Chapter 422: Heart and Tao in Harmony

Luo Feng watched the endlessly winding giant snake before him. The giant snake stared back at Luo Feng with coldness and anger.

"Stop?" Luo Feng looked at the other party, smiling calmly. "Ancestor Infinite Serpent, I haven't been doing much killing lately."

Ancestor Infinite Serpent glared at Luo Feng in annoyance. Although unwilling to admit it, it knew clearly that this newly emerged cultivator lord was already a formidable enemy to the Innate Origin Faction!

This powerful enemy possessed immense strength, which was rapidly increasing. According to their estimations, Lord Luo Feng might surpass Lord Starlight in the future, becoming their most significant threat.

"Lord Luo Feng," Ancestor Infinite Serpent boomed, "in the past hundred eras, you've intercepted and killed all 'world-level Origin Beings' that devoured source worlds. Over 7,000 'world-level Origin Beings' have died by your hand! You haven't continued the slaughter recently because... those world-level Origin Beings are now terrified and dare not consume source world resources anymore."

"That's a good thing," Luo Feng nodded slightly. "Innate Origin Beings are born outside the cage! The endless Origin Space also nurtures various resources that allow them to grow. They have no need to devour the essence of source worlds."

"Without devouring the essence of source worlds, Innate Origin Beings can still grow stronger and become ancestors," Luo Feng said, smiling at Ancestor Infinite Serpent. "This way, Innate Origin Beings and source world beings won't have to be mortal enemies!"

Ancestor Infinite Serpent gasped.

Not devour?

Innate Origin Beings comprise many races. Some races benefit immensely from devouring the essence of source worlds, while for others, the effect is moderate or even nonexistent.

However, the Infinite race was considered the most effective at devouring the essence of source worlds! Forcing them to abandon this practice would diminish their chances of producing ancestors by 70 to 80 percent!

"Source worlds are spread throughout the boundless Origin Space. Why should we abandon this resource?" Ancestor Infinite Serpent retorted angrily. "You don't represent all Innate Origin Beings." Luo Feng looked at it. "Since you insist on devouring source worlds, it's only right that you face the backlash from their inhabitants!"

"Let me warn you," Ancestor Infinite Serpent said. "Your obstruction prevents many races from devouring source world resources. While various races can endure this for a short time, prolonged deprivation will inevitably lead to a new war. When the flames of war sweep through your cultivator domain, and numerous world clusters fall, you will bear the consequences."

"I promise you that once war begins, its flames will surely engulf your territory."

Luo Feng looked at it. "Start another war? Do you have that capability?" Luo Feng scoffed inwardly.

Ancestor Infinite Serpent's rallying power within the Innate Origin Faction was indeed the strongest, yet it remained limited! Among the ancestors of the Innate Origin Faction, only five were truly immortal, while over a hundred others could perish. Without a significant advantage or sufficient safety, how many would truly be willing to participate in a war?

"Alright, let's wait for now," Ancestor Infinite Serpent knew it couldn't push the issue. Moreover, compared to other lords, Luo Feng's strength was indeed a mystery.

"Don't worry," Luo Feng said calmly. "At least I'm reasonable; I only target world-level Origin Beings who devour source worlds. Starlight is unreasonable; he slaughters them one by one just to complete a lineage! The former Lord Starlight killed tens of thousands of world-level Origin Beings to collect all the Innate Origin bloodlines!"

"During the last war, I had just become a lord, and my methods were ordinary; I only managed to kill a few ancestors," Luo Feng grinned. "My strength has recently broken through, so if there's another war, I'll definitely give you a bigger surprise!"

He thought of the terrifying 'Great Origin Annihilation'! Luo Feng's current strength had clearly advanced further, and his methods would undoubtedly be more formidable.

"As long as your cultivator faction can bear the consequences!" Ancestor Infinite Serpent left with a cold remark, its form dissolving into nothingness and disappearing completely.

Luo Feng stood in mid-air.

As long as he acted, he would indirectly protect countless beings.

"Annihilating all source world devourers—this is a vast goal!"

"Even if I master the Origin Blade Dao, I might not necessarily achieve it."

"However, Luo Feng is willing to act like the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains, taking it one step at a time, for all the endless eras to come." Luo Feng's recent interception of world-level Origin Beings demonstrated a truth: actions lead to results.

With strength, there are results.

"Because showing mercy to Innate Origin Beings who devour source worlds is cruelty to the cultivator race."

"The greatest mercy towards the cultivator race is to annihilate all those who devour source worlds!"

All who devour source worlds or their inhabitants shall be mercilessly slain! Not a single one shall remain!

Blood Sea Island: Heart and Dao Aligned:

On the island deep within the Blood Sea, Luo Feng, clad in white with white hair and draped in a blood-red robe, sat cross-legged!

