"Heh, wife, you came so early. Could it be you couldn't wait to see me?" Just as Nian Qingyun was lost in thought, a light laugh sounded from mid-air in the distance.
They saw Ling Xiao's figure descend from the sky, his aura peerless amidst the radiant light, brimming with Dao charm, instantly attracting the attention of countless people present.
"You... stay away!" Nian Qingyun's pretty face turned cold, instinctively stepping back to maintain a distance of about ten meters from Ling Xiao.
"Wife, what's wrong? Why are you so cold to me after just a few days apart?" A sinister smile curled on Ling Xiao's lips, startling Nian Qingyun so much she nearly released her spiritual power and fled on the spot.
"Since... almost everyone is here, follow me." An elderly figure suddenly emerged from the Dao Palace, wearing black Daoist robes that revealed his strong character, his face bearing a solemn and dignified expression. Especially his aged, profound eyes actually revealed a trace of eternal Dao charm.
"It's actually the Dao Master himself!" Countless prodigies from ancient sects instantly changed their expressions, bowing respectfully to the elderly figure.
However, the number one Divine Emperor of the Eastern Frontier paid them no mind. He turned and walked towards the distant mountains, his face always wearing an expression of cold contempt for all living beings.
Behind him, the prodigies followed closely, their procession imposing and grand.
"Xia Chen actually didn't come?" Xiao Tu stood beside Ling Xiao, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
"Heh, since this Formless Jade Wall can see past and present lives, Xia Chen probably didn't dare come." Ling Xiao shook his head with a laugh. A powerhouse's possession—such a secret was something Xia Chen absolutely wouldn't dare expose lightly. Otherwise, if Divine Emperor Qing Yang found out, it would inevitably mean disaster. Although breaking through the barrier between realms wasn't easy, the world was full of surprises. Wasn't staying alive much better?
Once the crowd reached the depths of the Dao Mountain, they saw, at the end of their sight, a place shrouded in misty spiritual energy where an ancient stone wall, resembling a celestial curtain, stood quietly. Golden light flowed on its surface, layered illusions emerged, revealing infinite mystery.
"Is this the Formless Jade Wall?" Many prodigies from ancient clans showed infatuation in their eyes, their expressions somewhat urgent.
After all, although comprehending the Dao in a single moment was a legend, there would always be people who felt they were the luckiest one. Probability had always been an opportunity for profit.
"Comprehend the Dao in a single moment? Past and present lives?" Amidst the crowd, Ling Xiao shook his head with a laugh.
If this wall was so divine, why would the Tai Xuan Dao Master still live in seclusion here? Indifferent to fame and fortune? Following his Dao Heart? Don't joke. If people have power, what they want is undoubtedly to rule the world.
"Everyone, open your minds. Guide your soul into this wall, and you can communicate with its profound meaning. Whether you can attain the Dao depends on your opportunity." The Tai Xuan Dao Master waved his hand, and the spiritual mist obscuring the Jade Wall instantly dispersed.
The sound of the Great Dao's Sanskrit chants suddenly erupted, resounding for thirty thousand miles without end. Above the peak of Path-Enlightenment Mountain, a divine rainbow descended from the sky, obscuring the heavens.
Countless prodigies from ancient sects trembled, respectfully obeying the Tai Xuan Dao Master's decree. They opened their minds and guided their souls into the wall.
Instantly, mist seemed to rise from the Formless Jade Wall, transforming into endless vortices, like an illusionary mansion of reincarnation, emitting dazzling immortal radiance.
"This wall is ever-changing. Even I have not fully comprehended it. Whether it brings fortune or misfortune depends on destiny. The opportunities within are visible only to you alone." After speaking, the Tai Xuan Dao Master turned to leave.
"Somewhat interesting." Ling Xiao looked up and glanced at the Dao Master.
At that moment, the latter's aged, profound eyes happened to look towards him.
As their eyes met, Ling Xiao felt his vision darken, and the demonic intent within him seemed to be tugged, on the verge of bursting forth.
