A sharp gust of wind suddenly whistled past Chen Dong’s ears.

In an instant,

Chen Dong felt himself rapidly retreating.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

…

A series of fierce winds roared in his ears, growing stronger and more urgent.

Everything around him quickly became illusory, increasingly ethereal.

This sensation was peculiar, so strange that even Chen Dong, immersed in it, struggled to describe it.

It was as if… he was becoming intangible!

His entire being—body, soul, everything—was turning ethereal.

Yet, as he became intangible, he ascended to a higher plane, gradually solidifying.

And everything was within the reach of his mind.

The Three Thousand Realms shrank, blurring and fading.

The Upper Heaven Realm also rapidly diminished.

The battle in the chaotic void continued.

But to Chen Dong, it seemed… almost childish.

The Primordial Spirit Seeds, once formidable and awe-inspiring, now appeared frail, insignificant as dust, like ants.

Their vaunted law energy, which they claimed to control, seemed feeble in his eyes.

It was as if everything hinged on a single thought.

To test this,

Chen Dong randomly focused on a Primordial Spirit Seed.

With a thought,

The radiant Seed, conjuring celestial phenomena, froze in place, locked in the chaotic void.

“Burst!”

Boom!

A Primordial Spirit Seed, born at the dawn of chaos, exploded and vanished instantly.

“Is this the absolute dominance of the Dao over law energy after merging with the origin?”

“The Dao is the circle, and law energy is merely the net woven within it.”

“The net may dictate the fates of those within the circle, but it operates under the Dao’s will. When the Dao rises, the laws follow.”

Chen Dong understood, his consciousness growing ever more ethereal.

All the powers within him—Emperor’s qi, Dao qi, the world’s fortune, demonic qi—merged completely.

With the momentum of these forces, he completed his final transformation.

“Burst!”

“Burst!”

“Burst!”

…

Chen Dong’s thoughts locked onto the Primordial Spirit Seeds in the chaotic void, his words shaping reality.

One by one, the Seeds exploded and perished, their celestial phenomena becoming their final swan song.

Boom, boom, boom, boom…

In the chaotic void, the Seeds detonated and vanished in succession.

This sudden turn brought the ultimate battle to a halt.

A wave of overwhelming terror swept through the remaining Primordial Spirit Seeds.

“This is…” Jianmu, still restrained by the Undying Fusang Tree, saw its green light dim completely.

The Masters of Radiant Glow, Eternal Green Lotus, and the Giant Hand also ceased fighting.

As the Seeds exploded and fell without warning, combat seemed futile.

They looked in fear toward where Chen Dong had been.

But now, that patch of chaotic void was pitch-black, devoid of light.

Chen Dong had vanished.

The golden Taiji Eight Trigrams were gone.

All that remained was the “curtain” of Sage manifestations behind him, still pouring forth law energy.

“He’s achieved the Dao.”

The Master of Radiant Glow’s voice was desolate, defeated.

The Eternal Green Lotus glowed faintly, “We’ve lost.”

The Master of the Giant Hand slowly clenched its fist, silent.

Boom, boom, boom…

In the endless chaos, Seeds with their celestial phenomena continued to explode and perish.

No resistance.

An orderly sequence of destruction.

With each Seed’s demise, faint threads of law energy rose, dissipating slowly into the chaos.

“Yes… we’ve lost.”

The Master of Jianmu’s voice, equally bleak, echoed across the Upper Heaven Realm, “At chaos’s dawn, the Great Dao was undefined, with one variable left. We waged war to redefine the laws. Now, with the Dao reborn, we’ve lost everything…”

Such unprecedented despair was hard to imagine coming from one of the Upper Heaven Realm’s mightiest deities.

As it spoke, Jianmu’s green light and runes ceased flowing, signaling complete surrender.

Simultaneously,

The clash of law energy between the Sage and Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations halted.

Human Ancestors Yellow Emperor, Chiyou, Laozi, and Emperor Fuxi stood atop the river of law energy, watching the Seeds perish.

Even as manifestations, their expressions showed excitement and joy.

“He succeeded!”

The ancestral Sages spoke in unison.

The Ancestral Demon, now a giant axe, cackled, “The Dao returns to its origin. You… are but fleeting clouds.”

This was aimed at the Master of Jianmu and the other Seeds, venting the rage from the chaos war.

Elsewhere,

Little Kid, Old Thing, Sickly, and Cripple, in their demonic forms, stood tall in the void.

They and Da Mang were unrestricted.

But the Seeds before them could no longer move.

“He succeeded!”

“The kid… lived up to our hopes!”

“The Dao returns to its origin, securing the one variable among the fifty paths.”

“The Great Dao is fifty, as it should be. Our ancient grudge is finally avenged.”

The four Ancestral Demons exchanged glances, smiling with relief.

Da Mang looked at them, “Can the name of ‘Demon’ be restored?”

“Does it matter?”

Sickly smirked, “It doesn’t. The Dao acts without acting. With the Dao restored, the name of ‘Demon’ is irrelevant to us. What matters is that this realm, the Three Thousand Realms, returns to the true Dao, not the false laws and shackles the Primordial Spirit Seeds conspired to impose, imprisoning the potential and fortune of all beings!”

“The Dao evolves, laws are fixed. The name of ‘Demon,’ whether righteous or evil, will shift with time under the Dao.”

Boom!

The Master of Radiant Glow exploded first.

Then,

Boom!

Boom!

The Eternal Green Lotus and the Giant Hand followed.

No resistance.

With Chen Dong’s successful merging with the Dao, their ambitions and will to fight vanished.

Boom, boom, boom…

In the endless chaos, the Seeds’ explosions grew denser.

Jianmu, restrained by the Fusang Tree, watched the three Seeds perish, its sorrow deepening, “We lost. We should’ve spared nothing and crushed you at the Heavenly Gate!”

“But the Dao… allowed me to cross the Heavenly Gate and ascend to the Upper Heaven Realm!”

Chen Dong’s ethereal voice resounded.

Boom!

Jianmu’s green light flared, then exploded.

“Thanks to all the seniors, the Sages, the ancestral pioneers, and everyone and everything along this journey. The Great Dao shall rise, all laws shall evolve. This battle… is over!”

“Chen Dong has matters to attend to. It’s time to bring back old friends…”

…

In the mortal world,

A graveyard lush with flowers and shaded by green trees stood solemnly.

Neat rows of graves lined the area.

Two figures, one large, one small, approached slowly.

“Auntie Xiao Lu, hurry, hurry! I’m about to see Mommy!”

Chen You’en, her ponytail bouncing, pulled Fan Lu’s hand, skipping excitedly.

At three years old, she was adorable, with fair skin, a hint of baby fat, and big, gem-like black eyes sparkling like stars, her ponytail bobbing as she ran.

“Slow down, You’en, don’t fall…” Fan Lu followed closely, her face full of affection and concern.

“No, no! I haven’t seen Mommy in so long, or Grandpa, Grandma, or Uncle Qin Ye… I miss them so much!”

Instead of slowing, Chen You’en ran faster.

Finally,

They stood before the graves.

Each tombstone bore a photo.

Fan Lu gazed at the photos, her expression sorrowful, eyes rippling with tears.

Even after years of annual visits, she couldn’t let go.

She instinctively looked to the sky, as she always did.

Mr. Chen… when will you return?

Chen You’en, smiling brightly, carefully wiped dust from Gu Qingying’s tombstone, especially her photo.

“Mommy, You’en’s here to see you! I brought lots of yummy food.”

“Look, chicken legs, meat, chips, burgers…”

As she spoke, she arranged the offerings Fan Lu had brought on the altar.

Young as she was, she knew the routine by heart.

Then she took out incense and candles, handing them to Fan Lu, “Auntie Xiao Lu, help me, please!”

Fan Lu, seeing Chen You’en stretch on tiptoes to hold up the candles, found some comfort amid her grief.

“Okay, okay, You’en’s the best.”

Fan Lu took the candles, squatted to light them, and placed them before each grave.

Chen You’en knelt before Gu Qingying’s grave, her small face serious, “Mommy, You’en misses you, and Daddy too. I really, really want to see you.”

Hearing this, Fan Lu’s tears broke free, streaming down her face.

Since Chen You’en could talk, she’d said this countless times.

“Mommy, you, Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Qin Ye… you’re stars in the sky, right? Can you see You’en?”

Kneeling, Chen You’en looked up, “Every night, I want to see you all. When will Daddy come back?”

Her voice turned pouty, a little angry.

“You’en, Daddy will return when he’s done,” Fan Lu said, crouching beside her, comforting.

Chen You’en pouted, “But when?”

Fan Lu thought, then said, “Daddy said he’d return when the sky blooms with golden lotuses.”

“Golden lotuses?”

Chen You’en’s gem-like eyes scanned the blue sky, “But it’s just blue sky and white clouds…”

Before she finished,

Whoosh…

A fierce gust swept through the graveyard, shaking the trees, sending leaves flying, and stirring dust and stones.

“Auntie Xiao Lu, I’m scared!”

Chen You’en burrowed into Fan Lu’s arms.

Fan Lu, startled, scanned their surroundings.

Two seconds later,

“Protect the Young Lord of the Human Path!”

A thunderous shout rang out.

