There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 54 (Second Edition)
"Chen Xu? Who is Chen Xu?"

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in cheers!
"Never heard of him! Could he be some ancient, powerful being?"

"The title of a reclusive Daoist master?"

"Does it look like an inscription on a stele dedicated to a patriarch?"

Everyone was talking at once, but no one knew the significance of the name "Chen Xu".

"The words! The words have changed!" A sharp-eyed cultivator exclaimed in surprise, seeing the words "Bowing to Chen Xu, starlight illuminating the beginning of the calamity" on the ancient tablet ripple and dissipate like water, replaced by "Heaven's will lacks one thing, the tripod stands on the ground at the beginning of the calamity"!
"Haha! A divine artifact has evolved! Its spiritual essence remains!" The burly man with the bushy beard laughed wildly, his voice shaking the sea. "An ancient treasure! It's rightfully mine!"

The surrounding cultivators stared intently, their greed growing even stronger!
Who cares who Chen Xu is? Ancient artifacts possess a spirit, and the handwriting changes on its own—that's irrefutable proof of something extraordinary! At this moment, all they see is that dark golden light; who cares about the old stories?

however!
On the edge of the battlefield, aboard the Floating Cloud Flying Boat, the air seemed to freeze!
Bai Shaoyou stared intently at the changing handwriting, then suddenly exclaimed to Bai Zhenhai beside him, "Seventeenth Uncle! You saw it! What kind of coincidence is this? It must be the luck of Mingxia Mountain that has brought the name of our ancestor to the forefront of this mountain!" His voice was filled with suppressed excitement.

Bai Zhenhai's pupils contracted sharply, and the usual composure and contempt on his face vanished!

A few days ago, my nephew excitedly sent me a message telling the story of "Master Chen Xu" of Mingxia Mountain, a great master who revived a sect in an ancient immortal dynasty, whose lineage coincidentally survived in Nanbin!

At that moment, all he felt was a cold laugh.

A great master from the Middle Ages? A patriarch who revived the Daoist tradition? A coincidence that the Daoist lineage was preserved? And Shaoyou just happened to encounter him?
Bai Zhenhai had traveled the world for a hundred years and had seen far too many of these tricks of currying favor with the ancients and raising one's own status. He was just a leader of a remote sect who saw that Shao You was simple-minded and wealthy, so he made up a frightening excuse in an attempt to curry favor with the Bai family!
He also warned Bai Shaoyou not to be deceived by the sweet talk of the rural monks, as the so-called "patriarch stories" were almost certainly fabricated!

However, at this moment, on the dark gold ancient board that spewed out from the Void Abyss, the name "Chen Xu" was prominently listed!
Who could possibly go to those mountains to fake it?

Didn't you see that the dogs at Xuanji Chess Academy and Baiqin Valley have already fought tooth and nail, and they still haven't gone in?

"Or is it just a coincidence of names?" Bai Zhenhai pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked his nephew, "Shaoyou, what kind of person is this Sect Leader Chen?"

Bai Shaoyou took a deep breath, his eyes sparkling with admiration: "Sect Leader Chen is handsome and elegant, and his demeanor is full of ancient charm, quite different from the cultivators of this era! Now that I think about it, it must be because he inherited the ancient traditions!"

His tone grew increasingly agitated: "My nephew was also skeptical when he first heard about the 'Master Chen Xu,' so I tried to entice him with great rewards, but he remained unmoved, his mind as still as water! Such composure is extraordinary!"

"What else is special about it?" Bai Zhenhai pressed, his brows furrowed.

"His actions were meticulous and methodical, every step carefully planned!" Bai Shaoyou recalled. "Every time he came to Xiaoyingzhou, his goal was extremely clear! He wouldn't take anything useless, not even an ancient scroll or half a piece of spiritual essence; if he needed something, he would immediately take even a fragment of a book or diagram! His decisiveness in choosing was almost ruthless!"

He paused, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of awe: "What's even more astonishing is the astonishing speed of his cultivation progress! When we first met, he was only at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment, with a weak foundation. When we met again, his aura was already as smooth and round as jade. The last time, according to Old Zhou's report, Sect Leader Chen's bones were already shining with jade-like radiance! Such speed is simply like an ancient great master bestowing power upon him!"

"So fast!?" The last trace of contempt Bai Zhenhai felt for the "country bumpkin" vanished. "According to you, he certainly has an extraordinary bearing and is unlike any other!"

"Boom!"

The fierce battle continues on the sea!
Bai Shaoyou suppressed his emotions and glanced at the chaotic battlefield and the suspended mountain: "Ancient records indicate that this mountain was also found in Nanbin four or five hundred years ago, but initially no one could enter it. It was only after flying inland that it was opened by a powerful being..."

