Legend of Zixia

Chapter 292 Traveling with Dao Yi
The ancient road under the starry sky is silent.

The Mo Clan's fleet was returning from the Primordial Demon Sea laden with spoils. Inside the Saint-level flagship, the Mo Clan members were still basking in the ecstasy of acquiring top-tier divine materials. However, without warning, the void collapsed, and a purple scroll, obscuring the sky and falling like a celestial curtain, stretched across the star path, abruptly severing the entire space. The chains of laws snapped inch by inch, even the starlight was swallowed up.

"Let's do it!"

Pang Bo let out a deep roar, his blood and qi surging like a sea, transforming into an ancient savage dragon that burst forth from the sky. A massive foot, imbued with the aura of destruction, slammed down, shattering the main ship's nine-layered defensive shield like glass. The Golden-Winged Roc King swept his halberd across, unleashing 108,000 sword lights that transformed into a golden storm, shredding the escort fleet into a sky full of sparks. The battle ended extremely quickly; under the cover of the Heaven-Deceiving Array, not even a wisp of a distress signal could reach the Primordial Demon Sea.

The battlefield's devastation was smoothed over by array patterns at a visible speed, leaving only shattered star remains floating slowly in the cold silence.

Zixia strolled among the clouds, her delicate hand waving gently, and the "Primordial Essence," coveted by countless Great Emperor-level forces, fell into her palm. She didn't rush to put it away, but instead, with a solemn expression, recited the "Scripture of Salvation." Brilliant golden light, like heavenly rain, silently seeped into the consciousness of the remaining high-ranking members of the Mo family.

A moment later, the eyes of these Holy Lords, who had previously been glaring and surging with anger, instantly became empty and devout. A memory was quietly implanted: they had been ambushed by mysterious pirates, lost their divine materials, but fought back desperately and survived, now returning at full speed. They would return to the Primordial Demon Sea with this "tragic and fortunate" feeling, becoming the hidden spies that Zixia had quietly infiltrated this star field.

Pang Bo and Long Ma directed their men to clean up the battlefield, but Zi Xia suddenly stopped. She leaned lazily against the void, her purple hair flowing with a dreamlike luster, her slender neck slightly raised, and the corners of her mouth curving into a breathtaking arc.

She did not look towards the departing Mo family, but instead gazed at a desolate, dead-end corner several miles away.

Am I beautiful?

Zixia's voice was soft and melodious, yet it carried a captivating allure and murderous intent that reached the very soul, rippling across the deathly silent starry sky. "If you still refuse to come out after watching for so long, I will have to personally 'invite' you out."

As soon as the words fell, a golden ripple spread across that desolate, dead-end corner. It wasn't an array pattern, nor a supernatural power, but pure Daoist essence manifesting itself.

"Beautiful. Of course it's beautiful."

With a clear laugh, a young man stepped forward. His golden hair was as smooth as silk, shimmering in the dark universe. His teeth were snow-white, and his smile was as radiant as a noble young master emerging from the mortal realm. Yet, upon closer inspection, one would find that not a trace of his aura leaked out—not a concealment, but rather his very existence had merged with the laws of this starry sky. If it weren't for the divine aura that subtly suppressed the heavens with every gesture, anyone would mistake him for a lost scion of a noble family.

He never deliberately concealed his aura, nor did he reveal the slightest hostility. It was as if a long, swift breeze from the starry sky had simply passed by and paused here.

"Dao Yi." The man bowed slightly. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, staring directly at Zixia with an interest as if examining the laws of heaven, yet so clear that not a trace of desecration was allowed.

“Jiang Zixia.” Zixia’s lips curled slightly, and a wisp of purple energy had somehow condensed at her fingertips, subtly blocking all escape routes. “Did you come for the divine materials, or for me?” Her tone was playful, yet every word was like a blade.

Dao Yi laughed heartily, his gaze passing over Zixia, sweeping over Pang Bo and the others behind her who were vaguely forming a battle formation, before finally settling back on Zixia's stunningly beautiful face.

"Of course I came for you." He said casually, as if he were just saying that the weather was nice today.

"What do you want with me?" Zixia's eyes flickered slightly, and purple energy quietly flowed around her.

