Chapter 480: Observing Heaven and Earth
Observing Heaven and Earth…
A brief moment of confusion washed over Xu Sanyan’s mind. He felt as if he had become that crimson Demon Dragon, completely freed from the constraints of his physical body, drifting through the sky like a wisp of cotton.
His gaze swept across the Imperial Capital. He saw Emperor Qian lying unconscious, even noticing the bloodstains on the cuffs of his Dragon Robe. He also spotted Yuan Zongtong, his aged face etched with conflict. Xu Sanyan could guess his thoughts: the old man was undoubtedly contemplating whether to flee.
Lin Fan, standing beside the Golden Luan Hall, didn’t escape his notice either. Xu Sanyan was mildly surprised to see him here.
Then there was Consort Xiang, hiding in a courtyard, her face pale with lingering terror. The aftershocks of the earlier chaos had clearly shaken her badly.
His gaze drifted beyond the Imperial Palace. The city lay in ruins, with civilians trapped beneath collapsed buildings, their cries of anguish piercing the air. Others lay bloodied and motionless, their fates uncertain.
He saw Tang Huanhuan, Fang Qingge, Mo Xianxian, Huan Xi’er, and… Yang Qiyuan.
Yang Qiyuan had undergone a remarkable transformation, her once plain features now strikingly beautiful. Yet Xu Sanyan recognized her instantly, even in this altered state.
Though he acknowledged her as his lawfully wedded wife, his heart remained unmoved, as if she were a stranger. He had taken so many wives that none held any particular significance.
Everything he was experiencing now filled him with an unprecedented sense of wonder. Xu Sanyan had never felt anything like this before, and a strange fascination began to stir within him.
This sensation was akin to… being a god—omniscient, omnipotent, and master of heaven and earth!
Sages, also known as those who have “Returned to Divinity.”
So that’s it…
Xu Sanyan felt a sudden clarity. The names of the cultivation realms weren’t arbitrary; they were rooted in this very experience. This feeling was the essence of the Return to Divinity Realm.
This is…
Xu Sanyan paused abruptly. He had spotted an unexpected figure: the Mad Daoist.
What’s he doing here?
Xu Sanyan was astonished. The Mad Daoist was renowned for his detachment from worldly affairs. Why would he be here?
Could he have been following me?
As Xu Sanyan remained immersed in this transcendent state, the Spiritual Qi Vortex beneath his feet gradually stabilized, its earlier frenzy subsiding. Yet he remained completely oblivious to the change.
His thoughts seemed constrained, becoming somewhat rigid as he tilted his head back, his pupils reflecting a kaleidoscope of brilliant colors.
The sky Xu Sanyan saw now was vastly different from the one he usually observed. The azure expanse appeared as if a child had scribbled wildly across it, countless golden lines intersecting against a flowing cyan backdrop. Staring at it for too long made his head ache, yet upon closer examination, he realized that within the chaotic tangle lay a certain order, drawing him into a trance.
This is…
Xu Sanyan murmured inwardly, The Heavenly Dao…
The golden lines were the Heavenly Dao Marks, responsible for maintaining the world’s natural order. And the cyan backdrop…
The Heaven’s Veil?
The boundary of this world!
Since the dawn of history, no one had ever been known to break free from this world. No matter how high their cultivation level, they remained confined within its boundaries. There were no records of such a feat…
No!
There were records!
Xu Sanyan suddenly remembered something. Years ago, the four immortals of the Four Venerables Seeking Immortality Sect had deployed a Great Formation, intending to blood sacrifice the entire world to refine an unprecedented Ghost God. Their true motive might have been to shatter the Heaven’s Veil and glimpse the world beyond.
Though they ultimately failed, they had undeniably tried.
As Xu Sanyan remained lost in his thoughts, the Spiritual Qi Vortex below him gradually began to shrink, yet he remained oblivious.
The change was subtle, but it signaled that his breakthrough had entered its final countdown.
