Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Before his eyes.

A vast darkness.

The pitch-black, seemingly substantial, gusty wind formed a heavy ink sea, massing up into a roaring, shocking tsunami, rushing towards Zhang Jing.

Upon his ears, there was only the sound of cries, sharp to the ultimate degree.

Within the rainbow light.

Zhang Jing's eyes flickered slightly.

His gaze swept over a cultivator struggling tragically not far away.

This person was similar to him.

Just recently entered this ocean of pitch-black and gusty wind.

But right now.

The protective radiance around the other's body had already begun to waver.

It was clear.

That the power of this pitch-black eerie gusty wind had exceeded expectations.

"Impressive gusty wind! These people clearly have strong capabilities, but within this gusty wind they appear so helpless!"

Zhang Jing mumbled to himself.

Just as he stepped into the sky.

He instantaneously sensed something was wrong.

After merely being brushed by this pitch-black gusty wind a few times.

The protective radiance around his body had begun to tremble and dim quickly.

Zhang Jing was not unfamiliar with gusty wind.

No matter whether it was coming to the Qingxiao Xuanming Heaven from the Lower Realm Nine Domains with Feng Wuyu initially or during his cultivation within the Tao Sect subsequently.

He had seen all sorts of gusty winds already.

Logically speaking.

Gusty winds of the current extent should not be able to shake his protective radiance.

Of course.

Zhang Jing was not worried that these gusty winds would hinder his progress.

In fact.

If using various kinds of Tao Intent to aid him, in his view, this seemingly boundlessly powerful gusty wind would feel no different from a gentle spring breeze brushing across his face.

It wouldn't pose a threat at all.

But…

What was the actual reason that made this gusty wind so strange and express an unusually powerful might?

Zhang Jing's eyes were fixed sternly.

A trace of curiosity suddenly sprouted in his mind.

Thinking up to this point.

His figure momentarily halted.

Instantaneously.

He slowly extended one hand forward, reaching out of protective radiance, attempting to grasp the pitch-black gusty wind.

On his slender fair hand.

Four kinds of Tao Intent - earth, fire, water, and wind - circulated without pause, transforming rapidly into an unbreakable cage.

At this point.

The terrifying, pitch-black gusty wind, which others avoided at all costs, turned into a mere weak thread, like a pathetic little snake in Zhang Jing's hands.

The little snake struggled frantically in his hand.

However, all these were in vain.

Boom!

His fingers clenched tight.

Within his palm.

The four kinds of Tao Intent - earth, fire, water and wind - slowly fused together, producing a trace of the extremely faint color of chaos, immediately crushing the pitch-black gusty wind.

Profundities were gradually emitted.

Behind his head.

A celebrating cloud, shimmering with an illusory, dazed hue, rose slowly, its five-color radiance constantly changing, quickly enveloping Zhang Jing.

The present celebrating cloud.

In comparison to before, a faint golden halo had strangely been added.

...

The time passed unknowingly.

The Tao-element celebrating cloud behind his head had already disappeared without a trace.

Zhang Jing slowly opened his eyes.

A look of enlightenment and excitement shone in his eyes.

This gusty wind unexpectedly integrated with some water Tao Intent, causing the gusty wind, with its staunch and vigorous nature, to acquire the unique strength of water for penetration and erosion.

As a result of the interaction between both.

The gusty wind's efficacious power had been multiplied.

"Wind gives birth to water!"

It seemed like a new door had been opened in Zhang Jing's mind.

This was different from his own method, with the Jade Talisman, of crudely forcing two or more kinds of Tao Intent to integrate.

It was another path of Tao Intent fusion.

A terrifyingly capable path where Tao Intent can be integrated without the use of Jade Talisman.

It completely relied on a cultivator's deeper level of enlightenment and understanding of Tao Intent.

Or, in other words.

It was an introspective comprehension of Dao.

Only this gusty wind contained the birth of water through the combination of wind and water. In Zhang Jing's perception, it had already reached the acme of perfection.

It seemed as if he had realized something.

Zhang Jing couldn't help but raise his head.

It was as if his eyesight had pierced through the boundless gusty wind and fallen on the yin fire, red thunder, and yellow sand above.

"Based on this, I should be able to find different ways of Tao Intent fusion up there too, right?"

His eyes were filled with anticipation.

The successive layers of obstruction.

In Zhang Jing's eyes.

They were perfect teachers.

They could unveil to him, without reserve, the deeper Tao and reason hidden within the process of Tao Intent fusion.

Moved by a thought.

Zhang Jing once again turned into a bright rainbow light, soaring rapidly upwards.

Layer of Yin Fire!

Layer of Red Thunder!

Layer of Yellow Sand!

Just as Zhang Jing had anticipated, the forces that filled each layer had, at their core essence, an intertwining of different Tao Intent and laws.

That's why their efficacy far surpassed their inherent limits!

And all these.

Had inspired countless thoughts within Zhang Jing.

...

At the zenith, only a thousand feet away from Renjie Island.

Countless cultivators stood still and orderly, like an invisible wall.

All eyes were focused on a few dozen shadows in the front.

Their eyes revealed a hint of clear apprehension.

"Wait a minute, they clearly followed the woman's route without a mistake, why are they still lost halfway?"

Among the populace

Someone watched the scene dubiously, shouting in disbelief.

"Could it be... we got it wrong?"

"Another one muttered.

There was a hint of unease in his voice.

The situation... seemed to be different from what they had previously imagined.

But at this point.

