This is not how immortals cultivate

Chapter 553 Heaven is Heaven, Emperor is Emperor, and Dao is Dao

Huhuhu————

Xiang Yuan's eyes flashed like lightning, and the Six Soul Banner in his hand shook violently.

Wind blows!

Clouds are coming!

Soul Cry!

The entire world trembled slightly with the six banner tails.

The Six Soul Banner is no ordinary weapon of slaughter. It does not harm the physical body, ignores defenses, and uses the mind as a guide and thoughts as a blade. When it moves, it stirs up the deepest fears and obsessions between heaven and earth.

The living fear death, and the dead fear annihilation. Even the four leaders of the sect have unresolved karmic debts and impure hearts.

At this moment, unresolved karmic entanglements and an impure Daoist heart surge forth as the banner's tail flutters.

As the name suggests, the Six Soul Banner has six tails, on which six names can be written.

In the version before the save file was loaded, the six figures written were Moral Celestial Venerable, Primordial Celestial Venerable, Jieyin, Zhunti, Jiang Shang, and Ji Fa.

Things are different now. The Heavenly Venerable Lingbao, who overturned the table, no longer cares about the Investiture of the Gods. He only wants to get revenge now. He doesn't care what Jiang Shang and Ji Fa do. He didn't write their names down and focused his firepower on attacking the four sect leaders.

The moment the Six Soul Banner swayed, the primordial spirit was shaken, cause and effect were pulled, and obsessions were materialized...

The four sect leaders froze, a flood of distracting thoughts rushing into their minds. Although it did not truly shake their foundations, it made their Dao hearts unstable, causing them to lose their rhythm for a moment, and the auspicious clouds surrounding them also became disordered.

The Celestial Venerable of Morality froze, his expression becoming slightly blank, as if his thoughts had been stripped from reality, and he experienced a brief moment of disorientation.

The Heavenly Venerable of Primordial Beginning frowned deeply, his hand holding the Pangu Banner trembled slightly, and his vision spun, making it difficult to distinguish east from west;

The twelve-petaled golden lotus beneath the connecting pin glowed and dimmed, and the three relics emitted a buzzing sound. He tried to resist some kind of invisible erosion, but the look of suffering on his face grew even more intense.

Zhunti Daoist's expression changed drastically, his heart gripped by an inexplicable fear. He wildly waved the Seven Treasures Tree in his hand, trying to dispel the illusion.

The four leaders each had different unresolved karmic entanglements and lingering obsessions, and their thoughts and perceptions differed as their faith wavered.

It's hard to say what the Supreme Lord of Morality and the Primordial Lord of Heaven saw, but Jieyin and Zhunti undoubtedly had the strongest obsessions, terrified by their own limitations and struggling with the falseness of their identities.

The only thing they had in common was that the four leaders stood frozen in place, their minds momentarily confused or gripped by fear.

A temporary advantage!
Lingbao Tianzun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he raised his arms, his magic seals flying, causing the Zhuxian Sword Formation to tremble.

boom---

Four swords rang out in unison, their sword energy crisscrossing the sky!
The four divine swords, Zhuxian, Luxian, Xianxian, and Juexian, simultaneously unleashed their overwhelming sword power, their sword light sweeping out like a waterfall, their target being the Moral Celestial Venerable and the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

There couldn't be a better opportunity!
The moment the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation was activated, countless sword shadows converged from all directions, covering the sky like a reversed Milky Way, and with an endless, dense force, they thunderously engulfed the two Heavenly Venerables.

boom! boom!
Two loud bangs, exploding almost simultaneously.

While the Celestial Venerable of Morality remained in a dazed and rigid state, the golden light of the exquisite pagoda above his head surged. Although it blocked the onslaught of the sword light and the Milky Way, its divine light dissipated due to the confusion of its master's will.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's eyes were empty. He subconsciously waved the Pangu Banner, forcibly tearing apart the Zhuxian Sword Qi. However, he could not withstand the violent attacks coming from all directions, and many of the golden lamps on the auspicious clouds were cut off.

At the same time, Lingbao Tianzun abandoned the Zhuxian Sword Formation, took the Zhuxian Sword in his hand, and with a flash, arrived at the Sword Gate.

He raised his hand and used his sword to knock away the exquisite pagoda, then struck the chest of the Moral Celestial Venerable with a backhand palm strike. With a loud bang, the Moral Celestial Venerable was caught off guard and was forced to retreat repeatedly, staggering out of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

Immediately afterwards, Lingbao Tianzun swept his sword horizontally, the heavy sword swirling with surging sword light, and with an ordinary strike, he overturned Yuanshi Tianzun and threw him directly out of the Zhuxian Sword Formation.

"Jiejiejiejie————"

"happy!!"

Lingbao Tianzun looked up to the sky and roared, his aura soaring to the heavens.

On the other side, Xiang Yuan retrieved the Six Soul Banner, pushed aside Jin Guangxian and Pilu Xian who were protecting him, and with a flash, he arrived in front of Zhunti like lightning. A cold light flashed in his hand as he grabbed an ancient longsword and slashed straight at Zhunti's head.

Qingping Sword!
This item is the personal sword of Lingbao Tianzun, a symbol of the Three Pure Ones. In the past, he used this sword to split Amitabha Buddha into three, which led to the present Jieyin, Zhunti, and Duobao Daoren.

Zhunti was still terrified by his origins due to his strong obsession and had not yet emerged from the illusion. However, as the leader of a sect and one of the strongest beings below the Three Pure Ones along with Jieyin, even though his mind was confused, it did not prevent him from retaliating.

With a flash of golden light, the Seven Treasures Tree swept towards the Azure Lotus Sword.

