Chapter 523 - 460: [Dao King]

Qi Yun’s gaze fell on the figure slowly stepping out from the shadows of the thatched cottage beside True Monarch Shen Yi.

With just one glance, even with a state of mind tempered through thousands of deadly tribulations to be as unruffled as an ancient, frozen abyss, Qi Yun couldn’t help but freeze in slight surprise.

It was a woman. She wore an extremely plain and elegant moon-white dress without any patterns. Its hem trailed on the ground, yet it remained completely spotless. Her posture was tall and slender, like a solitary, proud winter plum in a snowfield, or a wisp of cool moonlight above the clouds. As for her appearance, Qi Yun temporarily couldn’t find the right words to describe it.

Her nose was delicate and her lips were exceptionally pale, resembling early spring cherry blossoms just beginning to bloom. Yet, they were tightly pursed, carrying an innate, forbidding coldness that kept people at a distance. She simply stood there quietly. Although there were no fluctuations of Magical Power or Dao Rhyme around her, she seemed to form a Heaven and Earth of her own, making the surrounding dense immortal spiritual energy and chaotic Dao light seem dim by comparison.

"Who is..." A very faint hint of surprise flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes. Subconsciously, he turned his gaze toward the smiling True Monarch Shen Yi. "Martial... Grandmother?"

The title slipped out, and even he felt it was a bit absurd. However, seeing this woman appear in this Secret Realm alongside Ancestor Shen Yi, coupled with her extraordinary bearing, he couldn’t help but jump to that conclusion.

"HMPH."

A very soft yet clear and cold scoff, sounding like a freezing spring striking against jade, escaped the stunningly beautiful woman’s lips. Her gaze swept past Qi Yun’s face. Her voice was icy and completely devoid of warmth, but strangely, it didn’t feel deliberately hateful or targeted. It was simply a pure, fundamental sense of aloof detachment. "The Holy Sect lineage is indeed all the same. Smooth-talking and glib."

Hearing this, True Monarch Shen Yi couldn’t help but chuckle and wave his hand. "I’m not that blessed. Qi Yun, don’t make wild guesses. This is Fellow Daoist Feng Xi."

Qi Yun understood. He suppressed the slight ripples stirred up by her appearance, returning his expression to a calm state. Cupping his hands respectfully toward the stunningly beautiful Feng Xi, he prepared to bow.

"There is no need." Feng Xi’s voice rang out again as she turned around, leaving Qi Yun with only a cold, ethereal view of her back. "Wait until you achieve the position of a Dao King before we speak."

Dao King?!

These two words sent a ripple through Qi Yun’s Heart Lake! He realized that the realm Above the True Monarch, the level where the World Honored One resided, was called the Dao King.

His eyes flickered imperceptibly, but his face revealed little emotion. He didn’t take Feng Xi’s distinctly distant words to heart. Lowering his hands naturally, he turned back to True Monarch Shen Yi. With a much more solemn expression, he said, "During my tribulation to become a True Monarch, danger lurked at every turn. Thank you for lending a hand, Ancestor. Your disciple is endlessly grateful."

"We are family, so there’s no need to treat me like an Outer Dao," True Monarch Shen Yi smiled, his expression gentle. He spoke nonchalantly, but Qi Yun could imagine the true dangers and struggles involved.

"Come, let’s talk over here," True Monarch Shen Yi beckoned, walking over to the simple thatched cottage.

Feng Xi walked straight to a stone table, bent down, and picked up an inconspicuous, flexible grass vine that shimmered with a faint Cyan Gold luster. She sat on a Meditation Mat, lowered her eyes, and began to silently weave something with her nimble, jade-like fingers, turning a deaf ear to the conversation beside her. Her focused and tranquil silhouette blended strangely well with the surrounding scenery of the Immortal Island.

True Monarch Shen Yi led Qi Yun to the other side. The two stood one in front of the other before a forest of blooming flowers.

"Qi Yun," True Monarch Shen Yi said slowly, his smile fading. "I assume you have already guessed why we brought you here."

Qi Yun’s eyes shifted slightly. He met True Monarch Shen Yi’s gaze and, a moment later, slowly uttered, "Outnumbered by the enemy, looking for a helper?"

"HAHAHA!" Hearing this, True Monarch Shen Yi let out a hearty laugh that carried far across the quiet Immortal Island. "Exactly! You catch on immediately!

"Since you’re so straightforward, I won’t beat around the bush with you." His smile gradually vanished, replaced by a solemn expression. "The great tide of the years... is almost here."

"The great tide of the years?" Qi Yun frowned slightly.

"Yes." True Monarch Shen Yi raised his hand, pointing to the invisible yet palpable vast river outside the Immortal Island. "This River of Heaven and Earth Years is not eternally calm.

"After every lengthy epoch, the river experiences a violent ’tide.’

"When that happens, the waters will surge, overflowing into turbulent currents.

"The natural protection that the River of Heaven and Earth Years provides to the Profound Yellow Origin Realm will fail.

