291: Chapter 738 Broken into a Sickle

Although Yuan Chen had crossed Realms alone and traveled far to Xuan Continent, the chaotic situation where major regions previously checked and balanced each other, clashed constantly, fought over Secret Realms, and snatched resources had completely dissipated.

All local forces, hidden Sects, and ancient Family clans had tacitly gone into hiding, and no one dared to easily provoke conflict again.

The entire world was quiet and restrained, like the dead silence before a storm. It looked peaceful, but in reality, undercurrents were already surging at the level of the heavens.

On this day, above the central vault of the Canglan Domain, a clear, elegant cyan rainbow pierced through layers of clouds. Gentle yet transcendent, it landed steadily on the high platform suspended ten thousand miles in the air.

As the rainbow light faded, Zhao Miao's figure slowly manifested.

He wore a simple cyan robe, his posture tall and handsome, his bearing detached from the world, and his brows and eyes were gentle and clear. Having crossed over from the Upper Realm, his expression carried the vastness and composure of a perspective spanning the heavens. The Immortal Qi swirling around him was restrained and calm—neither flashy nor impetuous—yet it naturally carried a transcendent aura that looked down upon lower planes.

Descending to the Lower Realm this time, he was still following the decree of the Zhao Family Old Ancestor, Sect Master Zhao Xuanyuan. His purpose was simple and pure—to deliver the fully collected collection of Cultivation World secret records and mysteries to Yuan Chen, continuing to solidify the bond between the Sect and Yuan Chen.

Zhao Miao had heard in the Upper Realm that Yuan Chen was holding down the fort in the Canglan Domain, intimidating all directions, and had a solid Foundation. He had expected that descending to the Lower Realm this time would allow him to see the other party smoothly, hand over the records, and report the Sect's stance. However, when he set foot in the Canglan Domain and spread his Divine Sense across the entire region to probe, he felt a bit surprised.

The entire Canglan Domain's Spiritual Qi was orderly and the mountains and rivers were stable, yet he could not find even a trace of Yuan Chen's aura or a wisp of Dao rhyme.

Whether it was the central Secret Realm where Yuan Chen usually resided or the core territory where he used to cultivate and hold the fort, everything was empty, with no tracks to be found.

Zhao Miao frowned slightly and retracted his Divine Sense that had been dispersed across the region. He was completely unaware that Yuan Chen had long since traveled far to Xuan Continent for cross-Realm warfare. Full of doubts and completely unable to understand, he locked his gaze onto Elder Hei Yan.

This person must know Yuan Chen's whereabouts and be aware of the recent changes in the Canglan Domain.

Zhao Miao raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping lightly across the empty high platform. His clear voice scattered with the wind, gentle yet solemn: "Fellow Daoist Elder Hei Yan, long time no see. I hope you have been well."

Before the words fell, the Void Realm to the side of the high platform suddenly trembled slightly.

Obscure and heavy black rock-patterned Dao rhyme flowed slowly out from the cracks in the Void Realm. Space peeled away layer by layer and slowly bloomed, like an ancient boulder cracking open.

Elder Hei Yan, with his mountain-like, tall and towering figure, stepped out.

His antique and heavy rock-gray battle armor had weathered patterns, carrying the accumulation of ages of guarding. The heavy Dao rhyme that suppressed the four wildernesses covered the ground around him. Without needing to deliberately display his aura, he naturally carried a stable aura like the bedrock of Heaven and Earth.

Seeing Zhao Miao, the cold, murderous aura of a guardian in Elder Hei Yan's eyes faded away completely. His expression softened a bit, and he nodded slightly in return: "Golden Immortal Zhao Miao, you have returned from the Upper Realm. It must have been hard traveling across domains."

His gaze narrowed slightly as he saw the aura around Zhao Miao, and he asked slowly: "Looking at your steady aura, this descent to the Lower Realm must be due to a major arrangement by Old Ancestor Sect Master Zhao Xuanyuan. May I ask if you can elaborate?"

The two had a deep connection, and every time they interacted across Realms, it was open and honest. There was no need for worldly formalities, and the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed.

Zhao Miao nodded gently, without unnecessary preamble. He raised his hand and waved, and dozens of jade books with ancient colors and complex patterns flew out of his sleeves, hovering quietly in front of the two.

