Start from a baby to become a Taoist

Chapter 533 What the hell is this thing?

Chapter 541

"So that's how it is... Guarding is not just about defending, but about preparing for a better offense... It's about protecting the flame of civilization behind us!" A sudden realization dawned on Cang Shi, and his understanding of the Dao was elevated at this moment.

The hundred kings and generals received unimaginable benefits.

They had just condensed their thrones, their foundations still shallow. Now, under the tempering of the primordial flame, their thrones were imprinted with immortal divinity, becoming indestructible. Their own understanding of the laws was also advancing by leaps and bounds under the sweeping influence of that overwhelming will of civilization.

Even the three thousand Dao soldiers, though not qualified to directly receive the essence of the torch, still received a trace of the escaping divine aura by forming a great array and connecting with the generals' energy. This mere trace made them feel their Dao foundation had been solidified several times over, paving a smooth path for their future cultivation!
The entire Po Jun Hall transformed into a vast ocean of creation.

Golden divine light intertwined with gray chaotic energy; holiness and annihilation, creation and end—these two diametrically opposed forces achieved a delicate balance under Xu Ran's control.

Fine beads of sweat also appeared on Xu Ran's forehead.

Simultaneously drawing upon the source of the flame and protecting hundreds of powerful figures was also a tremendous test for him. The Void World within his body was operating at high speed, consuming a massive amount of source power.

However, his gains were equally enormous.

In this process, his understanding of immortal divinity and his perception of the will of civilization are deepening rapidly. His path to the Void is constantly becoming more inclusive and eclectic, growing grander and more tolerant.

"'Pioneer' Mission: Strengthen the Ruins Faction."

"Reward: The origin of the Guixu World is strengthened, and Daojun's comprehension increases by 5."

The system notification sounded in his mind, and a cool aura surged into his soul, instantly restoring his depleted mental energy, and even making it stronger.

Xu Ran's lips curled up slightly.

This is his way!
The path of pioneers is never a solitary journey, but rather leading a civilization forward together!

Time passed slowly as everyone cultivated.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhenshan was the first to open his eyes.

boom!
Two golden beams of divine light shot out from his eyes, piercing through the void in front of him and leaving two black holes that could not heal for a long time. The aura emanating from him was more than twice as strong as before! Although his realm was still at the early stage of the Divine Fire Realm, the battle intent that was condensed to the point of being tangible was enough to make ordinary mid-stage Divine Fire Realm experts tremble with fear.

He slowly rose, and the throne of calamity that had been floating behind him had completely changed. It had turned a dark gold, and the carvings on it were no longer of wailing, resentful spirits, but of ancient murals depicting the divine army's conquests on the battlefield, their military laws as firm as mountains. The aura emanating from the throne was one of dignified military might, of iron-fisted laws that suppressed everything!

"Thank you, my lord, for granting my request!" Zhenshan knelt on one knee, his voice strong and clear, filled with heartfelt reverence and gratitude.

Immediately afterward, Cang Shi also awoke. His aura was restrained, but as he opened and closed his eyes, it seemed as if stars were rising and falling. He simply stood there quietly, giving people a sense of unyielding strength and immovability. His Heavenly Stone Divine Path had clearly reached a new level.

Subsequently, the Hundred Kings will awaken one after another, their auras surging, their divine light shining brightly, and their faces radiating the joy of a complete transformation.

"Very good." Xu Ran nodded in satisfaction. "Get up, all of you. This is just the beginning."

He turned around and looked again at the still-burning, inextinguishable flame on the altar. Although the flame's aura was slightly weaker now, its essence remained intact; given enough time, it would recover.

"Next, it's your turn," Xu Ran murmured to himself.

His divine sense locked onto the Pioneer, which was moored outside the Broken Army Hall.

"I choose option two."

As he silently chanted in his heart, Xu Ran formed hand seals and cast a series of complex and profound spells.

"With myself as the master, the Ruins of Return as the furnace, and the Divine Court War Seal as the catalyst, I command—the flame of revolution returns to its rightful place!"

Rumble!
The massive Pioneer, as if summoned by an invisible force, began to tremble slowly. On its hull, the gray deck, forged from countless divine materials from the Ruins of Return, began to glow with billions of runes.

