"Saint Calamity?!"
One of the white-clothed men gasped in disbelief.
A Cutting Path Stage cultivator undergoing the Nine Death Thunder Calamity after merely swallowing a pill—had his Saint Calamity really been triggered? But what about the Higher Void realm? Where had that stage of cultivation gone?
The path of Spiritual Cultivation had been passed down for generations, with each step carrying profound meaning. Without advancing through the Higher Void level, a cultivator couldn't establish their Higher Void World, grasp the power of the void, or evolve into the Morph Form that carried the first strand of Holy Power. Only after merging with the Semi-Saint Persona could a cultivator trigger the Saint Calamity. This was common knowledge to all cultivators.
Could it be that Quan Sanqing had chosen a path that transcended the traditional scope of cultivation?
"This…" Dao Qiongcang's eyes flickered with surprise.
This was the first time even he had witnessed someone at the Cutting Path Stage directly undergoing the Saint Calamity. It was nothing short of rewriting history—something that even the mighty Kui Leihan hadn't achieved to such an extent.
This Quan Sanqing… Was he truly a genius?
"No…" Dao Qiongcang narrowed his eyes. "It's because of that pill."
He suddenly recalled what the Violent Saint Breakthrough Pill was—an elixir concocted by the Demi-Saint Infernal within the Holy Palace at Thunder Peak.
Even with all his knowledge, Dao Qiongcang knew little about the Violent Saint Breakthrough Pill. It was said that ordinary cultivators couldn't use it, and even those with extraordinary abilities would hesitate. Theoretically, this pill could allow a cultivator to undergo sanctification at any realm, achieving what some called "freedom of sanctification."
But in truth, the pill was more of a spiritual bomb than an elixir.
A cultivator needed to have nurtured Holy Power within themselves to trigger the Saint Calamity. Without that, the pill was useless. Holy Medicines like the Holy Miracle Fruit were extremely rare, and the Violent Saint Breakthrough Pill demanded nothing less than perfection.
Even if the Saint Calamity was triggered, it would be uncontrollably violent. Without the buffer of the Semi-Saint Persona, the thunderous power would wreak havoc on the cultivator's body, consuming their spiritual source as fuel and reducing them to ash.
How could Quan Sanqing dare to swallow such a dangerous pill?
"He has the Sunflower Sacred Physique…" Dao Qiongcang quickly realized.
When Quan Sanqing consumed the pill, Holy Power surged within him. He must have previously consumed a powerful Holy Medicine, possibly something like the Holy Miracle Fruit, which allowed him to nurture his first strand of Holy Power.
Even so, it was a reckless gamble. No matter how talented Quan Sanqing was, his fate now seemed sealed.
Fireworks that burned brightly were destined to flicker out.
"Everyone, retreat!" Dao Qiongcang commanded.
The Saint Calamity now covered a vast area, and the battle had escalated into a war of saints. The higher-level combatants present were the Higher Void white-clothed individuals. Dao Qiongcang realized that if he didn't act decisively, the Hundred World Spiritual Array would become a 'Disaster Array'—an uncontrollable force threatening everyone.
"Great Shielding Technique!"
With a sweep of his hand, Dao Qiongcang marked the area with Divine Secrets, clearing the battlefield of all the white-clothed followers. Even as the Saint Calamity continued to rage above, Dao Qiongcang directed a sealing strike at the defenseless Quan Sanqing.
"Weng…"
A strange vibration echoed through the air.
The Nine Death Thunder Calamity clouds trembled but weren't fully contained by Dao Qiongcang's divine intervention. The Saint Calamity continued to evolve, its thunderous energy building. The shield could not fully suppress its power.
"As expected…" Dao Qiongcang murmured, his pupils narrowing.
For the first time, his Divine Secret had encountered resistance. It wasn't entirely unexpected—his technique could suppress ordinary thunder calamities, but Quan Sanqing had strayed so far from the traditional cultivation path that conventional methods were no longer effective.
