Embers of Sword

Chapter 552 Devouring the Dao
On the pure white mountaintop, a figure in black sits atop a snow-white waterfall.

A golden sword hovered in the air, and the Dao Domain spread across the sky.

Xie Xuanyi enveloped the Pure White Mountain area with his Domain of Annihilation, and his Martial Divine Embryo stretched out his palm, pressing down on the mountaintop—

Only after reaching the Yangshen realm can one cultivate the divine powers of Manifestation.

But with his current cultivation level, the Martial Divine Embryo combined with the Great Completion Dao Domain, he already possesses three-tenths of the power of "Manifestation of Sainthood"!
"Thank you, donor..."

"Forgive others when you can!"

A faint sigh echoed from the foot of Pure White Mountain.

The Zen Master Heyi, who had been sitting cross-legged, shook his robe and stood up.

He gazed at the golden hand descending from the sky, stomped his foot, and the earth trembled slightly. As the rosy light rose, a sacred image imbued with Buddhist nature emerged. However, this Buddhist bodhisattva image had pitch-black eyes, and although its face was benevolent, it exuded a dark and profound aura.

boom!
The Oneness Zen Master threw a punch at the sky.

This sinister Bodhisattva image clashed with the Martial Arts Divine Embryo—

A burst of exceptionally brilliant Daoist fireworks exploded in the sky, with tens of thousands of rays of light scattering in all directions.

Xie Xuanyi remained unmoved.

Master Heyi took a step back slightly.

He grinned and said, "It's different to have such good fortune. Young Master Xie's cultivation is indeed remarkable, but there is a 'Saint' guarding this Pure White Mountain Realm."

The location of the Heavenly Puppet Sect.

The White Taoist slowly stood up.

Master Heyi smiled and said, "I wonder if Benefactor Xie, now that you are fighting two against one, do you still have a chance of winning?"

"..."

Xie Xuanyi remained silent, his expression turning serious.

It wasn't because of the threat from the White Taoist and the One-Way Zen Master—

However, when he probed with his divine sense, the pure white mountain was completely empty, and the paper effigy's aura seemed to not exist in the pure white mountain at all.

Is Lu Yu really not here?
This is why the white paper barrier was hastily closed and Jing San stepped in to take charge of the formation.
"Fellow Daoist Bai! Let's attack together!"

Seeing that the man in black on the mountaintop did not respond and showed no intention of leaving, Master Heyi quickly spoke up.

"kill!"

The White Taoist priest summoned the Corpse Puppet Cave.

Countless earth puppets and human puppets emerged from the cave, like a locust swarm, densely covering the entire roof of Pure White Mountain.

Xie Xuanyi regained his composure.

He raised his head, and in an instant, the endless tide of puppets engulfed him.

In the past.

Xie Xuanyi would not hesitate to choose to clear a path with sword energy.

But now, a thought stirred within him.

"I've cultivated the Yuan Devouring Technique, so I can use the White Daoist and the Unity Zen Master to test the power of the 'Devouring Dao Scroll'..."

The thought settled.

Xie Xuanyi raised two fingers and pressed them against his brow.

hum!
A wisp of dark energy spread out.

Xie Xuanyi's eyes suddenly changed color.

"……This is?"

Standing atop the Heavenly Puppet Sect's summit, the White Daoist, who was unleashing the Corpse Puppet Cave Heaven technique, suddenly felt a sense of unease.

He vaguely sensed that the young swordsman's aura had suddenly changed.

An ancient and ancient aura emanated from his eyes—

Xie Xuanyi attacked the puppet tide, directly grabbing the most powerful earth puppet among them!

The Yuan Devouring Technique is unleashed!

A powerful divine thought struck the Earth Puppet's brow—

In a brief moment, Xie Xuanyi saw the tragic memories of this "earth puppet" before it was refined. This corpse puppet was of a high grade and retained a lot of consciousness after being refined by the White Daoist. It was a cultivator at the peak of the Cave Heaven Realm who had comprehended a wisp of the "Blood Dao Principle" in his lifetime. It was because of this that the White Daoist took a liking to it. After it was refined into a corpse puppet, this wisp of Dao Principle power was still retained.

