Fuguang World.
The Military Dao was primary, but all other Daos coexisted.
However, due to the influence the Five Tribulations Daoist, Luotian Sword Master, had on the Great Dao, for the past several hundred thousand years, the Sword Dao had continuously branched out and flourished throughout the All Heavens Domains, becoming the mainstream path of cultivation among Soldier Cultivators.
“Yan Feng. His potential in the Divine Cultivation of the Yellow Court Military Dao is Saint Grade Nine Heavens Sword Saint; his Transverse Cultivation of the Undying Body has reached Emperor Grade Thirty-Three Heavens Perfection; and his Soul Cultivation of the Sword Dao has reached Emperor Grade Five Elements World Law Perfection… He may be conferred the title of Saint Child of the Saint Realm.”
The Fuguang Emperor’s Lineage, the Void Sword Sect.
Within Zhongxing Hall.
With the sect’s younger generation watching the ceremony and the elder generation’s Great Saint Elders conducting the assessment, the achievements of the black-robed youth below the stage upon entering the Saint Realm were announced.
Pity, mockery, cold sneers…
Inside the great hall, as the results were announced, all kinds of gazes pierced Yan Feng’s heart like sharp swords. His once confident eyes, as deep as a starry sky, now revealed a profound unwillingness and self-mockery.
Within an Emperor’s Lineage, the hierarchy was strict.
Saint Child, Emperor’s Son, Daoist Child.
Different titles came with different privileges and a greater share of resources. Each time one advanced to a new realm, their potential was reassessed. The competition was incredibly cruel and fierce.
Once, while Yan Feng might not have been the absolute leader of the Void Sword Sect’s younger generation, he had always stood in the first rank.
In every realm, he had advanced with the status of Emperor Grade, Three Paths, and Thirty-Three Heavens.
The title of Five Elements Daoist had practically become his exclusive label.
But…
「Half a month ago.」
During a mission for the Void Sword Sect, he had forced a breakthrough to the Sword Saint realm with his Main Path before his foundation was complete in order to protect the sect’s disciples. This caused his potential to plummet from Emperor Grade Thirty-Three Heavens directly to Saint Grade Nine Heavens!
His Transverse Cultivation and Soul Cultivation could also no longer break through into the Saint Realm.
This meant that from now on, without some heaven-defying fortune, his achievements in the Saint Realm would be limited to Saint Grade Nine Heavens, and his path forward would halt at the Great Saint Realm, making any further advancement nearly impossible!
To fall from having the potential of a Great Emperor to that of a mere Great Saint!
The immense disparity and the strange looks from those around him created a bone-deep bitterness and frustration that tormented Yan Feng’s proud heart. In just half a month, he had gone from high-spirited and vigorous to a walking corpse.
A person’s value determines the group’s response to you.
As an Imperial Influence, the Void Sword Sect naturally did not lack Dao Stones of various grades to restore lost potential.
But for a Saint Grade Nine Heavens?
‘Not worth it.’
The cost was simply too great.
Only for those at Emperor Grade Twenty-four Heavens or above would the Void Sword Sect consider using precious Dao Stones to restore a disciple’s potential and help them strive for the Thirty-Three Heavens.
“Don’t worry. Your contributions to the Void Sword Sect… the Supremes have seen them and will remember them. Work hard, and things will get better in the future.”
The crowd in the hall had dispersed, and the tea had grown cold. Yan Feng’s master sighed, patted him on the shoulder, and offered a weak attempt at consolation.
‘Seen them and will remember them… Does that mean taking everything back as soon as I’ve lost my value, then casually sending me off to a subsidiary Small Holy Land in the Border Wilderness to fend for myself?’
Yan Feng mocked himself inwardly.
Amidst the many gazes of pity and ridicule, his lonely figure disappeared at the far end of Zhongxing Hall.
It’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but hard to go from extravagant to frugal.
This principle applied just as well in the Extraordinary Realm. Few people could accept the contrast of falling from a limitless future into the dust.
“Senior Brother Yan, are you heading off to your new post?”
「Outside his exclusive Daoist Palace.」
Yan Feng was blocked by several Saint Realm Emperor’s Sons. The leader was imposing and high-spirited, a shadow of his former self.
More importantly, the Daoist Robe he wore was completely different from those of the other Saint Realm Emperor’s Sons in the sect. On his chest was a totem of a Divine Sword piercing a lotus flower.
That lotus flower.
It was exceedingly sinister and carried a Demon Nature.
Colorful and variegated, it corrupted the hearts and souls of men.
A single glance was enough to send a chill through one’s heart.
It inevitably brought to mind the Primordial Demon Sect, which had stirred up a bloody storm in the Chaotic Star Heaven half a year ago and had become the nightmare of the All Heavens in just six months!
The reason Yan Feng’s potential had plummeted was related to the Primordial Demon Sect, because half a month ago, just like the man now blocking his path, he too was a member of the Zuyuan Alliance.