Each jade book circulated with distinct regional Spiritual Qi. Some were sharp and domineering, some were dark and strange, some were vast and upright, and some were ethereal and rootless. They were clearly Dao lineage imprints from different planes of the heavens.

"These are the core records of the heavens that the Old Ancestor personally led a group of Zhao Family ancient book Elders to collect, traversing the heavens and expending huge connections and resources," Zhao Miao said, his fingertips lightly brushing the jade books, his eyes extremely serious. "They cover the situations of many famous Cultivation Worlds."

"They record the cultivation systems, levels, Martial Dao rules, Sect Dao lineages, top combat power, hidden Foundations, and regional shortcomings of various planes."

Elder Hei Yan's gaze fell on the jade books all over the sky, and a look of being moved clearly flashed in his eyes. He sighed in a deep voice: "Ordinary forces would find it difficult to catch even a glimpse of this even after exhausting eternal years. Old Ancestor Sect Master Zhao Xuanyuan's handwriting this time is truly heavy."

"That is so," Zhao Miao nodded proudly.

"As an old-fashioned Dao lineage in the Upper Realm, my Zhao Family has a vision far superior to lower planes and knows that the waters of the heavens are deep. The Old Ancestor did not want to see Fellow Daoist Yuan Chen stumbling in the dark, relying only on his own brute force to break through the dangerous situations of ten thousand domains. So, he exhausted the Sect's accumulation to collect information on the heavens, just so he could know himself and the enemy, understand the pros and cons, advance and retreat with evidence, take fewer detours, and encounter fewer dead ends."

Elder Hei Yan nodded heavily and said sincerely: "These records are more precious than any Heaven And Earth Treasure or top-grade sacred medicine. Combat power can be improved through hard training, and Foundation can be accumulated slowly, but the pattern of the heavens, hostile camps, and regional shortcomings are difficult for even the most peerless Prodigy to discern out of thin air without the guidance of outsiders. The Old Ancestor's help has truly arrived at the critical point."

"It is not just help."

Zhao Miao raised his eyes, his gaze suddenly becoming extremely solemn as he stated the true core purpose of this descent to the Lower Realm.

"This time I descended to the Lower Realm, the most important thing is not to send records, but to officially announce the final stance of my Zhao Family."

"After repeated deductions, several secret discussions, and weighing the pros and cons of the ages by the Old Ancestor and the top Elders of the Sect, my Zhao Family line has officially decided to completely let go of all hesitation, all reservations, and all retreat paths, to deeply bind with Fellow Daoist Yuan Chen, share honor and disgrace, and walk together through the ten thousand domains!"

Elder Hei Yan's expression tightened, and he looked at Zhao Miao seriously: "Is the Zhao Family really determined to this extent? Leaving no room for maneuver?"

"None," Zhao Miao said firmly, without any hesitation. "In the past, the Old Ancestor still had considerations, observing the growth of Fellow Daoist Yuan Chen and observing the variables in his future path. But after the battle in Xuan Continent, the Old Ancestor has concluded that this child is by no means an ordinary Prodigy of the heavens, but a supreme figure who can control the ten thousand domains and redefine the rules of the heavens in the future."

"Rather than following later, it is better to bind deeply now. From now on, where Fellow Daoist Yuan Chen points is where my Zhao Family points; what Fellow Daoist Yuan Chen protects is what my Zhao Family protects."

"If he fights for hegemony in the heavens, my Zhao Family will exhaust our connections, Foundations, and resources to pave the way for him; if he guards the Canglan Domain, my Zhao Family will guard the rear for him, stabilize his Luck, and isolate external troubles. The rise and fall of the Zhao Family are now completely bound to Yuan Chen's line, never to be separated again!"

The words were resonant and fell with great weight.

Elder Hei Yan understood completely in his heart and smiled slowly: "Old Ancestor Sect Master Zhao Xuanyuan has a sharp eye and a far-reaching layout. Looking at the younger generation of the heavens, indeed only Yuan Chen is worth a world's Dao lineage exhausting everything to follow and entrust. The Old Ancestor's move, while seemingly a big gamble, is actually the most secure ancient Dao."

The two looked at each other. The high platform was silent for a moment, with only the long wind blowing through their clothes and the sea of clouds surging.

