Lingyuan Immortal

Chapter 974 God Falls, Dao Returns to the East, Zhu Lin

After saying this, he ignored the angry curses of Fu Danian and others below, which were filled with blood and tears, and the deathly despair of Qi Yunsu and others, and turned away with his hands behind his back.

His divine robes fluttered without wind, and his body shimmered with divine light. With an air of self-assurance, he strode confidently, ready to truly step into the ancestral grotto.

That step felt as if it had stepped on the hearts of Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, and all those who shared the same beliefs, utterly crushing their last shred of spirit.

Watching helplessly as the figure who had stolen the foundation of the Daoist tradition and was about to desecrate the ancestral land disappeared into the dazzling light of the portal, the light in their eyes dimmed completely, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment...

Chen Mu's eyes flashed. Before he set out on his travels, his master had bestowed upon him a gilded talisman, which should have the power to protect his life. Therefore, he was not worried about what Tang Shangyuan could do to him.

He felt that after experiencing so much on this journey, just when he was about to achieve his goal, such a sudden change occurred, and the power of cause and effect he sought instantly became a mirage.

"pity……"

He sighed inwardly, while simultaneously trying his best to anticipate other variables, unwilling to give up.

Just as his thoughts were racing, his expression suddenly changed, as if he had sensed a very subtle and strange fluctuation originating from the depths of the cave...

Xu Rong glanced sideways and noticed Chen Mu's unusual behavior, a chill running down her spine: "Fellow Daoist Chen, should we—"

Before he could finish speaking, a sudden change occurred!
boom! ! !
The celestial gate, bathed in rosy light and steaming with auspicious vapors, suddenly twisted and expanded violently without warning, as if a hurricane had struck the slowly flowing sea of ​​clouds.

Immediately afterwards, a soft whisper seemed to come from the farthest reaches of time and space, or perhaps it was echoing in the deepest part of everyone's soul.

The voice was not loud, even carrying an indescribable sense of antiquity and indifference, yet it contained a supreme majesty that transcended mortal understanding and surpassed even the most sacred rituals:

"Go back."

These two simple words are like the profound pronouncements of the Great Dao, their words carrying the weight of the Dao.

"puff--!"

Tang Shangyuan, whose body had just stepped halfway into the cave entrance and whose aura was trying to merge with the spiritual energy of the cave, was as if he had been hit hard by a giant hammer that was invisible and intangible yet heavier than the ancient starry river!

The indifferent composure and euphoria on his face, as if he were about to enter the divine realm, froze instantly, turning into extreme horror and disbelief.

The next moment, a shrill, inhuman howl, more like the lament of a deity, erupted from Tang Shangyuan's mouth.

The magnificent divine radiance surrounding him, powerful enough to suppress the fortunes of both worlds, twisted and collapsed instantly, like ice and snow thrown into boiling water. The golden crown on his head, symbolizing the authority of the incense and the divine way, also made a cracking sound under the strain, instantly covered with spiderweb-like cracks.

He was more than ten times faster than when he rushed in, like a meteor being struck by an ancient divine mountain, or an out-of-control meteorite, shooting backwards from the cave entrance.

Rumble, rumble!

The divine body, imbued with an overwhelming and terrifying power, slammed heavily onto the already ravaged earth below.

In an instant, the earth shook!

A massive, bottomless crater instantly formed, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading wildly for hundreds of miles.

The violent shockwave, carrying smoke, dust, and debris, formed a destructive ring of air that swept outwards like a tidal wave. Wherever it passed, the already damaged mountains were leveled, and the broken walls and ruins were completely reduced to dust.

Those cultivators who were closer, whether they were members of the two sects or outsiders like Xu Rong, were thrown away like leaves in a storm by this sudden and terrifying impact, spitting out blood. The scene was chaotic.

"Uncle Master!"

"God!"

Luo Feng, Wei Cangdong, and the two Yuan brothers, who had just forced Qi Yunsu to retreat, were all horrified and cried out in shock.

