Chapter Nineteen: Mid-stage Earth Immortal

Within the Vast Desolation’s Heavenly Dao, there was no trace of Qingxu to be sensed. This anomaly was not only apparent to Yuanshi, but also to Taishang and Tongtian; in an instant, all three Sages of Sanqing were overcome by an inexpressible shock.

It must be understood that the past, present, and future of all living beings across the myriad worlds are encompassed within the Heavenly Dao. The Dao governs the entire cosmos, encompassing all, both the grand and the minute trends, each within its grasp.

The Heavenly Cycle numbers fifty, of which forty-nine pertain to the great trend, and one to the small, the elusive one that escapes — the mystery of the Dao!

The great trend is fixed, the small trend is mutable; together they embody the profundity of yin and yang, the wonder of creation. A change in the great trend instantly alters the small, and conversely, enough changes in the small can yet influence the great.

Though the Sages have achieved the Hunyuan realm, even they dare not claim perfect comprehension of the Heavenly Dao; their insights are but glimpses through a narrow lens. Yet when fate is clear, matters relating to themselves can still be divined.

Since their last discourse, Qingxu had left a distinct impression upon the hearts of Sanqing. Now, with his sudden disappearance — his present and future erased from the Dao — all three Sages were deeply alarmed.

Within Doushuai Palace atop Shouyang Mountain, Taishang pondered, “How could this be? The Heavenly Dao rules all ages and heavens, controls everything — how could there be one outside its grasp? Unless...?”

On Jin’ao Island in the East Sea, within Biyou Palace, Tongtian muttered, “Could it be Qingxu is no longer within the Vast Desolation? How...?”

Of the three, Yuanshi was the most anxious; his most prized disciple was in peril. He could not remain calm and immediately set out to seek Taishang.

...

But let us set aside the Sanqing for now. At this moment, Qingxu, as he observed the blood-black underground palace, was suddenly caught in a dramatic upheaval!

The palace trembled violently. From the main hall’s dome, a dense, inky-black demonic aura began to diffuse, while from beneath the hall a thick, blood-red stench rose. Overwhelming waves of demonic and bloody energy surged toward him, and in an instant, Qingxu felt as if he had fallen into the deepest hell, standing upon a field of slaughter, surrounded by innumerable wailing, tormented souls and vengeful spirits...

[Ancient Demonic Aura: Innate demonic energy born at the dawn of the world, second only to the Primordial Demonic Aura. It possesses terrifying might — corrosive, annihilating, beguiling, deluding, creating illusory realms...]

[Blood-Melting Aura: Acquired, forged by combining Ancient Demonic Aura with the blood of a Primordial Demon King. Whether man, beast, or spirit treasure, all are turned to thick blood upon contact, dissolving into the aura and further empowering it!]

With the information provided by the Investiture System, Qingxu quickly understood the nature of these two auras, and his heart filled with dread.

Ancient Demonic Aura?

This, clearly, belonged solely to the Demon Ancestor Luohu, making the master of this underground palace self-evident.

Blood-Melting Aura?

In the “Investiture of the Gods,” Yu Yuan of the Jie Sect, using eighty-one supreme materials of heaven and earth and a strand of Blood-Melting Aura, forged the peerless demonic blade, the Blood-Melting Divine Saber. His disciple Yu Hua wielded it with astonishing might in the war between Shang and Zhou, such that even gods and ghosts dared not stand before it.

Now, before Qingxu’s eyes, the Ancient Demonic Aura and Blood-Melting Aura each extended for several miles, and were still rapidly spreading.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As Qingxu’s thoughts raced, the two auras surged toward him, attacking from above and below, forming an inescapable net.

Seeing this, Qingxu cursed inwardly, spun around, and dashed up the corridor stairs. But it was futile; the two auras seemed to lock onto him, relentlessly pursuing without end.

“Damn you, Ba Liming! You just wait — today’s enmity will be repaid a hundredfold in the days to come!”

The passage entrance at the end was already sealed by Old Demon Ba Liming of Bashan. Qingxu did not know the method to open it, and brute force proved useless.

