Oracular Chant of the Great Dao

Oracular Chant of the Great Dao . . .

Before Qin Wentian stood a magnificent statue adorned with blood-colored runes, seemingly formed from sentient blood itself. These runes pulsed with an eerie energy, captivating anyone who gazed upon them. As Qin Wentian fixed his eyes on these crimson symbols, a blood-red beam of light shot directly into his mind. It materialized into a spectral figure exuding an ancient aura, and with a profound resonance, it etched a blood rune into his consciousness.

In that moment, Qin Wentian's heart raced, and he closed his eyes, entering an ethereal space where the vague crimson figure imparted a chant. Every word of this chant imprinted itself on the blood rune within his mind. Yet, the chant was enigmatic, its meaning veiled in complexity, seemingly beyond comprehension.

"IMPRINT!" A profound word resounded, resonating with the voice of the Great Dao. Qin Wentian felt his heart tremble once more as everything else in his mind faded away. He was left staring at the blood rune, seized by a sense of profundity, discovering traces of the Great Dao within.

"Could this be a relic left by Ancient Emperor Yi?" Qin Wentian pondered. Not only him, but all those who beheld the blood runes received the enigmatic chant. However, upon opening their eyes, confusion reigned. The chant seemed like a celestial scripture, unfathomable and immeasurable, beyond their grasp.

Xiao Lengyue and Xuan Xing, too, received the oracular chant. Their gazes remained fixed on the blood runes, yet their minds were blank. The experience was wondrous, as if they had touched the logic of a Great Dao, but they lacked the qualifications to understand it. Moreover, the words of the chant slipped away one by one from their minds, eluding their grasp.

"They're vanishing, what's happening?"

At that moment, a genius exclaimed, staring in astonishment at the blood runes. The oracular chant in his mind grew hazy, then swiftly faded away entirely. When he glanced at the blood runes once more, there was no more chanting being etched into his mind. It appeared that there was only one chance.

Other geniuses promptly assumed a cross-legged posture, endeavoring to comprehend the chant, striving to retain its words before they disappeared. There was a strong likelihood that this chant was an artifact of the ancient emperor. To lose it in such a manner would indeed be a lamentable loss. They hoped to glean some profound insights from it.

Qin Wentian likewise found a spot and settled into a cross-legged position. He closed his eyes, and the blood rune imprinted in his mind quivered. His body trembled in harmony, accompanied by resonating sounds. His demon bloodline surged, and the particles of divine energy compressed in his Yuanfu vibrated. Even the enigmatic white candle flame of his second bloodline flickered under the influence of the ancient rune, undergoing transformative changes.

"What an awe-inspiring chant," Qin Wentian marveled inwardly. He realized that despite his formidable physique, he was gradually finding it challenging to withstand the circulation of this art.

"Is this the oracular chant for the God's Hand? The Great Dao is formless, and this chant is incredibly intricate," Qin Wentian contemplated as he delved deeper into his understanding.

The enigmatic secrets of Emperor Yi had been shrouded in the mists of time. Following his reign, the cultivation method known as God's Hand was lost to the annals of history, and its mysteries remained elusive to subsequent generations. Much like the oracular chant of the Great Dao, it was conceivable that Ancient Emperor Yi had left this enigmatic legacy behind—a testament to his unparalleled wisdom and power.

In this chamber of geniuses, all had received the cryptic oracular chant, and they wasted no time in delving into its cultivation. However, as minutes turned into moments, an unsettling realization dawned on many. Their once vividly imprinted oracular chants were fading, dissipating into nothingness, as if the profound Great Dao it represented had never existed.

"Ancient Emperor Yi, what have you truly bequeathed to us?" They gazed upon the statue, their faces filled with uncertainty. Frustration led some to venture deeper into the statue, as if hoping to uncover additional treasures within.

Alas, all they found were bewilderingly intricate divine inscriptions, inscrutable to even the brightest minds among them.

For the descendants of immortal emperors, the oracular chant had proven to be too formidable. Its appearance had been accompanied by a resonating upheaval within their very beings, as if an indelible mark was being etched into their souls. However, as time flowed, that mark grew progressively fainter until it vanished entirely.

"How can this be?" Some opened their eyes in disbelief, surveying the desolation within the ancient hall of the emperor's palace. Aside from the colossal statue, the surroundings were marred by cracks and devastation. Was this the fabled emperor's palace they had risked their lives to reach? They had endured countless trials for this?

Their disappointment simmered, until finally, Xuan Xing and Xiao Lengyue emerged from their meditative states. Their expressions were bleak, especially Xuan Xing's. He could keenly perceive the profundity of the chant and suspected that the blood rune he had received was indeed the oracular chant of Ancient Emperor Yi's God's Hand. Regrettably, he had gleaned nothing from it.

With a heavy heart, Xuan Xing rose to his feet and cast a disdainful glance at the emperor's palace. The only thing of value within seemed to be the colossal statue.

"Is this nothing more than a dilapidated ruin? What right does it have to have the words of an immortal emperor engraved on the monument we encountered earlier? It's all a deception," Xuan Xing spat bitterly. Their prolonged confinement within the underground palace had yielded naught but disappointment.

With a determined stride, Xuan Xing exited the emperor's palace. No one dared to impede his departure. As he pushed open the massive doors, a sudden tempest erupted. The ancient passageway through which they had entered lit up, its myriad runic diagrams vanishing in an instant.

