295: Chapter 295 Origin of the Dao Realm and the Lord of the Source

Stepping through that Gate of Origin, which radiated endless chaotic divine radiance, did not bring the expected world-spinning sensation of spatial tearing.

Zhou Wannian only felt as if he had passed through a layer of cool water curtain. In an instant, the howling of the violent chaotic storms and the sounds of colliding stellar remains vanished without a trace. In their place was an absolute tranquility. This silence was not deathly, but rather a natural state presented when all things grow and the Great Dao operates in its most perfect form.

He slowly opened his eyes, his deep gaze sweeping across this mysterious land, revered by countless mighty beings of the myriad worlds as the ultimate shore.

The scene that met his eyes was unexpectedly ordinary.

There were no magnificent immortal palaces or divine temples, nor were there mountains of peerless treasures. Appearing before Zhou Wannian was a lush Purple Bamboo Forest. Bamboo leaves swayed gently in the breeze, making a soft rustling sound. A winding path paved with green pebbles extended from beneath his feet deep into the bamboo forest.

With a calm expression, Zhou Wannian lowered his head and glanced at the green pebbles beneath his feet.

With just one glance, the perfectly functioning Dao Laws within his inner universe produced a faint resonance. Those seemingly ordinary pebbles were each actually condensed from a medium-sized Universe that was completely perfect and had flawless Laws. As for the purple bamboos swaying in the wind by the roadside, each bamboo joint represented an independent long river of time, and the flowing veins on the bamboo leaves were the destiny trajectories of those Universes.

Treading the myriad worlds underfoot, using the long river of time as scenery.

This was the grand scale of the Origin Dao Realm.

Zhou Wannian murmured softly in a relaxed tone, "Returning to basics, simplifying the complex. The arrangement of this Origin Dao Realm is much more pleasing to the eye than the nouveau riche style of the Lingxiao Heavenly Palace. Unfortunately, if one only spends their thoughts on piling up these sceneries, it ultimately falls into the inferior category."

Without the slightest constraint, he casually placed his hands behind his back and took steady steps, strolling along the green stone path paved with Universes toward the depths of the Purple Bamboo Forest.

A streak of dark golden light darted out from his sleeve.

The Gold-Devouring Immortal Golden Child landed on a green pebble. Its mung-bean-sized eyes were full of shock and fanaticism. It tentatively opened its small mouth and took a bite of the stone condensed from a Universe.

There was a crisp "crack" sound.

Even Golden Boy's teeth, which were sharp enough to bite through Primordial Divine Iron, suffered a minor setback against this pebble, leaving only a shallow white mark. Golden Boy shook its head aggrievedly, let out a dissatisfied insect chirp, and then turned into a streak of golden light, obediently flying back to Zhou Wannian's shoulder, no longer daring to bite at will.

Zhou Wannian turned his head slightly, seeing Golden Boy's frustrated look, and a gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth.

Zhou Wannian said amiably, "The things in this place aren't something your current teeth can bite. Behave yourself; if there's a suitable opportunity later, you'll certainly get your share."

Golden Boy nuzzled his cheek affectionately, then lay quietly on his shoulder, warily scanning the surroundings.

After walking along the path for about the time it takes to burn half a stick of incense, the Purple Bamboo Forest ahead suddenly opened up.

A clear lake, as smooth as a mirror, appeared in his sight. The lake surface was calm, reflecting the sky that had no sun or moon yet always radiated a soft white light. In the very center of the lake stood an ancient octagonal pavilion.

Within the pavilion sat three figures.

On the left was a person in a pure white robe with white hair and a youthful face, holding a white piece and staring intently at the chessboard. On the right was a person in black, with a face as cold as ten-thousand-year profound ice, holding a black piece between his fingers, his Killing Intent restrained. In the middle of the two sat a thin old man in a gray robe. The old man was tending to a small red clay stove, unhurriedly boiling a pot of water.

These three individuals did not emit any pressure, and not even a trace of Law fluctuations could be found. They looked like three ordinary old men in the mortal world enjoying their later years.

