139: Dao Xuan transforms into an infant, and the Heavenly Tribulation descends!

It’s done!

A huge weight lifted from Chen Xu’s heart, and he felt completely at ease, his thoughts clear.

The next moment, Chen Xu waved his hand, and loudly ordered the surrounding clansmen who were still in a daze.

“Today, this Family Head is in a great mood!”

“All clansmen, your monthly stipends will be increased tenfold! Core Disciples, each will be rewarded with a Breakthrough Pill!”

As soon as these words were uttered, the entire Chen Family Holy Land boiled over once more!

Although they didn't know why the Family Head was suddenly so happy, a tenfold increase in monthly stipends and a Breakthrough Pill were tangible benefits!

“Family Head’s might!”

Cheers like a mountain roar and a tsunami rose again.

However, just as Chen Xu was feeling the Chen Immortal Clan's rising Luck.

The smile on his face suddenly froze.

The next moment, Chen Xu’s brows furrowed slightly.

Something isn't right.

Something is amiss.

He sensed that the dense Spiritual Qi between Heaven and Earth.

Seemed to... show a slight decline!

This sense of decline was like a large water tank filled to the brim, with a tiny crack appearing at the bottom.

Water was slowly seeping out.

Though slow, it was continuous!

“What’s going on?”

Chen Xu’s heart sank.

His first reaction was his Family's mountain-protecting grand array.

That Purple Gold Imperial Dao World-Suppressing Grand Array had activated the Ancestral Dragon Vein of the entire Central Continent and fused with the Ten Thousand Li Luck Golden Dragon.

While its power was boundless, its consumption was naturally astronomical.

Could it be that the grand array’s operation was excessively drawing upon the surrounding Spiritual Qi?

With a thought, his vast Divine Sense, capable of covering the entire Central Continent.

Instantly spread out, penetrating everywhere.

From the peak of Heavenly Sword Mountain to the shores of the East Sea.

Every inch of land, every trace of Spiritual Qi flow in the entire Central Continent.

Was within his perception.

However, the result of his Divine Sense investigation instantly made Chen Xu’s face incredibly grim.

No!

It wasn't a problem with the mountain-protecting grand array!

He discovered that this phenomenon of declining Spiritual Qi concentration was not localized at all.

It was universal!

Throughout the entire Central Continent, regardless of the strength of the Spiritual Vein or the distance of the region, the overall concentration of Spiritual Qi was slowly decreasing at the same rate!

It was as if... this very Heaven and Earth, this giant pool of water, had developed a problem.

“Buzz—”

Before Chen Xu could recover from this astonishing discovery.

The entire Heaven and Earth suddenly let out a faint hum.

Immediately after.

Within the range covered by his Divine Sense, in many remote and desolate places across the Central Continent, those nodes where the spatial barriers were weak.

Visible ripples actually appeared simultaneously!

It felt as if a drum skin, stretched to its limit, was being constantly pressed from the outside, again and again.

Constantly shoved!

Space was fluctuating!

Heaven and Earth were trembling!

Noticing these anomalies, Chen Xu’s pupils slightly contracted!

He remembered.

Before, in the Endless Nether Devil Abyss, that awakened ancient demon remnant.

The last words it spoke to him before dissipating.

“The cage of this Heaven and Earth is the shackles of all of us!”

“As time passes, it will shrink tighter and tighter, eventually cutting off everyone’s path forward!”

The cage... is shrinking!

Previously, Chen Xu believed it.

But a glimmer of hope always remained in his heart.

Perhaps that ancient demon was exaggerating, or perhaps that day was still very far away.

But now!

The current scene of declining Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and fluctuating spatial barriers.

Completely matched the ancient demon's words!

This wasn't an exaggeration!

It was a reality that was currently unfolding!

This world is truly heading towards decay!

The ancient demon’s words have come true!

“Damn it!”

Alarm bells rang in Chen Xu’s heart!

Everything he had done before—wiping out the Demonic Path, unifying the Central Continent, establishing the Chen Immortal Clan.

All seemed insignificant and ridiculous in the face of this impending Heaven and Earth catastrophe!

If the skin does not exist, where will the hair attach?

If this cage truly collapses completely, or shrinks to its extreme.

Crushing all living beings into dust.

Then what meaning would his so-called eternal Foundation, his so-called eternal immortal body, have?

No!

He absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait for death!

The joy in Chen Xu’s eyes.

