The Ancient Daoist of the Death World

The tall Daoist wore a faded robe of archaic style, with four immortal swords on his back, his face turned away from Xiao Chen.

In these depths of the Death World, bleached bones were common, but to see a being of flesh and blood was extraordinary.

"Are you waiting for me?" Xiao Chen stopped on the hard earth. "Who are you?"

The Daoist slowly turned. His beard and hair were jet-black, his face calm, his eyes deep. "Have you forgotten?"

As he spoke, his features gradually blurred, and then a figure of imposing momentum reappeared before Xiao Chen.

"It's you—Lord Tongtian!" Xiao Chen was startled. How could he forget those events from long ago? During the Calamity of the False Gods, he had personally sent a group of supreme beings to their end.

And Tongtian's projection had manifested in the Death World long ago! He had dealt with him in the early days, and Tongtian had said he would wait before the Primordial Demon City deep in the Death World.

"It seems your origins are no small matter," Xiao Chen said, staring at him. Now that his cultivation rivaled an Ancestral God, he naturally feared no opponent.

The Daoist before him revealed a cold smile. "Tongtian is merely a symbol, long since gone. As for me, I exist with the world, indelible!"

"What is your true origin?" Xiao Chen had long since vaguely sensed a terrible truth. In the real world, the power of human minds had an inconceivable might. The Otherworld Ancestral Gods used it to make many illusory figures step forth from the hearts of living beings, manifesting in this world.

And in the Death World, certain unmatched, ferocious beings were powerful enough to project fragmented shadows into the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds, which could then merge with the illusory false gods.

If he wasn't mistaken, the Daoist before him was one of those terrifying existences—an extremely dangerous figure.

"Lord Tongtian has long since perished. You may call me Xutian." The Daoist's expression was indifferent, his features reverting to their earlier appearance.

A fearsome unknown lifeform in the Death World had once cast fragmented shadows into the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds, and now stood before him. Xiao Chen had to be on high alert.

"So the other illusory false gods have all effectively come back to life?" Xiao Chen asked.

"Wrong. Let me correct you once more. The illusory beings of the past have all been destroyed. What you see before you is the true original body of a supreme being." The Daoist's expression was calm, but his words carried a chilling edge. "However, apart from me, you will hardly see the originals of anyone else."

"Why?" Xiao Chen asked, puzzled.

"Because time is too long. Ages can wear down all things." The Daoist spoke unhurriedly. "Many of the Death World's projections entered that world in ages long past. Over that vast span of time, the projections might have been preserved, but the true bodies of the Death World's masters have long since slowly faded into the river of history. By now, apart from me, I fear you will find it very difficult to see the originals of anyone else."

Xiao Chen did not feel relieved. His expression remained heavy. "So you're saying that in ages past, this world held many supreme beings who took the final step? How is that possible!"

"Those supreme beings who could project into another world are not many—perhaps as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns," the Daoist said. "Projections are fragmented. A single supreme might disperse his projection into a dozen strands."

The Daoist, calling himself Xutian, had been cold all along, speaking without any emotional fluctuation.

"Then why are you blocking me here today? What is your real purpose?" Xiao Chen asked the most critical question.

"Naturally, to settle the enmity of the past!" As he spoke, Xutian's expression grew icier. The four swords on his back chimed sharply, leaping from their scabbards on their own, their murderous aura piercing the heavy leaden clouds above.

"It can't be just that," Xiao Chen said from a distance. "Back when I first awakened in the Death World, I already crossed hands with your projection. You said you would wait for me before the Primordial Demon City deep in the Death Continent." Xiao Chen frowned. "Back then, your power in the outer regions of the Death World wasn't that great. Now it seems to have swelled to a terrifying degree. You..."

Xiao Chen stared at him in amazement. As he thought, he immediately deduced many things.

"You are still a projection now! It is not your true body. The distance from here to your divine city cannot be very far, so your projection is very strong."

In that instant, Xiao Chen was shocked by his own deduction. Then he looked toward the Primordial Demon City ahead. "Could that be your slumbering Primordial Demon City? What stands before me now is the projection of a phantom from the city within?"

"You are wrong. I am no phantom projection." The tall, indifferent Daoist spoke calmly. "I am formed from a part of my divine thoughts!"

