Please call me Dadaozu

Chapter 421 Entering the Game: Past and Present - Dog (4000 words)

The flying boat soars through the sky, traversing ninety thousand miles of rivers and mountains.

Boom~Boom~
The sound of surging waves came from the horizon, like thunder, shaking the very fabric of space.

Zhang Yuanzhu stood at the bow of the ship, his red robe fluttering in the wind, his eyes bright and clear as he gazed ahead.

A grand and vast scene unfolded in my heart.

A sacred mountain is rooted in the earth, reaching into the heavens, surrounded by stars and covered by moonlight. It is extremely majestic, like a pillar supporting the sky.

Beyond the 'Divine Mountain' lies a boundless ocean, its silvery waters surging and swirling with mysterious mist and Daoist energy.

Below the 'Divine Mountain', figures stood, all looking up at the approaching flying boat and the crimson figure.

There were cultivators wearing blue Taoist robes and star-studded crowns; there were aliens with white hair and imposing auras; and there were powerful figures wearing black robes and concealing their faces.
Although their auras differed and their strengths varied, what they all had in common was that their eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Zhang Yuanzhu withdrew his gaze from the mountains and rivers, lowering it downwards to meet those gazes.

His face was calm, his five fingers lightly gripping the gleaming white ruler:

“Disciple of Qingyangzhai, native of the secret realm, treacherous villain of the demonic path, and the last surviving members of the Du family.”

The young man tilted his head slightly, looking at the female Taoist priest at the very bottom of the 'Divine Mountain,' a smile playing on his lips as he uttered each word clearly:
"And you, the righteous saintess, are all here too, truly."

Take a step forward and embark on the flying boat.

"Great!"

Boom!

The heavens and earth trembled, and surging blood and energy soared into the sky, spreading rapidly from the youth in all directions, like a purple sun blooming.

Brilliant and dazzling!
The overwhelming pressure forced the cultivators to retreat.

At this moment, resentment and anger transformed into horror.

The opponent from the side sect is merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet he is so powerful that only a peak Qi Condensation cultivator could kill him.

"Junior is rampant!"

A cold shout came from below the 'Divine Mountain'.

A middle-aged man with white hair (who had chased the protagonist when he first entered the secret realm) stepped out of the crowd, reached out his hand, and suddenly clenched it.

The bloody aura dissipated, and the trembling world returned to calm.

"You killed my ox; today you shall repay the debt with your life."

The middle-aged man's expression was cold. He had chased this boy for days in the past, but the boy still managed to escape. Now that he had been invited to devise a plan, he was determined to eliminate this scourge.

Zhang Yuanzhu naturally recognized the white-haired alien, but only glanced at the middle-aged man indifferently.

He raised his palm, slightly bent his fingers, and pulled it out of thin air. Under the intertwining of purple and gold light, a divine sword appeared in his palm.

A fierce killing intent, mixed with sharp sword energy, filled the sky.

Before the sword was even drawn, streaks of blood appeared on the middle-aged man's body, causing him to stagger backward, his robes stained with blood.

The enemy that once made him flee is now nothing more than this; even without the divine sword in his hand, he can be slaughtered head-on.

If this is all the opponent has up their sleeve today, then all their adversaries will perish.

"Cuckoo~"

"Brother Dao, you are exceptionally talented. Why bother arguing with a mediocre person?"

The sound is melodious, like jade beads falling onto a plate, clear and pleasant to hear.

A stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in a Taoist robe, with hair as smooth as silk, gazed at the crimson figure with a smile on her pretty face.

She sat cross-legged, supporting her chin with one hand:

"Being confined within a secret realm inevitably narrows one's perspective, making it difficult to see the overwhelming trend."

Jiang Xingye's words had a double meaning; they were both criticizing the middle-aged man with white hair and seemingly describing the youth.

"Jiang Xingye, you're talking too much nonsense!"

Zhang Yuanzhu remained composed, carrying his divine sword, and stepped forward through the air.

