Simulating the primordial era? That's way too extreme.

Chapter 390, Side Story Six: Better to Return Home (Lao Jun's Chapter)

As Zhao Si used his system privileges to revive Jiao Ming's true spirit, the spirit gradually developed a soul. At the same time the soul was born, heaven and earth sensed it, and boundless innate fire energy spontaneously gathered to congratulate the rebirth of this ancient first fierce god!

The fiery energy gathered upon the true spirit and soul, and naturally transformed into the image of a bird...

After a long time, the dense innate fire energy finally dissipated again, revealing the ordinary-looking ancient firebird within.

When Hongjun saw its appearance clearly, even though he was prepared, he still couldn't help but tremble:

It was him, it was him!

He's back...

……

On Mount Yujing, a sea of ​​clouds churns and surges.

The old tree's branches droop, dancing in the wind.

This ancient blessed land, which has not been used for many years, welcomes its owner once again today...

Sitting under the old tree in Yujing, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds and the sun, the man in red remained calm and composed in his eyes.

Meanwhile, the old Taoist priest in purple robes opposite him was filled with excitement:

He's back! Fellow Daoist, he's back!

To welcome the return of fellow Daoists, Hongjun specially activated this sacred mountain, and everything on the mountain is exactly as it was in ancient times, without the slightest change. It seems that ancient time has stood still here...

He had a lot to say:

For example, he could tell his fellow Daoists in detail about the changes that have taken place in the prehistoric world over the years, or talk about the achievements he has made over the years...

He was already the ancestor of the immortal civilization and personally opened up a new era. He taught the prehistoric world with the dignity of a sage, and from then on, for thousands of generations, the prehistoric world will sing his great holy name!

As the saying goes, "To return home in wealth and honor is like wearing fine clothes at night."

Sharing one's achievements with the deceased is a natural human sentiment. The reason why he didn't share before was simply because there was no one worthy of his sharing. As the first sage in the primordial world, there was basically no one he could take seriously.

Except for Jiao Ming.

This one and only fellow Daoist was someone Hongjun could never forget. He longed to share his experiences and observations with him, and then the two of them would talk about the past and present, just like in the ancient times...

But what made Him feel at a loss was that Jiao Ming seemed to care about Him at all. The two sat facing each other for a long time without being able to start a conversation, and remained silent the whole time.

Throughout the entire process, Jiao Ming kept gazing at the sea of ​​clouds and the sunset, as if those things were more of an interest to him.

Realizing this, Hongjun's excitement gradually subsided, and the passion and emotion he had finally mustered slowly cooled down.

Fellow Daoist, it seems you are no longer the same fellow Daoist you were back then...

"you……"

Hongjun suddenly asked:

"What's wrong with you?"

Jiao Ming slowly turned his head.

This ancient god who had been resurrected did not feel even the slightest joy at his hard-won resurrection; his face showed only calm and indifference.

他 说:

"I'm getting old."

Getting old?

Hongjun was stunned for a moment, and after a long while, he finally spoke, unwilling to give up:

"Aren't you even a little bit happy? You should be happy! You finally came back to life, how can you not be happy!"

His voice was urgent, because this was not what He had expected!

Shouldn't someone who has barely survived be happy about it? Shouldn't he have a hearty reminiscing with himself? Shouldn't everyone chat about the changes over the years and be filled with emotion?

Why didn't you say anything?

Are you a stone?

Hongjun's question made Jiao Ming think seriously for a while...

then:

"I don't feel happy about anything."

Hongjun's eyes widened...

He couldn't believe that Jiao Ming had said those words, nor could he believe that this was the reunion he had longed for for countless years. He couldn't even believe that the stone-like person in front of him was Jiao Ming!

Why?

All my words boil down to one vexing question.

Jiao Ming said calmly:

"Because I'm a damned person..."

Hongjun was furious:

"Who said you deserve to die? I say you don't deserve to die!"

"The ancient past is long gone, history has turned the page, you are free! No one can kill you!"

"I am a sage! I am the ancestor of the Dao! I rule this primordial world!"

