Chapter 922: The Foundation of Sealing Sainthood Truly Exists

Dragon Pearl!

Before the massive dragon head that blocked out the sky, a dragon pearl emerged like a black sun, blazing with dark saintly power as if it contained an eternal, indestructible force.

Whether it was Dao Qiong Cang, Rao Yao Yao, or the spirit refiners in distant Dong Tian Wang Cheng, Yun Lun Shan Mai, and other counties of Dong Tian Jie, all gazed upon it with fear, unable to look directly afterward.

Sheng Di power!

Even for a Ban Sheng, there was an overwhelming qualitative gap.

"It's too late to stop it..."

Rao Yao Yao glanced lightly at the illusory shadow of Dao Qiong Cang's saintly thought.

Even if she didn't know what Demon Emperor Black Dragon was about to do, the dragon pearl contained such vast Sheng Di power that Dao Qiong Cang likely couldn't muster a second "Zhu Sheng Zhi Guang" in time to destroy it.

"All schemes exhausted, yet still half a step behind."

The cloudy illusory shadow of Dao Qiong Cang in the sky smiled faintly, unfazed by his failure.

Since his true opponent was Ba Zun An, failure was almost inevitable.

Dao Qiong Cang had learned to accept such outcomes decades ago.

Regret was natural, of course.

But to pick up and let go with ease—that was what made him the enigmatic Dao Qiong Cang, the Dao Hall Master who stood as high as the heavens.

Moreover, in this confrontation, the enemy was in the shadows while he was in the light.

He had fallen into the opponent's trap first and was merely trying to break free, which wasn't typical of Dao Qiong Cang at all.

What Dao Qiong Cang truly excelled at was weaving heavenly mechanisms, strategizing over the world, and controlling all things, even if it took decades or centuries.

It was like a game of strategy...

A single misstep in the middle didn't mean the end was lost.

For no one knew if, in some future move, the situation might turn dramatically, turning that one misstep into a divine masterstroke!

"After all, the once-glorious Eighth Sword Immortal fell outside Si Fu Tu Zhi Cheng, wasting decades..."

Dao Qiong Cang sighed silently, quietly gazing at the Black Dragon's dragon pearl and sensing the heart-pounding power fluctuations within, his thoughts remaining as calm as ever.

He wouldn't lose his composure or judgment just because Demon Emperor Black Dragon was a Sheng Di.

The rules of the inner Void Island dictated that the more powerful one's cultivation, the less likely they could escape.

That was why, whenever rifts to other dimensions opened on Sheng Shen Da Lu, the ghost beasts that emerged were mostly at the Wang Zuo or Zhan Dao levels.

Because Ban Sheng and Sheng Di couldn't get out at all!

Their only option was to use schemes and plots to send their pawns out, cultivate elites, and try over time to break the rules and escape themselves.

But Dao Qiong Cang understood better than anyone that if what emerged this time was merely a Sheng Di remnant thought, it meant even Ba Zun An hadn't found a way to bypass the rules.

And even if a Sheng Di remnant thought managed to incubate and manifest on Sheng Shen Da Lu, it would be constrained by heavenly rules; even without Dao Qiong Cang's intervention, it would dissipate once its time was up.

The only difference was that, if no one stopped its actions before then, it could cause endless trouble.

That was the fundamental reason Dao Qiong Cang's saintly thought avatar had rushed here.

"You may use the dragon as your pawn and hide your backup plans, but I won't let you claim this victory so easily..."

Dao Qiong Cang murmured to himself, holding a Si Nan steadily in his left hand while his right thumb pressed against the second joint of his middle finger, sending a faint wave of saintly power rippling through the heavenly dao.

This ripple was insignificant compared to the violent Sheng Di power in the dragon pearl, like a firefly against the bright moon.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

High in the nine heavens, the Demon Emperor Black Dragon, coiled in the clouds, laughed wildly.

It stared at the black dragon pearl before it, which held all its power, filled with boundless joy.

