Endless darkness enveloped the Overlord.

  He stood tall, gazing at the sky where the severed imperial dragon qi scattered like fading smoke.

  Everything in the world was fleeting as clouds—why cling to obsessions?

  A true demonic cultivator followed his nature and acted without restraint.

  Enlightenment bloomed in the Overlord’s heart.

  In the distant heavens, he glimpsed a towering figure slowly turning its head.

  When the Demon Lord looked back, it felt as though the entire world was crumbling around him.

  Demons are born from the heart!

  The Overlord shattered the shackles within his soul, breaking free from chains that had bound him for far too long.

  A wave of joy and liberation surged through his chest like a gushing spring.

  His spine roared like a dragon with every thunderous pulse.

  The cultivation that had stagnated for so long finally shattered its barriers—he stepped into the Heavenly Lock Realm!

  And with his newfound mindset, his blood and qi boiled violently, tempering his spine with relentless fury.

  He had already refined his Body Storage Realm to the absolute limit. The moment he broke through, that ferocious blood qi tempered several vertebrae in rapid succession.

  He directly entered the Second Stage of Heavenly Lock—without even undergoing the tribulation yet.

  Once he survived the Heavenly Lock Tribulation and bathed in the origin feedback, he would rise even higher.

  …

  The Overlord’s transformation shook everyone atop Wolong Ridge.

  Some looked up to see black clouds gathering overhead, thick with churning lightning.

  Someone was about to face tribulation—but because of the Dao stele’s presence, the tribulation clouds could not descend.

  “The Overlord has broken through!”

  “The man who was stuck for so long has finally stepped into Heavenly Lock!”

  “The Overlord is back—the true hegemon of Xiliang has returned!”

  …

  The heads of the great families watched with complicated emotions.

  The axe-wielding, god-like demon of war had returned!

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and the others stared in astonishment.

  “What terrifying momentum… Breaking into Golden Core, yet it feels like years of accumulated power finally exploding.”

  “This man has the makings of the top of the Human List.”

  Du Longyang sighed in admiration.

  With his Nascent Soul Transformation cultivation, he could clearly sense the metamorphosis occurring within the Overlord—a transformation of the heart and mind.

  Such changes were crucial for cultivators.

  Some heaven-defying geniuses spent half their lives haunted by a single doubt.

  If they couldn’t break through that doubt, they might never advance another step.

  Du Longyang and the others understood this deeply—they had lived it.

  As Nascent Soul Transformation experts, they too felt lost on their path forward, shrouded in thick fog they could not pierce.

  That was why they had remained stuck at this stage for so long.

  But this Overlord had faced such a trial early, solidified his heart, and now his future path would be unstoppable—like a mountain-splitting blade!

  Young Master Tianxu rolled his eyes at Du Longyang. “Give it a rest. You say that about everyone.”

  “The current top of the Human List is Zhong Nan from the Absolute Blade Sect. That kid is a true monster—his blade intent rivals Ye Shoudao’s, his combat power is insane. Eight revolutions in Golden Core, yet he can fight Nascent Souls!”

  “You really think this guy measures up to Zhong Nan?”

  Ye Shoudao’s usually expressionless face cracked into a faint smile. Zhong Nan was his disciple—his pride and joy.

  It was rare for Tianxu to praise anyone.

  The Empress glanced over, red lips curving slightly. “Don’t underestimate this world. Their cultivation may be low now, but the foundation Young Master Lu built for them is terrifyingly solid.”

  “They grow fast. The future… who knows?”

  Her words silenced Ye Shoudao and Tianxu.

  She was right.

  Many cultivators they had met in the Five Phoenixes had absurdly stable foundations.

  Nie Changqing, Kong Nanfei, the painter Sima Qingshan, Jing Yue…

  Their foundations were rock-solid. In terms of talent, they were not far behind the monsters on Tianyuan’s Human List.

  “I said he has the makings of the top of the Human List, so he does. Have I ever been wrong?” Du Longyang huffed.

  Then he fell silent and stared at the Dao stele.

  He—and everyone else—was dying to know what kind of Dao intent the Overlord had comprehended.

  The Overlord sat cross-legged on the prayer mat, his robes fluttering without wind.

  Luo Mingsang’s face was pale as paper. Though she cultivated, most of her time and energy had been spent governing Xiliang for him.

  Her cultivation was only at the second or third stage of Qi Core.

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  Walking that far under the first prison gate’s pressure had injured her organs to varying degrees.

  But seeing the Overlord succeed filled her with joy.

  As expected, what he truly loved was pursuing the heart of cultivation. Power and dragon qi had only ever been obstacles to him.

  Her long lashes trembled as happiness for him welled up in her heart.

  “May you one day stand at the pinnacle of cultivation.”