With the Ancient Demonic and Blood-Melting Auras nearing, though shielded by his Jade Purity Immortal Talisman, anxiety gnawed at Qingxu’s heart. After all, this was the power of the Demon Ancestor Luohu — could the talisman’s protection truly withstand it?

“Alas! Things have come to this — retreat is best. Safety first.” Unwilling to gamble on uncertainty, Qingxu prepared to activate the talisman’s teleportation power to escape.

“Damn!”

To his dismay, the teleportation failed. It was unusable.

Escape was no longer possible; he could only brace himself for the onslaught.

Thankfully, the defensive power of the Jade Purity Immortal Talisman still functioned — otherwise, death would have been certain.

Bang! Bang!

Sss! Sss! Sss!

The clear, watery light of Jade Purity clashed with the two evil auras, filling the air with a piercing cacophony, like water and fire locked in battle.

This was, after all, a supreme talisman personally forged by Yuanshi Tianzun, boasting formidable defense; despite the savage, all-consuming assault of the Ancient Demonic and Blood-Melting Auras, their corrosion was utterly ineffective.

Though the talisman held, Qingxu took little comfort. Instead, worry gnawed at him — the talisman’s defense would only weaken with use, while the evil auras continued to intensify. With this ebb and flow, his predicament was dire.

Scarcely a quarter of an hour had passed, and already his spiritual power had dropped by half — a perilous state indeed.

“Alas, if only I had attained the rank of Profound Immortal…”

A Profound Immortal has set foot upon the Dao, comprehending its mysteries, able to draw all energies of heaven and earth into oneself, no longer distinguishing between good and evil, yin and yang. Replenishing Jade Purity Immortal Essence with demonic energy would then be no difficult feat.

Demonic aura surged, Blood-Melting Aura roared; all about was an ocean of blood and shadow. The Jade Purity light began to waver.

“It’s do or die!”

Steeling himself, Qingxu summoned the Central Dog Yellow Banner. Hundreds of Xutu Golden Lotuses formed a protective barrier around him, reinforcing the Jade Purity light against the onslaught.

Though the Dog Yellow Banner was one of the five great spirit banners of heaven and earth and its defensive power among the greatest in the Vast Desolation, Qingxu had only refined its first layer of innate restrictions. Its true power remained limited.

The Xutu Golden Lotuses shattered and reformed again and again in endless cycles.

With the banner’s aid, the pressure on the Jade Purity light eased somewhat, but his magical power now drained at an even more alarming rate.

Pouring his remaining strength into the banner, Qingxu frantically racked his brain for a means of escape.

Before he could devise a plan, the bottleneck within his cultivation began to loosen.

Qingxu had already reached the peak of Early Earth Immortal, teetering on the threshold. Under this immense pressure, a breakthrough began.

He shattered the barrier!

Mid Earth Immortal!

All unfolded as smoothly and naturally as flowing water.

Yet, though his realm advanced to Mid Earth Immortal, it brought little immediate change to his predicament; his magical power had not increased.

For a cultivator, the realm is like a vessel, magical power like the water within. The vessel may expand, but the water must be gathered — now Qingxu possessed the vessel of a Mid Earth Immortal, but only after months of cultivation would he fill it, truly attaining the stage.

Nevertheless, the breakthrough was not without benefit: his control over magical power, treasures, and abilities improved markedly.

This sudden progress bought Qingxu precious time.

“Seems I have no choice but to rely on my last trump card. Let’s hope it’s enough,” he thought grimly.

The teleportation of the Jade Purity Talisman was unusable, its defense waning — only his last resort remained: the original Sage avatar.

A Sage’s avatar?

This was Qingxu’s only hope.

The blood-black main hall continued to exhale and inhale, vast waves of Ancient Demonic and Blood-Melting Aura filling the air, pressing down with suffocating force.

“Hm?” A sudden exclamation escaped Qingxu. He stared ahead, through the Jade Purity light and Xutu Golden Lotuses, at the blood-black air, where countless illusory talismans flickered, obscure and profound, containing the ultimate mysteries of the demonic path.

“The Supreme Demonic Dao of Luohu?”