Hundreds of figures rushed in from all directions.

They were the guardians stationed around the graveyard during annual visits.

Fan Lu ordered, “Secure the perimeter!”

The hundreds encircled Chen You’en and Fan Lu.

But as the wind howled fiercer, the clear sky darkened in moments.

Within seconds, it was as black as night.

“What’s happening?”

“Something’s wrong—stay alert!”

“The wind… it’s weakening!”

…

The guardians exclaimed and discussed.

Fan Lu, tense, assessed the surroundings, “The wind is indeed weakening.”

Chen You’en peeked out from Fan Lu’s arms, about to speak, when her gem-like eyes widened, pupils dilating.

She pointed to the sky, asking, “Auntie Xiao Lu, is that… a golden lotus?”

Boom!

Fan Lu, struck as if by lightning, looked up to see a speck of gold in the black sky, rapidly expanding into a golden lotus.

Then another, and another.

The dark sky bloomed with golden lotuses, their radiant light dazzling.

This miraculous scene was awe-inspiring.

It wasn’t just for Chen You’en and the others—it was visible across the entire mortal world!

“This is…”

Fan Lu’s face changed, tears streaming.

The hundreds of guardians noticed the sky’s transformation.

“Daddy, it’s Daddy!”

Chen You’en wriggled free, jumping excitedly, “Daddy, are you back? Auntie Xiao Lu said you’d return when the sky blooms with golden lotuses.”

No response, no figure.

Only more golden lotuses bloomed densely, their light flooding the sky.

Chen You’en, tears in her eyes, grew anxious. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she cried, “Daddy~!”

Her sobbing shout echoed through the graveyard, piercing the clouds.

“I’m here!”

“I’ve always been here!”

“You’en, Daddy… is back.”

An ethereal voice came from all directions, its tone rising, trembling with emotion.

“Daddy!” Chen You’en cried.

“Mr. Chen!” Fan Lu stood, sobbing.

The hundreds of guardians knelt respectfully, gazing at the sky of lotuses.

They knew the man who once shook the heavens had returned!

The Lord of the mortal world was back!

As leaders of their realms, they willingly guarded Chen You’en, the Young Lord of the Human Path.

Chen You’en’s small frame trembled, her cries heart-wrenching, tears streaming.

She looked around frantically for Chen Dong, but saw no one.

“Daddy… waaah…”

Chen You’en collapsed, sobbing, “Where are you? You’en misses you, wants to see you, waaah…”

Boom!

A golden lotus in the dark sky transformed into a beam of light, streaking toward the ground.

Near Chen You’en, it softened like a breeze, curving gently. The beam’s tip became a hand, tenderly brushing Chen You’en’s cheek, its thumb wiping her tears.

The remaining light landed, forming Chen Dong.

Bathed in golden light, Chen Dong’s eyes were full of love and worry for Chen You’en.

“Don’t cry, You’en, don’t cry. Daddy’s here, Daddy’s back!”

“Daddy!”

Chen You’en wailed, throwing herself into his arms.

Chen Dong, glowing with light, held his daughter tightly, his eyes lowered, filled with sorrow and love, his right hand gently rubbing her back.

“You’ve grown, my daughter… already three years old!”

“Mr. Chen!” Fan Lu called.

“Thank you, Sister Xiao Lu.”

Chen Dong glanced at Fan Lu.

Holding Chen You’en, he looked to the sky of lotuses, smiling, “You’en, Daddy’s finally done. I’ve taken the final step, overcome this calamity. Now, let’s bring Mommy home, and Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Qin Ye, Aunt Yu Lan… everyone, home!”

“Home?”

Chen You’en, tears streaming, looked up, confused.

“Yes, home!”

Chen Dong nodded, smiling, raising his right hand, “From now on, we’ll live together—Daddy, Mommy, and You’en.”

Snap!

Chen Dong snapped his fingers.

Boom, boom, boom…

The dark sky roared, golden lotuses spinning, transforming into beams of light descending to earth.

Each beam held a figure.

Gu Qingying, Li Lan, Chen Daoling, Qin Ye…

They stood, dazed, in the golden light.

“Mommy, that’s Mommy…”

Chen You’en, pointing at Gu Qingying’s beam, cried excitedly, “I know Mommy, Daddy, that’s Mommy.”

At three, she’d etched her parents’ faces into her memory through photos.

“Mommy…”

Gu Qingying, in the light, trembled, her vacant eyes focusing.

“Wife!”

Chen Dong called softly.

Gu Qingying shuddered, looking toward Chen Dong and Chen You’en, “I… I’m alive? En’en…”

She rushed from the light, hugging Chen You’en tightly, “You’en, You’en… Mommy’s child, I missed you!”

“Mommy…” Chen You’en clung to Gu Qingying’s waist, “Don’t leave You’en again. You and Daddy can’t leave!”

Chen Dong watched the mother and daughter, his eyes gentler than ever, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Brother Dong!”

A voice called.

Chen Dong turned, smiling at Qin Ye, still faintly glowing, holding Zhang Yu Lan’s hand.

“Beast!”

“You’re back!”

Thud!

Their right fists bumped in the air.

Meanwhile, figures from the other beams stepped out, converging toward Chen Dong, their golden light fading to a faint glow.

Chen Dong looked at the familiar faces, his eyes misty, dazed.

They’re back!

All of them!

What is happiness?

Having the people who matter by your side—that’s happiness.

This was his dream, and thankfully, he hadn’t given up. His wish was fulfilled…

Through thorns and trials, he’d walked from darkness into light.

The End.

This whole book is complete. For more interesting books…

• All For You
• At The Bottom
• Awaken
• Boss Lady
• Breakthrough
• Campus Master
• Creation Gate
• Deserted Young Master
• Fate of the Stupid Son
• Foolish Son-in-law
• Fortune
• Fortune Divination
• Her Comeback
• His Destined Path
• Hot Meets Cold
• Martial Champion
• Master Of The Blade
• Mysterious Heir
• No Matter What
• Novels
• Privacy Policy
• Rich Overnight
• Rise to Defeat
• Silly Teen
• Skillful Guard
• Thank You
• The Doting Billionaire CEO
• The Policewoman
• The Super School Student
• Through Time
• Tycoon Spurt
• Wealthy
• Winner Takes All
• Wonder Doctor
• Worth Deserving

The booming sounds of battle in the chaos seemed to vanish in an instant.

In Chen Dong’s eyes, all that remained was the law energy of the manifestations, flowing like a galactic river.

His gaze sank, deep as twin black holes, before bursting with radiant light.

“Sit in meditation and await the completion of merging with the Dao—that’s when you strike!”

A voice came from above.

Chen Dong looked up at Emperor Fuxi, seated atop the golden Taiji Eight Trigrams.

Their eyes met.

He nodded silently.

Then, bending his legs, he sat cross-legged in the void, closing his eyes.

The faint recitation of the *Tao Te Ching* echoed in his ears, the only sound he could hear.

At that moment,

Emperor Fuxi turned to the Sage manifestations behind him.

“Sages, advance without hesitation!”

Rumble…

The Sage manifestations trembled, transforming into torrents of equally formidable law energy, streaming from their “curtain” and crashing toward the law energy of the Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations.

“I’ll clear the path!”

The Ancestral Demon’s voice thundered.

Surging demonic qi broke from the law energy, forming a ten-thousand-mile giant axe that slashed downward.

Silent.

Yet where the demonic axe struck, the law energy of the Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations shattered.

“I’m next!”

Human Ancestor Chiyou’s voice rang out, his vast demonic qi condensing his manifestation further as he gripped the demonic axe.

He swung it slowly.

Though it appeared slow, each swing surpassed the law energy’s speed, crushing it without resistance.

Following him were Human Ancestor Yellow Emperor, Laozi on his green ox, and Emperor Fuxi.

Yellow Emperor’s towering manifestation wielded the Emperor’s Sword, moving slowly yet devastatingly, annihilating law energy wherever it passed, just like Chiyou and the Ancestral Demon.

Fuxi and Laozi’s methods were more mystical.

As enlightened Sages, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Yellow Emperor and Chiyou atop the river of law energy, casually pointing to summon specks of golden light—Taiji or Eight Trigrams—that obliterated law energy on contact.

Behind them, other Sage manifestations surged forward like a tidal wave.

No flourish.

Just the simplest, most direct clash of law energy against law energy.

In silent stillness, both sides annihilated each other.

The ultimate battle reached its fever pitch.

The mightiest existences from both sides became foot soldiers, trading blows in a one-for-one mutual destruction.

The clash of law energy was silent.

But if this were a battlefield of flesh and blood, how tragic and heroic would it be?

The Sage manifestations pressed forward without hesitation, clashing and annihilating in waves.

The two rivers of law energy, through their collisions, seemed to merge into one.

Beyond this,

The four Ancestral Demons and Da Mang, at the cost of their lives, formed an impassable wall around Chen Dong, blocking the frenzied assaults of the Primordial Spirit Seeds.

Radiant light blazed, illuminating the chaos.

Terrifying law energy, capable of destroying heavens and earth, surged through the void, shattering celestial phenomena and slaying Primordial Spirit Seeds.

It was as if the war at the dawn of chaos had been reignited.

Last time, they had a fallback with the Undying Fusang Tree.

