From the Pavilion of Majesty, the Hongmeng Emperor chuckled softly. The laughter was not mocking, but rather a ruler's recognition of true talent. "He has announced his Dao. Good. Order must always have an unpredictable foundation to withstand destruction," the Hongmeng Emperor said, his voice calm.

  He shifted his gaze to the Eighth Prince, who stood tall, holding the Seven Eternal Gods Bell with a lingering shadow of shame.

  "Eighth Prince," the Hongmeng Emperor addressed him. "Daoist Zhi Xuan has rejected your private challenge. Let him rest. Go and face the challenges of other geniuses. Show them that even though Daoist Zhi Xuan brings an anomalous foundation, our Imperial Bloodline still possesses the strength to lead."

  The Eighth Prince of the Empire bowed deeply. He understood his father's signal: he had to restore his honor in the arena and not focus on the Silver-Haired Devil. With the bell in his hand, he stepped toward the main arena, ready to accept challenges. His steps, though filled with renewed ambition, now felt more cautious.

  Zhi Xuan, sitting quietly, felt the Eighth Prince's aura moving away. He knew the Empire had accepted him, at least for now. He had gained the recognition he needed to target the greatest prize. He allowed his soul to absorb the spiritual essence in the Jade Plaza, purifying his Sea of Consciousness and consolidating the density of the Laws he had just demonstrated.

  "Great Saint," Zhi Xuan called out in his Sea of Consciousness, standing to face the Devil Tree of Life where Ruo Xianxue sat upon a tree branch, her nine dark tails swaying. "How was my performance?"

  Zhi Xuan glanced at the Divine Cauldron floating quietly around the Tree of Life. The Divine Cauldron could not only store large objects or people, but it was also where Xiao Die and Ao Sheng were kept, following his decision not to show them while in the sea of high-level cultivators.

  Ruo Xianxue opened her eyes with their double pupils of the Sun and Moon. The dark green light of the Devil Tree of Life reflected in her eyes, making her appear as an ancient embodiment of the Dao of Life and Destruction. Her thick-furred nine tails swayed gently, radiating the calm aura of an Ancient Saint Devil.

  "Your performance, Zhi Xuan, has satisfied the Heavens," Ruo Xianxue replied, her voice soft yet carrying the weight of billions of cycles. She did not use terms like good or great, but satisfied the Heavens—an acknowledgment that transcended mortal praise.

  "You proved three most important things before the Order of the Hongmeng Empire," Ruo Xianxue continued, her sharp gaze piercing through Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness as if seeing the actual Jade Plaza. "First, the density of your Five Element Dao has surpassed the limits of the mortal realm. Second, you used honor to dampen hatred, a wise move in the middle of this pile of chess pieces. And the third..."

  Ruo Xianxue smiled thinly, a rare and meaningful smile. "You announced your Divine Wheel, the fusion of the Four Seasons Cycle and the Five Elements, without words, only through a demonstration of weight. You gave them a riddle, and that riddle has now become a wall of fear for those arrogant geniuses."

  Zhi Xuan exhaled, walking closer to touch the dense trunk of the Devil Tree of Life. "I did not expect the Four Seasons Law to provide such weight, Great Saint. I mean, I only wanted to get the reward, not get trapped in the politics of the Empire."

  He looked back at the Three Ages Divine Cauldron floating quietly. The cauldron radiated a calming ancient aura, serving a dual purpose as storage and a cultivation space for Ao Sheng and Xiao Die.

  Zhi Xuan chose not to bring them out. The Hongmeng Empire, filled with Divine Transformation Elders and sniffing Ancient Clans, was too dangerous for a young Dragon youth and a young Heavenly Moth girl.

  "Ao Sheng, Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan called out, moving his hand. Immediately two figures appeared, a youth and a girl of normal height sitting upon a small island that served as the roots of the Devil Tree of Life. Xiao Die's two braids bounced gently, and Ao Sheng's horns shimmered. However, their faces were pale upon seeing Ruo Xianxue.

  Zhi Xuan looked at the warmth radiated by the two small figures. Ao Sheng, the dragon youth, immediately hid his horns amidst his black hair, though the horns still emitted a subtle glow.

  Meanwhile, Xiao Die, whose face still radiated paleness, squeezed her swaying braids. They both looked at Ruo Xianxue sitting on the branch with a gaze full of respect and a hint of dread, as if facing an ancient ancestor.