  “In this era of cultivators, if you are strong enough… Xiliang will endure for eternity.”

  She whispered to herself.

  In the distance, Liu Yuanhao’s eyes narrowed. His fists clenched, his face cold with fury.

  The Overlord… had actually comprehended a Dao intent after all?!

  Liu Yuanhao had not forgotten his mission—the Black Dragon Cult’s mission.

  His gaze shifted to the paper-pale Luo Mingsang.

  …

  “It’s here!”

  “Words are appearing on the Dao stele! What is the Overlord’s Dao intent?!”

  “It can’t be that strong. Ever since the cultivation era began, the Overlord has lost his dominance…”

  Murmurs filled the air.

  Then the intent appeared on the stele.

  And every voice died instantly.

  Everyone held their breath, staring in disbelief.

  The Overlord slowly opened his eyes and looked up.

  “Xiang Shaoyun, Third-Sequence Dao Intent: Unyielding Intent.”

  Third-Sequence.

  Actually third-sequence!

  The entire ridge fell deathly silent—even the Nascent Soul Transformation experts like Du Longyang and Tianxu lost their composure.

  “How is this possible…?”

  The Empress’s red lips parted in shock. She had only managed fifth-sequence herself.

  Just how powerful was third-sequence?!

  Du Longyang’s eyes blazed with excitement.

  Ye Shoudao’s blade intent surged uncontrollably, as if it wanted to cleave the heavens.

  Buzz…

  Du Longyang moved.

  In a flash, he entered the pressure zone of the ninth prison gate, standing close to the Overlord, staring intently at both man and stele.

  After a few seconds of silence…

  Wolong Ridge exploded.

  “My god! Third-sequence Dao intent?!”

  “The first third-sequence ever! The Overlord is still the Overlord—the true king has returned!”

  “Third-sequence must have its own tiers too—we still don’t know where exactly he stands within it!”

  All the family heads shot to their feet.

  With this intent revealed, the power structure of the world was about to change forever.

  Standing beside Tang Xiansheng, Tang Yimo’s face trembled.

  “Third-sequence…”

  His expression was complicated.

  His own protective Dao intent was only fifth-sequence.

  Of course, deep down he felt a twinge of regret.

  If he had comprehended a true guardian intent instead of protection, he might have reached third-sequence too—on par with the Overlord’s Unyielding.

  The Overlord looked up at the words on the stele.

  A stubbled grin spread across his face.

  “Unyielding Intent…”

  He exhaled deeply. The clouds had parted; the moon had emerged. Perhaps this misfortune had been a blessing in disguise.

  Du Longyang stood at the ninth gate and suddenly laughed. “Du Longyang of Martial Emperor City, Nascent Soul Transformation realm. Will you join my city? Your Unyielding Intent perfectly aligns with our teachings.”

  The moment the words left his mouth—

  Tianxu, Ye Shoudao, and the Empress all changed expressions.

  “Du Longyang, have some shame!” Tianxu shouted.

  The three vanished and reappeared beside Du Longyang in an instant, faces serious.

  “If I’m not mistaken, you walk the path of following your nature,” Tianxu declared. “My Tianxu Palace is exactly that—no rules, no restraints, just pure freedom. Far better than Martial Emperor City’s rigid dogma. Take me as your master, and I guarantee you the top of the Human List!”

  Ye Shoudao and the Empress opened their mouths… then closed them.

  They had nothing to say against such shamelessness.

  The Overlord stood up and looked at Du Longyang and Tianxu in confusion.

  “Nascent Soul Transformation?”

  “The realm above Heavenly Lock?” he asked.

  Du Longyang shook his head. “What you call Heavenly Lock is Golden Core. Above Golden Core is Nascent Soul. Above Nascent Soul… is Nascent Soul Transformation.”

  The Overlord narrowed his eyes.

  So the path of cultivation stretched even further than he had imagined!

  He had only just stepped into Heavenly Lock, and already the realm felt vast and difficult.

  Yet there were still Nascent Soul and Nascent Soul Transformation above it.

  Young Master Lu had been right—the path was long, and he had only just begun.

  As for these people trying to take him as a disciple, the Overlord wasn’t surprised.

  Third-sequence intent—even he hadn’t expected it.

  “You want me as your disciple?”

  He narrowed his eyes further.

  “What can you teach me? Can you help me defeat Young Master Lu?”

  Silence.

  The air turned awkward.

  The Empress covered her mouth and laughed, then vanished—she was staying out of this.

  Ye Shoudao turned expressionlessly and left. He hadn’t tried to recruit the man anyway; no loss of face.

  Du Longyang and Tianxu both coughed dryly.

  Defeat Young Master Lu?

  This guy really dared to dream.

  Du Longyang shook his head seriously. “Impossible.”

  “Even we are no match for Young Master Lu. Defeating him… is far too difficult.”

