Chapter 221

Chapter 221: Immortals Exist in the World

"What is that?"

Fragments of rules manifested. Each Emperor Venerable and great Emperor stared at the golden spheres of light in shock, yet most wore expressions filled with doubt and bewilderment.

"I sense the aura of the Dao," muttered the white-bearded old man, utterly entranced, as if those golden spheres were their ultimate pursuit.

"I feel it too,"

said the middle-aged Daoist nun, holding her whisk, her gaze clear and bright.

As the fragments of rules solidified, a solemn sound of the Dao echoed through heaven and earth. Within this sound resided the truths of the Great Dao. Countless people were intoxicated by it; countless others felt profound longing.

The Dao King, Emperor Venerable Four Extremes, and Su Miao Zhen simultaneously ceased their battle, listening to the sound of the Dao, seeking to grasp its ultimate, profound principles.

"Fragments of rules…"

Meng Feixian murmured.

Whoosh!

At that precise moment, a colossal hand large enough to obscure the sun exploded out from a true immortal’s cave. It moved with powerful movements, the Great Dao of space erupting, seeking to contain all heaven and earth within its grasp. Its aim was to seize every fragment of rules.

This belonged to a peak-tier Emperor Venerable, possessing formidable strength, unyielding even against figures like Emperor Venerable Four Extremes.

Sizzle!

The instant his hand touched a golden sphere, however, the power of the rules scorched him. Flesh melted away. His hand was reduced to bone. An agonized shriek ripped from his throat.

Wounds inflicted by the power of rules are difficult to heal.

That hand was ruined.

The Dao King, Su Miao Zhen, and Emperor Venerable Four Extremes watched with chilling gazes. Seeing that Emperor Venerable grievously wounded instantly extinguished any thoughts the three had of seizing the fragments for themselves. This was not something mortals could grasp.

"What in the world is this?" Even someone as formidable as Su Miao Zhen could not discern the origin of the golden spheres.

The Dao King’s eyes flickered. Having devoured the luck of both the Spirit Realm and the Mysterious Realm, he could sense their wills. He was deeply familiar with fragments of rules.

These were fragments of rules belonging to the Yuan Realm. If seized and refined, they would grant control over a portion of the Yuan Realm’s own luck.

These fragments were far more important than the Taihuang Purple Gold Hammer.

"God-Magic Scatter Hand: Yin and Yang!" The Dao King let out a resounding roar, unleashing his divine power. His left hand embodied Yin, his right hand embodied Yang. Bringing them together, he formed a spinning yin-yang Taiji circle aimed directly at one fragment of rules.

"This object does not permit others to lay hands upon it!"

A sharp reprimand rang out. An overwhelmingly powerful aura approached with terrifying speed. A single palm, pure and white as jade, lightly tapped. Effortlessly, it shattered the yin and yang Great Dao, dissolving the Dao King’s divine technique.

Fury flashed in the Dao King’s eyes. Looking up, he saw the Creation spiritual embryo bearing an almost identical likeness to Nangong Zhandao.

"If you dare covet it again, you shall die without pardon," Nangong Zhandao’s voice issued from the Creation spiritual embryo. "Be gone!"

The Dao King’s expression warred between darkness and light. He gripped the Slaying Immortal Gourd, weighing the consequences.

Using the Gourd against the Creation spiritual embryo would inevitably result in grave injury for at least one party. Before, Emperor Venerable Yama, Emperor Venerable Mi Luo, and Su Miao Zhen stood together. Now, he was alone. The odds of victory were slim.

The Dao King took a deep breath. "You have my thanks for showing mercy."

He turned away. Rather than coveting the fragments, he charged towards the Taihuang Purple Gold Hammer.

"Who is that person? He actually forced Dao King to retreat?"

The white-bearded elder and the middle-aged Daoist nun exchanged grave expressions with other Emperor Venerables, their minds swirling with theories.

"Judging by his appearance, he seems to be the one ranked first on the Hidden Dragon List, Nangong Zhandao, hailed as the child of fortune of the Yuan Realm. However, just a short while ago he was only at the Saint King level. Even if he’s exceptionally talented, it’s impossible for him to advance into the ranks of top-tier Emperor Venerables in just over a month, right?"

A Great Emperor voiced his disbelief.

"Whoever dares covet this item becomes my enemy!"

The Creation spiritual embryo stood firm in the void. The Great Dao of creation erupted, sealing the heavens and earth as it protected the fragments of rules, ensuring the rules of the Yuan Realm could successfully fuse into completion.

"Hahaha…"

Suddenly, a burst of raucous laughter echoed through the void, its origin unknown and untraceable.

Boom!

A man covered completely in immortal light descended slowly. With every step he took, lotuses bloomed in the void, heavenly flowers cascaded like rain, and golden springs surged from the earth, as if he were the very incarnation of the Great Dao.

"Is this the reason why the Master came to the Yuan Realm?" Ji Tianjue murmured to himself.

This man was naturally his master, the true power behind the Three Thousand Immortal Islands.