Instantly vanished completely!

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart, and regained his composure.

The next moment, his figure instantly disappeared from where he stood... Chen Family, Deliberation Hall.

Murong Zhuyun, Sect Leader of the Badao Sect, Liu Ruyan, and others, who had just received the news and were rushing over from various places...

As soon as they stepped into the hall, they felt a suffocating atmosphere, like a storm brewing.

At the head of the hall, Chen Xu sat motionless, his face ashen.

The Aura of authority he exuded without anger.

Made the air in the entire hall seem to solidify.

“Alliance Leader, what has happened? Why have you summoned us so urgently?”

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect was straightforward, and seeing Chen Xu's grim face, his heart immediately sank.

He couldn't help but ask.

Liu Ruyan and the Valley Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Valley, among others, also looked puzzled and uneasy.

One must know, since the establishment of the Chen Immortal Clan, this was the first time the Alliance Leader had used an urgent summons.

To gather them here.

Could it be that those surrendered Sects had thoughts of rebellion again?

Chen Xu did not speak.

He merely slowly raised his hand and flicked his finger.

A streak of spiritual light entered the center of the main hall.

The next moment, a huge light screen formed by spiritual power.

Appeared out of thin air.

What was displayed on the light screen was precisely the scene Chen Xu had just investigated with his Divine Sense.

Those spatial ripples, continuously undulating like water waves.

Those black cracks appearing from the Void Realm and disappearing instantly.

And that Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, visibly... becoming thinner!

“This... what is this?!”

“Spatial cracks? How can there be so many?!”

“Heavens! Look, the Spiritual Qi concentration of that Level Three Spiritual Vein has actually dropped by half a percent!”

The crowd looked at the scene on the light screen, their expressions shifting from confusion to shock.

Finally, it turned into deep horror!

They were all Nascent Soul Ancestors, hegemons of their respective regions.

Naturally, they understood what these sights meant.

The very Foundation upon which the entire Cultivation World relied for survival... was shaking!

“Alliance Leader... this... what exactly is going on? Why is it like this?”

Liu Ruyan’s face instantly showed a grave expression.

Chen Xu’s gaze swept over the tense faces of the people below.

He did not reveal the truth of the “cage” and the “Jailers.”

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust them.

But this truth was too cruel, too subversive.

Once revealed, it would only cause greater panic.

Even the collapse of their beliefs.

Once morale is scattered, it can never be gathered again.

He merely spoke slowly in a low, yet extremely serious tone.

“The reason, this lord is temporarily unclear.”

“But the truth is, this Heaven and Earth beneath our feet is heading towards decay.”

“Spiritual Qi will become increasingly scarce, and space will become increasingly unstable. Perhaps before long, even Core Formation, or even Foundation Establishment, will become a luxury.”

These words were like a bucket of ice water poured over their heads.

Making everyone present feel their hearts drop by half.

The hall instantly fell into silence.

Everyone's minds went blank from this news.

Era of Dharma Decline?

Could it be that the legendary Era of Dharma Decline.

Is truly about to descend?

However, just as this desperate atmosphere was about to spread.

Murong Zhuyun quickly recovered from her shock.

She looked at the man at the head of the table, who, despite his solemn expression, still had eyes as steady as a mountain.

Her heart settled slightly.

The next moment, she stood up and bowed deeply to Chen Xu.

“Where Master is, Zhuyun will be.”

“Whatever Master says he wants to do, we will do.”

These words instantly awakened those Nascent Soul Ancestors who had fallen into panic.

That’s right!

What were they afraid of?

If the sky falls, isn't this man still there to hold it up?

This man once, with his own strength, single-handedly fought the Myriad Poisons Sect, achieving a Breakthrough on the battlefield.

He once, with his own strength, slaughtered the seven kill demon star and pacified the Four Demonic Sects.

He once, with his own strength, awakened the Ancestral Dragon Vein and established an eternal Foundation!

As long as he is still here, as long as he is still sitting here.

The sky will not fall!

“Right! With the Alliance Leader here, what are we afraid of?!”

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect slapped his thigh fiercely: “Damn it! Isn't it just a bit less Spiritual Qi? At worst, we'll just be more frugal with it!”

“We vow to follow the Alliance Leader to the death! To overcome this tribulation together!”

Liu Ruyan, the Valley Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Valley, and others also rose one after another, bowing to Chen Xu.

