143: 迫在耳睫，劍風之劍！

In Chen Xu's eyes, there was no longer a trace of warmth.

All that remained was the absolute indifference forged in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, regarding all things as mere grass dogs!

And that... intense, unresolvable killing intent!

He finally spoke, "Heaven's Will?"

"In this sovereign's presence..."

"I am Heaven's Will!"

I am Heaven's Will!

These four words carried no magic power, yet they held an undeniable arrogance!

Inside the great hall, every single one of the hundred-plus Nascent Soul Ancestors, without exception,

simultaneously turned pale!

The pressure that erupted from Chen Xu as he stood up was completely unreasonable!

Late Nascent Soul Stage Peak Great Perfection!

The true pinnacle of this world!

That was no longer simple magic power suppression, but an absolute crushing force based on the level of life itself!

Under the pressure, the few Early Stage Nascent Soul Ancestors with the weakest cultivation were instantly crushed to the ground, collapsing.

Their Nascent Souls trembled wildly inside their Purple Mansions, nearly shattering on the spot!

Mysterious Mechanism, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, naturally bore the brunt of it!

The compassionate sorrow and calm composure on his face completely vanished.

Under this pressure, he felt that he couldn't even last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

He wanted to open his mouth and beg for mercy.

He wanted to say something.

But he found that he couldn't utter a single word.

Chen Xu's gaze fell upon him, then slowly swept over the conservative Old Ancestors who had been the most vocal earlier.

"Heaven's Will?"

He laughed, his voice filled with endless mockery and disdain.

"In this sovereign's presence, your so-called peace and tranquility is merely waiting for death."

"Your so-called national stability and peace for the people is the final comfort of livestock before the butcher's knife falls!"

"And you all..."

His voice suddenly turned cold.

"A bunch of trash who don't even dare to look up at the sky—are you worthy of discussing Heaven's Will?"

"Do you dare to discuss the common people in front of this sovereign?"

As his voice faded, he stopped looking at anyone, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.

That terrifying pressure which had suffocated everyone,

vanished along with him.

Plop! Plop!

Inside the great hall, more than half of the Old Ancestors' legs went soft, and they collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

Their bodies were already soaked in cold sweat.

Survival after a calamity!

They had never imagined that death was so close!

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect looked at Mysterious Mechanism's ghastly pale face, then at the embarrassed old men on the floor, his eyes full of disdain. He snorted heavily and also turned and strode away.

Liu Ruyan, the Valley Master of Ten Thousand Beasts Valley, and others followed closely behind.

Soon, only Mysterious Mechanism and the conservative Old Ancestors remained in the great hall, their faces ashen, their eyes filled with the terror of having survived a calamity.

As well as a trace of resentment after being publicly humiliated.

"He... he is a lunatic! A complete and utter tyrant!"

An Old Ancestor spoke with a trembling voice.

Mysterious Mechanism tightly clenched his fists.

He had just walked through the gates of hell, and the fear of Chen Xu in his heart had reached its zenith.

But his persistent belief, which originated from the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Legacy,

his fanatical faith in "Heaven's Will," was even more deeply ingrained!

He firmly believed that his divination was not wrong!

Chen Xu's actions were going against Heaven!

He was pushing the entire world toward the abyss of destruction!

He could not stand idly by!

"Alliance Leader Chen... has been blinded by power and will not listen to any advice."

Mysterious Mechanism took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

"Fellow Daoists, we cannot give up now! For the sake of the hundreds of millions of lives in Zhongzhou, and for the Legacy of our Dao traditions, we must stop him!"

"But... but his strength..."

Someone spoke fearfully.

"How can one person's power contend against the general trend of the world?"

Mysterious Mechanism shook his head slightly, "No matter how strong the Alliance Leader is, can he really kill all of us?"

...That very night, undercurrents surged in Zhongzhou.

Led by the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Mysterious Mechanism acted as a lobbyist, persuading the various Sects.

Hoping they could collectively attempt to reason with the Alliance Leader again.

For a time, Zhongzhou, which had been unified for less than a year,

had its people's hearts agitated once more.

Rumors that Chen Xu was a tyrant who was about to bring disaster upon the world began to quietly circulate among the populace.

Chen Family Holy Land, Patriarch's Courtyard.

Chen Xu was walking under the moonlight with Bu Yifan and Sun Xiaoyue, listening to them talk about interesting events concerning the Family's businesses.

