The collision between the Heavenly Dao Fruit and the Heavenly Dao Golden Core did not just shake the heavens and earth—it sent shockwaves rippling throughout the vast cosmos, affecting countless great worlds. This catastrophe had now escalated into a calamity of the entire universe.
In the Domain of Silence, the mist of the Grand Dao churned violently, breaking apart clusters of nebulae while simultaneously giving birth to new ones. Hidden deep within the void, colossal cosmic beasts began to flee in all directions, throwing the vast and boundless universe into chaos.
At the edge of the Third Medicine Valley within the Tai Xuan Sect, on a towering mountain range, Long Qing, Long Jun, and Zhu Xing stood side by side. They gazed at the intense radiance in the distant sky, their faces unable to conceal their shock.
Zhu Xing couldn't help but turn to Long Jun and ask, "Senior, can you see through all of this?" He could sense that a terrifying presence was awakening far away, its aura rising at an unfathomable speed.
"I cannot," Long Jun responded, his voice heavy. "Everything happening now deviates entirely from the future I once foresaw." His expression was complicated.
Long Qing caught a glimpse of Long Jun's expression from the corner of his eye and could feel the deep unease and confusion within the old ancestor's heart. This was the first time he had ever seen Long Jun show such a look.
Turning his gaze back to the sky, his emotions were in turmoil.
"An Hao… Zhu Xi…"
He silently repeated these names in his mind. They were both his fellow disciples. Even though Zhu Xi was the reincarnation of a sacred being, they still shared the same sect, the same lineage. How could he not be shaken by this revelation?
So he truly wasn't their master's most favored disciple after all.
An Hao and Zhu Xi were already capable of shaping the grand trajectory of the heavens, while he could only remain hidden within the Medicine Valley, cultivating divine abilities—esoteric and profound arts that he had no idea how long it would take to fully master.
All beings in the world were bathed in the overwhelming light. Colors faded, and even ordinary mortals could sense the terrifying pressure intensifying. And yet, strangely, this pressure did not annihilate them.
From the perspective of the universe, the very center of the Heavenly Spirit Great World had become a radiant beacon, and that beacon was rising higher into the void.
Inside that blinding radiance, two figures clashed fiercely—Zhu Xi and An Hao.
Zhu Xi's Dharma Form had shrunk to a mere ten thousand zhang in height, yet it completely suppressed An Hao. An Hao had been reduced to a blood-soaked figure, his body repeatedly exploding and reforming.
Both of them borrowed power from the world itself, but Zhu Xi's cultivation far exceeded An Hao's. Their disparity in strength was insurmountable.
"You are no match for me. Give up," Zhu Xi spoke coldly as she looked down at him. Even as she spoke, her Dharma Form never ceased casting its spells.
An Hao remained silent, gritting his teeth and enduring. His long white hair, stained with blood, whipped wildly in the wind, giving him the appearance of a madman.
A golden pattern began to emerge on his chest, and soon, an enormous eye opened—identical to the mysterious eye that had appeared within the Heavenly Dao Golden Core.
Upon seeing this eye, Zhu Xi's expression darkened.
Suddenly, countless starlike lights surged behind Zhu Xi, rapidly streaming toward An Hao. Her face changed drastically as she felt her own power being drained away, flowing into An Hao.
This was impossible!
Xunxian Daoist had taught her a divine ability to prevent the Heavenly Dao Fruit from devouring her, but it had no means of stopping the energy of the Heavenly Dao Fruit from leaving.
"What's happening?"
Zhu Xi frowned deeply, locking her gaze onto An Hao.
As the power of the Heavenly Dao Fruit poured into An Hao's body, his form rapidly transformed into a cocoon of blood, his curled figure barely visible inside.
It wasn't just the power of the Heavenly Dao Fruit— even the Heavenly Dao Golden Core's energy was no longer merely lending itself to An Hao. Instead, it was undergoing an inconceivable fusion with him.
An Hao was changing—becoming something else!
Observing from afar, Gu An stretched lazily, intrigued by the transformation. An Hao's fate had become blurred, making Gu An hesitate for the first time. Should he act now?
If he intervened prematurely, the true master of the Heavenly Spirit Great World would still remain a hidden threat.
If that master's will persisted, capable of peering into the very fabric of existence, it would become a danger to Gu An as well.
No one could be allowed to know about his ability to steal lifespans.
So he would wait.
Besides, An Hao needed to bear the consequences of his own choices. No one had forced him onto this path.
Gu An's gaze flickered as he noticed the Heavenly Spirit God finally moving. The deity stepped forward, wielding the massive battle axe that Gu An was all too familiar with, making his way toward the Heavenly Spirit Great World.
Behind him, a mass of demonic energy followed—a presence unmistakably connected to the Supreme Demon Realm, especially resonating with the aura of the Supreme Demon Emperor himself.
Gu An only needed a single glance to see through the cause and effect behind it all.