  "Auntie Fox," Ao Sheng whispered, his voice containing pure fear and an instinctive respect passed down by Dragon Blood. Xiao Die said nothing; she only bowed awkwardly, her tiny body trembling slightly. For them, even though they had met Ruo Xianxue a few times, they still felt terror.

  Ruo Xianxue chuckled softly, a laugh that had no noise, only a pleasant resonance in the Sea of Consciousness. "Interesting little creatures. There is no need to fear. Inside this space, even the Mortal Emperor must bow his head. The little moth and the little Dragon are indeed supposed to be near me."

  Ao Sheng gripped his Dragon King Spear tightly, looking up and seeing the Nebula and the orange Sky in the Sea of Consciousness, then turned back toward Zhi Xuan. "Senior, why can Xiao Die and I stand in your Sea of Consciousness? Weren't we supposed to be only inside the Divine Cauldron?"

  Zhi Xuan only smiled thinly, waving his hand as the Divine Cauldron flew and hovered in his palm. "Ao Sheng, my Sea of Consciousness is different from that of other cultivators."

  "The Nine Heavens Pearl, the pearl that is also a part of my body, is even capable of sealing the Great Saint," Zhi Xuan continued calmly, explaining with great wisdom. "With the help of the Nine Heavens Pearl, I can choose to place anyone in my Sea of Consciousness, fully under the protection of the Nine Heavens Pearl. Xiao Die has been here several times even before you."

  "That is true, Golden Dragon brother," Xiao Die chirped cheerfully, though she was still a little afraid of Ruo Xianxue. "Xiao Die has been with the Great Saint several times, but... now that Xiao Die has a body, sometimes I am still afraid... Hehe."

  Zhi Xuan only shook his head, calming the two small figures with a thin smile, realizing that although Ao Sheng was a descendant of the Golden Dragon and Xiao Die was a precious Heavenly Moth, in the presence of Ruo Xianxue, they were still young creatures whose primal instincts trembled.

  "Do not worry about unimportant things, Ao Sheng," Zhi Xuan said, his voice containing a reassuring Earth weight. "I called you both here so that you can witness the Imperial Plaza, even if only through my spiritual resonance. This is the Hongmeng Empire, a place where the Dao is forged beyond limits."

  Ao Sheng and Xiao Die, though still shrouded in dread, looked on with interest. Zhi Xuan allowed a thread of spiritual ripples to flow from his Sea of Consciousness, like a quietly flowing river, carrying the image of the Jade Plaza to the mental view of the two children.

  In the outer Plaza, the battles had reached their peak. The Eighth Prince, with the Seven Eternal Gods Bell now stored beneath his robes, fought aggressively against three Five Element Perfection geniuses who dared to challenge him. The Eighth Prince's manifestation of Lightning and Water Laws appeared dense and oppressive, revealing the pure foundation of the Imperial Bloodline.

  "Look at that Eighth Prince, Ao Sheng," Zhi Xuan whispered, pointing at the figure fighting with dominance. "He has a strong foundation, fully supported by imperial resources. I suspect he is colluding with Shi Xing to take me down."

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "My plan," Zhi Xuan continued calmly, a thin smile flowing on his lips. "Is to let Shi Xing be eliminated from the five envoys of the Xing Luo Plains. Of course, the Shi Clan will be angry and attack me, but by letting the Eighth Prince fill the empty position in the five envoys, the Empire will indirectly protect me because my Dao dominates and is promising for the Three Plains Competition arena."

  Ao Sheng tilted his head, his horns radiating a confused glow. "Why doesn't Senior just get rid of that Eighth Prince? Didn't he try to hurt Senior with the Bell?"

  "That is an impulsive thought, little Dragon," Zhi Xuan replied, his tone amused. "The Eighth Prince, though arrogant, is part of the Order. Removing him is equivalent to challenging the Hongmeng Emperor directly, which at this stage, is still too early."

  He shifted his gaze, allowing his mental focus to return to the Sea of Consciousness. Ruo Xianxue on the branch only listened, her thin smile not fading.

  "The Shi Clan is a personal grudge," Zhi Xuan explained. "They believe that I stole their legacy in the Black Dragon Tomb and brought you along. Eliminating Shi Xing, their Star Young King, would be an unforgivable insult to the Shi Clan. They will demand blood, and if they do, the Empire will not be able to pretend to be blind. The chaos of the Shi Clan will attract the attention of the Ancient Zhu and Hua Clans, and that will be a double benefit."

