134: Cultivating the mind and understanding the Tao, the journey home is in sight.

The ancient hall returned to dead silence, but it was a silence of submission. The heart of annihilation at the top of the altar slowly rotated, no longer emitting a violent aura of destruction. Instead, like a docile star, it meticulously channeled pure Origin power into the gray Qi swirling around Li Ao.

He stood before the altar, his figure not particularly tall, yet he seemed to have become the center of this dead silent world.

The slender wisp of gray Qi at his fingertips moved as if an extension of his arm, trembling slightly with his thoughts. He could clearly feel the terrifying power contained within it, enough to make even a Dou Zun expert change color, but this power had now been initially tamed by him.

More importantly, through the brief resonance with the heart of annihilation and the final intervention of black iron, his understanding of the words "annihilation" had transcended mere destruction, touching upon the rule-level concept of "the end is also the beginning of new life."

His thoughts stirred, and the wisp of gray Qi instantly retracted into his body, blending seamlessly with black iron and the original wisp of Origin. He felt that although his overt Rank had not yet achieved a Breakthrough, the essence of his power had transformed, especially with his Soul Realm solidified at Spirit Realm Mid Stage, giving him far greater control over his power than before.

"How do you feel?" A voice, clear and carrying a hint of imperceptible concern, sounded from behind him.

Li Ao turned and saw Medusa standing completely still. Although her face was still a little pale, her innate Queen's aura had returned, her purple eyes deep, as she quietly watched him. Having experienced life and death, her gaze towards him held less of the former aloofness and probing, and more of an ineffable complexity and... recognition.

"Better than ever before." Li Ao smiled slightly, walked up to her, and naturally reached out to gently place his hand on her wrist. A wisp of gentle Dou Qi mixed with the residual life aura of the seed of living beings flowed in. "Although your injuries were healed by the seed of living beings, your Origin Qi depletion still requires rest."

Medusa did not resist, feeling the warm aura he transmitted flowing through her Meridians, bringing waves of comfort. She looked at his focused profile, so close, and recalled his willingness to do anything for her. A ripple flashed in her purple eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, only giving a soft "hmm."

Xiao Yi Xian also walked over, a serene smile on her face. She looked at the silent, flowing understanding between the two, feeling a faint hint of envy in her heart, but no jealousy, only a genuine sense of relief. "It's not suitable to stay here for long. Should we leave?"

Li Ao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the grand yet desolate ancient hall. The purpose of this trip had been achieved; not only was Medusa's crisis resolved, but he himself had also gained an immense Opportunity. He could feel that the giant vortex of annihilation outside had also become much calmer due to the heart of annihilation's submission, and the terrifying pressure shrouding the Ancient Domain was slowly weakening.

"Let's go, it's time to leave." Li Ao said. He took Xiao Yi Xian's hand and then looked at Medusa.

Medusa glanced at him but did not let him hold her hand. Instead, she stepped forward on her own, though her pace was slightly slower than usual, evidently to match theirs. Li Ao smiled, not minding, and walked alongside Xiao Yi Xian.

The journey back was much smoother than their arrival. The wisp of Nirvana Origin aura naturally emanating from Li Ao caused the remaining dead energy within the ancient hall to retreat, and the hidden dangers vanished. Even the skeletons along the way, preserved in various poses, no longer posed a threat with their lingering aura of annihilation; instead, they seemed to be silently paying tribute.

Soon, the three walked out of the massive hall entrance. Looking back, the deep darkness within the open doorway resembled the maw of a giant beast, but it no longer caused trepidation. The strange rune on the hall entrance that had ambushed Medusa was now completely dim, having lost all its spirituality.

"This ancient hall, this heart of annihilation, likely hides even deeper secrets." Medusa gazed at the grand hall, a trace of contemplation flashing in her purple eyes. "The Living Venerable suppressed it with her own body; the Karma involved behind it is by no means simple."

"Perhaps it's related to the 'Burial Saint' war." Li Ao interjected. "However, those are not things we need to delve into right now. The urgent task is to leave the Ancient Domain of Extinction and return to the Central Plains."

He looked up at the sky; the massive gray-white vortex still existed, but its rotation speed had visibly slowed, and the suction and corrosive power it emitted were greatly diminished. The entire space of the Ancient Domain seemed to have stabilized somewhat due to the calmness of the heart of annihilation.

"The Ancient Domain of Extinction is isolated from the outside world; space is chaotic, making it difficult to leave by ordinary means." Xiao Yi Xian frowned. Having been trapped here for several years, she knew how hard it was to leave.

Li Ao, however, was confident. He raised his hand, and the wisp of gray Qi at his fingertips reappeared. "Before, we couldn't find a way out, but now it's different." He felt the connection between Nirvana Origin and this world. "I can feel that with its power, I can temporarily stabilize a passage to the outside world."

He looked at the two women, his tone firm: "Follow me closely. We're leaving now."

Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian nodded, standing to his left and right.

Li Ao took a deep breath, his Soul Power merging with Nirvana Origin. The gray Qi at his fingertips suddenly expanded, transforming into a solid gray light pillar that shot towards the seemingly empty space ahead!

"Tear—!"

Like tearing cloth, wherever the gray light pillar passed, space was forcibly stabilized and smoothed. A spatial passage, just wide enough for three people and flickering with unstable gray light, slowly formed! From the other end of the passage, a vibrant energy fluctuation, distinctly different from the dead aura within the Ancient Domain, faintly emanated from the outside world!

The passage was formed!

However, just as the three were about to step into the passage, Li Ao's brows suddenly furrowed, and he abruptly turned to look in a certain direction deep within the Ancient Domain! Almost simultaneously, Medusa's purple eyes sharpened, and a faint, ancient, and powerful tremor came from her Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline!

"Something... woke up?" Xiao Yi Xian also sensed an unusual, oppressive feeling.

Li Ao's gaze was solemn. He could feel that the awakened existence had an extremely ancient and powerful aura, even... carrying a hint that was similar to the Void Ancient Dragon, yet wilder and more violent! It seemed to have been startled awake by the previous commotion of the heart of annihilation and the movement when he refined the Origin!

"Hurry! This passage won't last long!" Li Ao made an immediate decision, no longer hesitating. He grabbed Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian, one in each hand, and stepped into the gray-glowing spatial passage!

The moment their figures disappeared, the spatial passage violently twisted, then slammed shut!

Not long after the passage closed, a vast, ancient, and infinitely ferocious terrifying will, like a storm, swept across the basin where the ancient hall was located, letting out a low roar that seemed to come from primeval times, filled with the anger of being disturbed... The journey to the Ancient Domain of Extinction temporarily concluded. But new turbulences seemed to be brewing in an unknown corner.

And the three who returned to the Central Plains, Li Ao, Medusa, and Xiao Yi Xian, would face a situation already turbulent due to the demise of a Hall of Souls Half-Saint, and... the even fiercer storm that was about to descend!