153: Conflict arises!

The ruins surrounding the palm print are now bustling with people, spiritual light radiating in all directions, having transformed into a temporary market and a Holy Land for enlightenment, a place where various forces gather.

Cultivators of various attire and from different regions occupy their territories with clear distinctions.

The eastern side, an area with a relatively rich Dao Rhyme, is occupied by the Disciples of the major Sects from Xuan Province.

Cold Moon Valley, Tianyan Sect, Jade Clarity Sect, Formation Breaking Sect, and others all have outposts here.

Xiao Ruobai’s gaze swept across, and he also saw the members of the Azure Profound Sect; several Elders were seated in the center, and the Disciples were meditating orderly, exuding a calm confidence.

Other areas were crowded and chaotic, gathering forces from other provinces and numerous unattached Loose Cultivators.

Among them were many Cultivators with powerful auras and unique attire, and even a few Holy Land members, transcendent and surrounded by a faint holy glow, were scattered throughout; though few in number, no one dared to approach them easily, forming their own quiet space.

In the sky, escape lights still occasionally descended, bringing new faces to this already crowded arena of contention.

Clashes and Breakthrough auras rose and fell, making this land, beneath the tranquility of Dao Rhyme comprehension, conceal surging undercurrents.

And those Loose Cultivators and small Sect Disciples without a Foundation could only huddle in twos and threes in the peripheral areas where the Dao Rhyme was thin.

They would either exchange resources for slightly better positions, often erupting into arguments or even small-scale conflicts over a rock that offered a clear perception of Dao Rhyme.

In the sky, streams of light were incessant, as new Cultivators continuously arrived from all directions.

Flying boats, jade palanquins, and spiritual beast mounts arrived in an endless stream; whenever a new powerhouse descended, it would cause a stir and observation, with people speculating about their origin and intentions.

“Bang!”

A muffled sound accompanied by spiritual energy fluctuations exploded in the crowd, interrupting the enlightenment of some nearby Cultivators.

Two Cultivators were seen fighting over a dark green rock situated right next to the edge of the giant palm print’s crack.

The surface of the rock was smooth as a mirror, with faint streams of light circulating, allowing one to more clearly perceive the pure Dao Rhyme emanating from deep within the earth when seated upon it—clearly an excellent spot for enlightenment.

“Fellow Daoist, I found this spot first and set up a warning Formation Flag; please find another place!”

A middle-aged man in a gray, fitted outfit with a sharp face said in a deep voice.

He did not release his full Spiritual Pressure, but the Cave Heaven Realm spiritual energy aura subtly emanating from him already secretly startled many Cultivators around, causing them to consciously retreat a distance.

“Hmph, a mere Formation Flag counts as occupying it? The Dao Rhyme here is ownerless; naturally, whoever sits down first claims it!

I see this place has a connection with me, Fellow Daoist; you should go elsewhere!”

Another middle-aged Cultivator in brocade robes, slightly portly, sneered in response, also unreservedly radiating Cave Heaven Realm cultivation fluctuations.

His sleeve subtly moved, and a flexible yet powerful force surged out, attempting to push the other person away.

Neither used killing moves, but the spiritual energy collision between Cave Heaven Realm Cultivators was still significant; an invisible Qi wave spread out from the two, kicking up dust from the ground and causing more Cultivators to frown and retreat to avoid being affected.

Although they were displeased that the fight disturbed the peace, sensing the two’s cultivation, no one dared to step forward to stop them.

“Sirs, this is a place for quiet enlightenment and cultivation, not for vying for supremacy. Such a dispute, disturbing everyone’s peace, is not appropriate, is it?”

However, before they could determine a victor, a heart-palpitating Spiritual Pressure suddenly descended, and an old man in a star-patterned Daoist robe appeared silently in the air.

“This is a place of enlightenment, not a private fighting ground for you. If you dare to cause a disturbance again, do not blame this old man for clearing you all out of this place!”