This time, they left no retreat, making up for past regrets, following the fallen Ancestral Demons.

The Undying Fusang Tree remained locked in a stalemate with Jianmu.

A mere dozens of miles apart, for the two divine trees, it was a face-to-face deathmatch.

Gold and green light clashed.

Countless Fusang branches, shimmering with runes, tightly ensnared Jianmu, cloaked in green light and intricate patterns.

Amid this terrifying annihilation of law energy,

The Upper Heaven Realm was already scarred and shattered. Time was frozen, space cracked like glass, fragments falling and vanishing, along with all beings within them.

No exceptions.

All were equal.

Regardless of cultivation, all existences perished with the collapsing space.

As space crumbled, the chaotic void was exposed, reflecting the catastrophic battle into the Upper Heaven Realm.

Even a stray glimmer entering the Upper Heaven Realm wrought devastating destruction.

Let alone… law energy!

When law energy fluctuations seeped into the Upper Heaven Realm, they erased everything in their path, including space, like an eraser. The extent depended solely on the strength of the intruding law energy.

As the upper realm of the Three Thousand Realms, once coveted by all beings, it now revealed its fragility, teetering on collapse.

Chen Dong sat cross-legged in the chaotic void, shielded by the Sage manifestations and the village five, as if isolated from the catastrophic battle.

The golden Taiji Eight Trigrams above and below him continued to spin.

Even the golden chains and purple Dao qi linking them remained unaffected.

Seated at the center, he was like the heart of the cosmos, surrounded by flowing starlight.

The golden armor on his body grew denser and more solid.

As he merged with the Dao, his perception grew stronger, more terrifying.

It was as if his soul soared from the ground to the heavens, rising higher, seeing more, with clarity unaffected by distance.

He felt the tragic resolve of the Sage manifestations as they charged forward.

He sensed the ferocity and ruthlessness of the Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations.

And he could feel the Master of Jianmu’s frantic urge to break free from the Fusang Tree’s stalemate.

His perception expanded.

The entire Upper Heaven Realm came into view, the emotions of all beings, even lifeless stones, vivid in his “sight.”

In the collapsing spaces, faint threads, thin as hair, drifted, densely interwoven like a vast net enveloping everything.

“Is this… the manifestation of the Dao?”

Chen Dong gained insight, his perception stretching further, the Three Thousand Realms gradually appearing in his “sight.”

Each world was distinct—some of cultivation, others of technology…

Finally, his perception locked onto the mortal world.

And instantly found Chen You’en.

In that moment, familiar faces from his past flashed before him.

They appeared like fleeting reflections, rapidly replaced by others, cycling endlessly.

The only constant was his daughter’s smiling face.

In that instant, the last ripple in Chen Dong’s heart vanished upon seeing her smile.

“The Dao is complete.”

Chen Dong’s expression sharpened as realization hit him.

He had seen that treasure!

It was the only thing in the village that surpassed the five-member group!

“The Guardian Tree?” Chen Dong murmured.

“Naturally!”

Little Kid extended his right hand, previously clasped behind his back, forward.

In an instant,

A faint golden glow bloomed from his palm, growing brighter, like a rising sun illuminating the chaos.

“This is…”

Almost simultaneously, the Master of Jianmu’s shocked voice rang out.

“It’s that tree, that tree!”

“Damn it, wasn’t that tree supposed to have been incinerated along with the Twelve Ancestral Demons?”

“The Dao! Why must it toy with us like this? The chaos war left some of the Twelve Ancestral Demons alive, fine, but why does that tree, which should’ve been destroyed, still exist?”

“Heh… isn’t the Dao’s stance clear by now? Why cling to false hopes?”

“No wonder, no wonder… Despite years of probing, knowing something was off in the Southern Border Immortal Forest, we could never pinpoint why. Now it makes sense.”

…

In the boundless chaos, the roars and cries of the Primordial Spirit Seeds echoed.

At this moment, as the golden glow shone like a sun in the chaos, it became the center of the void.

Even the celestial phenomena conjured by the Primordial Spirit Seeds paled in comparison, some even pausing as the golden light erupted.

The Ancestral Demon said excitedly, “No wonder you survived back then—it was because of it.”

“What exactly is the Guardian Tree?”

Chen Dong’s heart stirred with curiosity as he gazed at the Guardian Tree gradually revealed in the radiant light.

In the Forgotten Village, he had personally felt the terrifying power of the Guardian Tree.

Now, its appearance provoked shocked roars from all the Primordial Spirit Seeds, even unsettling the domineering Master of Jianmu.

“You’re all so shocked—have you forgotten its true name?”

Little Kid kept his hand raised, his voice now ethereal and majestic, “The Undying Fusang Tree, the resting place of the sun. Compared to your Jianmu, don’t you… understand?”

This was directed at the Master of Jianmu.

Almost simultaneously,

Even the manifestations of Human Ancestors Yellow Emperor, Chiyou, Laozi, and Emperor Fuxi stirred.

As ancient human sages, they were no strangers to the Fusang Tree, the sun’s abode.

“The Undying Fusang Tree, the resting place of the sun?” Chen Dong’s eyes flickered, vaguely recalling myths and legends from the mortal world.

The Golden Crow perches on the Fusang, and Yi shot down nine suns.

The only difference was that those were mortal myths, while this… belonged to the Upper Heaven Realm!

“Of course we know! That’s why we exhausted every law’s power to utterly destroy the Undying Fusang Tree back then.”

Jianmu trembled violently, the Master of Jianmu’s voice unusually agitated, “But who could’ve guessed this tree was truly undying? Despite annihilating it with all our laws, it survived, even sheltering you four scourges, letting you cling to life until now.”

The furious voice reverberated through the chaos, drowning out the other Primordial Spirit Seeds.

Then, the Master of Radiant Glow’s angry voice followed, “We should’ve realized sooner. The strangeness in the Southern Border Immortal Forest was mostly tied to you!”

“Kid!”

Old Thing looked directly at Chen Dong, “This battle, we fight together. You take on the Primordial Spirit Seeds’ manifestations; we five will handle the rest.”

“Seniors!”

Chen Dong gazed gratefully at Old Thing, his eyes sweeping over the five.

Largely, his survival after entering the Upper Heaven Realm from the mortal world was due to stumbling upon Da Mang and entering the Forgotten Village.

Under the five’s guidance and support, he underwent immense transformation, gaining the confidence and strength to traverse the Upper Heaven Realm with Tian Lang.

Otherwise… in his and Tian Lang’s initial state upon entering the Upper Heaven Realm, even if they safely exited the Human Ancestors’ Graveyard, they’d never have made it out of the Southern Border Immortal Forest.

He never imagined the five had such a profound, terrifying origin—four of the Twelve Ancestral Demons!

After surviving the chaos war, they relied on the Undying Fusang Tree to endure in the Southern Border Immortal Forest until now.

And now, they had left the forest to stand by his side.

“For the rise of the Dao!”

The five shouted in unison.

“Strike!”

Boom!

As the Master of Jianmu roared in fury, the already trembling Jianmu surged across the chaos,

Like a mountain range thrusting forward, crashing toward the radiant Undying Fusang Tree.

“Hahaha…”

The five laughed heartily, stepping forward.

Little Kid’s outstretched right hand jerked upward.

Buzz…

Light flared brilliantly, and a towering tree with a vast canopy emerged from the golden glow, each leaf shimmering with radiant runes.

Facing Jianmu’s collision, the Undying Fusang Tree shuddered, its branches and leaves rapidly extending like a massive hand, grasping toward Jianmu’s midsection.

“It’s not enough. Even if the Undying Fusang Tree survived, after that war, I refuse to believe it’s still at full strength!”

Facing the Fusang Tree’s ensnaring branches, the Master of Jianmu didn’t dodge. Instead, green light enveloped Jianmu, revealing countless runic patterns.

Boom!

The two divine trees collided dozens of miles apart, gold and green light clashing like exploding stars, unleashing a terrifying wave of law energy at the impact’s core, sweeping through the chaos.

Some Primordial Spirit Seeds along the path were flung away, their celestial phenomena vanishing abruptly.

“Attack!”

Sickly let out a cry, darting forward first, his body erupting with vast demonic qi, a faint ten-thousand-mile demonic figure looming behind him.

Old Thing, Little Kid, Cripple, and Da Mang followed suit. Except for Da Mang, the others summoned ten-thousand-mile demonic figures, their demonic qi surging wildly.

Taking advantage of the Fusang Tree and Jianmu’s clash, which scattered some Primordial Spirit Seeds, they charged at the remaining Seeds.

“Now, it’s our turn!”

Chen Dong shifted his gaze to the Masters of Radiant Glow, Eternal Green Lotus, and the Giant Hand, behind whom stood the Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations.

As the Master of Jianmu battled the Fusang Tree, the Seed manifestations not only didn’t weaken but grew more radiant and ferocious.

As Chen Dong looked,

The Seed manifestations transformed into streams of law energy, stretching toward him.

These streams, woven into vibrant, multicolored light, intertwined gracefully, rising and falling, serene yet carrying a terrifying force that could seal and suppress everything…

The moment the Master of Jianmu’s words rang out, explosions erupted across the boundless chaotic void.

