Chapter 1380: Bonus Chapter 1379: Little Junior Nephew
https://c10.patreonusercontent.com/4/patreon-media/p/post/151892066/8e1263918674451093f9020dc1ebee19/eyJ3Ijo2MjB9/1.png?token-hash=HqJblCE2H_eOUnUKV0MTuyIyGlk6i1LagLXumtyaTbY%3D&token-time=1787356800
Chapter 1379: Little Junior Nephew
Profound-Hollow-Void Demonic Statue!
The Strange Daoist had already reached the Profound-Hollow-Void stage long ago.
The Great Wilderness Dao-Sin Calamity’s Ascension scheme had been a lie from the very beginning.
And now, these Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors of the Dao Court had blindly fallen into the Strange Daoist’s trap.
They even witnessed with their own eyes the terrifying Strange Dao Demonic Statue of world-shaking horror, a creation unknown to anyone and cultivated for who knows how long.
The moment they saw the demonic statue, the Heavenly Secrets were completely exposed.
Amid howling yin winds, shrieking vengeful spirits, and swirling murderous auras filling the sky, the Strange Dao Demonic Statue slowly opened its eyes. It was as if the world was being judged anew, a demon god descending upon the earth. Its terrifying eyes were filled with chaos, seemingly ready to devour all living beings and even their thoughts.
At the same time, the Strange Dao Demonic statue pointed a finger, causing a cataclysm as if heaven and earth were collapsing, and the Endless Abyssal marshes boiled instantly.
Vengeful spirits, murderous auras, abyssal black flames—all forms of evil power surged toward the group like a mountain collapsing or a tsunami crashing.
“Not good!”
After their initial shock and disbelief, the seven Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors of the Dao Court all wore grave expressions.
At this point, with the scheme fully revealed, there was no longer any need to worry about the spatial tremors that would be caused within the Endless Abyssal Marsh.
The void began to shake, and multicolored lights twisted and flowed.
Powerful Dharma Manifestations appeared within the pitch-black abyss: the Nine-Petalled Heavenly Secrets, the Military Dao Grand Aura, the Dragon-Sparrow Devouring the Python, Primordial Purple Qi… One Profound-Hollow-Void manifestation after another broke through the void, confronting the surging demonic flames and the terrifying Daoist in a life-or-death battle.
This was truly combat at the level of Profound-Hollow-Void Dharma manifestations.
Mo Hua, protected by Ancestor Huá’s sword-space, was surrounded by dazzling spiritual energy and void ripped apart by its force.
Everything in the world had been shredded by broken space, twisted together like ink and watercolor blending chaotically, colors and space scrambled, making it impossible to see anything clearly.
The immense oppressive pressure between heaven and earth also left him breathless.
If he weren’t at the edge of the battlefield, protected by the Nine-Petalled Profound-Hollow-Void sword light, even a stray ripple from this battle of Profound-Hollow-Void manifestations could have vaporized his flesh and ended Mo Hua’s life instantly.
Surrounded by such intense oppressive flows of spiritual energy, capable even of tearing space, Mo Hua could do nothing, not even dare to move.
His senses and even his Divine-Sense were blurred and distorted. He couldn’t perceive anything, and he had no idea how the battle outside was progressing.
After an unknown duration of fighting amidst the chaos, Ancestor Huá’s stern voice suddenly rang out: “Stop! All of you, something’s wrong. Stop immediately!”
The Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors halted their attacks, and the battle gradually ceased. The spatial distortions caused by the Dharma manifestations slowly stabilized.
The space before Mo Hua resembled shattered glass, gradually healing and returning to its original state.
He could finally see everything clearly once more.
Before him was still that sky-covering, earth-blocking Strange Dao Grand Formation, resembling a vast pitch-black giant net. Countless laws were evolving within it, as if the embryonic form of a cosmic abyss.
In the distance, the terrifying Strange Dao Demonic Statue remained in place, silently observing everyone with an eerie gaze.
But it merely watched, making no move, never truly attacking.
“It’s Fake…” Mo Hua was stunned.
From beginning to end, it had all been an illusion.
