Daojun, start from Penglai foundation building

"Duobao is in danger!"

Crane Demon Lord stared at Duobao, who was struggling to hold on under the pressure of the Mahayana Dharma Domain, his palms already damp and cold.

From initially dominating Qingyan and his group of five while fighting them alone, to now being almost suffocated by the pressure of the Mahayana aura, Demon Lord Hewei could see that Duobao's supernatural powers had been reduced by nearly 70% under that pressure.
They have completely fallen into a disadvantageous position!
The Great Ascension cultivator who appeared in the Liuyu Sea Realm was also recognized by the Demon Lord Hewei: that Elder Qingluan was the second elder of the Qingluan clan in Qingzhanjian of the Weiyu Realm, and his name was Qinghua.

However, his most resounding name in all the heavens and myriad realms is: Zhuoyun Feihua Demon Lord!
This is not some wild demon like the Heaven-Shaking Demon Lord who appears out of nowhere and occupies a place with a self-proclaimed title, but a true Mahayana being with a Daoist title recognized by all realms.

This means that this person is not only a primordial demon born from the Azure Phoenix Clan, a sacred land of the demon race in the Weiyu Realm, but also possesses cultivation recognized by all the heavens and myriad realms. The moment he appeared, Demon Lord Hewei knew that Duobao was about to suffer.
As expected, even though the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord had not yet made a move, the pressure of the Mahayana Realm was truly pressing down on Duobao.

The feeling was as if the weight of an entire minor world had been solidified, causing every inch of his soul and body to wail. The space around Duobao cracked and collapsed inch by inch, and the seawater beneath his feet sank into a deep pit. As for the protective aura around him, it was compressed into a thin layer, and fine cracks spread like a spider web, about to be squeezed into dust.

Moreover, they were now under attack from the combined forces of Qingyan, Qingyu, and Qingyun.

Under the omnipresent pressure of the Demon Lord Zhuoyun Feihua, how could Duobao, whose cultivation was less than 30 or 40% of his original level, possibly concentrate on fighting the three of them?

This is not the most terrifying thing; what is even more terrifying is the "gaze" from the Mahayana realm.

The gaze of the Mahayana realm is like countless invisible thorns constantly piercing your soul and spirit to those in the three higher realms who are not Mahayana.

Under such gaze, every thought of yours will become sluggish, and every time you circulate your magic power, it will feel like countless blades cutting your meridians. Ordinary cultivators who have not yet reached the Mahayana stage will not be able to withstand such gaze for long before their Dao heart collapses. The fact that Duobao has been able to hold on until now is because he has cultivated in Xiaopenglai for a long time and has a deep foundation.

"Alone, facing the pressure and watchful eyes of three people under the influence of a Mahayana Realm expert, Duobao won't be able to hold out for long."

He Wei Yaojun's voice was hoarse. After all, not everyone is Jiang Sheng and has the ability to fight against the upper realm. Even Jiang Sheng fought against the Five Tribulations with the Fusion Realm and killed the Mahayana with the Five Tribulations Realm. There is no example of someone who fought against the Mahayana with the Void Refining Realm.

She looked at Ling Yan with a nervous expression, but saw that the True Lord of Penglai remained calm: "That one, does the Demon Lord know him?"

"Of course I know him, or rather, who in the Weiyu Realm doesn't know him?" Crane Demon Lord said with a wry smile, "That is the second elder of the Qingluan Clan, Zhuoyun Feihua Demon Venerable!"

Ling Yan nodded in realization: "Oh, so this is the one. No wonder he dared to make a move around Little Penglai."

His words were spoken calmly, but they made He Wei Yaojun's heart skip a beat. She then realized that Zhuoyun Yaozun's Mahayana Dharma Domain, which covered tens of millions of miles, also included Ling Yan and herself.

At this very moment, they are directly above Little Penglai!
This means that the pressure of the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord covered the entire Little Penglai Island. Even though the pressure was concentrated on Duobao, the aftershocks were enough to crush an ordinary island.

As the Demon Lord He Wei gazed intently, he saw faint starlight flowing above the 108 islands inside and outside Little Penglai. It was the Little Penglai Mountain-Protecting Array: the Small Heavenly Star Array, operating on its own.