Ta-ta-ta~
The crisp sound of footsteps, like the beating of war drums, stirred the mind and ignited the fighting spirit.

At this moment, only when one side is completely defeated can the other side be persuaded; there is no room for any thought of dialogue.

The female Taoist smiled radiantly, her whole body relaxed, and she leaned lazily against the 'Divine Mountain'.

"This is not sarcasm, nor is it nonsense; it is simply my concern for your future, fellow Daoist."

"We have traveled all the way to this place, enduring countless storms, hardships, and killings. I know this, and so do you, my fellow Daoist."

"Killing Jianzi is a small matter, but seizing the Changhong One Qi Sword is a big matter. This action will likely attract the attention of the Sword Sect. He is a true madman, and even the elders of the sect will have a headache because of him."

tower!
An extremely awkward feeling welled up from his heart, causing him to frown.

Zhang Yuanzhu paused slightly, his eyes deep, his fingers gripping the hilt of his sword tightly.
"Are you lecturing me or do you think I will join the Qingyang lineage, thereby provoking hostility from the Sword Sect?"

"Is it not self-confidence?"

Jiang Xingye slowly rose, his eyes like stars, gazing at the young man:

"In fact, the Golden Core True Monarch will not lose this game. You and I are just pieces on the chessboard."

"If we win this battle, you live and I live; if we fail to satisfy the True Lord, we will both die, without exception."

The woman's voice was calm, but a fleeting look of sorrow crossed her eyes.

No one wants to be a pawn, especially one that might be sacrificed.

However, she never had a choice.

Zhang Yuanzhu narrowed his double pupils, staring intently at the woman while searching for the source of her awkwardness.

His magical powers were normal, his blood and energy were surging, and his spiritual awareness was brilliant. Everything was normal, without the slightest problem.

Then, there is only one possibility.

'Cause and effect, or something else?'

In the blink of an eye, deep within the mind, the Seven Treasures Tree swayed gently, its three-colored divine light intertwining, thus allowing one to control the [Special Attribute] Karmic Fire.

A series of mysterious lines, varying in thickness, came into view.

My gaze swept across the scene, my eyes narrowed slightly, and I saw that a thin line of cause and effect was rapidly expanding.

In just a few breaths, it had grown to the thickness of a water bucket.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his arm and slashed.

hum~
The sword energy was dazzling and sharp, as if it wanted to sever the cause and effect in the dark.

Jiang Xingye seemed oblivious to the young man's actions, and with his palm behind him, he brushed against the 'Divine Mountain'.

buzz~
The 'Divine Mountain' trembled slightly, scattering stone chips and revealing its dark golden color and true appearance.

A dark gold stone tablet, reaching straight into the sky, has lines of writing emerging, densely covering its surface, bearing the marks of time.

Rays of light flowed across the stone tablet, blurring the inscriptions, making it mysterious and ancient.

The woman lowered her slender hand from the stone tablet, her eyes filled with complex emotions, her red lips slightly parted:

"The Dao Stele has stood since ancient times and will last forever. From the beginning of time to this place, heroes and geniuses throughout history have tested their talents here and received the rewards of heaven and earth."

Gradually, a serious expression appeared on Jiang Xingye's pretty face:
"Legend has it that in the primordial era, a being above the Dao Lord level explored his talents here in his youth and obtained unimaginable treasures."

"It can be said that this place is the greatest opportunity in the Chuanyuan Secret Realm."

As the words drifted down, the cultivators turned their gazes toward the Dao Stele.

The Dao Stele is known to most righteous cultivators, but for ordinary geniuses, it is only better than nothing and they will not gain much.

Zhang Yuanzhu glanced coldly at the Dao Stele, the divine sword in his hand hummed, and he slashed down with it.

Boom~
The sword light soared into the sky, tearing through the heavens, and with an even more violent force, it slashed at the long thread of cause and effect in the darkness, as well as at the cultivators under the Dao Stele.

Stab it!

One by one, the cultivators perished, their blood and bones splattering, staining the earth red.

