271: The first appearance of the tomb spirit

Li Ao and his group traversed quickly through this desolate Heavenly Tomb space, like ink dots moving across a gray canvas. Everywhere they passed, whether it was the ignorant low-level energy bodies or the high-level energy bodies that had already developed some intelligence and knew how to use Dou Techniques, all were silently annihilated at the edge of the Gui Xu Domain, turning into the purest Origin energy, nourishing the people following behind him.

Xiao Yan's aura grew visibly stronger; the barrier of Five-Star Dou Zun had long since shattered, and he was now steadily advancing toward Six-Star Dou Zun. Gu Xun'er, Medusa, and Xiao Yi Xian also gained immensely, especially Medusa, whose Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline showed faint signs of further Awakening under the nourishment of this ancient energy.

However, Li Ao's attention was not entirely focused here. The fragment of the “nirvana ancient talisman” in his Sea of Consciousness had been transmitting a weak yet continuous tremor ever since they entered the depths of the Heavenly Tomb. This tremor did not point to a specific energy source, but rather seemed to resonate with some underlying rule of the entire Heavenly Tomb space, or perhaps... some kind of dormant “Will.”

At the same time, the Purification Lotus Demon Flame, which had been subdued within his Qi Sea, became unusually active, the flames flickering slightly, seemingly sensing the presence of something with a shared Origin or something antagonistic.

“This Heavenly Tomb is truly extraordinary,” Li Ao murmured inwardly, his gaze growing deeper.

They continued forward for an unknown amount of time until the surrounding gray mist gradually thinned, revealing a wider, vacuum-like zone ahead that no energy body dared to approach.

At the center of this zone, an immense gray stone tablet floated. The tablet was ten thousand zhang tall and entirely smooth, seemingly condensed from the purest Intent of Nirvana. It bore no text or patterns, yet it radiated an ancient majesty and solemnity that transcended all things and overlooked the Reincarnation of time.

Directly beneath the stone tablet, a blurry phantom sat cross-legged.

The phantom was not an energy body; it was more like a cohesive Will, a manifestation of a rule. It lacked specific features, and its form constantly shifted, sometimes appearing as a dying old man, sometimes as a valiant youth, and sometimes transforming into a ferocious giant beast... seemingly condensing the lingering thoughts and forms of countless ancient powerhouses who had perished here.

A boundless Soul pressure, far exceeding Li Ao's current Realm, slowly emanated from the phantom, like a slumbering Primeval Behemoth, enveloping the entire Vacuum Zone.

“This is... the Heavenly Tomb Soul?!” Gu Xun'er gasped, her beautiful face filled with shock. Legends of the Heavenly Tomb Soul were known only to a very few core members within the Ancient Clan; it was a unique existence that guarded and, to some extent, controlled the Heavenly Tomb. Its strength was unfathomable, making it the true supreme Dominator within this Heavenly Tomb space!

Xiao Yan, Medusa, and the others instantly tensed up, sensing a fatal threat emanating from the phantom.

Li Ao's pupils contracted, and he stopped. He could sense that the source of the nirvana ancient talisman's tremor in his Sea of Consciousness and the unusual movement of the Purification Lotus Demon Flame was precisely this phantom known as the “Heavenly Tomb Soul”!

No, more accurately, it was the core formed jointly by this phantom and the ten-thousand-zhang stone tablet!

The Heavenly Tomb Soul seemed to be awakened by the group's intrusion. Its constantly changing form slowly stabilized, turning into a blurry humanoid shape. Two sets of “gazes,” devoid of any emotion and seemingly composed of the purest Rules, landed upon Lin Dong, who was leading the group.

“Outsider... your body carries the aura of the ‘Source’... and also... ‘Purification’ and ‘Nirvana’...”

An ancient, obscure thought, seemingly composed of countless superimposed voices, resonated directly within Li Ao's Sea of Consciousness. This thought was not language, yet Li Ao instantly understood its meaning.

Source? Does it mean the nirvana source core? Purification and Nirvana, does it refer to the Purification Lotus Demon Flame and my Guixu Great Dao? Li Ao felt a chill in his heart; the Heavenly Tomb Soul's perception was astonishingly sharp!

“Senior, are you the guardian of this Heavenly Tomb?” Li Ao responded with Divine Thought, neither servile nor overbearing.

