223: A single thought in the desolate eyes turned the revered elder to ashes.

Li Ao and Medusa's appearance was without warning, as if they had stepped directly out of the Void Realm. No earth-shattering Aura emanated from them; in fact, Li Ao's robes were somewhat damaged, and his face held a trace of paleness from a recent grave injury.

But it was this seemingly ordinary appearance that plunged the entire sky above Tianbei City into an eerie silence.

The Five-Star Dou Zun from the Hall of Souls, his pupils beneath the black robe suddenly constricted to pinpricks! With his strength and Soul perception, he hadn't detected how these two had appeared at all! It was as if they had always stood there, integrated with the surrounding space—no, it was as if space had actively accommodated them!

Especially that Black-Robed Youth, those eyes... what kind of eyes were they? Calm, profound, without the slightest ripple, yet they caused a chill to rise from the depths of his Soul, a Five-Star Dou Zun, as if he had been targeted by some incomprehensible primordial Vicious Beast, even his Dou Qi circulation instantly slowed by half.

"You... you are Li Ao?!" The Hall of Souls Elder Zun's voice carried a dryness he hadn't noticed himself. He forcibly suppressed the tremor in his heart and said sharply, "It was indeed you who provoked the Heavenly Tribulation! Obediently follow this Elder back to the Hall of Souls for investigation, otherwise..."

His words abruptly stopped.

Because Li Ao had no interest in letting him continue.

In Li Ao's eyes, this Five-Star Dou Zun was no different in essence from the three stone statue guards in front of the ancient hall. Perhaps his energy Rank was higher, but in the face of the 'Gui Xu' Dao that he already wielded, he was still... an existence that could be 'returned to nothingness'.

Li Ao merely glanced at him.

Truly, just a glance.

There was no hand seal, no exertion of Qi, not even the slightest energy fluctuation leaked out.

The moment Li Ao's gaze fell, the dense black mist swirling around the Hall of Souls' Five-Star Dou Zun was instantly smoothed and erased as if by an invisible hand, vanishing without a trace, revealing an Elder's face filled with horror and disbelief.

Immediately after, an even more terrifying scene unfolded.

The Elder's body, starting from the point where his gaze met Li Ao's, was like paper thrown into a raging fire; its edges rapidly blackened, curled, and then turned into countless tiny grey light particles, silently annihilating and dissipating!

He tried to struggle, tried to unleash Dou Qi, tried to roar, but everything was in vain. Under that absolute 'Gui Xu' will, all his power, all traces of his existence, were forcibly stripped away, disintegrated, and returned to the most primitive 'nothingness'.

The process was breathtakingly fast.

In less than a tenth of a breath.

A Hall of Souls Elder Zun, a powerhouse of Five-Star Dou Zun Rank, who could be considered a magnate in the Central State Continent, was utterly reduced to nothingness before everyone's eyes, without even being able to leave a complete last word, not even a speck of ash remained.

It was as if he had never existed in this world.

Silence!

Deathly silence!

The entire Tianbei City, whether it was the terrified Mittel Family members below or the strong cultivators from various forces secretly observing from the distant Void Realm, all felt as if their throats had been choked, their eyes wide, their faces filled with extreme fear and absurdity.

He... he just glanced?

A Five-Star Dou Zun... just gone?!

What kind of method is this?! What kind of power is this?!

Dou Saint?! No, even a Dou Saint would never be able to annihilate a Five-Star Dou Zun so effortlessly, so... bizarrely and completely!

That was not an overwhelming of energy; it was more like... an erasure at the level of rules!

The remaining Hall of Souls Protectors, whose strength was only at the Dou Zong Rank, were already scared to the point of their Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, trembling like sieves. They couldn't even conjure the thought of escaping, just frozen in place, awaiting the judgment of their unknown fate.

Medusa stood beside Li Ao. Although she was mentally prepared, witnessing Li Ao instantly kill a Five-Star Dou Zun in such a manner still stirred up turbulent waves in her heart. Is this the power of 'Gui Xu'? It's simply too terrifying!

Li Ao's gaze then slowly swept over the hidden strong cultivators in the distance.

Everyone his gaze passed over, regardless of whether their strength was at the Dou Zong or low-star Dou Zun Rank, felt their Souls freeze and their scalps tingle. They instinctively reined in all their Aura, fearing to attract the slightest attention from that formidable figure.

"Is there anyone else," Li Ao's voice remained calm, yet it was like ten thousand years of cold ice, striking at the heart of every observer, "who wants an explanation?"

No one dared to answer.

In the Void Realm, there was a profound silence. Those gazes that had previously been indifferent, greedy, or gloating, now all turned into deep fear and apprehension.

An Elder from the Yan Clan secretly gasped, exchanging glances with his companion. They both saw the horror in each other's eyes. Although their Yan Clan had a transaction with Li Ao, they also harbored intentions of investigation. Now, they were immensely grateful that they hadn't made any rash moves earlier.

Li Ao withdrew his gaze, no longer bothering with the silent onlookers. He turned, looking down at Mittel Hoper and Ya Fei in the mansion below, who were still in a state of immense shock.

The frozen expression on his face softened slightly, and he nodded slightly at them.

"Patriarch Hoper, Young Miss Ya Fei, it's been a long time," his voice softened somewhat, "This time, thank you for your concern."

Hoper and Ya Fei then awoke as if from a dream, quickly bowing in salute, their demeanor even more respectful than before, even tinged with awe: "We wouldn't dare! Mr. Li and Your Majesty the Queen's safe return is truly a great joy!"

Li Ao nodded, saying nothing more. His gaze swept over the chaotic sky above the Mittel Family mansion, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He raised his hand and gently waved it towards the Void Realm.

An invisible ripple, imbued with 'Gui Xu Life Force', spread out. The buildings that had cracked and the withered plants that had died due to the Hall of Souls Elder's pressure were actually restored and revitalized at a visible speed under this power, as if time had flowed backward!

With a mere gesture, he annihilated a powerful enemy and healed wounds.

Such methods were almost miraculous!

At this moment, all the forces secretly observing understood that the situation in the Northern Region of Central State—no, the entire Central State—was likely to undergo earth-shattering changes because of this mysteriously returned youth who controlled unknown and terrifying power!

Li Ao no longer lingered. He said to Medusa, "Let's go."

With a movement, their figures vanished from their spot, and the next moment, they had already appeared in the quiet room prepared for distinguished guests by the Mittel Family.

Leaving the outside world in a dead silence, along with countless urgent reports that were madly transmitted and sufficient to shake all major top forces—

Li Ao is not dead; he has returned with an unknown and terrifying power!

He is suspected of controlling the power of rule-level erasure; a Five-Star Dou Zun was exterminated by his mere thought!

His threat Rank needs to be re-evaluated! Highest Rank!

The storm, because of Li Ao's return, has officially begun!

---