The radiance transformed into a Dao Wheel, spinning slowly before their eyes.
As it turned, it seemed to embody the passage of sun and moon, the reversal of time itself.
This reversal was not the power of Nomological Truths, nor the power of Primal Daos, it was the Primordial Edicts of the Dao.
Primordial Edicts, the strongest force in the world.
Irreversible. Indestructible.
In an instant, the massive tiger became nothing but white bones.
Though it was a Grand Emperor, with the Nomological Truth of Undying, overwhelming Imperial Might, and boundless Dao Source, it still ended up as a pile of bones.
The skeletal remains crashed onto the ground. Miss Jing, pale-faced, struggled to her feet.
The Moon-Pluck Fairy rushed to support her.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“I’ve consumed too much. A bit of rest will be enough,” Miss Jing replied.
With their Airship destroyed, the two had no choice but to descend, landing among the ruins of Fiend Mountain.
“That’s Young Master Xu,” the Moon-Pluck Fairy suddenly pointed ahead.
Perched leisurely atop a tree, Xu Zimo leaned back on the branches. In one hand, he held an apple, calmly munching away.
“Not bad, you even managed to kill a Grand Emperor,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.
“All thanks to Sister Jing,” the Moon-Pluck Fairy replied. “But Young Master, how did you end up here?”
“That tiger trapped me in its body. When it turned to bones, I simply fell down with it,” Xu Zimo answered offhandedly.
“Didn’t expect you to be trapped by a tiger,” Miss Jing said faintly from the side.
“Walk by the river long enough, and your shoes are bound to get wet,” Xu Zimo chuckled. “But more surprising than that was the Dao Wheel you used just now.”
“That was my master’s safeguard, given to me for dire moments,” Miss Jing explained.
“Oh, Gongyang Ce truly is extraordinary,” Xu Zimo nodded with a smile. He then added, “Now that our ship is gone, we’ll have to return to borrow another one.”
“No need,” the Moon-Pluck Fairy replied.
Raising her right hand, she gathered an immense surge of spiritforce.
The shattered fragments of the ship that had been scattered across the heavens were drawn back together.
Under the condensation of pure white aura, a new airship took form before their eyes, lifelike, solid, flawless.
“These ships are not so easily destroyed. As long as the core remains intact, they can be restored, even reshaped at will,” she explained.
“Then let’s continue on to Brahma City,” Xu Zimo said with a grin.
“Do be cautious, Young Master. It’s not only your safety at stake, we two weak women must also rely on your protection,” Miss Jing reminded.
Xu Zimo laughed, tossed aside the apple core, and said, “This apple was sweet.”
The grand airship started up once more, sailing steadily across the void.
As for the Elder Fiend, none of them gave it a second thought.
A month passed quietly aboard the vessel.
Until, one morning, a vast city appeared in the distance, looming faintly in the thick fog.
Its walls were built of two distinct materials. One, bricks steeped in overwhelming demonic energy. The other, golden tiles radiating Buddhist light.
Demon bricks and golden tiles.
To the left, a task board where the Brahma Monarch God Realm posted missions. Completion granted points, points which were the key to entering Heaven's End, Ocean's Edge.
To the right, a trading section selling pills and weapons, something like a marketplace.
“Capture the bandit Jiang Bei alive for thirty points. Kill him for ten.”
“Find a stalk of Dragon Saliva Grass, twenty points.”
“One ancient dragon bone, fifty points.”
Xu Zimo scanned the tasks on the left and saw all manner of requests.
Miss Jing returned from inquiring and said, “I’ve just learned, entry to Heaven's End, Ocean's Edge requires one hundred points, and grants three days’ stay.”
“You two are also coming with me?” Xu Zimo asked.
“Since we’re here, we ought to see it,” Moon-Pluck Fairy smiled.
Just then, an argument erupted at the side of the hall.
“Monk, this is disgraceful! That Jiang Tu was a disciple of our Demon Faction for the competition. For you to lure him away midway, what sort of conduct is that?”
A black-robed elder with wild, explosive hair stormed in, shouting angrily.
From the right room emerged another elder, clad in monk’s robes.
He held a cup of tea in hand, a meditation staff strapped to his back. As he walked, the chains on the staff clanked loudly.
The monk sipped his tea calmly, then smiled and said slowly, “All are free to recruit. What need is there to speak of stealing?”
“Tomorrow is the Myriad Alchemy Gathering. You steal people at this juncture, how am I supposed to find replacements?” the black-robed elder roared.
“Freedom of recruitment, yes, but your cheap tricks, I will report them truthfully to the Realm Lord,” he added coldly.
“Then go tell the Realm Lord. Why trouble me here?” the monk laughed.
“You!” The black-robed elder snorted, too angry to retort.
Behind him stood several black-robed disciples. He waved them forward, signaling with his eyes.
They stepped to the task board on the left and placed a large plaque upon it.
“Represent the Demon Faction at the Myriad Alchemy Gathering. Points awarded based on performance.”