Chen Daoxuan quickly walked in, his expression grave, and reported the external movements one by one.

"Father, Mysterious Mechanism of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion is lobbying the major conservative Sects, they are..."

Chen Xu waved his hand, interrupting him.

The gentle smile on his face did not diminish, but a bone-chilling coldness flashed deep in his eyes.

He looked up toward the north, the direction of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

He lightly uttered a few words.

"Utterly foolish, courting death."

Chen Daoxuan's heart trembled; he knew his father was truly enraged.

The next day, before dawn broke.

Chen Xu did not alert anyone, leaving the Chen Family Holy Land alone.

He took a single step.

And his figure vanished from where he stood.

The next moment, ten thousand miles away, above the mountain gate of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, space rippled like water.

A black-robed figure materialized out of thin air.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression indifferent, looking down at the mountain gate below, which was wreathed in clouds and permeated with Immortal Qi.

"Alliance... Alliance Leader Chen!"

Almost the instant Chen Xu appeared, a voice rang out within the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Immediately afterward, the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's mountain protecting Formation loudly activated, and thousands of streams of light shot into the sky, enveloping the entire mountain gate.

Mysterious Mechanism rushed out of the great hall, leading a group of Heavenly Secret Pavilion Elders and Disciples.

When he saw that solitary figure in the sky, his legs went weak, and he nearly knelt down immediately.

How did he get here?!

Turbulent waves surged in Mysterious Mechanism's heart, but he forced himself to calm down, squeezed out an extremely respectful smile, and led everyone in kneeling down before the figure in the sky.

"The entire Heavenly Secret Pavilion respectfully welcomes the presence of the Alliance Leader!"

"We failed to properly welcome the Alliance Leader's personal arrival. We beg the Alliance Leader for forgiveness!"

He adopted an extremely low posture, then began his routine speech, his voice mournful and earnest.

"Alliance Leader! This humble Daoist's words a few days ago held absolutely no intention of insubordination!"

"It is merely the divination of our Heavenly Secret Pavilion..."

"Everything this humble Daoist does is for the common people of Zhongzhou, and for your eternal and immortal foundation, Alliance Leader!"

"Please, Alliance Leader, reconsider, withdraw your decree, and do not act rashly, lest you suffer Heaven's wrath!"

As he spoke, he heavily kowtowed.

His appearance was exactly like that of a loyal subject willing to die to admonish his monarch.

He believed that if he lowered his stance this much and invoked the greater good of the common people, no matter how tyrannical Chen Xu was,

it would be impossible for him to truly strike him down in front of so many people.

However, he miscalculated everything.

From beginning to end.

Chen Xu did not utter a single word.

He merely looked down silently, watching Mysterious Mechanism's performance like a clown.

It wasn't until Mysterious Mechanism finished speaking.

That Chen Xu slowly raised his hand.

Buzz—!

A massive golden seal quietly appeared above his head, swelling against the wind, instantly transforming into the size of a mountain.

It obscured the entire sky!

human emperor seal!

Roar—!!!

A high-pitched Dragon roar shook the Heaven and Earth!

Vast and boundless Imperial Dragon Qi poured down with a crash!

"No!!!"

The respect and sorrow on Mysterious Mechanism's face instantly turned into terror.

He let out a shriek!

How dare he?!

How dare he actually attack?!

Was the opponent truly leaving no room for negotiation?!

Rumble—!!!

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion's mountain protecting Formation, under the scouring of the Imperial Dragon Qi, instantly dissolved again, just like the Xuanjing Sect's!

The grand Formation was broken!

Puff! Puff! Puff!

With the Formation broken, all the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Elders presiding over the array cores simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood.

Their aura instantly withered.

Inside the mountain gate, tens of thousands of Disciples were forced to their knees by the Imperial power, unable to move, their eyes filled only with endless terror and despair!

One must know that the destruction of the Xuanjing Sect was still fresh in everyone's memory.

They truly dared not imagine that merely for proposing a different opinion, they would be directly wiped out by Chen Xu?!

However, this was only the beginning.

Under the terrified gaze of everyone in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion.

Chen Xu's other hand gripped a sword.

myriad ages azure cloud sword!

Clang!

The sound of the sword tearing through the sky!

The supreme killing Qi, born for the slaughter of immortals and gods, shot into the heavens!

"Slay."

