264: Chapter 264 Dao Fruit

Above the East Sea, boundless and infinite.

Gao De and Ao Xue had been traveling here for half a year.

During these six months, they explored seventeen Secret Realms, slew forty-three sea demons blocking their path, and obtained countless Heaven And Earth Treasures.

Gao De's cultivation had stabilized at Tier 5 Late Stage.

His Path of Thunder had become a complete Dao, and his Path of Slaughter had also reached the Transcendent state.

But he was still one step away from true "Perfection."

"Great King," Ao Xue stood on a reef, looking into the distance, "there's a ship over there."

Gao De followed her gaze.

At the horizon where the sea met the sky, a massive Tower Ship was cutting through the waves.

The ship was about a hundred zhang long and ten zhang high, built entirely from spiritual wood, with its hull covered in defensive Formations. A large banner hung from the mast, embroidered with three large characters—

"Heavenly Dao Alliance"

"A ship from the Heavenly Dao Alliance." Gao De's eyes flickered slightly.

He remembered that back in Yunmeng Marsh, the Heavenly Dao Alliance had supported the Heavenly Sword Sect in establishing a branch alliance, intending to interfere in Yunmeng's affairs. Later, after he achieved a Breakthrough to Tier 4 and left Yunmeng, he never dealt with the Heavenly Dao Alliance again.

Now, he had unexpectedly encountered them in the East Sea.

"Should we avoid them?" Ao Xue asked.

Gao De pondered for a moment.

"No need," he said. "Let's go take a look."

The two of them turned into streaks of light and flew toward the Tower Ship.

---

On the Tower Ship.

A team of Cultivators was patrolling the deck, led by a white-haired old man whose aura was at Tier 3 Peak.

Suddenly, his expression changed.

"Who is there?!"

Before his voice could fade, two figures had already landed on the deck.

The old man's pupils constricted!

He hadn't sensed the aura of these two people at all!

This meant—the other party's Realm far exceeded his own!

"Senior, please forgive us!" The old man immediately bowed in greeting. "I am Zhou Yuan, a Deacon of the Yangzhou Branch of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. I didn't know Senior was arriving; please excuse my lack of a proper welcome!"

Gao De waved his hand.

"No need for formalities," he said. "Tell me, where are you headed?"

Zhou Yuan said respectfully, "Reporting to Senior, we are under orders to escort a shipment of resources to Yangzhou."

"Yangzhou?"

Gao De's heart stirred.

Yangzhou, one of the ancient Nine Provinces, located on the coast of the East Sea, was where the headquarters of the Heavenly Dao Alliance was situated.

It was said to be a place of immense prosperity, with Cultivators as numerous as clouds, a gathering place for the world's Cultivators.

"Perfect," he said. "Give us a ride."

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.

With such powerful experts traveling with them, what was there to fear on this journey?

"Senior, please!" He quickly made way. "Senior, please take the seat of honor!"

---

Three months later.

Yangzhou.

When that massive city appeared in their field of vision, even Ao Xue couldn't help but gasp.

The city walls were a hundred zhang high and stretched for thousands of miles, built entirely of Lapis Lazuli, shimmering with a faint light under the sun.

On the walls, there was a Watchtower every hundred zhang, where Cultivators could be seen patrolling.

Above the city gate were three large characters—

"Yangzhou City"

The calligraphy was vigorous, carrying an indescribable majesty.

"So this is Yangzhou..." Ao Xue murmured.

Gao De nodded.

He could sense at least fifty Tier 4 auras in the city.

Among them was one that was unfathomable, faintly merging with the world itself.

That should be the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance—a rumored Tier 5 existence.

"Let's go," he said. "Let's enter the city and see."

---

Inside Yangzhou City, prosperity flourished.

The streets were wide and straight, lined with shops on both sides—selling Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, Talismans, Spirit Beasts—everything one could imagine.

Pedestrians were crowded together; there were Human Cultivators in Daoist robes, Yao Race Cultivators who hadn't fully transformed, and even a few foreign races with strange auras.

Ao Xue was dazzled by the sight.

She had grown up in the Dragon Palace and later followed Gao De through Yunmeng, Lake Dongting, the Nine Nether, and Xianyang, seeing countless wonders, but she had never seen such a bustling mortal city.