"Ba Zun An, oh Ba Zun An, your 'ultimate plan' is complete thanks to me. I've spat out the dragon pearl shadow, exhausting every last bit of my effort."

"I've done this much for you, so you have no reason to torment me further."

"On Void Island, I'm bound by rules and can't beat you, but here on Sheng Shen Da Lu..."

Demon Emperor Black Dragon's thoughts trailed off as it narrowed its eyes in delight, taking a deep breath.

Instantly, dark clouds and strange lightning gathered in the sky, transforming into whirlwinds that surged into the massive nostrils of the black dragon's head.

"What a wonderful scent!"

Demon Emperor Black Dragon laughed silently.

Then, its eyes sharpened with ferocity.

"Ba Zun An, oh Ba Zun An, for all your scheming, you never imagined that even after expending my last wisp of power to execute your 'ultimate plan'..."

"My remnant thought, once escaped from Void Island, can persist in another form."

"Thank you for gathering the three Bai Mai ancestors to pave the way for me!"

"And thank you, you foolish Ba Zhi Jian Ke, not even a Ban Sheng, yet daring to try controlling a Sheng Di power beyond your wildest imagination!"

Demon Emperor Black Dragon suddenly lifted its head, abandoning the black sun-like dragon pearl entirely.

Its body shadow trembled, shrinking rapidly in the nine heavens until it was no larger than a silver needle.

Compared to the vast sky, this needle-sized black dragon was nearly invisible to the naked eye!

"It's gone?"

The onlookers, including the Tai Xu group, were stunned.

What was Demon Emperor Black Dragon up to?

It had gathered immense power to spit out the dragon pearl shadow.

Everyone assumed it would strike while Dao Qiong Cang was depleted and vulnerable—perhaps destroying Yun Lun Shan Mai or Dong Tian Wang Cheng.

Or maybe redirecting its hatred to the central region and detonating the dragon pearl at Gui Zhe Sheng Shan.

These seemed like the "normal" moves for Demon Emperor Black Dragon at that moment.

But no one expected that after spitting out the dragon pearl, it would choose to flee...

"What does this mean?"

Even Dao Qiong Cang was baffled by this move.

But he quickly realized.

"Could it be that Ba Zun An hasn't fully controlled Demon Emperor Black Dragon, and now that its remnant thought has incubated on Sheng Shen Da Lu, it's developed thoughts of rebellion?"

"Of course! On Void Island, under the rules, Ba Zun An might dominate the black and white veins, but what is Demon Emperor Black Dragon's status?"

"Its temperament, its pride, its origins—none would allow a human it sees as an ant to trample upon it."

"So... fleeing is inevitable!"

Dao Qiong Cang paused his actions as his thoughts raced.

He did have backup plans.

With his title of "enigmatic as gods and ghosts" and his ability to divine heavenly secrets, he wouldn't rely solely on the Shi Ji Sheng Ling Zhen to face a Sheng Di-level being.

But his backups were meant for the dragon pearl.

Demon Emperor Black Dragon spitting out the dragon pearl surely had a major purpose; if left intact, it could lead to endless future threats.

Yet, at this critical moment, Demon Emperor Black Dragon's escape threw Dao Qiong Cang off balance.

"Ba Zun An..."

Dao Qiong Cang recalled his earlier misstep, outmaneuvered by Ba Zun An.

Realizing his true opponent was this cunning old fox, he had to think from multiple angles.

"Others might not be able to suppress Demon Emperor Black Dragon without reaching Sheng level, but could Ba Zun An truly not do it?"

"Is this rebellion part of his scheme?"

"Does he want me to use my remaining power against Demon Emperor Black Dragon instead of its dragon pearl?"

When Dao Qiong Cang considered this second layer, he immediately dismissed it.

"No, with his intellect, if I can think of it, he certainly can too."

"So, going back to the event itself, Demon Emperor Black Dragon's escape might be something he anticipated but couldn't prevent..."

"But the dragon pearl is the core!"