The woman slightly raised her head, her starry eyes fixed on the gleaming sword, her red lips curving into a smile.

"A thousand years ago, the Sword Master of the Sword Sect, the Prodigy of the Buddhist Sect, and the Daoist Master of the Qingyang Sect, along with..."

He uttered each word carefully:
"The rogue cultivator Feng Jiuwu has arrived here!"

The three characters "风九五三" were uttered.

boom!
The causal thread that had been severed in half instantly healed and expanded rapidly.

He also instinctively felt a sense of familiarity.

At that moment, Zhang Yuanzhu seemed to understand something. He slowly lowered the divine sword in his hand and calmly looked at the woman in the Daoist robe. "The rogue cultivator Feng Jiuwu?"

As the words drifted by, the thread of cause and effect had already pushed aside everything and covered the entire body, yet it could no longer attract the youth's attention in the slightest.

"He was a proud son of heaven who came from a poor background, had a righteous heart, associated with Buddhism, and also had a confidante."

"Compared to Brother Dao, he was less domineering and more gentle. He was a virtuous gentleman, but unfortunately he perished while breaking through to the Golden Core stage."

Jiang Xingye leaned against the stone tablet and slowly began to speak, as if two old friends were having a conversation.

"By the way, it's rumored that his confidante is a fox demon with considerable talent. I should address her as a senior. As for how to address her, that's up to you."

Dang~
His fair fingers, stained with blood, tapped lightly on the stone tablet.

Amidst the clanging of metal, the three characters on the upper part of the stele shone brightly, then slid down, merging with the blood on the fingertips, and instantly vanished into the crimson shadow's body.

In an instant, Zhang Yuanzhu felt his consciousness enveloped in layers of haze, his surging blood and qi fell silent, and his turbulent magical power returned to his spiritual platform.

The young man's gaze was deep and unfathomable, like an abyss or a demon, looking down at the woman:

"You all have quite the cunning scheme!"

"But what we're waiting for probably isn't that rogue cultivator, Feng Jiuwu."

The body descended.

Stab it!

The divine sword pierced the ground, and a pitch-black coffin floated out of the storage bag and crashed to the ground.

Zhang Yuanzhu's last shred of clarity vanished completely into darkness.

Jiang Xingye gazed quietly at the young man, without excitement or joy, only with regret and sorrow, and whispered:

"It doesn't matter who wakes up; it's all part of the True Lord's plan."

"finished!"

On the flying boat.

Fa Yan and Fa Ding personally witnessed the Daoist brother falling from the sky and his aura receding.

As the law took a step forward, rays of Buddhist light burst forth from his body, ready to reach out and help the young man's body.

Snapped!
A hand rested on my shoulder, and a calm female voice reached my ears.

"Senior sister, calm down. Brother will be fine."

“Feng Jiuwu, a genius from a thousand years ago, I have heard of his name, but compared to you, my brother, he is like a cloud compared to mud.”

Upon hearing this, Fa Guang paused slightly and turned to look.

What comes into view is a pair of eyes full of Buddhist-like wisdom, with a strange emotion mixed with a stubbornness.

Fa Yan's gaze passed over his senior sister, landing on a figure in crimson. His expression was complex as he murmured to himself:
"The Spirit Child, the Past, the Present—if you were the Daoist brother, what choice would you make?"

Beyond the hidden realm of Chuanyuan, atop the mountains.

The three characters "道碑风九五三" disappeared into Zhang Yuanzhu's body the instant they appeared.

A woman with a gray robe and silver hair trembled slightly, her face filled with excitement.

Unconsciously, a wisp of energy escaped, shattering the heavens and earth for three thousand miles.

“My husband is your presence; I can sense it.”

The woman murmured to herself, her beautiful eyes fixed on the secret realm with anticipation.

As for the vow he made with Qingyangzhai, he no longer cared. As long as that person could reappear, all the sacrifices would be worthwhile.

Qingyangzhai, shrouded in a light drizzle, its green tiles soaked through.