Quan Sanqing was caught in chaos. He wasn't at the Cutting Path Stage, nor had he fully reached the Higher Void. His breakthrough had been forcibly interrupted, yet his Sacred Physique and Holy Power were still active, tying him to the ongoing calamity.
"If I could study the Divine Path Principles further, I might find a way to block Quan Sanqing's transformation completely," Dao Qiongcang thought. "Then I could capture him, bring him back to the Path Division, and conduct a slow, methodical study."
But there wasn't enough time for that now.
Dao Qiongcang sighed. He couldn't fully comprehend the path Quan Sanqing had chosen. Perhaps it was a dead end—perhaps not. But his curiosity was piqued.
Most would assume Quan Sanqing's demise was inevitable, but Dao Qiongcang believed that nothing in this world was truly impossible. He never underestimated anyone, no matter how dire the situation appeared.
As a fellow genius, Dao Qiongcang understood that there was always a chance—a slim one—that Quan Sanqing might carve out a new path. He decided to document everything that happened during Quan Sanqing's tribulation.
Afterwards, he would analyze the data to determine if there was a way to perfect and optimize the process. If successful, he could collaborate with the Demi-Saint Infernal of the Holy Palace. If not, he could still develop special poisons to counter the Holy Palace's techniques.
In any case, Dao Qiongcang knew he would gain something valuable from this battle.
"The gains and losses are in my hands, just like Abyss Island. How could I lose?"
Yet, while observing was important, Quan Sanqing was still an enemy. Necessary restrictions had to be imposed and made evident to others.
"Great Shielding Technique!" Dao Qiongcang invoked a Divine Secret. Then, he struck Aunt Xiang and Ghostface, who were defenseless but still of some value. This not only prevented them from being targeted by the Saint Calamity but also removed unnecessary variables from the sanctification experiment while ensuring they couldn't move freely.
After that, Dao Qiongcang activated the grand array in an orderly fashion.
"Activate!" he commanded.
This time, the grand array was not meant to deal with Quan Sanqing but to protect everyone in Jade Capital City from the Saint Calamity. With all unnecessary variables removed, Dao Qiongcang focused on securing the situation. However, his efforts inadvertently gave Quan Sanqing the time he needed.
"Ghostface, break out of the city!" Quan Sanqing roared, his Sunflower Sacred Physique fully unleashed. Freed from Ghostface's grasp, Quan Sanqing mobilized the Holy Power he had hidden for years. His body transformed into a sharp sword as he charged toward the barrier at the South Zone gate.
"Boom!"
The great array protecting the capital trembled, but instead of breaking, the barrier merely swelled outward. The Holy Power seemed to be absorbed by the array, dissipating bit by bit. The array still stood strong!
"Screech!" Ghostface let out a piercing cry as he followed closely behind, attacking the South Zone gate with sharp, blackened claws. The gate shook under the assault, but it held firm. The seemingly fragile osmanthus gate, inscribed with tough runes, was unbreakable.
"Why is it so hard to break?" both Ghostface and Quan Sanqing thought in shock.
Dao Qiongcang, holding the divine Sinan, chuckled. He hadn't even used his full power. "Do you two really think I would leave my own doorstep unprotected?"
"The capital's great array has been reinforced for decades. Even a Demi-Saint would struggle to break it. You two, together, are barely half of the Six Paths—half a Demi-Saint. If you manage to break this array, I, Dao Qiongcang, will die to atone for my sins."
Everyone's hearts sank upon hearing those words.
Of course, how could Dao Qiongcang not have set up the strongest defense in his own territory?
Aunt Xiang, however, remained calm despite being under Ghostface's claws. She looked at Dao Qiongcang and said, "Is that so? If this gate is shattered, will you truly die to atone for your sins?"
Boom!
The clouds of calamity rumbled above, but her words puzzled everyone.
Meanwhile, far away on Chaoling Street, Dongdong swiftly picked up Ah Yao and dashed to the front of Dong Ji Teahouse. There, the corpse of the city guard Captain Zhou lay—slain by Quan Sanqing with a single blow. His sword's hilt protruded from his chest, and blood stained the ground.