"Great King," she whispered, "there are... so many Cultivators here."

Gao De nodded.

"Yangzhou City is the headquarters of the Heavenly Dao Alliance," he said. "Cultivators from all over the world gather here, so it's naturally lively."

He paused for a moment.

"And—"

His gaze sharpened as he looked toward the north of the city.

There, he felt an extremely subtle, cold aura.

It was exactly the same as the Heavenly Demon Cult aura he had sensed in the Bewitching Ghost Swamp.

But stronger.

Ten times stronger.

"Heavenly Demon Cult," he whispered.

Ao Xue's blood-red eyes narrowed: "They're here too?"

"Yes," Gao De said. "And it's their headquarters."

---

That night.

North of Yangzhou City, hundreds of miles away, in a remote residence.

Gao De and Ao Xue were hidden in the shadows, quietly observing the massive manor ahead that spanned a hundred acres.

The manor gates were tightly closed, with a plaque hanging above—

"Zhou Residence"

It looked like an ordinary wealthy household's estate.

But Gao De could sense a massive Formation operating deep underground.

The aura of that Formation was identical to the one in the Bewitching Ghost Swamp.

"The Heavenly Demon Cult headquarters," he whispered. "To think they're hidden near Yangzhou City, right under the nose of the Heavenly Dao Alliance."

Ao Xue asked, "Should we make a move?"

Gao De pondered.

The Heavenly Demon Cult headquarters must have Tier 5 experts stationed there. Moreover, that legendary Heavenly Demon Cult Master was likely at Tier 5 Middle Stage, or even Tier 5 Late Stage.

In a one-on-one fight, he was not afraid.

But fighting against many while also protecting Ao Xue would be difficult.

"No rush," he said. "Let's observe first."

He closed his eyes, his Divine Sense spreading out and quietly seeping underground.

Although the Formation was strong, it couldn't block his Tier 5 Late Stage Divine Sense.

Soon, he "saw" it.

Three hundred zhang underground, there was a massive underground palace.

In the center of the palace was an Altar.

On the Altar, a statue was being worshipped.

The statue was ten zhang high, shaped like a giant Dragon, but it had countless tentacles, and at the end of each tentacle was a mouth filled with sharp teeth.

The statue's eyes were two clusters of eerie green flames.

The aura of those flames—

Was exactly the same as the sleeping figure behind the Outer Realm rift outside Xianyang City.

"Outer Realm Evil God." Gao De's pupils constricted.

The Heavenly Demon Evil Dragon worshipped by the Heavenly Demon Cult was actually an Outer Realm Demonic Entity!

No, it was even stronger than a Demonic Entity.

It was—an Evil God.

A Tier 6 existence.

Even if it was just a statue, it emitted a heart-palpitating pressure.

"No wonder..." he murmured, "no wonder the Heavenly Demon Cult is collecting Dragon souls and nurturing Holy Fetuses everywhere—they are accumulating power for this Evil God, waiting for its arrival!"

Ao Xue was terrified by what she heard.

"Great King, what should we do?"

Gao De was silent for a moment.

Then, he smiled.

That smile was as cold as a blade.

"What should we do?" he said. "Naturally—kill with a borrowed knife."

---

Three days later.

Heavenly Dao Alliance Headquarters, Discussion Hall.

Gao De sat in the guest seat, with Ao Xue standing by his side.

In the main seat sat a white-haired old man with a lean face and an unfathomable aura.

The Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Dao Alliance—Situ Kong.

Tier 5 Late Stage.

"Fellow Daoist, you say the Zhou Residence north of the city is the Heavenly Demon Cult headquarters?" Situ Kong spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable majesty.

Gao De nodded.

"I saw it with my own eyes," he said. "Three hundred zhang underground, there's an Altar and a statue. The aura of that statue—an Outer Realm Evil God."

Situ Kong's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Outer Realm Evil God?" he said in a heavy voice. "Are you certain, Fellow Daoist?"

Gao De raised his hand.

A wisp of golden sword light emerged from his fingertip.

It was the aura of the taia sword.

Situ Kong's pupils shrank.

