"Try again?!"
Was this a provocation or mockery?
The old man almost spat out a mouthful of pent-up blood, his gaze on Bai Zihe filled with scrutiny.
Unvirtuous!
Disrespectful to elders, simply outrageous!
"No, don't misunderstand!"
Seeing the old man's expression turn sour, Bai Zihe quickly added, "Elder, firstly, I don't mean to mock you. Secondly, I truly believe your move was earth-shattering, unlike anything I've ever encountered."
"Therefore..."
"I specifically wish to test its power again, to see if it can inspire me."
The old man rolled his eyes.
Look at that.
Was that human language?
Earth-shattering...
And yet, it couldn't even break his defense. Was that earth-shattering?
You want to test its power again for inspiration? Are you treating this old man as a sparring dummy?
The old man's mouth twitched, and he turned to leave.
"Don't go!"
Bai Zihe grew anxious and quickly moved to block him. "How about this? If you're willing to let me try a few more times, I'll gift you an immortal artifact!"
"Moreover..."
"It will be a golden-element immortal artifact!"
"Additionally, I'll give you a pill refined from the Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus!"
Bai Zihe didn't know why the old man wanted the Heavenly Mountain Golden Lotus, but he had already used it and had none left.
The only thing remaining was the Golden Marrow Pill.
It held little significance for him now.
So, giving it to the old man wouldn't matter.
However, if he could gain insight from the old man's "Destroying Heaven and Earth" move, which could then aid him in comprehending chaos, that would be a monumental opportunity.
As for...
Forcibly keeping the old man here, Bai Zihe truly lacked the confidence.
Upon hearing this, the old man suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned back. "Kid, this is my ultimate move, conceived after a century of seclusion."
"You actually want to steal my technique..."
Steal...
It didn't need to be put so crudely.
Bai Zihe chuckled awkwardly.
"Two!"
Just as Bai Zihe was contemplating what else to say, the old man held up two fingers. "It must be two immortal artifacts."
Oh.
So, it was a matter of adding more money...
Bai Zihe gritted his teeth and agreed, "No problem!"
For others, obtaining even one immortal artifact might be incredibly difficult, but he was different.
He always carried dozens on him, so giving two to the old man was perfectly feasible.
A small matter.
"Really no problem?"
Seeing his prompt reply, the old man wailed inwardly, "I'm losing out!"
"Mmm."
Bai Zihe nodded. In the next moment, two immortal artifacts appeared in his hand, radiating golden light and a rich celestial aura that made the old man's eyes gleam.
"Good!"
He readily agreed.
Immediately, he entered a state of oneness with nature once more.
Then...
A great wind howled, thunder roared, and dust and stones flew.
The old man was quite straightforward; after agreeing, he immediately began gathering his power, intending to unleash his second "Destroying Heaven and Earth."
Bai Zihe's expression also turned solemn.
"Buzz..."
In the next instant, he suddenly closed his eyes.
However, his ears, nose, and mouth...
He sealed his bodily orifices, leaving only his divine sense, the most sensitive faculty of a cultivator, to perceive everything around him, striving for perfection.
Concurrently, Bai Zihe entered that peculiar state of oneness with nature.
Destruction...
The old man's destruction, and true destruction, were of course still worlds apart.
But what Bai Zihe sought to comprehend was precisely the process of destruction, to see how the old man, through this move, pushed all things from various forms towards oblivion.
"Rumble..."
The commotion around them grew louder.
The old man's power reached its peak, and with a roar, he unleashed: "Destroying Heaven and Earth!"
As his voice faded.
The powerful attack descended once more.
It struck all around Bai Zihe, leaving no blind spots.
"Buzz..."
"Hiss..."
"Rumble..."
All sorts of techniques, containing myriad complex variations, assailed him, making Bai Zihe unable to cope.
"Swish..."
At this moment, Bai Zihe made a bold move.
He actively dispelled his own defenses, opening his arms to welcome the old man's immensely powerful attack—intending to use this method to experience its profundity even more authentically.
"Boom!"
"Bang!"
"Thump!"
"..."
Various powerful techniques continuously ravaged Bai Zihe's body.
Their terrifying might was such that they could annihilate an ordinary Tribulation Realm expert in half a second, leaving not even a trace.
But Bai Zihe already possessed the Five Elements Body.
While such attacks caused Bai Zihe immense discomfort and inflicted immediate severe injuries, they were far from capable of killing him.
"Phew, phew..."
After a long while, everything subsided into calmness.
Bai Zihe maintained his previous posture, his eyes still tightly shut.
The only difference was the blood continuously trickling from the corners of his mouth.
Seeing his condition, the old man couldn't help but frown slightly.
This kid...
At the most critical juncture, he actually dispelled his defenses and chose to tank the blow. It was sheer recklessness. If not for his extraordinary physique, he would have long since perished.
A moment later.
Bai Zihe opened his eyes and cast a deep look at the old man.
"Swish!"
With a wave of his hand, he tossed out a few items.
They were the two immortal artifacts and the Golden Marrow Pill he had promised the old man.
Then.
Without a word, Bai Zihe entered the Haotian Tower.
This time...
Dispelling his defenses at the last moment and taking the old man's move with his body, though it left him severely wounded, allowed for a more genuine, unadulterated experience.
He had benefited greatly.
Therefore.
Bai Zihe believed the best way to consolidate his insights was to return to the Haotian Tower and meticulously ponder the moment he had just experienced.
"Swish..."
Upon entering, Bai Zihe immediately sat cross-legged.
Within his mind, the Wordless Heavenly Book materialized.
"Create Heaven and Earth!"
Great God Pangu, with his divine axe once again in hand, unleashed this unprecedented move.
However...
After meditating for a long time, Bai Zihe still made little progress.
It could only be said that the old man's two moves had provided him with some inspiration, but translating that inspiration into comprehending chaos was still a long way off.
Bai Zihe would need hundreds, thousands, of similar inspirations to gather like sand into a tower, to complete the final transformation, and only then might he be able to ultimately comprehend chaos.
After a clear understanding.
Bai Zihe emerged from the Haotian Tower and headed once more towards Xuanyuan Palace.
Xuanyuan Palace.
Ji Xian Yuan was already waiting for him.
"Junior Brother, I just received news that that rogue cultivator went to find you?"
Bai Zihe blinked in surprise and nodded. "Yes, I encountered him on the road."
"You two..."
Ji Xian Yuan's gaze changed abruptly, and she asked, "Did you exchange blows?"
Bai Zihe had nothing to hide and nodded. "We did have an exchange. His 'Destroying Heaven and Earth' is indeed quite formidable."
Ji Xian Yuan's delicate brows furrowed. "According to the latest intelligence, he has been corrupted by dark anomalies."