Within the entire abyssal marsh, only the seven Dao Court ancestors were fighting each other, mistaking one another for the Strange Daoist, using their Dharma manifestations in mortal combat.
Yet the true “Strange Daoist” had never once made a move.
A bizzare, eerie chill surged from the depths of everyone’s hearts.
Ancestor Huá’s expression changed. “Quick, retract the Great Heavenly Cycle Dharma manifestations!”
The other ancestors, hearing this, were also startled, realizing something was amiss, immediately retracted their Dharma manifestations.
One by one, the Great Heavenly Cycle Dharma Manifestations were reabsorbed by the Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestor, gathered back into their illusory-real Dao bodies.
Yet at the same time, the edges of their forms appeared to be tainted, as if touched by some dark substance, showing faint black streaks.
“Strange Dao formation patterns… law corrosion…”
A shiver ran through the ancestors’ hearts; they immediately understood the Strange Daoist’s intention.
He had unveiled the black curtain of the Strange Dao to unnerve them, then used the Divine Sense Thought pressure of the Strange Dao Demonic Statue to instill fear, forcing them to activate their Profound-Hollow-Void Dharma Manifestations to resist it.
Yet from beginning to end, it had been an illusion—a manipulation on their Divine Senses by the Strange Daoist.
The Strange Dao Demonic Statue had never struck; they were attacking each other themselves.
And the Strange Daoist, in turn, leveraged this mutual slaughter among their Dharma Manifestations to activate the Heavenly Secret Deceptive Algorithm, deducing the foundational origins of their Great Dao, and through the Strange Patterns that bore the Laws, imperceptibly eroded their Dharma Manifestations, further infiltrating their very origin essence.
“What a vicious scheme, this fiend!”
“Such sinister and strange methods!”
All felt a shadow cast over their hearts. In that moment, they deeply realized the meaning of “Strange” Daoist.
Seeing their Dharma Manifestations contaminated, with Strange Patterns writhing like worms as they eroded their Dao bodies, Ancestor Huá’s expression turned icy. He immediately mobilized his origin, channeling sword energy from within to cleanse away those Strange Laws.
A bright flame also ignited beside him.
It was the Boundless Bright Fire Lotus Lamp, a treasure Ancestor Huá had prepared specifically for the Strange Daoist, capable of dispelling evil, suppressing baleful forces, and extinguishing the Strange Dao.
Originally, Ancestor Huá had intended to catch the Strange Daoist off guard and use it to suppress and annihilate his origin.
But now, ironically, it was they themselves who had been caught off guard.
Fortunately, the Boundless Bright Fire Lotus Lamp was pure Yang fire, extremely powerful.
Under its bright illumination, the “filth” of Strange Patterns on his Dharma Manifestation was cleansed completely in no time.
Then, Ancestor Huá circulated his origin, tracing it back to its source, purging the Strange Dao interference from his spiritual power and Dharma Manifestation.
The other seven Dao Court ancestors likewise drew upon their origin and activated their treasured artifacts—some using Military Dao Grand Aura purifying arts, some others the Primordial Purple Qi of the Great Dao, Dragon-Sparrow suppressions, or Golden-Scale Divine Might—to resist the contamination of the Strange runes.
Having come to kill the Strange Daoist, they had naturally prepared thoroughly.
Infection by the Strange Daoist’s mental influence had surely been anticipated and was certainly within their expectations.
Yet, like Ancestor Huá, they had not expected that the treasures meant to suppress the Strange Daoist would instead be used to preserve themselves.
The Strange Dao Grand Formation was still operating, the Guixu still evolving, and the demonic statue silently watching them all.
But beyond that, for the moment, there seemed to be no other imminent killing intent.
Within the Endless Abyss Marsh, an eerie silence fell for a short while.
All Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors wore grave expressions.
After a moment of silence, the Yang Clan Ancestor hoarsely asked, “When exactly did this fiend attain Profound-Hollow-Void?”
“The Dao Province Blood Calamity?”
“Or… Could it be… the Ancestral Dragon’s Calamity Transformation?”
No one answered, as all the ancestors were silently calculating in their hearts.