Chen Xu lightly uttered a single word.

He flipped his wrist and swung his sword toward the terrified Mysterious Mechanism below!

Mysterious Mechanism's hair stood on end!

Without thinking, he immediately summoned his ultimate life-saving Magic Treasure, the "Mysterious Tortoise Heavenly Armor," renowned for absolute defense!

At the same time, his immense magic power as a Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator transformed into hundreds of layers of protective Divine Abilities, firmly shielding himself!

However, all of this was futile.

The sword mark ignored space, time, and the obstruction of all Magic Treasures and Divine Abilities, simply slicing through Mysterious Mechanism's body.

Time seemed to stop at this moment.

The look of terror on Mysterious Mechanism's face froze.

He lowered his head and looked at his body, perfectly intact.

He couldn't even feel a trace of pain.

Could it be... he blocked it?

The moment this thought arose.

Pfft... a soft sound.

A line of blood appeared on his body, starting from his glabella.

The bloodline rapidly spread, traversing his entire body.

The next second.

His Physical Body, along with the Nascent Soul inside his Purple Mansion, disintegrated inch by inch under the gaze of all the Heavenly Secret Pavilion Disciples.

And dispersed between Heaven and Earth.

His Divine Soul was extinguished!

The Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, who held a transcendent status in Zhongzhou,

a Late Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator who inherited a Dao tradition spanning ten thousand ages,

fell instantly under this single sword strike!

Both body and spirit destroyed!

Chen Xu slowly retracted his sword, standing high in the sky, his expression indifferent.

His voice, amplified by supreme magic power, was like a majestic heavenly decree, instantly spreading throughout Zhongzhou and echoing clearly in the ears of every Nascent Soul Cultivator.

"This sovereign reiterates: those who follow me shall prosper, and those who oppose me shall perish!"

"The path my Chen Family walks cannot be blocked by anyone!"

"After today, anyone who raises further objections—the Heavenly Secret Pavilion shall be your fate!"

This sentence exploded throughout Zhongzhou!

In an instant, all Sects, all aristocratic Families, and all Cultivators shuddered.

Last time, the Xuanjing Sect met this fate.

And this time, it was the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, whose status was even more transcendent than the Xuanjing Sect!

Furthermore, Mysterious Mechanism had followed Chen Xu in conquering the Demonic Path—he was absolutely considered a meritorious subject!

Yet, simply because he opposed, he was killed just like that?!

This caused those Sects that were still wavering to instantly become silent with fear, extinguishing all dissenting thoughts.

Chen Xu, once again using an iron fist! forcibly unified the will of the Alliance!

Throughout the entire Central Continent, there was no longer any dissenting voice.

However.

Just as Chen Xu powerfully broke the situation, using his individual might to subdue the entire world.

His expression, which had been as still as an ancient well, suddenly furrowed.

He could feel it.

The moment he slew Mysterious Mechanism, the already slow rate of decline of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in the entire Cultivation World suddenly doubled!

The speed at which this cage was shrinking had accelerated!

If, before, the Spiritual Qi of this world was like a slowly deflating ball.

Then now, it was as if someone had violently stabbed the ball several more times!

The rate of Spiritual Qi decline had suddenly accelerated severalfold!

This change might not be immediately noticeable to ordinary Cultivators, but for Chen Xu, who already stood at the pinnacle of the world and whose Divine Soul was subtly connected to heaven and earth, it felt like daggers at his back!

It was as if an invisible pair of large hands was slowly tightening, intent on completely crushing everything in this world.

"Has the cage's self-protection mechanism been triggered...?"

Chen Xu murmured to himself, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

His slaying of Mysterious Mechanism was an open defiance of this world's "will of heaven" with his own strength.

And this cage seemed to respond in the same way.

Giving the most direct response.

...Several days later!

Central Continent, Ziyang Sect.

An obscure second-rate Sect, yet today it was adorned with lanterns and streamers.

The atmosphere was unprecedentedly festive.

All because the last remaining Nascent Soul Ancestor within the Sect, who had been in seclusion for three hundred years, was finally going to attempt a Breakthrough to the Late Nascent Soul Stage today!

Once successful, the Ziyang Sect would instantly become a top-tier Sect in the Central Continent, its status rising with the tide.

"Protector Disciples, heed my command! Guard the Immortal Cave within a hundred li; no one is to approach!"

