Heavenly Wheel Ascension

The giant shadow of the scythe sliced through the horizon, refracting the red moonlight into a cold and absolute line of death. As the blade began its descent, the air in Red Flame City felt as if it were being sucked dry, creating a vacuum that exerted a heavy pressure on every practitioner beneath it.

JLEB!

The massive blade plunged directly into the center of the mid-stage Weaver’s lightning formation. The lightning that had been snarling ferociously was silenced instantly, shattered into pieces like glass struck by a sledgehammer. There was no grand sound of explosion, only a cold hiss as the blade split the Weaver’s body and true soul into two vanishing parts.

The strike cleaved the ground beneath, creating a massive fissure that spread until it revealed the Earth Fire Core in the depths. Zhi Xuan raised his hand again; the scythe rose, but this time the peak Weaver expert and the two remaining Weavers had prepared a formation.

A mid-stage Weaver threw a formation token, which immediately trapped Zhi Xuan within their array as he momentarily lowered his guard. Zhi Xuan was separated from his Domain, yet he intentionally withdrew from his own Domain. He continued to hold the Slaughter Gods Crescent high.

Above the formation dome trapping Zhi Xuan, the sky manifested three circles, each with a palm shape at its center. The three Weaver experts each clasped their hands; the sky trembled, and the ground beneath Zhi Xuan sank several zhang deep under the pressure from the heavens.

"Die, impostor!" roared the peak Weaver expert. His face, previously filled with terror, was now adorned with a grin of madness. "Within this formation, even a dragon must bow! No matter who you are, your body and soul will become a sacrifice for the prosperity of the Sacred Flame Pavilion!"

The three palm seals began to solidify, forming a giant palm capable of covering the entirety of Red Flame City. One by one, the seals merged with the others; the circle expanded and released the palm downward in a slow, crushing motion.

Zhi Xuan stood at the center of the destruction, his robes fluttering fiercely in the strong winds generated by the air pressure from the sky. Although the ground beneath his feet continued to sink into a terrifying crater, his back remained straight like a heavenly pillar that could not be shaken. His sapphire eyes gazed upward, watching the giant palm carrying the weight of an entire continent.

Below, the Ancient Shen Clan disciples were helpless; those drained and not yet recovered from the Soul-Devouring Demon Sect’s attack collapsed to the ground under the pressure of the palm. Zhi Xuan turned his gaze toward them for a moment, his eyes flashing with coldness.

"The Ancient Clan you pride yourselves on..." Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice piercing through clearly. "If you lose your Dao Heart just because of the blustering of these vultures, then you truly deserve to be buried with the dust."

He shifted his gaze back to the giant palm pressing down on him. He threw the Slaughter Gods Crescent back into his body. He spread his arms, his fingers beginning to move like a dance in the air.

"You wish to see a falling heavenly pillar?" Zhi Xuan looked up, a cold smirk appearing at the corner of his lips. "Then I shall show you what it feels like when the sky truly falls."

Instantly, pillars of earth erupted from the ground, soaring high and shooting upward. From the sky, a giant mountain appeared with crushing pressure. The earth pillars moved upward, acting like pillars intended to support heaven and earth.

The shadow of the mountain falling from the sky covered all of Red Flame City; the moonlight vanished completely, leaving behind absolute darkness. Ao Sheng and Xiao Die, seeing this, roared and screeched sharply as they chose to abandon their fight with the Soul Transformation practitioners. Their giant bodies moved toward the Ancient Shen Clan disciples.

A violent tremor vibrated from the depths of the earth, a deafening resonance as the Mountain and River Style of the Ten Great Secrets was fully unleashed. The earth pillars, rising like the fangs of an earth dragon, slammed into the giant palm of the three Weaver experts.

DUAAARRRR!

The collision between the two grand forces created a shockwave that leveled the remaining buildings in Red Flame City. The sky churned, and the formation trapping Zhi Xuan began to show fine cracks due to the clashing pressures from within and without.

Ao Sheng and Xiao Die encircled the Ancient Shen Clan disciples, but the disciples' eyes would never forget the sight they beheld: the earth pillars locking the Weaver and Soul Transformation experts in place like a prison. The experts were crushed, while Zhi Xuan stood in the center between heaven and earth.

"Mountain and River, Descent of the Ancient God Mountain!" Zhi Xuan clasped his hands together. Instantly, the pillars shot upward, carrying the experts to meet the giant mountain that was crashing toward the earth.