A moment later, Zhao Miao turned to look at Elder Hei Yan, his eyes carrying a doubt long hidden in his heart, and spoke softly: "Fellow Daoist Elder Hei Yan, I have a matter in my heart that has puzzled me for a long time. Today, with no one around, I will ask directly."

"With your true cultivation, the thickness of your Dao Foundation, and your Martial Dao heritage, you have long surpassed the limits of the lower plane and are far beyond the ceiling that the Canglan Domain can bear. In terms of Realm, you are already qualified to forcibly break the boundary and Ascend to the Upper Realm; in terms of combat power, countless Upper Realm Emperors might not be able to contend with you."

"But you have not Ascended for a long time. Can you solve this puzzle today?"

Elder Hei Yan had guarded the Canglan Domain for ages, his cultivation was unfathomable, and he had clearly long since broken free from the shackles of the plane, yet he remained in the Lower Realm and refused to step into the Upper Realm. It was too abnormal.

Hearing this question, Elder Hei Yan did not cover it up. He raised his eyes to look at the vast Void Realm, a flash of deep reverence and calm in his eyes, and spoke slowly: "My ability to remain here without being constrained by the plane's Ascension rules is not due to my own ability, but entirely due to Yuan Chen."

Zhao Miao's pupils narrowed slightly, full of surprise: "Thanks to him?"

"That's right."

"Yes," Elder Hei Yan replied frankly.

"He has a Cultivation Technique that can hide one's aura."

"The current me is no longer constrained by the Heavenly Dao, no longer pulled by the Ascension rules. I can stay freely, fight as I please, and guard the Canglan Domain without harm."

"Not only that, I believe you will know about this Cultivation Technique soon."

Elder Hei Yan's gaze fell on the distant mountains and rivers of the Canglan Domain, his tone sincere and heavy: "Yuan Chen is preparing to pass on this Cultivation Technique."

Zhao Miao was speechless for a long time after hearing this, his heart shocked beyond measure.

Such means were no longer something a Prodigy could possess.

After a long while, Zhao Miao sighed slowly: "No wonder the Old Ancestor insisted on binding deeply with Yuan Chen. This child's layout, means, and Realm have long surpassed his peers in the heavens. The future is truly limitless."

The two stood on the high platform, continuing to chat about the situation in the heavens, extraterrestrial combat power, and the pros and cons of various Cultivation Worlds, the atmosphere peaceful and relaxed.

Boom—!!!

Suddenly, the entire Canglan sky trembled violently!

The world roared, the mountains and rivers shook, the Spiritual rivers flowed backward, and the wind and clouds rolled back!

The originally clear and stable ten thousand miles of sky cracked open without warning, revealing countless dense, pitch-black cracks, like a shattered mirror, densely covering the wilderness. Cold and desolate extraterrestrial Void Realm aura poured out along the cracks, violent, bleak, and dangerous, completely incompatible with the gentle Spiritual Qi of the Canglan Domain.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!!!

The harsh sound of space tearing was continuous and deafening.

The fine cracks, originally the thickness of a hair, crazily spread, widened, and rose within a few short breaths, forcibly expanding to tens of meters in length and several meters in width!

The extreme northern snowfields, the southern frontier Secret Realms, the eastern sea wasteland islands, the western mountain ancient abysses—the four poles and eight wildernesses of the Canglan Domain all displayed cross-Realm cracks!

Under the riddled sky, the entire Canglan plane was trembling violently, as if it would be torn, collapsed, and annexed by external forces of the heavens in the next moment.

Elder Hei Yan's expression suddenly became solemn, his rock-patterned Dao rhyme fully opened, and the heavy aura suppressing the world instantly spread out: "The regional barrier is completely loose, and the channels of the heavens are fully opened! The forces that have been dormant for ages in the worlds are finally unable to hold back and are going to invade the Canglan Domain on a large scale!"

"Not just the Canglan Domain." Zhao Miao stood up suddenly, his eyes full of solemnity, looking up at the Void Realm of the heavens, "Are you ready!"

...

At this very moment, the ten thousand domains of the heavens were all in turmoil!

Immortal Emperor Wuhen Cultivation World.