But Zhou Wannian knew very well that those who could sit at the core of the Origin Dao Realm were definitely the true Dominators of the myriad worlds. They had long surpassed the Realm of Dao Ancestors, perfectly fusing their own Great Dao with this place of Origin, reaching the "Lord of the Source" Realm where their words were Law and their thoughts could create or destroy worlds.

When the sound of Zhou Wannian's footsteps echoed by the lakeshore,

the three people inside the pavilion paused their movements simultaneously.

The white-robed old man holding the white piece slowly raised his head. His eyes, which seemed to contain endless creation and vitality, crossed the calm lake surface and fell upon Zhou Wannian.

The white-robed old man's tone was level, permeated with the vicissitudes of having experienced countless chaotic eras. He spoke faintly, "How many chaotic eras has it been? Finally, another being from the Lower Realm has pushed open that gate. Young man, that you could reach here is enough to prove that the Heavenly Dao of your Universe has birthed a remarkable anomaly."

The black-clothed man also put down the black piece in his hand, his gaze like two sharp abysses, firmly locking onto Zhou Wannian.

The black-clothed man said in an icy voice, "You aren't wearing the Origin Dao Seal we bestowed, and even the boundary wall of the True Immortal Realm was forcibly shattered. It seems that over these countless eras, the rules of the Lower Realm have been severely broken. How did you avoid being devoured by the Chaos Dao Demon to reach this place?"

The gray-robed old man, meanwhile, unhurriedly lifted the kettle from the stove and poured boiling water into a Purple clay teapot, not even looking up at Zhou Wannian.

The gray-robed old man said in a raspy voice, "The process is no longer important since you've reached here. Since you've come, then come over and have a cup of tea. The Origin Dao Realm has always treated those who can transcend the shackles of the Heavenly Dao with kindness."

Facing these three supreme Lords of the Source of the myriad worlds,

Zhou Wannian's expression remained as calm as water, without the slightest bit of awe or constraint that comes from an audience with supreme beings.

He took a step, and his figure flickered slightly by the lakeshore. In an instant, he ignored the spatial Restrictions on the lake surface that were enough to crush a Great Luo Dao Ancestor and landed steadily within the octagonal pavilion, standing beside the stone table.

He was in no hurry to sit down, but stood with his hands behind his back. His deep gaze first swept over the chessboard on the stone table, then landed on the pot of tea the gray-robed old man had just brewed.

Zhou Wannian's tone was steady, carrying a composure and relaxation that made the Divine Soul tremble.

Zhou Wannian said faintly, "There's no need for tea. Although your tea uses the Water of Origin, the state of mind used to brew it is full of calculation and the decaying air of old age. Tea brewed with such water will only ruin my appetite."

As soon as these words were spoken,

the atmosphere in the pavilion dropped to freezing point in an instant.

A flash of bewilderment crossed the white-robed old man's compassionate gaze. The black-clothed man's eyes instantly became like materialized blades, as if they wanted to gouge countless holes in Zhou Wannian. As for the gray-robed old man, the hand he used to pour tea paused for half a breath before he gently set the teapot down.

In the Origin Dao Realm, the three of them were the absolute supreme deities. For countless eras, those Half-Step Dao Ancestors who occasionally managed to push open the Gate of Origin and luckily arrive here—which one of them didn't kneel outside the pavilion, listening to their teachings with gratitude?

And this green-robed youth before them not only ignored all the rules to step directly into the pavilion but even dared to evaluate their tea as decaying and unbearable to his face.

This contempt had touched the absolute reverse scale of the Lords of the Source.

The black-clothed man snorted coldly, and a terrifying Killing Intent, composed purely of the Origin of Destruction and surpassing all mundane understanding, directly locked onto Zhou Wannian.

The black-clothed man shouted in a chilling tone, "Arrogant and ignorant ant of the Lower Realm. Do you think that because you luckily pushed open that gate, you are qualified to be insolent before us? In this Origin Dao Realm, we are the source of all things, the creators of the rules. Letting you drink tea is a supreme glory bestowed upon you. If you don't know what's good for you, this seat only needs a single thought to completely erase you along with your Universe from this endless Chaos."

