The Eternal God Emperor and the Demon Ancestor

After the dust settled on the Holy Realm War in the Taiwei Battlefield, all the Great Saints of the Primordial World returned to their realm. During this period of development, the rules of heaven and earth in the Primordial World became increasingly stable, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged. The already vast and boundless realm was further revitalized by the massive land reclamation efforts led by the True Universe Divine Lord and thousands of cultivators from the Kunlun Realm. The once barren and desolate land is now filled with the figures of humans and cultivators of various races cultivating and fighting, a sign of great prosperity.

In the desolate lands, within the territory of the Holy Ming Empire.

Emperor Zhang Tianxu, clad in a bright yellow imperial robe embroidered with dragon patterns, exuded a profound and awe-inspiring aura of sainthood. He stood shoulder to shoulder with his younger brother, Zhang Tiansui, overlooking the ever-expanding empire. Majestic cities rose from the ground, their walls engraved with sacred runes. The protective arrays shimmered with brilliant holy light, keeping the wild and untamed world at bay. Within these cities, the people lived in peace and prosperity, smoke rising from their chimneys, a scene of vibrant life.

"Third brother, take a look." Zhang Tianxu raised his hand and waved it, his holy power condensing into a vast map, showing millions of miles of territory. His tone was filled with pride. "In just one year, I have led the imperial army to expand the territory by millions of miles, built a hundred magnificent cities, and settled hundreds of millions of people who have migrated from the Kunlun Realm. It's just a pity that the land is vast but the population is sparse, and both military and civilian resources are insufficient. Otherwise, I could have expanded the territory three times over."

Zhang Tiansui, clad in black battle armor, his face imposing, chuckled upon hearing this. His second brother's lifelong obsession was to surpass his eldest brother, Zhang Tiange, the crown prince, with whom he had engaged in a centuries-long power struggle back in the Kunlun Realm. Years ago, his eldest brother's grandson suffered a crushing defeat and was captured during an expedition against the ten barbarian kingdoms, becoming a source of ridicule for his second brother, a grudge he held for decades. Now, the two brothers had been ordered to the Primordial Realm to establish a new Holy Empire. Though lacking the prosperity and tranquility of the Kunlun Realm, they could overcome obstacles and expand their territory. This passion and achievement far surpassed a life of ease. His own cultivation had also advanced by leaps and bounds, breaking through from the Hundred Shackles Realm to the ranks of the Thousand Questions Realm Great Saints, his foundation in the Holy Path becoming increasingly solid.

"Second Brother, deep within the Netherworld, countless Great Saint-level Netherworld Beasts lie dormant, including Netherworld Beast Kings comparable to pseudo-gods, and even Netherworld Beast clans that have developed complete intelligence and formed their own races. From now on, this Netherworld is destined to be a land of endless war and extreme excitement." Zhang Tiansui's eyes were sharp as he looked into the depths of the earth, where he could vaguely sense waves of ferocious and overwhelming beastly aura.

Zhang Tianxu's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within them. Gazing at the peaceful and prosperous people of the city, he said in a deep voice, "Third brother, trust me. Within a thousand years, this desolate land will be filled with the banners of the Holy Ming Empire. Not only that, we will also lead our army on an expedition to the outer universe, to restore the supreme glory of our Holy Ming Zhang family from fifty thousand years ago."

Fifty thousand years ago, the Zhang family of Shengming was a top-tier clan in the universe, with numerous True Gods residing within its ranks. They ruled over multiple great worlds, possessing numerous holy cities and inhabited planets under their command, their fame resounding throughout the heavens. Restoring the family's glory was not only Zhang Tianxu's obsession but also a deeply buried dream in Zhang Tiansui's heart. The two brothers exchanged a glance, both seeing the burning ambition and conviction in each other's eyes.

Meanwhile, in the Northern Sea beyond the desolate wilderness, towering waves surged and the air was bitterly cold.

On a massive island hidden in the chaotic mist, several great demon saints from the desolate secret realm of Kunlun gathered, their auras intertwining and stirring up a region of the sea.

Two white-bearded, powerful demon saints, their auras reaching the level of "ten thousand deaths and one life," were bowing deeply to a young man dressed in a yin-yang-colored Daoist robe, their tone extremely obsequious. The two were respectively the patriarchs of the Frost Demon Ape clan and the Illusionary Dream Ice Butterfly clan. Although their ancestors had produced true gods, they were far inferior to the ancient royal clans like the Dragon and Phoenix clans, and thus had always been vassals of the Dragon and Phoenix clans, with no hope of advancement.

When the gods initially divided the primordial world into sacred lands, they settled the two races and other weaker demon races in the Southern and Eastern Wilderness. However, these areas were inhabited by royal families such as the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, Black Tortoise Clan, and Qilin Clan, leaving the weaker demon races with no chance of rising in power. The two races, along with the chieftains of several other smaller clans, secretly conspired to distance themselves from these demon royal powers and migrate to the Northern Sea. Their aim was to conquer the still-developing Northern Wilderness, becoming the pioneers of the Northern Wilderness and establishing their own independent territory. This plan received the support of the Ming Emperor, which allowed the migration to proceed smoothly.