The Sect Master of Ziyang Sect stood outside the Immortal Cave where the Old Ancestor was in seclusion, his face flushed with excitement.

"Yes!"

Thousands of Disciples responded in unison, their faces filled with the fervent pride of sharing in the glory.

Boom!

Just then, a powerful aura shot up from within the Immortal Cave!

"It's about to happen! The Old Ancestor is about to succeed!"

The Sect Master of Ziyang Sect trembled with excitement.

However, in the next moment, everyone's smiles froze on their faces.

Above the Immortal Cave, the Spiritual Qi vortex that should have gathered inexplicably dissipated!

Immediately after, an aura of decay, not from a failed Breakthrough.

Instead emanated from within the Immortal Cave!

"No! Something happened to the Old Ancestor!"

The Sect Master's face changed drastically; without thinking, he slammed open the stone door of the Immortal Cave with a palm strike.

Leading a group of Elders, he rushed inside.

But the scene before them struck them all like lightning, turning them to stone collectively!

Inside the Immortal Cave, the Nascent Soul Ancestor, who was sitting cross-legged, his body... was glowing!

It wasn't the light of circulating magic power, but a very strange white light, as if he was about to ascend to the Immortal Realm!

"Old... Old Ancestor? What... what happened to you?"

The Sect Master's voice trembled, and he could barely stand.

The Old Ancestor slowly opened his eyes; there was no joy of Breakthrough in them.

Only terror and bewilderment.

He lowered his head, looking at his hands that were turning translucent, and opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But not a single word came out.

His body, starting from his feet, was disintegrating inch by inch, turning into specks of spiritual light.

Scattering into the air.

That feeling was not like death, but more like... recycling!

"No!!!"

A piercing shriek finally escaped the Old Ancestor's throat.

His Nascent Soul within his Purple Mansion struggled madly, trying to escape this Physical Body that was undergoing "Dao Transformation."

But it was utterly useless!

An irresistible suction, originating from heaven and earth itself, locked his Nascent Soul and Divine Soul.

Firmly in place!

"Bang!"

A soft sound.

Under the horrified gaze of thousands of Ziyang Sect Disciples.

The body of this Nascent Soul Ancestor, along with his Nascent Soul and Divine Soul.

Completely dissipated between heaven and earth.

Leaving nothing behind.

For a moment... the entire Ziyang Sect fell into a deathly silence!

After a long while, a scream.

Finally broke the deadly silence.

"Old Ancestor... the Old Ancestor was eaten by heaven!"

...What happened at Ziyang Sect could not be concealed at all.

In just a few days, the news spread like a plague.

Throughout the entire Central Continent.

A Nascent Soul Ancestor, while attempting a Breakthrough, mysteriously underwent "Dao Transformation"!

This was more bizarre than any Demonic Path Cultivation Technique... more terrifying than any Heavenly Tribulation!

At first, some people didn't believe it, thinking it was Ziyang Sect's enemies spreading rumors.

But soon, a second case, a third case... occurred consecutively!

A Middle Nascent Soul Stage Old Ancestor of a cultivation Family suddenly underwent Dao Transformation while meditating!

A Grand Elder of a certain Sect, while refining a Magic Treasure, transformed into a sky full of light rain, along with his Magic Treasure!

Together they turned into a sky full of light rain!

Without exception, all those who underwent Dao Transformation were high-level Nascent Soul Cultivators!

At this, the entire Cultivation World of the Central Continent completely exploded into chaos!

A wave of panic, like dark clouds pressing down.

Enveloped the heart of every Cultivator.

For the Demonic Path invasion, there was still Alliance Leader Chen, a towering giant, who could resist.

But this kind of "erasure" from heaven and earth itself, who could resist it?

And who would dare to resist it?

This was simply an incurable disease!

A strange phenomenon was given a name, reverberating throughout the Central Continent!

The Calamity of Dao Transformation!

Amidst this panic, enough to suffocate everyone.

Some malicious rumors began to spread quietly.

"Have you heard? This Calamity of Dao Transformation is a punishment sent by the heavens because Alliance Leader Chen insisted on acting against the heavens, angering them!"

"That's right! The Pavilion Master of Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Mysterious Mechanism, already divined it, saying that forcibly breaking the boundary would lead to a bloody disaster! But the Alliance Leader... he simply wouldn't listen to advice!"

"Heavens! If he wants to die alone, why must he drag our entire Central Continent to its demise?"