Spectacular celestial phenomena reappeared, radiant and dazzling, a breathtaking sight.

Terrifying waves of overwhelming pressure surged from these phenomena.

Chen Dong, unsurprised, calmly surveyed the celestial displays emerging in the endless chaos.

From the moment the four Primordial Spirit Seeds—Jianmu and the others—made their move, the chaotic void had fallen eerily “silent.”

Even some celestial phenomena that had initially appeared had vanished.

They hadn’t disappeared but were lurking in the shadows, observing, leaving the battlefield to the four Primordial Spirit Seeds.

They all understood the stakes of this ultimate battle, yet they also knew that with no retreat possible, they had to fight. But if the four Primordial Spirit Seeds could decisively defeat him, those hiding could still survive.

Just like at the dawn of chaos during the war with the Twelve Ancestral Demons, as long as the battle’s outcome was secured, those who stayed hidden could reap the spoils of victory and continue living comfortably.

But when the four, led by the Master of Jianmu, summoned the Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations, it forced the lurking Seeds out into the open.

“Sages…”

Chen Dong looked up at the Sages above him, his voice sincere, “Please… protect my path forward!”

“Fight!”

The Sage manifestations roared in unison, their voices shaking the chaotic void.

In an instant,

Beams of radiant light poured from each manifestation, and streams of vast, mysterious law energy transformed into tangible bolts, charging directly at the four Primordial Spirit Seeds.

No flashy techniques, just the raw, unadulterated force of law energy exploding forth.

Rumble…

The streams of law energy, carrying crushing might, churned the chaotic void, even spilling into the already fracturing Upper Heaven Realm, accelerating its collapse with unstoppable force.

“Fight!”

The four Primordial Spirit Seeds, led by the Master of Jianmu, let out a simultaneous roar.

Their cries lingered, like the relentless growls of primal beasts.

The Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations behind them also roared and shrieked.

Vast waves of law energy poured from their manifestations, radiant and terrifying, like a prison of light.

Whether it was the Sage manifestations on Chen Dong’s side or the manifestations summoned by the four Primordial Spirit Seeds, their attacks were pure law energy.

From all directions, more Primordial Spirit Seeds revealed themselves, their celestial phenomena blooming as they showed their true forms.

They varied in shape and appearance, their auras distinct, with clear differences in strength.

As Primordial Spirit Seeds born at the dawn of chaos, some chose to fight for the greatest spoils after the Ancestral Demon war, while others hid and bided their time, resulting in stark disparities in power.

But now… as they all emerged, regardless of strength or disparity, there was only one possibility: every Primordial Spirit Seed had come out of hiding!

They abandoned hopes of reaping benefits from the sidelines, choosing to fight alongside the four Primordial Spirit Seeds with full force!

“Strike!”

“Don’t hold back—give it everything!”

“If the Source Dao Seed completes its transformation, everything we’ve built over eons will collapse, and we’ll have no way to survive!”

…

As the celestial phenomena blazed, the Primordial Spirit Seeds charged at Chen Dong.

Compared to the Sage and Primordial Spirit Seed manifestations, these “living” Seeds were far more agile.

From every direction, they surged toward Chen Dong, cloaked in celestial phenomena, dense as a galactic army.

In the Upper Heaven Realm, each was a regional hegemon.

Even the Seeds that chose to hide at chaos’s dawn possessed strength far beyond what most beings could achieve in a lifetime.

But now… they all mobilized, swarming toward Chen Dong like a tidal wave of bees.

“Interesting, very interesting…”

Chen Dong waved his hands, sending the golden chains, Dao qi, and specks of white light from the twin golden Taiji Eight Trigrams flying toward the oncoming Primordial Spirit Seeds.

At that moment,

A voice suddenly rang out.

“Kid, focus on fighting them. Leave these… to us!”

This was…

Chen Dong’s expression sharpened, his hands pausing.

“Five Seniors, you arrived so quickly?”

Chen Dong looked toward a spot in the chaotic void, thrilled and excited.

He knew the five from the village had left their sanctuary, but he hadn’t expected them to arrive so fast.

As his gaze landed, a rift glowing with purple light tore open in the void, revealing the five figures standing within.

Old Thing, Little Kid, Cripple, Sickly, and Da Mang.

Their eyes met.

Sickly’s pale, frail face broke into a faint smile, “If we didn’t hurry, what if they bullied you?”

As he spoke,

The five stepped forward, emerging from the purple-lit rift into the chaotic void.

The moment they entered,

Boom!

Jianmu shuddered violently.

The countless Primordial Spirit Seeds rushing toward Chen Dong froze in place.

“This is…”

Before Chen Dong could react, the Ancestral Demon’s voice rang out.

“Familiar, isn’t it?” Little Kid said, hands behind his back, “We altered our forms to survive until now. Don’t you remember, old friend?”

Huh?

Chen Dong was utterly confused.

“Hahaha…” The Ancestral Demon burst into hearty laughter, “You’re all still here! You didn’t perish back then! In all these endless years, I was never truly alone. You survived that war?”

“Giggle…”

Old Thing grinned, “You hid in the Amethyst Mountains, so close to the Southern Border Immortal Forest. Did you never consider that, as fellow Ancestral Demons, why you had such good fortune?”

Ancestral Demons?

Chen Dong’s mind exploded, his heart surging with tidal waves despite his current state.

The five from the village… were among the Twelve Ancestral Demons who survived that ancient war?

This…

“Jie jie jie… But we’re restricted. You at least hid, but we were gravely wounded back then. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be in this pathetic, broken state, sealed in one place, relying on Da Mang to handle outside affairs.”

Cripple cackled, explaining quickly, his gaze locking onto Chen Dong.

Chen Dong’s eyes lit up, everything clicking into place.

“Six survived?” the Master of Jianmu’s voice rang out, “Seems we didn’t clean up thoroughly back then.”

“Five, five. Da Mang is just a Primordial Spirit Seed like you,” Sickly waved dismissively, smirking, “But your voice reminds us—you think Jianmu makes you invincible? We came to fight, betting all our remaining strength, and we brought something to counter your Jianmu.”

As the manifestations of the Sages appeared behind Chen Dong, the entire void seemed to freeze, as if someone had pressed a pause button.

One by one, the Sage manifestations, towering ten thousand miles high, stood majestically in the chaos, exuding overwhelming grandeur, each with distinct auras and demeanors.

The ferocious Ancestral Demon, the ethereal Laozi, the dignified Yellow Emperor, the domineering Chiyou, and atop the golden Taiji Eight Trigrams, the stern and mysterious Fuxi, gazing down imperiously!

Each manifestation was unique, yet all radiated unparalleled, supreme power.

They were the pinnacle existences of their respective eras.

In their times, they comprehended the Dao, wielded its principles, and upheld its traditions.

The Ancestral Demon originated from the Upper Heaven Realm at the dawn of chaos.

Laozi, departing through Hangu Pass, grasped the Great Dao, crafting the *Tao Te Ching* to enlighten future generations of the Human Path.

The Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, both Human Ancestors, fought for the prosperity and glory of the Human Path in their era.

The Great Emperor Fuxi… observed the stars, deciphered the Taiji Eight Trigrams, and created the Dao through his drawings.

…

They were all of the Human Path, yet they transcended, surpassing the Primordial Spirit Seeds of the Upper Heaven Realm in might.

The Primordial Spirit Seeds drew power from the Great Dao at the dawn of chaos, making them formidable and enduring.

But the Great Sages of the Human Path fought against heaven, earth, and primordial beasts, achieving enlightenment and merging with the Dao through struggle, comprehending its very origin.

They were the true Sages!

Now, for this ultimate final battle, they had all manifested.

Their overwhelming Dao aura halted the Primordial Spirit Seeds’ assault in shock.

Behind them, the scene grew even more mysterious and uncanny.

The boundless chaotic void froze momentarily before resuming, twisting and warping, shrouded in eerie clouds and dazzling with a kaleidoscope of colors.

Compared to the Radiant Glow Primordial Spirit Seed, these colors were even more elusive and distorted in the chaotic void.

As the colors twisted, towering figures, their full forms obscured, began to emerge one after another.

If the Ancestral Demon, Yellow Emperor, Chiyou, Laozi, and Fuxi were the first tier,

These newly appearing colossal figures belonged to the second tier, followed by a third, a fourth, and beyond, stretching endlessly.

They stood in the haze, their forms as grand as the first-tier Sages, yet veiled in misty light, their true appearances hidden, exuding a terrifying, majestic aura.

“These…”

Chen Dong sensed the dramatic shift behind him, and even his rock-solid heart stirred with shock.

Even in his state of merging with the Dao and returning to the origin, his utmost perception and vision couldn’t discern the true forms of these Sage manifestations.

All he could sense… was that they were here, standing behind him, facing the Primordial Spirit Seeds alongside him.

And they were participating in this ultimate battle.

For the rise of the Human Path—or rather, for the rise of the Dao itself!

As the Sage manifestations continued to appear,

The initially stunned Primordial Spirit Seeds finally reacted.

“Fall back!”

The Master of Jianmu shouted, clearly panicked.

Boom, boom, boom, boom!

The chaotic void trembled and exploded.

The Masters of Jianmu, Radiant Glow, Eternal Green Lotus, and the Giant Hand vanished instantly.