"The taia sword?!" he blurted out. "The taia sword of the Immortal Qin Dynasty's First Emperor?!"

Gao De nodded.

"I have received the Ancestral Dragon's Legacy," he said. "Before the Ancestral Dragon died, he fought against an Outer Realm Demonic Entity. The aura of that Demonic Entity is exactly the same as this statue's."

Situ Kong fell silent.

After a long while, he stood up.

"Someone, come."

A black-robed Elder entered in response.

"Pass down the order," Situ Kong said sternly. "Assemble all Elders above Tier 4. Tonight at midnight, we will surround and annihilate the Heavenly Demon Cultists."

"Leave none alive."

---

Midnight.

A dark and windy night.

The Zhou Residence, hundreds of miles north of Yangzhou City.

Over a hundred figures appeared simultaneously from all directions!

Leading them was Situ Kong!

Behind him were thirty-two Tier 4 Elders of the Heavenly Dao Alliance!

Further back were three hundred Tier 3 Deacons, forming the Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend Formation, surrounding the entire manor so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak out!

"Attack!"

Situ Kong gave the command!

Three hundred attacks blasted toward the Zhou Residence simultaneously!

Boom—!!!

The entire manor was instantly reduced to ruins!

From beneath the ruins came an angry roar:

"Situ Kong—how dare you!!!"

A surge of black Qi soared into the sky!

Within the black Qi, a withered figure slowly emerged.

The man was dressed in a black robe, his face as withered as a corpse, his eye sockets sunken and devoid of eyeballs, with only two clusters of eerie green flames flickering within.

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master.

Tier 5 Late Stage.

"Situ Kong," he said coldly, "the Heavenly Dao Alliance and my Heavenly Demon Cult have always minded our own business. What is the meaning of this today?"

Situ Kong said indifferently, "Minded our own business? You've been hidden in Yangzhou for centuries, worshipping an Outer Realm Evil God right under my nose—and you call that minding your own business?"

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master's expression changed slightly.

"How did you know..."

Before he could finish, he saw it.

He saw the figure in the purple-patterned black robe standing beside Situ Kong.

Gao De.

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master's pupils constricted!

"It's you—!!!"

He recognized him.

This Flood Dragon was the Junior who had ruined his subordinates' plans back in Yunmeng Marsh!

"You're actually not dead?!" he said sharply. "And you've joined the Heavenly Dao Alliance?!"

Gao De smiled.

That smile was calm and cold.

"Joined?" he said. "No."

"Just partners."

He raised his hand.

The taia sword was unsheathed.

The golden sword light illuminated the entire night sky.

"Back in Yunmeng, your subordinates hunted me down."

"Today—"

He struck down with his sword!

"It's time to pay it back."

---

The great battle lasted for an entire night.

The thirty-two Tier 4 Elders of the Heavenly Dao Alliance formed the Heavenly Dipper Formation, trapping the Heavenly Demon Cult Master firmly.

Gao De held the taia sword and launched a direct assault.

Ao Xue revealed her Blood Dragon True Form, intercepting and killing those Heavenly Demon Cultists who tried to flee from the perimeter.

That night, outside Yangzhou City, blood flowed like a river.

That night, the thousands of years of the Heavenly Demon Cult's foundation vanished into smoke.

At dawn.

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master knelt in the ruins, covered in blood.

Of the thirty-two Tier 4 Elders, seven had fallen.

The remaining twenty-five were all injured.

Situ Kong's expression was solemn as he personally stepped forward and pressed a palm onto the Heavenly Demon Cult Master's crown.

"Speak," he said in a heavy voice. "What exactly is the Evil God you worship?"

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master looked up.

In those eerie green eyes, there was no fear, only madness.

"Evil God?" he laughed hoarsely. "That is no Evil God."

"That is—the Lord."

"The Lord of all us believers."

"The Lord will descend."

"It's useless even if you kill me."

"The Lord will come sooner or later."

"And turn this world—"

He opened his arms.

"Into His Pasture."

As his voice fell.

His body suddenly expanded!

Boom—!!!

Self-detonation!

The Self-detonation of a Tier 5 Late Stage expert was powerful enough to destroy half of Yangzhou City!