Starlight fell like a veil, weakening and dispersing the pressure of the Mahayana, protecting countless creatures on the island, as well as the two people above Little Penglai; it was because of this that she and Lingyan were able to watch the battle safely.

"Why hasn't True Lord Lingyan informed Lingyuan yet?!" Demon Lord Hewei asked anxiously, looking at Duobao's swaying figure.

Ling Yan shook her head, her eyes carrying a calm yet cold scrutiny: "What task did my senior brother assign to True Monarch Duobao this time?"

Before Crane Demon Lord could answer, he asked and answered himself: "My senior brother said that if True Lord Duobao finds those guys from the Azure Phoenix Clan, he should capture them immediately."

"But what did True Lord Duobao do? He became playful and competitive."

Crane Demon Lord wanted to explain: "He is not..."

"Crane Demon Lord!"

Ling Yan interrupted her, her voice becoming serious: "True Lord Duobao is no longer a wandering immortal, but the adjutant of the Three Departments of the Heavenly Court of Justice, a righteous god of the Heavenly Court!"

“Everything he does must be done according to the rules. If he encounters problems while arresting people following his senior brother's orders, then it's not his fault; but he clearly had the opportunity to take them down much earlier, yet he insisted on delaying and fighting! If this delay leads to problems, who will be responsible?”

Ling Yan pointed to the sea below: "The oppressive aura of that Zhuo Yunfei, the Demon Lord, covered the entire Little Penglai! Leaving aside other forces, just consider the countless beings on the 108 islands inside and outside Little Penglai. If they died under the pressure of the Mahayana cultivator, who should be held accountable? Should we look for Zhuo Yunfei, the Demon Lord, or his Duobao Zhenjun?"

"If he had arrested and taken people away earlier, would the Demon Lord Zhuoyunfei have dared to act arrogantly near Little Penglai after seeing the empty Liuyu Sea Realm?"

At this point, Ling Yan said solemnly, "Demon Lord He Wei, you did not participate in the Xuanmen Calamity and do not know the importance of the rules."

“I participated in the Xuanmen Great Tribulation. I experienced the battles of hundreds of billions of Dao soldiers, the clash of hundreds of thousands of Dharma boats, and the chaotic battles of thousands and tens of thousands of Upper Three Realms.”

"Back then, there was no distinction between Penglai, Tianhe, and Qinghua. When you were given a task, you were told to complete it by a certain time. If you failed, it was a mistake and you would be punished. If you were told to defend a place to the death, you could fight until not a single Taoist soldier was left, until you were left with only a wisp of your soul, and you could not retreat!"

"Everything must be done according to the rules and orders, otherwise there will be countless deaths and injuries."

Ling Yan's tone was calm, yet it sent a chill down He Wei Yaojun's spine. It was the lesson learned with countless lives lost, the indifference born from witnessing countless deaths, and the unspeakable, aloof, chess player who viewed the heavens as a game of chess and all living beings as pawns—the Eastern Heaven Daoist.

“Duobao Zhenjun was lucky; he was sealed away by his senior brother before the battle began, so he missed that class.”

Ling Yan looked down at Duo Bao, who was struggling to stay afloat: "Now I've made up for it."

"As for his safety..."

A glint of light flashed in Ling Yan's eyes: "You don't need to worry about that, Demon Lord. After all, this is Little Penglai."

When he said this, his tone carried a sense of self-assurance, not a disregard for the Demon Lord Zhuoyun; the Great Ascension Demon Lord was no easy opponent, everyone knew this, after all, he was at the pinnacle of the Nine Realms, invincible below Pure Yang, although he had never transcended the Three Realms, his lifespan was as long as heaven and earth.

However, Ling Yan knew better than anyone where he was. This was Little Penglai, and the master of Little Penglai, which was twelve million miles away, was the Heavenly Court's Judicial Lord, who was his senior brother Ling Yuan.

And how could he not know his senior brother's abilities?
At this moment, the Liuyu Sea Realm is shrouded in dark clouds, threatening to crush the city.

Dark clouds filled the sky, obscuring the sun; thunder roared, lightning flashed, and towering waves surged.

Even the peaceful Penglai Island, which had enjoyed nearly three thousand years of prosperity, was now engulfed by raging winds and towering waves.

