siyuan, but the illusion had shattered, the dream gone—where could they now find a place to cling?
Thus, they too vanished, except for the thick, dark red thread, which lashed about like a whip, embodying chaos and madness.
Finally, drawn by an unseen force, it fell into the ancient Soul Suppressing Coffin.
“The Dao of Heaven!”
A piercing, horrifying shriek burst forth from inside the coffin, making the dark purple primordial earth chains tremble violently and clatter, cracking under the strain. The entire grotto-heaven was riddled with spiderweb-like fissures, as though a monstrous entity within was on the verge of breaking free.
High above, the lingering sound of a zither filled the air, exuding an aura of immortality that diluted the chaotic, dark red clouds. Then, a slender, elegant giant hand appeared above the Luo Shu, pressing down with outstretched fingers, attempting to forcibly seize the dormant treasure.
Puh!
Suddenly, two twisting, dark sword beams, originally aimed elsewhere, bent mid-air and pierced straight into the giant hand’s palm. The primordial evil, born from the mind and manifested through the dharma body, was extremely perilous. At this critical moment, the Demon Sovereign intercepted the giant hand.
The giant hand radiated a crystalline, lustrous glow as it bent a finger and flicked. The River of Fate briefly emerged before retracting, swallowing countless possible futures, leaving only one path remaining.
Dang!
The Demon Sovereign’s sword beams were directly deflected, his gaunt, sinister head bristling with hair and beard.
“Fu Huang!” The King of Fengdu roared, his black fist opening to reveal six fingers transforming into six deep, revolving reincarnation portals, forming a vortex that engulfed the crystalline giant hand!
This zither-playing giant hand belonged to Fu Huang, who had survived the Primordial Era and once dominated the ancient ages, a ruler before the Jade Emperor!
He was still alive!
And from the King of Fengdu’s tone, it seemed they had known each other for a long time.
Scenes of beasts, hell, and hungry ghosts appeared, like a turning wheel, restraining the immortal aura of the giant hand. Seeing the situation, the Demon Sovereign slashed again with the Primordial Demon Sword Qi, severing space itself, isolating the Luo Shu. Meanwhile, in the crimson sky above, clouds shifted chaotically, forming into a pair of terrifying, emotionless eyes!
The Demon Sovereign was not afraid. Unless the Being Beyond awakened and intervened directly, he still had a chance to resist. If the situation became dire, he could merge his six bodies into one, unleashing supreme demonic might. Besides, he did not absolutely need the Luo Shu. He only wished to use it to balance the Demon Emperor Claw. If it proved unattainable, he would leave at the right moment, unwilling to fall into a deadly trap due to greed.
…
In the Southern Wilderness, the mountains were perilous and the waters treacherous, yet a vibrant energy filled the land. Everywhere, martial artists trained, and discussions echoed through the air. The martial arts atmosphere was as intense as in the ancient golden age.
Atop a mountain peak, Qi Zhengyan, clad in a green robe, had quiet black flames burning in his eyes, while a golden-yellow star shone in his forehead, radiating an aura of equality.
“Lord Demon, the Southern Wilderness is teeming with Awakened experts, far surpassing the Central Plains,” the Black Armor Demon Sage flattered.
“But there is one matter that must be considered in advance,” he added cautiously.
“What is it?” Qi Zhengyan asked calmly.
The Black Armor Demon Sage gauged the Demon Emperor’s mood, sensing no danger, before daring to speak openly.
“The Southern Wilderness has only recently begun to flourish, and it’s still too early for numerous Externally Manifested experts to emerge. The demand for rare treasures remains low. However, in five or ten years, the demand will become overwhelming. We can manage for now, but not indefinitely. We must prepare in advance.”
“The world is vast, and its resources boundless, far beyond ordinary comprehension. Consider the vast starry sea and the countless stars, each hiding infinite treasures. When I become a legend, I will even create objects from the void, so resources will never be a concern,” Qi Zhengyan smiled.
The Black Armor Demon Sage hesitated. “Traveling the starry sea requires at least a Dharma Body.”
“Therefore, I intend to attain the Dharma Body today,” Qi Zhengyan said calmly.
“Attain it today? Just like that? Without first suppressing the Demon Emperor Claw or guarding against the Demon Sovereign’s attack?” the Black Armor Demon Sage exclaimed in surprise.
Qi Zhengyan smiled slightly but said nothing more. “I will condense my second star, the ‘Self-Reliant Star.’ All who are self-reliant will thrive endlessly, and Heaven will surely favor them!”
As his words faded, countless red lights flickered across the mountains of the Southern Wilderness, each representing a self-reliant individual. These lights merged into a crimson river, engulfing the mountains and skies!
As the crimson river surged, banners unfurled across the heavens!
…
Inside the Tomb Mountain’s Celestial Cave, the Demon Sovereign was locked in a fierce battle with the King of Fengdu, the chaotic eyes in the sky, and the suspected Fu Huang’s colossal hand—all contending for the Luo Shu.
Suddenly, he felt a tremor in his heart.
Qi Zhengyan was attaining the Dharma Body?
Although he still had five demonic bodies, awakening another meant prematurely awakening his full power, causing great damage!
He abruptly withdrew, no longer seeking the Luo Shu, intending to retreat from the battle. But suddenly, a monster appeared before him, calling out “The Dao of Heaven,” its terrifying aura reminiscent of his first encounter with the Demon Emperor Claw.
The Wang family’s founder?
Only then did the Demon Sovereign suddenly come to his senses, gazing down at the opened ancient Soul Suppressing Coffin and the spot where Wang Siyuan had completely disappeared.
Was this his true intention—to lure the Demon Sovereign into a trap, creating the opportunity for Qi Zhengyan to attain the Dharma Body?
No wonder he had made his resistance so obvious, drawing the attention of those with ill intentions!
This was true death stratagem!
Or perhaps… did he still have a chance at survival in the Southern Wilderness?
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