Seeing the morale below coalesce once more, a hint of relief flashed in Chen Xu’s eyes.

But the pressure in his heart had not lessened in the slightest.

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down.

“Panic is useless.”

“From today onwards, all major Sects will reduce resource consumption, and all Disciples will minimize their outings.”

“This lord will find a way to break this deadlock as soon as possible.”

...After the meeting dispersed.

Chen Xu did not pause for a moment, turning directly and stepping into the ten thousand zhang tall Myriad Dao Pavilion.

He wanted to deduce!

He wanted to use the power of the Myriad Dao Pavilion to deduce the root cause of the Heaven and Earth anomaly.

To deduce the future trajectory!

Inside the pavilion, star rivers flowed, and the Great Dao resonated harmoniously.

The seven-colored Qilin, formed by the convergence of countless Dao Rhythms, sensed its master's arrival and affectionately came closer.

After stroking its head, Chen Xu directly sat cross-legged in the center of the starry sky, his eyes tightly closed.

Primordial Chaos Nascent Soul, human emperor seal, the Luck of a Realm!

All powers were pushed to their extreme by him at this moment!

His Divine Soul instantly soared, attempting to break through the shackles of this Heaven and Earth.

To peek into the profound Heavenly Secrets!

However!

Just as his Divine Sense was about to touch that invisible layer of Heavenly Dao.

Boom!!!

A chaotic Aura suddenly struck back!

Chen Xu only felt in his mind.

As if hundreds of millions of stars exploded simultaneously!

No images, no information.

Only Chaos! Only Void Realm!

Chen Xu abruptly opened his eyes, his entire face showing a bewildered expression.

The deduction... failed!

The Heavenly Secrets, cannot be probed?

For a moment, Chen Xu’s face turned extremely grim.

Even the Myriad Dao Pavilion couldn't deduce it!

This indicated that the power from outside the “cage.”

Had already reached a level that even he couldn't comprehend!

Time was running out for him!

He had to find a way to break the deadlock before the “cage” completely tightened, or was completely shattered by external forces.

Otherwise, not only he, but his Family, his clansmen, and even all living beings in this world, would suffer eternal damnation!

“Gui Xu...”

The coordinates recorded in that black Jade Slip flashed through Chen Xu’s mind.

Could it be that the only way to break the deadlock truly lies there?

The only clue left by Lu Cun Demon Lord, leading to the “outside world”?

Just as Chen Xu was worried about the changes in Heaven and Earth... and racking his brains for the future of the Family.

In another independent space within the Myriad Dao Pavilion.

Boom!!!

A terrifying Aura, completely different from the Heaven and Earth changes outside, suddenly shot up into the sky!

"Hmm?"

Chen Xu's mind stirred, and his gaze instantly pierced through space, looking towards the source of the Aura.

He saw Chen Daoxuan, who was sitting cross-legged in the Cultivation starry sky specially opened for him, suddenly open his eyes!

At this moment, Chen Daoxuan's Aura was like a Dragon, rising steadily, having already reached the peak of Golden Core Perfection.

He was just one step away from shattering his Core and forming a Nascent Soul, ascending to the heavens in a single bound!

He didn't hesitate in the slightest.

With a roar, he directly charged towards the indestructible Realm barrier!

Boom!!!

Above the Chen Family Holy Land, the sky suddenly darkened.

For thousands of miles around, the wind stopped, clouds stilled, and all sounds ceased.

A majestic Heavenly Might descended from the Nine Heavens!

The Ten Thousand Mile Luck Golden Dragon of the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range let out a low growl.

Its massive body instinctively curled up.

It actually showed a hint of fear.

"Heavenly Tribulation!"

"It's a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation! Someone is Undergoing Tribulation!"

"Who is it? Which Cultivator of the Chen Family is it?"

Innumerable Cultivators throughout the Central Continent were startled.

Streaks of powerful Divine Sense swept across.

They looked in awe towards the direction of the Chen Family Holy Land.

Above that Sacred Land, which was originally filled with vast purple Qi and thousands of auspicious rays.

At some unknown time, heavy, inky tribulation clouds had gathered.

The tribulation clouds slowly rotated, forming a giant vortex that obscured the sun and moon. Within it, lightning flashed and thunder Dragons surged, each flash seemingly tearing Heaven and Earth apart!

This was precisely the great life-and-death Tribulation that Cultivators must face when shattering their Core to form a Nascent Soul!