When they reappeared, they stood opposite Chen Dong and the Sage manifestations, facing off from a distance, the four Primordial Spirit Seeds aligned side by side.

“How can this be?” a shocked female voice cried from the Radiant Glow.

An aged, hoarse voice came from the Eternal Green Lotus, “Cough, cough… something’s wrong, very wrong. Even if you’ve merged with the Dao and returned to the origin, summoning these Sage manifestations shouldn’t be possible. These aren’t just Human Path Sages—I can clearly sense…”

The Giant Hand stirred lightly, casting endless dark light, “The Sages of the Three Thousand Realms, and those from the Upper Heaven Realm’s history who should’ve perished. They were annihilated, yet… their auras are emanating from these Sage manifestations?”

Even these top-tier attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds couldn’t hide their shock in this moment.

They were the rulers of the Upper Heaven Realm, or rather, the embodiment of the “Dao” in the Upper Heaven Realm and the Three Thousand Lesser Realms.

Yet, in their shock, they couldn’t comprehend the Sage manifestations behind Chen Dong.

It wasn’t just the manifestations’ presence that stunned them.

Some of the terrifying, supreme auras emanating from these manifestations belonged to beings they had personally defeated in the Upper Heaven Realm’s long struggle for dominance!

Those beings were dead.

The top Primordial Spirit Seeds were certain they had been utterly eradicated, martyred to the Dao, vanished forever.

Yet now, familiar, terrifying auras surged forth with the Sage manifestations.

They were certain their senses weren’t mistaken, but these auras were beyond their understanding.

The appearance of the Sage manifestations was already terrifying enough.

But the re-emergence of beings long thought perished in the Upper Heaven Realm, martyred to the Dao, was incomprehensible.

“Don’t you understand?”

Atop the golden Taiji Eight Trigrams, Fuxi, seated and gazing down, extended his right hand toward the chaotic void, sneering, “This… is the true Dao, not the so-called ‘Dao’ you claim!”

Boom!

Though spoken softly, his words exploded like divine thunder around the Primordial Spirit Seeds, deafening and awe-inspiring.

“Jie jie jie… jie jie jie…”

Suddenly, Jianmu trembled violently, and the Master of Jianmu’s shrill, eerie laughter rang out.

The laughter instantly dispelled Fuxi’s thunderous proclamation.

Then,

The Master of Jianmu’s voice echoed through the chaotic void, “What Dao, great or small? The one that survives is the true Dao. At the dawn of chaos, we defeated the Twelve Ancestral Demons, overturning the natural order, seizing control of the Upper Heaven Realm. Now… it’s just another battle!”

Rumble…

The colossal Jianmu shook fiercely.

Its bare trunk began to shimmer with radiant light, sprouting tender branches and green leaves that rapidly spread in all directions.

“You’ve merged with the Dao and summoned these Sage manifestations, but don’t you know… Primordial Spirit Seeds can do the same?”

“Yes, let’s strike together!”

The Master of Radiant Glow let out an excited howl.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Radiant Glow, dark light, and green light erupted simultaneously, sweeping across millions of miles, joining the Master of Jianmu to form a curtain no less grand than the Sage manifestations.

A violent, ferocious aura burst from this massive curtain, even purer than that of the Sage manifestations.

Then,

Colossal figures, each ten thousand miles tall, began to emerge on the curtain.

Their forms and shapes varied, but all stood as tall as the Sage manifestations.

The only difference was that they remained blurred, none clearly visible.

And they… were the Primordial Spirit Seeds that had fallen and martyred to the Dao!

“Think that’s all?”

The Master of Jianmu’s cold, piercing laughter rang out, “There are countless more Primordial Spirit Seeds. This is the final battle. Victory means the Dao Seeds endure; defeat means the Great Dao returns. Are you others still hiding, waiting to perish?”

Chen Dong’s gaze snapped downward.

The already pitch-black chaotic void had now plunged into absolute darkness.

This darkness wasn’t something his radiant golden light could pierce; instead, his light was confined to a small area around him.

There was only one possibility… the giant hand had enveloped the surrounding chaotic void.

He wasn’t standing in the chaotic void anymore—he was standing in the center of that giant hand’s palm!

“What a move. Using the Eternal Green Lotus, with Radiant Glow and Jianmu as bait, they silently set up this palm-world around me without the slightest hint of detection.”

Chen Dong instantly pieced together the entire sequence—it was all for this giant hand’s ultimate move: the Palm-World.

A deception so seamless that even the entities within him hadn’t noticed.

Rumble…

Almost simultaneously, the chaotic void around him erupted in a dull roar.

Chen Dong quickly scanned his surroundings, only to see five colossal fingers, far larger than any mountain he’d ever known, rising from the ground.

Or rather… the giant hand was closing, its fingers curling toward his position.

The overwhelming, terrifying pressure made even the phrase “heaven collapsing, earth crumbling” seem inadequate.

As the hand closed, the chaotic void around him vanished.

“In my Palm-World, do you still have a way out?” the voice of the Primordial Spirit Seed boomed.

“There is!”

Chen Dong let out a sharp shout. The golden Taiji Eight Trigrams above his head and below his feet spun rapidly, extending upward and downward. The golden chains and purple Dao qi linking the two Taiji symbols twisted faster as they spun, glowing brilliantly like a spiraling hurricane.

Boom!

A surge of vast demonic qi erupted from Chen Dong, merging with the aura around him.

Within him, the Emperor’s qi, the world’s fortune… all stirred violently.

As the giant hand’s five fingers closed in, Chen Dong shot upward, his speed so fast that everything blurred in a mix of golden light, purple qi, and demonic qi.

“You can’t escape. In this Palm-World, even a Source Dao Seed must abide by its rules!” the Primordial Spirit Seed of the giant hand sneered.

As Chen Dong sped upward to escape the Palm-World, Jianmu, Radiant Glow, and the Eternal Green Lotus closed in from the other side.

Unlike Chen Dong’s linear flight, the three Primordial Spirit Seeds flickered and instantly teleported outside the Palm-World.

It wasn’t that Chen Dong couldn’t teleport, but as the giant hand’s Seed had said, within the Palm-World, even his state of merging with the Dao and returning to the origin was affected.

It was as if countless invisible threads in the Palm-World wrapped around him, tightly restraining him.

Though he seemed to be flying upward quickly, these “threads” drastically slowed him.

Or rather… these “threads” were the so-called rules of the Palm-World!

A Source Dao Seed, on the verge of becoming the Dao itself, was restricted by the “rules” of the Palm-World—this was what shocked Chen Dong most.

He was about to transcend into the circle of the Dao, yet the giant hand, still within that circle, used its Palm-World to impose a counter-dimensional restriction on him!

The terrifying power of the strongest Primordial Spirit Seeds was now crystal clear to Chen Dong!

“My rules are the true rules!”

In Chen Dong’s deep, chaotic eyes, a surge of purple, gold, and black light erupted.

Boom!

The chaos around him trembled, and his speed surged again.

He was on the verge of breaking through the Palm-World.

Suddenly—

Boom!

Jianmu, which had teleported beside the Palm-World, took the form of a colossal dragon and blocked Chen Dong’s path overhead, crashing down with immense force.

Clang!

“Break for me!”

Chen Dong didn’t dodge. Raising his right hand, he swung the Emperor’s Sword.

A majestic sword qi stretched eighty thousand miles, its overwhelming sword aura colliding with Jianmu.

But it only halted Jianmu in place!

The golden sword light clashed against Jianmu’s descent.

Meanwhile, the Eternal Green Lotus and Radiant Glow struck simultaneously, their vast green light and dazzling glow converging on Jianmu before crashing down.

Boom!

A deafening roar.

Jianmu shuddered, breaking the stalemate and descending toward Chen Dong with unstoppable force.

“Your grave is in my Palm-World.”

Rumble…

The five fingers, carrying absolute darkness, were now just a hundred miles from Chen Dong.

Such a distance, for both Chen Dong and the Primordial Spirit Seeds, was practically nothing—a mere step from the ends of the earth.

“Roar!”

Chen Dong let out a skyward roar, boundless demonic qi surging from his left hand.

While resisting with the sword in his right, he raised his left hand, transforming the endless demonic qi into a giant hand that seized the descending Jianmu.

“Break… for me!”

Veins bulged on Chen Dong’s face as he let out a hoarse roar.

Boom!

The falling Jianmu shuddered, then slowly rose, forcibly pushed upward by Chen Dong.

Or rather, he was lifting not just Jianmu but also the Eternal Green Lotus and Radiant Glow.

At the critical moment.

Chen Dong felt the “threads” restraining him weaken.

“Defy the rules!”

With a clear shout from his mouth and nose, the golden Taiji Eight Trigrams above and below him flashed, and he vanished from the spot.

Boom!

The Palm-World’s five fingers closed completely, but Chen Dong, clad in golden armor, stood towering above the Palm-World, Jianmu, Eternal Green Lotus, and Radiant Glow.

“Come fight!”

Right hand wielding the sword, left hand surging with demonic qi, Chen Dong roared and charged toward Jianmu, its green light, and Radiant Glow.

Bang, bang!

The green light and Radiant Glow dissipated in the air.