Facing such a terrifying threat that could instantly reduce a Universe to zero,

Zhou Wannian didn't even lift an eyelid. His deep, star-abyss-like eyes calmly met the black-clothed man's gaze.

Zhou Wannian's tone was amiable, as if he were teaching a troublesome child.

Zhou Wannian said calmly, "Creators? Just three thieves who stole a trace of the fragmented Origin of the Origin Dao Domain and crowned themselves as lords. If you were truly the source of all things, how could the killing game on this chessboard be played so full of errors and loopholes, like child's play?"

He slowly extended his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together to form a sword finger, and very casually tapped lightly on the black and white interwoven chess game on the stone table.

Buzz.

Accompanied by the fall of his finger,

a burst of blinding light suddenly erupted from the originally calm stone table.

The white-robed old man and the black-clothed man were shocked to find that the chess game they had poured countless eras of Great Dao insights into—used to deduce the life and death trajectories of the myriad worlds—had undergone an earth-shaking change under Zhou Wannian's finger.

The flawless inner universe rules of the Great Five Elements Illusory World Art instantly flowed into the chessboard along Zhou Wannian's fingertip.

Those black and white pieces representing the birth and death of Universes began to shift wildly under the forced intervention of the dual Great Perfection Laws of Time and Space. The white pieces, which were originally being suppressed to death by the black-clothed man, suddenly radiated infinite vitality. With a peerless posture of encompassing all things and endless growth, they instantly strangled a large dragon of the black pieces, completely revitalizing the originally deathly still chess game.

"This... this is impossible. You actually saw through the Origin flaws of this 'Great Thousand Life and Death Game'."

The white-robed old man finally could not maintain his high-and-mighty indifference. He stood up abruptly, his gaze fixed on the chess game that Zhou Wannian had casually altered. His white-haired, youthful face was filled with unconcealable shock and disbelief.

This game was the materialized formation eye they used to control the fate of the myriad worlds. That Zhou Wannian could casually alter the game meant his understanding of the Great Dao had completely transcended theirs, and he could even reversely interfere with the rules they had established.

The black-clothed man's face turned so dark it seemed water could drip from it. He stared fixedly at Zhou Wannian, the Killing Intent in his eyes surging.

The Black-robed man spoke through gritted teeth: "This boy cannot be allowed to remain. The Laws within him have formed a world of their own, completely beyond the control of our Origin Dao Seal. If we let him continue to grow, he will surely usurp our positions and seize control of this Origin Dao Realm. Fellow Daoists, join me in striking him down and erasing him back into the void."

Before his voice had even faded, the Black-robed man could no longer suppress the terror and fury in his heart.

He slammed his hand onto the stone table, and his entire being transformed into a streak of pure black Divine Light of Destruction, soaring into the sky.

In mid-air, the Black-robed man's hands rapidly formed seals as he chanted ancient and obscure Origin Divine Scripts.

The Black-robed man roared fiercely: "Source Decree, All Daos Return to Extinction. Die!"

Boom!

The sky above the entire Purple Bamboo Forest instantly turned pitch-black. A force of 'Source Erasure' that defied description and surpassed all Acquired Laws transformed into a hundred-thousand-zhang-long black Giant Blade of Heavenly Punishment. Carrying a terrifying aura capable of severing all timelines and spatial dimensions, it slashed down violently toward Zhou Wannian in the pavilion.

This strike was a true dimensional reduction attack. Any living being born within this universal system, regardless of their cultivation level, would be instantly stripped of all meaning of existence and fundamentally erased before this 'Source Erasure'.

Although the White-robed elder and the Grey-robed elder did not act immediately, they simultaneously blocked all paths of retreat around the pavilion, watching coldly. In their eyes, now that the Black-robed man had utilized the Source Power, this arrogant young man was destined to be reduced to ashes under this strike.

However.

Facing this fatal blow capable of completely restarting the myriad worlds of the heavens.

Zhou Wannian remained standing steadily within the pavilion. He did not summon any Magic Treasures, nor did he retreat a single step.

He simply looked up slowly at the black Giant Blade of Heavenly Punishment slashing down at him. In his deep eyes, a flicker of faint boredom and disappointment flashed.