Once the vortex vanished, Xu Sanyan’s physical body would be left completely exposed and vulnerable. The Qian Kingdom forces would seize this opportunity to strike him down without hesitation.
Xu Sanyan remained unresponsive, his gaze fixed on the heavens, as if utterly captivated by something beyond his reach.
Each heavenly dao represented its own set of rules. Xu Sanyan could vaguely sense the differences between them. As a pathway grew more prosperous, its corresponding Heavenly Dao Mark shone more brightly. The most prominent example was the Heavenly Dao Mark radiating a sharp, piercing aura—the sword dao.
Countless cultivators across the world practiced the sword dao, making it the most abundant pathway. Consequently, its mark burned with the fiercest intensity.
The world relied on the heavenly dao for its maintenance, while the heavenly dao, in turn, thrived through the growth of humanity. Ultimately, the two were mutually reinforcing.
Xu Sanyan also noticed a distinct gap in the interwoven Heavenly Dao Marks. A mark should have been present there, but it had vanished—stolen by Xu Sanyan himself.
Time ticked by, and the Spiritual Qi Vortex dwindled further. The cultivators stood poised, ready to strike the moment it dissipated completely, delivering a fatal blow.
Some quietly retreated, positioning themselves for a swift escape should the situation turn dire.
Whoosh…
The arena fell deathly silent, broken only by the whistling wind. Lin Fan pressed his lips into a thin line, his hand gripping the dark, long sword so tightly that his knuckles turned white, betraying his inner turmoil.
Lin Fan hesitated, unsure whether to intervene. Though he had resolved to sever ties with the holy son before descending the mountain, doubt now gnawed at him. While the holy son had used him, the genuine kindness he had shown him in the past remained undeniable.
Looking back on his life, Lin Fan saw it defined by two words:
Hesitation and indecision.
The Spiritual Qi Vortex shrank again, revealing the naked figure within more clearly. The golden light from the Star Observation Pavilion had long since faded, and the crimson Heavenly Dao Mark that had hung in the sky had retreated into Xu Sanyan’s body, leaving only a scarlet pillar of light etched with dragon patterns.
The Mad Daoist materialized near the Imperial Palace, his gaze fixed intently on Xu Sanyan. His eyes then followed the dragon-patterned pillar of light upward, where a crimson Demon Dragon coiled faintly in the heavens.
The originally formless Earth Qi Spirit Essence, influenced by the Dragon Vein, had transformed into a Golden Dragon Phantom. After Xu Sanyan refined it, it had become the Demon Dragon he was now.
Now, only a thin layer of the Spiritual Qi Vortex remained, yet Xu Sanyan showed no signs of awakening. The Mad Daoist’s hope dwindled sharply… Has it failed after all?
He had believed Xu Sanyan would forge a new path to sainthood, but now the chances seemed vanishingly slim.
Whoosh~
As the final wisp of wind swept past, the vortex completely dissipated, revealing Xu Sanyan’s unguarded figure.
Xu Sanyan’s three eyes remained tightly shut, dark crimson blood patterns spread across his body, and his bulging muscles rose and fell rhythmically with his breathing.
“Die!”
Someone had been waiting impatiently, seizing the instant the vortex vanished to strike. A razor-sharp longsword pierced the void, aimed directly at Xu Sanyan’s forehead, determined to kill him with a single blow.
Swish—
The sword light flashed, closing the distance in an instant!
The Mad Daoist shook his head in disappointment and turned to leave, making no move to intervene.
Lin Fan’s face was filled with melancholy, his heart a mix of conflicting emotions. He wanted to help, but ultimately loosened his grip.
Has it failed…?
Yang Qiyuan closed his eyes, his mind replaying past moments. He couldn’t bear to watch.
Clang!
Suddenly, the clash of blades echoed across the heavens as a pair of eyes slowly opened.
(End of the Chapter)