The puppetry technique of the Heavenly Puppet Sect can greatly enhance the physical strength of cultivators after they are transformed into corpse puppets.

However, as a price, the corpse puppet cannot unleash the full power of the Great Dao it possessed in life.

The Six Desires True Lord in the secret tomb was just like that.

only……

The Great Way will not simply vanish.

Even a corpse puppet can still retain a wisp of Dao principles.

"The Scroll of Devouring the Dao".

Xie Xuanyi silently thought to himself, "Swallow!"

Xie Xuanyi pressed his five fingers on the face of the earth puppet, and with a slight exertion of his martial arts divine embryo, the energy between his fingers burst forth. The head of the earth puppet burst open like a watermelon with a "poof". However, in the blood mist, a wisp of blood-colored Dao principle flew and gathered, floating behind Xie Xuanyi like a ribbon.

"What's this!"

The white-robed Taoist opened his eyes wide, his face filled with disbelief.

If I'm not mistaken...

Xie Xuanyi absorbed the "power of the Dao" of this earth puppet!
"Damn..."

The Zen Master of Unity was equally shocked: "Could this be the 'Primordial Devouring Technique' left behind by Bai Ze?"

"Qiu Kou began practicing Qi cultivation at fourteen, established his foundation at seventeen, mastered Qi control at twenty-three, and entered the Cave Heaven at forty-one... In the year of Jiazi, he comprehended the 'Blood Dao Principle'."

Xie Xuanyi silently sensed this wisp of blood Dao principles.

This earth puppet "Qiu Kou" is an evil cultivator from a desolate mountain in the southern border region.

After comprehending the Dao of Blood, Qiu Kou joined the Heavenly Puppet Sect and became a pillar of the sect. Little did he know that he would soon be refined by the White Daoist.

"This is the 'Swallowing Dao Scroll'..."

Just one attempt.

Xie Xuanyi then realized the terrifying power of the [Yuan Tun] divine ability.

The Devouring Dao Scroll alone is equivalent to a more efficient soul search. He never expected that even a cultivator who had been refined into an earth puppet could have his memories read by the Devouring Dao Scroll... However, Qiu Kou's divine sense was already blurred, and the past life that Xie Xuanyi could see was also a series of fragmented pieces.

The Blood Dao was then extracted from the Devouring Dao Scroll.

Within a few breaths, Xie Xuanyi sensed this faint power of the Dao.

Under the control of the "Swallowing Scroll".

This wisp of Dao principle is now completely under my control.

Disassemble, analyze, and comprehend.

In less than ten breaths, Xie Xuanyi became the new master of the "Blood Principle".

This doesn't mean he's comprehended the "Dao." This is the brilliance of [Yuan Tun]. Even the most talented cultivator has limited energy. Swallowing the "Dao" doesn't mean one must comprehend it.

The "Dao Principles" of this grotto-heaven cultivator served more as supplementary references for Xie Xuanyi.

"If Qiu Kou continues his cultivation, the Path of Blood will reach the Path of Blood Realm..."

"Further cultivation will forge the 'Path of Blood'..."

A giant tree seemed to appear before Xie Xuanyi's eyes.

This giant tree is extremely large, with countless branches. Each branch constantly forks and spreads, eventually reaching its end, where it can bear a "Dao Fruit".

The function of the Swallowing Scroll.

This was to help Xie Xuanyi see the giant tree clearly.

Three thousand main roads, three thousand branches.

The "Path of Blood" branch that Qiu Kou comprehended is not too far from the Path of Annihilation; the two are similar in principle. Qiu Kou cultivated for sixty years, condensing his life's blood and sweat. The "Path Principles" he comprehended, under the absorption of the Devouring Scroll, extracted some ingenious ideas. These fragments of Path Principles would then become the nourishment for the "Path of Annihilation".

"Hmm..." Xie Xuanyi vaguely understood how to use the Devouring Dao Scroll.