Xu Ran reached out and summoned the undying flame on the altar, which transformed into a golden-red streak of light that shot into the sky, piercing through the dome of the Broken Army Hall. Like a falling sun, it shot with unparalleled precision toward the core of the Pioneer!
"town!"

Xu Ran let out a low shout, and his entire body transformed into a streak of light, instantly appearing on the bridge of the Pioneer. He sat cross-legged, placing his hands on the core array diagram, and unleashed the power of the Void World within his body without reservation.

An unprecedented integration and transformation has begun!

Roar!
The entire Pioneer roared like an ancient beast awakening. It wasn't the rumble of machinery, but a furious cry brimming with the pulse of life!

The undying flame, containing the immortal will of a civilization, possesses an energy of unparalleled ferocity. Once it entered the core, it began to relentlessly assault every inch of the ark's structure, attempting to transform this "mortal object" into the "Divine Court Ark" it knew!
Click!Click!
Huge cracks began to appear on the hull of the Pioneer, as if it would disintegrate at any moment. Countless arrays flickered and teetered under the violent energy impact, on the verge of collapse.

"Trying to turn the tables?" Xu Ran sneered, his eyes swirling with chaotic energy. "In my world, you can only submit!"

"Return to the Void, Devour!"

Xu Ran's will transformed into the cold laws of the universe. The gray power of the Void, like a giant net that blots out the sky, firmly enveloped the raging will of the undying flame.

It is not about extinguishing the flame, but about smoothing out its rough edges, removing the marks of the old era, and allowing it to perfectly merge with the Pioneer and the laws of the Void!
This is a contest of wills, a collision and fusion of the path of new beginnings and the path of guardianship.

The hull of the Pioneer was constantly broken and reassembled under the repeated pull and tempering of these two forces.

Each time it breaks apart, a large amount of impurities are expelled, turning into cosmic dust.

With each reconstruction, the ship's materials become more robust and sacred. The originally gray metal begins to gleam with a faint dark golden luster, and the Ruins of Return, personally inscribed by Xu Ran, begin to intertwine and merge with a more ancient and domineering divine script, forming a completely new and unprecedented Dao pattern!
Cangshi, Zhenshan, and the others watched from afar, their hearts filled with awe and astonishment.

In their eyes, the Pioneer was like a piece of divine iron forged in the furnace of heaven and earth by a master craftsman. Every time it "shattered," it filled them with dread. But with each "reconstruction," the aura emanating from the Pioneer grew stronger.

This scene lasted for three days and three nights.

Three days later, all the strange phenomena subsided.

A brand new ark floats silently amidst the ruins of the divine court.

Its size is more than three times larger than before, resembling a divine golden continent floating in a sea of ​​stars. Its entire body exudes a deep, dark gold hue, brimming with metallic texture and an aura of eternal immortality. The ship's lines are sleek and imposing, a perfect blend of power and beauty.

Most strikingly, a massive, eye-like golden totem has appeared at the bow of the ark. At the core of that totem is a slowly burning flame.

It is no longer violent, but has become gentle and reserved, yet it exudes an eternal will of protection, bringing peace to those who look upon it.

"Congratulations, host! The 'Pioneer' has successfully been promoted to a 'God Throne-class Ark'!" "Passive ability gained: Flame Guardian (can automatically generate a layer of divine protective barrier to resist the erosion of laws and attacks on the soul)."

"Gain active ability: Boundary Leap (can consume the essence of the Flame to make short-distance jumps that ignore spatial barriers, or make ultra-long-distance interstellar teleportation)."

"'Pioneer' mission: Explore the Seventh Outpost, completion increased to 50%."

"Reward: The origin of the Guixu World is strengthened, and Daojun's comprehension increases by 10."

Xu Ran slowly stood up, feeling the connection between himself and the divine ship beneath his feet, and his heart was filled with boundless pride.

This is his vehicle for conquering the stars!

"My Lord is mighty!"

Zhenshan and the others leaped onto the ship, stroking the dark gold deck and feeling the terrifying power it contained, all filled with immense excitement. This ship itself was an unparalleled weapon of war!

"Now that this matter is settled, our next target is the ruins." Xu Ran's gaze swept into the depths of the ruins.

However, just as he was about to give the order to proceed to the next ruin, the bonfire totem on the bow of the upgraded Pioneer suddenly trembled slightly.

A faint, almost imperceptible thought was transmitted to Xu Ran's heart through the connection of the torch.