His thoughts flashed like lightning, and in that brief moment, the silver needle-like remnant of Demon Emperor Black Dragon pierced through the Shi Ji Sheng Ling Zhen and vanished into the great dao.

"No time to think..."

Dao Qiong Cang's heart tensed; he had little time left.

Regardless of whether this was part of Ba Zun An's scheme, facing Demon Emperor Black Dragon's escape and the risks of the dragon pearl remaining, Dao Qiong Cang had only one choice—total annihilation!

With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out a Tian Ji Zhen Pan, a self-mocking smile on his face.

"Before leaving, the last divination I cast showed misty, uncertain paths ahead. I thought it was the Sheng Di power interfering with heavenly secrets, keeping me from seeing clearly."

"Little did I know, that 'uncertainty' referred to me."

Dao Qiong Cang stopped dwelling and raised his sleeve, sending the Tian Ji Zhen Pan floating out.

"Nine Arrows Nail God Array, go!"

The Tian Ji Zhen Pan trembled in the void, automatically locking onto the lingering aura of Demon Emperor Black Dragon.

It spun rapidly, transforming into a shower of starlight.

Among the light, a illusory Xie Zui Bow bent into a full moon, and with a sharp twang, it released nine streaks of flowing light toward the fleeing, invisible Demon Emperor Black Dragon in the great dao.

"Nine... nine Xie Zui Bow arrows?"

The Tai Xu onlookers behind were all shocked.

They had heard that Tian Ji masters persuaded with reason and rarely fought directly, preferring to influence battles from behind the scenes.

Because their own bodies were weak and couldn't win fights.

Even when they had to engage, they used treasures or Tian Ji arrays.

But now, Dao Qiong Cang's approach was brutally straightforward.

Failing to act as intended, he casually pulled out a Tian Ji Zhen Pan with nine Xie Zui Bow arrows—who could withstand that?

The crowd marveled at Dao Qiong Cang's lavish move, but seeing that the Xie Zui Bow arrows didn't produce the expected effect, they grew worried.

"The Xie Zui Bow arrows couldn't overcome the Mo Jian Wan Bing Mo Zhu before; can they work against Demon Emperor Black Dragon?" Teng Shan Hai asked anxiously.

Rao Yao Yao turned back and replied, "The Xie Zui Bow arrows weren't overpowered by the Mo Jian; their force was canceled out by the Sheng Di power on the sword. Add to that the sword's own power, and since it wasn't the full Xie Zui Bow, the arrows lacked follow-through, so their strength faded after repeated clashes."

Teng Shan Hai looked toward the direction where the nine arrows flew, chasing Demon Emperor Black Dragon into the distance. "But this time, it's against Demon Emperor Black Dragon's body shadow!"

Rao Yao Yao smiled gently and shook her head. "After spitting out the dragon pearl, Demon Emperor Black Dragon's body shadow has nearly exhausted its power. Shrinking to that tiny needle size isn't just for easy escape... the main reason is that its remaining power is probably just that sliver!"

As an observer, she had a clear view of the battlefield, her thoughts sharp.

"In this state, if the Xie Zui Bow arrows hit, even Demon Emperor Black Dragon couldn't withstand the Xie Zui force."

"After all, though Cang Sheng is a Ban Sheng, the Xie Zui Bow is one of the nine supreme divine artifacts, and in a Ban Sheng's hands, its power is nearly limitless."

Pausing, Rao Yao Yao gazed at the final form of the nine arrows vanishing into the great dao. "And don't forget... these nine arrows aren't just from the Xie Zui Bow; they're enhanced by Dao Hall Master's Tian Ji great array!"

Only then did Teng Shan Hai seem to grasp the situation, letting out a relieved breath.

But before he could fully exhale, he was shocked to see that after deploying the "Nine Arrows Nail God Array," Dao Qiong Cang's illusory shadow charged toward the dragon pearl like a moth to a flame, without any defense!

"This...?" Teng Shan Hai was stunned.

He even wondered if he was hallucinating.