Dongdong rifled through the remains but found nothing of value. In frustration, she used her Higher Void power to obliterate the corpse. Flesh and treasures alike were reduced to nothing. Only a seemingly fragile command token made of osmanthus wood remained intact, unscathed by the powerful attack.
The City Gate Order!
Grabbing the token, Dongdong hurried to the unguarded South Zone gate. She inserted it into a groove on the city wall.
"Open the door."
Weng weng…
The osmanthus gate slowly opened.
In the blink of an eye, on an inconspicuous street below the raging battlefield, everything changed. The world fell silent for a moment.
Fatty Quan froze in front of the enchanted barrier, lips parted as if to speak but unable to find the words. Ghostface, standing at the city gate, blinked his eagle eyes in confusion, scratching his head with his strange half-claw, half-hand appendage.
Dao Qiongcang, still holding the divine Sinan, appeared as though he had turned to stone. In his eyes, Aunt Xiang's mocking smile grew wider by the second.
"Violence isn't the only way to solve problems. Use your brains."
Her words left everyone speechless.
Quan Sanqing, who had taken the Violent Saint Breakthrough Pill, suddenly felt enlightened.
Ghostface, dominated by the Beast Path's power and his transformed claws, couldn't help but feel Aunt Xiang's words carried a deeper meaning.
Dao Qiongcang, who had earlier declared that he would die to atone for his sins if the gate were shattered, said nothing now. It was as if staying silent would make everyone forget what he had promised.
"What are you staring at? Get out of the city!" Dongdong yelled, shoving Ah Yao into Ghostface's claws, delivering the sharpest lesson of their lives.
To leave the city, one needed to open the gate. To open the gate, they needed a key. Why hadn't they thought of such a simple solution? Why had they believed brute force was the only answer?
Had the Spiritual Cultivation driven them mad?
Dongdong, trained by Aunt Xiang, belonged to the school of thought over power. Once the Hundred World Spiritual Array was broken and the white-clothed guards teleported away, she instinctively knew what needed to be done.
Yet here they were, still standing in stunned silence.
"Get out of the city!" Dongdong shouted again.
Seizing the opportunity, Quan Sanqing, Ghostface, Aunt Xiang, Ah Yao, and Dongdong transformed into streaks of light and escaped through the open city gate.
The battlefield at the Southern Zone gate suddenly felt strangely empty.
"Aunt Xiang truly is remarkable!" Dao Qiongcang sighed deeply, unable to hide his exasperation.
Dao Qiongcang's expression shifted from frustration to reluctant amusement. For a moment, he appeared deeply conflicted, his face showing a blend of annoyance, regret, and hesitation. Then, suddenly, he broke into a loud laugh, the tension easing.
"I have to admit, that was a clever move."
His laughter continued, but a sharp edge remained in his voice. "But do you think you can escape the reach of my capital's great array so easily?" He scoffed. "You're far too naive!"
With a swift motion, Dao Qiongcang disappeared from the city and reappeared outside its walls. The divine Sinan in his hand whirred to life, spinning rapidly, the clattering noise echoing across the battlefield. His expression lit up as if he had just uncovered a long-hidden secret, a buried "Easter egg" that he was eager to reveal.
"Although I don't practice ancient martial arts," Dao Qiongcang began, "I understand that if a punch is aimed at your face, you can dodge it by leaning back. But if it's aimed at the back of your head, even retreating won't save you." He chuckled. "So, if you want to play, let's have some fun!"
As he made these lighthearted remarks, the divine Sinan buzzed louder. Aunt Xiang, Quan Sanqing, and Ghostface, who had just exited the city, suddenly found themselves surrounded by a strange phenomenon. The golden osmanthus trees began to shimmer in the wind and snow, and the divine path patterns on the trees lit up brightly.
"This is..." Aunt Xiang's smile faltered as she realized the gravity of their situation. "Leave the main road!" she cried out urgently. "Stay away from the golden osmanthus trees!"