  Xiao Die, who sat quietly listening, touched Ao Sheng's shoulder. "So, Senior will use the Shi Clan's hatred to obtain the Empire's protection?" she chirped with curiosity.

  "Exactly," Zhi Xuan nodded. "The Hongmeng Empire needs a genius like me to represent them in the Three Plains Competition. My Four Seasons foundation is the guarantee. If the Shi Clan is too disruptive, the Empire will be forced to choose: protect the Devil who promises victory, or let the Shi Clan ruin the hopes of the Xing Luo Plains' victory."

  Zhi Xuan smiled thinly at the two small creatures in his Sea of Consciousness, a smile that showed his hidden sharp intelligence.

  "You two must understand, the world of cultivation is not just a clash of Laws and essence," Zhi Xuan said, his voice now returning to a calm and wise Earth weight. "This is a chess game involving clans, power, and ambition that surpasses the mortal lifespan. I cannot act entirely like an impulsive Wilderness Devil. Not in the face of an order as old as the Hongmeng Empire."

  He closed his eyes for a moment, calming Ao Sheng's pride and Xiao Die's curiosity. In the Sea of Consciousness, Ruo Xianxue only smiled vaguely, as if approving the careful steps Zhi Xuan was taking.

  In the Jade Plaza, the battle heated up. The Eighth Prince of the Empire, having regained his confidence, fought with dominance. Every manifestation of his Lightning and Water Laws carried the weight of the Empire's resources, repelling challengers with a stable cultivation advantage. His speed in defeating opponents calmed the Empire but failed to impress the Ancient Clans.

  In the Ancient Hua Clan tribune, Holy Son Hua Tianming sipped his spiritual tea slowly.

  "The Imperial descendant is solid enough, yet lacks imagination," Hua Tianming murmured. "A pure foundation, but too tied to the Order taught by the Empire. He is like a river flowing swiftly in a path already carved. There is no potential for an unexpected flood."

  Hua Lian Xi, who was beside him, nodded in agreement. "He will never reach the Extreme Balance, Brother. He fights to restore honor, not to test his Dao. There is no Weight of Karma that he carries."

  In the Ancient Zhu Clan tribune, Zhu Yanghai shook his head slowly, his light laughter heard. "He is too focused on mortal honor. Zhi Xuan, at least in terms of ambition, is in a different realm." He glanced at his sister. "Qinglan, what do you think? The Eighth Prince against the Young King of the Eastern Star, Liu Feng, who will win?"

  Zhu Qinglan turned, her cold light gray eyes staring at the dominating Eighth Prince. "The Eighth Prince will win against Liu Feng if Liu Feng continues to use weightless flexibility. Liu Feng's strength is in defense, but the Eighth Prince's dense attacks will pierce through it. However, if Liu Feng uses the Wind and Water Laws to absorb and reverse the pressure, the Eighth Prince will be overwhelmed."

  She shifted her gaze, staring at the Young King of the Western Star, Shi Xing, who still sat tall, his Lightning and Fire aura turbulent with hatred.

  "What is worth watching out for is Shi Xing's hatred. He is waiting for the right time. The Eighth Prince and the Shi Clan share the same thread: destroying the Silver-Haired Devil in this Plaza. But Shi Xing, his Dao is more brutal, crazier. He will be a more dangerous pawn than the Seven Eternal Gods Bell," Zhu Qinglan concluded, her voice calm yet containing sharp analysis.

  In the Plaza, Daoist Yu Long of the Sky Sword Sect, after defeating several mortal geniuses, now stepped forward. His eyes were fixed on the pillar that drew the most attention, the Young King of the Western Star, Shi Xing. Yu Long knew that Shi Xing was the embodiment of destruction. However, after seeing Zhi Xuan's demonstration and the destruction of Tie Shan, Yu Long realized that to reach a higher Dao, he had to test himself against directed destruction.

  "Young King Shi Xing!" Yu Long shouted, his spiritual sword drawn, the blade radiating Wood and Wind light. "I, Daoist Yu Long, come to test my Wood and Wind Dao before the Lightning and Fire of the Shi Clan!"

  Shi Xing, who had been focused only on the calmly sitting Zhi Xuan, slowly opened his eyes. His pupils radiated a cold starlight, reflecting his brutal Dao. His handsome face was now twisted in a dismissive sneer.