"It's Dao Xuan Ge! Dao Xuan is about to Break through!"

In front of the Myriad Dao Pavilion, many Chen Family Disciples exclaimed.

As soon as these words came out, the entire Chen Family instantly erupted!

"Dao Xuan Ge is going to become a Nascent Soul!"

"Heaven bless my Chen Family! My Chen Family is about to produce another Nascent Soul Ancestor!"

Countless clansmen were red-faced with excitement, gazing at the faintly visible figure within the Myriad Dao Pavilion beneath the tribulation clouds.

Their eyes were filled with fervor and adoration.

This was a Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation!

And now, their Chen Family's Eldest Young Master was about to, in front of everyone.

Take this step towards ascension!

However, Chen Xu, who had been standing still high in the sky.

His brow furrowed slightly.

He looked at the magnificent tribulation clouds, with no joy in his eyes, but rather a hint of solemnity.

Something isn't right.

The might of this Heavenly Tribulation, though seemingly terrifying, carried a sense of superficiality, like a paper tiger.

It was at least thirty percent weaker than when he Underwent Tribulation back then!

He instantly understood the reason.

The Laws of this world were incomplete, and the so-called "cage" was decaying and shrinking!

Even the power of the Heavenly Dao Tribulation had been greatly reduced!

This should have been a great blessing for the Tribulation Transcender.

But in Chen Xu's heart... that uneasy feeling grew stronger.

Crack!

Just then, from within the tribulation clouds, a white tribulation lightning, accompanied by a piercing roar, tore through the sky.

And struck down fiercely!

The first Heavenly Tribulation!

"Good timing!"

Within the Myriad Dao Pavilion, Chen Daoxuan let out a long cry!

His figure shot up into the sky, a precious mirror spinning above his head.

It cast down ten thousand rays of green light, protecting his entire body.

Boom!

The tribulation lightning and the green light collided with a roar!

The terrifying lightning, which could have charred an ordinary Golden Core Perfection Cultivator, merely caused the bronze precious mirror to tremble slightly before being completely annihilated.

"So weak?"

Chen Daoxuan himself was stunned for a moment.

He had prepared for a near-death experience, but he didn't expect this first tribulation lightning.

To be so easily defeated.

"Hahaha! As expected of Dao Xuan Ge!"

"Such a Heavenly Tribulation is merely child's play for Young Master!"

The Chen Family clansmen below the mountain burst into thunderous cheers upon seeing this.

Even Daoist Yuqing and Chu Xuan... were filled with admiration.

In their opinion, Chen Daoxuan's Nascent Soul Tribulation this time was already a sure thing!

Boom!

The second tribulation lightning followed closely, its power slightly stronger than the first.

But it still failed to shake Chen Daoxuan in the slightest.

Easy!

Beneath the tribulation clouds, Chen Daoxuan's long hair danced, full of vigor and ambition.

The unique Aura of a Nascent Soul Cultivator on his body grew increasingly intense.

It seemed that in the next moment, he would completely succeed and rule the world!

However, just when everyone thought the situation was settled.

An anomaly suddenly occurred!

In the deepest darkness at the center of the tribulation cloud vortex.

The third tribulation lightning was slowly condensing.

But this time, the color of the tribulation lightning... was no longer white.

Instead, it was... a chilling, gloomy gray!

That was not lightning at all; it was more like a gray light pillar, and within that gray light pillar, there was an indescribable, strange power mixed in.

That feeling was as if it didn't belong to this world at all.

Instead, it carried an Aura that sought to obliterate all life!

"This is..."

Chen Xu's brows furrowed deeply.

He stared at the forming gray tribulation lightning, a chill.

Surged madly from the bottom of his heart!

This power!

He recognized it!

It was precisely that indescribable evil Aura that had leaked from behind the giant gate when the ancient demon's afterimage dissipated in the Endless Nether Devil Abyss!

No! Not entirely!

This power... was even stronger than the ancient demon's Aura!

It was like the manifestation of this Heaven and Earth's will!

It was the power of this cage itself!

It was tightening... not allowing new powerful lives to be born!

It wanted to obliterate all new life!

"Dao Xuan! Be careful!"

Chen Xu's voice, like a clap of thunder, resounded in Chen Daoxuan's mind!

However, it was too late!

That gray tribulation lightning, without any warning, silently descended!

Chen Daoxuan's face changed drastically.