It became clear that Dao Qiongcang's great array extended far beyond the city walls—up to thirty miles outside of it. He had cleverly taken advantage of their assumptions, trapping them once again within the reach of the array.
"Agh!" Aunt Xiang suddenly felt a wave of nausea wash over her.
Dao Qiongcang suppressed a smirk, pleased with his success. "It's too late for you to escape now," he declared. With a swift gesture, he made a seal in the air. "Binding Tree, activate!"
In an instant, the golden osmanthus trees surged with growth, their branches extending hundreds of feet into the sky. These branches, thick and powerful, drooped downward like demonic tendrils, seeking to ensnare their prey. The scent of the flowers, mixed with the wind and snow, intertwined with the path patterns in the void, creating a complex web that covered the entire area for miles.
Aunt Xiang and her group, though outside the city, found themselves trapped once more. It was as though they had never left.
The golden osmanthus branches lunged downward, aiming to bind Ghostface, Quan Sanqing, and the others. Ghostface, reacting quickly, spread his black wings and spun wildly in the air, cutting through the branches with ease.
Ah Yao, dizzy from the spinning, could barely open her eyes as she watched the severed branches regrow instantly, their relentless pursuit continuing.
"Dao the Flamboyant..." Quan Sanqing muttered in frustration, finally understanding the meaning behind Dao Qiongcang's nickname. Furious, he struck at the branches with his palms, only to see them regenerate as quickly as they were destroyed. It was clear now—they were merely stalling for time.
"Boom!" A sudden explosion echoed overhead. The Saint Calamity was on the verge of descending.
Quan Sanqing, already cornered, turned to Ghostface and said calmly, "You go ahead. I'm as good as dead. I'll hold them off."
Ghostface glanced at Dao Qiongcang, who stood unfazed in the sky. A shiver ran down Ghostface's spine. Dao Qiongcang, with all his terrifying power, had schemed them into this desperate situation. Could a mere man like Quan Sanqing truly hold him off?
"I'm crippled too," Ghostface replied. "My time is short. Take Aunt Xiang and go. We'll both stay behind."
Without hesitation, Ghostface pushed Aunt Xiang and Ah Yao back into Dongdong's arms. He then soared into the sky, charging directly at Dao Qiongcang.
If they were to break free of the Divine Secret, they would first need to eliminate its caster. If Dao Qiongcang was not stopped, no one would be able to escape.
Aunt Xiang, seeing those around her willing to sacrifice their lives for her, clenched her fists in frustration. Killing intent flared in her eyes as she glared at Dao Qiongcang. But this rage was futile.
Dao Qiongcang chuckled inwardly, unfazed by Ghostface's desperate attack. "Sometimes, intelligence isn't enough to solve the problem," he taunted softly. "The problem solves you."
Xiang Yaoyao had endured Dao's provocations all day. Now, her patience snapped. She broke free from Dongdong's grip, determined to fight.
"Aunt Xiang, don't!" Dongdong cried out, grabbing hold of her again. Tears welled up in her eyes as she saw the weapon prohibition order still around Aunt Xiang's neck. How could they possibly win?
No. They couldn't.
Dongdong, with no other options, decisively turned and ran, carrying both Aunt Xiang and Ah Yao with her.
Dao Qiongcang watched them flee and sneered. "No one can escape!" He spun on his feet, unfurling the Celestial Scroll. It glowed brightly, preparing for another strike.
But just as he was about to unleash his next move, a strange sound echoed from the Southern Zone gate. A carriage emerged from the chaos, driving straight into the battlefield. The coachman, clutching something high in the air, yelled out frantically.
"Hallmaster Dao, this is your gift from Xu Xiaoshou!"
The name "Xu Xiaoshou" immediately caught Dao Qiongcang's attention.
With a flash, Dao Qiongcang used the Greater Teleportation Technique to move back, avoiding Ghostface's frontal attack. His eyes locked onto the coachman, who was holding something aloft.
An arm?
What was this all about?