That wasn't language, but a guide, a resonance.

The torch was guiding him to a place.

"Hmm?" Xu Ran raised an eyebrow and looked in the direction the light was pointing.

Under his Eyes of Ruins, he saw a region deep within the ruins, enveloped by endless spatial turbulence, where something seemed to be hidden, echoing the flame.

"Change target." Xu Ran made a decisive decision. "Cang Shi, take the helm. I'll guide you to the coordinates. Full speed ahead!"

"As ordered!"

Cang Shi's spirits lifted, and he immediately went to the newly renovated bridge. He placed his hand on the main control array plate and felt a vast power surge into his arm, as if he could control the entire starry sky.

boom!
The engine of the Divine Throne-class Ark was ignited for the first time. There was no violent roar, only a deep and melodious Daoist sound. The stern of the Ark no longer spewed out ordinary flames, but a chaotic light mixed with gold, red and gray. With a gentle push, the entire Ark transformed into a streak of light, silently piercing the lifeless universe.

The speed is more than ten times faster than before!
Moreover, wherever it passed, the chaotic currents of laws and killing intent that were powerful enough to tear apart a king-level expert were automatically blocked and dissolved by a faint golden light curtain when they approached within a hundred feet of the ship.

This is the power of "guarding the flame"!

Seeing this, everyone's confidence soared. With this divine vessel, where in this desolate land couldn't they go?

Guided by Xu Ran, the Pioneer navigated a maze of twists and turns, avoiding extremely dangerous forbidden zones and collapsing spatial black holes. Even a god-king could perish in these places.

About half a day later, the ark's speed gradually slowed down.

Ahead, an extremely bizarre scene appeared.

It was a "blank" area.

All around were shattered continents, broken divine weapons, and collapsed palaces, but this vast expanse of empty space, spanning millions of miles, was completely still and devoid of anything.

No, it's not that it doesn't exist.

Rather, all matter here has been conceptually "erased" by an invisible force!

In the center of this empty area, a solitary temple floats in the air.

The entire hall was cast from an unknown black divine jade. Its style was simple and unadorned, yet it exuded an aura that suppressed eternity and contained the essence of the Great Dao.

Above the plaque of the hall, three large characters are engraved in a vigorous and elegant style—

Daoist Canon Hall!
"It's the Divine Court's Scripture Repository!" Cang Shi exclaimed in shock.

The library of any faction is its most important and central location, containing all of that faction's techniques, supernatural abilities, secrets, and history!

What kind of astonishing value does the Daoist Treasury Hall of the Divine Court contain? It's unimaginable!

Everyone's breathing became rapid.

However, Xu Ran's expression was more solemn than ever before.

He could sense that the guiding light of the torch originated within this Daoist Scripture Hall. But at the same time, he also sensed a terrifying power emanating from that hall that made even him tremble... a profound terror!
It was an aura completely different from the iron-blooded and tragic atmosphere of the Divine Court.

It was a cold, deathly stillness, filled with malice and decay. It was as if something had usurped the place and made it its own nest.

“Something’s not right,” Xu Ran said in a deep voice. “Activate the Guardian Flame to its maximum. Mountain Guardian, Hundred Kings General, form the Reincarnation Battle Formation and be ready for battle at any time.”

The moment he finished speaking, another unexpected event occurred!
buzzing-

Suddenly, countless dense, dark red spots, resembling rust, appeared on the surface of the black Taoist temple. These spots seemed to possess a life of their own, rapidly spreading and expanding until they covered the entire temple in the blink of an eye.

Immediately afterwards, the tightly closed doors of the Daoist Hall slowly and silently opened a crack.

An indescribable "tide," filled with an aura of decay and depravity, surged out from the crack in the door!

That wasn't real water, but a "torrent" made up of billions of tiny, bizarre creatures, like metallic dust!
Each of these metallic dust particles resembles a miniature mechanical insect. They combine and collide with each other, producing a teeth-grinding friction sound. Wherever they pass, even the void is "corroded," leaving behind dark red trails.

"What the hell is this?!" a king general exclaimed in horror.

He had never seen such bizarre creatures. They had no soul, no life force, only a pure instinct to assimilate, corrupt, and make everything a part of themselves!
"The tide of rust..." Suddenly, a fragment of information that he had seen in the bronze shards appeared in Xu Ran's mind.

(End of this chapter)