The moment the two treasures of the sect leader level clashed, the momentum of the Qingping Sword suddenly weakened, and it drew a circle to lead the Seven Treasures Tree aside.

A feint!

Xiang Yuan remembered very clearly that in the original novel of Investiture of the Gods, Zhunti used the Seven Treasures Tree to shatter the Qingping Sword in the hands of the Tongtian Sect Leader.

Although the versions are different, the Three Pure Ones have widened the gap between themselves and Jieyin and Zhunti with an absolute advantage. Moreover, the Seven Treasures Tree is originally the root system of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree, which is not comparable to it. However, it is never wrong to be on guard. Therefore, a feint was used as a distraction to neutralize the power of this attack.

Furthermore, Xiang Yuan wasn't there to fight; his target wasn't Zhunti, but rather the Seven Treasures Tree in Zhunti's possession.

Zhunti's obsession was too strong. He swept the Qingping Sword away with a heavy swipe and rushed forward. Before he could regain his footing, he felt his hand loosen, as if some important treasure had been forcibly taken away.

who am I?
Is it Cundi, Amitabha, or the Primordial Demon?
Who is he?
Why did he steal the Seven Treasures Tree? Why was he so strong?

Wait, the Seven Treasures Tree!
My Seven Treasures Tree!

Seven thunderous sounds exploded in Zhunti's ears, his pupils contracted sharply, and he abruptly woke up from his daze. His fierce eyes were devoid of any mercy as he glared at Xiang Yuan, who had taken away the Seven Treasures Tree.

Upon seeing it, I panicked.

The seven bolts of lightning were not an illusion, but rather the result of Xiang Yuan wielding the Qingping Sword and striking seven times in succession, severing all the seven treasures that were locking the roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree.

"Jiejiejiejie————"

Xiang Yuan held the Qingping Sword in one hand and raised the roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree high in the other. Beneath his feet were seven precious gems, including glazed glass and red pearls, whose divine light had dimmed. He let out a hearty laugh.

Without the restraint and suppression of the Seven Treasures, the roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree regained their freedom and searched for their master, the Six Paths Goddess.

Then they found it in Xiang Yuan.

This rich aura of the Six Paths Goddess has completely permeated my being; there's no mistake, it's my master.

The roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree regarded Xiang Yuan as its master, and sensing Xiang Yuan's ecstatic joy at returning the item to its rightful owner, they responded with a gentle vibration.

At first glance, it seems like the wrong owner has been identified, but upon closer inspection, it makes perfect sense. After all, Xiang Yuan can use the Reincarnation Mirror and the like without any problems.

Ultimately, it all comes down to this: regardless of the six fusion materials or the six goddesses who were fused into one, Xiang Yuan's primordial spirit was filled with their aura. For a full seven chapters, he was practically the master.

Beside them, the six attendant immortals, led by Wuyun Xian, were all stunned, never knowing for the first time how powerful Chang'er Dingguang Xian was.

Although Zhunti's mind was confused and he was in a daze, his master-level magical power and instinctive reactions were still intact, and he was still not someone they could shake.

As it turned out, the Long-Eared Immortal Dingguang easily seized the Seven Treasures Tree with just a feint, and...

It wasn't simply about taking it from Zhunti, but about seizing it for one's own use, subduing him the instant one gained control.

What is this operation?
No, is it really okay to take someone's treasure right in front of a Western religious leader?

Upon further reflection, when Chang Er Ding Guangxian suddenly took out the Six Soul Banner and shook it, along with the Qingping Sword, the six attendant immortals immediately realized that the Master had planned everything in advance. Chang Er Ding Guangxian was a trump card secretly cultivated by the Master, whose cultivation and strength far surpassed those of the four personal disciples.

Normally, Chang Er Ding Guang Xian keeps a low profile and pretends to be just like the other seven immortals, only revealing his true cultivation at crucial moments.

It's reasonable and logical, there can't be anything wrong with it!
The six attendants immediately believed it, and their respect for their master became so great that they prostrated themselves before him, and they became even more loyal.

At the same time, the way he looked at Chang Er Ding Guangxian changed.

Leaving aside the Six Soul Banner, which seems completely incomprehensible, all I know is that it's incredibly powerful. The Qingping Sword is the sect leader's token, holding extraordinary significance. The sect leader entrusted these two treasures to Chang Er Dingguang Xian, rather than anyone else...

Uh, I hope Senior Brother Duobao Daoren doesn't have any ulterior motives.

With the Qingping Sword in one hand and the Yellow Spring Mother Tree roots in the other, Xiang Yuan smiled arrogantly. The six immortal attendants smoothed their hair and silently retreated to the audience seats, standing with Yunxiao and the other five female immortals.

The Master has already arranged everything. Their task was to cover for Chang Er Ding Guang Xian. Now that their mission is complete, they will not stay behind and hinder the team.

Also, the laughter of the Long-Eared Immortal is so good, Master! It's clearly the same kind of laughter.

Leaving aside the audience, Zhunti was in a terrible state because the Yellow Spring Mother Tree had recognized Xiang Yuan as its master. His expression was complex, with three parts astonishment, three parts confusion, three parts panic, and ninety-one parts disbelief.

"My Seven Treasures Wonder..."

"mine!"

Xiang Yuan stopped laughing and promptly corrected Zhunti's mistake: there were no oxen here, so the item should be returned to its rightful owner.

Who are you, fellow Daoist?

Zhunti frowned slightly, realizing that the Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal was not him, but also unlike the Six Paths Goddess. Blinded by the secrets of heaven, he couldn't figure out who was in front of him for a moment.

