All the gathered powers began to surge. Above Xu Zimo’s head, a strand of black energy twisted and coiled until it finally took on the shape of a fruit. That darkness continued to condense. At the same time, countless edicts were drawn out from the God World, converging upon him like a raging flood.

Within these forces were swords, blades, and the intents of myriad weapons. There were fists, kicks, and formless strikes. There was darkness, light, immortality, corrosion, every type of elemental edict imaginable.

In short, the Absolute Annihilation Dao Fruit was like a massive furnace pulling infnite power into itself.

The power of Absolute Annihilation grew stronger and stronger. Even the surrounding void struggled to withstand it, as though it might shatter. The Dao Fruit continued forming, its pressure blanketing the entire True Martial Mountain. The cultivators cultivating within the mountain were all forced out.

“Ancestor,” San Dao approached the True Martial Progenitor, astonished. “What is happening?”

“Have everyone withdraw from True Martial Mountain. Do not disturb him while he condenses the Dao Fruit,” the ancestor said.

San Dao nodded. His three killing blades crossed horizontally through the void, suppressing the entire space so no living being could get within half a step.

“This Infinite Dao realm…” San Dao felt panic rise in his chest. “I feel my Three Blade Dao Fruit trembling.”

“My True Martial Dao Fruit is trembling as well,” the ancestor replied with a nod.

“How can that be?” San Dao asked, horrified.

“Because our Dao Fruits feel threatened. This Dao Fruit truly inspires fear,” the ancestor said with a laugh. “Still, for my True Martial Sacred Ground to produce someone like this… it puts my mind at ease for our attempt to strike down the heavens.”

“Now that he’s forming a Dao Fruit, he’s like I once was, a Dao Fruit stage cultivator,” San Dao said. “With his strength, as long as he doesn’t encounter someone who has opened the Three Blossoms, he should be able to protect himself.”

The True Martial Progenitor nodded slightly. He focused on Xu Zimo’s head. The Absolute Annihilation Dao Fruit had already taken shape by more than half and was devouring the spirit energy of heaven and earth over a vast region. Even the space around the ancestor fell into a brief spirit vacuum. But with a wave of his hand, endless spirit energy from distant realms surged in, pouring entirely into Xu Zimo’s Dao Fruit.

Once the Dao Fruit stabilized, San Dao hesitated.

“Speak your mind,” the ancestor said.

“Do you truly intend to move the entire True Martial Sacred Ground to the Upper Heavens?” San Dao finally asked.

The sect was far too insignificant for the Upper Heavens, or even for the current Absolute God Heaven. After a million years of decline, how could it be rebuilt overnight? Their apparent prosperity was merely a facade. Once these elders left to battle the heavens, would the entire burden fall on Xu Zimo? But Xu Zimo had his own path to walk. He could watch over the sect for a time, but he would never be bound to it. Everyone knew this. He would leave eventually. And when that happened, without his protection, the sect would be completely vulnerable in the Upper Heavens.

“San Dao, do you think I haven’t considered this?” the True Martial Progenitor said. “I will give the sect time. For a thousand years, all the resources of the Absolute God Heaven will be open to the True Martial Sacred Ground. Then we will open our gates wide and take in as many disciples as possible. With your efforts and mine, we should be able to nurture several strong figures. Once the sect has established itself, that will be the moment we head to the Upper Heavens. And even after we arrive, we won’t immediately challenge the heavens. We’ll still have time. Only when everything is ready will we move. As for why we must go to the Upper Heavens, its soil is the most suitable for the rise of the True Martial Sacred Ground. I founded this sect with my own hands. If it can rise in the Upper Heavens, it will make all my efforts worthwhile. But if it is truly destroyed, then after we strike down the heavens, the sect no longer has a reason to exist.”

San Dao’s heart sank. He understood. The original purpose of founding the sect had been to give disciples from the Primordial Heartlands a home. At that time, the True Martial Progenitor had just become an emperor, and his final home was the Nine Heavens. But now, with plans changed, the Nine Heavens could no longer contain him. He was going to defy the heavens, and the sect needed to separate from him and stand on its own. As the saying went, children and grandchildren must walk their own road. Before leaving, he would leave everything he could to the sect. Whether it rose or fell afterward would depend on the sect itself, and its disciples.

…

As the two spoke, Xu Zimo’s Dao Fruit finished taking shape. That pitch-black fruit seemed capable of erasing all existence. The power of Absolute Annihilation roared through the world. Wherever it passed, it left nothing behind. Time and space withered. Grass and trees shriveled. Living beings lost their vitality. Mountains and rivers crumbled.

It didn’t matter who you were, an ancient existence, divine beings of the heavens, immortals who had lived countless years, primordial trees of the firmament, or forbidden-life entities, under the Absolute Annihilation power, there was only one outcome.

Death.

When the Absolute Annihilation Dao Fruit fully formed, a complete Absolute Annihilation Edict shot into the sky, piercing the clouds and breaking through the winds. The heavens turned red.

Then blood rained from the sky.

…

The faint patter of red rain grew into a torrential downpour. The rain didn’t fall only on the Absolute God Heaven, it enveloped all Nine Heavens. Every living being was stunned.

“What’s happening? Blood rain out of nowhere!”

“Is this a disaster? Some kind of ominous sign?”

Ancient beings attempted to calculate the heavenly secrets, trying to determine the cause of the blood rain, but all they saw was haze. Only beings at the level of the True Martial Progenitor could sense faint traces of heaven and earth’s emotions.

The ancestor closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Heaven and earth are crying. They are afraid. Old Villainous Heaven, so you do know fear.”

He looked toward Xu Zimo. The Absolute Annihilation Dao Fruit was complete, fully condensed. Even though the Primordial Edict of Absolute Annihilation had withdrawn, the faint strands leaking out were enough to make anyone tremble.

Xu Zimo drew the Dao Fruit back into his body and slowly opened his eyes. He exhaled a long breath. That breath, sharp like an extinction blade, cut a massive scar through the void.

“It’s done,” Xu Zimo said with a smile.

“How do you feel?” San Dao asked.

“Incredible. Better than ever,” Xu Zimo replied.

Though he had yet to master edicts or create a Primordial Spirit, the Dao Fruit was formed, and that meant he had crossed the most critical threshold.