Dao Lord: Starting from a Top-grade Golden Core

Chapter 275: Chapter 152: Parting Clouds to Clear the Heavens, Splitting Mountains to Forge a World

After Xuzhuang destroyed the altar that had been sealing the earth qi, not only did the Demon Sect cultivators not come rushing in for revenge, but not even a single scout like the one from Lengshan was seen. The Divine Wood Dojo remained safe, as if the enemy had no intention of making a comeback.

Moreover, the Demon Sect cultivators even stopped their campaign of sweeping through the mountains and sealing the earth qi. When Venerable Ju Mang sent his disciples out to investigate, not a single Demon Shadow was spotted. It seemed as though Xuzhuang’s arrival in Mang Mountain had caused the demonic scourge to recede, calming the turmoil that had plagued the region.

However, Xuzhuang didn’t believe the Demon Sect had truly been intimidated by him into abandoning their schemes and retreating.

Xuzhuang’s reputation was immense, and while it might make others back down in minor matters, it was hardly enough to deter a major sectarian plot.

Therefore, those Demon Cultivators must have some other plan. As the disciples of the Divine Wood Dojo expanded their search radius, Xuzhuang began to get a sense of the Demon Sect’s original goal.

Although the Demon Sect’s efforts to seal the earth qi had stopped at the Divine Wood Dojo, the lay of the earth veins suggested an intention to encircle the area, meeting up with another sealed-off region.

From this, it seemed that although the shape was irregular, the Demon Sect cultivators were indeed trying to ’stake a claim.’ Xuzhuang had personally scouted the area back and forth, but unfortunately, he found nothing.

Mang Mountain was simply too vast. Even within the territory the Demon Sect had encircled, a cursory search might not be difficult, but if the Demon Cultivators wanted to avoid him, even searching inch by inch would be a waste of effort.

But Xuzhuang was confident in his ability to handle any development. Unfazed, he decided to stay and watch over the Divine Wood Dojo, meeting all their moves with his own unmoving calm and waiting for the Demon Sect to make their play.

Human affairs may stall, but the laws of nature are unmoved by external forces. The sun rose and the moon set in its endless cycle. Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Mang Mountain had already lost much of its vitality due to the Demon Cultivators’ rampage. Xuzhuang’s arrival had made them cease their sweep of the mountains, but an atmosphere of paranoia still hung over the surrounding thousands of miles.

The Loose Cultivators and sects that had been planning to flee but hadn’t yet left took the opportunity to depart. Even those who couldn’t bear to abandon their foundations cautiously guarded their gates, not daring to show their faces. The Primates of the mountains, with their natural spiritual senses, were even quicker to flee. For a time, a dead silence fell over ten thousand miles.

On this day, dark clouds suddenly rolled across the sky, obscuring thousands of miles. They pressed down so low they nearly touched the mountain peaks, looking as if a torrential, flood-like rain could pour down at any moment and engulf Mang Mountain.

But it didn’t stop there. From the Divine Wood Dojo, they could clearly see the dark clouds continuing to roll in, and in the blink of an eye, they were right overhead.

Without needing to be alerted, Xuzhuang had already ascended to the top of the Divine Wood. He gazed into the depths of the dark clouds, where an unimaginable amount of foul, yin energy had gathered. It was as if it had condensed into towering Yin Mountains and the vast Mixed Ming Abyss Sea, spreading out to covertly cover hundreds of miles. This power was brazenly manipulating the celestial phenomena, creating the sky-blotting clouds.

"This..." Following Xuzhuang, Ju Mang and the others also ascended to the top of the Divine Wood. Yue Zilin was the first to open his Dharma Eye to look, and his expression immediately changed. "What terrifying Demonic Qi," he said gravely. "What trick is the Demon Sect playing at?"

Venerable Ju Mang’s face was filled with worry. "Could it be they’ve used the earth qi they absorbed to refine some world-shaking great demon?"

Considering the Demon Sect cultivators’ previous actions, Ju Mang’s speculation was not without reason, but Yuezixun immediately refuted it. "Destroying thousands of miles of earth qi for a refinement? Are they trying to provoke a war between the Profound and Demon sects? That’s impossible."

Although his severe injuries hadn’t fully healed, his insight was as sharp as ever. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "However, a phenomenon like this does look like some powerful fiend is venting its Magical Power..."

Venerable Ju Mang’s junior brother cried out in shock, "Just venting its Magical Power can trigger a celestial phenomenon of this scale? How terrifying must this demon itself be?"

Yuezixun’s expression was grim. He couldn’t help but look at Xuzhuang and ask, "Senior Brother, these fiends have been laying low for days. For them to suddenly make such a scene... what scheme are they plotting?"

Xuzhuang didn’t answer. He watched as a streak of black light flew out from the dark clouds. He suddenly reached out and plucked it from the air, a letter appearing in his hand. He glanced over it casually, his eyes falling on the name signed at the end. ’Chi Ming.’

Xuzhuang suddenly recalled how the Demon Sect had vanished these past few days, yet the disciples of the Divine Wood Dojo had repeatedly found traces of the Demoness Shishi. ’Such a blatant scheme, completely undisguised,’ he thought with a faint smile. He then said aloud, "It seems they’ve made their preparations and are now luring me over."

Yuezixun’s expression changed slightly. "Senior Brother, you don’t intend to go, do you?"

In truth, even if there were no other factors, now that Chi Ming had issued a challenge, Xuzhuang had no reason to refuse. "That is precisely my intention," he replied coolly.

Yue Zilin tried to persuade him, "Senior Brother, I’ve already sent a message back to the sect. Why not wait for them to send reinforcements before we investigate together?"

Xuzhuang said, "For them to be this ostentatious, their plot must have come to fruition. By the time the sect’s reinforcements arrive, I’m afraid it will be too late."

Yuezixun said, "But for those Demon Sect villains to lure Senior Brother over so openly, they must have set an ambush. Senior Brother..."

Xuzhuang tilted his head back to look at the dark clouds that were drawing ever closer. With a sudden shake of his shoulders, the sound of surging tides, WHOOSH, erupted from his body as if an abyssal sea was churning within him. Formless, immeasurable Magical Power burst forth, stirring the spiritual qi. It swept out in a vast, unstoppable wave, parting the endless dark clouds to reveal a patch of clear, blue sky!

Xuzhuang let out a booming laugh and declared, "What do I have to fear from your petty tricks? If clouds gather, I will simply part them!"

Before his voice had even faded, he shot up from the ground, transforming into a magnificent ray of light that crashed into the clouds. Like a force parting a river or splitting the sea, he tore a long gash through the sky-blotting curtain of clouds, heading straight for their dark heart.