Time flowed on. Seven hundred eras had passed since Luo Feng began intercepting world-level Origin Beings that devoured source worlds.

Over these seven hundred eras, numerous avatars had traveled everywhere, observing the histories of various source worlds.

Luo Feng had surveyed all source worlds, not only those beyond the cultivator domain but also those within it. "Seven hundred eras have passed, and I've seen all the source worlds," Luo Feng said, his eyes filled with a complex expression, as numerous avatars had traveled everywhere observing their histories.

The complete historical memories of countless source worlds resided within Luo Feng's mind.

The sheer volume of these memories was immense, encompassing the lives of countless civilizations and beings. Yet, as a lord, Luo Feng was still able to perfectly integrate all of them.

This incredibly profound 'historical memory' also influenced Luo Feng's inner being.

A being's experiences shape their heart.

The source worlds within the domain could be divided into two periods: the era of the Lords' rule and the era of Innate Origin Beings' rule!

During the Innate Origin Beings' rule, the source worlds within the domain were similarly tragic, left to be devoured at will.

Only with the rise of the Lords, who guarded various regions, did the situation change.

Countless source worlds finally gained hope!

These memories repeatedly tempered Luo Feng's heart, refining his 'Heart of Annihilation'.

"The more one loves this world and its countless lives, the more one needs an unshakeable 'Heart of Annihilation'."

Luo Feng's aura began to change, like a blade of annihilation, its destructive power far more terrifying than 'Jin' or 'Kafushu's'.

"The Heart of Annihilation is complete; the next step is for the heart and Dao to align, becoming one!" Luo Feng immediately attempted this. The Heart of Annihilation commanded the entire Origin Blade Dao, and countless profound insights into the blade began to integrate.

Whoosh!

Beside the Origin Continent's source world, within the mysterious 'Blood Crane Territory,' endless waves of the blood sea undulated.

Innate Origin Faction: Council of the Four Sovereigns:

The four sovereign avatars of the Innate Origin Faction were gathered.

"Are we just going to let this Luo Feng bully us?" Ancestor Nirvana spoke. It actually longed for war to erupt, as its old friend, 'Ancestor Endless,' was already immortal, while it itself was still a bit short of that state.

For some newly ascended, weaker ancestors, devouring the essence of source worlds still held some benefit. However, as their strength grew, the effect of source world essence would diminish. For those at Ancestor Nirvana's level, devouring any more source world essence was already useless.

"It's hardly bullying," Ancestor Endless smiled faintly. "Conflicts between the two factions are frequent, and Innate Origin Beings also enter the cultivator domain to seize resources. What Luo Feng is doing is much gentler compared to Lord Starlight."

"Luo Feng hasn't engaged in indiscriminate slaughter either. As long as one doesn't devour the essence of source worlds, there's no conflict," said Emperor Colossus. "Infinite, I think your Infinite race is too fixated on source world essence. Occasionally abstaining from it might even aid in the evolution of your life core."

Start a war just for intercepting a few thousand world-level Origin Beings? Luo Feng didn't believe it, nor did Lord Starlight, who could foresee countless future possibilities! One must remember that all four cultivator lords were immortal! Among the Innate Origin Faction's ancestors, only five were truly immortal, while over a hundred others could perish. Without a sufficient advantage or adequate safety, how many would truly be willing to participate in a war?

"Luo Feng's strength is greater! If war breaks out, the casualties are unpredictable," Initium said.

"It's not suitable for war," Mother of Space-Time suddenly spoke. The other four all looked at her. While the Mother of Space-Time couldn't observe countless timelines like Starlight, she could see a limited number of future possibilities. The other four all highly valued her opinion.

"I can see it," the Mother of Space-Time said. "The outcome of war would be unfavorable for your Innate Origin Faction!" The Mother of Space-Time foresaw a war more devastating than the last! The cultivator faction might pay a price, but the Innate Origin Faction's losses would be far more painful.

"Let's wait," Ancestor Yanhuo said. "Isn't Luo Feng exploring the Abyss of Annihilation? Deeper exploration brings greater danger. He will also reveal more of his strength. Once we understand his true power, even if war breaks out in the future, we'll be better prepared." Ancestor Yanhuo added, sounding quite expectant, "Mo Xu and Sha Zhou are both warlike; clashing with them... Luo Feng will definitely expose more of his strength."

Luo Feng's current influence might temporarily deter Innate Origin Beings from devouring source worlds, but over time, those Innate Origin races would find it unbearable! At that point, the Innate Origin Faction might even ally with the Ice Peak Faction and all the weaker powers! Primarily, the ancestors of races that didn't particularly need 'source world resources' wouldn't want to start a war! Nor would those weaker ancestors who risked death. Even within the Four Sovereigns, few were willing to engage in war because their interests hadn't been directly affected.