It is called the Devouring Dao, but in reality it is the Controlling Dao.

The three thousand great paths lead to all things, and all paths can be understood by analogy.

"As the owner of the Devouring Dao Scroll, although I cleverly absorbed the inspiration of the 'Blood Dao Law,' I must also bear the corresponding price."

Xie Xuanyi silently sensed this wisp of Dao principle.

Only after personally performing [Yuan Tun] did he understand the cost of the spell that Xuanming had mentioned.

A wisp of Dao principle is nothing.

However, if one absorbs too much of the Dao, one's own Dao of Destruction will inevitably become mixed and complex.

These clever ideas and inspirations are certainly useful... but if they are all incorporated into one's own mind, the result may not be greater than the sum of its parts.

"boom!"

The next moment, Xie Xuanyi did not hesitate at all and directly flicked his sleeve to release this wisp of blood law!
The Dao principles comprehension of cultivators at the Cave Heaven Realm are far too weak.

For someone like him who is only half a step into the Yang God realm.

The inspiration from comprehending fragments of Dao principles in the Cave Heaven Realm... no matter how much you absorb, it's all meaningless!
His "Path of Annihilation" has already condensed into a embryonic form of the Great Dao, and he is only one step away from attaining the Yang Godhood.

In his profound understanding of the Great Dao, he was a young man at the height of his career.

A cultivator at the Qiu Kou realm is merely a newborn infant.

"Not only can it absorb the principles of the Dao, but it can also release and unleash them?"

A breach was created in the tide of corpse puppets.

The White Taoist and the Zen Master of Unity were terrified as they watched this scene. What kind of heaven-defying divine technique was this?

This is beyond their comprehension!

"This kid's 'Yuan Devouring Technique' is terrifying!"

Master Heyi hurriedly spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Bai! Quickly recall the corpse puppet!!"

The White Taoist gritted his teeth and retrieved the Corpse Puppet Cave.

Little did he know that Xie Xuanyi didn't care at all about the remnants of the Dao principles of these earth puppets, or even the heaven puppets.

"How to fight?"

The white-robed Taoist's eyes blazed with fury, his expression one of utter rage.

The Heavenly Puppet Sect's greatest trump card is its corpse puppets. With fewer troops, they can fight against many, and even against sword cultivators skilled in flying sword techniques, they can deplete the opponent's divine sense and vital energy from thousands of miles away!

But this guy surnamed Xie cultivated the [Primordial Devouring] supernatural power!
How to fight this? !

"Fellow Daoist Bai... I have a forbidden technique."

Master Heyi took a deep breath: "This Xie fellow has just advanced in cultivation, and his spiritual realm must be unstable. This forbidden technique can shock his spiritual soul, causing him to lose his focus for a moment. Let's join forces and kill him!"

The struggle for the Great Dao is extremely cruel.

In a battle between equals, a moment's lapse in concentration can decide the outcome.

The Hehuan Sect is an evil sect among the three major sects of the Southern Frontier, specializing in the art of cultivating the soul!
"……it is good!"

The Taoist priest suppressed his anger.

He retrieved the Corpse Puppet Cave and simultaneously summoned a snow-white guillotine. The White Daoist parted the skin with his fingers and injected fresh blood into it… This guillotine was also the White Daoist's "trump card," a treasure he had obtained during his exploration of the Southern Frontier Secret Realm, a priceless artifact that had survived the Great War of the Yang Gods!
Beneath the pure white snow waterfall, two saints held their breath simultaneously.

Master Heyi flipped his wrist and took out a clean bottle.

He looked up, his gaze fixed on Xie Xuanyi.

The black Bodhisattva behind him, with a compassionate expression, stretched out his hands and suddenly clasped them together.

Snap!
The cleansing bottle shattered, and an invisible soul sound spread out, instantly arriving above Xie Xuanyi's head like a sharp blade, fiercely piercing the top of his skull.

"……Um?"

Xie Xuanyi's mind was extremely sharp, and he detected the attack: "A soul attack?!"

