224: As the ruins begin to stabilize, undercurrents are about to rise.

The Mittel Family, the deepest VIP quiet room.

Unlike the outside world's clamor and surging undercurrents, this place was enveloped by Li Ao's own Gui Xu Concept, forming an absolutely tranquil Domain of its own. Space seemed to be peeled away, isolating all prying eyes and noise, with only the most fundamental silent ruin Dao rhythm flowing slowly within.

Li Ao sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly closed. He was not in a hurry to go out, nor did he immediately deal with external affairs. The brief confrontation with that Soul Hall Elder, though seemingly understated, was in fact a sorting out and testing of his new strength.

A Five-Star Dou Zun, in the past, would have been a formidable enemy that he could only contend with by using all his trump cards and fighting bitterly. But now, under the Gui Xu realm, he didn't even have the qualification to make him serious.

That was not a gap in energy level, but a crushing difference in the dimension of life level and rule control.

He looked within himself. Inside his Dantian Qi Sea, the 'silent ruin' long saber floated quietly. The dark gold patterns on the saber, which had integrated the complete Nirvana True Understanding, slowly flowed, emitting pleasant and satisfied spiritual fluctuations. Its quality had already surpassed ordinary Heaven Rank weapons, advancing towards an unknown Divine Artifact level.

And deeper within, the [nirvana star core] remained dormant, but its surface seemed to have gained a trace of harmonious luster that was more in line with Li Ao's 'Gui Xu' Concept.

The originally hideous and terrifying cracks on his Physical Body had completely disappeared under the Fusion of the complete True Understanding and the reshaping power of Gui Xu. His skin was smooth as new, even faintly glowing with a restrained Chaos luster. His Meridians were wider and tougher than before, like rivers carrying star rivers. His Soul Origin was even more solidified and incomparable; with a thought, he could trigger the resonance of the surrounding heaven and earth rules.

Not only were his injuries fully recovered, but his Foundation was far more profound than before the heavenly tribulation!

More importantly, his control over the power of 'Gui Xu', after experiencing the Legacy of the ancient hall, building the ruin bridge, and then annihilating the enemy with a single thought, became even more harmonious and effortless, like an arm directing a finger.

"Gui Xu..." Li Ao understood in his heart, "is not merely destruction. silent ruin is the Foundation, returning to nothingness is the function, and life... is hidden within it."

A wisp of gray light flowed at his fingertips, sometimes transforming into a black hole that devoured everything, sometimes into the life force that nourished all things, changing as he willed. This was the prototype of his Great Dao, transcending ordinary Dou Qi attributes, his own—Guixu Great Dao!

He slowly opened his eyes, the heart-palpitating Gui Xu scene in his pupils now controllable, turning into the calmness of a deep pool.

On the other side of the quiet room, Medusa was also meditating with her eyes closed. Her Soul had been injured before, and although Li Ao had healed her with Gui Xu Life Force, she still needed to stabilize. Seven-Colored Dou Qi coiled around her, her aura more condensed and majestic than before, faintly touching the threshold to the Dou Zun realm. This journey to the desperate land was both a tribulation and an Opportunity for her.

Sensing Li Ao awakening, Medusa also opened her beautiful eyes and looked at him.

"Completely stabilized?" Her cold voice carried a trace of imperceptible concern.

"Mm." Li Ao nodded slightly, "This time, I turned misfortune into a blessing, and the path ahead is clear." His gaze turned outside the quiet room, as if he could penetrate space and see the surging undercurrents of Central State, "Outside, it must be very lively now."

Medusa's lips curved into a cold, sharp arc: "The Hall of Souls losing a Five-Star Elder will never let it go. And those forces secretly prying, I'm afraid they are all re-evaluating your threat at this moment."

"It doesn't matter." Li Ao's tone was calm, yet contained absolute confidence, "They are mere rabble. If they dare to come again, they will all 'return to nothingness'."

He stood up, his aura completely restrained, looking no different from an ordinary young man, but when his eyes opened and closed, the majesty of controlling life and death flowed naturally.

"The most urgent task is to find out the specific movements of the outside world during the time we were away, and..." A cold glint flashed in Li Ao's eyes, "what exactly the Hall of Souls, and those who instigated it from behind, have done."

He needed intelligence. Detailed and accurate intelligence.

At the same time, the Northern Region of Central State, and even the broader core area, had already stirred up monstrous waves due to the brief but terrifying scene above Tianbei City.

Hall of Souls, Northern Region Branch Hall.

Inside a grand hall shrouded in dense black mist and mournful Soul wails, the atmosphere was suffocatingly oppressive.

Several figures with powerful auras and swirling black mist stood, the weakest among them being Peak Dou Zong, and three beings whose strength was no less than that of the previous Five-Star Elder sat in the upper seats.

In the center of the hall, on a black mirror formed by countless wailing Souls, the scene of Li Ao turning the Five-Star Elder into nothingness above Tianbei City was repeatedly replayed. Each replay made the faces of the Hall of Souls powerhouses present grow a little uglier.

"Did you see clearly? What kind of method is this?!" A Six-Star Dou Zun sitting in the upper seat spoke in a hoarse voice, containing monstrous fury and a hint of... surprise.

"It's not spatial strangulation, nor Soul annihilation... It's more like directly erasing 'existence' itself from this world!" Another Peak Five-Star Dou Zun elder said in a deep voice, his eyes extremely solemn, "This child... must have a shocking secret! It's not as simple as merely triggering a heavenly tribulation!"

"Investigate! Spare no effort to find out his background! And the source of his strange power!" The Six-Star Dou Zun slammed the armrest of his seat, and the entire hall shook, "At the same time, report this matter to the main hall! This child's threat has far exceeded our estimates, and we need to ask the Heavenly Venerate or even the Hall Master to decide!"

Pill Tower, a certain hidden space.

A white-haired elder stroked his long beard, looking at the light screen formed by Soul Power in front of him, which showed Li Ao's figure.

"A single thought to return to nothingness... The younger generation is truly formidable." The elder's eyes sparkled with wise light, "This kind of power is unheard of. It seems that this continent is about to have another figure who will stir up the winds and clouds. Pass down the order, my Pill Tower's subordinates are not to antagonize this child for now, and observe the situation."

Ancient Clan, within the realm.

On a cloud-shrouded mountain Peak, a graceful figure stood against the wind, her robes fluttering, her temperament ethereal like an immortal. In front of her floated an ancient mirror, which also reflected Li Ao's image.

"Li Ao..." The woman whispered softly, a hint of complexity and curiosity flashing in her eyes, "I didn't expect that person from back then... could reach this step. This kind of power... seems to touch upon some Origin."

Similar scenes were constantly playing out among the major top forces in Central State.

Li Ao's return and the incredible power he displayed were like a giant rock thrown into a calm lake, the ripples spreading to every corner of the continent at an unprecedented speed.

Undercurrents have already gathered.

A storm is brewing.

And Li Ao, at the center of the storm, calmly pushed open the door of the quiet room at this moment, and calmly ordered Mittel Hoper and Ya Fei, who were waiting outside with respectful and somewhat fearful expressions:

"Send all intelligence regarding Central State, especially the Hall of Souls, and... the Medicine Clan, Yan Clan, and other ancient races from the recent period."

His return was by no means merely for deterrence.

Some old scores needed to be settled.

And some old acquaintances, perhaps, should be met.