His exasperation was filled with his anger towards Jiao Ming, a man who was always threatening to kill himself, which was truly... utterly speechless!

But Jiao Ming countered with a question:

"Just because you are the Dao Ancestor, and because history has already been turned over, does that mean those who died because of me died in vain?"

"Can sins that have already been committed be erased by time?"

"You're a saint, does that absolve you of my sins?"

Are all living beings truly insignificant ants before a sage, someone who can be disregarded?

"I!……"

Hongjun was so angry he was half-dead, and he couldn't utter a single complete sentence.

This is a truly hurtful statement!

The Immortal Dao civilization was originally built on the foundation of overthrowing the "oppression of all living beings by the three races," and therefore its primary purpose was the equality of all living beings.

Even if in reality a sage can indeed regard all living beings as ants, actions speak louder than words. Regardless of the actual practice, at least the slogans on the surface cannot change.

Jiao Ming's sharp retort directly questions Hongjun's Dao heart and his definition of equality in the immortal path...

This...this...

If Jiao Ming hadn't said those words, Hongjun would have killed him on the spot!

You dare question the dignified founder of Taoism?

However, these were indeed words spoken by Jiao Ming himself...

In an instant, Hongjun's expression changed.

Taking a deep breath, Hongjun frowned:

"You've really changed!"

Jiao Ming nodded:

"How can the mindset of a dead person remain unchanged?"

Upon hearing this, Hongjun opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he didn't say it.

He seemed somewhat lost and disoriented:

The reunion of fellow Daoists, which I had longed for for countless years, turned out to be so mundane, even... disheartening!

Is this truly the kind of hurtful advice a fellow Daoist should utter?!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, but when he met those still, lifeless eyes, his anger suddenly vanished...

As a dead man, he really didn't care at all.

Hongjun's desire to communicate gradually dissipated. He felt that the person in front of him was not his fellow Daoist at all; he was more of a stranger than a stranger!

What about all my expectations over the years?

Thinking about this, Hongjun suddenly felt ridiculous...

The Dao Ancestor stood up without saying a word.

He took one last look at Jiao Ming, and then his figure vanished with the wind.

Along with it, countless years of anticipation and enthusiasm have vanished, all dissipating under the winds and rains of time.

Nothing in this world can stop time. No matter how well Yujing Mountain preserves its ancient appearance, it can never hold back time.

What is gone is truly gone.

Just as Hongjun became the Dao Ancestor and Jiao Ming became a dead man, such is the way of the world...

……

Zhao Si, who had witnessed the entire event, was deep in thought:

The script seems to be a little different from what he expected...

Looking at Jiao Ming, who remained as still as a statue, Zhao Si thought for a moment and asked:

"Aren't you being a little too harsh on Him by saying that?"

Jiao Ming said calmly:

"So what if I'm hurt? So what if I'm not hurt?"

"I was just a dead man, and I had no last wishes when I died... I had a wife and children, I had achievements and accomplishments, all my wishes were fulfilled, and I even cut off my last remaining obsession."

"So, do I really need to be resurrected?"

Jiao Ming's words stunned Zhao Si as well:

It seems...that's indeed the case.

Jiao Ming was not the kind of person who died with hatred and regret; on the contrary, his life was quite fulfilling!

Zu Feng, my childhood goddess and first love, really married him, had children, and has a happy family life.

His close friend Hongjun also attained sainthood, ushering in a new era of immortal cultivation in the primordial world.

He killed his personal enemies, such as the Ancestral Dragon and the Ancestral Qilin, and married the Ancestral Phoenix. Thus, the war between the three races that should have broken out was nipped in the bud by him.

In terms of his great achievements, he is already dazzling enough. When future generations talk about history, they will definitely not be able to bypass him, the great and needless first god of the ancient times!

Despite all his sins, he had minimized the casualties as much as possible, and in the end, he completely atoneed for his sins by committing suicide, dying without any regrets!

With this kind of life, except for not completing the system's survival mission, it was practically a perfect life!

If that's the case, why revive him?

Zhao Si pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized:

The resurrection of Jiao Ming was nothing more than Hongjun's wishful thinking and obsession...