"I would like to ask you for your help." Dao paused his laughter, his eyes narrowing slightly, a rare seriousness flashing in them. "The bargaining chip is a branch of the Tree of Life."

"One branch won't do, I want half!" Zixia waved her finger.

Dao Yi paused for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. The first half is yours." Upon hearing this, even Pang Bo and Long Ma's pupils contracted sharply. The Ancient Tree of Life, one of the thirty immortal divine herbs, governs life, death, prosperity, and the cycle of creation. Half a tree is enough to make even saints envious and emperors bow down; it was also the imperial herb of Emperor Dao Yan.

"What do I need you to do?" Zixia's voice remained calm.

"Help me reclaim the Tree of Life." Dao Yi's eyes blazed.

Zixia chuckled softly, her purple hair fluttering in the wind: "Trying to get something for nothing? Your Highness Daoyi, I don't even want to talk about your scheme anymore."

She suddenly took half a step closer, her eyes sparkling, a half-smile playing on her lips: "But Your Highness, you're not wearing the Dao Yan Holy Robe today, are you?"

Dao Yi remained unperturbed, still smiling brightly: "Indeed, I don't carry it with me. However..." Before he could finish speaking, a faint golden light suddenly swirled around him, and an immortal divine robe, interwoven with ancient Dao patterns and imperial might, manifested from the void, covering his body. Imperial aura was as vast as the sea, and Dao sounds arose spontaneously. Although not the original, it already possessed the power of an imperial weapon imitation, subtly suppressing the surrounding laws.

Zixia covered her mouth and chuckled, waving her hand lazily: "Alright, Your Highness is amazing, this humble woman will go with you."

She turned around, her jade-like hand rising slightly, and a purple-gold talisman, like a stream of light, entered Ji Ziyue's brow. "I'll leave my alchemy to you. The waters of the Eternal Starfield are quite deep; you can play around with them slowly. I'm going to take care of some private business with this prince."

The Holy Son of the Purple Mansion frowned slightly and stepped forward: "Zixia, this person's origins are a mystery, and his aura is unfathomable. Traveling with him rashly may lead to unforeseen events."

Zixia turned her head, her eyes slightly upturned.

"It's alright." She chuckled softly, her voice like shattered jade striking ice, or like a viper spitting its tongue. "I'm actually hoping he... will change his mind halfway through."

···········
The ripples in the spatial passage gradually subsided, and the hustle and bustle of the eternal main star was completely isolated in another dimension.

Zixia and Daoyi stepped out of the void side by side. What came into view was a desolate, ancient star field, bearing the marks of time. Ahead, an ancient city, seemingly cast entirely in gold, floated silently in the depths of space. Its walls were covered with marks of chiseling and carving, telling tales of the glory and tragedy of the primordial era.

This is one of the most mysterious branches of the Starry Sky Ancient Road—the Golden Ancient Road.

"Of the ancient trials established by the ancient emperors of the Primordial Era, only a few golden ancient cities remain intact today." Dao Yi's golden hair fluttered slightly in the starlight as he leisurely led Zi Xia into the city.

The city was sparsely populated, exuding a deathly stillness. The two arrived without causing any disturbance, heading straight to the deepest part of the ancient city, where a strangely shaped ancient altar stood before them.

The altar, seemingly constructed from the corpses of countless gods and demons, was severely weathered, riddled with cracks and fractures. Engraved on its surface was a gruesome image of fallen corpses—gods collapsed, blood flowing freely, suns falling, the crescent moon crumbling, and countless stars shattering into dust. Even a single glance instilled a profound and oppressive sense of desolation and dread.

"The Mythical Altar. To open the sealed gate leading to the Ancient Mythical Road, the price is considerable." Zixia narrowed her purple eyes slightly. "As far as I know, it requires the nourishment of ten supreme ancient bloods."

"The fairy is indeed knowledgeable." Dao Yi smiled brightly, revealing a set of snow-white teeth. He flipped his wrist, and a specially made leather bag that shimmered with divine light appeared in his palm. "I was prepared."

Having said that, Dao Yi uncorked the bag and poured it out.

(End of this chapter)