Without thinking, he pushed his magic power to its limit!

"Block it for me!"

He spat out a mouthful of essence blood, and the precious mirror shone brightly, transforming into a huge green light curtain.

It met the gray tribulation lightning!

However, the scene that unfolded next shocked everyone!

Yes! That green light curtain, which could completely withstand an attack from a Nascent Soul Cultivator, actually disappeared directly under that light pillar!

The Magic Treasure also met the same fate.

"Pfft!"

Chen Daoxuan was struck by lightning, violently spitting out a large mouthful of blood.

But he had no time to grieve over the destruction of his Lifebound Treasure.

Because that gray tribulation lightning, after destroying all his defenses, had already arrived before him!

Chen Daoxuan couldn't dodge in time.

He could only watch helplessly as that gray light pillar.

Forcefully poured into his crown!

"Ah—!!!"

A scream erupted from Chen Daoxuan's mouth!

His body trembled violently, and gray, eerie cracks appeared on his skin.

All the vitality in his body... was being frantically devoured by that overbearing power!

And within his Purple Mansion Dantian, the nascent form of a Nascent Soul that had just condensed.

And was emitting a brilliant light.

Its light suddenly stagnated the moment that gray power invaded!

Immediately after, streaks of cracks, on that tiny Nascent Soul.

Spread rapidly!

The light of the Nascent Soul was rapidly dimming at a terrifying speed!

The Nascent Soul was about to shatter!

"No!!!"

"Dao Xuan!!!"

Below the mountain, the Chen Family clansmen let out screams.

Many even had their vision go black.

And directly fainted.

"Big Brother!"

Chen Daochu's eyes were bloodshot, looking like a madman, about to rush up recklessly!

"How... how could this be?"

Daoist Yuqing, Chu Xuan, and the others also had their faces change drastically at this scene.

No one expected!

That such a thing would happen?

Just at this critical moment.

"You want to destroy my son's Dao path?"

Chen Xu's voice suddenly rang out, echoing through Heaven and Earth.

"Did you ask me first?!"

The moment his voice fell!

Chen Xu's figure instantly vanished from its original spot.

The next moment, he appeared directly beneath the rolling tribulation clouds.

Appearing above Chen Daoxuan's head!

"Father!"

Chen Daoxuan, whose consciousness was already blurred by the gray power.

The moment he saw that figure, his collapsing will suddenly solidified.

"I am here."

Chen Xu replied indifferently.

Then he turned his gaze to his son's body, which was covered in gray cracks.

And rapidly losing vitality.

In the depths of his eyes, a hint of coldness flashed.

He did not directly attack the surging tribulation clouds.

Because he knew that the gray power did not come from the Heavenly Tribulation itself, but was the manifestation of the will of this Heaven and Earth, this "cage".

Attacking the Heavenly Tribulation was like scratching an itch through a boot.

To save his son, he must first cut off the malice of this Heaven and Earth!

"Om—"

Chen Xu's mind stirred, and the ancient golden imprint between his brows.

Suddenly shone brightly!

human emperor seal!

The golden great seal, condensed from endless Imperial Dragon Qi, emerged from his body, expanding rapidly in the wind, instantly transforming into the size of a mountain, suspended above the Nine Heavens!

Roar—!

A high-pitched Dragon roar echoed through the clouds!

With the appearance of the human emperor seal, the Ten Thousand Mile Ancestral Dragon Vein deep beneath the Heavenly Sword Mountain Range below, as if summoned by a monarch, roared madly!

Ten thousand zhang Imperial Dragon Qi, like golden Heavenly Rivers, cascaded down from the human emperor seal!

That golden torrent of Luck did not charge at the tribulation clouds, but instead rapidly constructed an absolute Domain composed of Imperial Dragon Qi around Chen Daoxuan!

A golden shield firmly protected Chen Daoxuan within it!

Within the Domain, imperial might was vast, repelling all Laws!

The gray cage power that had permeated from the Heavenly Tribulation, continuously eroding Chen Daoxuan's vitality and Nascent Soul, began to dissipate the moment it touched the golden Domain!

Hiss, hiss, hiss—

Accompanied by faint corrosive sounds, that strange gray power was actually blocked by the incomparably domineering Imperial Dragon Qi.

It was forcefully kept outside, unable to invade even a single bit!

Chen Daoxuan's pain instantly alleviated by more than half!

However, this was only the beginning.

To save him, one must save him from the root!