The force was so heavy that even the Soul Transformation practitioners could do nothing; the peak and mid-stage Weavers tried to form protective mudras, but they shattered into pieces as the ancient god mountain descended, pinning them against the pillars that continued to rise.

KRATAK! BOOM!

With a single jerk of Zhi Xuan’s hands, the Ancient God Mountain fell completely, striking the pillars supporting it with a force capable of shifting the earth's axis. All the Weaver experts and dozens of their followers were caught in the middle of the collision of two earths. Their mortal frames, though tempered for thousands of years, exploded into blood mist before they could even touch the ground.

The air froze for a moment; the mountain and pillars seemed to stand still before cracking, and a giant explosion devastated the air above. Zhi Xuan waved his hand, making the Divine Cauldron expand fully until it covered the sky. The explosion shook the heavens; the ground vibrated so violently that large stones from the earth's depths were lifted upward from the cracks in the soil.

Thick dust began to settle, revealing a sight that was both heartbreaking and soul-shaking. The Ancient God Mountain and the earth pillars slowly crumbled into essence particles, leaving a terrifying void in the sky. The six Weaver experts and dozens of Soul Transformation practitioners who had initially arrived with divine arrogance were now gone—their bodies reduced to dust.

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Zhi Xuan landed slowly on the ground, which was still glowing from the heat of the Earth Fire Core. His black-and-white robes were no longer as clean as before, yet his aura grew increasingly thick and heavy, like a blade recently washed in the blood of gods. He stood tall at the edge of the crater, watching his giant cauldron slowly shrink and return to his palm.

"Vultures remain vultures," Zhi Xuan hissed, his voice hoarse yet carrying a cold echo. "Even when they try to use heavenly laws, their mortal frames still cannot bear the weight of truth."

Behind him, Ao Sheng and Xiao Die returned to their small forms, though their breathing was still heavy. They landed beside Zhi Xuan, staring at the crater that was now a mass grave for two major Chi Di sects.

"Senior, they... they are truly gone," Xiao Die whispered, her eyes staring blankly at the void in the sky. "Not a single bit of essence remains. You truly destroyed their foundations to the roots."

Ao Sheng snorted, twisting his stiff neck. "They sought death, and Senior merely gave it generously. However, this tremor... Senior, this is no longer a small matter. Sky Furnace Mountain has trembled, and I am certain the elders in Shen Sky City have felt the fall of the Ancient God Mountain."

Zhi Xuan did not respond. He walked toward the Ancient Shen Clan disciples who were still kneeling on the ground with blank faces. Their fear had turned into blind devotion; they looked at Zhi Xuan no longer as a human, but as a walking manifestation of calamity.

"Rise," Zhi Xuan commanded shortly. "The death of your enemies will not rebuild this city. If you wish to stay alive in Chi Di, learn not to rely only on the names of ancestors who are no longer here."

The male disciple raised his head, tears flowing through the dust on his cheeks. "Senior... you have saved us several times; you even eliminated the betrayal against the Ancient Shen Clan by those standing within the sovereign territory of the Ancient Shen Clan."

"This debt of gratitude, even if we became Senior's slaves," the female disciple prostrated until her shoulders shook, "would not be enough to provide adequate payment for this."

Zhi Xuan flicked his hand, letting the Divine Cauldron float and encircle them. The aura of the Four Seasons Law immediately rippled, bringing forth the Spring energy that cleared and restored them.

"I am not compassionate because of you," Zhi Xuan said, looking around. "It is only because I do not like what I have rebuilt being destroyed again by those rats."

He turned, looking toward the moon which had now returned to normal. "Besides, I promised your Holy Maiden that not a single drop of blood would fall upon Chi Di. I have done so; their blood did not even touch the Chi Di soil."

The void suddenly tore open, and from it emerged Shen Ruolan in her velvet cloak, stepping down followed by Mo Chen and two Divine Transformation elders acting as her guards. Shen Ruolan stepped from the void rift, her heels touching the scorched earth with a grace that contrasted with the surrounding destruction.

Her amethyst eyes swept across the giant crater still emitting steam, then shifted to the figure of Zhi Xuan standing motionless amidst the ruins. A haunting silence enveloped the place, broken only by the rustle of the robes of the newly arrived experts. She raised her hand, which immediately prompted Mo Chen to move quickly.

Mo Chen looked at Zhi Xuan for a moment, his eyes shining as if he wanted to greet his Senior who had done all this—which to him looked incredibly cool—but he chose instead to simply nod vaguely and head toward the Ancient Shen Clan disciples who were recovering behind the Divine Cauldron encircling them.