Ten thousand miles of raging waves swept across the sea and sky, tearing the sky apart and causing dark clouds to churn, as if the heavens and earth were hanging upside down.

Among the 108 islands inside and outside Little Penglai, beings had already noticed this strange phenomenon indicating the coming of the end times. Countless beings were filled with fear and unease, and the island lords were even more anxious, sending messages to Little Penglai Immortal Island, hoping to receive a reply from the disciples of Penglai.

However, at the core of Little Penglai, on the Little Penglai Immortal Island that lies between the real and the illusory, a completely different scene unfolds.

White cranes rest leisurely in the bamboo forest, and white monkeys frolic freely in the peach orchard; flocks of magpies fly around the spirit spring, and spirit foxes and white deer rest by the stream.
Auspicious clouds and rosy radiance filled the air, ethereal mists drifted by, the sun and moon hung high overhead, and an endless sea of ​​stars surrounded us on all sides.

This small Penglai Immortal Island, existing between reality and illusion, appears completely undisturbed by the outside world. The protective array has isolated the pressure of Mahayana cultivation, and the island remains a transcendent sacred place for cultivation.

However, in the Xuanqing Hall on the main peak of Xiaopenglai, Tian Ming'an, Qiu Buyu, Li Jianchun, and Huang Ping'an, who had just broken through to the next realm, looked rather grim.

It was easy to tell from the large beads of sweat on their foreheads and their slightly trembling bodies that they were under immense pressure.

Jiang Sheng stood with his hands behind his back in front of the four people.

He wasn't dressed formally; his full head of black hair was casually tied up with a bamboo hairpin, and he wore only a plain white Taoist robe, appearing relaxed and at ease. In front of him, a shimmering water mirror reflected the scene outside Little Penglai.

“You were only at the Nascent Soul or Dharma Aspect stages before. Although you have seen Mahayana Immortals take action, you have never truly experienced the power of a Mahayana Immortal.”

Jiang Sheng's voice was calm: "Now that you have reached the Upper Three Realms, Qinghua from the Weiyu Realm is quite famous among the Mahayana cultivators. How do you perceive his aura?"

Li Jianchun gritted his teeth and said, "I can still bear it!"

Jiang Sheng tapped him on the head impatiently: "I asked how you felt, not whether you could handle it!"

"His oppressive aura was weakened three times by the Lesser Heavenly Cycle Star Array, then weakened again by the interplay of reality and illusion, further weakened by the Sun, Moon, Water, and Fire Array upon entering Little Penglai, and finally weakened by the array of the Xuanqing Palace." Jiang Sheng recounted each point in detail. "All in all, it was weakened at least six times, leaving less than one-tenth of its power. If it hadn't been calculated carefully, would I have allowed you to experience the oppressive aura of a Mahayana cultivator?"

Then, he looked at the most composed Tian Ming'an: "Ming'an, you speak." Tian Ming'an took a deep breath and slowly said: "Reporting to Master, the pressure of the Mahayana is indeed well-deserved."

"Everyone says that the power of Mahayana is terrifying, but I didn't feel it much before. But now that I have broken through to the Void Refinement Realm, I can feel the pressure of Mahayana and know what it means to be terrified and to be powerless to resist."

"If my impression of Mahayana Buddhism before was that it was the pinnacle of the nine realms, high and mighty; now my impression is that it is something that should never be easily provoked!"

Jiang Sheng nodded in satisfaction: "That's right. Ming'an's words are exactly what I wanted to tell you: don't think that just because you've ascended to the Void Refinement Realm and obtained the Dao Fruit, you can roam the world with boundless responsibility."

"You can't defeat those at the peak of the Void Refinement Realm, and you're even less of a match for True Monarchs at the Integration Realm. As for the Mahayana Realm..."

Jiang Sheng paused for a moment: "Crushing you all would be just a matter of a thought."

As he spoke, Jiang Sheng looked at his four disciples and said earnestly, "In the Upper Three Realms, there is never a shortage of those with profound cultivation and great supernatural powers, nor is there a shortage of those with heaven-defying luck and favored by karma. Tell me, what kind of person can live a long life and go far?"

Li Jianchun answered quickly: "Smart!"

Jiang Sheng nodded and looked at Huang Ping'an.

Huang Ping'an pondered for a moment and said, "Master, I thought it was reliable."