Zhou Wannian evaluated in a steady tone: "Is this Source Power you are so proud of merely using external force to apply pressure? This kind of energy discharge without any substance really fails to pique even half an interest."

He hadn't even fully withdrawn both hands from behind his back.

He simply raised his right hand, which had been behind his back, quite casually toward the sky.

Great Five Elements Illusory World Art, Time Law, Great Perfection Countercurrent.

Space Law, Great Perfection Disintegration.

One hundred and eight groups of time dao patterns surged within his body, transforming into an absolutely invincible inner universe power. Following his right hand, it gently met the black Giant Blade of Heavenly Punishment like a spring breeze brushing against willows.

Hum.

There was no deafening sound of Law collision, nor any world-destroying energy storm.

The moment Zhou Wannian’s inner universe Origin power came into contact with the black giant blade.

Time in the entire Origin Dao Realm seemed to fall into absolute stillness at this moment.

In the high sky, the Black-robed man's face, distorted by anger, instantly froze. He discovered with utter terror that his connection to the Origin of the Origin Dao Realm had been forcibly severed by that gentle force.

Immediately after.

Under Zhou Wannian's casual gesture, the hundred-thousand-zhang black giant blade, which carried the might of All Daos Return to Extinction, was like winter snow meeting a scorching sun.

Starting from the sharpest part of the blade, that pure Origin of Destruction began to collapse layer by layer at a speed that defied common sense. The Time Law's Countercurrent forcibly reverted its power to a state before it was even unleashed, while the Space Law's Disintegration completely decomposed its seemingly invincible structure into the most basic Chaos Clear Qi.

In just half a breath's time.

That earth-shattering strike completely dissolved in mid-air, turning into a gentle breeze that brushed through the Purple Bamboo Forest, without even blowing down a single bamboo leaf.

"This... this is impossible! You actually neutralized Source Erasure with your bare hands!"

The Black-robed man let out an incredulous scream, his Dao Heart shaking violently at this moment. His eternally immortal Source Body, under the backlash of the Laws that had lost their target, couldn't help but retreat several steps in mid-air, spitting out a large mouthful of golden Origin blood.

Inside the pavilion, the White-robed elder and the Grey-robed elder also turned pale with horror. They had lived through countless eons and had never seen any creature from the Lower Realm who could catch the Source's judgment so nonchalantly, especially using an independent Law that completely transcended their understanding.

Zhou Wannian slowly withdrew his right hand, his expression still as calm and relaxed as before.

He looked at the weakened Black-robed man in the sky, his tone steady, as if pronouncing the fate of an ant.

Zhou Wannian said indifferently: "Your methods are exhausted. Now, it's my turn. Since you Lords of the Source love being high and mighty so much, I will let you experience the taste of falling into the dust."

He didn't give the opponent any more chances to breathe or counterattack.

Zhou Wannian pressed his right index and middle fingers together to form a sword finger and pointed calmly toward the Black-robed man in the air.

Zhou Wannian uttered a single word: "Extinguish."

Swish.

A transparent and barely perceptible ripple of Law rippled out from Zhou Wannian's fingertip.

This ripple contained the unending and flawless absolute rules of Zhou Wannian's inner universe. It ignored the spatial distance of the Origin Dao Realm and the layers of Origin shields on the Black-robed man's body.

The moment the ripple brushed past the Black-robed man's body.

The Black-robed man's plea for mercy was forcibly choked in his throat. He stared with wide eyes in terror and despair as his Source Body—forged through countless tribulations and claimed to be indestructible through ten thousand kalpas—began to shatter inch by inch, starting from his fingertips.

It wasn't ordinary physical shattering, but a complete Disintegration from the Foundation of the Great Dao's Origin. His very concept of existence was being forcibly erased by a force of a higher dimension.

"Two fellow Daoists, save..."

This was the last half-syllable the Black-robed man left in this world.

In a ten-thousandth of an instant.

This high and mighty Black-Robed Dao Lord, who had ruled the myriad worlds of the heavens for countless eons, completely turned into a cloud of extremely fine grey powder in mid-air.

A gentle breeze blew.