Under the eaves of the attic, a figure leaned against a doorpost, holding a teacup, gazing at the misty drizzle.

She raised her hand, took a small sip of tea, and laughed out loud:
"Good rain!"

"What a monster! What a saintess!!"

bang~
He drank the tea in one gulp and tossed the jade cup aside.

"It's quite a show!"

Ten miles away from Qingyangzhai, a light drizzle fell and the wind howled.

A filthy stray dog ​​lay in a mud puddle, swallowing the rainwater that fell into it like an ordinary wild animal.

It was thin and bony, yet its beastly eyes gleamed with determination.

Beneath the skin, amidst the flesh and blood, lies a thin fragment, a talisman, and a coiled disc.

If you happen to look up, you'll find yourself looking in the direction of Yuanshui Immortal City.

All living beings are in different states of mind and have different thoughts, all waiting for the outcome.

Within the secret realm, beneath the Dao stele.

Zhang Yuanzhu stood on the ground, his spiritual consciousness sinking into his mind.

The fog was thick, obscuring the view and making it impossible to see the direction.

The eleven-story glazed pagoda spirals in the center, emanating an aura that suppresses everything and endures through the ages.

Inside the pagoda, a small golden figure sat cross-legged, gazing through the pagoda into the depths of the clouds, sensing the gradually emerging powerful aura.

Stand up and step outwards.

He was draped in a red robe, the gold faded, and he transformed into a handsome young man with long, sharp eyebrows and a pair of deep, eerie pupils.

He walked out of the glazed pagoda, out of the protective place, and faced the clouds and mist.

He extended his hand and made a casual gesture.

The pagoda trembled, and strands of azure light converged towards the palm of the hand, transforming into a jade tablet inscribed with various runes.

He brought his five fingers together, grasped the jade pendant, and his red robe transformed into a green one.

The secret treasure obtained from Du Qing of the Du family has now been transformed into a protective measure.

As you step forward, the clouds and mist dissipate, transforming into nourishment that continuously nurtures your spirit.

Powerful and domineering, with the confidence to overcome everything.

"Ah~"

A soft sigh came from the depths of the clouds.

Immediately afterwards, crisp footsteps approached.

A blurry figure walked slowly and unimpeded, as if this blurry figure did not belong to an outsider in this 'region'.

Upon seeing this, Zhang Yuanzhu grinned.

With one step, energy bursts forth.

As if the sky were collapsing and the earth were sinking, all the clouds and mist were dissipating.

With her green robes billowing and her black hair dancing wildly, she gazed at the gradually becoming clearer figure and slowly began to speak:
"Feng Jiuwu?"

It seemed like a question, yet it carried an air of certainty.

The blurry figure stopped, then began to become clear.

A young man stood ten paces away, handsome and dashing.

The man was dressed in a white robe, spotless, as if he were purifying the mortal world, exuding an ethereal charm, truly like a banished immortal.

"Feng Jiuwu, a rogue cultivator, greets the junior cultivator."

"Zhang Yuanzhu of Zhuoyang greets the senior cultivator."

The two whispered to each other, one after the other, creating a unique and charming sound.

Zhang Yuanzhu let his arms hang naturally as he looked at the young man in white. He showed no fear or trepidation about facing his 'past life,' only indifference from the bottom of his heart.

"I do not believe in reincarnation, nor do I acknowledge my past life. I only seek to live a life of great passion and seek the truth in this world!"

"In my view, you are nothing but an external demon."

Feng Jiuwu sensed Chi Ying's resolute determination, and a smile appeared on his face, warming his heart like a great sun hanging in the sky, without explosion, only the warmth that nourishes all things.

"It is I who have caused trouble for the younger generation."

He sighed softly, his voice filled with complex emotions, every inch of his skin radiating an otherworldly glow, exuding an aura that seemed to belong to another realm.

"But I also have people I want to see, so I have no choice but to enter the game and compete with the younger generation!"

(End of this chapter)