Da Xuan Martial Saint Chapter 1511 - 725: Encountering the Exotic Beast Again (Part 2)

Boom!!!

The momentum from those eight strikes surged onward without pause, crashing into the golden-glow-enveloped figure amid a thunderous explosion.

Led by Wutian Venerable, the unified force of eight Dao Venerable techniques hammered down on one spot, unleashing a horrifying might that warped and shattered the Dao's power right there.

Beneath the ripping surge of this immense energy, the golden-light-bathed Spirit of the Fallen Venerable broke apart swiftly too.

However,

Even as it crumbled, the onslaught from Chen Mu and his companions seemed to stir the Dao, sparking a faint spark of awareness in its previously empty gaze. Taking in the chaos around, it was like realization dawned. Fleeting traces of sorrow and reluctance flickered in its eyes before the eight Venerable-level techniques utterly consumed it.

"..."

Chen Mu caught sight of this moment and, drawing back his hand, stood in deep contemplation.

He looked over at Wutian Venerable and the rest. Of course, they had all seen it too. The group halted briefly, and after that momentary silence, Wutian Venerable sighed and explained, "Our strikes disturbed the Dao, just enough to rouse a faint trace of his true self, but merely a trace. Dreaming of pulling him back from the Origin River's depths is pure fantasy, no matter how much we all tried to help."

"Unifying with the Dao to become a Venerable brings an eternal form, yet that eternity demands a price. Lose your will completely to the Origin Dao's corrosion, and you turn into a mere pillar of the Dao, forever lost."

Venerable Sun added from nearby, shaking his head.

Everything in existence follows this pattern. Beings of the Divine Realm escape the ordinary world, but they can't escape the endless cosmos. Dao Venerables soar beyond the cosmos, still bound by the highest laws—only true transcendence frees them to the far shore.

Whether breaking those supreme laws marks the true finale remains unknown, for even Dao Venerables can't peer past transcendence, much like a being trapped in a shell unaware of the world outside until it cracks.

"Let’s go."

Chen Mu stared at the place where the golden form had vanished for a beat, then pressed on alongside the others.

Having broken free from the universe's endless loops, he was on the verge of grasping the Time Dao. For the next ten vast cosmic cycles at minimum, the Dao's erosion wouldn't endanger him, though without full transcendence, he stayed on the journey.

Coming across Spirits of the Fallen Venerable time and again, observing those ancient powerhouses who reached Dao Venerable heights yet couldn't transcend and merged into the Dao, chipped away at the lofty transcendence feeling that had swelled in Chen Mu after his own Venerable ascension. He was still traveling the road, craving more drive to push ahead.

...

"Wait!"

As Chen Mu and Wutian Venerable's group kept advancing, unsure how far into the depths they'd gone, his attention snapped up, signaling everyone to freeze. He shut his eyes a touch, reaching out with his senses.

Wutian Venerable and the companions stopped at once, one of them eyeing Chen Mu and inquiring:

"Chen Venerate, have you discovered something?"

Following a quick probe, Chen Mu's eyes reopened, fixing on a particular spot as he declared gravely, "An Exotic Beast."

"Oh?"

At Chen Mu's statement, the group's expressions shifted subtly.

Doubt never crossed their minds about his claim. After all, as the Void Lineage's Dao Venerable, Chen Mu outshone them in sensing reach. Spirits of the Fallen Venerable carry too much enigma, born from wild Primordial Power, tough to spot early, but Exotic Beasts are solid entities, easy enough to pick up on beforehand.

"Where is it?"

Wutian Venerable pressed right away.

Within the Source Sea, for sheer worth in resources, Primordial Marvels top the list, then come Dao Treasures, with Venerable-level Exotic Beasts trailing. Still, these beasts hold real Primordial essences in their forms, and taking down a Venerable-level one yields useful Primordial understandings and rewards.

Though no greater Dao Treasures had shown up in their search so far, stumbling on a Venerable-level Exotic Beast beat emptiness, making the venture worthwhile at least.

"Follow me."

Chen Mu skipped further talk, darting ahead while masking his presence, veering toward that direction.

Wutian Venerable and the others trailed behind.

Soon enough,

They reached an odd ravine, its whole inside crafted from a rare crystal material—a strange asset, though not rising to Dao Treasure status. It appeals to Nine Layer Heavens' Divine Monarchs, but to Dao Venerables, it's nothing special.

Yet the party's focus skipped that unique crystal jade; instead, their stares locked on a modest mound buried in the ravine's heart. Dubbed a small mound, a nearer look let even Wutian Venerable and company sense the dense Life Force pulsing from this 'small mound.'

Without question, a Venerable-level Exotic Beast!

This Venerable-level Exotic Beast looked forged from see-through jade rocks, sporting a wildly distinct look. A deeper scan showed its frame not just brimming with Creation Power but also hinting at Time's enigma.

"Everyone, attack."

After a quick scan, Wutian Venerable commanded with gravity.

To Dao Venerables, a Venerable-level Exotic Beast barely registers as a danger. The toughest such beast falls to even the lowliest Dao Venerable without much fuss, if killing it proves tricky.

But with eight Dao Venerables assembled here, no Exotic Beast, no matter how stubborn, could endure their united assault, let alone slip away.

Buzz!!!

No need for Wutian Venerable's cue—the Dao Venerables on hand surged in, closing on the Venerable-level Exotic Beast from every angle, and struck together the very next moment.

"Roar."

The fully crystallized Venerable-level Crystal Beast jolted awake instantly, unleashing a furious bellow and wail, its form then blasting out myriad mirror gleams that shot every which way.

Those mirror gleams shot outward fast, linking to the canyon's special crystal jade, merging into a blinding white radiance that almost swallowed Creation, engulfed the Void, and evened out Time!

Evidently,

This was its home ground, the Venerable-level Exotic Beast claiming the superior spot like a built-in formation!

But facing them stood Dao Venerables at the universe's peak, and with eight uniting, they met the setup calmly, deploying their personal arts to fend off the glaring mirror beams from all around.

"Annihilate."

Chen Mu lifted his hand a bit, gathering Void Force in his grip to shape a Void Blade. Swinging the Void Blade, he cleaved through emptiness, pierced the cosmos, and brutally rent the advancing mirror light in his path.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

The Dao's overwhelming forces burst from eight sides at once, clashing fiercely. In moments, they ripped through the expanding mirror light.

The mirror light blanketing the whole ravine split like a torn veil, breached in eight spots. The energy in those rips quaked hard, crumbling the entire mirror light to bits. With it, the ravine's myriad crystal jades fractured too, snapping with sharp cracks.

Crack, crack.

As the ravine's countless crystal jades broke apart, the eight roaring Dao auras at last converged, rushing to suppress the Venerable-level Crystal Beast and slam it into submission!