Jiang Sheng nodded again, then looked at Qiu Buyu.

Qiu Buyu thought for a moment and said, "Master, I believe he should be conscious."

Jiang Sheng finally looked at Tian Ming'an: "Ming'an, what do you think?"

Tian Ming'an was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Master, I think what Buyu and the two junior brothers said is right. Intelligence, steadfastness, and clear-headedness are all indispensable."

Jiang Sheng smiled.

"Whether it's the Three Realms or the myriad worlds, there's never a shortage of intelligent people or hardworking people. As for the stupid and foolish, they're everywhere."

"The so-called cleverness, wisdom, and skillfulness, and the foolishness, stupidity, and dullness; these fourteen characters encompass all living beings and cover all sentient beings. You say that the clever, clear-headed, and down-to-earth can live a long life, which is not wrong, but only half right."

He pointed to the figure struggling to withstand the oppressive force reflected in the shimmering water mirror:
"I made you feel this pressure from the Mahayana realm so that you would know your own strength and clearly recognize the gap between the two sides. This is a crucial point in the three upper realms; if you want to live a long life and go far on the Great Dao, you must know when to fight and when to run away."

"In the cultivation world, the clever, those who pretend to be clever, the foolish, and those who feign foolishness will die, but they will not die quickly."

Jiang Sheng's gaze pierced through the water mirror, landing on the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord who was displaying his ferocity outside Little Penglai. His voice was calm and cold:
"Those who are blind to reason die the fastest."

Meanwhile, on the surface of the Liuyu Sea, Duobao was already in grave danger.

Under the suppression of the Mahayana Dharma Domain, seventy percent of his cultivation was reduced, and he was in grave danger facing the combined attack of Qingyan, Qingyu, and Qingyun, who were filled with resentment.

We can't hold back any longer.

A resolute glint flashed in Duobao's eyes. He took a deep breath, his Dao Fruit circulated wildly within him, and he pushed the Three Seals, Six Methods, and Nine Treasures Secret Talisman to its limit!
"boom!"

A surge of immense magical power erupted into the sky. Duobao swayed, and a pair of arms sprouted from his shoulders and ribs, while two heads grew from his neck!

Taoist Fighting Divine Power: Three Heads and Six Arms!
As he unleashed his three heads and six arms, Duobao's aura suddenly changed. He wielded the Crimson Flame Spear in both hands, while his remaining four arms held the Mountain-Shattering Ruler, the Flowing Shadow Golden Sword, the Radiant Flame Mirror, and the Heavenly Light White Jade Bottle. The six magical treasures shone brightly, actually managing to carve out a domain within the pressure of the Mahayana aura!
"what?!"

Qingyan and the other two's expressions changed. They had thought that with Duobao suppressed, the three of them working together would be enough to crush him, but they hadn't expected their opponent to have such a trump card!

With all six arms raised, Duobao unleashed the Crimson Flame Spear, which transformed into a fire dragon that tore and gnawed; the Mountain-Shattering Ruler unleashed the power to split mountains and shatter rocks; the Flowing Shadow Golden Sword's light rained down; the Blazing Mirror reflected the blazing flames that scorched the heavens; and the Heavenly Light White Jade Bottle poured out a pure light that purified everything...

With the help of his three heads and six arms, Duobao actually withstood the pressure of the Great Ascension of the Zhuoyun Demon Lord and fought back and forth with Qingyan and the other two, even turning the tide little by little!
"Um?!"

Above the clouds, the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord narrowed his eyes.

He had thought that by unleashing his oppressive aura, he could completely suppress the petty thief, allowing Qingyan and the others to take their revenge with ease—thus preserving the morale of the three promising talents. He never expected the thief to possess such abilities, able to withstand his oppressive aura and even overwhelm Qingyan and the others!
"Are the younger generation of the Azure Phoenix Clan really this incompetent?!" The Fiery Cloud Demon Lord felt a surge of anger.

Subconsciously, he didn't think about how a country bumpkin could possess such a powerful fighting ability as three heads and six arms, which is only found in orthodox esoteric sects. At this moment, he just wanted to end this farce as soon as possible and leave with Qingyan and the others to avoid disturbing the owner of this place.

After all, this is the Liuyu Sea Realm.