“Good!” Bai Zhenhai understood his meaning. “I’ll keep an eye on things here. Instead of scrambling over useless corners, you should hurry up and visit that Sect Leader Chen! Find out the connection! If his sect is truly connected to Xuyuan Fuli, you might be able to learn secrets that were not recorded by predecessors, which would greatly benefit your exploration of this mountain!”

He paused, as if feeling the change was too abrupt, and added a polite remark: "The Bai family is not lacking in these small opportunities. I came here to broaden your horizons."

"Nephew understands!" Bai Shaoyou had no more hesitation. The Flowing Cloud Flying Boat transformed into a streak of light and shot straight towards the inland of Nanbin!

Bai Zhenhai stood suspended in mid-air, watching the flying boat disappear, his expression complex and indescribable.

He was arrogant and thought he had seen all the heroes, but he may have really misjudged this matter, mistaking a real dragon for a grass snake!

"It's not certain yet, but if it really is an ancient tradition, Shao You's trip here might help maintain good relations."

The flying boat cut through the air, amidst fierce winds.

Bai Shaoyou stood alone at the bow of the boat, his clothes fluttering wildly, his heart churning with emotions!
"Bowing in reverence to Chen Xu, starlight illuminates the beginning of calamity! This is a relic from Mount Xuyuan! It must have been carved during the Middle Immortal Dynasty. It turns out that the status of Ancestor Chen Xu is so lofty!"

He murmured to himself, all the details of Chen Qing's recounting of the patriarch's story flooding his mind!

He murmured to himself, and all the details that Chen Qing had told him about the patriarch in the past surged out like a tide, all of them tinged with a completely different divine brilliance!
"No wonder! His expression changed when he first heard of Xuyuan Fuli!"

"No wonder! He's so persistent in his pursuit of the past of the Immortal Dynasty and the lost ancient formations!"

"No wonder! He looks down on ordinary cultivation techniques and spiritual materials!"

"The lineage of their sect is already engraved on the sacred mountain! All their pursuits and actions are aimed at verifying and completing that supreme lineage!"

The fog has lifted!

Bai Shaoyou had no more doubts, only shock and remorse!
The ancient heritage I had been searching for so desperately was revealed in such a shocking way, and I had almost missed it several times, even harboring some doubts!

"They lured him with huge rewards, promised him the opportunity to explore the mysteries of the Void, and even claimed they were helping him uncover secrets! In his eyes, it was probably no different from a child offering a treasure! They were truly blind and couldn't recognize the true teachings right in front of them!"

With the speedboat pushed to its limit, the South Coastline was already in sight.

Bai Shaoyou took a deep breath, his eyes burning with determination.

"Sect Leader Chen of Mingxia Mountain! This time, we must get to the bottom of this!"

The moon was already high in the sky.

The night is getting darker.

Mingxia Mountain.

The main room was brightly lit by candlelight. Chen Qing sat upright at the table, looking at his two eager nephews, and said with a smile, "Today, I will tell you another story about the patriarch who restored the dynasty..."

Upon hearing this, the two children immediately jumped for joy. After a cup of tea, Chen Qingfang reached the crucial point: "...The patriarch witnessed the Immortal Emperor's ascension and gained some insight into the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Light. Later, he even gained more profound insights from that spiritual light."

Fang Da'ao asked urgently, "What is the mystery?"

"There are many different opinions," Chen Qing said, having prepared in advance, "One theory is that the patriarch's spiritual light illuminated the entire universe, allowing him to see through the entire trajectory of the supreme star restrictions in Jade Capital! From then on, all the star restrictions in the heavens were as clear as the lines on the palm of his hand!"

"Impressive!" Fang Da'ao heard the heavy breathing and clenched his fists.

Qu Xiaoyao asked curiously, "Anything else?"

Chen Qing smiled and continued, "Secondly, the patriarch's spiritual light was so clear that he saw the wonders of the stars' movements and comprehended a supreme escape technique! He could find gaps to enter and exit any restrictions set up by the power of the stars, treating all kinds of star restrictions as nothing!"

Qu Xiaoyao's small mouth was slightly open, and her eyes sparkled with starlight.

Before he could ask any more questions, Chen Qing continued, "Thirdly, the patriarch glimpsed a trace of the true meaning of the Star Restriction and comprehended the principle of 'the flow of star power,' which allows him to avoid misfortune and seek good fortune. Even if trapped in a deadly formation, he can still find a way to survive and protect himself from harm!"

This last one is the "setting" that Chen Qing thinks is the most likely and most suitable for his current situation. But since it's a dream, why not have a few more? What if it comes true?