"Oh, you didn't know?"

Xiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. Lingbao Tianzun could see the past and future with just one glance at him, while Zhunti still didn't understand anything after looking at him so many times. This shows that there is a big gap between the two Western leaders and the Three Pure Ones.

If that's the case, then he has nothing to be afraid of!
"Fellow Daoist, you have a karmic connection with the West..."

Zhunti took a deep breath. Since Xiang Yuan didn't say who he was, he didn't ask any more questions. He put his hands together in front of his chest, preparing to snatch the roots of the Mother Tree of Reincarnation once more.

If he can snatch it once, he can snatch it a second time!
The Mother Tree of Reincarnation aligns with the Western Buddhist concept, thus obtaining the essence of reincarnation, which in turn forms the foundation of the Western Buddhist concept of three lifetimes. All causes and effects are contained within it. Even if the Heavenly King himself were to come today, Zhunti would still take it back.

“I’m afraid that won’t work. Li’s fate has already been exhausted by others, and it’s not your turn, Western Sect.” Xiang Yuan waved his hand slightly, absorbed the roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree into his body, and confronted Zhunti with the Qingping Sword.

Within this small world, the laws and principles of Heaven are like interwoven threads, stretching out in all directions, covering the entire world like a spider web.

Each thread of law represents a rule of heaven and earth. The roots of the Yellow Spring Mother Tree take root in it, just like rain after a long drought, overflowing with its own laws and quickly penetrating the earth veins of this small world.

In an instant, the illusory image of a towering tree that blots out the sky slowly rose in the center of the small world.

The core principles of the Six Paths of Reincarnation are now complete, with the final piece of the puzzle being pieced together. Concepts such as the transformation between life and death, the alternation of yin and yang, and the cycle of cause and effect are now fully embodied in this moment!

As the small world was completed, Xiang Yuan also completed it. Whether it was the Qianyuan Realm, which was the fusion of three thousand worlds, or the Primordial Realm before the destruction of the world, from false to real, all the myriad laws and principles of heaven were under his control.

At this moment, his will as the Heavenly Emperor was sublimated, and his Dao Seed as the Heavenly Emperor was perfected. He felt that he was terrifyingly strong, not inferior to the original Heavenly Emperor. He could kill a Lingbao Heavenly Venerable with a single punch.

The illusion brought about by the sudden increase in power was something Xiang Yuan was very skilled at. He knew very well that it was impossible to kill Lingbao Tianzun with one punch, but... it would be a piece of cake to beat Zhunti.

If I can't deal with the Three Pure Ones, I can at least deal with you!
He narrowed his eyes, and the world in his eyes underwent a dramatic change. The world was no longer colorful, but turned into black and white, with countless threads interwoven within it, and everything was composed of dots and lines.

This includes the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation and Zhunti.

On Zhunti, Xiang Yuan saw the threads connecting him to Yuanshi Tianzun. Because Yuanshi Tianmo came first, then Amitabha Buddha, and only then Jieyin, Zhunti, and Shakyamuni, the number of threads connecting them was limited.

"There is still a possibility of transforming into the Primordial Heavenly Demon. No wonder you were stunned for so long under the Six Soul Banner. It turns out you were afraid."

"..."

As soon as Xiang Yuan finished speaking, Zhunti's expression changed drastically. He pushed his hands, which were clasped together in front of his chest, forward, and boundless golden light gathered.

In an instant, the entire void was illuminated by this golden light.

Countless golden runes emerged from the void, flowing like scriptures, as if ten thousand Buddhas were chanting sutras, their sacred sounds resounding throughout heaven and earth.

Amidst the boundless Buddhist light, a gigantic, golden, and towering figure rose from the ground, pressing down on the distant horizon.

This illusory figure, which blots out the sky, has twenty-four heads, symbolizing the heavens, and each of its eighteen hands holds a Buddhist treasure or a magical artifact.

Or a jeweled parasol, symbolizing the covering of karmic obstacles for all beings; or a flower jar and fish intestines, symbolizing the flower of wisdom that never fades; or a vajra to destroy all evil spirits, a precious file to cut away all delusions; and a golden bell to awaken the lost, a golden bow and silver arrow to pierce through falsehood...

Each ritual implement is a manifestation of the Buddha's teachings, and every movement contains supreme wisdom and power.

With an irresistible force and boundless pressure, it descended upon Xiang Yuan.

An incredibly sophisticated mechanism!
"It's just reincarnation. Do you really think that changing your appearance to gold paint makes it your ideology?"

Faced with overwhelming pressure, Xiang Yuan did not retreat but advanced, raising his right hand, with yin and yang colors swirling in his palm.

Black and white intertwine, life and death cycle. After learning all the principles of reincarnation, the myriad laws of reincarnation come from the perfected principles of the Heavenly Way.

He clenched his fist, gathering the black and white colors in his palm, reversing yin and yang, and stepped forward to punch the towering golden phantom.

The Nine Paths of Heaven: One Force Breaks All Laws!

boom!
The void was in chaos, and the entire Zhuxian Sword Formation trembled.

The towering golden phantom emitted a muffled wail, unable to withstand the power of a single punch, and cracks exploded on its surface.

One way, two ways, three ways...

The cracks multiplied and spread rapidly, until the golden phantom finally disintegrated into countless fragments, scattering like stardust.

There was no explosion, no debris, and no aftershocks.

All that remains is utter annihilation, coming from nothingness and returning to nothingness.