He raised his head and vaguely sensed the sharp killing intent contained in the void in front of him!
The attack on the soul sea launched by the Master of Unity crushing the clean bottle was actually quite powerful... This battle had progressed to the point where it could be considered a life-or-death struggle. Both evil sect saints had used their trump cards to "survive". If the Master of Unity's plan was followed, the breaking of the clean bottle would definitely cause Xie Xuanyi's divine sense to suffer severe damage.

Next, the White Taoist's "guillotine" came down in a single strike.

With heads falling, the great battle came to an end.

Unfortunately.

People are not as good as the sky.

"Buzz!"

The [Yuan Tun Sacred Realm] residing in Xie Xuanyi's dantian actively sensed the killing intent of the divine souls outside.

This perfect holy realm, though unable to descend to earth.

However, after being refined by Xie Xuanyi, the Holy Realm Dao Stele became a supreme treasure of the divine soul, completely merging into Xie Xuanyi's heart and mind.

Any attack targeting the soul must first pass through the [Holy Realm] for filtering!

Thus, the jade-shattering blow of the jade bottle crashed violently into Xie Xuanyi's heart, shattering into pieces.

This attack caused no ripples whatsoever.

Xie Xuanyi, the Lord of the Holy Realm, did not even notice the slightest discomfort.

"Is this the end?"

Even Xie Xuanyi didn't expect that this fierce attack would end so quickly.

He paused for a brief moment.

"Is this the end?!"

Master He Yi was also stunned.

He stared wide-eyed at the figure in black before him, incredulous.

He sacrificed a supreme treasure of the Yang God Realm in exchange for a full-force attack from his "Soul Sea," how could it possibly have no effect whatsoever!
Even a genuine Yang God deserves a meal!
Although the man in black paused for a moment, Zen Master Heyi could clearly feel that Xie Xuanyi's soul had not wavered in the slightest. His attack just now seemed to have been completely erased, as if it had never happened!
"kill!!"

The arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released. The White Taoist also sensed something was wrong, but the guillotine in his palm was already soaked in blood and ready to be used.

According to the original plan, after the jade bottle shattered, the guillotine would fall to the ground—

boom!
The white-faced Taoist priest released his hand, and the guillotine, which had turned from snow-white to scarlet, instantly disappeared from his palm and teleported to above Xie Xuanyi's head.

have to say--

This attack is far more dangerous than the Jade Bottle Shattering!
A sense of crisis stirred within Xie Xuanyi's heart. In an instant, he leaned forward, plummeting towards the base of the pure white mountain—

The scarlet guillotine slashed down fiercely!

The void shattered, and scraps of paper flew everywhere!
However... no blood flowed out!

The attack that should have shredded Xie Xuanyi's body completely missed its mark!
"Do not!!!"

All of this happened so fast!

The white-robed Taoist's eyes were bloodshot with rage, and a sense of despair welled up in his heart!
Because the "soul attack" failed, the guillotine strangulation also failed!

At the foot of the pure white mountain, Xie Xuanyi, like a meteor falling to earth, rushed directly to the front of the Zen Master of Unity. He stretched out his palm and pressed it heavily on the head of this pseudo-saint.

The master of the Unity Zen Sect was shaken when he dropped the vase.

He never imagined that his all-out attack would not only fail to "shock" Xie Xuanyi, but would instead shock himself—

In that instant, the outcome was decided.

boom!
Xie Xuanyi exerted force with his palm, and the golden sword pierced through his brow.

Immediately following was a surge of immense Dao power that poured into the Divine Sea!

Xie Xuanyi gave Zen Master Heyi no chance whatsoever and killed him directly.

The eerie bodhisattva image, seated in the void, withered and shattered inch by inch, like the ashes of a burnt-out candle.

Xie Xuanyi stared indifferently at the fallen Zen Master Heyi.

"Swallowing Scroll" activated.

A dark, eerie ribbon was slowly drawn out from between the eyebrows of the corpse of the Zen Master of Unity.

(End of this chapter)