The powder scattered across the clear surface of the lake and was instantly swallowed by the water, turning completely into nothingness.

An instant kill.

A true absolute instant kill.

Whether you are a Hegemon of the Star Sea or a Lord of the Source of this Origin Dao Realm, before Zhou Wannian's absolutely relaxed and crushing strength, the ending will always be these two crisp words.

By the side of the entire Purple Bamboo Forest, there was deathly silence.

The White-robed elder and the Grey-robed elder in the pavilion were already pale as ghosts. They trembled violently, the extreme fear originating from the depths of their Divine Souls making it difficult for them even to stand.

They watched as the Black-robed man, who was at the same Realm as them, vanished into thin air in the blink of an eye like a popped soap bubble. That sense of helplessness and despair completely destroyed the belief in invincibility they had built over countless eons.

The Grey-robed elder swallowed a mouthful of dry saliva. No longer caring about the dignity of a Lord of the Source, his legs gave way, and he knelt directly before Zhou Wannian in the pavilion.

The Grey-robed elder's voice trembled, filled with endless pleading: "Senior, have mercy. It was we who were blind and offended Senior's heavenly might. That Black-robed old ghost got what he deserved; please, Senior, stay your hand and spare the two of us. We are willing to hand over the Origin Dao Seals and serve Senior as the sole Supreme True Lord of these myriad worlds."

Seeing this, although the White-robed elder felt ten thousand kinds of reluctance, in the face of life and death, he could only grit his teeth and kneel along with him, deeply bowing that once incomparably proud head.

Zhou Wannian lowered his right hand and casually dusted his Green Robe's sleeve.

He looked at the two former Dominators of the heavens kneeling at his feet, his deep eyes showing not a single ripple.

Zhou Wannian said in a steady tone: "Supreme True Lord? I have not the slightest interest in your boring authorities. I came to this Origin Dao Realm just to see what this so-called Source of All Laws actually looks like. Now it seems it is nothing more than a decayed cage, grand on the outside but hollow within."

He did not accept the loyalty of the two, nor did he strike again to erase them.

For Zhou Wannian, whether to kill or not depended entirely on his state of mind at that moment. Since the main culprit had been punished, these two cowards who had been frightened out of their wits might still be useful for sweeping up the fallen leaves in this Purple Bamboo Forest.

Zhou Wannian took steady steps and walked to the stone table.

He casually picked up the Purple clay teapot that the Grey-robed elder had used to brew tea earlier and poured the tea he called 'decayed' directly into the nearby lake.

Then, with a slight thought, he drew a stream of Rootless Chaos Spiritual Spring, which contained pure vitality of creation, from his inner universe and poured it into the Purple clay teapot. A wisp of Primordial Sun Essence Fire emerged from his fingertip as he unhurriedly brewed a pot of Immortal tea that truly belonged to his own Dao.

Zhou Wannian sat comfortably on the stone stool, his posture still just as leisurely and relaxed.

Golden Boy, who was perched on his shoulder, flew excitedly onto the stone table and began a 'crunch, crunch' frenzy of devouring the Endgame chessboard that radiated an Origin aura. The two Dao Lords didn't even dare to breathe loudly, only able to watch helplessly as this dark-golden beetle ate their treasure, used for deducing the heavens, as if it were a snack.

Zhou Wannian picked up the brewed hot tea and took a light sip.

The tea fragrance curled up, refreshing and pleasant.

He looked up, his gaze passing over the two kneeling Dao Lords toward the even more vast and boundless unknown void beyond the Purple Bamboo Forest.

Zhou Wannian's tone was soothing, carrying a clarity and transcendence that saw through the essence of all things as he whispered to himself: "After the Origin, what other scenery is there? This endless Great Dao indeed has no end. But that's just as well, lest I feel bored when I have free time in the future."

He set down the teacup, his Green Robes elegant, his expression as composed as ever.

At the very peak of the myriad worlds of the heavens, at the true Source of all Laws, a youth in a Green Robe brewed a pot of tea and watched a beetle devouring the chessboard of the Universe.

This was a period of the most extreme, relaxed legend belonging to Zhou Wannian that could never be surpassed.