The golden light dissipated in the void, leaving no trace of its brilliance. Zhunti was forced back repeatedly and was sent flying out of the Immortal Extinction Gate by a punch, slamming out of the Immortal Extinction Gate and out of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

The audience was completely silent. The four direct disciples who had just sat down were dumbfounded. If Chang'er Dingguangxian had defeated Zhunti with the Qingping Sword, they would have been surprised but could accept it. But Chang'er Dingguangxian relied on his own skills...

What's going on? Are the Western religious leaders really that incompetent?
Probably not. At least Jieyin is quite powerful. The four of them fought for a long time, and apart from Duobao Daoren forging iron, the other three were doing scraping therapy the whole time.

At this moment, Jieyin had already voluntarily withdrawn from the Immortal Slaughtering Formation.

His obsession wasn't as strong as Zhunti's. After waking up from his confusion, he saw Lingbao Tianzun's four disciples surrounding him and attacking him relentlessly. Feeling frustrated by the setback, he ignored the frenzied attacks around him and stepped out of the Zhuxian Formation on a twelve-petaled golden lotus.

As soon as they stepped outside, they saw the expressionless Heavenly Venerable of Morality and the Heavenly Venerable of Primordial Beginning. The guide, with his hands clasped together, seemed to have guessed what was going on and, unwilling to invite trouble, stood there silently with a pained expression.

With a turn of his head, Zhunti was sent flying backward, crashing heavily in front of the three cult leaders.

Let me make some room!
Soon, Zhunti stood up abruptly, his face expressionless and radiant with wisdom, as if nothing had just happened.

How could it not have happened? So many eyes are watching!
"Brother Zhunti, as the leader of the Western Sect, your status is so lofty and your magical power so great. How could someone with your supernatural abilities be kicked out of the house?"

The Celestial Venerable of Morality exclaimed in surprise. Seeing that no one responded, he continued, "Brother Zhunti, where is your Seven Treasures Tree? Is it trapped in the Immortal Slaughtering Formation?"

He addressed Zhunti as "fellow Daoist" repeatedly and slapped him across the face until Zhunti's face turned red. He stammered, "There is something strange in the formation. Fellow Daoist Lingbao found a powerful fellow Daoist from somewhere. This person is closely related to reincarnation. I was careless and lost the Seven Treasures Tree."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin was greatly alarmed. The Yellow Spring Mother Tree's root system embodies the concept of reincarnation and is of paramount importance to the Western Religion, serving as the very foundation of the religion. Even if the Twelve Golden Lotuses were lost, the Yellow Spring Mother Tree's root system could not be lost. He immediately set out to enter the formation to search for it.

"Senior brother, don't go! Fellow Daoist Lingbao has come prepared. He has already calculated everything, including Fellow Daoist Daoist Daode and Fellow Daoist Yuanshi." Zhunti hurriedly stopped Jieyin, shaking his head repeatedly, saying that they must not go.

We've already lost the Seven Treasures Tree, we can't afford to lose the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus as well.

Zhunti's frank words made Daode Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun lose face. Because they were suppressed by their own brother, Daode Tianzun, who was not thick-skinned, could not help but fall for Zhunti's provocation.

The smile then shifted to Lingbao Tianzun's face.

"Jiejiejiejie————"

The gates of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation opened wide, the boundless void receded, revealing the smug face of the Celestial Venerable Lingbao, along with his unrestrained and hearty laughter.

"That felt great! That felt so good!"

All four were leaders of their respective sects and people of status. Today, all four leaders arrived together and were swept out of the Immortal Slaughtering Formation. Whether they admit it or not, this battle was a great victory for Lingbao Tianzun.

One against four, how impressive!
What, Xiang Yuan?

That's not true. The future Lingbao Tianzun is himself, and the future disciple is his disciple. In short, he won this battle without relying on external forces, entirely through his own direct confrontation.

If the four sect leaders opposite him are not satisfied, they are free to bring out their disciples to test their skills. Lingbao Tianzun is not someone who can't take a beating; he doesn't mind how many disciples come.

"Jiejiejiejie————"

A temporary advantage led to a resounding victory, and the more I thought about it, the happier I felt.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable found the Spirit Treasure Celestial Venerable very noisy. Upon closer inspection, he saw the Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal holding the Qingping Sword next to the stinky brother.

With just one glance, one can see ten thousand years, the past and the future clearly.

"I see!"

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted coldly: "Lingbao, you madman, you actually dare to commit acts of world destruction, and even defy the heavens, interfering with the river of time. Are you really not afraid of the great karmic consequences that will befall you?"

At the same time, the Celestial Venerable of Morality also saw Xiang Yuan and sighed, "It is actually the Heavenly Emperor in person. In that case, Brother Zhunti's defeat is not unjust. With the Heavenly Emperor's methods, Brother Zhunti is indeed inferior."

"Emperor?!"

In the audience, all the disciples of the Jie Sect were stunned.

They were not without wisdom. Upon hearing what the Celestial Venerable of Morality said, they immediately understood that the Long-Eared Immortal was actually the Heavenly Emperor in disguise, and that the Master had found an assistant with powerful supernatural abilities and boundless magic, enough to surpass a Western religious leader.

What they couldn't understand was that the Heavenly Emperor was just a mascot, and even the Heavenly Dogs didn't go there. When did the Heavenly Emperor acquire such great supernatural powers and magic?

"This junior scholar, Xiang Wentian, greets all the seniors."

Xiang Yuan's figure swayed, revealing his true appearance.

The Celestial Venerable of Morality and the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning saw the past and the future, knew who Xiang Yuan was, and understood his karmic connection with them. However, Jieyin and Zhunti, without the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning's permission, saw Xiang Yuan but did not understand what had happened.

Neither of the two Western religious leaders understood it, let alone the disciples of the Jie Sect in the audience.