Jianmu, under the overwhelming pressure, crashed onto the closed giant hand of the Palm-World.

“Rise!”

“Boom!”

Almost simultaneously, the roars of the giant hand’s Primordial Spirit Seed and Jianmu’s master rang out.

The giant hand, bearing Jianmu, rose from the “ground” and charged at Chen Dong.

Radiant Glow and the Eternal Green Lotus flanked him from both sides, carrying a terrifying force of laws that could shake the entire Upper Heaven Realm, converging on Chen Dong.

“Roar!”

“Fight!”

“Come on!”

“For the rise of the Human Path!”

“Dao!”

Clad in armor, Chen Dong’s roar was joined by several voices from within him.

Immediately.

Towering, mountain-like figures appeared one by one above and behind him.

An old man riding a bull, an Ancestral Demon shrouded in black qi, the majestic Yellow Emperor with kind eyes, and the towering Human Ancestor Chiyou…

Above the golden Taiji Eight Trigrams over Chen Dong’s head sat a middle-aged man with flowing hair, eyes like stars, exuding a stern and mysterious aura.

“Are these… the manifestations of the Sages?”

The shocked cries of Jianmu’s master, Radiant Glow’s master, the giant hand’s master, and the Eternal Green Lotus echoed through the chaotic void.

Even their advancing assault paused momentarily in astonishment!

Big Mang raised his head, clasping his fists gratefully toward the Kid and the others.

“Now… it’s time to go!”

The Kid looked up, his gaze sweeping profoundly over the Old Man, the Cripple, and the Sickly One.

They exchanged smiles and nodded lightly.

With a wave of his right hand, the Kid summoned the village’s divine tree, which erupted in dazzling golden light. Streams of golden radiance converged swiftly toward his hand.

At that moment, the entire village shook with a deafening “boom.”

The thatched wooden huts shattered into countless fragments, dissolving into nothingness.

All traces of the village vanished, as if the Forgotten Village had never existed.

“Clinging to broken bodies, confined here, today we finally break free.”

The Sickly One coughed softly, a rare flush coloring his pale, sickly face, “Who could’ve known? It wasn’t that we couldn’t leave the village, but that leaving meant certain death. Though we don’t know what force triggered the child’s premature eruption, merging with the Great Void to become the Origin Seed, now… with the demon spreading across the Three Thousand Worlds, the time has come. We’ve endured endless ages for this moment—to restore the demon’s name!”

His voice, ethereal, seemed to pierce the entire Upper Heavenly Realm.

As the Sickly One’s words fell, the Ancestral Demon’s excited voice rang out, “You… you’re still here?”

“We are!” the Kid, the Old Man, the Sickly One, and the Cripple answered in unison, “We’ve always been here!”

“Good!” The Ancestral Demon’s voice trembled with excitement.

The Kid and the others exchanged another smile, stepping forward as the surrounding space collapsed, entering the chaos.

Meanwhile, Chen Dong stood in the chaotic void, his presence majestic and vast, his right hand still extended with fingers splayed.

The arm-thick bolt of lightning was wreaking havoc in the ten-thousand-mile chaotic vortex.

Arcs of lightning nearly enveloped the vortex’s center.

At its heart, the verdant Eternal Cyan Lotus slowly emerged from the vortex.

Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack…

Lightning poured onto the Eternal Cyan Lotus like a flood, sparking countless electric serpents. Yet it couldn’t shake the lotus, only skittering across its surface, adding to its divine aura.

“Lightning… is far from enough. To become the Origin Seed, you must first see if the Dao is with you!”

An ancient, solemn voice emanated from the Eternal Cyan Lotus, domineering and authoritative.

This was the confidence of the strongest Primordial Spirit Seeds.

Even with Chen Dong now blessed by fate, merging with the Great Void toward the Origin Seed, the Eternal Cyan Lotus could still declare… *Is the Dao with you?*

Without the power to overturn the heavens, who could utter such arrogance?

“Is that so?”

Chen Dong’s eyes widened, his profound pupils suddenly shimmering with eerie purple and golden light.

His outstretched right hand curled slightly, rotating in the opposite direction of the Eternal Cyan Lotus’s emergence from the vortex.

Boom!

A thunderous roar erupted from the vortex, like endless thunder rolling through.

But as the explosion sounded, the vortex abruptly halted, and even the Eternal Cyan Lotus froze.

Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack…

The surrounding lightning transformed into thunder dragons, pouring onto the Eternal Cyan Lotus.

Thick white smoke rose, roiling fiercely.

“You…” The Eternal Cyan Lotus’s voice carried shock and anger.

Before it could continue, Chen Dong smirked playfully, “Still arrogant? Primordial Spirit Seeds should know their place. No matter how strong, they’re just Primordial. Bearing the name of a Seed, there must be an Origin!”

“Act now!”

The Eternal Cyan Lotus trembled violently, its幽青 light surging in all directions, breaking through the lightning’s encirclement and rushing out of the vortex.

Boom!

Another deafening roar.

The Eternal Cyan Lotus resumed its slow rotation.

But compared to before, its speed was sluggish, as if hindered by some force.

Crackle… Crackle…

Lightning flickered around Chen Dong’s right hand, his curled fingers wreathed in electric light, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

A bold, heroic voice thundered, “Did I permit you to move?”

Boom!

The rotating Eternal Cyan Lotus froze again.

At that moment, a dazzling, multicolored radiant light flared without warning from a diagonal stretch of chaotic void.

The vibrant light enveloped Chen Dong, dimming the golden Taiji Bagua above and below him instantly.

A vast force poured onto Chen Dong’s right hand, extinguishing the electric light around it.

Chen Dong’s brows furrowed, a flash of shock passing through his eyes, his raised hand falling powerlessly.

“Insolence!”

The Ancestral Demon’s roar echoed.

Boom!

A torrent of demonic energy erupted from Chen Dong, forming a massive demonic hand that seized the radiant light and crushed it with a “bang,” scattering it into nothingness.

It all happened in an instant.

Chen Dong looked toward the Eternal Cyan Lotus. Freed from his restraint, it had resumed spinning and fully emerged from the vortex, blooming rapidly.

A white-robed, white-haired figure stood at the center of its seedpod.

The radiant light was no stranger to him.

It was the same as the one from the Ancestral Demon’s vision of the chaotic dawn’s war, a force no weaker than the Master of Jianmu—one of the strongest attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds, like the Eternal Cyan Lotus.

If even the Master of Radiance had appeared, where was the Master of Jianmu?

As the thought arose, the aged figure at the Eternal Cyan Lotus’s center spoke slowly, “It can begin. No need to hide and watch. You’ve seen—if this continues, even I can’t hold out. The consequences are unthinkable.”

Rumble…

One of the chaotic vortices suddenly emitted a low, trembling hum.

The vibrations disrupted the ripples within the vortex.

A massive branch extended from the vortex, followed by an increasingly thick tree trunk.

“The Master of Jianmu…”

Chen Dong’s expression finally shifted. Not only him, but as Jianmu appeared, he could distinctly feel the demonic energy, Human Emperor Qi, and Worldly Luck within him grow restless.

Even the anger of the Ancestral Demon and the Yellow Emperor was faintly perceptible.

Their reaction was understandable.

In the chaotic war, the Master of Jianmu had led the charge.

The human path had been deceived and imprisoned by the Master of Jianmu, with the Yellow Emperor falling into its trap.

“Wait, what about that giant hand?” Chen Dong suddenly recalled the vision of the chaotic war.

Beyond the Master of Jianmu and the Radiance, there was clearly a colossal hand.

“Here!”

A mocking sneer suddenly rang from the chaotic void beneath Chen Dong’s feet.

Its vast, oppressive might was undeniable.

This was the difference between the Dao and its components.

The first bolt of lightning, no matter how ferocious its attacking power, was merely a law formed after the Dao took shape.

Even at its fullest exertion, it was but a fleeting gesture before the Dao, extinguished with a word.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a dazzling burst of radiant light erupted in the distant chaotic void.

As the light appeared, a lush cluster of green leaves materialized beside it. The two moved in unison, teleporting instantly to the edge of the lightning焦狱.

“Trying to save it?”

Chen Dong raised an eyebrow, sneering disdainfully, “You’re not worthy!”

Buzz!

His slowly lowering hands trembled slightly before continuing their descent.

This subtle motion caused the ethereal boundary around the lightning焦狱 to ripple outward. The ripple touched the leaves and radiant light, and like a gentle breeze brushing willows, it instantly annihilated them without a trace.

“Roar…”

The imprisoned Primordial Spirit Seed, witnessing this, let out a final, desperate, terrified roar.

But nothing could resist or change its fate.

As Chen Dong’s hands lowered fully to his sides, the boundary encasing the lightning焦狱 compressed it to the size of a single person. It then surged upward, flashing blinding white light, and swiftly returned to Chen Dong’s position.

When it reached him, the lightning焦狱 was gone, leaving only the original golden light, purple Dao Qi, and specks of starlight.

But as these three supreme forces returned to the space between the two golden Taiji Bagua, a strange and wondrous scene unfolded.

Within the universal realm formed by the two golden Taiji Bagua, there had only been specks of starlight forming white arcs. Now, a twisting, jagged bolt of lightning appeared, distinct yet equally white as the starlight arcs.