This was very bad news. If the terrifying existence within the Primordial Demon City could not abandon the final step, it could not leave the divine city at all. Yet this being before him was a coalescence of part of the divine thoughts of such a fearsome figure—he had actually managed to successfully step out of the Primordial Demon City!

"You are correct. Waiting for you does have another purpose. I cannot reach too far—after all, I am rushing toward the final step, and my divine thoughts cannot leave my true body too far, so I could only wait for you deep in the Death Continent. I want..." As he spoke, the Daoist's eyes suddenly shot out two terrible rainbow beams toward Xiao Chen.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two War Swords appeared before Xiao Chen, blocking the two rainbow beams with a jarring metallic ring.

"What do you want?" Xiao Chen asked coldly.

"I want to kill you!" The Daoist's body immediately grew misty and indistinct, but within it, a sharp sword intent pierced forth, deeply shaking the Death Continent.

A cloud of ethereal mist rose, truly like immortal mist. But in an instant, four fierce sword energies slashed out—domineering and overbearing, no doubt about it: Ancestral God-level combat power!

"Dang! Dang! Dang!" Xiao Chen shifted his position, his body as dreamlike as a phantom, evading the clump of white mist while several War Swords stood before him, crossing and striking to block the assault of the four immortal swords.

"Waiting here cannot just be to kill me. What are you really after?" Xiao Chen did not believe his words.

"Ask again if you survive!" The cold Daoist grew even fiercer, dissolving into a white mist that drove the four immortal swords in a cross-cutting storm.

"Trying to test my strength?" Xiao Chen said coldly. "I despise people pretending to be profound and testing me. Don't blame me for being ruthless—I'll shatter your divine thoughts, smash your Primordial Demon City behind you, and make you regret for eternity!"

Xiao Chen's voice was icy. Thirty-three War Swords charged forward, clashing against the four immortal swords. Divine light soared into the sky, brilliant and resplendent.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!..."

The deafening ring of metal striking metal was ceaseless. Over thirty War Swords streaked like thirty-three bolts of lightning, tearing apart the dark, leaden sky.

Sparks flew everywhere. Sword energy flooded the area. The four immortal swords suffered shocking nicks and gaps; in some places, they were nearly broken clean through!

"Boom!" In a moment, the four immortal swords shattered completely, crushed into iron filings by the divine radiance of the thirty-three War Swords, which fell to the ground.

Whoosh! Whoosh! The War Swords slashed forward, aiming for the clump of white mist ahead!

A cold snort rang out. Within the mist, two terrifying points of light suddenly blazed—a pair of eyes! They flickered with a chilling yellow light that made one's hair stand on end.

That yellow radiance, close to gold, was not sacred. Instead, it felt darkly cold and eerie. There were no pupils—only two yellow eye-sockets, thoroughly terrifying.

Xiao Chen's body hair stood on end. He sensed an immense danger. This was the divine power of a Supreme Ancestral God, and he had seen such yellow light before—more than once.

Over a decade ago, the Stone Man who had nearly successfully taken the final step by the narrowest margin could be called an invincible opponent across the world, and the light he emitted was yellow.

Moreover, the destroyed Stone Man who had caused chaos in the Otherworld had also given off light of this same yellow—not glaring, but hazy. It seemed to be the exclusive mark of Stone Men!

"Boom!" The sound shook the sky. The thirty-three War Swords instantly flew back, bursting into blinding radiance before Xiao Chen. Then the hazy, incomplete divine diagram emerged, slowly rotating.

"Shiiing!" Two streams of yellow light shot forward in an instant, and this region of the world immediately trembled.

"Bam! Bam!"

The divine diagram rotated like an indestructible heavenly shield, colliding with the two yellow beams. Dull, heavy sounds rang out—like heavenly drums pounding, like sun and moon quaking. All around, everything grew hazy and indistinct. Mysterious and evil forces clashed fiercely.

"Rumble..." Even the lofty Primordial Demon City ahead trembled, erupting with a flood of terrifying power. This entire region was sealed by a supreme force.

"Thump! Thump!" The horrifying sounds struck directly at the soul. In that hazy world, supreme divine power surged everywhere. Finally, as if the heavens had been smashed apart by a giant hammer, a great shockwave passed, and this world gradually cleared.

