Chapter 243 - 243

Chapter 243 - Burning Origin Essence

Wang ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Daofeng watched the scene without a shred of worry for Wang Teng.

A ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍top-tier Innate Divine Ability — so what? How could his family's Qilin Son possibly not have comprehended an Innate Divine Ability of his own? And most importantly, his Qilin Son had comprehended a full two top-tier Innate Divine Abilities.

Across ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the entire Dao Realm, that was exceedingly rare.

And ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍those prodigies who had comprehended two top-tier Innate Divine Abilities had virtually all stepped into the Dao Venerable Realm.

On ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍top of that, Wang Teng was a full minor realm above Lu Xuanyuan. If he still couldn't kill Lu Xuanyuan under these conditions, then he would be unworthy of his title as the Wang Family's Qilin Son.

Inside ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Ghost Realm, Lu Xunxian couldn't help but sigh.

"This Lu Xuanyuan really can't see the gap between himself and Wang Teng."

Earlier, Lu Xuanyuan had fought the Heaven-Swallowing Ghost Emperor for so long without being able to decide a winner. Yet such a formidable existence had been killed in a single spear strike by Wang Teng.

Granted, there were factors of a sneak attack and Lu Xuanyuan having drained the Ghost Emperor considerably beforehand. But there was no denying that Wang Teng's strength was firmly above Lu Xuanyuan's.

Still, even knowing Lu Xuanyuan was no match for Wang Teng, Lu Xunxian didn't plan to intervene directly. This was also a chance for Lu Xuanyuan to recognize the true extent of his own abilities.

He could step in once Lu Xuanyuan was on the verge of being killed by Wang Teng. There was no rush.

Wang Teng gazed at the Ancient Chaos Tree that had appeared behind Lu Xuanyuan, a mocking sneer spreading across his face.

"You think you're the only one with a top-tier Innate Divine Ability?"

As his words fell, a massive scroll materialized behind Wang Teng. As the scroll unfurled, its contents were laid bare for all to see.

The moment it appeared, everyone was stunned once more.

"Heavens! The Primordial Chaos Dao Diagram!"

"I can't believe it — no one had been able to comprehend the Primordial Chaos Dao Diagram for hundreds of millions of years, and now it has reappeared."

"This is bad. Though the Ancient Chaos Tree and the Primordial Chaos Dao Diagram are both top-tier Innate Divine Abilities, Wang Teng is still a full minor realm above Lu Xuanyuan. The Innate Divine Ability he wields will be that much more powerful. Lu Xuanyuan is in danger."

The Heaven Branch Clan Elder — whose name was Lu Nianfeng — saw Lu Xuanyuan facing Wang Teng and felt his heart clench. He had already prepared himself to intervene at any moment.

Inside the Ghost Realm.

Bolstered by the Ancient Chaos Tree, Lu Xuanyuan's realm surged from the Late Immortal Emperor Realm all the way to the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm, while his Immortal Power burned away at a visible rate.

After all, sustaining a top-tier Innate Divine Ability like the Ancient Chaos Tree required an absolutely staggering amount of Immortal Power.

But even so, he had no other choice. Without deploying the Ancient Chaos Tree, his defeat was certain.

On the opposite side, Wang Teng was similarly bolstered by the Primordial Chaos Dao Diagram, his strength skyrocketing by a tremendous margin. He had faintly surpassed the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm, stepping into the Dao Practitioner level.

PS: Innate Divine Abilities are a means of enhancing a cultivator's overall attributes and strength. The higher the grade, the greater the enhancement.

With both Innate Divine Abilities fully activated, the two wore grave expressions. In the next instant, they struck simultaneously and clashed together.

Waves of devastating power radiated outward in all directions, threatening to annihilate everything in their path.

Lu Xunxian stood his ground, unmoving. The horrifying aftershocks dissipated the moment they reached him, failing to cause him any harm whatsoever.

This allowed Lu Tianyuan outside to breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed Lu Xunxian was far more powerful than he had imagined.

Once he confirmed Lu Xunxian was unharmed, he turned his worried gaze toward Lu Xuanyuan.

Though Lu Xuanyuan was not a disciple of his own branch, he was still a clansman of the Lu Family. If he could survive, that would naturally be for the best.

But from the current situation, apart from surrendering, there seemed to be absolutely no way for Lu Xuanyuan to make it out alive.

And given Lu Xuanyuan's temperament, it seemed he would choose death in battle over surrender.

The moment they engaged, Lu Xuanyuan was forced into a disadvantage.

He had already been drained by the Heaven-Swallowing Ghost Emperor earlier, and now his strength fell short of Wang Teng's. Falling into a losing position was only natural.

Before long, countless wounds appeared across Lu Xuanyuan's body, each one ghastly and shocking to behold.

Lu Xuanyuan tried to heal himself, but the residual power Wang Teng had left behind made the wounds unbearably painful and impossible to mend.

Watching Lu Xuanyuan's wretched state, a look of twisted amusement rose in Wang Teng's heart. He spoke.

"Do you want to live? If you want to live, kneel and kowtow to me three times. This young master will spare you."

More satisfying than killing an enemy was shattering their Dao Heart.

If Lu Xuanyuan knelt today, he would become a disgrace across the entire Dao Realm, and it would also mean the Lu Family was far inferior to the Wang Family.

Outside, Lu Tianyuan and Lu Nianfeng heard Wang Teng's words, and their expressions turned hideously dark.

What Wang Teng was doing was no different from grinding the Lu Family's face into the dirt.

In that moment, they hoped Lu Xuanyuan would hold firm — and he did not disappoint them.

"Screw that! Even if I die, I will never kneel!"

Lu Xuanyuan roared.

At those words, the last of Wang Teng's patience finally ran out. He gave a cold snort.

"Since you insist on seeking death, then this young master will send you on your way!"

"Primordial Chaos Genesis!"

Wang Teng formed seals with both hands. His spear was engulfed by a roaring golden power, and in the next moment, it hurtled toward Lu Xuanyuan at blinding speed.

Sensing the overwhelming might behind this strike, Lu Xuanyuan's pupils contracted sharply. He could tell this blow was far beyond anything he could withstand.

"But even so — I, Lu Xuanyuan, will never concede!"

Lu Xuanyuan bellowed, unleashing everything he had in a single desperate strike.

His hair turned white at a visible pace. A terrifying aura erupted from his body, surging all the way out of the Ghost Realm.

Outside, Lu Tianyuan and Lu Nianfeng stared in shock.

"He's burning his Origin Essence!"

Origin Essence was the most vital thing a cultivator possessed — it represented the very foundation of their innate talent. If one's Origin Essence was completely exhausted, both their cultivation and their talent would be reduced to nothing, leaving them an ordinary mortal.

But now, for the sake of the Lu Family's honor, he could not retreat!

Seeing this, even Wang Teng's expression darkened. He clearly hadn't expected this madman Lu Xuanyuan to go this far.

If he was burning Origin Essence, then this strike from Lu Xuanyuan might actually be enough to turn the tables.

But was such a pyrrhic victory truly worth it?

Just then, a hand landed on Lu Xuanyuan's shoulder, accompanied by a voice that set his heart utterly at ease.

"Enough. You've done all you could. Leave the rest to me."