The smoke slowly dispersed.

In the center of the deep pit, Tang Shangyuan slowly stood up.

But at this moment, where was the slightest trace of his previous awe-inspiring and arrogant demeanor?
His divine robes were torn and stained with mottled golden divine blood, proof that his divine body had been injured.

His face, which was originally full and jade-like with flowing divine patterns, now showed signs of withering, and a streak of dazzling golden-red divine blood hung at the corner of his mouth.

The golden crown atop his head, symbolizing his divine status, was riddled with cracks and its light had dimmed considerably, as if it might shatter completely at any moment...

He clutched his chest tightly, as if pierced by an invisible force. Divine radiance flickered intensely at the wound, struggling against the erosion and annihilation of some higher power.

He raised his head and looked at the celestial gate, where the rosy glow remained and the auspicious aura was still present, but which seemed to have gained an invisible barrier. His eyes were filled with horror, and... a trace of fear that was hard to conceal.

"No...impossible! Who?! Who's inside?!"

His voice was hoarse and distorted, devoid of the majesty of a divine decree, replaced only by a roar of astonishment and uncertainty, "This is an unclaimed grotto! My divine position is already established, and I am blessed with good fortune, why are you blocking my way?!"

No one could answer him.

The entire battlefield was dead silent.

Everyone was completely stunned by this incredible reversal.

Qi Yunsu's previously lifeless eyes suddenly burst forth with an incredulous light. She stared intently at the disheveled "New God" in the deep pit, then looked at the misty, unapproachable entrance to the grotto-heaven, her heart churning with turmoil.

The ancestral site... possesses such terrifying protective power? Even the deity who stole the foundation of the Daoist lineage cannot set foot there? In fact... was severely injured and repelled?!
Tao Fengbian, Luo Feng, and the others were also dumbfounded, their hearts filled with mixed feelings.

They should have been overjoyed that Tang Shangyuan was injured, but the unknown power emanating from the cave entrance, capable of easily injuring a deity, made them feel a deeper chill and bewilderment.

Why does the Ancestral Grotto-Heaven possess such power?

What if the person who just entered wasn't Tang Shangyuan, but rather them, full of anticipation?
Thinking about this, they felt a lingering fear.

Xu Rong, Guo Zizhe, and the others, still shaken from the ordeal, looked at the cave with awe and fear.

Even a "god" was brought out; what exactly is inside?
At this moment, only Chen Mu remained!

He stood still, his body only swaying slightly in the shockwave, unlike the others who were in a sorry state.

This wasn't because his cultivation level far surpassed everyone else's, but rather because, at the very moment the word "step back" rang out, a moss-covered broken scroll in a corner deep within his personal cavern suddenly... throbbed violently without warning.

Like a dormant heart being awakened by invisible drumsticks!
At the same time, an extremely faint yet incredibly pure and ancient cool energy emanated from the broken scroll, instantly circulating throughout his body. It not only easily neutralized the aftershocks of the impact, but also created an indescribable...strange resonance with the power emanating from the cave entrance.

"This fragment..."

A thought struck him: he remembered the origin of the broken scroll—it came from a fourth-tier fish demon in Qizhou…

"Could it have originated from this grotto-heaven?"

Chen Mu suddenly looked up, gazing into the depths of the rosy clouds and auspicious mist, as if trying to penetrate that invisible barrier to see its true form. However, no matter how hard he tried, he could not see anything at all.

However, not long after, deep within the misty glow of the cave entrance, a figure seemed to be quietly manifesting as Tang Shangyuan was expelled...

Everyone stared intently at the entrance to the grotto. The spatial ripples had not yet subsided, and amidst the thousands of auspicious wisps of energy, a figure slowly emerged, seemingly stepping out from the ages, yet also appearing to solidify from nothingness. The newcomer was a white-robed Taoist.