"They...

"Will return!"

Return!

Those simple words plunged the lush, immortal-energy-filled lawn into dead silence. Qi Yun fell silent. He could imagine what a terrifying scene that would be. Just the backup plan of the World Honored One had already left the Profound Yellow True Monarchs in a miserable state. If multiple entities... or even if just one Dao King’s true body were to step directly into Profound Yellow... it would undoubtedly be a devastating disaster!

A moment later, he looked up and asked a critical question: "Since They cannot return, why can you... Ancestor?"

True Monarch Shen Yi looked at him, then glanced at Feng Xi, who was still sitting quietly and weaving. Smiling faintly, he spat out two words: "Self-severing."

"Self-severing?" Qi Yun’s gaze sharpened.

"Correct." True Monarch Shen Yi’s voice was calm as if he were discussing something entirely unrelated to himself. "To remain near Profound Yellow, Fellow Daoist Feng Xi and I severed a portion of our foundations, willingly dropping down from the position of Dao Kings.

"Now, we are merely Great Success True Monarchs."

Severing their own foundations to give up the position of a Dao King! What tremendous courage and resolve! A trace of respect naturally swelled in Qi Yun’s heart, but even more so, confusion.

"Such immense courage," he praised. Then, fixing his burning gaze on True Monarch Shen Yi, he asked, "But how does the Ancestor know that I will definitely help you?"

It was a realistic and pointed question. Faced with the threat of multiple Dao Kings, why should he perform such an act of grand righteousness? After all, he was a Demon—the greatest Demon in the world!

True Monarch Shen Yi couldn’t help but laugh again upon hearing this. Clasping his hands behind his back, he gazed out at the eternally flowing chaotic colors beyond the Immortal Island. His expression was placid, as if he had fully anticipated Qi Yun’s question. "That’s simple..."

Qi Yun looked at True Monarch Shen Yi’s supremely confident demeanor, initially expecting him to spout grandiose words of righteousness about saving the common people of Profound Yellow, protecting their homeland, or maintaining the orthodoxy of the Great Dao.

"You ruined the World Honored One’s plans," True Monarch Shen Yi said, turning his head to look at Qi Yun. A smile full of schadenfreude formed on his face. "He is notoriously petty and will hold a grudge forever.

"If you don’t help us, once the great tide of the years arrives and His true body returns... you’re dead meat!" he added, leaning in closer and lowering his voice.

"..." Qi Yun was momentarily left speechless, his expression twisting into a mix of tears and laughter.

This reasoning... was far too blunt! But he had to admit that upon closer consideration, this reason was exceptionally... sufficient! It was so sufficient that he couldn’t refute it! By destroying two of the World Honored One’s crucial fallback plans, he had unquestionably forged a massive grudge! If the other party returned, he would certainly be the first target to bear the brunt of their wrath!

Shaking his head helplessly, Qi Yun temporarily put aside this somewhat comical yet incredibly real dynamic. He gathered his Heart and Spirit, asking the biggest question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time:

"Ancestor, your disciple makes bold to ask. Why is it that Dao Kings like the World Honored One, who all clearly emerged from the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, harbor such immense hatred toward the place where they achieved their Dao and the homeland that nurtured them? Why would they even go so far as to scheme for eons just to destroy it?

"What kind of secret... is hidden behind all of this?"

This question was the core of everything! If he couldn’t figure this out, all of his resistance and planning would just be a blind struggle in the fog.

True Monarch Shen Yi didn’t answer immediately. His gaze turned profoundly deep as if peering through endless years and looking back at a sealed segment of ancient history. A moment later, he withdrew his gaze, looked at Qi Yun, and countered, "Qi Yun, by now... you should be the number one powerhouse in the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, right?"

Qi Yun froze upon hearing this, not expecting the other party to suddenly ask such a thing. He pondered for a moment before slowly nodding. "I believe... I am."

"Mhm." True Monarch Shen Yi smiled faintly and continued asking, "Then..."

His gaze grew sharp as he looked straight into Qi Yun’s eyes, asking word by word: "Do you hope that another... Qi Yun appears in Profound Yellow?"

Do you hope that another Qi Yun appears in Profound Yellow?!

BOOM—!!!

These words were like an ultimate bolt of lightning that tore through all the fog, viciously striking the depths of Qi Yun’s Sea of Consciousness! All of his doubts, confusion, and contradictions seemed to have found that most crucial puzzle piece in this very moment! The Profound Yellow Origin Realm... its unique status... the cradle that nurtured Dao Kings...

In an instant!

The towering figures of those seated high above the Celestial Dao, looking down upon the vast firmament, seemingly flashed into Qi Yun’s mind. Their gazes were icy as they commanded Heaven and Earth. They slowly opened their mouths, and their booming, heavenly voices echoed endlessly.

"There are already enough Dao Kings...

"This Heaven and Earth doesn’t need any more Dao Kings!

"So then... destroy Profound Yellow!"