Chapter 72: The Taoist of Grass and Wood

Beneath the brilliant stars of the Milky Way, Lin Jiufeng broke through the Tenth Forbidden Level.

It was effortless, like eating when hungry, drinking when thirsty.

This was the result of his continuous accumulation and constant comprehension, which laid the solid foundation for this breakthrough.

The Tenth Forbidden Level marked the ascent to divine status. This realm focused on refining the primordial spirit, step by step, each stage elevating the spirit until it transcended, becoming an entity that could perceive all things.

From Bai Huzi, Lin Jiufeng had already learned of hundreds of methods to break through. Combined, they allowed for such an effortless breakthrough.

However, Lin Jiufeng wasn't focused on his own advancement. Instead, he channeled all the newly acquired power into a single sword strike.

With the power of the Tenth Forbidden Level, he sent forth the sword of the human world.

Under the night sky, the sword cut across continents and oceans, heading straight toward the Supreme Dao.

The Supreme Dao

In the darkness of the night, the towering mountain ranges loomed like a slumbering beast, formidable and menacing.

The Supreme Dao was the foremost sect in the world today. Although recently, with the rise of the Yu Hua Sect, many had begun to question this dominance, there was no denying that the Supreme Dao had long held the position of the leading sect.

The Supreme Dao was known for its aggressive and domineering tactics. Any dissent was met with annihilation of entire sects or clans. Many feared to speak out against them, as their strength was immense.

However, things weren't going well for the Supreme Dao recently.

The Yu Hua Sect's growing influence was making them uneasy, but they had no way to quell it, so they suffered in silence.

The four Ninth Forbidden elders, once full of hope, had been vaporized by a single sword strike from someone in the Yu Hua Sect. They had not even had time to fight back.

This sent the Supreme Dao into a state of panic.

"Is the Yu Hua Sect truly this powerful?" they wondered.

They feared the power of the Yu Hua Sect. After all, if the roles were reversed, the Supreme Dao would not hesitate to eliminate a rival sect without mercy.

Naturally, the Supreme Dao was terrified.

At that moment, a Ninth Forbidden elder emerged from seclusion and coldly declared, "What is there to fear? No matter how powerful that person from the Yu Hua Sect is, they're only at the Ninth Forbidden Level. My Supreme Dao has a Tenth Forbidden elder."

The sect leader's eyes lit up with excitement, and the other elders eagerly looked on.

The elder sneered, "It is my master, the founder of our sect."

"Master?"

"Isn't the founder the one who disappeared after establishing the Supreme Dao?"

"Is he at the Tenth Forbidden Level?"

The elders began to murmur among themselves, eagerly awaiting an answer.

The elder proudly smiled, "Our founder was already at the Tenth Forbidden Level when he created the Supreme Dao. After three thousand years, no one knows just how strong he has become. That person from the Yu Hua Sect is nothing compared to him."

At these words, the entire group of elders felt a sense of relief and excitement. They could feel their fears dissipating.

"If that's the case, where is the founder now?" asked the sect leader.

"Right here in our Supreme Dao!" The elder turned and pointed at the highest peak, where an ancient black palace stood. It was surrounded by vines, with grass growing wild, nearly overtaking the structure.

"That is the forbidden ground of the Supreme Dao. No one is allowed to enter, not even the sect leader. We never expected that it was the place where our founder had been in seclusion," one elder said excitedly.

The elders quickly bowed in respect. "We pay our respects to the founder."

"Is the founder still able to emerge after three thousand years?" one elder asked anxiously.

The sect leader looked toward the Ninth Forbidden elder, his eyes filled with hope.

The elder nodded. "The founder gave orders long ago that after three thousand years, a prosperous age for cultivation would arrive, and we must awaken him."

"Now is the time!"

"What are we waiting for? Let's go and bring our founder out!" The sect leader was eager, and the elders followed, their excitement mounting.

"Let us kneel and welcome our founder's return!" The Ninth Forbidden elder shouted, leading the way to the black palace.

Thud!

The group of elders knelt, and with the elder leading them, they shouted in unison, "We welcome our founder out of seclusion!"

The sound was deafening, full of passion and anticipation. All the anxiety and fear they had felt recently were now placed in their belief in their founder.

The Tenth Forbidden Level... surely this would be enough to defeat the person from the Yu Hua Sect.

Once they eliminated Lin Jiufeng, the Yu Hua Sect would be powerless, and the cultivation world would once again fall under the Supreme Dao's control.

As they chanted, the black palace began to tremble.

Boom!!

The sound was massive, stirring up clouds of dust that enveloped the group.

But the sect leader and the elders did not complain. On the contrary, they were even more excited. The founder had heard them!

If the founder had heard them, then it was time to shout even louder.

As they continued to chant, the four gates of the black palace suddenly opened. The vines and thick trees that had once encroached were crushed, and a terrifying aura erupted, spreading out from the palace in all directions, causing clouds to churn, winds to howl, and the sky to darken.

But the sect leader and the elders only became more frantic with excitement. They could feel it—the founder was about to emerge.

Step... Step... Step...

With each step, the sound grew louder, until finally, a cold-faced man dressed in Daoist robes appeared.

"We welcome our founder!!"

The sect leader and elders shouted with all their might.

The founder, known as Tai Yi Daoist, frowned and raised his hand.

Immediately, the group fell silent, unable to speak a word.

"Now, is my Supreme Dao the number one sect in the cultivation world?" Tai Yi Daoist asked.

"Yes, master, although we are still the foremost, there is a genius from the Yu Hua Sect. Recently, one of their members killed four of our Ninth Forbidden elders with a single sword strike, bringing us great pressure," the sect leader answered respectfully.

"A single sword strike killed four Ninth Forbidden elders? Is that person at the Tenth Forbidden Level?" Tai Yi Daoist asked, his brow furrowing.

"No, just the Ninth Forbidden!" the sect leader shook his head.

"The Ninth Forbidden... they are nothing. A mere snap of the fingers will annihilate them," Tai Yi Daoist said dismissively. "I will rest for a few days, and then I'll go and destroy this Yu Hua Sect."

The sect leader and elders were filled with excitement. Indeed, their Tenth Forbidden master's words were filled with absolute authority.

However, the next moment, Tai Yi Daoist frowned and turned his gaze toward the distant sky.

"Master, what are you looking at?" the sect leader asked cautiously.

"There is something wrong," Tai Yi Daoist said solemnly.

Boom!!!

Before he could finish speaking, a massive sword aura appeared, streaking across the sky like a brilliant streak of light. It sped toward them with the force of a tempest, carrying with it the pressure of the Nine Heavens, directly aiming for them.

Tai Yi Daoist's face turned pale with shock. "The sword aura of the Tenth Forbidden Level..."

He immediately activated his defenses, instinctively trying to escape.

But the entire area was enveloped, and there was nowhere to run.

The sword aura overwhelmed him.

"No!!!"

Tai Yi Daoist's roar echoed as he watched the entire Supreme Dao be wiped out by the sword aura in an instant.

Yes, the entire mountain range was annihilated.

Tai Yi Daoist wasn't concerned about the lives of the sect disciples—he didn't have that much compassion.

What terrified him was the sheer power of this sword.

Who was the enemy?

How could he fight against such a force?

Tai Yi Daoist used all his strength to protect himself, barely holding on amidst the torrent of sword aura.

But as he pondered his next move, the sword aura condensed into a figure.

Tai Yi Daoist's face turned ashen. "The Taoist of Grass and Wood!"