Chapter 512 - 449: So What?!

He slowly raised his right hand, spreading his five fingers slightly. In his palm, a faint trace of obscure Daoist Intent—capable of manipulating the universe and tampering with karma—began to circulate and coalesce... It seemed he was about to make a move.

At that moment, the even blurrier conceptual figure on his right gently waved a hand.

"If he fails... then he is not the one we are waiting for..."

Hearing this, the black-clad figure slowly nodded. His raised right hand paused slightly, and the obscure Dao Rhyme coalescing in his palm quietly dissipated.

Below, on the Path to Heaven.

"THUD!"

"THUD!!"

"THUD—!!!"

Qi Yun’s footsteps had grown so heavy that every step seemed to drain the last ounce of his strength.

His Daoist Body was now riddled with wounds. Before some areas could fully heal, they were blasted by fresh strikes of celestial lightning, causing the flow of multi-colored light around him to turn sluggish. Yet, he continued to advance! One step, another step, and another! The faintly visible All Marvelous Heaven was drawing closer and closer!

It was so close that the True Monarchs within All Marvelous Heaven could clearly see the dark blue figure trudging through the boundless sea of lightning—battered and bruised, yet with eyes burning bright!

"He is... about to... reach the top?!"

"He actually... really... withstood it?!"

"But... look at his condition..."

The True Monarchs felt an extreme surge of conflicting emotions.

On one hand, they did not want to see such a "junior"—one with terrifying, unheard-of potential—actually "barge" into All Marvelous Heaven in such an unprecedented manner, shattering the balance and order that had been maintained for eons. On the other hand, deep down, their instincts as Dao-seekers made them faintly yearn to witness the birth of a miracle. They wanted to see a brand-new, Supreme Great Dao truly and completely descend upon this world!

At that moment, another anomaly occurred!

"RUMBLE—!!!"

The vast, sky-blotting sea of lightning suddenly ceased its endless bombardment! All the grayish-white and dark gold lightning bolts—regardless of size or strength—frantically converged toward the very center of the sea of lightning! The lightning clashed, merged, annihilated, and rebirthed, erupting with a terrifying radiance billions of times brighter than the sun!

In just a single breath!

The endless sea of lightning was forcibly compressed and condensed, transforming into a single bolt of Celestial Dao lightning. It was no more than a hundred zhang in diameter, yet its length seemed to pierce through the past, present, and future!

"BOOM—!!!!!!!"

Carrying a terrifying might that caused the entirety of All Marvelous Heaven to quake violently, the Celestial Dao lightning crashed down. Like a spear of destiny that had existed since the dawn of creation and was fated to end everything, it hurtled toward Qi Yun, whose footsteps had nearly halted and whose Daoist Body was battered beyond recognition!

In an instant, a deafening boom swept across the expanse! The extreme brilliance was so piercing that it stung even the eyes of the True Monarchs.

Soon, the light faded. The True Monarchs strained their vision to the absolute limit, searching for that resolute and stubborn figure.

"He’s not there..."

Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch furrowed his brows tightly, slowly unclasping the hands he had secretly kept clenched.

"In the end... did he still fall one step short...? What a pity..." he muttered under his breath, as if prematurely drawing the curtain on this soul-stirring, heaven-defying feat.

It wasn’t just him; Vast Sea Dust True Monarch, King Saint True Monarch, True Monarch Zhuanglun... even Desolate Halberd True Monarch and Wu Dao now wore complex expressions. It seemed that everything had come to an end within that final bolt of lightning.

However, just as the True Monarchs exchanged glances, seeing the same complicated, indescribable emotions in each other’s eyes, a clear, impassioned voice suddenly echoed throughout All Marvelous Heaven! It carried the intent of ultimate Freedom and unrestrained ease, as if breaking free from all shackles!

"Beyond the thirty-three heavens,

"Immortals dwell beyond the highest clouds.

"Immortals are but mortals transformed,

"The only fear is a mortal’s faltering will!

"A single phrase can unlock the profound,

"Why seek tens of thousands of alchemical scrolls?

"If one is untethered by their physical form,

"Right before their eyes lies... Daluo Heaven!"