San Dao explained, “After the Progenitor arrived, he also sensed the danger at the end. He couldn’t enter that place at all. What exactly is inside?”

“An abyss capable of trapping even an Ancient God,” Xu Zimo answered.

From one perspective, it was impossible to tell whether the True Martial Progenitor or the Ancient Thunder God was stronger. Yet the fact that even the Progenitor would not dare step in proved how terrifying the abyss was.

“The Progenitor sensed the danger and planned to return, make preparations, and then search for you. But two days later, you floated out on your own,” San Dao continued. “When you drifted out, your entire body seemed wrapped in the power of the Dao, constantly manifesting countless Dao rhythms. The power of that Dao, even for me, was something I have rarely seen in my life. When I condensed my Dao Fruit, I also briefly wandered the Dao of Heaven and Earth, yet even then I never saw such dense Dao aura. The Progenitor said you had encountered a great opportunity, so he asked me to guard you until now.”

“How long has it been?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Over a year,” San Dao replied.

“That long?” Xu Zimo frowned. After clarifying the basic situation, he began examining his body through inner sight.

Aside from some weakness, nothing seemed different, until he looked more carefully and found something unusual. In the deepest part of his body, a silver-white mark clung to his blood vessels. It was slowly eroding them, as if trying to dye all his blood silver-white.

Along the vessels were many characters resembling Dao Runes, merging with his veins. A person naturally has countless veins, though Xu Zimo had never counted them. But in his body, they were packed tightly, not only actual blood vessels, but countless silver-white lines interwoven among them. Roughly estimated, there were at least several billion.

Xu Zimo frowned. He wasn’t yet sure whether this was good or bad. But he remembered that before he blacked out, he had devoured the silver-white line.

“Something wrong?” San Dao asked.

“No. Nothing,” Xu Zimo shook his head. He glanced back at the Abyss of Oblivion. “Better seal this place. No one should enter recklessly.”

“The ends of the Dragon Sea, even the Leviathan Race, who lived here for generations, never dared approach it casually. You made it out this time because of good luck. Otherwise, not even the Progenitor would have been confident,” San Dao said.

Xu Zimo nodded and asked, “Is the Leviathan Race wiped out?”

“Most of them, yes. But we kept a few alive, we still have use for them,” San Dao replied.

The two crossed the Dragon Sea. Along the way, Xu Zimo saw countless fallen Leviathan corpses. At the center of the sea, the enormous Leviathan form of the High Leviathan was pinned in midair.

Above him floated three blades.

Shadow Slayer, filled with killing intent; Heaven Eternal, emanating immortal endurance; and Despair Blade, wreathed in hopeless blade light. The three blades together suppressed the entire Dragon Sea, driving away all creatures with their overwhelming sharpness.

“Let’s go. Back to the sect,” San Dao said. “We’ll keep the Dragon Sea sealed for now.”

Xu Zimo nodded. They flew into the sky, but before leaving, Xu Zimo didn’t forget Ji Zhan, the man who claimed to be Lin Ruhuo’s disciple. Naturally, Xu Zimo took him along back to the True Martial Sacred Ground.

On the journey, San Dao asked on his own, “I heard you met people from the Myriad Immortal Nation in the Alchemy God City?”

“We’ve already become enemies,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile. “They wanted to protect the Luo God-Clan.”

“You know of the Myriad Immortal Nation?” he asked.

“Of course. Though I prefer to call them the Myriad Immortal Dynasty,” San Dao said.

“Are they strong?” Xu Zimo asked.

“In the upper realm they aren’t top-tier, but they’re still high-ranking,” San Dao said. “But we don’t need to fear them. Before the Fourth Heaven-Defying Crusade begins, our sect will move entirely to the upper heavens. By then, no matter who they are, we’ll be strong enough to crush them.”

“Do you know the Three-Corpse Burial Grounds in the upper realm?” Xu Zimo asked.

“Why do you bring that place up?” San Dao asked. “I’ve been there before, but only explored the outskirts, back then I hadn’t reached Infinite Dao yet. But by my estimation, the Three-Corpse Burial Grounds are dangerous enough to bury even Infinite Dao realm cultivators.”

“That dangerous?” Xu Zimo’s expression hardened.

“Of course. But there are also tremendous opportunities,” San Dao said. “It all depends on one’s fate. Throughout history, countless strong cultivators have perished in the burial grounds, but just as many great fortunes were found there.”

Xu Zimo nodded slightly.

Not long after, he and San Dao returned to the True Martial Sacred Ground.

“You should visit the Progenitor. He likely has something to tell you,” San Dao said.

After arranging for Ji Zhan, Xu Zimo headed toward where the True Martial Progenitor resided. Although the sect occupied the True Martial Mountain, the Progenitor lived at its peak. Ordinary disciples would never disturb him without reason.

Xu Zimo climbed to the summit. On both sides of the mountain path bloomed all kinds of rare flowers and herbs, each carrying the resonance of the Dao. Spirit energy surged from all directions; even an ordinary plant could likely transform into a celestial herb here.

When he arrived, he saw the Progenitor sitting beside a spirit river at the mountaintop, fishing for the black-and-white yin-yang fish. A gentle breeze blew across the peak.

“You’re finally here,” the Progenitor said with a smile.

“Senior San Dao said you were looking for me,” Xu Zimo said.

“Don’t rush. Sit and watch me fish for a while,” the Progenitor replied.

Though puzzled, Xu Zimo understood that the Progenitor surely had his reasons, so he sat quietly at the side.

The Progenitor remained calm as he fished. Even when a fish tugged at the line, he didn’t rush to reel it in. After a long while, he finally caught one and tossed it toward Xu Zimo. In midair, the fish turned into a black-and-white current and plunged directly into Xu Zimo’s forehead.

In an instant, an unprecedented serenity washed over Xu Zimo. It felt as if he had merged with the Dao, able to sense even the heartbeat of heaven and earth.

“Don’t speak. Just meditate and comprehend the Dao,” the Progenitor’s voice sounded by his ear.

Xu Zimo quickly steadied his mind. Ever since returning from the Abyss of Oblivion, he had felt restless, mainly because of the sudden appearance of the silver-white lines in his body.