Chapter 381 The Dao Lies in Simplicity

The Dream Within the Cage may have been an illusion, but the immortals above the Vaulted Heaven Palace were so lifelike, so cold and indifferent, that it gave Chen Fei a long-troubling question its answer.

If the heavens are veiled—then I will overturn them.

If the earth is darkened—then I shall upend it.

This slash was not just sword energy—it was Chen Fei’s Dao.

“Tsssk—!”

A crisp tearing sound echoed through the world.

Linlang, who had still been smiling calmly, suddenly froze.

The fan in his hand had been torn, revealing a gaping crack.

“He’s in Union with the Dao?!” Linlang’s expression turned grim.

The Earth Dao Realm, also known as Union with the Dao, was only achieved when body, mind, and Dao were in harmony. Only then could a cultivator manifest a True Form, allowing free, unrestrained combat with no hindrances. It was an ancient stage from a long-lost cultivation system—an essential step toward ascension.

But Chen Fei was clearly only at the Human Dao Realm!

How could his strike show the power of Union with the Dao?

Linlang was not only shocked, but deeply envious.

He had once been a renowned genius across the Xuanhuang Continent. But when attempting to reach Union with the Dao, he succumbed to the madness brought by cultivating demonic arts, corrupting his temperament and leading to his downfall. In desperation, he seized a new body and changed his name to Linlang.

He had hoped this new life would be as pure and flawless as jade.

But despite the new vessel, his cultivation had been stagnant, stuck at the Human Dao Realm.

And now he saw Chen Fei—someone at the same level—wielding powers beyond him.

Why?! Why can he do it?!

His emotions faltered, his mental state cracked—and his folding fan shattered in his hand.

The illusion covering the entire arena vanished instantly.

Chen Fei’s figure reappeared before everyone.

—

“Very good,” Linlang said with a wicked smile, “You’ve succeeded in catching my interest!”

A murderous glint passed over his face. With a light step, he flashed forward like teleportation and appeared right in front of Chen Fei.

Though he was aware of Chen Fei’s monstrous physical strength, Linlang still chose to engage in close combat.

He had no other choice—as long as he kept Chen Fei from using the full extent of his Dao power, he might still win.

Chen Fei wasn’t surprised by the close-range assault.

After all, having powerful strength didn’t mean one was invincible in every aspect.

If Linlang was charging in, it meant he had something special prepared.

Indeed.

Linlang’s slender body let out a sharp crack as he moved, followed by a barrage of explosive pops.

“These Ghost Wraith Eighteen Strikes were a lucky find from an ancient ruin. Let’s see how many of them you can handle!” Linlang laughed softly. His arm whipped out, and each movement sounded like tearing wind.

“Ghost Shadow Soulstrike!”

Chen Fei’s vision blurred, and even his spiritual vision was disrupted—ironically making him less able to defend.

That was the downside of spiritual sight.

Sometimes, seeing too clearly made things worse.

Thankfully, Chen Fei had experience. Relying on his instinct and perception, he blocked strike after strike with steady control.

Pa! Pa! Pa!

A series of impacts echoed as Chen Fei parried Linlang’s attacks with ease.

But Linlang wasn’t surprised—this was just the beginning.

The Ghost Wraith Eighteen Strikes were all about relentless escalation. Each strike grew faster and deadlier than the last. What came first was merely the appetizer.

Though Chen Fei had never encountered this technique before, from the pattern and pace of the strikes, he deduced that the attacks would soon reach a frenzied tempo.

If he kept purely defending, he would be dragged along by Linlang’s rhythm.

He had to break the stalemate.

But breaking free from such a tempo was easier said than done!

Linlang’s attacks were fast, precise, and vicious—leaving him almost no room to react.

His fists even emitted shrieking cries like evil spirits screaming directly into Chen Fei’s mind—a dual physical and soul assault.

And his fists were getting faster… so fast that even Chen Fei couldn’t track them.

“I’ve been overthinking this.” Chen Fei suddenly smiled.

Linlang, who had been observing him closely, was startled.

He felt something wasn’t right.

Just then, his fist landed squarely on Chen Fei’s body.

But the more solid the hit, the deeper Linlang’s frown became.

Why the hell was Chen Fei smiling even after being hit?

—

Outside the arena.

Though spectators from Tianqing Sacred Land could see the fight via projection, the details were unclear.

All they could see was Linlang punching Chen Fei squarely in the chest.

Faces changed instantly.

“Not good! Senior Brother Chen Fei got hit!”

“That guy’s foundation seems really solid… maybe Senior Brother is at a disadvantage here.”

And that assessment wasn’t wrong.

Though Chen Fei’s cultivation speed was outrageous, he hadn’t spent much time honing actual martial techniques—his only weakness.

Most of his cultivation involved improving his overall power through techniques, not refined combat.

Even with memory playback for learning martial arts, he was still behind seasoned Human Dao Realm veterans in raw technique.

But—Chen Fei’s combat instincts and adaptability far surpassed ordinary cultivators.

Linlang’s combo was dazzling and complex, difficult to fully defend against.

So instead of falling into the trap, Chen Fei flipped the table.

He used his brute physical strength to endure Linlang’s hit and buy himself a window.

“Ever heard the saying, ‘One force breaks ten thousand techniques?'” Chen Fei said with a grin.

Power surged into his fist—and then he swung.

Linlang’s pupils contracted.

That punch—so plain, so unremarkable—was like a child’s first swing in a martial arts class.

But he couldn’t dodge it.

The Dao lies in simplicity.

There’s nothing beyond the essence.

Chen Fei had realized this after comprehending his Overturning Heaven move.

When a cultivator reached the Human Dao Realm, and could wield Dao freely and naturally, even the simplest punch could become a Divine Martial Art.

Boom!

In full view of everyone, Chen Fei’s fist slammed directly into Linlang’s head.

In that moment, Linlang’s lightning-fast combo stopped dead.

Everyone watching was stunned.

“What move is that? Looks like a basic jab…”

“You don’t get it! That’s Dao in simplicity! Didn’t you hear Senior Brother Chen say? One force breaks all techniques!”

Linlang was completely dazed.

The immense impact shattered his stability—even his soul trembled. His head spun, his spirit almost knocked loose.

And before he could recover, Chen Fei’s fists rained down like a storm.

Punch after punch slammed into his face.

To his horror, Linlang’s very soul was knocked right out of his body!

“So that’s it… body possession!” Chen Fei’s eyes lit up.

Chen Fei’s ultimate trump card had always been the Void Heaven Cauldron—a treasure with a unique effect against soul-based enemies!

Without hesitation, Chen Fei infused the cauldron into his fist and smashed it directly at Linlang’s dislodged soul.