Heaven's Pivot Bows to the Dao

The sky was ink-black, with lightning flickering across it.

When the familiar spatial vortex appeared above Fang Zheng's head once more, the Heavenly Dao of the Celestial Pivot Star Domain immediately intervened again!

Last time, when it had fought this Outer-Demon to a standstill, it had been prepared to exhaust the power of all living beings in a desperate battle—only for him to slip away. Fine, the Celestial Pivot Heavenly Dao had no intention of paying a devastating price just to eliminate one Outer-Demon, lest the world itself degrade.

But what it absolutely could not tolerate was that, while fleeing, this demon had left behind his mark in this realm!

At that moment, the Celestial Pivot Heavenly Dao felt... tainted. It was as if this Outer-Demon could sneak in through a backdoor at any moment, and sooner or later, the world might even be reshaped in his image!

Was this right?

No, it was absolutely wrong!

The Celestial Pivot Star Domain belonged to its own inhabitants—no Outer-Demon was permitted to lay a finger on it!

Thus, the Heavenly Dao immediately mustered its forces, dispatching a group of decrepit Sovereigns lurking in the Forbidden Zones to the Fang Clan to erase the demon’s mark. Meanwhile, it lurked in the shadows, ready to strike with the fury of thunder at a moment’s notice.

The moment that damned Outer-Demon dared show his face—he’d be obliterated!

"BOOM—!!!"

The instant Chen Yi stepped halfway out of the spatial passage, the most terrifying bolt of lightning came crashing down!

This strike not only carried the boundless wrath of the Celestial Pivot Heavenly Dao but also the collective will of trillions of living beings in the star domain.

Even a flawless Great Emperor at the peak of their power would be crippled or killed on the spot if struck by this!

But alas, this one-star avatar of Chen Yi was no pseudo-Great Emperor who relied on so-called Heavenly Heart Imprints to match the Heavenly Dao. No—he was an otherworldly visitor, a genuine Outer-Demon who had reached the pinnacle of the Tribulation Transcendence stage by suppressing the Heavenly Dao with his own path!

BOOM—!!!

The celestial thunder surged over Chen Yi, yet he stood unshaken. With leisure, he even refined the vast power within the heavenly lightning, condensing it into a pure essence before casually stuffing it into Fang Zheng’s body.

The kid had suffered severe injuries to trigger the help quest, his vital energies in complete disarray. Right now, he was clinging to life purely through sheer willpower. If left untreated, he’d burn through his life force and die on his own.

As the group leader, Chen Yi naturally wouldn’t let a precious member die right before his eyes!

A surge of heavenly thunder essence, brimming with immense vitality, poured into Fang Zheng’s body—his fate was now in Chen Yi’s hands, not Heaven’s!

Squelch, squelch—

Blood gushed from Fang Zheng’s entire body, yet his vitality only grew more vigorous!

In the blink of an eye, the thick, murky blood accumulated over years was completely expelled, replaced by refined blood infused with Tribulation Transcendence aura and fragments of the Heavenly Dao’s will!

At this point, Fang Zheng had, in a way, reached parity with the Heavenly Dao. His cultivation aptitude had shattered the world’s limits, reaching an absurd level!

Compared to his son, Fang Fan—who was hailed as having the potential of a Great Emperor—it wasn’t just a matter of crushing superiority. No, it was more like: your dad will always be your dad!

"Hiss—!"

Gasps of shock rose in the distance.

The twenty-four Sovereigns stared with eyes as wide as bronze bells.

A strike even a flawless Great Emperor couldn’t withstand—and he just casually grabbed and refined it in an instant?

Was this for real?

If it wasn’t, they’d eat their words!

Just what kind of monstrosity were they up against?

If they were all at their peak, the twenty-four of them working together might stand a chance.

But now, with their vitality withered, even if they ignited their remaining lifeforce to briefly regain their prime, they wouldn’t last long. Could they really take down this terrifying Outer-Demon?

Some Sovereigns were already considering retreat.

They had hidden in the Forbidden Zones precisely because they feared death, harvesting the spiritual essence of living beings to prolong their lives. Faced with such an unfathomable enemy, why throw their lives away?

What?

The Heavenly Dao said that if they didn’t fight now, they’d likely be killed by this Outer-Demon later?

Sorry, couldn’t hear that!

Even if he did come for them, couldn’t they just run?

Better others die than themselves—the slowest would be the frontline sacrifices!

As if sharing a single mind, half the Sovereigns instantly retreated without a sound, while the other half, still hesitating, quickly made up their minds and scattered in all directions!

Every Sovereign was gambling that the Outer-Demon wouldn’t chase them—and even if he was strong, surely he couldn’t kill them all while the Heavenly Dao stalled him!

"BOOM—!!!"

Betrayed, the Heavenly Dao raged. Several heavenly bolts meant for Chen Yi twisted mid-air, lashing toward the fleeing Sovereigns—only to be effortlessly dodged.

Chen Yi’s expression turned odd.

Were these guys really this cowardly?

Not even the courage to face him, just straight-up fleeing?

Honestly, if they had actually joined forces with the Heavenly Dao, his ordinary one-star avatar—with a mere nine hundred million combat power—might not have held up. He’d have needed to summon a second avatar to suppress them all.

"Seems this backup avatar won’t be necessary. So, what now? Still want to resist?"

Chen Yi shook his head, revealing a violet sphere in his palm as he smirked toward the depths of the heavens.

"RUMBLE—!!!"

The heavens trembled as the Celestial Pivot Star Domain’s Heavenly Dao descended with an ethereal will, its voice vast and solemn:

"Mighty visitor from beyond, what is it you seek?"

Hearing this, Chen Yi’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile.

"Oh? Not calling me an Outer-Demon anymore? I much preferred your earlier arrogance. Care to bring that back?"

"BOOM—!!!" The firmament quaked as the Heavenly Dao coldly retorted, "Do not push your luck!"

"Heh..." Chen Yi chuckled darkly. "Am I the one pushing it? I merely came as a guest, yet you struck me with heavenly lightning without so much as a word. Was that not overstepping?"

The Heavenly Dao fell silent for a moment before slowly responding, "You slaughtered the beings of my domain without permission. Does that abide by guest etiquette? Thus, my divine punishment was justified!"

"Spare me your hypocrisy!" Chen Yi flicked his sleeve, his voice icy. "When those Sovereigns massacred lives to plunder spiritual essence and prolong their wretched existences, where were you? When the people wept and begged the heavens for justice, were you blind?"

"I merely killed a thousand or so, and you couldn’t sit still?"

"What gives you the right to lecture me? Who do you think you are?!"

The Heavenly Dao was silent.

Was this the same?

This was sheer sophistry!

Internal conflicts were internal affairs—destruction paved the way for greater prosperity. What right did an uninvited outsider have to interfere?

Just because he was strong?

...Well, yes. That was exactly why.

In principle, no outsider should meddle in a world’s internal struggles. But principles were in his hands now.

In this world, strength dictated justice!

After a long hesitation, the Celestial Pivot Heavenly Dao finally yielded.

"Esteemed visitor from beyond, you appear to bear no ill intent. Might I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?"