Situ Kong's face changed drastically as he desperately channeled his cultivation to prop up a Protective Shield!

Gao De also moved!

He held the taia sword high!

"Taia Sword: Heaven-Opening!"

The golden sword light and the power of the Self-detonation collided violently!

Boom—!!!

The entire Yangzhou City shook violently!

Countless houses collapsed, and countless Cultivators were thrown into panic!

But in the end—

The sword light blocked the Self-detonation.

The Heavenly Demon Cult Master was left without even a corpse.

Only that statue remained, standing quietly in the ruins.

The statue's eyes, those two clusters of eerie green flames, were still flickering.

As if they were laughing.

---

Gao De walked to the statue.

He stared at the two clusters of flames.

Suddenly, he sensed something.

Inside his Dantian, that golden Dragon Pearl throbbed violently!

That throbbing created a strange resonance with the statue's flames!

"Junior..."

An ancient, vast will that completely did not belong to this world emerged from the flames!

"You killed my believer..."

"Then you shall be the one to replace him."

The flames surged!

They transformed into a massive eerie green hand, grabbing toward Gao De!

Situ Kong's face changed drastically: "Watch out!"

Gao De did not retreat.

He simply raised his hand.

The taia sword struck down!

"Taia Sword: Karma Severing!"

The sword light collided with the hand!

Boom—!!!

The hand shattered!

But in that instant, a wisp of eerie green light followed the sword light and seeped into Gao De's body!

Gao De groaned and retreated three steps!

"Great King!" Ao Xue rushed forward to support him.

Gao De waved his hand.

"I'm fine," he said.

But he knew—

Something was wrong.

That wisp of eerie green light did not disappear after seeping into his body.

It transformed into a tiny, eerie green seed in his Dantian.

It coexisted with his golden Dragon Pearl.

What was that?

He didn't know.

But he faintly felt—

That thing was very important.

---

Three days later.

Yangzhou City, Heavenly Dao Alliance Headquarters.

Gao De 盤坐於靜室之中， 閉目內視。

In his Dantian, the golden Dragon Pearl floated quietly.

Beside the Dragon Pearl, that eerie green seed was also slowly rotating.

He tried to touch the seed with his Divine Sense.

Boom—

In an instant, countless pieces of information flooded into his mind!

That was—the secret of Tier 6.

Tier 6 was different from Tier 5.

Tier 5 was Dao Comprehension.

Tier 6 was—Dao Integration.

One who comprehends the Dao masters the power of the Great Dao.

One who integrates with the Dao becomes one with the Great Dao.

After Dao Integration, an "inner world" would be opened within the Cultivator's body.

That inner world would correspond with the outer world.

Every gesture would be accompanied by the power of heaven and earth.

And the sign of Dao Integration was—

The Dao Fruit.

One who comprehends the Dao condenses a Dao Seed.

For one who integrates with the Dao, the Dao Seed blossoms and bears fruit, which is the Dao Fruit.

Once the Dao Fruit is formed, the inner world opens naturally.

From then on, the Cultivator is a walking world.

Gao De opened his eyes.

He looked down at his hands.

In his palms, golden light and eerie green light intertwined.

"Dao Fruit..." he murmured.

That wisp of eerie green light came from an Outer Realm Evil God.

It wasn't something evil.

It was—another kind of "Dao."

A Dao that did not belong to this world.

If he could fuse it with his own Dao—

His Dao Fruit would be more complete than anyone else's.

He would open up—a unique inner world.

"So that's how it is," he said softly.

He stood up.

He walked to the window.

Outside the window, Yangzhou City was as prosperous as ever.

In the distance, in the Discussion Hall of the Heavenly Dao Alliance headquarters, Situ Kong was handling post-war matters.

Further away, on the coast of the East Sea, the waves were surging.

Even further away—

Xianyang City.

That rift.

That sleeping Lord of Demonic Entities.

Gao De clenched his fist.

In his palm, the golden light and the eerie green light merged into one.

Transforming into a brand new color—

Chaos.

"Wait for me," he whispered.

"Wait for me to condense the Dao Fruit."

"Wait for me to open the inner world."

"Wait for me to be strong enough."

"At that time—"

He looked into the distance.

"I will come for you."