"It's him?"

Golden Spirit Mother was slightly startled. No wonder the Long-Eared Dingguang Immortal had acted so boldly and recklessly today, staring at her buttocks. It turned out it wasn't him.

However, why is the master's last disciple called the Heavenly Emperor, and why does he have such powerful cultivation?
If the junior brother is the Heavenly Emperor, then who is the Heavenly Emperor standing in the Heavenly Court?

"Jin Ling, do you recognize this person?" Daoist Duobao asked in surprise.

Golden Spirit Mother nodded and explained Xiang Yuan's identity: he was the fifth direct disciple of Lingbao Heavenly Venerable and had only recently arrived at Golden Turtle Island.

Upon hearing this, everyone was amazed, marveling at the Master's unparalleled strategy, as he defeated the combined forces of the four sect leaders with just one trump card.

The disciples of the Jie Sect had never transcended the river of time. Limited by their perspective, they could not understand the meaning behind Yuanshi Tianzun's words, let alone guess that the Three Pure Ones had already returned to the previous timeline, and that this was the second Investiture of the Gods war.

Although Jieyin and Zhunti did not have the authority to see through the past and future, they did have the vision. After frowning and pondering for a moment, they roughly understood what was going on.

This Heavenly Emperor is not that Heavenly Emperor...

Lingbao Tianzun re-establishes the world after its destruction...

The Three Pure Ones already know everything...

The Three Pure Ones have grand plans!

The two Western religious leaders exchanged a glance, both seeing in each other's eyes that this place was not a safe place to stay, and both shook their heads, choosing to remain there.

Otherwise, how could they possibly defy the will of the Primordial Celestial Venerable?
Seeing Xiang Yuan bow obediently, Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly. Because people value etiquette, he was quite tolerant of juniors who knew manners and followed the rules, but he was not so easy to talk to those who did not follow the rules and were unwilling to accept defeat.

Lingbao Tianzun couldn't accept defeat, and neither could Yuanshi Tianzun. He had originally won the Investiture of the Gods war, but because Lingbao Tianzun broke the rules and the war was restarted, he was defeated in the Immortal Slaughtering Formation. Unable to tolerate it any longer, he immediately...

He turned his head and looked at the Taoist deity beside him.

The Supreme Lord of Morality slowly spoke: "Lingbao, you shouldn't have detained the Heavenly Emperor here. The three of us are discussing the past in the future. By leaving the Heavenly Emperor here, both the past and the future will be thrown into chaos."

"This is how the Jie Sect should be!"

Lingbao Tianzun didn't take it to heart: "There's no need to find these high-sounding reasons. You two bandits are just unwilling to accept defeat and want to find a plausible reason to fight again."

At this point, he said to Xiang Yuan beside him, "I will take down Jieyin and Zhunti, and you go deal with Daode and Yuanshi."

(乛乛)(一一)
"..." x2
Ah, I'm attacking the Moral Celestial Venerable and the Primordial Celestial Venerable?
Master, do you want to double-check? If it's true, and you really want me to fight the Moral Celestial Venerable and the Primordial Celestial Venerable, then I'm sorry, your disciple will immediately side with them.

This cowardly man thought to himself, "Pah! This cowardly man from the Jie Sect is better off not staying!"
Their eyes met, and although Xiang Yuan didn't speak, his meaning was clear.

Lingbao Tianzun snorted twice, called him a traitor, then withdrew the Zhuxian Formation, retrieved the Qingping Sword, and invited Daode Tianzun and Yuanshi Tianzun to have a battle in the outer heavens.

As it turns out, the Immortal Slaughtering Formation was no match for the four sect leaders. The main reason for their great victory was the Six Soul Banner and the information gap that gave them a temporary advantage.

Although the Six Soul Banner is not a one-time use magic weapon and can be used again next time, the preparations for using this treasure are very troublesome, and it cannot be used a second time in a short period of time.

Without the Six Soul Banner, and having lost their temporary advantage, if they were to set up the Immortal Slaughtering Formation now, the gains they had painstakingly made would be lost again.

Lingbao Tianzun knew this well, so he invited the two rascals to fight in the outer heavens, and also made room for Xiang Yuan to go to the outer heavens to help him after he finished dealing with Jieyin and Zhunti.

The idea was good, but Yuanshi Tianzun was no NPC; he was a close friend and saw through Lingbao Tianzun's thoughts at a glance.

He took the Chaos Banner and slashed down, a wisp of chaotic sword energy rushing straight towards Lingbao Tianzun. Just as the latter raised his sword to meet it, his hidden hand slowly pointed out.

With a single finger, the boundless void enveloped everything in the distance, disappearing along with the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

Lingbao Tianzun was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, he was already surrounded by the three leaders of the sect: Daode Tianzun, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

"Hmph, you guys just can't accept defeat!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The primordial world, the origin of all heavens and myriad realms, the place where the Great Dao first appeared.

Unlike the three thousand worlds of later generations, which are fragmented, scattered, and lacking in laws and principles, it is the primordial realm where heaven and earth are one and the Tao follows nature.

Its shape is like a plate, with the sky round like a canopy and the earth square like a chessboard. The four poles support the sky, and the eight directions stand on the earth. The sun, moon, and stars are all self-contained systems, suspended above the dome. The mountains, rivers, and streams all contain innate spiritual energy, nurturing all living beings.

This world is vast and boundless, stretching for billions of miles without end. Every blade of grass and every tree holds profound secrets of the Great Dao, and every breath resonates with the heavens and earth.

Beyond the primordial realm, there are no dazzling stars or spiritual energy, only a vast expanse of chaos and nothingness.