The Supreme Demon Emperor—an ancient existence who had established the Supreme Demon Realm—was not just a name. The so-called Abyssal Demon Monarch was merely his disciple, tasked with managing the Supreme Demon Realm on his behalf, while he himself had always remained hidden in the shadows. Apart from the Abyssal Demon Monarch, no one in the Supreme Demon Realm even knew of his true existence.
At this moment, the Supreme Demon Emperor seemed to sense something and abruptly halted in his steps.
Yet, the Heavenly Spirit God paid him no heed and continued forward. In his eyes, there was only one target—the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign.
His steps were unhurried, as he was still waiting for the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign's complete awakening.
Before long, Zhu Xi, who had lost the power of the Heavenly Dao Fruit, suffered a tremendous drop in her aura. Her cultivation realm suddenly fell to the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm. She couldn't hold back a mouthful of blood, spurting it out, and her complexion instantly became weak and pale.
She looked ahead and saw that the blood cocoon formed by An Hao had already grown beyond a million zhang in size. His figure had also become colossal, yet he remained curled up within.
A deep, heavy breathing sound emanated from the cocoon, as if an ancient, primeval demon god was about to awaken.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
Xunxian Daoist's voice rang in Zhu Xi's ears. She turned her head and saw him appear beside her, his entire body radiating a faint silver glow. His robes fluttered slightly, giving him an ethereal and immortal presence.
Zhu Xi responded with a sneer. "Leave? And where exactly should I go? To the Realm Gate?"
Xunxian Daoist let out a sigh and said, "I underestimated him… or perhaps I have fallen into his calculations all along. I will help you escape. Your talent should not be buried here."
Zhu Xi had just opened her mouth to mock him again when suddenly, Xunxian Daoist's soul emerged from his body, and he turned, striking a palm toward her.
This palm strike was impossibly fast. Even Zhu Xi, now at the Dao Repository Free Immortal Realm, had no time to react.
As the force struck her across the air, her eyes widened in shock. Her body was instantly sent flying backward, only to see a silver-white portal appear behind her. She was flung directly into it, and the portal vanished in an instant.
With this, Xunxian Daoist's physical body crumbled into dust, leaving only his soul floating in the void. His face bore an expression of exhaustion.
He slowly turned his gaze toward the massive blood cocoon, his expression complex.
"Disciple… why did you even hide this from me? Could it be that all those years ago… you truly were at fault?" Xunxian Daoist muttered to himself.
"Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign, you created the Heavenly Spirit Great World, were conferred a Heavenly Dao Immortal title by the Heavenly Court, yet you not only refused it but also plotted against heavenly officials, sacrificing the lives of countless beings. And now… do you intend to repeat your crimes once more?"
The voice of the Heavenly Spirit God rang out from the depths of the universe, resonating in the minds of every living being throughout the cosmos.
The name "Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign" was now etched into the hearts of all.
Created the Heavenly Spirit Great World? Sacrificed all beings?
The weight of this revelation sent shivers down the spines of all living beings.
And then, another voice echoed across the cosmos—one filled with majesty and power:
"And what about you, Heavenly Spirit God? If not for me creating the Grand World, how could you have obtained your divine position? You forced me to sacrifice the masses, you ensured the Grand World remained shattered and beyond the reach of the Heavenly Dao's restoration. Your actions have long defied the Heavenly Laws. What exactly are you pursuing? Do you think I am unaware?"
Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign!
His voice carried the same tone as An Hao's, yet it was far more commanding, filled with an aura of dominion.
Listening to their conversation, Xunxian Daoist's brows furrowed tightly. He seemed to have realized something, his expression turning to one of utter disbelief. He raised his head to look at the massive blood cocoon and, unable to hold back, whispered, "All those years ago… when you followed me to the Immortal Palace… could it be that you truly stole that supreme treasure…?"
The blood cocoon remained silent, and the Heavenly Spirit God offered no further response.
Though the conversation had ended, the boundless pressure from the Heavenly Spirit God continued to grow, pressing down upon the entire universe.
Within his chamber, Gu An listened to their exchange, curiosity flickering in his gaze.
What was the connection between the Heavenly Spirit God and the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign? What was this treasure they both spoke of?
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the entire cosmos.
The massive blood cocoon burst apart, sending waves of blood energy surging in all directions.
A towering figure emerged from within. His body was unmistakably that of An Hao, yet it had become even more powerful than before.
He stood bare-chested, a third eye glowing on his chest. A black dragon coiled around his waist, and beneath his feet, violent black qi raged like a storm. His long white hair danced wildly, and his face, identical to An Hao's, bore no trace of emotion.
He was An Hao.
But he was also the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign!
His eyes reflected the image of the Heavenly Spirit God approaching from the distance. Across the vast universe, the two figures locked gazes. At this moment, nothing else existed in their world—only their destined battle.
"Master, you should not have come. Leave now, pretend you know nothing. No matter who lives or dies between me and him, you must not interfere."
The voice of the Heavenly Spirit Immortal Sovereign resounded once more, clear and resolute. He did not care if other beings overheard his words. His tone remained as commanding as ever.