The black-robed cultivator was executed, demonic atmosphere completely dispersed, the Transmission Hall filled with a post-calamity gravity and solemnity. Tang Xiao Qi stood alone in the void, slightly panting. The previous battle had almost used all the potential of his newly realized Dao, and had forcibly interrupted the perfect fusion with the innate qi. Though he successfully purified the demon evildoers and guarded everyone, his own consumption was also enormous, even his Dao seed seemed somewhat dim.
Ao Qin, Ling Jueyi, and others quickly cleared the remaining demon puppets, their gazes complex as they looked at Xiao Qi, containing gratitude, shock, and an indescribable wariness. The kind of power Xiao Qi displayed just now, that dissolved demonic arts, approached the "rule" level of purification power, left too deep an impression on them.
"Fellow Daoist Tang, this time we are all thanks to you." Ao Qin transformed back to human form, his face solemn, giving Xiao Qi a serious bow. If not for Xiao Qi standing forward at the critical moment, using unpredictable means to counter and finally purify that demon chess piece, the consequences would be unimaginable, their innate qiafraid would have been difficult to preserve.
Mu Xue had also successfully taken that ice-blue innate qi into her body, currently fully refining it. Though she didn't speak, in her clear cold gaze toward Xiao Qi, there was also an added trace of recognition and... inquiry that hadn't been there before.
Ling Jueyi held his sword, giving Xiao Qi a slight nod,count as acknowledging. The palace-robed woman, Mysterious Turtle Elder, Master Hui Ming, and the bronze-skinned burly man also spoke up one after another, expressing gratitude. After this battle, Xiao Qi's status among these top prodigies was already entirely different.
Xiao Qi suppressed his surging qi and blood, bowed in return: "Fellow Daoists are too polite, sailing together in the same boat, it's what should be done. This place is not suitable for long stays, need to refine the innate qi as soon as possible, to prevent further accidents."
Everyone agreed, one after another falling back onto their respective cushions, seizing this last precious time, fully guiding and fusing the innate mother qi hovering before them. Xiao Qi also returned to the cushion, looking at that chaotic-colored qi flow still emitting chaotic luster but with slightly scattered aura due to the previous interruption, he sighed inwardly, knowing perfect fusion was no longer possible, but still fully activated his Dao seed, absorbing as much of its origin power as possible, nourishing and consolidating his own Dao foundation.
However, the Heavenly Dao Palace's anomalies seemed not to stop because of the demon evildoers' execution.
Just as everyone wasdevotedly refining, their auras gradually merging with the innate qi, their Dao rhymes becoming more complete—
"Weng...!!!"
A low rumble far deeper than any previous anomaly, seemingly originating from the entire Heavenly Dao Palace's foundation and even the Starfall Land's origin, suddenly resounded through the Transmission Hall and even the entire Heavenly Dao Palace's internal world!
This rumble was not an attack, but carried an irresistible terrifying pressure as if the heavenly rules themselves were undergoing violent changes! The entire law void began to violently shake and distort, those originally stably circulating chaotic qi became violent, earth water fire wind faintly showed signs of returning to chaos! Even that Dao Ancestor phantom, in this rumble, became even more faded, as if it might dissipate at any moment!
"What's happening?!"
"The Heavenly Dao Palace is shaking!"
"Is the core energy out of balance?"
Everyone's faces changed in horror, one after another being forcefully startled from their refining state! They could feel an indescribable, incomparably vast rejection force, squeezing from all directions, as if this heaven and earth was "refusing" their existence!
"It's that demon chess piece! He finally detonated his own demonic origin, or triggered some hidden prohibition, interfering with the Heavenly Dao Palace's core balance!" The palace-robed woman's face was ugly, her fingertips rapidly calculating, reaching a heart-startling conclusion.
"The Heavenly Dao Palace is closing early!" Ao Qin's dragon eyes went wide, feeling that increasingly strong rejection and transmission force.
As if to confirm his words, the Transmission Hall's magnificent dome and surrounding invisible boundaries began to become transparent and illusory! The outside world's chaotic Starfall Land scenery—shattered stars, twisted spatial rifts—like a mirage, faintly emerged!
"Hurry!" Ling Jueyi shouted low, disregarding everything to accelerate devouring the platinum innate qi before him.
Xiao Qi also knew time wasurgent, crazily circulating his technique, the Dao seed like a thirsty young seedling, desperately absorbing the residual origin in that chaotic-colored qi flow. He could feel his Dao foundation being rapidly solidified, the Dao seed becoming more condensed, even vaguely growing a size, though unable to perfectly fuse, the harvest was still enormous.
Just as he had almost completely absorbed that innate qi—
"Boom!!!"
The entire Heavenly Dao Palace's internal world, as if reaching some critical point, issued an earth-shaking explosion! All the scenes—the Transmission Hall, law void, Dao Ancestor phantom, hovering immortal mountains and pavilions—all in an instant became fragmented, like shattered mirror flowers and water moon!
An irresistible, chaotic and powerful spatial force, like a breached flood, instantly wrapped all the survivors in the hall!
Xiao Qi only felt a massive tearing force acting on his whole body, everything before his eyes turning into twisted light bands and shattered colors, his divine sense instantly suppressed, even his thinking seemed to fall into stagnation. His body seemed to be thrown into a high-speed rotating, ruleless chaotic vortex, bearing unimaginable spatial compression and tearing.
This statedon't know lasted how long, perhaps just an instant, perhaps experiencing long torment.
When that terrifying tearing sensation and spatial turbulence finally disappeared, Xiao Qi felt his body being violently thrown out, then heavily falling to the ground.
"Bang!"
Solid sensation came from beneath, accompanied by the subtle sounds of vegetation breaking and the scent of soil.
He suddenly opened his eyes, forcefully enduring the dizziness of his soul and the severe pain of his body, vigilantly surveying the surroundings.
What entered his eyes was no longer the Heavenly Dao Palace's magnificent and wondrous scenes, nor the Starfall Land's dead and shattered void.
But a lush and green, ancient trees reaching the sky, unfamiliar mountain forest. Tall trees blocked out the sun, vinesentwined, the air filled with moist grass and wood fragrance and faint demonic qi. From the distance came the low roars of unknown demonic beasts, and further away seemed to be the sound of flowing water.
Sunlight through dense branches and leaves cast dappled light spots. The spiritual qi here, though also relatively abundant, was far from comparable to the Heavenly Dao Palace, and carried a barbaric primitive aura.
He quickly checked his own condition. The Dao seed was already stable, even grew more condensed and solid due to absorbing part of the innate mother qi, his cultivation vaguely approaching Golden Core late stage peak, his divine sense range greatly increased, his control over his own Dao also rose a level. Only his soul still had some discomfort from the previous spatial transmission, and his spiritual power was also mostly consumed.
The Nirvana Crimson Flame Sword and chaotic core fire were intact, only that Four Symbols jade pendant that had guided him for so long was now warm and restrained, no longer having a clear direction.
He stood up, brushed off the dust and grass scraps on his body, his sharp gaze scanning this completely unfamiliar environment.
"Where is... this place?"
The Heavenly Dao Palace closed early, everyone was randomly transmitted away. Where did Mu Xue, Ao Qin, and the others go? Beyond the Starfall Land, what kind of world was it?
He deeply inhaled this barbaric-affecting air, his eyes becoming firm again. In any case, he was still alive, and had obtained enormous improvement. The immediate priority was to figure out where he was, recover his condition, then... find the way back, or explore this new heaven and earth.
A new journey, perhaps in this unfamiliar mountain forest, had quietly begun.