「Six months ago.」
The Primordial Sect made its name in a single battle in the Chaotic Star Heaven.
It utterly beat down the Human World and the Dragon Hunting Tower, leaving them too afraid to show their faces. Intimidating the heroes of the All Heavens, it instantly became the Chief Calamity of Hongyuan.
In the span of half a year, the Primordial Sect’s size exploded continuously. It rampaged wildly across the All Heavens, stirring up one dark turmoil after another, harvesting the Spirits of Living Creatures and Dao domains, and creating countless horrific disasters.
Now, most of the Evil Demons and Outsiders of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms had joined the Primordial Sect, becoming its dark minions and believing in the mysterious and supposedly omnipotent Primordial Daoist Venerable.
To strike back against the Primordial Sect, the All Heavens and the major Imperial Influences of every Celestial Domain had integrated their elites and resources to form the Zuyuan Alliance.
The risks were immense.
This was because even the lowest-ranking, Grade One Divine Envoys of the Primordial Sect were at the Saint Realm. Those in the Creation Realm didn’t even have the qualifications to join!
What was even more terrifying was that once someone joined the Primordial Sect, even the most useless person would undergo a qualitative transformation.
Only a few of the top Celestial Prides in the All Heavens had the qualifications to contend with the Primordial Sect.
And that was only limited to low-ranking Divine Envoys!
The higher-ranking a Divine Envoy was, the more heaven-defying they became. It was difficult to fight them even when at the same realm. Monsters who were rare in the outside world were commonplace in the Primordial Sect.
According to legend, the Primordial Sect also had seventy-three High Priests!
And the rarely seen Primordial Son!
Every High Priest and the Primordial Son possessed the battle power of a Great Emperor and were absolutely invincible among their peers!
This was no exaggeration.
「One month ago.」
The Hongyuan Celestial Punishment had opened up the Great Emperor Sequence.
The All Heavens had prepared for a long time, jointly setting a trap in an attempt to severely wound the Primordial Sect.
That battle erupted in the Qingming World.
Led by the Qingming Lord, the Infinite Daoist Palace, they gathered a large number of All Dao Emperors and laid down the Array of Infinite Profound Celestial—a veritable Heaven and Earth Net.
But the result…
The seventy-three High Priests of the Primordial Sect descended.
As did a Primordial Son!
The Profound Celestial Infinite Array was shattered, more than half of the participating Great Emperors died tragically, and the Celestial Domain Cosmic Group where the battle took place was completely reduced to ash!
Afterward, the Qingming World suffered the Primordial Sect’s bloody retaliation. Countless universes on the periphery of the Celestial Domain were bloodbathed and slaughtered by the Primordial Sect!
At this point, the Primordial Sect had thoroughly established its power.
This also spurred the formation of the Zuyuan Alliance.
The righteous Celestial Prides of the All Heavens all took pride in joining the Zuyuan Alliance. Once they joined, their status and power were no less than that of an Emperor’s Disciple.
The benefits, moreover, were countless.
“Congratulations, Senior Brother Zhu.”
His thoughts returned to the present.
Yan Feng looked at Zhu Jun, who appeared humble on the surface but had in fact come to kick him while he was down. He forced a smile.
This person had never gotten along with him. He didn’t know if the man had pulled some strings or just gotten lucky to become an Executioner Envoy, but seeing him fall from his pedestal, Zhu Jun couldn’t wait to come and show off.
“Senior Brother—Zhu.”
Zhu Jun drew out the words, unable to hide the gleeful enjoyment in his eyes. He said in a heartfelt tone, “Junior Brother Yan, responsibility isn’t determined by a title. Don’t slack off after you go to the sect’s fiefdom.”
A petty man triumphant, a shrimp toying with a stranded dragon.
It was on full display.
But… this was the cruelty of the Extraordinary Realm.
The weak were prey for the strong, and the powerful were revered.
No one would say it openly, but in secret, everyone tacitly abided by this rule.
HUFF—
Yan Feng watched Zhu Jun leave like the moon surrounded by stars, then looked back at his own deserted Daoist Palace. The bitterness in his heart twisted a little more.
“Tsk, tsk. The scent of bitterness, jealousy, hatred… Oh, your heart’s become so tainted. You’re one of us.”
Just then, a sinister, mocking voice echoed in Yan Feng’s mind, like a phantom shrouding his Divine Soul, a maggot clinging to his bones that could not be shaken off.
Demon Heart Sword Saint.
A Grade One Divine Envoy of the Primordial Sect.
The main culprit from half a month ago who caused his fall from grace!
Both sides had been gravely injured in that battle.
But the Demon Heart Sword Saint had planted a Heart Demon Seed in his heart. Whenever he felt negative emotions, it would emerge to tempt him into joining the Primordial Sect.
“I accept.”
“What?”
The Demon Heart Sword Saint was stunned for a moment.
“I said, I agree to join the sect.”
