Another slap?

At this moment, the world within the Shangqing Cave Heaven seemed to transform into a world of death.

Even a Nine Revolutions Pseudo Immortal, if they came into contact with that terrifying death aura, would instantly be annihilated.

But precisely this boundless and terrifying power of death was directed solely at Zhong Qing; even others who were also within it, though startled by its horrifying might, remained completely unharmed.

It was as if an entire world was targeting Zhong Qing alone.

This feeling actually made Zhong Qing feel a bit uncomfortable.

His body even felt… cold.

It was like stepping out on an early spring day, with a cool breeze blowing, and forgetting to put on an extra layer, making one involuntarily gasp.

Zhong Qing indeed gasped.

But he was surprisingly delighted.

This was much more impactful than the oppressive force that Ling Tian had previously inflicted upon him.

This Shangqing Ancestor truly lived up to his reputation as a genuine True Immortal.

Even if it wasn't his true body, he still had some tricks up his sleeve.

This time, if he was careful, he should be able to exchange a few more blows and have his fill.

However, his unharmed appearance, when seen by the Shangqing Ancestor, only elicited a cold sneer.

"Oh? You can withstand it? It seems that although you've just broken through to True Immortal, your Immortal Body has been tempered quite well."

"But as a True Immortal, the Immortal Body is merely the foundation."

"Let me tell you the biggest difference between a True Immortal and a mortal."

"From cultivating as a mortal to becoming a Saint, and from a Saint to becoming an Emperor."

"From mastering laws to condensing the power of rules and the Seal of Rules, and then to condensing a Dao Seed and forming a Dao Fruit."

"This is the process of a mortal comprehending and transforming with the world."

"When the Dao Fruit is fully mature, it is through the nurturing of this external world that one's own fundamental rules blossom forth."

"Every Immortal is a new fundamental rule, a prototype of a new world."

"Using one's own fundamental rules to permeate this world."

"A single thought from a True Immortal can overturn the heavens and earth."

"This is where the true power of a True Immortal lies, not in competing with others to see whose fist is bigger or whose strength is greater."

"The battles between True Immortals are competitions between fundamental rules."

"If I'm not mistaken, you've just broken through to the True Immortal realm; you probably haven't even mastered the application of fundamental rules yet, have you?"

A cold smile appeared on the Shangqing Ancestor's face, which was shrouded in immortal light.

"You should have realized that my true body is still in the Upper Realm."

"What you see before you is merely a portion of my will projected here, a clone formed by condensing a body using the power of this Shangqing Cave Heaven Immortal Artifact."

"But even so, relying on this clone, I can still permeate it with the power of my fundamental rules."

"Just now, I actually did nothing; I merely harbored a trace of killing intent towards you."

"And then the world itself became your enemy, seeking to kill you at all costs."

"So, what do you suppose will happen when I truly make a move?"

"You..."

He spoke halfway, then his expression suddenly changed.

As a True Immortal, when he appeared, the heavens and earth trembled, and all beings prostrated themselves.

When he spoke, everyone inside and outside the Cave Heaven trembled.

And just now, he was halfway through his speech.

Zhong Qing, who had originally seemed quite enthusiastic, actually… yawned.

Seeing him pause, he then regained his interest and asked,

"Are you done talking? Can we fight now?"

It wasn't that Zhong Qing was being disrespectful.

He truly didn't understand what the Shangqing Ancestor was talking about.

After all, he was, at best, still just a Great Emperor, not even a Three Tribulation Emperor.

How could he comprehend such profound and mysterious concepts?

The Shangqing Ancestor's colossal body suddenly trembled, and anger surged in his eyes.

I, an old True Immortal, am expounding on the Great Dao of True Immortals.

How could this junior be so rude?

"Good, good, good, what an arrogant junior."

"Do you perhaps think that a mere clone of mine cannot do anything to you?"

"It seems I must let you suffer a bit to know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

As his voice fell, the Shangqing Ancestor's colossal body moved for the first time.

He slowly raised his hand and pointed a finger at the minuscule Zhong Qing, who was tens of thousands of miles away, like an ant.

At the moment the Shangqing Ancestor made his move, it seemed as if only that one finger remained between heaven and earth.

Everything, from birth to death, from existence to nothingness, evolved within that single finger; myriad Great Dao Laws were but a ripple within it.

In contrast, the unassuming Zhong Qing was not even as significant as a speck of dust.

Then, the dust also made its move.

Zhong Qing flew up and slapped it.

And then that extended finger, along with the upper half of the Shangqing Ancestor's clone, exploded like a balloon.

Boom!

The world seemed to collapse, and heaven and earth moved towards annihilation.

At the top of the Shangqing Cave Heaven, accompanied by a tremendous roar, it violently shattered, revealing a clear palm print tens of thousands of miles long.

Everyone inside and outside the Cave Heaven froze.

Even Zhong Qing's body stiffened.

But the expressions on the faces of the others were of stupefaction.

Zhong Qing, on the other hand, was disappointed.

This old fellow looked so imposing, so he couldn't help but add a bit more force.

But it turned out he was just for show, exploding with a single slap?

Meanwhile, in the hearts of everyone else inside and outside the Cave Heaven, monstrous waves surged.

That was the Shangqing Ancestor, the founder of the Four Great Immortal Sects, a True Immortal from the Upper Realm descending to the mortal world.

They had expected a fierce battle, a peerless war that the Second Heaven hadn't seen in countless years.

But… it was no different from before; Zhong Qing exploded him with one slap?

How strong was this True Immortal, who appeared to be a young man?

Zhong Qing himself also wanted to know this question, but he couldn't get an answer.

Just as he was feeling disappointed, the Shangqing Ancestor's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of surprise and shock.

"How is this possible? I didn't sense the aura of fundamental rules."

"You, relying solely on your Immortal Body, can actually achieve this?"

"It seems I underestimated you."

Zhong Qing's gaze sharpened: "Not dead? Can still fight?"

However, he wasn't entirely sure; before, he had thought Ling Tian wasn't dead after a single slap, but then only a remnant soul was left.

The shock in the Shangqing Ancestor's voice flashed and was replaced by a hint of killing intent: "No wonder you could break through to True Immortal from the now-decaying Lower Realm, little fellow, I admit, you are a genius."

"But some things, even a genius cannot change."

The next moment, the remaining half of the Shangqing Ancestor's clone also suddenly exploded.

That wisp of seven-colored auspicious light reappeared, continuously condensing and swirling in the void.

At its very center, a pitch-black point emerged, rapidly expanding into a black hole the size of a fist.

From within this black hole, a boundless and terrifying aura emerged, causing the surrounding world to rapidly dim, as if the end of days was approaching.

Immediately after, a jade-like hand, emitting dazzling white light, extended from within the black hole and slowly reached out towards Zhong Qing.

Zhong Qing's gaze narrowed.

This time, he truly felt something different.