The two fighting individuals instantly turned pale, sensing the old man’s unfathomable cultivation, at least in the Heavenly Human Realm, and immediately ceased their actions, sullenly withdrawing their hands.

The gray-clad man was the first to retract his aura, casting a cold glance at the brocade-robed Cultivator before turning to find another spot.

The brocade-robed Cultivator also snorted, waving his sleeve to give up, but did not leave immediately; instead, he found a slightly inferior position near the bluestone and sat down cross-legged, clearly still reluctant to part with the Dao Rhyme of the place.

Similar conflicts were common here, accompanied by joyous shouts and exclamations that occasionally rang out from various directions.

Sometimes, Cultivators would Breakthrough their Bottleneck under the nourishment of the rich Dao Rhyme, their spiritual energy soaring into the sky, drawing envious and jealous gazes.

Even Gu Changge had not expected that his casual palm strike that day, eradicating the cancerous Demon Heaven Sect, would create such a unique stage of gathering forces and rising heroes, stirring up winds and clouds from all directions.

They either had powerful Protectors or possessed exceptional strength themselves, setting up barriers that outsiders found difficult to approach.

Xiao Ruobai stood still for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the conflicts and Breakthroughs, finally settling deeply on the depths of the palm pit.

Every day on Zizhu Peak, he could feel his Master’s aura, as vast as an abyss yet gentle and restrained.

But at this moment, through this remnant palm print, to so directly and dominantly feel the power his Master had once unleashed—that supreme might that flattened mountains, purified evil, and whose Dao Rhyme lingered to this day—stirred a unique emotion within him.

This was a more intuitive shock and yearning that transcended verbal teaching.

“Let’s go, let’s get closer.”

Xiao Ruobai spoke softly, stepping towards an area rich in Dao Rhyme.

The closer they got to the giant palm print, the more apparent the pressure in the air became, and the “invisible boundaries” drawn by various forces grew clearer.

The core area, where the Dao Rhyme was so rich it glowed with iridescent light, had long been occupied by Disciples of Holy Lands and major Sects; they either had powerful Protectors or possessed formidable strength themselves, and the barriers they set up acted like invisible shields, keeping outsiders out.

Xiao Ruobai’s gaze swept around, finally locking onto a still-available gap at the edge of the rich area, just about to lead Fang Hanyu and Wang Xiaopang over.

“Stop!”

A cold shout suddenly boomed, filled with arrogance and reprimand.

Several young Cultivators, dressed in luxurious clothes and exuding an arrogant aura, stood up, clearly from a major force.

The leader, holding a jade-boned folding fan, pointed at Xiao Ruobai and the two others with a look of disdain.

“Where did these wild Cultivators come from? Do you not understand the rules?”

The fan-wielding youth sized up their simple attire, a sneer playing on his lips.

“Is this an area you lot are fit to come to? Get lost, don’t defile the Dao Rhyme here or offend our young masters’ eyes!”

A Cultivator next to him, with folded arms, scoffed, “What are you looking at? We’re talking about you three!”

Another even stepped forward directly, his Purple Mansion Realm early-stage Spiritual Pressure unceremoniously pressing down: “Can’t understand human words? Take one more step forward, and don’t blame us for being impolite!”

As the Spiritual Pressure touched Xiao Pangzi, he didn’t retreat at all; instead, he scoffed and shook his head, easily shrugging off the pressure as if flicking dust from his body.

“Truly, no matter where I go, I always run into self-important idiots like you.”

As his voice fell, he suddenly stepped forward; his seemingly bulky frame surprisingly burst with extreme speed, and he raised his hand to slap the Cultivator who had released the Spiritual Pressure.

Before that Cultivator could react, he was struck in the chest by the spiritual energy condensed in Little Fatty’s palm; his entire body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, he “pfft” out a mouthful of blood, and his aura instantly withered.

“With your meager cultivation, you dare to act presumptuous in front of Grandpa?”

Wang Xiaopang clapped his hands, his eyes filled with disdain.