  "Weeds trying to challenge true destruction," Shi Xing hissed, his voice hoarse and filled with sharp Lightning essence. He did not even rise from his seat. He only raised his left hand, and his silver spear floated into the air.

  ZZZRRT! WHUSHH!

  The spear did not fly as a projectile. Instead, pure Lightning, tempered by the Shi Clan's Fire Law, coiled around the silver spear. The lightning was not chaotic Heaven Lightning, but Soul-Purifying Lightning that carried a directed will of destruction.

  The lightning jumped from the spear to the Jade Plaza, and in an instant, the entire Plaza beneath Shi Xing was filled with scorching nets of Lightning. Yu Long, whose Wood Dao focused on life and agility, felt his foundation tremble. The lightning was too dense, too fast, and too hot. He tried to use the Wind Law to escape, but the lightning had already surrounded him.

  ROARR! WHUMPH!

  The wave of Calamity Lightning struck. Yu Long gave a short scream, the sword falling from his hand. The lightning net did not burn his body to ash but directly attacked his Sea of Consciousness, destroying the foundation of his Wood and Wind Dao in an instant. He fell prostrate upon the Heaven Jade, his robes smoking, but worse, his Dao was damaged. Shi Xing, witnessing his opponent collapse merely from the manifestation of lightning jumping from his spear, closed his eyes again, his aura of destruction subsiding.

  He had proven that even though Daoist Tie Shan was destroyed by the density of Zhi Xuan's Cycle, the Absolute Destruction Dao of the Shi Clan remained at the peak of the Five Element realm. He did not glance at the prostrate Yu Long, but instead directed his cold gaze to the corner of the Plaza. That gaze pierced through thousands of people and fell exactly on Zhi Xuan.

  "Silver-Haired Devil," Shi Xing hissed, his voice only heard in the Sea of Consciousness of the Star Young Kings and Zhi Xuan. "I will let the Imperial Bloodline test you. But remember, the honor of the Shi Clan can only be restored with your blood."

  Zhi Xuan opened his eyes, looking into the distance toward the collapsed Yu Long, who was immediately pulled out by the Imperial Elders for recovery. Zhi Xuan pulled the corners of his thin lips, hearing Shi Xing's words that were so burning with the desire to defeat him and harvest his blood. The Heavenly Sword on his back was still tied with white cloth, waiting for the next performance.

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes again. Inside his Sea of Consciousness, he focused back on Ruo Xianxue, Ao Sheng, and Xiao Die. "Look, little Dragon," Zhi Xuan murmured in his consciousness, flowing the image of Shi Xing's Soul-Purifying Lightning into Ao Sheng's Sea of Consciousness. "That is lightning tempered by the hatred and will of a clan. Not chaotic, but directed, seeking only to destroy the opponent's Dao."

  Ao Sheng, witnessing the destruction of Daoist Yu Long, gripped his Dragon King Spear tightly. "That lightning feels cold, Senior. Even colder than your Extreme Ice. It carries blood," Ao Sheng whispered, his instincts as an ancient dragon descendant feeling the weight of the Shi Clan's bloodthirst.

  Zhi Xuan nodded in his heart. He knew that a clash with Shi Xing was inevitable. It was a karmic promise that had been written since he brought Ao Sheng out of the Black Dragon Tomb.

  "Xiao Die, what do you think?" Zhi Xuan asked, shifting his attention to the moth girl sitting quietly.

  Xiao Die raised her head with its braided hair. Her large, innocent eyes blinked. "That lightning is strong, Senior Zhi Xuan. But... it does not have the Sky. It only has the Earth where it stands. Senior Zhi Xuan's lightning always carries the Sky with it, that is why the lightning disappears, rather than just exploding."

  Zhi Xuan was silent for a moment. He was surprised by the simple yet sharp insight from Xiao Die. Yes, Shi Xing's lightning was dense but bound to the Shi Clan's Earth. Meanwhile, his lightning, tempered with Wind and Ice, always carried the Will of the Sky, a higher weight that allowed the lightning to vanish or return to its cycle.

  "Precious insight, little Moth," Zhi Xuan praised, warmth flowing in his tone. He pulled his focus back to the outer Jade Plaza. Several geniuses who had been competing closely now began to approach the softer Star Young King stages. Liu Feng, the Young King of the Eastern Star, who represented the flexibility of Wind and Water, became the first target.