272: The first appearance of the tomb spirit

Li Ao and his group moved like ink dots on a gray canvas, traveling rapidly through this silent Heavenly Tomb Space.

Wherever they passed, whether it was ignorant low-level energy entities or high-level energy entities that had already developed some intelligence and knew how to use Dou Techniques, they were all silently annihilated at the edge of the Gui Xu Domain, turning into the purest Origin energy to nourish everyone following behind him.

The aura on Xiao Yan's body became robust at a visible speed; the barrier of the Five-Star Dou Zun had long been shattered, and he was currently steadily advancing toward the 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 mind was not entirely on this.

Since entering the depths of the Heavenly Tomb, the "nirvana ancient talisman" fragment in his Sea of Consciousness had been transmitting a faint but continuous throbbing.

This throbbing did not point to a specific energy source, but rather seemed to resonate with some underlying rule of this entire Heavenly Tomb Space, or rather... some dormant "will."

At the same time, the Purification Lotus Demon Flame that had been subdued within his Qi Sea also became uncharacteristically active; the flames swayed slightly, as if sensing some co-originating or opposing existence.

"This Heavenly Tomb is indeed not simple," Li Ao thought to himself, his gaze becoming increasingly profound.

They continued forward for an unknown amount of time until the surrounding gray mist gradually thinned, and a wider vacuum zone appeared ahead, which no energy entity dared to approach.

In the center of this zone, an incomparably huge gray stone stele was suspended.

The ten thousand zhang stone stele was smooth throughout, as if condensed from the purest intent of nirvana. There were no words or patterns on it, yet it exuded an ancient majesty that transcended all things and overlooked the Reincarnation of time.

And directly below the stone stele, a blurry phantom sat cross-legged.

That phantom was not an energy entity, but more like a lingering will, a manifestation of a rule.

It had no specific facial features, and its figure was constantly changing; at times it was like an elderly man at the twilight of his life, at times like a heroic youth, and at other times it transformed into a ferocious beast... as if it had condensed the remnants and forms of countless ancient powerhouses who had fallen here.

A boundless Soul pressure, far exceeding Li Ao's current Realm, slowly radiated from the phantom like a dormant primordial beast, shrouding the entire vacuum zone.

"This is... the soul of the heavenly tomb?!" Gu Xun'er gasped, her stunning face filled with shock.

Legends about the soul of the heavenly tomb were known only to a very few core members within the Gu clan; it was a unique existence that guarded and to a certain extent controlled the Heavenly Tomb, its strength unfathomable, and it was the true supreme Dominator in this Heavenly Tomb Space!

Xiao Yan, Medusa, and the others also instantly tightened their minds; they felt a fatal threat from that phantom!

Li Ao's pupils constricted slightly, and he stopped his footsteps.

He could feel that the source of the throbbing of the nirvana ancient talisman in his Sea of Consciousness and the unusual movement of the Purification Lotus Demon Flame was precisely this phantom known as the "soul of the heavenly tomb"!

No, more accurately, it was the core formed by this phantom and the ten thousand zhang stone stele together!

The soul of the heavenly tomb seemed to have been awakened by the intrusion of the group; its constantly changing form slowly stabilized, turning into a blurry humanoid figure.

Two "gazes" without any emotional color, as if composed of the purest rules, fell upon Lin Dong, who was at the head.

"Outsider... on you, there is the aura of 'Origin'... and... 'purification' and 'nirvana'..."

An ancient, obscure intent, seemingly layered with countless voices, resounded directly in Li Ao's Sea of Consciousness.

This intent was not a language, but it allowed Li Ao to instantly understand its meaning.

Origin? Does it refer to the nirvana source core? Purification and nirvana, do they refer to the Purification Lotus Demon Flame and my Guixu Great Dao? Li Ao felt a chill in his heart; the perception of this soul of the heavenly tomb was actually this sharp!