Yet the Strange Daoist’s cause-and-effect was like the abyss before them… utterly unfathomable.
No one knew when exactly he had fallen into demonic ways, nor when he had proven his own Dao and ascended to Profound-Hollow-Void.
Even if they know it somehow, would it be the truth?
Could it, like now, be another “truth” distorted by the Strange Dao’s fog?
And most importantly…
Ancestor Xia gazed at the all-encompassing Strange Dao Grand Formation, his eyes trembling as he said, “That diagram… has it been refined by Strange Daoist?”
Ancestor Huá frowned and slowly replied. “Not yet fully refined…”
Clearly, the Strange Daoist had already glimpsed the mysteries within that diagram.
The Strange Dao Guixu Grand Formation before them was already taking initial shape.
But it was still just a prototype. The Strange Daoist seemed to still be building it, as if he lacked certain key elements to set the grand formation in motion.
No one knew what secrets were hidden within the Guixu Heavenly Burial Diagram.
Nor did anyone know what would truly happen once this Strange Dao Grand Formation began to operate.
Fortunately, it had not truly activated yet and was still in the “construction” and evolution stage.
Otherwise, the moment the seven Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors fell into the formation, they would likely have faced dire consequences.
Thinking of this, Ancestor Huá shuddered inwardly and immediately declared:
“Move!”
The other ancestors also understood, their gazes sharpening as they nodded slightly. Each tore open the void with their hands, preparing to retreat from the Endless Abyss Marsh.
When they had entered, they had feared that using void escape techniques might destabilize this ancient space or alert their target prematurely.
But now was not the time to worry about such things.
Strange Daoist was no mere snake… he was a vicious dragon lurking in the abyss.
Whether they could kill him became clear the moment they realized they had been deceived by him, poised to destroy one another.
To kill the Strange Daoist, they first needed to know where he was, and who he truly was.
If they didn’t even know where Strange Daoist was or who he was, then whom were they actually trying to kill?
Even if they struck and succeeded, who would actually die?
Even now, they couldn’t confirm whether that massive, terrifying Strange Dao demonic statue was truly Strange Daoist.
Originally, they had all believed that they, as ancestors, understood the “Strange” Dao well and had many means to counter it.
But now they realized that Strange Daoist had long since reached Profound-Hollow-Void. All their previous research and understanding had become far too outdated.
Relying on past knowledge to kill the present Strange Daoist was like carving a mark on the side of a moving boat to retrieve a sword lost in the water—or using a Feathered Ascension physical sword to slay a Profound-Hollow-Void ghost.
Under these circumstances, they no longer harbored any illusions.
Since killing the Strange Daoist was impossible, retreat was the only sensible option. Lingering further would be meaningless.
The Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors immediately tore open the void, but the Strange Dao Grand Formation suddenly trembled, and a black light seeped into the void.
Their Profound-Hollow-Void hands could no longer tear through space.
“Strange-Dao seals the heavens, the void solidifies…”
All the Profound-Hollow-Void ancestors felt their hearts sink, but without hesitation, they activated ordinary escape techniques to retreat outward.
Before leaving, Ancestor Huá did not forget Mo Hua. Grasping him, he took a single step and vanished far into the distance.
But just as the ancestors were about to reach the edge of the abyss, black water suddenly rose from the ground, coalescing into numerous Daoist figures blocking their path.
These “Daoists” wore the robes of the dead, of varying heights and builds, surrounded by black Strange-Fire, faces twisted and indistinct, as if composed purely of Strange-runes.
They looked at the ancestors, their twisted expressions stretched into eerie grins.
Mo Hua’s heart tightened.
These Daoists were different from other Strange Slaves. They clearly possessed a trace of the “origin essence” of the Strange Dao. This was the true technique of the Strange Daoist.
The various Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors also felt their hearts sink.
Unable to unleash their Profound-Hollow-Void Dharma Manifestations, they could only rely on ordinary Dao Arts to slay these “Strange Daoists.”
Even so, the Dao Arts of the Profound-Hollow-Void realm were immensely powerful. Before long, these Strange Daoists were strangled one by one by the Void Ancestors.