Fang Da'ao listened with great admiration, feeling that his ancestor was incredibly powerful.

Qu Xiaoyao tilted her head and asked in a clear voice, "Uncle-Master, the Ancestral Master is so amazing! But he's always meditating and contemplating. When will he accept disciples and revitalize the sect? Doesn't the sect need a lot of people?"

"..."

Chen Qing was taken aback by the child's question.

Yes, the patriarch was so busy comprehending the Dao, breaking the formation, and protecting himself that he couldn't possibly revive the sect... Where would the disciples come from?

"Good question." Chen Qing patted her little head and smiled, "When will you take on disciples to revitalize the sect? Your master also wants to know. The answer may lie in his story. Your master should study it carefully."

After telling the story, he instructed the two young men: "Uncle is going into seclusion to comprehend the legacy of the patriarch. He needs to concentrate fully. It may take a long time. You two should take good care of things in the mountains. Use the formations and talismans as you see fit, but safety is the most important thing."

"Don't worry, Uncle-Master!" Fang Da'ao puffed out his chest. "With me here, I will definitely not let any villains disturb your peaceful cultivation!"

Chen Qing nodded, then made some more arrangements inside and outside the quiet room. His gaze swept over the book "Lingguang Xuanjian" beside him, and he paused for a moment.

"If what this book says is true, then the Star Silence Calamity Light might still have some wonderful uses..."

Without further hesitation, he sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and his breathing gradually became deep and still, like a calm ancient well.

Outside the window, a golden monkey quietly arrived and silently guarded the Dharma.

The platform shrouded in white mist remains eternally silent.

Chen Qing stepped onto the stone platform and turned to the first page of the "Records of the Great Void Dao".

Of the twelve dark Dao marks that had been accumulated, only two remained!

"Ten paths have been exhausted!" Chen Qing's heart sank. "Three versions, I wonder which one will succeed? If none of them succeed, I can only wait a few more days to accumulate Dao traces again and start a new chapter! Otherwise, I will have no understanding and the danger will be unpredictable."

He quickly flipped through the pages, skimming over the biography of "Master Chenxu," his gaze lingering on the two newly added sections of small, ink-stained text—

[In the past, there was a patriarch named Chen Xu, who, at a time of decline for the sect, single-handedly upheld its precarious state. Though bound by the mysteries of the Dao, he remained unmoved by sensual pleasures, devoting himself daily to profound spiritual practice. From then on, his vital energy connected with the heavens, enabling him to travel to the eight directions in a single thought, comprehending the wonders of the stars and grasping the mysteries of destiny. He thus obtained the ultimate aim, re-established the Daoist lineage, and restored the foundation for longevity. He is revered by later generations of disciples as the patriarch of the restoration, and his incense is eternally offered in worship.]

"To comprehend the mysteries of the stars and grasp the secrets of destiny?"

Chen Qing frowned, scrutinizing the words repeatedly.

This is more like a vague summary than a clear definition!

Is it to understand the Star Forbidden Zone as clearly as reading the lines on the palm of your hand? Is it to move through it as if it were empty land? Or is it only to be able to seize a sliver of hope in the most desperate situations?
It is impossible to tell.

"Should we wait longer? Perhaps by accumulating more insights and revising the document multiple times, we can obtain clearer guidance?"

The thought had barely formed when Chen Qing cut it off!
Too much too!

"If all this preparation still doesn't work..." With a flick of the Samadhi True Fire Talisman, the doubts in Chen Qing's eyes vanished, "It proves that this Restoration Ancestor's fate is indeed as he is!"

To find such a glimmer of insight on the path of seeking enlightenment is already an immense blessing!

With unwavering resolve, there was no more hesitation!
Press your five fingers firmly onto the book.

"Dream!"

outside the house.

The night was deep and still, and all was quiet.

A streak of light tore through the night, and the Cloud Flying Boat crashed down outside the mountain gate!

Before the boat had even stabilized, Bai Shaoyou leaped out like an arrow released from a bow, his clothes billowing in the wind, stirring up fallen leaves all over the ground!
"Sect Leader Chen! Fellow Daoist Chen Qing! I, Bai, have urgent business to discuss with you!"

The urgent cries pierced the silence of the mountains and fields!

"Squeak-"

The courtyard gate opened in response, and Fang Da'ao came out. He recognized Bai Shaoyou from his uncle's portrait and cupped his hands, saying, "Is this Young Master Bai? My uncle is currently in seclusion in his meditation room and has strictly forbidden anyone from disturbing him." He then changed the subject slightly, "However, my uncle has specifically instructed that if Young Master Bai comes to visit, he may rest and wait in the small house at the foot of the mountain."

(End of this chapter)