Buzz!
The sound of the Great Dao suddenly reverberated from the heavens.
The winds and clouds shifted, and the entire Enlightenment City seemed to tremble for an instant.
Boundless Dao patterns shimmered brilliantly within that single palm strike, the innate spiritual charm seeming perfectly natural.
"Not good! Brother Sun!"
The other fifth-grade Divine Emperor beside Su Wenye's eyes narrowed sharply. His figure flashed, instantly appearing beside Sun Ce. Spiritual light bloomed around him, transforming into a phantom of a black tiger above their heads.
A killing intent swept across the sky. The black tiger roared towards the heavens, turning into a stream of light that charged at the palm imprint.
But!!
A terrifying scene unfolded.
Before the black tiger could even touch the palm imprint, it was directly crushed and shattered by the Dao Charm emanating from it.
Then, the hand seal, which seemed to transcend Dao Principles, finally smashed down onto the two fifth-grade Divine Emperors.
Pfft!
Without the slightest hesitation, two streams of light flashed like falling stars in the sky.
But in the end, under that palm imprint, they were suppressed and shattered, plummeting downwards violently.
Just as the city's cultivators watched in horror, the giant palm about to fall upon them, the sky flickered quietly, and the palm imprint, along with the two Divine Emperors, suddenly vanished.
Boom!
To the north of Enlightenment City, a barren mountain was instantly flattened.
Heaven and earth fell silent.
Only the billowing dust rising to the sky seemed to prove the earth-shattering battle that had occurred here.
Earth-shattering… though from start to finish, the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign had only thrown a single palm strike.
Everyone looked up at the black-robed Daoist figure approaching from the distant sky. Besides reverence, there was nothing else in their eyes.
Even Su Wenye's face now carried a thick look of shock.
Was the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign actually this terrifying?
The spiritual might and great charm contained within that palm strike seemed to have… transcended the Heavenly Dao Principles?
"Truly worthy of being a figure from a thousand years ago."
From beginning to end, Ling Xiao hadn't moved, nor had he used a shred of spiritual power.
Just moments ago, the instant the great mountain fell, he had sensed Liang Yi's divine sense fluctuation.
It was strange, but he had indeed sensed it.
It seemed to originate from his demonic body, yet also like a… connection from the same source.
However, even though Ling Xiao had guessed the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign was strong, he never imagined he was this powerful.
That palm strike indeed contained not a trace of Dao Principle power, yet it was a state of perfect naturalness.
As if integrated with heaven and earth, the Heavenly Dao itself was within that single palm.
But…
Looking at it this way, how powerful must the Holy Church's Divine Master be?
Otherwise, this Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign could have unified the Sacred Dynasty. Why would he remain content in a remote corner?
Boom!
From the distant barren mountain, two figures suddenly shot out from underground. Their auras were feeble, and they looked extremely disheveled.
Especially Sun Ce; both his arms hung limply at his sides. It seemed all the bones in his body had been completely shattered under that palm strike. Supported by the other fifth-grade Divine Emperor, they rushed back to Enlightenment City.
The Yun Lai Alliance Master was still here; they couldn't leave.
Moreover, the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign's single palm strike just now was enough to kill both of them on the spot.
Clearly, the Dao Sovereign had held back.
"Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign!! You go too far! Do you truly intend to make an enemy of our Yun Alliance?!"
Sun Ce's face was twisted, the intense pain from his body nearly driving him mad.
How many years had it been? How many years since he had last tasted such agony?
But!!
No matter how much resentment filled his heart, he didn't dare act recklessly anymore. He could only bring out the Yun Lai Merchant Alliance, vainly trying to reclaim some of his Emperor's dignity!
"Does the Yun Alliance now bear the surname Sun?"
The Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign slowly walked to stand before Ling Xiao, coldly watching Su Wenye and Su Yan as they emerged from the Ling Bao Pavilion, his tone calm.
By now, all the cultivators in Enlightenment City were completely exhilarated.
"The Dao Sovereign is too awesome!"
"A single palm suppressed two Divine Emperors!"
"What do you know? The Dao Sovereign clearly didn't go for the kill! He already spared the Yun Alliance face, and yet this damned Divine Emperor still dares to shout!"
"Damned Divine Emperor? Brother, you seem to be… only at the Xuan Qing realm, right?"
