Wang Xiao gazed at the thought in his hand, a flicker of understanding dawning in his mind.

He guessed that the Tier Seven Life must have suffered a grievous wound.

That was why its attempt to refine the planet had failed.

However, the Tier Seven Life was not assimilated by the planet’s consciousness. Instead, it transformed into a Celestial Demon, unleashed the great calamity upon Heaven and Earth, and began gradually devouring the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism to restore its body.

It also used all living things as nourishment to restore its own Yin Spirit Thoughts!

This Layman’s Certificate Cultivation Technique was most likely passed down by this Tier Seven Life as well.

Anyone who practiced it would inevitably absorb its thoughts, ultimately falling under its control.

It was all an intricate, interlocking plot, solely for the sake of its ultimate, complete revival!

’However, this thought doesn’t contain the consciousness of the Tier Seven Life. The Celestial Demon probably hasn’t revived yet, so its consciousness hasn’t awakened either. This is an opportunity for me. The thought is rich with Spiritual Energy. Once I refine it, my Great Daoist Nascent Soul will be greatly enhanced.’

Wang Xiao’s eyes flickered.

He had a vague feeling about the Ninth Limit Breaking beyond the Dao Realm. Although it was said to target the physical body, he suspected that if his Great Daoist Nascent Soul wasn’t strong enough, it wouldn’t be able to support the body’s transformation.

The physical body and the Yin Spirit have always been intimately connected!

Normally, Wang Xiao wouldn’t have been able to refine this thought from a Tier Seven Life on his own.

However, now that he possessed Three Inches of the Human World and the Samadhi True Flame, he had a hope of success.

Three Inches of the Human World was the manifestation of the planet’s consciousness, capable of expelling all non-human spirits.

By the same token, it could also assimilate these spirits, turning them into its own energy and nourishment.

Since Wang Xiao now mastered Three Inches of the Human World, he naturally wielded this ability as well.

It would take some time, but he could refine the Tier Seven Life’s thought, convert it into his own nourishment, and enhance his Great Daoist Nascent Soul!

He didn’t dwell on it further.

Wang Xiao looked at Zen Master Kong Ming:

"Master, I’m not just helping you; I’m helping myself. The great calamity is upon us. If we can’t work together, I fear our deaths are not far off."

A complex look appeared in Zen Master Kong Ming’s eyes:

"There is truth in what you say. If Master Wang hadn’t intervened, I would still be desperately fighting over the illusory authority of the Underworld." He sighed. "How ridiculous."

He never could have imagined that the entire great calamity was being orchestrated from behind the scenes!

All of us living beings were nothing more than its pawns.

This immense disparity filled him with anger, but also a profound sense of helplessness!

An entity that used all life as its pawns... even Dao Realm Cultivators like them couldn’t escape.

He couldn’t even begin to imagine the strength of the being behind it all!

The other Dao Realm experts, having also heard the conversation between Wang Xiao and Zen Master Kong Ming, descended to the ground and walked over.

"Master Kong Ming, what in the world is going on?!"

"Do we really have someone else’s thoughts inside our Great Daoist Nascent Souls?"

"How is that possible? What Master Wang just said... was it actually true?!"

All the Dao Realm experts were overcome with utter disbelief.

But the facts were laid out before their eyes, leaving them no choice but to believe.

Just moments ago, they had all seen it with their own eyes: a thought being stripped away from Zen Master Kong Ming’s Great Daoist Nascent Soul.

The thought’s aura was completely different from Zen Master Kong Ming’s. Moreover, it was exceptionally powerful; it couldn’t possibly be his.

Zen Master Kong Ming chanted the Buddha’s name, "Amitabha. It is just as Master Wang said. The great calamity is nothing but a conspiracy, and we are merely its pawns. Once the Celestial Demon revives, I fear the thoughts hidden within our Yin Spirits will also awaken and seize control of us all."

"This..."

Upon receiving Zen Master Kong Ming’s confirmation, all the Dao Realm experts were too shocked to speak.

The truth was simply too terrifying.

Despite having cultivated for millennia and being worldly and experienced, they couldn’t process it right away.

Wang Xiao addressed the assembled Dao Realm experts:

"The situation is what it is. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t have a chance to turn the tables. It treats us like pawns, so we will flip the board. But to do that, I’ll need all of your help."

After a moment of silence from the Dao Realm experts, Wandering Cloud gritted his teeth and spoke up first. "In that case, we ask Master Wang to proceed!"

Seeing as Zen Master Kong Ming was unharmed after the process, he was willing to try it as well.

He had no desire to have his Great Daoist Nascent Soul unknowingly stolen from him!

"Very well. Please stand guard for me."

Wang Xiao activated the Tai Chi Diagram again, which transformed into an Eight Trigrams Furnace and swiftly enveloped Wandering Cloud.

The powers of Three Inches of the Human World and the Samadhi True Flame erupted forth.

A moment later, the Tier Seven Life’s thought within Wandering Cloud’s body was also stripped out and taken into Wang Xiao’s control.

When the other Dao Realm experts saw this, they no longer hesitated, each stepping forward to be purified by Wang Xiao’s Samadhi True Flame.

The process took about as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Only then did Wang Xiao let out a sigh of relief, having gathered all of the Tier Seven Life’s thoughts into his hand.

He estimated it would take some time to refine all of these thoughts.

"Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable."

"Master Wang, where is the one who orchestrated this great calamity? And how can we possibly defeat it?!"

"That’s right, Master Wang! You said it’s still dormant. What if it awakens one day? We’re no match for it!"

All the Dao Realm experts looked at the thoughts in Wang Xiao’s hand, their faces filled with worry.

An entity capable of secretly embedding its thoughts into their Great Daoist Nascent Souls, controlling the Celestial Demon, and unleashing a great calamity upon the world!

Such power was far beyond their ability to overcome.

Wang Xiao’s expression was calm as he said, "The entity’s consciousness should still be slumbering in the Underworld. If we can get into the Underworld, we might be able to kill it in one fell swoop before it fully recovers its strength."