That was a chaotic realm where the distinction between clear and turbid, yin and yang, and life and death were not yet clear.

Formless and without appearance, silent and without sound, a single wrong thought can lead to eternal damnation.

At the end of the sky lies nothingness.

There is no clear concept of time and space here, only a void, with occasional flashes of light and darkness intertwined with air currents, which may be chaotic vortices that are constantly being created and destroyed, or they may be the remaining embers of creation.

Besides, the void is utterly silent; once lost within it, one's soul and spirit will be annihilated.

In the void, seeing Yuanshi Tianzun holding the Pangu Banner with a serious expression, Xiang Yuan couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his eye, wanting to request a replacement.

Zhunti is quite good, and Jieyin is also good; he has a strong affinity with Western religions.

"Heaven is Heaven, Emperor is Emperor, Dao is Dao. You are only a thought away from reaching this realm..." Yuanshi Tianzun said calmly.

These words were incomprehensible to others, but Xiang Yuan understood them immediately and asked in surprise, "May I ask, Heavenly Venerable, this one thought is a great calamity, how can you lightly entertain such a thought?"

"A narrow escape!"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable said calmly, "There is no need to call me Celestial Venerable. You are already ninety percent of the Heavenly Emperor. Just call me Fellow Daoist."

"Hello, Brother Dao."

Xiang Yuan seized the opportunity and raised his hand slightly: "Brother Yuanshi, surviving the calamity is only one possibility. The greater possibility is that one will lose all hope under the great calamity, like Pangu creating the world, knowing it is impossible but doing it anyway, only to perish."

"You also have two fellow Daoists to help you."

"..."

Fellow Daoists...

Xiang Yuan was slightly startled. Was he referring to Leng Xue and Palu?

"No need to be surprised. It was already decided that your primordial spirit was so strange."

Yuanshi Tianzun glanced at Xiang Yuan and said, "Speaking of which, if Lingbao hadn't been so angry after his defeat in the Investiture of the Gods that he insisted on arguing with me, I wouldn't have given you to him. You should have joined the Qingxu Sect instead of the Benxin Sect."

"???"

A string of question marks floated across Xiang Yuan's forehead. The Qingxu Sect was a first-class Taoist cultivation force in Western Chu, passed down through the lineage of the Qingxu Moral True Lord, but there were not many masters to speak of within the sect.

Xiang Yuan had completely forgotten about this mountain gate a long time ago, and today, when Yuanshi Tianzun mentioned it, he almost didn't remember it.

"I am of dull mind and do not understand the profound meaning. I hope you can enlighten me."

“Your temperament is like that of Lingbao, only fit to be his disciple. Only a more composed temperament would make us a suitable master and disciple,” Yuanshi Tianzun explained.

"..."

Xiang Yuan was stunned upon hearing this. Initially, it was indeed Palu who was the master, but later, because this guy cared too much about his reputation, and caring about his reputation would make him lose face, and that's not how immortals cultivate, so he, Xiang Yuan, became the master.

But judging from what Yuanshi Tianzun said, if it weren't for the dim-witted Lingbao Tianzun snatching people away, Palu would have been the master from beginning to end.

So, the delay of ten years was due to the competition for talent?

“This place is not for you. I will send you back to the past and find the Qianyuan Realm,” said Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Thank you very much, Brother Yuanshi!"

Xiang Yuan's eyes lit up; if this were the topic, he wouldn't be sleepy anymore.

Sure enough, the cowardly and timid man only knows how to harm his own people; the steady and reliable man is much more dependable.

"No need for thanks. It was all part of a plan, only disrupted by Lingbao's willful and reckless actions."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable said expressionlessly, "After you arrive in the Qianyuan Realm, I will urge you to become a true Heavenly Emperor. It will not be too late to thank me then."

Upon hearing this, Xiang Yuan's expression changed. Although he didn't know how to urge him on, after gathering all the principles of the Heavenly Dao, he had a sudden realization. As soon as the thought arose, a great calamity was about to occur, and his actions would be even more irreversible than those of the Heavenly Venerable Lingbao.

At least the destruction of the world by Lingbao Tianzun still has the possibility of returning to the source of time.

Swish!
Yuanshi Tianzun held the Pangu Banner and tore open a rift in the void, opening a passage through the river of time: "Go, the Qianyuan Realm is just ahead. If you do not go, Yin and Yang will be incomplete, and the Qianyuan Realm will never fall, nor will it ever be real."

How could I possibly go? If I went, the Qianyuan Realm would be gone!
Xiang Yuan frowned, clenched his fist and raised it, unleashing a powerful force that struck the gateway to the River of Time, instantly destroying it.

This gesture also demonstrates his/her intentions.

"Alright, let's do it first to break your mind, so that you'll obey."

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded, and suddenly opened the Pangu Banner, and an enormous chaotic sword pillar extended and spread out, stirring up endless waves in the void with its magnificent power.

An unremarkable attack, except for its size, with no special effects.

Great simplicity!

When one's cultivation reaches the level of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, even the simplest attack contains unparalleled power.

Moreover, he also possessed a Pangu Banner.

Without giving it much thought, Xiang Yuan grasped the black and white swords in his palms, delivered a powerful horizontal punch, and swung his fist toward the Chaos Sword Pillar.

The Nine Paths of Heaven: One Force Breaks All Laws!

The eighth move of the Nine Paths of Heavenly Inquiry is "One Force Breaks All Laws". The pressure that Yuanshi Tianzun put on Xiang Yuan was too great. He knew that the first seven moves were useless, so he did not make a move until he did, and when he did, he used the power to break all laws.

The fist imprint struck the Chaos Sword Pillar, and the pillar shattered into pieces upon impact.