With so much time and no reaction from Xiaopenglai, it's time for the Dragon Lord of Liuyu Sea Realm to make a move.

The moment the thought arose, the murderous intent was already brewing.

The sky above the already dark and gloomy Liuyu Sea suddenly collapsed!
A gigantic claw, obscuring the sky and the sun, emerged from the churning clouds of the abyss and reached out to grab Duobao, who was near Little Penglai.

The giant claw was as big as a star, and the wisps of cyan-gold wind wrapped around its claws were actually countless cyan-gold law wisps. Before its claws even touched anything, the void shattered and the earth collapsed wherever the gale passed!
When the Demon Lord Zhuoyun made his move, he used a great divine power to seal space and time.

The Great Divine Power of the Demon Clan of Tianyu Palace in Weiyu Realm: Locking the Void and Sealing God Claw!

This claw not only sealed off the shattered spacetime in all directions, but also remotely subdued Duobao's divine soul and true spirit.

Before the giant claw even landed, Duobao felt the space around him solidify like iron, and even the flow of his magical power became incredibly sluggish. He looked up and, beyond the sky-covering claw, he seemed to see feathers pinning everything in all directions, wings that could sever the flow of time.
There is nowhere to run!
Qingyan, Qingyu, and Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief, then felt somewhat ashamed. Even with the three of them working together and the elders providing support, they still couldn't defeat this evil Taoist. It was truly embarrassing.

Fortunately, all of this is about to end.

Once they return to the Weiyu Realm, they will definitely cultivate diligently and never let today's events repeat themselves!
However, just as the Void-Locking God-Sealing Claw was about to strike, a detached Daoist voice suddenly rang out:

"Is Little Penglai a place where you can extend your claws?!"

The voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears. The voice was cold and indifferent, yet it sounded like thunder, as if the might of the heavens was looking down and making people's hearts tremble.

Before the words were finished, a sword light shot up from the depths of Little Penglai, tearing through the gap between reality and illusion and slashing straight into the sky!

In an instant, sunlight broke through the clouds.

The dark clouds that stretched for billions of miles receded like a tide, and the darkness that had enveloped the world was cleaved open by a single sword strike.

Where the sword light passed, the power of law carried by the Locking Void God-Sealing Claw crumbled inch by inch, and a fine slash appeared on that indestructible, sky-covering giant claw of the Mahayana realm.

"Wow!!!"

A mournful cry echoed through the sky.

The Great Vehicle Dharma Domain of the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord shattered completely, and the majestic divine bird shadow that spanned tens of millions of miles disintegrated and dissipated. Azure-gold demon blood rained down from the sky, and an enormous claw fell from the clouds and crashed into the sea, splashing up waves that stretched for tens of thousands of miles!

Qingyan and the others stared in astonishment: those claws
Why does it look so much like an elder's hand?!

Meanwhile, high above the clouds, the Blazing Cloud Demon Lord was clutching his severed arm, both shocked and furious!
Just a moment ago, only a moment!
His domain was shattered and his true form was scattered. His protective demonic aura was broken in the most brutal way, and his arm was severed!
The Mahayana Dharma Domain, the Mahayana Pressure, the true form of the Heavenly Demon, the Mahayana Divine Power, and even the protective demonic aura were all cleaved apart!

"Which powerful figure made this move?!"

The Demon Lord Zhuoyun was shocked: Could it be that the commotion he had caused was too great, and the Dragon Ancestor of the South Sea Dragon Palace could no longer tolerate it?!

He looked at the wound with surprise and uncertainty, only to see that the severed arm was as smooth as a mirror, with wisps of sharp sword energy swirling around it. The sword energy was majestic and sharp, carrying an aura that made even him feel a chill.
It seemed as if the end of days was approaching, as if the final calamity was imminent; it was the most profound and concentrated meaning of disaster.
A sign of calamity?!
The Three Calamities Annihilate the Sword Intent?!
Realizing something, the Demon Lord Zhuoyun suddenly looked up, gazing at the direction from which the sword had come: that direction was clearly...
Little Penglai!
Above Little Penglai, Ling Yan, with an expression of utter certainty, smiled slightly at the astonished Demon Lord He Wei:
"See? Senior brother has made his move." (End of Chapter)