Outside, the world remained oblivious to the fate of Xuan Xing and Xiao Lengyue, as many geniuses from the Twin Stars Alliance and the Xiao Sect still awaited news of their comrades.

Yet, at that very moment, a brilliant beam of light shot forth, and as the runic diagrams were wiped clean, the emperor's palace doors swung open once more, revealing a solitary figure. It was none other than Xuan Xing.

"Xuan Xing has emerged unscathed! He's entered the emperor's palace!"

"As expected of Xuan Xing, a shining star among geniuses. As one of the Twin Stars and a scion of the Xuan Emperor, he has accomplished what many deemed impossible by entering the emperor's palace."

As anticipation coursed through the crowd, they followed Xuan Xing's lead, eager to explore the possibilities that lay within the emperor's palace. His audacious feat had garnered him newfound respect, and they couldn't help but be in awe of his achievements.

Among the gathering was a familiar trio—Zi Qingxuan, Jun Mengchen, and Little Rascal. Surrounding them were various experts, including Greedwolf, a formidable member of the Xiao Sect who held the 20th position on the Immortal Ascension Rankings.

Greedwolf's gaze locked onto the emperor's palace, his expression shifting as he addressed the two youngsters in a hushed tone, "You'd better pray that nothing has befallen Lengyue."

With those words, he swiftly made his way toward the emperor's palace, leaving the duo behind.

Little Rascal, cradled in Zi Qingxuan's arms, couldn't contain its excitement and darted toward the palace. Zi Qingxuan and Jun Mengchen trailed after their furry friend. Little Rascal's enthusiasm reassured them—Qin Wentian was likely within the palace, immersed in cultivation.

Soon, all the experts had entered the emperor's palace, their collective gasps echoing through the grand hall as they laid eyes on the colossal statue. Members of the Twin Stars Alliance gravitated toward Xuan Xing, while those from the Xiao Sect gathered around Xiao Lengyue. Meanwhile, other geniuses who had explored the underground palace earlier now turned their attention to the subterranean temple.

In the blink of an eye, the emperor's palace was abuzz with activity. The blood runes etched behind the statue drew everyone's focus, sending shivers down their spines. They realized that this could be an inheritance left behind by an ancient emperor, an opportunity of unparalleled significance.

As the crowd immersed themselves in deciphering the runes, Little Rascal bounded toward Qin Wentian. However, upon noticing his deep cultivation, it settled down quietly by his side, patiently awaiting his awakening.

"Senior brother!" Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan approached Qin Wentian, but they refrained from disturbing his meditative state.

Concerned for Xiao Lengyue's well-being, Greedwolf approached her. Despite his ranking as 20th on the Immortal Ascension Rankings, he had willingly joined the Xiao Sect, primarily driven by his affection for Xiao Lengyue. His gaze bore into her as he inquired, "Lengyue, are you all right?"

Xiao Lengyue's brows furrowed, and she responded with a hint of annoyance, "I'm fine, but spending half a year here without any benefits is truly exasperating."

Observing her somber mood, Greedwolf turned his attention to Jun Mengchen and Zi Qingxuan, his gaze narrowing. "Lengyue, I heard you entered this place because of a newcomer to our Xiao Sect. How could you trust him so easily?"

It was at that moment that Qin Wentian sensed their conversation and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze inadvertently locked onto the icy stare in Greedwolf's eyes, prompting a furrow in his brow.

"Senior brother, the Xiao Sect has never treated us as friends. After you and Xiao Lengyue disappeared, we were constantly monitored by them. Greedwolf even threatened that if anything happened to Xiao Lengyue, both senior sister Qingxuan and I would be held accountable," Jun Mengchen conveyed his frustration to Qin Wentian.

A glint of frostiness flickered in Qin Wentian's eyes. While he had indeed led Xiao Lengyue into the underground palace, it had been her choice, a risk she willingly took. But now, he couldn't abide by the idea that her actions would endanger his junior siblings. Anger smoldered within him.

In the midst of the palace's intriguing revelations, Qin Wentian and Jun Mengchen shared a private conversation, their voices transmitted with an air of secrecy.

"Mengchen, let's find an opportunity to sever ties with the Xiao Sect," Qin Wentian whispered to his companion. Jun Mengchen nodded solemnly, his allegiance to the Xiao Sect had dwindled to nothing. While Xiao Lengyue possessed an undeniable beauty, her ulterior motives were far too apparent. The male geniuses surrounding her were mere pawns in her game, and it was evident that she was exploiting their willingness to be used.

The air grew tense as Xuan Xing, accompanied by a group of individuals, fixed his piercing gaze upon Qin Wentian. The frigid aura they emanated left no room for doubt—they were not prepared to relinquish their suspicions.

With a pointed tone, Xuan Xing inquired, "Isn't it time you told us the truth about what you truly obtained in the underground palace?" His question hung heavy in the air, echoing the collective uncertainty that swirled around Qin Wentian.

As Xuan Xing's words settled, the entire assembly of geniuses turned their scrutinizing gazes toward Qin Wentian. The enigma of the underground palace, once impenetrable, had been unraveled by this young man. Yet, skepticism still clung to the minds of those present. They couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his tale than the map he had claimed to acquire.