The Creation spiritual embryo’s pupils contracted sharply as it fixed its gaze upon the man in yellow.

"A true immortal!"

"How can there be a true immortal in the Lower Realm?"

Nangong Zhandao’s cognition was completely overturned; he suffered an immense shock. The Immortal Realm had its order, the Heavenly Dao its regulations – any who achieved true immortality had to ascend to the Immortal Realm.

Therefore, it was impossible for true immortals to exist in the Lower Realm.

Yet, at this very moment, the appearance of the man in yellow had shattered Nangong Zhandao’s understanding.

"A true immortal…"

Dao King, who had just successfully seized the Taihuang Purple Gold Hammer, witnessed the scene and trembled all over. However, his Dao heart was resolutely firm, and he wasn’t overly stunned.

"Though the Creation spiritual embryo is powerful, it’s still not a genuine immortal. Now that a true immortal has descended, let’s see how you protect the fragments of rules…" Dao King sneered contemptuously.

Ye Xu also sensed something amiss.

The Creation spiritual embryo possessed strength comparable to true immortals. Anyone who could instill such fear in Nangong Zhandao must be a true immortal.

"These cunning people have finally failed to hide their tails," Ye Xu remarked with a half-smile. The great change in the Yuan Realm was revealing numerous monsters and demons in their true forms.

He was certain that the Yuan Realm now harbored more than just this one true immortal; others must be lurking in the shadows, the praying mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the yellow sparrow waits behind.

"Junior Brother, the Creation spiritual embryo is no match for this man. Retreat quickly," Lin Qianmo urged. "The Creation spiritual embryo is your protector. Your path of cultivation requires its guardianship."

Nangong Zhandao’s expression flickered through various emotions before finally settling into resolve.

"The world calls me the child of fortune of the Yuan Realm. My achievements owe much to the luck of the Yuan Realm. Today, as the Yuan Realm faces calamity, I, who bear its fortune, cannot simply abandon it."

"At worst, I start over. I’ll return it all to the Yuan Realm."

"I, Nangong Zhandao, owe nothing to anyone."

"Husband, I support you," Lan Youruo declared, her eyes fixed on Nangong Zhandao’s, filled with unwavering love.

Bang!

The man in yellow advanced relentlessly, intensifying the pressure upon the Creation spiritual embryo.

At last, the Creation spiritual embryo struck first. It swung its fist, infused with the power of creation, as spiritual energy from heaven and earth surged madly into its fist. Manifesting endless transformations, it encompassed all realms.

Bang!

The Creation spiritual embryo hurled its fist toward the man in yellow, like a great world crashing down.

Thud!

The man in yellow stood unmoving. Shrouded in misty immortal light, he raised a hand and effortlessly caught the fist of the Creation spiritual embryo. The overwhelming power of the Great Dao of creation surged forth, yet ripples of immortal light dissolved each force with ease.

To onlookers, the clash seemed devoid of exertion.

Yet its peril remained fathomless to outsiders.

"The rules of the Yuan Realm belong to no one."

Repeating Nangong Zhandao’s words, the Creation spiritual embryo flung open all its acupoints, devouring spiritual energy with ferocious hunger. Space began to fracture, earth crumbled, and the sky plunged into shadow.

Boom!

A terrifying aura erupted.

In an instant, space contorted; all creation fell silent.

Crack!

The man in yellow was blasted backward by a single blow. His protective immortal light shattered, flesh sundered, scattering into broken limbs across the ground.

Is it over?

Countless eyes witnessed this scene.

Ji Tianjue’s gaze sharpened, shadowed with unease.

"A spirit embryo born of heaven and earth is truly extraordinary,"

a voice suddenly declared. The man in yellow reassembled his body; his radiant immortal light condensed anew. Not a trace of injury remained.

"You, child of fortune, bearer of the Yuan Realm’s luck, guardian of this realm… show a shred of resolve."

"Pity you are too weak to protect the fragments of rules."

The man in yellow’s eyes gleamed with ancient light. "Since time immemorial, countless have coveted the Yuan Realm’s rule shards—from the Primal human ancestor, to the Primordial Heavenly Emperor, down to the modern Human Emperor." "None succeeded."

"Today, I shall end this tale."

He stepped forth, fist striking like a dragon. The Path of Oblivion suppressed the Creation spiritual embryo. His blow hurled it aside, embedding it deep within a mountain peak. Pinned. Immobilized.

This was the power of a true immortal.

The Creation spiritual embryo fell short.

This… is no mortal… He… is an immortal!

The white-bearded elder trembled in awe. Undying. Unharmed. The man in yellow embodied immortality.

Moments ago, the Creation spiritual embryo had repelled Dao King with ease. Now it lay crushed in turn. The man in yellow wielded power beyond any Emperor Venerable.

Yet it defied all common sense. Disbelief held minds captive.

Until this moment.

One by one, the Emperor Venerables snapped to understanding.

Immortals walked this earth.

And it seemed… they were not few.