Xiao Chen was deeply shocked by the opponent's strength. Although it could not match the combat power of a Stone Man, and was still inferior to a true Supreme Ancestral God, it definitely surpassed an ordinary Ancestral God. And this was not even the enemy's true body—only a coalescence of part of his divine thoughts!

The ferocious being who could project into the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds had not perished through the ages; his depths were truly unfathomable!

"Just as I thought... just as I thought!" The white mist gradually dispersed. The Daoist reappeared, standing before the Primordial Demon City, staring at the divine diagram in front of Xiao Chen, muttering, "That missing formation diagram has indeed reappeared. My intuition was not wrong."

His words contained much information, and Xiao Chen's heart shook.

This Daoist had been waiting for him because of the divine diagram. He had sensed it long ago. This diagram seemed to have a great connection to the Death World.

"I have long sensed that the missing formation diagram would reappear. I did not expect it to manifest within the War Swords this time..."

As he muttered, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

But Xiao Chen was greatly alarmed. The information revealed by the Daoist's words was astonishing. Could it be that the formation diagram did not exist because of the War Swords, but was only borrowing the War Swords to reappear? The other party's words were clearly credible, expressing his inner thoughts.

The War Swords were born within the Eternal Light, and the Most Evil Place that nurtured the Eternal Light was itself in the Death World. The divine diagram seemed even more ancient—it existed before the War Swords.

If so, it was truly frightening. The divine diagram might be an object that predated the War Swords in the distant past, and in the earliest times, it might have been born in this Death World.

The Daoist before him was probably a very ancient creature! Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to be so powerful that even while nirvanating within the Primordial Demon City, he could still project into other worlds.

"The one that fled, born before heaven and earth!"—that the divine diagram existed before the Nine Provinces and the Four Worlds did not seem to be an empty claim.

And what had happened in this Death World in that distant past? The entire world had been extinguished, and the divine diagram had vanished for endless ages, only to reappear now.

"Rather than saying you were waiting for me, it would be more accurate to say you were scheming for the divine diagram," Xiao Chen said, staring at the Daoist ahead.

"I do indeed desire the divine diagram, but it seems that unless my true body comes out, I cannot obtain it." The Daoist in ancient robes stood there, his expression unchanging. "I have been waiting here for the divine diagram to appear. Now that it has, I am willing to cooperate with you, not take it by force."

"Cooperate with me?" Xiao Chen sneered. Even if the other party tried to take it by force, he could protect it—unless the true body itself manifested. So he remained very calm. "What do you have in mind?"

"I want to use your divine diagram to kill a person!" The Daoist's voice was icy, as if he deeply feared that person.

"What does it have to do with me if you want to kill someone? Why should I cooperate?"

"Do you still remember Hongjun?" The Daoist's eyes shone brightly as he asked.

"Of course I remember," Xiao Chen replied.

"Hongjun was the projection of that person!" The Daoist's voice was forceful, like thunder shaking the air.

"His projection?" Xiao Chen's pupils contracted. He had always been pondering this question, with a shadow lingering in his heart. A being as powerful as this Daoist—his true body had to be rushing toward the final step, and even his projection was only a Half-Ancestor.

Then the fearsome creature that had projected Hongjun—just how terrifying and horrible would it be? Its projection, empowered by human mental power, had already become an Ancestral God. That existing prototype's true body filled him with unease.

"Only the divine diagram can kill him!" The Daoist's words seemed to confirm that person's terror.

"Killing him has nothing to do with me," Xiao Chen replied coldly.

"Although the destroyed Hongjun was only a projection, he was still an Ancestral God. Creating an Ancestral God-level existence across a world costs an enormous price. Do you think that person will let you off as easily as I have? He will not lightly forgive you!"

"When he comes knocking, I will respond to him naturally," Xiao Chen said, still unmoved, calm and composed, showing no intention of cooperating.

"I am truly speaking to you in good faith." The Daoist before the Primordial Demon City stared at Xiao Chen. "Otherwise, would I have explained so patiently for you?"

"But right now I have my hands full. I cannot possibly help you kill a Stone Man who has probably already taken, or is about to take, the final step." Xiao Chen remained unmoved. Instead, he said, "Why not first help me deal with some strong enemies in another world? Then I might be able to settle my heart and help you."