It split into three, quickly reaching nine hundred, and in the blink of an eye, it became three thousand.

The three thousand chaotic sword energies hovered for a moment, then split into countless others, becoming boundless chaotic sword energies. Their speed surpassed time, and their sharpness shattered space, falling towards the primordial universe below with the force to obliterate eternity.

The merciless killing intent was only a tiny thread in the heavens, but it grew as thick as a mountain in the heavens. It swiftly tore through the air, slicing through thousands of streams of light, cleaving the sky, shaking all directions, and stirring up a turbulent sea of ​​clouds.

Tens of thousands of chaotic sword energies, what terrifying power! Standing in the primordial world and looking out at the sky, it was as if the sky had collapsed and crashed down to earth.

The immense power shook the heavens and earth, tearing open the sky and approaching the primordial world continent in the blink of an eye.

Xiang Yuan gasped for breath, and without thinking, he was about to lend a helping hand. Just as he turned around, a streak of light struck him squarely in the back, the force penetrating his bones and muscles, leaving his back a bloody mess, his internal organs displaced, and a large amount of blood gushing into his throat.

"Gudu!"

He swallowed a mouthful of the blood-infused medicine, and his injuries healed instantly.

Boom! Boom! Boom—

On the primordial land, ten thousand chaotic sword energies fell, and the scorching red river soared into the sky, mottled and intertwined, etched into the bone marrow, covering every corner of the land.

The landscape lost its color, the winds of change swept across the land, and a great calamity engulfed all living beings.

Xiang Yuan faintly heard countless cries of suffering in his ears. Regardless of whether Yuanshi Tianzun would harm him from behind, he transformed into a streak of light and rushed to the prehistoric continent at lightning speed.

Buzz buzz————

The projection of the small world spread out, expanding rapidly with boundless force, covering the entire primordial continent. The laws of heaven operated, causing all calamities and sufferings to return to their initial state of destruction.

Yuanshi Tianzun retrieved the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, stood quietly outside the heavens, saw the raging flames dancing in Xiang Yuan's eyes, waved his hand and swept the Pangu Banner, once again opening a passage through the River of Time.

It's outrageous that honest people have to be held at gunpoint?

Just as Xiang Yuan was about to make his move, he saw Yuanshi Tianzun step into the river of time.

The next second, the gap closed, leaving only a calm sentence from the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

"You can protect the primordial world now, but what about the primordial world of the past? And what about the Qianyuan Realm that hasn't yet fallen? One person's strength is ultimately limited. Which one should you protect?"

Xiang Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and he activated the Formless Seal Technique at full power, capturing the entire Primordial World into a small world.

The laws of Heaven overlap and overlap, and Heaven implicitly recognizes the two realms as one. It actively shares the pressure for Xiang Yuan, enabling him to move the entire Primordial Realm out of the River of Time and carry it with him.

In the chaos and nothingness, Xiang Yuan's eyes shone with an unusual light, swirling Yin and Yang, and he raised his five fingers into a fist, throwing a seemingly ordinary straight punch forward.

Nine Paths to Heaven: The Great Calamity Seal!
The fist shattered the void, broke through the barrier of the river of time, and tore open a rift leading to the past.

Xiang Yuan leaped into it, chasing after the past that Yuanshi Tianzun had traveled to.

Going against the current, they saw one desolate primordial world after another, torn apart by chaotic sword energy. Wherever they went, they offered assistance, incorporating the land into their own small world and covering it with the laws of heaven.

One by one, primordial worlds merged, and time and again, after overlapping, they returned from the present to the past...

The pursuit was incredibly long. Because he was outside the river of time, Xiang Yuan didn't know how long he had been chasing after it. He only felt that his little world was becoming heavier and heavier, and closer and closer to reality.

He felt that if he continued to pretend like this, even his near-heavenly body would find it difficult to bear such weight.

Looking back, I find myself outside the river of time, carrying the entire river back to the past, growing bigger and bigger like a snowball.

No wonder it's so heavy!

Xiang Yuan's eyelids twitched, vaguely sensing something was wrong. He wanted to stop, but the situation was beyond his control. He had stirred up the flow of time, but instead, he was being pushed forward by the reversed flow of time.

Just as they were about to unleash another Great Calamity Seal, the blurry outline of the Qianyuan Realm appeared ahead.

Yuanshi Tianzun stood in the sky above Qianyuan Realm. When he saw Xiang Yuan arrive, he calmly waved down the Pangu Banner.

To go or not to go?

To swallow or not to swallow?

Xiang Yuan had no choice but to follow the rolling river of time to the Qianyuan Realm. The small world unfolded magnificently, and in the instant the chaotic sword energy fell, it swept away the entire Qianyuan Realm and its three realms.

Rumble!
The river of time boils and surges, pushing us straight ahead into the distance.

Now, there's really no way to stop it.

At the same time, a deafening roar also echoed within Xiang Yuan's inner world.

The three realms of Qianyuan Realm are illusory, while the Primordial Realm is real. The former exists after the destruction of the world, while the latter exists before the destruction of the world. The two overlap and merge, as do the origins of the Heavenly Dao. The illusory and the real clash, and both the illusory and the real become nothingness, returning to the threads of the Heavenly Dao's laws.

At the same time, countless medicinal powers surged into Xiang Yuan's limbs and bones, and on top of the eighth blood and marrow cleansing, the ninth blood and marrow cleansing began...

This kind of blood transfusion and marrow cleansing is better left unused!
Xiang Yuan no longer cared about the river of time; let it be. The Qianyuan Realm was more important. The Heavenly Emperor's will entered the small world, taking over the reconstruction of the order of the Heavenly Dao and its laws, keeping him extremely busy.