Was Dao Hall Master seeking his own destruction? That was a dragon pearl containing all of Demon Emperor Black Dragon's power—how could he approach undefended?

No, it must be that I'm too ignorant to see through Dao Hall Master's true intent!

But Rao Yao Yao spoke gravely, "His final choice: use his saintly thought avatar to embrace the dragon pearl and perish together."

Teng Shan Hai was astonished. "Isn't that suicide?"

That's something only someone like me, at the end of their rope, would do! But he's Dao Hall Master!

Dao Qiong Cang's move was completely beyond Teng Shan Hai's expectations.

After all, the Dao Hall Master in his mind shouldn't be driven to such extremes.

Rao Yao Yao sighed helplessly. "His opponent is Ba Zun An, after all..."

"Aaaah!!!"

From the spatial rift, a cry of agony echoed.

Demon Emperor Black Dragon's remnant thought was struck by the nine arrows, and without Sheng Di power to protect it, it couldn't endure the Xie Zui force at all, left to wither and collapse.

"Damned Dao Qiong Cang, I've already spat out the dragon pearl—why target me instead?!" It roared in its final agony.

At that moment, the last remnants of the nine Xie Zui Bow arrows hadn't yet fully erased it.

From afar, across the space, Demon Emperor Black Dragon sensed a powerful summoning force from its spat-out dragon pearl.

That force contained immense terror, like an evil god's sacrificial ritual beginning, with itself as the offering.

"Ba Zun An!!!"

Demon Emperor Black Dragon wasn't foolish; it quickly figured it out with a moment's thought.

The power on the dragon pearl that didn't belong to it was the residue of Ba Zun An's contract ritual.

In the "ultimate plan," it only knew to spit out the dragon pearl—nothing after.

Even Demon Emperor Black Dragon didn't know what Ba Zun An had hidden in its dragon pearl or what he planned to do with its power.

It had thought that once the dragon pearl was out, it could use its remaining consciousness to influence the great dao and leave a dragon seed on Sheng Shen Da Lu for future incubation.

But now, Demon Emperor Black Dragon understood.

Ba Zun An's scheme required one final step.

That step needed its Sheng Di remnant thought to activate the dragon pearl's full power in an instant to complete what he wanted.

Yet, Ba Zun An hadn't mentioned any of this in the operation plan!

Not a word!

"Damned Ba Zun An, damned humans! I've given my all, bled dry for you, and you won't even spare my remnant thought—your hearts are truly filthy!"

"You all deserve to die, every one of you!!!"

With a final hysterical roar, the nine arrows didn't fully obliterate Demon Emperor Black Dragon's remnant thought.

Instead, the dragon pearl's contract ritual force completed the sacrifice first, devouring its consciousness power from afar, leaving not a trace.

In the spatial rift, the nine arrows had clearly hit their target, but now without one, they faltered in confusion.

Then, the arrows shattered, dissolving into points of Xie Zui light and vanishing.

Above Yun Lun Shan Mai,

Dao Qiong Cang gathered the Shi Ji Sheng Ling Zhen, intent on embracing the dragon pearl in a final act.

But just as he was about to touch it, mere millimeters away, the dragon pearl cracked open with a click.

The dragon pearl, which held all of Demon Emperor Black Dragon's body shadow power, didn't explode with a boom or shake the surrounding world.

From it came only a voice.

A voice from Ba Zun An, amplified by Sheng Di power, resounding passionately across the five regions of the continent:

"Feng Sheng Dao Ji is real!"

"I'm in Tian Kong Zhi Cheng right now. I'll give you the Mo Jian Wan Bing Mo Zhu of Ming Jian Er Shi Yi, I'll give you the Sheng Yuan Jing stones that are the source of Feng Sheng, and I'll give you the countless treasures I've found in Tian Kong Zhi Cheng!"

"The era of the saints is upon us!"

"All you spirit refiners who seek Feng Sheng—Wang Zuo, Zhan Dao, Tai Xu—come find me, come to Tian Kong Zhi Cheng!"

"I am Ba Zun An!"