“Merely… an adornment.”

Chen Dong smirked playfully, his profound gaze shifting to where the leaves and radiant light had appeared, “What do you two think?”

This taunt carried unmatched confidence, a mockery and challenge to the two Primordial Spirit Seeds.

“To make it your own, for the Dao.” Laozi’s ancient voice followed, “Child…”

Boom!

Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the distant chaotic void, stirring a vortex ten thousand miles wide, as if it could swallow everything.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

…

Explosions rang out almost simultaneously across the chaotic void, forming terrifying vortices ten thousand miles in diameter.

Vast, overwhelming pressure surged from each vortex, pressing toward Chen Dong like mountains and prisons.

“All the Primordial Spirit Seeds are making their move? No more probing?”

Clad in armor, Chen Dong grinned playfully, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

“They’re scared,” the Ancestral Demon’s laughter echoed, “You turned the lightning Primordial Spirit Seed into your own tool. They’re terrified and don’t dare probe further.”

“This is just the beginning.”

Chen Dong’s smile faded. He slowly raised his right hand, fingers splayed, facing the chaotic void ahead.

Buzz~

Instantly, demonic energy, Dao Qi, Worldly Luck, Human Emperor Qi—all his powers surged toward his palm.

Crackle…

Terrifying currents of electricity danced between his fingers.

Then, a mass of blinding white lightning coalesced in his palm.

Boom! Crack!

Without warning, the lightning shot from his palm. Though only as thick as an arm, it radiated unmatched ferocity, crashing into the nearest chaotic vortex.

“Damn it!”

An enraged curse echoed from the vortex.

Before the lightning could erupt, a cyan lotus bloomed at the vortex’s center, rapidly expanding and swallowing the lightning into its seedpod.

“The Eternal Cyan Lotus? One of the fiercest Primordial Spirit Seeds from back then,” the Ancestral Demon’s delighted voice rang out.

Chen Dong’s expression remained impassive, “Strong or not, I’ll crush it!”

Before his words settled—

The Ancestral Demon let out a surprised, “Hm? This is…”

…

In the Upper Heavenly Realm, cosmic phenomena appeared incessantly.

Though Chen Dong and the Primordial Spirit Seeds were all in the chaotic void, the terrifying forces of the Dao and its laws had already spilled unchecked into the entire Upper Heavenly Realm.

Living beings knelt, silent.

Across the realm, spatial rifts appeared frequently.

The once-sturdy space of the Upper Heavenly Realm now cracked like fragile glass, spiderwebbing outward. Each rift stretched at least thousands of miles, some in more terrifying areas spanning tens of thousands.

Under the influence of these phenomena, the Upper Heavenly Realm was fractured, scarred, and broken.

The Southern Immortal Forest suffered the worst.

Countless spatial rifts shattered the forest’s space.

Towering trees, like beasts and birds, silently vanished into nothingness due to these rifts.

Under the overwhelming pressure, they couldn’t even utter a final groan.

In the face of absolute power, all beings in the Upper Heavenly Realm were equal, frozen in stillness.

Except for one place.

The Forgotten Village.

“It’s cracking.”

The Old Man, standing before the village’s divine tree, turned first, “It seems… we can finally step out of the village.”

Almost simultaneously, the Kid, the Cripple, and the Sickly One turned as well.

A gentle breeze brushed past them, and smiles of joy and relief spread across their faces.

“We can finally leave.”

“Yes, how many years has it been? I can barely remember. We’ve endured the grinding of time’s river and can finally walk out.”

“Let’s go. The child… is waiting for us. We can’t miss this battle!”

Only Big Mang remained, standing before the divine tree, facing it.

“Big Mang, don’t just stand there,” the Sickly One called back.

Big Mang’s towering, stalwart frame trembled, “The duty of leaving the village, carried through endless ages, is suddenly over. Everyone can leave now, and my role seems… gone. I feel a bit lost.”

With that, Big Mang slowly turned, facing the four.

Then he bowed deeply, “Congratulations, my four masters, on your rebirth and stepping out of the village!”

If Chen Dong were present, he’d be stunned by Big Mang’s words.

To him, the five from the village were peers, differing perhaps only in strength.

But Big Mang’s words revealed a hierarchy, not of equals but of… master and servant!

The expressions of the Old Man, the Sickly One, and the others grew complex, their gazes drifting as if lost in memory.

The Kid, hands behind his back, spoke with a mature air, “After such long ages, what master-servant bond remains? We survived that ancient battle by chance, and it was fortunate to have you, the Earth Primordial Spirit Seed, by our side. You… are our companion, not our servant.”

A blazing war intent ignited in Chen Dong’s profound, mysterious eyes.

From what he’d learned from the Ancestral Demon and others, he could categorize the Primordial Spirit Seeds from the chaotic dawn’s war against the Twelve Ancestral Demons into three types.

The attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds were those that directly participated in the battle against the Twelve Ancestral Demons and later engaged in slaughter with other Primordial Spirit Seeds.

They were the most ferocious in combat, the most powerful in strength.

Naturally, they were also the ones who, after that chaotic war, held absolute dominance in the Upper Heavenly Realm.

Beyond them, there was another group: the cowering, hiding Primordial Spirit Seeds, like those he’d just swiftly annihilated. These were either weaker in strength or, in some cases, deliberately hid despite their power.

Though they persisted in the Upper Heavenly Realm, they never held dominance.

This time, however, his merging with the Great Void to become the Origin Seed had drawn them all into the fray, unable to stay aloof. Their weakness forced them into the role of “cannon fodder.”

And then… there was a third group.

Those were the Primordial Spirit Seeds that perished in the war against the Twelve Ancestral Demons or in the subsequent infighting, their bodies and Daos extinguished.

They could be considered “others.”

Some were strong enough and ambitious to vie for dominance, but compared to the likes of the Master of Jianmu, they were weaker. After joining the assault on the Twelve Ancestral Demons, they were killed in the mutual slaughter by the Master of Jianmu and their ilk.

In other words, the attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds that survived to this day were the true elite, forged through that brutal selection. They were the pinnacle of the Upper Heavenly Realm, and their strength was equally formidable across the Three Thousand Worlds.

The appearance of the attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds signaled the true start of the ultimate battle.

After letting the cowering “cannon fodder” Primordial Spirit Seeds exhaust him, they could no longer hold back and had begun to act!

Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack!

Countless lightning bolts ravaged the chaotic void.

Each bolt stretched thousands of miles, dancing wildly through the chaos.

At the origin point of the lightning, as the bolts spread in all directions, a dazzling, spherical mass of white electric light erupted, rapidly expanding.

The next instant—

Boom! Crack!

A thunderous roar.

The countless lightning bolts, along with the spherical electric mass, surged toward Chen Dong.

The writhing bolts traversed the chaos, converging on the spherical mass as they neared Chen Dong, merging into a terrifying lightning beam thousands of miles in diameter.

“Roar…”

A dragon’s cry erupted from the massive lightning.

Faintly, a ferocious, angular thunder dragon’s head emerged within the giant bolt, swiftly forming a dragon’s body.

“This is…”

Chen Dong’s pupils constricted.

At the same moment, the Yellow Emperor’s voice sounded in his ear, “It reminds me of the Dragon Clan. This time… they likely won’t intervene.”

“Dragon Clan?” Chen Dong suddenly recalled the azure dragon soaring through the skies when he first entered the Great Realm.

Or rather… the dragon guarding the Human Ancestor’s graveyard.

The Yellow Emperor murmured, “They, too, were deceived by the Primordial Spirit Seeds.”

Chen Dong’s brows furrowed, but there was no time to ask further.

The thunder dragon, spanning thousands of miles in diameter, was nearly upon him.

Its terrifying thunder law pressure was domineering and overwhelming.

Chen Dong took a deep breath, steadying his mind, and pushed both hands forward.

Instantly, the golden Taiji Bagua above his head and beneath his feet spun faster.

The golden chains and purple Dao Qi linking the two golden Taiji Bagua converged toward Chen Dong’s hands, while the tiny white stars suspended at the center of the “universe” drew fine white arcs, all gathering at his hands.

“Your Seed… hasn’t fully merged with the Dao. You dare dream of destroying me with this?”

The thunder dragon’s maw opened wide, letting out an enraged roar.

As Chen Dong slowly extended his hands, a faint smile curved his lips, “Who said… I planned to destroy you with just one move?”

“What?”

Electric light surged in the thunder dragon’s eyes.

The next instant, a vast law force enveloped the thunder dragon.

It was like a cage, endlessly expanding, forever imprisoning the dragon within.

“Impossible!”

Sensing the anomaly, the thunder dragon roared in shock, struggling fiercely.

Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack!

In an instant, the thunder dragon’s form remained, but its surroundings had become a焦狱 of lightning, bolts streaking eighty thousand miles, shaking the chaotic void.

Blinding white electric light illuminated Chen Dong’s calm, smiling face.

“As the first bolt of lightning, you should serve as my adornment in my universal realm.”

Chen Dong’s lips parted, his indifferent voice seeming to command all, “You are but a single bolt of lightning, existing only because of my universal realm. So… what’s the difference between your arrival and delivering me a gift?”

“Roar…”

In the焦狱 of lightning, an enraged bellow erupted.