However, after killing for a while, Ancestor Huá’s expression suddenly changed and he exclaimed, “Something’s wrong!”
The other ancestors also halted their attacks, suddenly realizing that they were once again being tainted by the Strange Dao.
“Killing karma…” The Yang Clan Ancestor said, his expression dark as water.
Forcing them to kill these “Strange Daoists” would taint them with grievances, allowing Strange Dao Baleful Killing Aura to invade their bodies. Their “void” Dao bodies and Fate Patterns would then be eroded by the karma of the Strange Dao.
Infection of the Dharma Manifestation was “real.”
Infection through Karma was “illusory.”
The Profound-Hollow-Void realm shattered the void, discerning the illusion and reality. Their cultivation and spiritual power could transform from reality to illusion, and from illusion to reality.
The Strange Daoist clearly intended to use both real and illusory to completely corrupt these Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors.
“Stop killing!”
The ancestors had no choice but to halt their attacks.
Yet, as they watched the horde of “Strange Daoist” clones approach with eerie smiles, they knew they could not simply refrain from killing.
Ancestor Huá activated the Boundless Bright Fire Lotus Lamp, using its pure yang flames to dispel the Strange Dao’s shadow, preventing the “Strange Daoists” from approaching.
He then instructed, “Combine all Divine Dao Supreme treasures together, protect one another, and ward off Strange Thoughts.”
The other ancestors nodded in agreement.
One by one, Supreme Treasures lit up, their auspicious and evil-repelling lights converging together with the Bright Fire Lamp, illuminating a vast expanse of the abyss.
The radiance of these auspicious Supreme Treasures was too intense that the “Strange Daoists” dared not approach.
Mo Hua also stood within the bright fire, his heart uneasy, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, the various Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors sat in meditation, activating their secret Celestial Divination techniques. With powerful Divine Sense strength, they turned their gaze inward, meticulously cleansing the Strange Dao killing karma they had just incurred, ensuring not a trace of contamination remained in their Karmic Causality, thus preserving the purity of their “real and illusory-void” states, free from defilement.
The Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors who had come to slay the Strange Daoist were no ordinary ancestors. All of them had studied Heavenly Secret divination and the Divine Dao to some extent.
They wanted to kill the Strange Daoist, but did not know how. Likewise, the Strange Daoist could not easily corrupt them either.
Mo Hua watched from the side, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
Soon, the Strange Dao Thought contamination in both the “illusory” and “real” realm was completely eradicated from the bodies of these Void Ancestors.
Their “illusory” and “real” aspects were unified, pure and untainted as one.
By now, they had been “infected” twice by the Strange Daoist’s bizarre methods but emerged unharmed.
Despite the narrow escapes, the group of Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors could not help but feel lingering fear.
“Let’s go!”
Unwilling to delay any longer, they sought to leave the Endless Abyss Marsh and this Strange Dao abyssal land as soon as possible.
As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood. The matter of killing the Strange Daoist could be reconsidered later; preserving themselves came first.
Surprisingly, the journey that followed proceeded with unexpected smoothness.
The Strange Daoist’s Strange Dao Grand Formation was incomplete, and for unknown reasons, the Strange-Dao Demonic Statue also could not be activated.
Aside from some “infection” strange tricks, it seemed there truly were no other means to forcibly detain these experienced old monsters who operated behind the scenes of the Dao Court and wielded great power.
As for those “Strange Daoist clones,” as long as they were not killed, they could not spread the infection through “killing karma.”
Nor could they breach Ancestor Huá’s Boundless Bright Fire Lotus Lamp and the many other Divine Dao Supreme Treasures.
The moment they approached the bright fire, their Strange Thoughts evaporated, and their Strange Dao Origin Source was depleted.
Ancestor Huá and the others carried the lamps as they steadily advanced toward the outer abyss, with no one able to stop them any longer.
Even as they were about to step out of the range of the Strange Dao Grand formation and leave the deep abyssal region of the Endless Abyss Marsh, there was not the slightest trace of Strange-Dao activity at all.
Mo Hua found it strange, even feeling a fleeting sense of disbelief.
Had they really escaped from Martial Uncle’s grasp just like that?