“Guardian? Perhaps...” The Heavenly Tomb Soul's thought carried a trace of confusion and ancient vicissitude. “I am the aggregation of the Will of Ten Thousand Souls here, the manifestation of Rules... You bear the Mark of the ‘Source,’ why have you come?”

It seemed particularly focused on Li Ao, its invisible “gaze” seemingly trying to see through him completely, inside and out.

Li Ao pondered for a moment before stating frankly: “To seek the Opportunity for my Dao to advance further, and also to help my Junior Brother temper and grow here.”

The Heavenly Tomb Soul's “gaze” swept over Xiao Yan and the others behind Li Ao, paused briefly on the aura of the various Strange Flames emanating from Xiao Yan, and then returned to Li Ao.

“The Great Dao... the Dao you cultivate... shares the same Origin as this place, yet... it is different.” Its thought was intermittent, as if recalling and distinguishing. “The Mark of the ‘Source’... do you know what the ‘Source’ truly is?”

Li Ao's heart stirred, knowing the crucial moment had arrived. He said in a deep voice: “Junior only knows that it is the ultimate destination of the Nirvana and Creation of all things, the Endpoint of Rules.”

“Destination... Endpoint... Heh heh...” The Heavenly Tomb Soul emitted a wave of thought with unclear meaning, sounding like a laugh and a sigh. “A frog in a well sees only an inch of the sky. The ‘Source’ you see is merely a Fragment, a Ripple...”

Fragment? Ripple? Li Ao's heart was violently shaken! Could it be that the nirvana source core was not unique? And not the end?

“The true ‘Source’... is vast and boundless, encompassing everything, yet also ending everything... This place is merely a Fragment, stained with the aura of the ‘Source,’ formed during an Ancient War...” The Heavenly Tomb Soul's thought revealed information spanning endless time. “My existence was also born because of that Fragment...”

Li Ao instantly understood a great deal. No wonder the nirvana ancient talisman reacted here, and no wonder the Purification Lotus Demon Flame moved unusually! The Heavenly Tomb itself was a massive ancient Fragment containing the aura of the nirvana source core! And this Heavenly Tomb Soul was the Special Will nurtured by this Fragment over long ages!

For him, this Heavenly Tomb was simply an unimaginable Treasure Trove! If he could comprehend the Nirvana Origin contained within this “Fragment,” his Guixu Great Dao would certainly undergo a Qualitative Leap!

“Senior...” Li Ao was about to ask further.

However, the Heavenly Tomb Soul suddenly became agitated. The blurry phantom twisted violently, and its thought carried a hint of Chaos and violence: “The Mark of the ‘Source’... Devour... Fusion... I need to be Whole...”

It seemed to regard Li Ao as the key to completing itself, or rather, completing this “Fragment”!

“Oh no! It's going to attack!” Gu Xun'er exclaimed.

The Heavenly Tomb Soul suddenly spread its arms, and the gray energy throughout the entire Vacuum Zone instantly boiled! Countless gray chains, composed of pure, deathly silent energy, drilled out of the Void Realm like venomous snakes, wrapping around Li Ao from all directions! Every chain contained terrifying power capable of freezing the Soul and annihilating vitality, its might far exceeding all the energy bodies they had encountered before!

Simultaneously, the ten-thousand-zhang stone tablet also trembled slightly, emitting an even heavier pressure, as if the entire weight of the Heavenly Tomb space was bearing down, intent on completely Sealing Li Ao.

“Senior Brother, be careful!” Xiao Yan roared, Strange Flames surging around him, ready to rush forward and assist.

“Stand back!” Li Ao shouted sternly. “This is not a battle you can interfere with!”

His eyes were sharp as knives. Facing the Heavenly Tomb Soul's sudden attack, he felt no fear; instead, his overwhelming Battle Intent was ignited!

“You want to devour me? We'll see if your Fragmented Will has the capability!”

Li Ao's Guixu Sacred Power erupted violently all around him. Chaos gray light shot into the sky, forcibly pushing open the heavy pressure that enveloped them! He thrust his palms forward fiercely, and the Gui Xu Domain expanded to its limit, colliding violently with the countless gray chains wrapping around him!

“Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!”

Nirvana against Nirvana! Rules against Rules!

A confrontation far exceeding any previous battle level, concerning the Origin of the Great Dao, violently erupted in the deepest part of the Heavenly Tomb!