The robes were as white as snow, untouched by a speck of dust, with a simple and ancient style. Cloud patterns flowed subtly on the cuffs and hems, as if embodying the great Dao.

He was tall and slender with a thin face. His eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, and his eyes were as clear as a deep pool, reflecting the flow of countless stars over the millennia. They were calm and still, yet seemed to have seen through all the illusions of the world.

Her long hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, with a few strands of silver mixed in with her dark blue hair. Far from making her look old, it added to the wisdom and transcendence that comes with the passage of time.

He did not exude any imposing aura, but simply by standing there, he calmed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and even the surging radiance of the grotto seemed to soften, automatically parting to make way for him. He was the epitome of immortal grace, and possessed a serene and composed demeanor that had endured countless millennia of vicissitudes...

Qi Yunsu and the others were all stunned, their hearts trembling.

They originally thought that what drove Tang Shangyuan away was the protective restriction left by the cave itself or the legacy of the ancestor. They never expected that a living person would walk out of it!

"The ancestral realm, hidden for ten thousand years... How could this person..."

Tao Feng muttered in disbelief, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Luo Feng and Wei Cangdong's pupils also contracted, a terrifying thought instantly gripping them: Could it be that this cave has another entrance?! In these ten thousand years, someone else has gotten there first?
Having experienced the ups and downs of having the Daoist tradition stolen, the divine presence descending upon the world, and the unexpected reversal of fortune followed by a devastating blow, even with Qi Yunsu's resolute Daoist heart, he felt disoriented and unable to comprehend this incomprehensible turn of events.

Fu Danian, the most straightforward and hot-tempered man, was shocked. A vague but all-powerful idea exploded in his mind like a thunderclap!

He stared intently at the white-robed Taoist's face, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The entire battlefield of Sanxian Valley fell into a deathly silence.

The sounds of wind, panting, and even the groans of the seriously injured seemed to be erased by an invisible force. Only Tang Shangyuan's heavy, fearful breathing in the deep pit and the faint humming of the spiritual energy flowing through the cave were heard.

No one dared to make a sound, and even their breathing was extremely soft, as if they were afraid of disturbing this being that had returned from eternity.

The white-robed Taoist seemed oblivious to the frozen atmosphere around him and the countless astonished and awe-inspiring gazes.

He stood in mid-air, his feet barely touching the ground, his gaze slowly sweeping over the ravaged landscape below.

Crashed mountain peaks, dried-up lakes, shattered palace ruins, scorched earth stained with blood and fire...

His eyes revealed a complex mix of reminiscence and nostalgia, like a traveler returning to a familiar place, finally finding his lost homeland.

"For ten thousand years..."

He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's heart, carrying the vastness of time and a hint of barely perceptible melancholy, "The world has changed, things are no longer the same, and people are no longer the same... even the name of these 'Three Immortals' has changed."

His words seemed to convey endless emotions.

Then, his gaze, which seemed to pierce through eternity, finally fell upon Tang Shangyuan, whose divine body was broken in the deep pit.

There was no anger, no contempt, only a pure scrutiny, as if looking at a failed creation.

"Stealing incense offerings, usurping the foundation of the Daoist lineage, cuckooing into another's nest..." The white-robed Daoist slowly shook his head, his tone calm, yet every word was like an ice pick piercing the bone, "Incongruous and outrageous, how could a petty person like you defile and steal the name of my revered master, Qizhen?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he didn't make any hand gestures or chant any spells, nor did he even raise a finger. His indifferent gaze lingered on Tang Shangyuan for a moment.

"Wait! Wait—!" Tang Shangyuan seemed to have a premonition of something, letting out a desperate roar, and the remaining divine radiance around his body erupted wildly in an attempt to resist.

However, it is useless!

Under the horrified gazes of everyone, Tang Shangyuan's barely maintained divine body, like a wax figure thrown into a raging fire, disintegrated inch by inch without any power to resist.