A dazzling golden rainbow light suddenly emerged from below, sped right past everyone's resting area, and, without losing any of its velocity, plunged straight into the mysterious space thousands of feet below Renjie Island.

And then.

Under everyone's astonished gaze.

The golden rainbow light, seemingly unaffected, quickly crossed the thousand feet distance, landing within Renjie Island and disappeared without a trace.

Given its momentum.

It didn't at all pale in comparison to that mysterious woman from before.

Witnessing this scene.

Everyone unconsciously missed several breaths.

A chillingly eerie silence began to spread in all directions.

Long after.

"Who... was that?"

A slightly hoarse voice rang out, but nobody responded.

In a corner of the crowd.

A figure in a dragon robe gazed down with a complex expression.

"So, this is the power of the Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment Realm? No wonder My Imperial Brother disregarded my previous warning."

"In this Secret Realm, the only one who can be his match now should be that girl from the Taiyin Jade Rabbit Clan, right?"

Ji Jiulin recounted his Imperial Brother's instructions and couldn't help but give a bitter smile.

But he didn't blame himself either.

After all, who could have known.

That his Imperial Brother had quietly raised his power to the terrifying level of Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment Realm?

That was the Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment Realm!

Even though the Emperor's Way had produced countless brilliant talents and monstrous geniuses, the existence that could reach the Ninth Rank in the Foundation Establishment Realm only appeared once in tens or even hundreds of thousands of years.

This was no longer about talent, but purely the limit of the human race.

You must know.

When the Emperor's Way first defined the power level of the Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment Realm, the objects they referred to were the darling favorites of Heaven and Earth's Ways — the Wang Mai — from All-Heavens Myriads Spirits Camp!

And beside him.

was the imposing figure of Qu Junhou standing quietly.

His eyes were far from calm at this moment.

Another figure beyond his match!

More and more, he believed that his teacher's claim of being 'the strongest in the Foundation Establishment Realm' was merely to fool him.

Even adding 'one of' made no difference.

Otherwise.

How can he explain about that mysterious woman from before and the figure in the dark golden dragon robe which just passed by?

Wait! Dragon robe!

Qu Junhou involuntarily looked at Ji Jiulin beside him.

"Taoist brother Ji, the one just now is — "

"That was my Imperial Brother, at Ninth Rank in the Foundation Establishment Realm, with power enough to rival the existences at the Foundation Establishment Realm within the All Heavens Beasts' Imperial Clan!"

Seemingly aware of the doubt in his mind.

Ji Jiulin answered frankly.

"Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment?"

Qu Junhou sounded slightly puzzled.

In the Taiyi Sect, he seemed to have never heard this kind of saying before.

"Oh, that's how we Emperarin's Way assess the power level of cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm and to select talents. Generally speaking, being able to reach Fourth or Fifth Rank defines an absolute genius."

Ji Jiulin gave a faint smile and went on to explain:

"Based on Brother Qu's performance when you defeated the Red-Eyed Golden Peng, you should have reached the Eighth Rank."

Afterwards.

Ji Jiulin seemed to remember something and kindly reminded:

"Taoist Brother Qu, my Imperial brother had warned me on the surface just now that the final thousand-foot space here tests our minds. With our strength, as long as we adjust ourselves before entering, passing it should not be a problem."

As soon as these words came out.

Qu Junhou's eyes widened in surprise, saying:

"Your Ninth Rank Imperial Brother...really said that?"

"Is there a problem?"

Ji Jiulin asked.

Phew ——

Facing his gaze.

Qu Junhou let out a light breath and answered slowly:

"Back on the surface, Zhang Jing also told me the same."

"Brother Zhang? His perception is so keen!"

Ji Jiulin's eyes flashed.

"Exactly, where is Brother Zhang? With his strength, he shouldn't still be watching from below."

Qu Junhou waved his hand.

"No! Brother Zhang came up with me. But when we were at the Wind-ridden Layer, he seemed to have been delayed by something, so I went ahead."

"By the way, what rank would Brother Zhang be according to your Emperarin's Way assessment system?"

He looked curiously at Ji Jiulin.

At this moment.

Qu Junhou suddenly remembered that since he recognized Zhang Jing, he seemed to have never seen him take action, or even reveal any aura.

The only information he knew.

Was his teacher's evaluation of Zhang Jing — extremely powerful!

But when he returned to the high platform after defeating the Red-Eyed Golden Peng, several people, including the Taoist Brother Ji in front of him, had a drastic change of attitude.

Indeed, part of the reason was his, Qu Junhou's, performance.

But what's more.

Perhaps these people had seen the power of Brother Zhang.

Opposite him.

Ji Jiulin pondered for a moment.

Then he slowly said:

"Brother Zhang's strength may be a bit stronger than yours, Taoist Brother Qu. He should be in the upper Eighth Rank — "

His voice came to a sudden halt.

Surprise flashed in Ji Jiulin's eyes.

In his line of sight.

A figure wrapped in a red rainbow-like light appeared abruptly before them and without any hesitation entered the mysterious space underneath Renjie Island.

If it's only that.

It wouldn't be enough to surprise Ji Jiulin.

The key was the terrifying aura emanating from him, it felt as if he was facing his Imperial Brother who was unleashing his full power.

He almost thought it was an illusion.

However.

The figure in his sight, planing forth like a hot knife through butter and treating the mysterious space in front as non-existent, clearly told Ji Jiulin that this was no illusion!

"Damn! How could there be another figure at Ninth Rank in Foundation Establishment?"

After coming to his senses.

Ji Jiulin couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart.

Moreover —

This figure.

How he looked at it, it seemed so familiar.