  The Overlord wasn’t surprised.

  He knew exactly how terrifying Lu was.

  Lu Ping’an of White Jade Pavilion—a true monster.

  But then Tianxu’s eyes lit up.

  “What are you afraid of?! You have third-sequence intent! Under my guidance, you’ll ascend sooner or later—punch Du Longyang, step on Lu Ping’an, easy!”

  “Your intent might even be stronger than Lu Ping’an’s! What can’t you suppress?!”

  Du Longyang’s face darkened.

  But the Overlord’s eyes brightened.

  Yeah… what was there to fear?

  What is a demon? One who follows his heart and acts without restraint—that is a demon!

  A demon fears nothing!

  …

  Beiluo, Lake Heart Island.

  The Overlord had comprehended a third-sequence Dao intent.

  Lu’s soul stele registered the fluctuation, but he was in the zone and ignored it.

  His thousands of simulations on the preaching platform had finally borne fruit regarding the spatial formation from the Buddhist tower.

  Now all that remained was manifesting it in reality.

  At first, he had treated it as a teleportation array—space usually meant distance, after all.

  But the deeper he delved, the more he realized space wasn’t limited to distance.

  He changed direction—and succeeded.

  Suddenly, Lu’s brow arched.

  Someone was provoking him?

  He exited the preaching platform.

  Lines of fate danced before his eyes.

  The image of Young Master Tianxu spitting as he boasted filled his vision.

  Lu smiled.

  A smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

  Third-sequence intent from the Overlord—excellent. Lu was surprised and delighted.

  But the one who comprehended it was the Overlord, not you, Tianxu.

  Why were you the one getting cocky?

  Punching Du Longyang, stomping on Lu Ping’an…

  How many drinks did it take to get this drunk?

  Lu chuckled coldly.

  His soul vortex spun.

  The next moment, he raised a hand toward Wolong Ridge.

  He acted—not for any grand reason.

  Just to get a little justice for Du Longyang.

  …

  Tianxu saw the Overlord wavering and grew excited.

  “Believe in yourself! You can suppress Lu Ping’an!”

  “If a man has no dreams, how is he different from a salted fish?!”

  Du Longyang’s face grew darker and darker.

  In the distance, the Empress covered her face, speechless.

  Ye Shoudao’s cheek twitched as he stared at Tianxu like he was an idiot.

  Tianxu opened his mouth to continue—

  Then his expression changed.

  Dark clouds suddenly boiled in the sky, descending with oppressive might.

  BOOM!

  The clouds formed a colossal palm that blotted out the heavens.

  The Overlord saw it and all the fire in his eyes vanished.

  He would follow his heart…

  Young Master Lu was invincible.

  Sensing the terrifying aura within that heavenly palm, the Overlord instantly retracted all bold thoughts.

  Tianxu’s face twitched.

  He shot into the sky, red robes flapping like banners.

  In a blink, he flew dozens of miles away.

  Only when he was clear of Wolong Ridge did he turn back and shout seriously:

  “Brother Lu! Not the face!”

  The heavenly palm slammed down.

  BOOM!

  Mountains shook. Birds scattered in panic.

  Everyone on Wolong Ridge felt the earth tremble and exchanged stunned glances.

  …

  Lake Heart Island.

  Lu leaned back in his Thousand-Bladed Chair, expression calm—as if he had done something utterly trivial.

  “Unyielding Intent…”

  “Interesting. An indomitable will, an undying heart. Losing a thousand battles yet rising again—this is a Dao intent made for taking beatings.”

  Lu’s lips curved in amusement.

  A third-sequence intent had appeared—he was naturally pleased.

  Within his soul vortex, the stele glowed.

  His fourth-sequence Soul Extinguishing Intent began merging with the new third-sequence Unyielding Intent.

  This fusion took far longer than any before.

  While it proceeded, Lu turned his attention to manifesting the spatial formation in reality.

  He raised a hand. Liquid from the origin lake condensed and compressed rapidly.

  It formed an amber stone.

  Ghostfire burned. The stone melted into a viscous fluid.

  Lu’s spiritual sense surged, etching the formation into it…

  Soon, the amber solidified into a thumb ring.

  Warm against his skin, Lu slipped it onto his thumb and activated it with a thought.

  A vast space unfolded within the ring.

  He withdrew his mind, then with another thought, made the Spirit Pressure Chessboard vanish into the ring’s inner space.

  A third thought brought it back to his palm.

  He tested it over a dozen times before stopping, satisfied.

  “A legendary storage spirit tool… This formation gave me quite the pleasant surprise.”

  Lu murmured.

  Then—

  His eyes widened.

  His soul trembled.

  Within his soul vortex, the Dao stele thundered with earth-shaking force!

  The fusion…

  Was complete!