Chapter 150: Each Employs Their Own Tactics (Please Subscribe!)

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, all was silent and still.

Yaochi and Haotian, along with several other minor attendants, entered as the assembly of Great Dao Lords arrived, then turned and proceeded into the heart of the palace.

Suddenly, the grand doors slammed shut behind them, though they paid little mind to it. After all, the authority they wielded was limited; many matters were beyond their control.

Yet, observing the quiet scene, they both instinctively shrank their necks a little.

Although merely staying close to Hongjun had granted them some understanding of the myriad Great Dao principles, it did not mean they could fully comprehend the situation before them.

“Senior Sister Yaochi, can you discern what profound change has just occurred? Why... why is it so...?” Haotian asked hesitantly.

“You can’t see through it, and neither can I,” Yaochi replied nonchalantly, cutting off his questioning. Dutifully, she moved to stand beside a cloud terrace, her expression serious yet tinged with a hint of innocent charm.

“You’d best behave and focus on what needs to be done. All the tasks have been assigned by our master, and we have completed them. Who knows, he might even be watching us from somewhere nearby.”

“Ah? Oh...” Haotian thought this made sense and decided it was better not to pry further. He took his place beside the cloud terrace, waiting quietly as before.

For them, the concept of time held little meaning.

...

Elsewhere, in a space resembling a field of red clouds, Zhen Yuanzi stood calmly, his demeanor composed.

He gazed at another self in the distance, feeling a strange mixture of bewilderment.

Yet, he did not dwell on it but focused his breath and spirit, preparing meticulously.

Responding to change with constancy was his way of following the Dao.

Now, however, was not the time for excessive contemplation.

He unfurled his wide sleeve, which resembled a black hole, emitting a powerful suction force as if it intended to swallow the very space around him.

This was his great divine technique—“Universe in the Sleeve.”

Opposite him, a figure resembling Zhen Yuanzi sat cross-legged in midair, sweeping his long sleeves in the same manner, countering the suction with equal force.

The two “Universe in the Sleeve” techniques no longer functioned as simple capturing arts; their colliding suction created a massive grinding mill, causing the surrounding space to rumble mightily.

From their hands, dust motes burst forth like sharp swords, intertwining fiercely.

As the stalemate continued, both summoned ancient scrolls from thin air.

These scrolls were old and sturdy, covered with auspicious clouds, their Dao essence evoking profound reverence.

The two pinned their scrolls in space; without any prompting, they unfolded naturally, radiating an overwhelming, domineering aura that seemed to seal the heavens and earth.

The corners of the scrolls were bare, devoid of any decoration, bearing only two large characters:

“Heaven!”

“Earth!”

Both Zhen Yuanzis’ expressions grew solemn. Despite the clashing divine techniques, they bowed deeply.

At that moment, the character “Earth” detached from the scroll and fell, crashing toward the opposing Zhen Yuanzi with oppressive force.

Such an attack could not be blocked by mere Dao robes!

Zhen Yuanzi’s expression hardened; he inhaled deeply and summoned the Earth Scripture Jade Tome.

Upon its appearance, it trembled slightly, then the character “Earth” was overlaid upon the tome.

Looking toward his opponent, a twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

For the Zhen Yuanzi opposite him had also summoned the Earth Scripture Jade Tome, using it to block his attack.

“Well, if we continue like this, it’s not that it’s useless, but simply a waste of our cultivation energy,” Zhen Yuanzi said with a faint smile, forming hand seals as divine techniques materialized and struck down with an air of calm indifference.

“Why not talk instead? From where do you hail, fellow Daoist?”

“Interesting, very interesting,” the other Zhen Yuanzi responded, countering attacks continuously. Knowing well the defensive power of the Earth Scripture Jade Tome, he unleashed sword qi that streaked across the sky, striking the heavenly canopy formed by the jade tome.

“What fellow Daoist? I am you—your past self.

But indeed, we should converse.

I am just as curious as you are about my own appearance.”

...

Elsewhere, the Old Ancestor of the Underworld River appeared in a vast void.

Beneath him, a twelve-grade karmic fire red lotus blazed incessantly. Though his aura was somewhat waning, his eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

Upon the twin swords Abî and Yuan Tu, blood-red and pale light surged forth, shooting toward the distant sea of blood.

After a moment of gathering, the two swords leapt from the blood sea, clashing fiercely.

“Hahaha! The twin swords Abî and Yuan Tu are treasures of the primordial world’s Dao of killing. Their combined power is unimaginable. And yet you manage to withstand me so?” he laughed heartily.

“Hmph! As expected of myself—never waiting a moment before launching a surprise attack.

I have always used this lotus platform to strike other Daoists, but today I have tasted the same medicine.”

The boiling sea of blood briefly roiled before reforming into the Old Ancestor’s form once more. The twelve-grade karmic fire red lotus slowly rotated, creating a luminous blood-sea curtain.

“Yet I have long known my own nature. I never thought I would be willing to let Blood River Zi self-destruct to erode your blood sea.

The Dao of the blood sea can only be cultivated by me alone; if they merge, they can also destroy each other…”

Both Old Ancestors of the Underworld River sneered coldly. Their auras fluctuated wildly, but faintly, the true form of the Blood River was rising and coalescing, steadily accumulating strength.

“Continuing like this, a victor cannot easily emerge. But I can call on external power.”

The Old Ancestor sneered, then produced a great pill marked with countless profound symbols, suffusing it with blood-colored mysteries until it was shrouded anew.

This was no ordinary item but a Dao pill seized outside the Purple Cloud Palace after slaying a Great Dao Lord.

Crack—

Crack, crack, crack—

Fractures spread across it; blood light seeped out, gradually causing it to explode.

The blood sea surged and roiled as a slightly smaller blood-red karmic fire lotus blossomed, enveloping toward the opponent.

Once bloomed, the red lotus seemed to root itself in the void, swaying lightly as its petals withered.

The fallen petals scattered, floating as they revived, intertwining into a new cluster.

“Using the karmic fire red lotus as foundation, guided by the Dao fruit of the Great Dao Lord, the Red Lotus Array activates!”

The murderous intent swept out, freezing the surrounding void and scorching the entire blood sea and lotus.

“This technique is indeed somewhat intriguing. But you dare to trap me with such an array?”

The opposing Old Ancestor sneered, releasing blood river banners from his sleeve, swiftly sealing a thousand zhang radius.

Within it, the twin swords Abî and Yuan Tu danced joyfully. Any trace of karmic fire or killing blood qi was immediately devoured.

...