A cold laugh immediately rang out from before the Primordial Demon City. The Daoist's figure gradually grew hazy. "Don't think that I really cannot kill you!"

Xiao Chen turned cold as well. "Then try it. I'm afraid the one who falls might not be me, but you."

"Boom!"

At that moment, a flood of yellow light burst forth. The Daoist's body seemed on the verge of petrifying—he actually condensed a layer of stone armor, radiating a sinister aura that made one's heart palpitate, like a savage beast locking onto Xiao Chen.

"Bang!" With a light tremor, the Daoist shattered heaven and earth, charging to Xiao Chen's side in a single step, shouting, "This is the Death World, not the Nine Provinces or the Four Worlds. I ask you one more time: will you cooperate?"

Xiao Chen sneered, unwilling to engage in a desperate struggle. His body moved like lightning, instantly covering a thousand li, and he shot far away from this region. He did not want to fight to the death with the opponent. According to his conjecture, the Daoist could not be far from his true body, and thus could not stray too far from the Primordial Demon City. Otherwise, his power would likely plummet. So even if he really had to open war with the Daoist, he would do it thousands of li away—only then could he kill the enemy with less effort.

Shwiip! A yellow light flashed. The Daoist, clad in stone armor, intercepted Xiao Chen in an instant. His speed was almost terrifying.

"I really want to cooperate with you. Otherwise, you will regret it. The man I want to kill will surely be your great enemy in the future—an unconquerable, terrifying foe!" The Daoist was still trying to persuade.

But Xiao Chen answered with action. His body shook, and he tore through space-time, vanishing from before the Daoist in an instant.

"Boom!" The Daoist's palm knife slashed through the space-time channel, forcibly cutting off Xiao Chen's path.

"Bang!" Xiao Chen shook out the divine diagram, his eyes freezing over, and pressed forward to grind everything!

"Rumble..."

A terrible sound, deafening. Misty vapor surged forward. The divine diagram ground down all obstacles. The Daoist seemed very wary of it, not daring to meet it head-on. He dodged to the side in an instant and struck at Xiao Chen.

"Boom!"

The divine diagram spun, reaching extreme speed, and crashed down toward the Daoist.

"This—you forced my hand!" The Daoist shouted coldly. A stone spear actually appeared in his hand! Though it was plain and unadorned, it made one's heart pound.

"The stone spear—it fell into your hands?" Xiao Chen was very surprised. He immediately recognized it as the stone spear that had been sealed in the ruined city beneath the River of Death. That day, it had flown into the depths of the Death World; he had not expected this Daoist to obtain it.

"Boom!"

The Daoist used the stone spear to strike at the formation diagram. A flood of supreme divine energy burst forth. Both objects trembled violently, and both men flew backward.

Xiao Chen was shocked. This Daoist was not his true body, yet he possessed such terrifying strength. It was hard to imagine how dreadful his true body would be when it emerged.

Shwiip! This time, Xiao Chen successfully broke through, passing the Daoist's obstruction.

"Far from your Primordial Demon City, do you dare to pursue me?" Xiao Chen stopped in the distance, wanting to force a decisive battle with the Daoist.

"Boom!"

At that moment, in the distant region behind the Daoist, the Primordial Demon City suddenly pulled itself from the ground, rushing up at incredible speed... In an instant, it flew to the sky above this region, suspended over the Daoist's head!

"Very well. I will prove it to you!"

The Daoist pointed at Xiao Chen, and the Primordial Demon City above his head crashed down toward Xiao Chen like a great seal, rumbling with world-shaking power.

This change was very sudden. Xiao Chen had not expected the other party to dare to uproot his divine city. Was he not afraid of ruining his own foundation?

"My might is not something you can imagine. This is my first Primordial Demon City used in nirvana!" The Daoist's voice was ice-cold, filled with powerful confidence. He was still patiently persuading. "Cooperating with me has only benefits and no harm. It's still not too late to consider now."

"Boom!" At the same time, Xiao Chen used the divine diagram to clash head-on with the falling Primordial Demon City. The impact shook the deep Death Continent for a long time. He flew back a great distance before stopping. "If you want me to cooperate, that's fine—hand over the secret method for rushing toward the Stone Man realm, and gift me this Primordial Demon City. If you want to take, you must first give!"

"Fine, no problem!" The Daoist agreed without hesitation.