Rumble!
As the snowball grows larger and larger, the speed at which the river of time flows backward also increases. Whether it's the ninth blood transfusion and marrow cleansing, or the combination of the Qianyuan Realm and the Primordial Realm, ultimately turning into nothingness, all of these cannot be stopped by the general trend.

It's not like there's absolutely no good news.

The Heavenly Emperor's will was sublimated, the Heavenly Emperor's Dao seed was perfected, and the Heavenly Emperor's Dao body was finally completed.

In the beginning of the river of time, in the chaos and nothingness, all things were empty, only four figures stood still.

Yuanshi Tianzun.

Moral God.

Lingbao Tianzun.

Towards the distance.

Xiang Yuan stood with one hand on his hip, speechless as he stared into the void, his eyes completely oblivious to the Three Pure Ones.

I don't want to watch it, it's such a rip-off, and the acting is so good!
"The Queen Mother of the West once told fellow Daoists that the Dao gave birth to Pangu, who created heaven and earth, established the earth, water, fire, and wind, separated the pure from the turbid, and created the sun, moon, and stars, transforming mountains, rivers, and lakes. Regardless of size or weight, every single thing is a manifestation of the rules and principles of the Dao..."

"Heaven and earth were born, and Pangu perished."

The Supreme Lord of Morality spoke, "Fellow Daoist, do you know where the Dao comes from?"

"Say it or don't, it's up to you!" Xiang Yuan said irritably.

"From nothingness arose something, becoming one, and the Dao was born."

Yuanshi Tianzun continued, "The Dao gave birth to Yuanshi, and Yuanshi gave birth to the Dao. Who saw whom first is unknowable. We only know that... when the Dao was born, Yuanshi perished!"

"If there's nothing else, I'll be going now. You three can have fun."

Xiang Yuan left without hesitation, but when he turned around, there was nothing there and nowhere to go, so he could only stop cursing.

"Fellow Daoist, don't curse yet. It doesn't feel good to be hit by a boomerang. You are dissatisfied with our schemes, but one day, you will join us." Lingbao Tianzun stroked his non-existent beard.

"Why are they both so pretentious, while you speak so plainly?" Xiang Yuan complained.

Whenever Xiang Yuan encounters a scheme involving the Three Pure Ones, or even when the Three Pure Ones are in person, his image of them changes drastically.

Today, it becomes the most thorough and the most authentic.

Yuanshi Tianzun, calm and composed, the creator of the world.

Moral God, cold-blooded, successor.

Lingbao Tianzun, a goofball, destroys the world.

When the three come together, a cycle begins.

There is no great calamity of heaven and earth. The great calamity that all living beings, immortals and gods fear is always being cycled and repeated in the Heavenly Dao that the Three Pure Ones are constantly deducing.

As for what role the Heavenly Emperor plays in all of this...

Xiang Yuan looked at himself now. There was no Heavenly Emperor, it was all a lie. Anyway, the schemes he had were unrelated to the Heavenly Emperor.

The body of heaven!

Seed of the Heavenly Dao!

The will of heaven!

"After this calamity, the world will be reborn. How the Heavenly Dao will unfold in the future is up to you, fellow Daoist." The Primordial Heavenly Venerable, with a calm demeanor, bowed and then stepped into the void, disappearing without a trace.

The Celestial Venerable of Morality followed closely behind, bowed, and then vanished without a trace. The sudden end of the performance left Xiang Yuan feeling somewhat uneasy.

"If you ever get tired of it, you can do as we do, return to the beginning, and establish a new path. At that time, you will be free from all worries, and we will be waiting for you ahead."

Finally, it was Lingbao Tianzun who turned back every few steps, without bowing, and waved goodbye: "Or perhaps, fellow Daoist, you feel that the Heavenly Dao is complete but that's all there is to it, and you want to go ahead and see for yourself, then come and find us."

"I will definitely pay you a visit when I have time."

Xiang Yuan bowed in return, and after seeing the Three Pure Ones off, he raised his hand, took out an axe, and weighed it in his hand.

The inner world slowly unfolded, chaotic and ethereal, with only an indistinct phantom, the origin of the Heavenly Dao, possessing limitless potential.

"Dividing something into three will inevitably lead to trouble sooner or later; we cannot follow the old path of the Three Pure Ones..."

As Xiang Yuan spoke, his figure blurred, and a clone emerged from behind him. The clone was sharply defined, exuding masculine beauty, and was a dark-skinned physical education student with bronze skin.

"You come and open this sky, then die here. Before you die, hold up the sky for a while. When that time comes, do this and that, and remember not to make any mistakes in its evolution."

Xiang Yuan patted the clone on the shoulder and added, "And the primordial spirit, remember to split it into three."

After he finished speaking, another clone jumped out, with a fair and clean-cut face that looked very refined.

Xiang Yuan pulled out a disc and handed it to him, saying, "Once that athlete dies, you build a hut in the heavens and teach the Three Thousand Great Daos. Remember, you can refuse others, but the Three Pure Ones must accept you as their personal disciples. We can't let this injustice go unpunished; we must avenge this!"

"..." x2
We've done all the work, so what are you doing?
"I'll go to the future and find the women first. It's such a hassle. It was so hard to get them all together, and now I have to go through another round of negotiations."

Xiang Yuan complained repeatedly, then turned back after three steps: "Remember to leave me a prayer mat. We're inexperienced since this is the first time we've opened the heavens. Let's start with a festive script, something like..."

"I was already a saint in the primordial world when Zixiao Palace finally opened its gates!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Complete book.

(End of this chapter)