114: Entering the Great Yan Dynasty

Soon, news of the two Demon Sects' destruction spread like wildfire across the Eastern Domain's provinces.

The Sects and Loose Cultivators who had once been oppressed by the Demon Heaven Sect and Blood Soul Sect were initially disbelieving upon hearing the news. After confirming that the twin Sects' strongholds had been reduced to scorched earth, with no trace of Devilish Qi remaining, the entire Eastern Domain erupted into long-suppressed celebration.

Some Sects adorned themselves with lanterns and streamers, holding banquets as if for a festival, celebrating the dissipation of the "nightmare" that had weighed on them for years.

Some Loose Cultivators gathered in taverns, drinking heartily, recounting past tales of being plundered by the Demon Sects and the tragic deaths of their loved ones. Tears mixed with wine as they swallowed, a blend of sadness and liberation.

"Those bastards from the Demon Heaven Sect stole my Sect's Spiritual Vein mine and killed my Master! Today, they finally got their just deserts!"

"And the Blood Soul Sect! How many Cultivators did they capture to refine 'Blood Soul Pearls'? How many families were ruined and lives lost! Now it's good, their Sect and Foundation are all gone. It's truly satisfying!"

A white-haired Loose Cultivator slammed the table, his eyes filled with a sense of vengeance. His granddaughter had been abducted by the Blood Soul Sect many years ago, and he had never heard from her since. Now, with the destruction of the twin Sects, it was a form of solace for his granddaughter's spirit.

Amidst the celebrations, many were stirred.

The Demon Heaven Sect and Blood Soul Sect had occupied Yun Province and Xuan Province for many years, undoubtedly accumulating a wealth of treasures, Cultivation Techniques, and Spiritual Vein mines.

Even with the twin Sects destroyed, there might still be overlooked treasures to be found in the ruins.

Thus, many Cultivators, harboring thoughts of finding overlooked treasures, bravely ventured towards the twin Sects' strongholds. Even small Sects organized teams, hoping to find some Incomplete Manuals or spirit crystals to strengthen themselves.

The first to arrive at the Demon Heaven Sect's ruins were a group of experienced Loose Cultivators.

They stopped hundreds of miles away, not daring to advance further.

In the center of that scorched earth, a colossal cyan palm print, spanning heaven and earth, was clearly etched. The palm lines were as distinct as carvings, and the surrounding rocks still emitted a scorching heat, with the air slightly distorted by the residual spiritual energy.

From a distance, the palm print seemed bottomless, like a hibernating ancient beast that had completely swallowed the former Sect into the earth, leaving not even a hint of its outline.

"What terrifying power!"

A Loose Cultivator couldn't help but gasp. He was about to release his Divine Sense to probe the depths of the palm print but was repelled by an invisible pressure, his Sea of Consciousness throbbing with pain.

Only then did everyone realize that a faint cyan halo lingered around the palm print. That was the residual Dao Rhyme from Gu Changge's strike, seemingly gentle but carrying an inviolable majesty. Any Cultivator below the Purple Mansion Realm couldn't even get close.

When some powerful experts, with profound Cultivation, managed to approach the old Sect gate, the sight before them left them utterly stunned.

The once towering palaces and sturdy city walls had long turned into dust, not a single intact brick or stone could be found.

The Spiritual Vein mines beneath the ground had been completely collapsed by the palm's force, leaving only a bottomless black hole. Looking into it, there was only endless darkness, as if even light was swallowed.

"How... how is this possible?"

An expert knelt down in disbelief, reaching out to touch the scorched earth. As his fingertips approached, they were repelled by scorching spiritual energy, making him quickly retract his hand.

"Even a Holy Weapon's bombardment should leave some fragments, right? How can there be nothing left at all?"

His companion's face turned pale, looking at the empty scorched earth and the monstrous giant palm print. His greed was instantly replaced by fear.

"That expert's power... is too terrifying! This isn't just destroying a Sect; it's completely erasing it from the map of Xuan Province! Leaving no room for covetousness!"

And the Cultivators heading to the Blood Soul Sect's ruins encountered the same scene.

Similarly, a cyan giant palm print was etched, with deep, bone-piercing cracks, still bearing faint purifying power that had cleansed the former bloodthirsty aura completely.

After the news spread, the Cultivators who had still harbored thoughts of "finding overlooked treasures" completely gave up.

However, a few days later, some daring Cultivators discovered that within the cyan halo surrounding the giant palm print, there was a faint, ethereal Dao Rhyme.

A Purple Mansion Realm Cultivator tried to sit cross-legged at the outer edge of the halo. In less than half a day, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his Cultivation, which had been stuck at a Bottleneck for a long time, showed subtle signs of loosening.

Even more Cultivators felt the "fierce and domineering" intent contained within the palm print, and their understanding of their own combat techniques deepened instantly.

"There's Dao Rhyme here! It's the Dao Rhyme left by that expert!"

The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Eastern Domain, and more and more Cultivators flocked to the twin Sects' ruins.

They dared not approach the core of the palm print, only finding a corner at the outer edge of the halo to sit cross-legged, feeling the spiritual energy and Dao Rhyme flowing in the air. Their Cultivation progressed much faster than through their usual arduous Cultivation.

Even people from various Holy Lands came here to gain insights.

The former Demon Sect Forbidden Ground gradually became a treasured Cultivation ground, sought after by everyone within the Eastern Domain.

Every morning, the area around the giant palm print was filled with Cultivators. They gazed at the cyan palm print, deeply embedded in the earth, their eyes filled with reverence.

This palm print was not only a testament to the destruction of the two Demon Sects but also contained the profound Dao of that mysterious expert, constantly reminding everyone: what absolute power is, and what inviolable majesty is.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu had long since left the Secret Realm.

Xiao Hei snuggled on Xiao Ruobai's shoulder, its sharp beak occasionally rubbing against his fingertips, emitting crisp "chirps" as if urging him on.

The two, using the Cant Catch Me movement technique, swept through the mountains like two afterimages, reaching the border of the Great Yan Dynasty in just half a day.

Standing beneath the majestic dark green city gate tower, Xiao Ruobai looked at the crimson-gold "Yan" flag fluttering above, and a scarlet killing intent instantly ignited in his eyes.

The color of the flag was strikingly similar to the scene of his parents falling in a pool of blood that year, and even his breathing became scorching.

Fang Hanyu quietly pressed his hand, which was tightly gripping the halberd shaft, and whispered, "Senior Brother, calm down first."

Xiao Ruobai took a deep breath, his fingernails digging deep into his palm, before he managed to suppress his surging emotions.

The Imperial Capital presented a scene of prosperity. Along the bluestone-paved streets, shops were lined up, and the cries of vendors rose and fell.

But behind this liveliness, there was a suffocating oppression. Every hundred meters, a squad of heavily armored soldiers patrolled, their long sabers gleaming coldly, their gazes sweeping over pedestrians with undisguised scrutiny.

On the bulletin board at the street corner, dozens of Cultivator wanted posters were displayed, with astonishingly high bounties, clearly a means for the Imperial Dynasty to suppress dissent and consolidate its rule.

"Still the same, treating human lives like grass."

Xiao Ruobai cursed in a low voice, subtly condensing a wisp of War Qi at his fingertips.

His gaze swept over the soldiers checking at the city gate, then over the faint outline of the Imperial Palace visible at the end of the street. The scarlet in his eyes gradually settled into a cold sharpness.

His War God Body trembled slightly within him, as if echoing this hatred. Golden War Qi slowly circulated through his Meridians, compressing his surging emotions into the accumulated power before unsheathing.