Shen Ruolan stopped right in front of Zhi Xuan. Her charm aura spread quickly, causing Zhi Xuan to feel a sense of familiarity. Zhi Xuan merely looked at Shen Ruolan, saying nothing to explain his actions.

Shen Ruolan took a long breath, a puff of thin steam escaping her reddish lips, contrasting with the suffocating sulfur atmosphere in Red Flame City. She did not speak immediately, but walked slowly around Zhi Xuan, as if checking if the man before her was still the same human she had spoken to at the Sixth Peak a few hours ago.

"Senior, you truly are a dangerous man to your own promises," Shen Ruolan whispered, her voice flowing low, intended only for Zhi Xuan. "You said you wouldn't spill a single drop of blood on Chi Di soil... and you truly annihilated them between heaven and earth so that no body remained to bleed."

She stopped right in front of Zhi Xuan again, one hand rising to touch his chest. "Senior went to such trouble to clear out the rebels who wanted to exploit the Ancient Shen Clan's sovereignty. Is this... Senior's way of protecting Ruolan?"

"Do not flatter yourself, Holy Fairy," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice cold as ice frozen on the peak of an eternal mountain. "I simply do not like to be disturbed while I am reflecting. Those vultures were too noisy, and their voices ruined the peace of my night."

Zhi Xuan looked at Shen Ruolan, his face remaining flat. "Rebellion is the business of the Ancient Shen Clan. I came here initially to escape from you, and then they pointed their palms at me. And I hate people who point their weapons at me."

"Escaping from me? Mmm... Ruolan expected as much," a small laugh chimed from Shen Ruolan’s lips. "But well, they did indeed grow fangs after Father’s departure. Regardless, the Ancient Shen Clan... or Ruolan herself, owes a great karmic debt to Senior."

Shen Ruolan shifted her gaze toward the two Divine Transformation Elders standing behind her. "Elders, immediately withdraw the injured disciples who need recovery. This Red Flame City region is easy to rebuild, but the stability of my disciples is what matters most right now."

The two Divine Transformation Elders bowed deeply, their grey robes fluttering as they shot toward the crowd of still-stunned disciples. Zhi Xuan retracted his Divine Cauldron, while Xiao Die and Ao Sheng landed on his shoulders, their tiny faces filled with vigilance upon seeing Shen Ruolan.

Zhi Xuan rotated his wrist, letting the small bronze cauldron disappear into his sea of consciousness with a single dim flash of light. Shen Ruolan’s sudden presence—complete with high-level escort—confirmed that the scale of destruction he had created had surpassed the usual limits of diplomatic tolerance.

"Karma is a shackle, Holy Fairy," Zhi Xuan said as he turned his body, his back to the death crater he had created. "And I am not one who likes to collect shackles. What you saw today was merely the clearing of dust blocking the path. Nothing more."

"Mmm... no, no," Shen Ruolan whispered, stroking Zhi Xuan’s robe. "Senior has bound this karma. Forget about that; now good news has arrived. Elder Shen Tu and the six other Elders will not make an issue of Senior’s arrival at the Emperor’s Monument. They believe that as long as Senior does not take what belongs to the Ancient Shen Clan, Senior may move under their noses."

Zhi Xuan narrowed his eyes, his voice cold. "I indeed did not take what belongs to the Ancient Shen Clan. My arrival from the start was due to your own invitation upon that Ancestral Hall."

"But Senior should have taken something from the Ancient Shen Clan," Shen Ruolan remarked, her fingers playing with the end of her hair. "Is Ruolan not... enough of a burden for Senior to carry?"

Zhi Xuan did not answer with words; he merely looked at Shen Ruolan with an intensity that made the air between them seem to freeze. The temptation of the woman before him was like honey served on the edge of a blade; sweet, yet capable of slashing the soul if one was not careful. Behind the Holy Fairy’s charm, Zhi Xuan knew there were political calculations and heavy clan burdens.

"You are too precious to be a burden and too sharp to be a traveling companion," Zhi Xuan said finally, casting his gaze toward the horizon where the first blush of dawn was appearing. "Keep your charm for the Holy Sons of other Ancient Clans. I am merely a wanderer chased by his own shadow."

Shen Ruolan pouted her lips, an expression that contrasted with her dignity. "Always being so mean to a woman. But Senior, Ruolan truly admires you. The Lotus Mountain Alliance and the Sacred Flame Pavilion will become valuable assets to the Ancient Shen Clan after today."