"I… so what if I'm Xuan Qing? With the Dao Sovereign's protection, why would I even bother cultivating anymore? Cultivation is impossible. Enlightenment City has beautiful scenery, kind people… Of course, happiness is the most important thing in life!"
"Well said! The Dao Sovereign is mighty!!"
The hype squad was in position; countless cultivators trembled with excitement.
So, it seemed no matter which world you were in, this kind of face-slapping scenario was what resonated most with people.
"Hehe, so the Dao Sovereign has come in person!"
Su Wenye's eyes were gloomy, his hand tightly gripping Su Yan's.
He was afraid this daughter, who valued the Yun Alliance's reputation above all and had grown up under Sun Ce's care, might lose her temper and provoke the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign.
"Father! Why are you holding me? Let go!"
Su Yan's pretty face was cold. She struggled fiercely free from Su Wenye's grasp. Before he could react, she actually rushed straight towards the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign.
"Yan'er, don't be rude…"
But!!
Before Su Wenye's words finished, the expression on his face completely froze.
He saw Su Yan completely ignore the severely injured Sun Ce. She directly rushed to Ling Xiao's side, her face full of concern as she took his hand, softly asking, "Young Master! Are you hurt… Did they trouble you? It's Yan'er's fault. Yan'er is useless…"
As she spoke, tears of regret actually streamed down Su Yan's face.
"It's fine! Yan'er, no need to worry."
Ling Xiao shook his head with a smile, while the mouths of Su Wenye and the others had opened to a bizarrely round degree.
My daughter… has grown up!
This is… her heart belongs to another?!
"Young Master, were you not frightened?"
Then, an even more terrifying scene occurred. The originally majestic Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign, who could shake heaven and earth with a wave of his hand, suddenly turned and bowed towards Ling Xiao!!!
What the… hell?!
What was wrong with this world?
Since when did the strong bow their heads to ants?
Su Wenye felt his worldview shatter!
Wasn't survival of the fittest the ultimate truth of the world?
And… that Ling Clan heir, a mere Breakthrough Realm? What was worthy of the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign bowing to him?
What did he have?
Money? Power? Talent?
It didn't make sense!
It shouldn't be!!
"It's nothing!"
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, an elegant aura naturally emanating from him, causing countless proud young women in the city to feel a sudden tightness in their legs, their eyes turning peach-blossom shaped.
"Alliance Master Su, your Imperial Hound caused trouble in my Enlightenment City today… shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
The Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign stood up and looked at Su Wenye.
The Yun Alliance was indeed powerful, but…
Such opportunistic upstarts, how could they possibly enter the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign's eyes?
With a single order from Ling Xiao, he could annihilate this man with a wave of his hand.
Oh.
Killing him might not be appropriate, after all, he's the Master's future father-in-law!
"Hehe, this is all just a misunderstanding. Why must the Dao Sovereign be so angry?"
Su Wenye's eyes were gloomy, but a sincere smile was plastered on his face.
Just moments ago, he had clearly seen the flash of killing intent in the Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign's eyes!
He actually, genuinely, had the thought of killing me?!
All because of… Ling Xiao?
"Mas… Young Master, what do you think?"
The Tai Xuan Dao Sovereign paid no attention to Su Wenye, instead turning to look at Ling Xiao, as if… seeking his opinion!
This scene once again plunged the entire Enlightenment City into dead silence.
"Hehe, the Alliance Master just wanted to invite me for tea. Probably… a misunderstanding."
Ling Xiao looked down at the grievance and plea in Su Yan's eyes and slightly shook his head.
Hearing this, a smile immediately bloomed on Su Yan's pretty face. Right in front of everyone, she nestled into Ling Xiao's embrace.
"I knew it, Young Master cares for Yan'er the most."
Hiss! Hiss!
The sound of sharp intakes of cold breath instantly rose from all around.
What was this?!
The winner in life!
A beauty throws herself into his arms, the Dao Sovereign bows his head!
No, 'winner in life' wasn't enough to describe Young Master Ling Xiao!
This was probably the legendary… chosen by fate!
Young Master!!
You are the mountain we can only look up to in this life!
You are the deep sea we dare not drown in for all eternity!!!
You are… the distant shore in the hearts of us cultivators, spanning life and death, forever beyond reach!!