Zi Lianji stood quietly to the side, his head lowered, with a somewhat somber expression, lost in thought.

"Sigh..."

Zi Wenzhong saw this and secretly sighed.

As a father, no one understood his son better than he did.

Zi Lianji managed to reach the third position on the Cloud Top Ranking; his talent was indisputable, among the top tier in Jiu Zhou. The key was, he was diligent, training day and night without rest. Even the Sect Leader once said personally: "In less than two cycles, Lianji should become the foremost in Martial Arts."

But he ended up encountering the freak, Chen Mo.

In the Cangyun Mountain Secret Realm, Chen Mo transcended a major realm and severely wounded him with one strike, shattering his pride and self-respect along with it.

Furthermore, the Fairy Qingxuan, whom he had admired for a long time, also fell into Chen Mo's embrace, causing Zi Lianji's Dao Heart to break, nearly leaving him unable to recover until Huo Wuya and Zi Wenzhong took turns counseling him out of the gloom.

Since then, Zi Lianji set his life's goal to defeat Chen Mo.

Yet, within just a few short months, Chen Mo broke through to the Third-Level of Celestial Human Realm, becoming the youngest Grandmaster of the Great Yuan!

At the same time, he also absorbed the extreme Sword Intent of the Sword Washing Pool and consolidated his Dao Seal, just one step away from the Second-Level!

It's undeniable that they were no longer on the same level anymore. Even if Zi Lianji had a miraculous fortune, it would be difficult to even see Chen Mo's back!

However, Zi Wenzhong naturally couldn't voice these thoughts. What Zi Lianji needed most now was confidence.

He put down his teacup, cleared his throat, and said, "Lianji, you don't need to think too much. The Sect Master gave Chen Mo the true understanding of Martial Arts merely to deal with Consort Yu."

"That is the Ultimate Venerable's insights; how could it be so easily comprehended?"

"Chen Mo cannot stay on Martial Saint Mountain forever. Now, you're just one step away from breaking through to the Third Grade, and with the Sect Master's personal guidance, you might surpass Chen Mo in the future... Cough, cough, at least in terms of Martial Arts attainment, you definitely won't lose to him!"

Hearing this, Zi Lianji's expression softened a bit, nodding, "I will work hard, not to surpass others, but to be stronger than the self of yesterday."

Zi Wenzhong smiled with satisfaction, "With this thought, your father is at ease."

Zi Lianji inquired, "Father, have you been feeling better?"

"Minor injuries, nothing serious," Zi Wenzhong waved his hand.

He was first charred inside and out by Chen Mo, then sent flying with a resentful palm strike from the Daoist Venerable, which did hurt his muscles and bones somewhat, but fortunately, it didn't harm his foundation; he would recover after some rest.

Though, thanks to the Sect Master's mediation, the matters were cleared up and the conflicts resolved, but thinking of being trampled in front of many disciples by a young boy did leave him a bit sullen.

"Hmph, I just underestimated him."

"If there was a next time, I would make sure he pays dearly..."

At that moment, a commotion suddenly came from outside.

Zi Wenzhong, perceiving something, furrowed his brows and flash-stepped out of the main hall.

Zi Lianji realized and hurriedly followed along.

The disciples gathered on the square, all looking up towards Lingxiao Peak.

"Look over there, is that a heavenly phenomenon?"

"Why is there someone there, looks like... Mr. Chen?"

A mass of dark clouds lay over the peak, and against that gloomy backdrop, a tall figure hovered in mid-air, his robes billowing noisily.

"Chen Mo?" Zi Wenzhong's figure materialized, and upon seeing this scene, his brow furrowed, "What kind of trick is this kid up to now?"

Just then, Chen Mo suddenly moved.

His figure twisted, raising his right hand, slowly punching towards the direction of Qiyun Peak.

?!

In Zi Wenzhong's heart, a sense of alarm suddenly surged!

His keen Spiritual Sense allowed him to react immediately, without any hesitation, his sleeve billowed, and the Dharma Image unfolded, transforming into a light shield that enveloped the above.

Boom! 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The next moment, it was as if thunder roared beside their ears!

An invisible force instantly tore through the light shield, without losing momentum, blasting Zi Wenzhong himself away!