"Shh... lower your voice! Do you not value your life? Have you forgotten how Heavenly Secret Pavilion disappeared?"

In the taverns and teahouses of major immortal cities, in the marketplaces and Immortal Caves.

Countless Cultivators were privately discussing amongst themselves.

They dared not openly oppose Chen Xu, for that would mean death.

But the fear brought by the Calamity of Dao Transformation was like poisonous thorns... deeply embedded in everyone's hearts.

Chen Xu suppressed all dissenting voices with an iron fist.

But he couldn't suppress people's hearts!

He couldn't suppress fear!

For a time, undercurrents surged throughout the Central Continent, and people were in a state of panic.

The Alliance, which had just been forcibly unified, already showed signs of disintegration... Chen Family Holy Land, Deliberation Hall.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

Chen Daoxuan, Chen Daochu, Daoist Yuqing, Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect, Liu Ruyan... all the core high-ranking members and loyal allies of the Chen Family gathered here.

Everyone's face carried an undeniable solemnity and worry.

In the center of the main hall, hundreds of Jade Slips recording external intelligence.

Were piled up into a small mountain.

"Father, among the thirteen Sects in the Southern Territory, the mountain-protecting Formations of seven Sects can no longer operate due to depleted Spiritual Veins."

"Alliance Leader, a third-tier Spirit Mine under my Badao Sect, its Spiritual Qi completely dissipated overnight, turning into a廢礦 (waste mine)!"

"Sir... the rumors outside are becoming increasingly outlandish. Now almost everyone believes that the Calamity of Dao Transformation originated because of you..."

Everyone reported in a flurry, each piece of news making the atmosphere in the hall a little heavier.

Seated at the head of the table.

Chen Xu remained silent, merely listening quietly.

His fingers, on the armrest of the Alliance Leader's throne.

Tapped lightly in a rhythmic manner.

"Thump."

"Thump."

"Thump."

Each sound was like a heavy hammer striking everyone's heart.

Finally, when everyone had finished reporting.

And the hall once again fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Xu's tapping stopped.

He slowly lifted his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below.

"Afraid?"

His voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

The Sect Master of the Hegemon Blade Sect was the first to step forward, his tiger eyes wide, his voice like a great bell: "Afraid of what?! We Cultivators are inherently defying the heavens!"

"If today is our doom, should we not fight, or just stretch out our necks and wait for death?"

"We swear to follow the Alliance Leader to the death!"

"Precisely!"

Liu Ruyan also chimed in sweetly: "Those fence-sitters, ignore them. They only see the immediate danger, but fail to see that waiting for death is the true dead end."

However, Chen Daoxuan frowned, stepped forward, a hint of hesitation on his face.

"Father, your son is not afraid of death. It's just... the Calamity of Dao Transformation currently only targets Nascent Soul Cultivators. But if it continues, will it affect Golden Core, or even Foundation Establishment?"

"Our Chen Family is vast, with tens of thousands of clansmen... if the plan fails, are we truly going to stake everything on this?"

His words voiced the deepest concerns in many people's hearts present.

This was also the biggest dilemma Chen Xu currently faced.

Stopping the plan would be equivalent to admitting he was wrong, and even more so, leading everyone.

To a slow death in this constantly shrinking cage.

Continuing the plan, however, might accelerate the arrival of the Calamity of Dao Transformation, causing more innocent people, including his own clansmen, to perish with his crazy plan.

It was a difficult choice.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Chen Xu.

Awaiting his final decision.

Chen Xu looked at his son, who was growing more mature by the day, and then at the faces below, some resolute, some worried, some terrified.

He slowly stood up.

At this moment, he released no pressure.

But the air in the entire hall seemed to solidify.

Chen Xu walked to the center of the hall, to the mountain of Jade Slips.

He didn't look at the bad news that recorded disaster and panic.

Instead, he pulled one out from the pile.

One that Bu Yifan had just presented.

A Jade Slip recording the roster of newborn children in the Family.

His gaze fell upon each new name, and the coldness on his face, at this moment, quietly melted away, transforming into a tenderness that others could barely perceive.

He thought of his youngest son, who had just been born with the Formation Dao Sacred Body.

He thought of the hope that was still in Bu Yifan's womb, bearing the Myriad Ages Immortal Body, whom he had named "Chen Wandao."

He remained silent for a long time.

So long that everyone thought he was going to change his mind.