He thought that Jiao Ming would be happy because of the resurrection and that they would talk happily together, just like before.

But the reality is that Jiao Ming has no interest in any of this; there's no need to care so much about the dead...

"But now that you've been resurrected, don't rush to die!"

After thinking for a while, Zhao Si said seriously:

"Even if there's nothing to say between you and the Hongjun here, there's another Hongjun waiting for you!"

Hearing this, Jiao Ming remained unmoved:

"You mean my second incarnation?"

"Um!"

Jiao Ming shook his head:

"There's no need..."

"Everything I had is over. In my second life, he only hoped for my return because of his obsession... But what good would it do if I went back?"

"There's nothing I can do but see him once, but if I see him once, he'll want to see me again and again..."

"His expectations of me will never end. As long as I am alive, he will always hope that I will live, and even stay with him forever..."

"It's better not to see him at all than to do that."

After hearing Jiao Ming's words, Zhao Si scratched his head:

"That's true..."

For Hongjun in both worlds, Lao Jiao was a very good old friend. If the old friend did not die, the friendship would not be interrupted, and they would always want to see this old friend.

Jiao Ming could not possibly survive...

Therefore, the best way for Jiao Ming to stop all of this is to cut ties with them, such as directly confronting Hongjun of this world!

but……

Zhao Si frowned:

"No, the Second Hongjun is different!"

"He doesn't know whether you're alive or dead; he only knows that you've continued the cycle of reincarnation, so he'll keep hoping you'll come back to him."

"If you don't go see him, he might really keep waiting..."

This……

At this point, Jiao Ming hesitated slightly:

It would be cruel to him if I didn't go see him.

Go see him; it will make him look forward to more reunions.

But if you were to tell him directly that you have already died in the next cycle of reincarnation... that would seem to be an even bigger blow to him...

What should we do?

Jiao Ming subconsciously looked at Zhao Si.

Zhao Si raised an eyebrow:

"I need to extinguish his expectations without being too devastating, and I certainly can't tell him directly that you're dead..."

After much deliberation, an idea gradually became clear in Zhao Si's mind...

……

Jiao Ming II.

A vortex suddenly formed in the Purple Cloud Palace!

The Dao Ancestor was just groaning in surprise when he suddenly shuddered...

A familiar figure stepped out of the vortex.

The Dao Ancestor was completely stunned. Although many years had passed, the aura of the true spirit would not lie. The person in front of him was his fellow Daoist from back then!

Before He could speak, the fellow Daoist had already started laughing:

"Fellow Daoist, I'm back!"

"you……"

The Dao Ancestor opened his mouth wide; the surprise was so sudden that he was somewhat at a loss for words!

After a long while, He cautiously asked:

"You... beat the game?"

"Of course!"

Fellow Daoist smiled confidently:

"I have achieved a perfect ending in my third life, and from now on I will never have to reincarnate again!"

"well!"

The Dao Ancestor clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

After waiting, He finally received the reward He desired!

On this day, the common ancestor of all beings returned to the primordial world once more, and wherever his fame spread, all beings rejoiced!

[In the twenty-fourth cycle of the Demon Calendar, the Sixth Meeting and Eighth Period, the Common Ancestor of All Spirits publicly declared that the Heavenly Court was the only legitimate government in the primordial world and acknowledged the Heavenly Emperor Di Jun as his adopted son!]

[Di Jun was overjoyed and quickly said, "Godfather!"]

[It is fate that, according to the common ancestor of all spirits, the three surviving clans have been publicly declared innocent, and are permitted to retain the ancestral worship!]

The three tribes were overjoyed and expressed their deep gratitude!

From then on, the historical conflicts that had plagued Emperor Jun for many years were finally resolved, and the internally united Heavenly Court flourished...

In short, the return of the common ancestor of all beings brings joy to everyone!

This even includes Jiao Ming, who had just severed another corpse...

Looking at the positive impact his avatar, carrying yet another strand of his obsession, had on the Second Primordial World, Jiao Ming smiled with satisfaction.

"Shackles gone, obsessions vanished!"

He smiled, and thus regained his freedom...

……

(End of this chapter)