Escaped from the hands of a Profound-Hollow-Void realm Martial Uncle?
Was it really over?
Mo Hua could not believe it, yet upon reflection, it made sense. After all, these were Profound Hollow Void realm Ancestors of the Dao Court. They possessed formidable cultivation, profound foundations, and were protected by various supreme treasures.
Moreover, there were a full seven Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors.
No matter how strong Martial Uncle was, he was just one person.
“As long as we can survive and escape from Martial Uncle’s grasp…”
Mo Hua slowly let out a sigh of relief. His gaze unconsciously drifted to the ground, and in an instant, his pupils trembled, his body stiffened, and cold sweat poured down his back.
Ancestor Huá noticed his unusual stated and frowned. “What is it?”
Mo Hua pointed to the ground, his face pale and his voice trembling: “Ancestor, why… why do your shadows… look like… the Strange Daoist?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the group of ancestors changed abruptly, and they all looked down.
The light of the Boundless Bright Fire Lamp illuminated the darkness, revealing their shadows.
These faint shadows had always been disregarded as mere phantoms, something they had never paid attention to before. But now, upon closer inspection, they were horrified to discover that their shadows were all pitch black.
And without exception, each was draped in a corpse-like Daoist robe, looking exactly like seven Strange Daoists…
“This…”
Evil thoughts had entered their shadows. Strange Thoughts had transformed into “illusory” emptiness.
The seven Dao Court elders inhaled sharply, instantly realizing that they had all been “infected.”
And the infection was deep… so deep that their very shadows had transformed into the form of the Strange Daoist.
But… why?
How could this be possible?
Earlier, when they were “infected,” they had used all sorts of treasures and methods to purge the Strange Thoughts completely.
In such a short time within the abyss, it was absolutely impossible for the infection to have become so deep.
Why?
When exactly, and by what means, had they been infected by the Strange Daoist?
Ancestor Huá and the others’ expressions changed dramatically. They immediately formed hand seals, silently calculating the karmic causality, but no matter how they calculated, they couldn’t trace the source. In this confusion, they could only try to push the calculations further back.
Suddenly, a name emerged from the tangled web of causality.
Divine-Shaman.
Ancestor Hua’s eyes widened as realization struck, his pupils trembling in disbelief.
The Divine-Shaman of the Desolate Wilderness!
It had happened long ago… when these Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors attempted to use a Heavenly Secret Curse Killing on the Desolate Wilderness “Divine-Shaman” who sought to form a Golden Core. It was then that they were instead been infiltrated by the Strange Daoist, who planted the “seed” of Strange Thoughts within their Causality?!
This seed was planted within the “illusory void” layer of their Fate Pattern and causality.
Had they noticed it at the time, it would have taken just a little effort to remove it.
But they did not!
At that time, they were completely unaware that the Strange Daoist had already reached Profound-Hollow-Void realm, and was capable of using this void-infiltrating method to plant strange thoughts within their Causality.
Therefore, when everyone was casting the killing curse on that “Divine-Shaman”…
All of them were tainted by the Strange Daoist.
And that moment had been more than a year ago.
In other words, these Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors had been “infected” by the Strange Daoist for over a year.
“Divine-Shaman…”
“Divine-Shaman!”
Ancestor Hua’s was both shocked and furious. He abruptly turned to look at Mo Hua… but upon seeing him, his pupils dilated, and his expression grew even more horrified.
A trace of confusion still lingered on Mo Hua’s face, as if he had no idea what had happened.
Suddenly, something in his storage bag—a straw dog—was burned by black flames.
The killing intent of causality was neutralized. Mo Hua felt a tightness in his chest, then a chill chill run down his spine. Turning his head, he saw a pitch-black hand, brimming radiantly with terrifying Laws, slowly pressing down on his shoulder.
A hoarse voice echoed slowly behind him:
“So… you are… Mo Hua…”
“My… little junior martial nephew.”
Mo Hua’s expression was one of shock.
All the Dao Court’s Profound-Hollow-Void Ancestors also looked horrified, their eyes filled with disbelief.
The Strange Daoist’s… junior martial nephew?!!