Simultaneously, below, Qiyun Peak trembled violently, like thunder bounding through ten thousand valleys, reverberating loudly in the ears, and the thousand-zhang-high peak that soared into the clouds was severed at the waist, its rocky face ripping apart, toppling backward!

On the square, people swayed uncontrollably, unable to stand, expressions filled with horror.

"I must have seen wrong... Did Mr. Chen really shatter Qiyun Peak with a single punch?!"

"Run, run quickly!"

Someone regained their wits, attempting to fly and flee for their lives, but the fierce wind generated by the punch bore down on them, pinning them securely to the ground, leaving them to plummet together with the collapsing mountain mass!

Buzz——

At this moment, the rock wall lit up with complex seal script.

Beams of light shot out, wrapping around the fractured mountain body, forcibly pulling it back together and reuniting it.

As the tremors slowly calmed and the sky was cleared of dust, Zi Wenzhong's figure emerged.

His figure was hunched, standing at the edge of the cliff, his feet plowing a gorge dozens of yards long on the ground. His clothes were shattered, revealing strong, bare muscles, and his entire left arm was bloody, with broken bones protruding through his skin!

"What the hell is going on?!"

Zi Wenzhong's face was pale, his chest heaving violently.

He had never seen such power, unable to resist it, nor evade it. His Dharma Image and martial body were completely destroyed, as if everything was already decided the moment Chen Mo punched!

Fortunately, he dodged in time and only grazed his arm, otherwise it would have been a grave injury!

Moreover, the entire process did not leak a trace of energy, even the Sect Protection Array didn't react, only activating when the peak crumbled. A moment's delay, and Qiyun Peak might have been reduced to ruins!

"Father, are you okay?" Zi Lianji flew in, landing before him.

"Cough, cough, I'm okay." Zi Wenzhong's expression was somewhat embarrassed.

Earlier he kept insisting he underestimated his opponent and thus lost to Chen Mo, only to be punched away in turning around, truly a blow to his old pride.

"Roar!"

Suddenly, a soul-stirring roar echoed.

The two exchanged a glance, their expressions slightly stunned, and immediately looked up.

The dark clouds hovering above Lingxiao Peak tore apart, sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the green stone sculpture of the alien beast in front of the hall.

Under the incredulous eyes of all, the stone sculpture began to tremble.

The surface cracked, fragments falling in showers, revealing a true form—

Magnificent, its body several yards tall, two crystal-like horns on its forehead, a broad face with a square mouth, exuding an aura of authority, covered entirely in five-colored scales, its four hooves stepping on frost and snow, soaring towards Chen Mo.

"Guardian Qilin?!"

Zi Wenzhong's face changed, exclaiming, "Chen Mo must've caused too much commotion and startled Elder Lingxiao, this has really blown up... Hmm?!"

The next scene made his expression suddenly stiffen.

The five-colored Qilin circled Chen Mo a few times, then drew close to sniff him, and then lay down, gently rubbing Chen Mo's hand with its forehead, showing an intensely affectionate attitude.

It looked like...

A puppy?

Zi Wenzhong: (O_o)??

...

...

Within the Illusory World, Chen Mo stood atop the mountain, slowly withdrawing his swung fist.

The sky before him shattered like a mirror, the whole world rapidly collapsing.

He had been immersed in mysterious comprehension all along, unaware of how long he had stayed here. When his consciousness resurfaced, everything had come naturally.

"There is mutual repulsion between the origin energies, unable to integrate. However, Dragon Qi can somehow represent the Heavenly Dao Will, just right to be used as a 'catalyst.'"

"Ultimately, melding several laws into one, forming my own 'Dao,' the resulting effect was unexpectedly strong."

[Host comprehends the Great Dao Law...]

[Law type unknown, host may self-add name.]

The system notification flashed by.

"Name it myself?"

Chen Mo pinched his chin, thoughtfully pondering.

"This law retains the destructiveness of Returning Ruins and tribulations, yet contains the vitality of remaking creation, simultaneously able to target enemies using the Law of Cause and Effect, leaving no escape..."

"Then let's simply call it Void Genesis."

[Name confirmed.]

[Obtained the Power of Laws: Void Genesis.]

"Hey, where's the old man? Was my punch satisfactory?" Chen Mo glanced around, speaking out.

The old man's phantom reappeared, gazing at Chen Mo with a complex expression. After a long silence, he spoke softly, "I was just speaking casually, yet you truly achieved it?"