The entire holy palace hovered above the Nine Heavens, with ten thousand paths of golden clouds and a thousand strands of auspicious Qi. Endless Emperor might traversed the galaxy, and hundreds of millions of golden Dao patterns wound around the pillars of the palace, ancient, domineering, majestic, and sacred. Inside the palace, civil and military Emperors, generals of the heavens, and Sect Elders stood in two rows, their auras cold, standing silently.

The Realm Master of Wuhen sat upon the Nine Heavens Emperor's Throne, his body draped in gilded imperial robes. His gaze looked down upon all living beings, his majesty vast and mighty, his voice shaking the heavens: "My beloved officials, generals of all divisions!"

Below, a group of powerful experts bowed in unison, their voices ringing out in perfect harmony: "We are here!"

Immortal Emperor Wuhen's gaze was sharp, carrying the monstrous ambition of an eternal hegemon, and he spoke slowly: "The heavens are changing, the boundary walls are loosening; the Opportunity for expansion, a chance seen once in an eternity, has arrived today!"

"Our Wuhen Cultivation World is the descendant of Immortal Emperor Wuhen, possessing invincible movement techniques and unparalleled offensive power, with a Legacy spanning eons and a flourishing Imperial Dao! This Canglan Domain, with its abundant Spiritual Qi and complete Realm Origin, should rightfully belong to Wuhen!"

A white-haired Emperor stepped forward, bowing with cupped hands: "The Realm Master is wise! Canglan has abundant Spiritual Qi, numerous Secret Realms, and pure Origin. It is only because the boundary walls were solid and the passages blocked in the past that we had no way to intervene. Today, with the changes in the Heavenly Dao, this is the best time for us in Wuhen to expand our territory and dominate all domains!"

Another battle-hardened general requested in a deep voice: "Realm Master! We in Wuhen have laid dormant for too long; the various forces of the heavens have long forgotten the supreme majesty of our Wuhen Imperial Dao! This campaign to conquer Canglan is the perfect Opportunity to restore our Wuhen glory and strike fear into all domains!"

Immortal Emperor Wuhen raised his hand slightly, suppressing the voices of the crowd, his gaze deep: "I know your Battle Intent is boiling! But the path of conquest cannot be rushed or reckless!"

"I have heard that Canglan has produced a Heaven-Defying Prodigy named Yuan Chen; he cannot be completely underestimated. His methods are strange, his combat power is Heaven-Defying, and he is skilled in setting up Formations and proficient in rules. Rashly sending the entire army to press forward may lead to unexpected variables."

The silver-armored general stepped forward and said loudly: "Immortal Emperor, you worry too much! Our million-strong Wuhen imperial army is marching out; with our overwhelming numbers and the crushing momentum of our great force, no matter how unrivaled his talent, he will eventually turn to dust! This subordinate is willing to lead the main force to flatten Canglan first!"

"No need." Immortal Emperor Wuhen shook his head lightly, his gaze steady. "The main force will not move; the vanguard will scout first."

He announced his order loudly: "Pass on my decree! Order Dou Emperor Cang Luan to array his entire army, immediately cross the Realm gate, and be the first to step into Canglan!"

Dou Emperor Cang Luan was stunned, then bowed: "Realm Master! We are willing to fight to the death to defeat the enemy, but if the main force does not move, our vanguard forces will be thin, and I fear we cannot completely crush Canglan!"

"I do not want to crush them yet." The Realm Master of Wuhen's gaze was cold as he explained in a deep voice, "For this expedition, first, stabilize the cross-Realm passage to ensure our subsequent army can pass through unimpeded; second, contact those who have previously infiltrated; third, investigate whether Yuan Chen is remaining behind and if he has any hidden trump cards; fourth, clear away scattered resistance and occupy landing strongholds."

"Do not seek a quick victory, seek stability! Do not seek to slaughter the Realm, seek to probe the bottom line!"

"Once you have investigated the true situation of Canglan and confirmed there are no fatal trump cards, our million-strong Wuhen imperial army will immediately cross the Realm, press forward in force, flatten Canglan, plunder its Origin, collect its resources, and enslave its Cultivators!"

Dou Emperor Cang Luan's expression was solemn, and he kowtowed heavily: "This subordinate obeys the Realm Master's decree! I will immediately organize the army to set off and be the first to enter Canglan! I will certainly probe the enemy carefully, stabilize the passage, and not disgrace the mission!"