Lightning flashed wildly, its momentum so grand it seemed capable of shattering the chaotic void itself.

But upon closer inspection, a bizarre scene unfolded. No matter how the thunder dragon struggled or how the焦狱 of lightning flared, even as it streaked eighty thousand miles, it remained confined within a specific boundary.

This boundary was formed by the golden light, Dao Qi, and specks of starlight that poured from Chen Dong’s hands after he pushed them forward.

The first bolt of chaos’s lightning was so dazzling it completely overshadowed the golden light, Dao Qi, and starlight.

“Impossible… It shouldn’t be, it shouldn’t be like this. Save me, save me…” A panicked cry for help spilled from the焦狱 of lightning.

Even this Primordial Spirit Seed hadn’t anticipated that, as the first lightning of chaotic dawn, its supreme, radiant killing power would be unable to resist Chen Dong, trapped within a single realm.

It had imagined a mutual slaughter, perhaps leading to its destruction.

But it hadn’t foreseen being rendered powerless in a single encounter, without even the chance to fight.

It seemed like a single exchange, but their powers were on entirely different planes.

“This is the Dao… You are but one of the lightning laws. You should merge with the Dao, serve my Dao.”

Chen Dong’s lips moved, his voice ethereal and drifting. As he spoke, his outstretched hands slowly closed into fists.

Buzz…

A dull sound echoed from the chaotic void surrounding the焦狱 of lightning.

The boundary, obscured by the lightning’s glare, began to compress rapidly as Chen Dong’s hands closed.

Boom! Crack!

Boom! Crack!

Boom! Crack!

…

Lightning surged, streaking wildly.

Yet no matter how it resisted, it couldn’t halt the boundary’s compression.

“Save me! Are you just going to watch?”

“I’m not reconciled! I’m not reconciled to this fate!”

“Why? Why? It shouldn’t, shouldn’t be like this…”

The Primordial Spirit Seed’s voice grew increasingly frenzied.

But Chen Dong smiled faintly, lowering his closed hands, “I am the Dao, you are the law. Within the Dao, you obey me, moving only as I will. This is how it should be!”

No existence could remain uninvolved.

It was a struggle for supremacy between the Origin Seed and the Primordial Spirit Seeds.

Either return to the variables of the Great Dao, or the Primordial Spirit Seeds would dominate everything.

At the dawn of chaos, some Primordial Spirit Seeds managed to hide and survive the battle against the Twelve Ancestral Demons and the subsequent infighting. But this time… there was no escape, no hiding.

“Phew… Understood.”

The faint furrow in Chen Dong’s brow smoothed out. As he exhaled, his breath carried a peculiar rhythm, resonating through the entire Upper Heavenly Realm.

Rumble…

The next second, golden light flared again in the chaotic void ahead.

The moment the golden light appeared, a mass of pink radiance emerged beside it.

Chen Dong calmly observed the two cosmic phenomena. Within the golden light was a piece of golden ore, while the pink radiance cradled a delicate pink flower.

“Extinguish!”

No extra movements, no superfluous words.

A single word fell from Chen Dong’s lips.

Majestic and vast, mysterious and ethereal.

Absolute strength granted him absolute, domineering confidence.

His words shaped reality.

Clang!

The Yellow Emperor Sword let out a peerlessly sharp hum.

Sword Qi soared eighty thousand miles, its golden brilliance piercing the chaos.

The Human Emperor Qi and Worldly Luck cloaking Chen Dong surged to their peak.

Boom! Boom!

The sword Qi, slashing eighty thousand miles from the Yellow Emperor Sword, sliced through the two cosmic phenomena, cleaving them in half.

The golden ore and delicate pink flower, faced with the peerless sword Qi, were instantly bisected. Before the sword Qi dissipated in the chaotic void, the two Primordial Spirit Seeds were annihilated, vanishing without a trace.

The power of the Human Ancestor, even at its waning strength, remained ferociously domineering.

As the Yellow Emperor Sword unleashed this eighty-thousand-mile sword Qi, annihilating the two Primordial Spirit Seeds, Chen Dong’s mind trembled. He clearly felt the vast demonic energy within him surge, far more restless than during its earlier fusion, as if it urgently sought to burst free.

“A contest between Human Ancestors?”

A smile curved Chen Dong’s lips.

The Yellow Emperor was a Human Ancestor, as was Chiyou.

And now, the restless demonic energy felt like… Chiyou’s demonic energy.

“Roar!”

As the demonic energy surged, a low, guttural growl escaped Chen Dong’s lips.

Muffled like a drum, it echoed through the chaos.

It was a declaration of war.

A challenge to the Primordial Spirit Seeds.

Boom!

The demonic energy within Chen Dong erupted, spanning thousands of miles like a cascading waterfall, roiling and wreaking havoc in all directions.

The next instant, Chen Dong’s gaze sharpened, locking onto a point in the chaotic void.

The demonic energy, stretching thousands of miles, surged toward that spot.

“Ah!”

A piercing scream rang out.

Within the dark, ghostly demonic energy, a flicker of red light appeared, only to be instantly crushed by the domineering demonic energy, vanishing into nothingness.

Boom!

In the blink of an eye, the thousands of miles of demonic energy reversed, returning to Chen Dong’s body.

The next second, a strand of purple Dao Qi, entwined with the golden chains linking the golden Taiji Bagua, suddenly detached. Like wisps of smoke, it drifted slowly forward.

When Chen Dong noticed, the purple Dao Qi, having floated a few meters, vanished.

It reappeared far away in the chaotic void.

Boom!

A cyan lotus had just emerged from the chaotic void when the waiting purple Dao Qi pierced it.

Before the lotus could fully bloom, still just a bud, it shattered and dissipated.

Absolute domination, utterly ruthless.

These “vanguard” Primordial Spirit Seeds were mere “cannon fodder,” weaklings who had cowered at the dawn of chaos. Now, facing the various forces within Chen Dong, they were equally frail.

After hearing the elders’ words, Chen Dong found no interest in these instantly vanquished Primordial Spirit Seeds.

The ultimate battle had begun, but the true fight was yet to come.

The Master of Jianmu and their ilk… they were the true protagonists of this final war!

They would surely let these “cannon fodder” Primordial Spirit Seeds exhaust him first before joining the fray.

Even if, as the Ancestral Demon said, they possessed the power to seize the Dao, it was just that—possession. Who would be foolish enough to charge in first when they could increase their odds of victory?

Boom, boom, boom…

In the chaotic void, terrifying explosions rang out continuously.

Cosmic phenomena appeared frequently, but each was swiftly dismantled by Chen Dong’s powers, often before they could fully manifest. The Dao Qi would traverse the chaos, waiting at the point where a phenomenon was about to emerge, extinguishing it the moment it appeared.

With the golden Taiji Bagua above his head and beneath his feet, clad in Human Emperor armor, surrounded by golden chains and Dao Qi, and with demonic energy, Human Emperor Qi, and Worldly Luck surging within, Chen Dong stood in the chaotic void yet seemed to form his own universe.

He was the Dao, and the Dao was him.

“It seems… the merging with the Great Void is still ongoing!”

Standing resolute, Chen Dong calmly watched his powers strike out, keenly aware of the changes within himself.

From the moment he began merging to become the Origin Seed, the various forces within him had never ceased fusing.

In a state of perfect balance, they blended seamlessly. Even as they surged out to annihilate Primordial Spirit Seeds, the fusion continued without pause, the balance unshaken.

“Feel it deeply. A thought arises, and the Dao is born; a thought falls, and the Dao vanishes. The Dao that can be named is not the eternal Dao… Child, do you understand?”

The ancient, mysterious voice suddenly spoke, followed by the ethereal chanting of the *Tao Te Ching*.

The chanting was mystical, imbued with supreme power. As Chen Dong listened, his mind cleared, and he seemed to transform rapidly, shedding layers of himself.

“This is…”

Chen Dong glanced around, then realized in shock.

The mysterious, ethereal chanting of the *Tao Te Ching*… only he could hear it!

Almost simultaneously, the Ancestral Demon’s voice asked, “What?”

The question confirmed Chen Dong’s suspicion.

Shock and fear enveloped him. How terrifying was this old man?

The chanting of the *Tao Te Ching* had isolated even the Ancestral Demon and the Human Ancestor Yellow Emperor. What kind of power was required to achieve that?

“Don’t be shocked, don’t be afraid. When this old man rode a green ox out of Hangu Pass, he composed the *Tao Te Ching*. Over the long ages, few have truly grasped the profound truth of its Dao.”

The ancient, mysterious voice intermingled with the chanting.

Chen Dong’s pupils dilated, his earlier guess fully confirmed.

From the purple qi he saw rising in the east on the Heavenly Road, the figure riding the ox… it was Laozi!

Laozi’s voice spoke again, “You are the sole variable, blessed by the momentum of fate. The Dao chose you, and you chose the Dao. Child… rise for the Dao!”

Before the words faded—

Boom! Crack!

Boom! Crack!

Boom! Crack!

…

In the distant chaotic void, lightning bolts thousands of miles long suddenly appeared, as if to cleave the void apart.

At the same moment, the Ancestral Demon’s warning rang out, “Child, the attacking Primordial Spirit Seeds are coming…”