In the shadows, Yan Feng’s handsome face looked somewhat ferocious as he repeated the words silently.
‘He couldn’t accept it!’
‘No matter how he tried to comfort himself or calm his heart… he could not accept this outcome—falling from a celestial dragon of the Nine Heavens to a worm in the mud, destined to live out the rest of his days in the desolate Border Wilderness!’
“Hahaha, good! He who understands the times is a wise man!”
The Demon Heart Sword Saint sensed the darkness and distortion growing wildly in Yan Feng’s heart and couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
Recruiting a single person into the sect was worth a considerable amount of merit and Sacrificial Points.
It was comparable to bloodbathing a Small Thousand World.
He had long coveted a scripture for Cultivating the Heart Demon Path. Using a special Divine Technique, he had been luring and recruiting people to accumulate Sacrificial Points.
There was nothing special about Yan Feng.
A fallen genius.
A bitter, twisted heart.
The Demon Heart Sword Saint had seen far too many like him; Yan Feng was just one of his current targets.
“After I join the sect, can my potential really be restored?”
Yan Feng asked uncertainly.
Although he was preparing to turn from a Dragon Slayer Warrior into an Evil Dragon, his main concern was still the matter of restoring his potential.
“Hmph.”
The Demon Heart Sword Saint sneered in response:
“The Great Daoist Venerable is omnipotent. Never mind a minor Dao Injury from the Saint Realm like yours; even restoring a Great Emperor’s Dao Injury would be effortless.
Of course…”
At this point, the Demon Heart Sword Saint chuckled lowly. “The prerequisite is that you have enough Sacrificial Points. The sect has no need for trash, nor does it support idlers.
You fell from the Thirty-Three Heavens to Saint Grade Nine Heavens. If you want to return to your peak, you just need to exchange for thirty-three portions of Saint Grade Primordial Dao Liquid.”
Primordial Dao Liquid.
A heaven-defying Supreme Treasure of the Primordial Sect.
Its effects were even more heaven-defying than a Dao Stone’s.
No matter what Dao you cultivated or how severe your Dao Injury was, it could restore and complete you from the fundamental level, with immediate effects.
This kind of little trinket, for Wu Dao, who possessed the authority of the Great Dao, could be created in an inexhaustible supply with a casual pinch. It wasn’t even worth mentioning.
“How many Sacrificial Points for one portion?”
Yan Feng suppressed his trembling excitement and quickly asked. In his view, such a heaven-defying item must be incredibly expensive.
“Not much.”
The Demon Heart Sword Saint gave a bloodthirsty smile.
“Sacrificing the Spirits of Living Creatures from thirty-three prosperous Small Thousand Worlds will be enough. For you, that shouldn’t be difficult.”
Thirty-three Small Thousand Worlds!
Living creatures… their spirits…
The fire in Yan Feng’s heart instantly went cold. The worldview he had been taught since childhood couldn’t be overturned in an instant.
“Tsk, is there any throne in this world forged from benevolence? As long as you stand high enough, your light will cover all darkness.”
The Demon Heart Sword Saint murmured faintly.
Then he said:
“One day. If you can’t decide in one day, you’ll be nothing.”
He was just a Saint Realm cultivator.
The difference between joining the sect and not joining was like heaven and earth.
It wasn’t worth him trying so hard to persuade.
However, the Demon Heart Sword Saint believed that with the bitter, twisted darkness constantly growing in Yan Feng’s heart, he would definitely make the “wise” choice.
「Half a day later.」
Yan Feng packed up all his belongings.
He stopped before the Daoist Palace of an Empress for a long time but did not see her. Dejected and heartbroken, he left the Void Sword Sect without a sound.
From then on, the Five Elements Daoist was no more.
He vanished without a trace, as if he had never existed.
「Half a month later.」
The Primordial Divine Sect bloodbathed several of the Void Sword Sect’s subsidiary Venerable Worlds. The Zuyuan Alliance forces sent to quell the chaos were completely annihilated.
Zhu Jun, who had been hiding and slacking off from beginning to end, was sought out by a Grade One Divine Envoy skilled in the Five Elements Sword Dao, had his soul extracted and annihilated, and died without a place for burial!
…
Incidents like Yan Feng’s were not uncommon in the current Hongyuan.
The battle of Chaotic Star Heaven established the Primordial Sect’s position as the foremost menace of the All Heavens.
The Dragon Hunting Tower and the Human World were beaten into submission, losing their former arrogance and aggression. They could only pick up the scraps and leftovers the Primordial Sect didn’t want.
The battle in the Qingming World, where the various Great Emperors of the All Heavens had set a Heaven and Earth Net, not only failed to severely wound the Primordial Sect but also caused the Qingming World to suffer a bloody retaliation.
After these two foundational battles, no one in the All Heavens dared to underestimate the Primordial Sect anymore.
It could protect its own.
And the benefits were good.
So, naturally, the minions and lackeys came flocking in droves.