"Hmm?" Ling Xiao's expression changed. The power of his Dao Principles surged around him instantly, but his eyes held a trace of faint astonishment.
As expected of the number one Divine Emperor of the Eastern Frontier. Even with the ancient Pangu Stone guarding his sea of consciousness, he nearly lost his composure under that single glance.
And why could he stir the demonic intent within him?
In an instant, a chill rose from the soles of Ling Xiao's feet.
Since transmigrating, he had always been the one controlling others' destinies. This was the first time he felt threatened.
Whether it was the Tai Xuan Dao Son or the Dao Master before him, they both made him feel an involuntary sense of crisis. This feeling didn't just come from the suppression of power, but also a kind of panic from losing control.
Indeed, the path so far might have been too smooth and too comfortable.
Although Ling Xiao had known from the beginning that his true demonic body would be exposed sooner or later, and when that time came, he would be rejected by the entire world, he had always seemed to think of this hidden danger too simply.
Originally, Ling Xiao thought that as long as he was cautious and accumulated strength in secret, when that day came, he would easily resolve the risks. With the Holy Church destroyed, who would dare call him a demon?
But with the appearance of the Tai Xuan Dao Son, he realized that some things might not proceed as he imagined. Comfort would only make people lower their guard.
Especially now, as his name appeared more frequently among the Eastern Frontier's elite, it was bound to attract more attention. Just the number one Divine Emperor of the Eastern Frontier alone was someone he couldn't rival and didn't dare speculate about, let alone the master of the Holy Church that controlled the Sacred Land?
"I need to find a way to make some arrangements in advance." Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed slightly, but his expression had already returned to calm.
And the Tai Xuan Dao Master had also shifted his gaze, walking into the distance.
"Past and present lives? My soul transmigrated here. I wonder if this Jade Wall will see me, or the original Ling Xiao?" Ling Xiao pondered slightly, then finally looked up at the strange stone wall, separating a wisp of his soul to shoot towards it.
Since the Tai Xuan Dao Master had already noticed him, backing out now would probably make him seem more guilty. Moreover, Ling Xiao wasn't entirely dismissive of things like past and present lives, but he also held no fear. In this life, he possessed a forbidden constitution; it didn't mean his previous life also had one. Not to mention, his current soul came from a place beyond this world's understanding. A single wisp of soul entering the wall couldn't affect his state of mind.
"Hum!" A piercing hum strangely resounded within Ling Xiao's sea of consciousness.
Immediately after, his figure suddenly appeared in an extremely unfamiliar space.
At the end of that space, a towering mountain reached for the heavens. A figure entirely shrouded in demonic light stood at the absolute summit.
Below him, countless strange-looking creatures surged forward angrily, like moths to a flame, their bodies radiating flawless divine light.
Further away, four divine figures stood in the void, their auras vast with immortal intent, their blood and qi vigorous, coldly watching the mountaintop submerged in golden light.
Just then, at the end of their sight, black light suddenly tore through the sky.
They saw a pitch-black demonic blade pierce through the void, slashing down furiously.
Time seemed to stand still; heaven and earth were instantly filled with sorrow.
And the myriad creatures that were originally roaring and charging suddenly halted under this blade.
Then, Ling Xiao watched in horror as blood blossoms began to bloom one after another, like the Netherworld Sea on the other shore, dazzling and enchanting.
In just one breath, all living beings perished, their blood forming a long river.
From beginning to end, the demonic shadow on the mountaintop never moved a step.
But at that moment, those blood-red, profound eyes seemed to look towards Ling Xiao through the ages.
"Boom!!"
Ling Xiao's eyes widened round, his entire body as if struck heavily, nearly unsteady on his feet.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Primordial Demon Blade also emitted a piercing, mournful cry, as if recounting a sorrowful past from ten million years ago.
"Who exactly is that demonic shadow? Why... could he see me?!"
At this moment, Ling Xiao felt a bewilderment he had never experienced before.