All the Cultivators in the hall roared in unison, their Battle Intent soaring to the heavens: "Spread the glory of Wuhen! Flatten Canglan! Dominate all the heavens and domains!"

A monstrous aura of slaughter swept through the entire imperial palace, extending far across the Void Realm of the heavens.

...

Meanwhile, in the Soul Domain Cultivation World.

Several figures in black robes sat around a table in the hall; they were all veteran experts at the very top of the hierarchy of the Soul Domain. Sitting in the center was none other than Tang Laoba, who was the best at planning and the most patient in the Soul Domain.

Tang Laoba was covered in a black robe, his face aged and profound, with ghostly soul flames flickering in his eyes. The heavy pressure of his Divine Soul enveloped the entire hall, and his every movement stirred the rhythm of the soul Dao throughout the entire Soul Domain.

"Brothers." Tang Laoba spoke slowly, his hoarse voice carrying the steadiness of one long accustomed to scheming. "The passages to the heavens are fully open, and the gate to the Canglan Realm is completely wide open. Our Soul Domain cannot fall behind."

A black-robed Soul Venerable on the left said in a deep voice: "Laoba! If we are one step too slow, I fear we won't even get a sip of the soup! In my opinion, we should dispatch the entire army immediately and fight Wuhen for control of Canglan!"

The white-haired Elder on the right shook his head slightly and spoke cautiously: "We must not be rash. Canglan has Yuan Chen sitting in command; his battle record is too terrifying. He single-handedly crushed the ten thousand Sects of the Xuan Continent; he is by no means an ordinary Prodigy. If we rashly send our entire army to press forward, once we fall into a deadlock, the main force of the Soul Domain will surely suffer heavy losses, and the gains will not outweigh the losses."

Another dark-faced Elder said coldly: "I heard that Wuhen is also participating. If we just stand by and watch, and Wuhen completely takes Canglan, our Soul Domain will have no chance to enter the game! A ten-thousand-year Opportunity, lost just like that—it would be too great a pity!"

Everyone held different opinions, and the hall was filled with discussion.

Tang Laoba listened quietly. After everyone finished speaking, he slowly raised his eyes and smiled eerily: "You are arguing about speed; I am planning for the pros and cons. Conquering the heavens has never been about who charges the fastest and gets the benefit; it is about who lives the longest and who wins the most."

The crowd fell silent instantly, all looking at Tang Laoba.

Tang Laoba laid out his plan in a deep voice: "The Wuhen Realm has great ambition, a volatile Heart-Nature, and is greedy for merit and reckless. It is perfect to let them take the lead."

"Pass down the order: wait for all the vanguard death squads and elite scouts of the Soul Palace to be ready, then immediately cross the Realm to expedition and kill our way into the Canglan territory!"

"We Soul Cultivators are skilled in concealment, soul-devouring, sneak attacks, probing, and maneuvering. Head-on confrontation is not our strength; probing, testing the bottom line, and causing attrition from the shadows are our natural advantages."

His gaze was profound as he slowly revealed the core calculation: "Let the Wuhen vanguard face the Canglan trump cards head-on; let them encounter the unknown dangers, endure the backlash of ambushes, and exhaust their own combat power."

"When Wuhen has suffered heavy casualties and lost all their vigor, and the local combat power of Canglan is exhausted and their trump cards exposed, the main force of the Soul Domain will then press forward with the entire army. We will just follow behind the Soul Palace and reap the rewards!"

The group of Elders heard this, and instantly felt enlightened, nodding and praising repeatedly.

"Brother Eight is brilliant! This plan is airtight, seeking victory in stability. It can not only seize the initiative but also preserve the main force, allowing us to sit back and reap the fisherman's profit!"

Tang Laoba narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke eerily: "In this chaotic age of eternity, with the conquest of the heavens, there has never been a way to win quickly. Not being impatient, watching the tigers fight, and waiting quietly for the right moment—that is the fundamental Dao to gain a foothold in all domains."

...

One million silver-armored soldiers from the Wuhen Cultivation World, with banners blocking the sky, armor like clouds, and soaring battle energy, marched majestically across the Realm gate!