"Is Senior the guardian of this Heavenly Tomb?" Li Ao responded with his Divine Thought, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Guardian? Perhaps..." The intent of the soul of the heavenly tomb carried a trace of confusion and ancient vicissitudes. "I am the aggregation of the will of ten thousand Souls here, the manifestation of rules... You bear the mark of 'Origin', why have you come here?"

It seemed to pay special attention to Li Ao, its invisible "gaze" seeming to want to see through him completely from inside to out.

Li Ao pondered for a moment and spoke frankly: "To seek the Opportunity for further advancement in the Dao, and also to help my Junior Brother train and grow here."

The "gaze" of the soul of the heavenly tomb swept over Xiao Yan and the others behind Li Ao, paused slightly on the aura of the various Heavenly Flames on Xiao Yan, and then returned to Li Ao.

"Dao... the Dao you cultivate is... of the same Origin as this place, yet... different." Its intent was intermittent, as if it were recalling and distinguishing, "The mark of 'Origin'... do you know what 'Origin' is?"

Li Ao's heart stirred; he knew the key moment had arrived. He said in a deep voice: "This Junior only knows that it is the ultimate destination of the nirvana and creation of all things, the end of rules."

"Destination... end... heh..." The soul of the heavenly tomb emitted an unintelligible fluctuation of intent, seemingly laughing and sighing. "A frog in a well, seeing only a square inch of sky. The 'Origin' you have seen is merely a fragment of a corner, a ripple..."

Fragment? Ripple? Li Ao was greatly shocked! Could it be that the nirvana source core is not unique? And not the end?

"The true 'Origin'... is vast and boundless, encompassing all things and ending all things... This place is merely a fragment from an ancient battle that was stained with the aura of 'Origin'..." The intent of the soul of the heavenly tomb revealed information from an infinitely distant past, "My existence was also born because of that fragment..."

Li Ao instantly understood much. No wonder the nirvana ancient talisman would react to this place, no wonder the Purification Lotus Demon Flame would move unusually! This Heavenly Tomb itself was a huge ancient fragment containing the aura of the nirvana source core! And this soul of the heavenly tomb was the special will conceived by this fragment over long ages!

This Heavenly Tomb was, for him, an unimaginable Treasure Trove! If he could comprehend the Nirvana Origin contained within this "fragment," his Guixu Great Dao would surely undergo a qualitative leap!

"Senior..." Li Ao was about to ask again.

However, the soul of the heavenly tomb suddenly became restless; the blurry phantom distorted violently, and its intent carried a trace of Chaos and violence: "Mark of 'Origin'... devour... Fusion... I need to be complete..."

It seemed to regard Li Ao as the key to completing itself, or rather, completing this "fragment"!

"Not good! It's going to attack!" Gu Xun'er exclaimed.

The soul of the heavenly tomb suddenly spread its arms, and the gray energy in the entire vacuum zone instantly boiled! Countless gray chains made of pure, dead, and silent energy drilled out from the Void Realm like poisonous snakes, winding toward Li Ao from all directions! Each chain contained a terrifying power that could freeze the Soul and annihilate life, and its power was far beyond all the energy entities encountered before!

At the same time, the ten thousand zhang stone stele vibrated slightly, emitting an even heavier pressure, as if the weight of the entire Heavenly Tomb Space had pressed down, intending to completely seal Li Ao!

"Senior Brother, be careful!" Xiao Yan roared, the Heavenly Flames surging around his body, preparing to step forward to help.

"Back away!" Li Ao shouted sternly, "This is not a battle you can intervene in!"

His eyes were sharp as knives; facing the sudden attack of the soul of the heavenly tomb, not only was he not afraid, but he was instead incited to a monstrous Battle Intent!

"Want to devour me? Let's see if your broken will has the ability to do so!"

The Guixu Sacred Power around Li Ao burst forth, and the chaotic gray light shot into the sky, forcibly pushing away the heavy pressure that was shrouding him! He pushed his palms forward violently, and his Gui Xu Domain expanded to its limit, colliding fiercely with the countless gray chains that were winding toward him!

"Chi chi chi—!" Nirvana against nirvana! Rule against rule!

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