The golden divine patterns that constituted the divine body also detached themselves as if they were living things, turning into streams of pure golden willpower. They were no longer under his control, but instead flowed back into the dimly lit Hunyuan Zhenyun Cong, like rivers flowing into the sea.

At the same time, the two divine servants, Yuan Tianshu and Yuan Tianquan, who were standing to the side, suddenly stiffened. The cold and fanatical obedience in their eyes vanished instantly, as if their souls had been ripped from their bodies.

The dark red evil aura and the remaining golden light dissipated rapidly. Their skin lost its luster, turning gray and cracked. In the blink of an eye, they were completely transformed into two lifeless clay figures, maintaining a stiff kneeling posture, falling straight down from the sky and shattering into pieces on the ground, without a trace of life.

Correspondingly, Qi Yunsu, Tao Fengbian, Luo Feng, Wei Cangdong, Fu Danian... all those who bore the imprint of the two schools of thought felt a sudden lightness in the depths of their souls.

The "divine pollution" that had been forcibly branded upon them, binding them like shackles and causing them to instinctively revere and submit to Tang Shangyuan, melted away like ice and snow.

At the same time, a warm and resilient connection, originating from inheritance and the lineage of the ancestral masters, returned clearly to their senses.

The stolen and covered foundation of the Daoist tradition was regained in an instant!
"hiss--!"

The sounds of gasps came one after another.

Everyone's pupils contracted sharply, their minds reeling from an unprecedented shock! What kind of technique was this?
A single glance! Just a single glance! And it completely shattered the divine status of someone who had just ascended to the realm of divine worship, causing their divine body to disintegrate, their divine servants to turn to dust, and even returning all the Daoist foundation and incense offerings that had been stolen from them?!

This cannot be described by the words "Tao" and "method".

This is almost a manifestation of the will of "Tao" itself.

It is said that words become law, and the laws become even more readily apparent wherever one looks!

Qi Yunsu's injuries were slightly relieved by the restoration of his Daoist foundation. He suppressed his churning blood and the raging waves in his heart. The four clear words "Master Qizhen" from the white-robed Daoist's mouth were like a thunderclap, illuminating his chaotic thoughts.

Combined with the fact that the other party had emerged from a cave that had been sealed for ten thousand years, and this incredible power... a name that had long been regarded as a legend by the disciples of the two temples over the past ten thousand years suddenly appeared in his mind!

In an instant, suppressing the excitement and awe that almost burst from her chest, Qi Yunsu took a deep breath, disregarded her severely injured body, and forced herself to straighten her clothes. She bowed deeply to the white-robed Taoist in the air, her voice trembling uncontrollably, her respect reaching its peak.

"This junior...this junior is Qi Yunsu, a successor of the Liangyi Temple. I dare to inquire about your esteemed name...I do not know...I do not know your honorable name, senior...but..."

For a moment, he didn't dare to voice his guess directly.

The white-robed Taoist looked up at the sound, his gaze falling on Qi Yunsu, and also sweeping over Tao Fengbian, Luo Feng and the others behind him who were equally excited.

There was little joy in his eyes, but rather a complex emotion that swept across them—a sense of heaviness and sorrow at seeing a once glorious and prosperous legacy now withered away.

"Has the Qizhen lineage really fallen to this state?"

A soft sigh, like autumn wind blowing through the fallen leaves of an ancient tree, carries an endless sense of desolation.

He did not answer Qi Yunsu's question directly, but rather seemed to be talking to himself.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunsu and the others felt a pang of guilt, overwhelmed by shame and sorrow, and lowered their heads even further.

However, the white-robed Taoist did not rebuke him. He merely nodded slightly, his gaze seemingly piercing through time, seeing the figures of his fellow disciples from ten thousand years ago. He calmly uttered the title that could only be found in dusty ancient texts:

"My name is Yan Kong, and my Daoist name is Dongzhu."

……

(End of this chapter)