Ten thousand dark death squads from the Soul Domain Cultivation World, with black mist swirling, ghastly soul flames, and hiding in the Void Realm, traveled across the Realm silently...

Several planar forces simultaneously launched a large-scale army, pointing their swords at Canglan!

All the extraterritorial Cultivators were high-spirited and arrogant, soaring above the clouds.

This expedition would surely be like splitting bamboo, flattening Canglan, and plundering endless resources!

But none of them knew that the Canglan world, which now appeared riddled with holes, wide open, and in imminent danger, had long been completely enveloped and protected layer by layer by countless supreme Formations.

The Unity World-Suppressing Formation!

The supreme World-Suppressing Formation, which Yuan Chen had personally deduced and set up using his own supreme Dao Origin as the core, the entire Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of Canglan as the Foundation, and the eternal rules of the plane as the chains!

Rumble—!

The first batch of Wuhen Cultivators broke through the cross-Realm rift and successfully set foot on the land of Canglan.

But the moment their feet touched the ground, as they relaxed their aura and prepared to show off their skills, a vast, boundless, and irresistibly tyrannical World-Suppressing force suddenly covered their bodies!

An invisible force permeated their Meridians, sealed their Foundation, imprisoned their Origin, and stripped away their extraterritorial combat power!

The originally majestic and vast Martial God cultivation that filled their bodies was as if forcibly extracted by the world and suppressed layer by layer!

Their Realm plummeted crazily, their Martial Dao collapsed instantly, their Dao patterns were completely locked, and their combat power collapsed off a cliff!

A silver-armored commander turned pale, his body shaking violently, his face full of unbelievable horror, and he cried out: "Something is wrong! This is not right! My cultivation! My Peak cultivation has been suppressed! It dropped a full three major Realms! What kind of hellish power is this!"

A high-level Martial Artist beside him felt his battle energy turbulent and surging, his aura decaying rapidly, his pupils shrinking, and he roared in terror: "Me too! My half-step Martial God cultivation was directly suppressed to the Martial Emperor level! My thick aura is less than one-tenth of what it was, and I cannot circulate it at all!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Another veteran general looked frantic, unable to accept reality. "My Foundation is pure, my Martial Dao is orthodox, and my Realm is stable! How could it suppress our cultivation! This completely violates the rules of the heavens!"

A white-haired senior Emperor felt cold all over, all the battle energy in his body frozen, and his Foundation was tightly sealed. He looked up at the vast Canglan sky and roared with a trembling voice: "It is a Formation! It is a supreme World-Suppressing Formation! Someone has set up a peerless World-Suppressing Formation in advance, tampering with the rules of the Canglan Heaven and Earth, specifically to suppress us invaders from the heavens!"

"My god! Who has such Heaven-Defying means! To suppress the Cultivators of all heavens and domains with the power of one Realm! This is simply not the heritage a Cultivation World should have!"

The remaining vanguard death squads who entered Canglan also encountered the same devastating rule suppression!

The aura of the Cultivators from various Realms dimmed and extinguished, and their powerful cultivation was stripped away layer by layer and suppressed crazily.

"It's locked, I can't mobilize even a sliver of it!"

"My secret techniques can't be used!"

"We haven't even started fighting, and our combat power has collapsed! How can we fight this battle! This is simply a dead end!"

The rising and falling sounds of horror, despair, and roaring echoed throughout the entrance of the cross-Realm rift.

This group of extraterritorial invaders, filled with the ambition to conquer and high spirits, were completely crushed by the invisible Formation the moment they stepped into Canglan, their cultivation plummeted, their advantages were lost, and they were trapped in a desperate situation!

"Don't panic, this is a Formation, don't mess up your own ranks."

"Listen to my order, be quiet now!"

But the sudden drop in powerful cultivation meant a loss of security for all Cultivators, and it was really hard to stay calm.

After shouting, seeing that their subordinates were not listening to orders, the leaders of various factions could only sigh helplessly:

"Everyone, retreat for now, and we will talk after I break the Formation."

The next second, the lower-level Cultivators retreated one after another, without a moment's hesitation.

Strength was their confidence; without confidence, how could they fight?

After they left Canglan and returned to their respective Cultivation Worlds, their strength was instantly restored.

"Is this a Formation or the suppression of that world against us?"