Chapter 257

Chapter 257: The Outside Is Too Dangerous

One day later, the group returned to the Yuan Realm.

"The ancestral home lives up to its reputation," Gu Daojin mused. His thoughts stretched out, encompassing rivers and mountains for thousands of miles. That explosive vitality, the competitive flourishing of all things – it was an atmosphere unseen in any other world he had witnessed.

Now, the ancestral home was gradually reviving. Like a siphon, it massively absorbed the spiritual energy from all realms, strengthening itself. The future undoubtedly held a golden age.

"The first time I came to the Yuan Realm, it was a shabby ruin. Not even a Great Emperor was in sight. Who could have foreseen such a tremendous change?" Gu Daojin sighed deeply with emotion.

Overnight, the world had transformed completely—a true Change of the World.

"Dear friends, I shall take my leave," Su Mu announced. Since they had returned to the Yuan Realm, it was time to part ways. He had no interest in subduing the Ancient Four Clans.

"Farewell for now," the Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital and Great Emperor Ziwei clasped their hands in farewell.

"That lad exudes mystery; his origins cannot be ordinary," Gu Daojin murmured to himself, gazing thoughtfully at Su Mu’s departing figure.

"Come, my apprentice, lead the way," Gu Daojin boomed. His aura surged magnificently as he clapped Great Emperor Ziwei on the shoulder. "Today, I’ll open your eyes. We’ll slaughter our way through these ancient divine clans."

"Master," Great Emperor Ziwei cautioned gravely, "These ancient divine clans have been sealed away for tens of millions of years. Their foundations are deep. Just the known true immortals number two. Please, do not be overconfident."

"Fear nothing!"

Gu Daojin’s magic power surged as he charged towards the new domain.

An hour later, they crossed into the new domain.

"Master, that is the true immortal’s cave of the Kunpeng divine clan," Great Emperor Ziwei pointed.

Far ahead, the true immortal realm hung suspended between heaven and earth, imposing and mysterious, radiating an aura of savagery and power.

Boom!

Frosty glints flashed in Gu Daojin’s eyes. Without any visible movement, the sky instantly erupted. Tens of thousands of violet, dragon-like bolts of lightning, crackling with apocalyptic power, blanketed the heavens. They roared and converged upon the Kunpeng divine clan’s true immortal cave in a devastating onslaught.

This was the divine ability of a warrior at the peak of True Immortal Realm. Its might was truly unparalleled.

Void and earth melted instantly under countless thunderbolts. The true immortal’s cave world was pierced in moments. Horrifying screams echoed from the collapsing cave – agonizing, pitiful.

"What fellow Taoist dares strike my Kunpeng divine clan?" An immense primordial spirit manifested from the cave’s depths. Its wings unfurled, vast and mighty, Divine Feathers vibrating with power. They formed a colossal shield that blotted out sky and sun, attempting to block Gu Daojin’s divine assault.

But within mere seconds, those Divine Feathers were utterly shattered.

Hum!

Suddenly, a Heavenly Blade slashed out from the depths of the cave. It plunged directly into the sea of lightning, carving a path of destruction, tearing through countless lightning dragons. It nearly cleaved the violent thunder sea apart. Its momentum was earth-shattering.

"Indeed, with two experts like this guarding the gates, they could rampage across all realms unchallenged in an age lacking true immortals," Gu Daojin remarked coolly. "Pity they ran into me."

Clang!

Gu Daojin extended two fingers like a sword and slashed through the void.

Heaven and earth were plowed open, leaving a deep chasm. The Heavenly Blade was sent flying away by the invisible force. A sword beam sliced downward. The vast wings shattered instantly. The true immortal’s cave world was violently split apart by a single sword strike.

Countless sword qi erupted, instantly reducing the entire true immortal’s cave to nothing.

A strike from an expert at the peak of True Immortal Realm was absolutely no joke.

Though the Kunpeng divine clan possessed profound foundations, they currently had no true immortal presiding. Facing Gu Daojin, they were like meat on the chopping block, utterly at his mercy.

Boom!

The true immortal’s cave exploded violently, its shockwaves spreading outward for millions of miles. The ground trembled and mountains quaked.

Gu Daojin gathered his mana, retrieving both the heavenly blade and the pair of Divine Feathers. These were two immortal artifacts; the blade forged from the backbone of a true immortal realm Kunpeng, and the feathers crafted from its wings.

"Good disciple, these wings are yours." Gu Daojin tossed the Divine Feathers to Great Emperor Ziwei.

Great Emperor Ziwei was overjoyed.

This pair of Divine Feathers were immortal artifacts, peerless in speed. With their power, even an expert at the pinnacle of Emperor Venerable Realm might not be able to catch him.

Of course, the sole drawback of immortal artifacts was their immense consumption of mana.

With Great Emperor Ziwei’s current cultivation, he could maintain them for at most a quarter of an hour.

"Next!"

Having crushed the Kunpeng divine clan, Gu Daojin had no intention of stopping.

The group continued towards their next destination.

…

Meanwhile, the destruction of the Kunpeng divine clan sent shockwaves through the Yuan Realm’s ancient divine clans.

Gu Daojin hadn’t employed any spells to conceal the clan’s annihilation when he struck. The collapse of the true immortal’s cave created far too massive a disturbance to hide from anyone.

Ji Xuan Yi’s expression was grim.

The Kunpeng divine clan had only just emerged into the world, harboring no enmity towards others, yet suffered the calamity of being wiped out. It was almost certain they had brought this upon themselves.

"Ancestor."

The clan leader of the Ji clan, a middle-aged man, bowed and reported, "I have investigated. The Kunpeng divine clan, the Zhuque Divine Clan, the Yinglong Divine Clan, and the Pan Ao Divine Clan joined forces to pursue Ye Qing Xuan, Duobao Daoist, Great Emperor Ziwei, and the others. But several days have passed with no word."

"Could this recent incident be connected to them?"

Ye Qing Xuan, Su Mu, and Great Emperor Ziwei were all once renowned figures on the Great Emperor Golden List. Influenced by Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, all major forces in the Yuan Realm were familiar with them.

"Next, let’s see if the other three clans face extinction," Ji Xuan Yi sighed.

"If they truly sought their own doom, even I could do nothing."

Back at the Bi Fang divine clan, the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, merely a physical manifestation decreed from a scroll, possessed the power to slay them. Ji Xuan Yi deeply dreaded ever experiencing that terror on the brink of life and death again.

"Clan leader!"

Suddenly, another Emperor Venerable rushed into the divine hall, his expression grave. "Ancestor! Just moments ago, a message arrived from the Hall Master’s Elder! The Zhuque Divine Clan has been obliterated!"

Both the clan leader of the Ji clan and Ji Xuan Yi were visibly astounded.

"Did they discover who it was?"

"Was it the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

They simultaneously queried.

"It was not the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

This Emperor Venerable appeared terrified as he said, "The Hall Master’s Elder once projected an image with a supreme-grade shadow stone, but that person’s power was so immense, even the shadow stone couldn’t record it completely."

"But it can be confirmed that this person isn’t the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion."

"However—"

"Speak!" Illustrious Thearch Ji Xuan Yi raged.

"Ye Qing Xuan and Great Emperor Ziwei… are both with that man."

Hearing this, Ji Xuan Yi instantly understood: once again, the people from the four clans had kicked an iron plate.

No.

A steel plate.

The Patriarch of the Ji clan drew a sharp breath and said with a bitter laugh, "Our ancient divine clans emerging into the world should have made us the strongest force in all realms. How have we become victims for slaughter?"

"Ancestor, we haven’t appeared for millions of years. We simply didn’t know the world outside had become so dangerous."

Ji Xuan Yi remained silent, speechless.

Who could have known that the world would become such a mad scene?

He was on the very brink of breakdown.

…

On this day, the Kunpeng divine clan, the Zhuque Divine Clan, the Yinglong Divine Clan, and the Pan Ao Divine Clan were all subdued by the same individual within a single day. The shock stirred throughout the Yuan Realm, instilling panic in all realms.

The ancient divine clans newly emerged into this world trembled with fear.

Many ancient divine clans used their supreme powers to fully conceal their true immortal’s caves, escaping into the void.

No one could blame them, for Gu Daojin was truly terrifying.

Subduing four divine clans with just a single action—who wouldn’t recoil in dread?

"Hahaha!"

Upon the ruins of the Pan Ao Divine Clan’s celestial cave, Gu Daojin stood aloft on the wind, wearing an expression of immense pride. "The so-called famous master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion only managed to wipe out one Bi Fang divine clan! I appear, and I subdue four clans simultaneously! This achievement surpasses that of the Heaven’s Secret Pavilion Master!"

Ye Xu felt equal parts amusement and exasperation.

Great Emperor Ziwei truly understood Gu Daojin well.

The real motivation behind Gu Daojin’s eagerness to subdue the Ancient Four Clans was his competitive desire to outshine the Pavilion Master.

"I nearly forgot…"

A light sparked in Gu Daojin’s eyes. He pointed with his forefinger, channeling an aura of indestructible Truth. Characters shimmered in the air, flowing like dragons and phoenixes—seven imposing characters coalesced into existence:

The Clan Destroyer: Rising Dragon Daoist.

"From this day forth, my fame will echo through the world!" Gu Daojin boasted, grinning with immense satisfaction. "Disciple, from now on, you’ll be the disciple of a famous man!"

Great Emperor Ziwei stood there, radiating awkwardness.

"Brother," Qin Fei Yan said, "since matters here are settled, shall we go pay our respects to the esteemed Elder at Heaven’s Secret Pavilion?"

"Naturally," Gu Daojin agreed dismissively.

"Ahem…" Nine Palaces Emperor Venerable coughed pointedly.

"Senior Brother, though the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion has a gentle and approachable temperament, it’s best you exercise considerable restraint to avoid offending him."

"Fussy old man!" Gu Daojin retorted with undisguised annoyance. "True masters act as they see fit! That Pavilion Master and I? We might just become bosom friends!"

The Seven Immortals of Cloud Capital silently exchanged looks.

Ye Xu smiled.

Bosom friends?

Absolutely not.

But as a dedicated and dependable pair of business partners? Entirely possible.