The young man in the Yin-Yang Daoist robe before them was none other than Xu Kun, a rare rogue cultivator at the Supreme Realm among the demon race. His true form was a Kunpeng whose bloodline had reverted to its ancestral state. In the battle of the Meteorite Battlefield, he single-handedly slew several Supreme Realm Great Saints from the Hell Realm, his combat prowess unmatched among his peers, earning him a formidable reputation. If they could bring him into the alliance, they would have a powerful backer to contend with the Dragon and Phoenix races, ensuring the success of their grand plan in the Northern Wilderness.

Xu Kun stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the mist, looking towards the Northern Wilderness land shrouded in chaotic energy. His holy sense swept over the migrating groups of the Frost Demon Ape and the Illusionary Dream Ice Butterfly clans. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Ape Clan Chief, Butterfly Clan Chief, I know your thoughts perfectly well. In the Southern Wilderness, there is Xuanwu Lake and the Myriad Phoenix Nest; in the Eastern Wilderness, there is Ancestral Dragon Mountain and Qilin Cliff. The four great demon clans and royal families are entrenched here. If you small clans remain entrenched in your places, you will be dependent on others for your entire lives, with no hope of liberation."

"You seek me out simply because I am alone, without any clan ties, and you don't need to worry about becoming a new vassal. You only need to use my banner to resist the oppression of the royal family."

Upon hearing this, the Frost Demon Ape Clan Chief and the Illusionary Dream Ice Butterfly Clan Chief both looked embarrassed and lowered their heads.

Xu Kun changed the subject, a faint smile playing on his lips: "However, you've come to the right person. I grant your request."

The two clan leaders were overjoyed and were about to express their gratitude when Xu Kun continued, "In this primordial world, only I dare to gamble with you on this uncivilized northern wilderness."

He had his own plans: he had already reached the peak of the Supreme Saint realm, and was only missing a crucial aura to trigger the tribulation of becoming a god, step out of the mortal path and ascend to the divine realm. He sensed with the Kunpeng origin that the Northern Sea Eye beneath the Northern Wilderness contained an unparalleled opportunity to become a true god, and he had to seize it first in order to grasp the opportunity of the Great Dao.

On the other side of the primordial world, in the Xuanhuang land, lies Tianyang Mountain.

This place is the headquarters of the Taiji Dao sect in the Kunlun Realm, located in the Primordial World. It has now been fully developed. The mountains rise and fall, and spiritual veins crisscross the landscape. Taoist temples and halls are built against the mountains, with upturned eaves and corners, exuding Taoist charm. Purple-gold sacred energy soars into the sky, making it a sacred place of Taoism.

Fifty thousand years ago, in that divine war, all the true gods of the Kunlun Realm's Daoist sect perished, and the Taiji Dao never recovered. Now, Zhenyu and Zhenqing have attained godhood, and the Taiji Dao has been revived, its revival unstoppable.

The current secular leader of Taiji Dao is Emperor Zhenmin, a peak demigod. After Zhenyu and Zhenqing became gods, he stayed in the Primordial Realm to assist Emperor Ming in governing the realm and did not participate in the Saint Realm Grand Competition.

At this moment, Dao Emperor Zhenmin, dressed in a purple-gold Taiji Daoist robe with a primordial Taiji talisman hanging from his waist, had a solemn face and an awe-inspiring holy aura as he listened to the reports from his disciples.

"Ancestor, in the millions of miles of territory beneath Tianyang Mountain, we have built dozens of towns and settled mortals. The True Ancestor has bestowed the Five Elements Spiritual Valley upon mortals for cultivation, and this place will soon become fertile land and spiritual rivers."

Upon hearing this, Dao Emperor Zhenmin's face showed relief. The Taiji Dao had been dormant for tens of thousands of years, and now it finally had a chance to revive. Since migrating to the Primordial World, several Great Saints had been born under its tutelage. At this rate, the restoration of its ancient glory was just around the corner.

Just then, a young Taoist priest outside the hall transmitted a message: "Master, the Great Sage Tailai of the Four Symbols School and the Great Sage Wenxi of the Eight Trigrams School have come to pay their respects."

Emperor Zhenmin's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "Oh? It's Wen Tailai and Da Wenxi, rare guests! Quickly, please come into the palace!"

Wen Tailai was tall and burly, with a broad back and a powerful aura. After the battle in the Taiwei Realm, he broke through to the Great Saint realm of Ten Thousand Deaths and One Life. He was the junior brother of the sect leader of the Four Symbols Sect.

Da Vinci was thin and frail, with white hair and beard. He was over seventy years old and was a highly respected grandmaster of the Bagua Sect. He was proficient in weapon crafting and had profound knowledge of the Dao. He was a great sage of the Dao.

As the two entered the hall, Emperor Zhenmin personally stepped forward to greet them, warmly leading them to their seats and saying with a smile, "It is truly a rare occasion for you two fellow Daoists to visit today. I thought you were both in seclusion, cultivating diligently and no longer concerned with worldly affairs."

Da Vinci gave a wry smile: "Fellow Daoist Zhenmin, you know perfectly well that the cultivation slots for the Void Realm are already full. Why should we, whose cultivation has just advanced, compete with those fellow Daoists?"

The Void Realm is a supreme cultivation sanctuary jointly created by Ling Che using time-related and chaos-related treasures. The internal spacetime flow far surpasses that of the outside world, exceeding even the "one day in heaven equals one year on earth" phenomenon once observed by the gods of the Kunlun Realm when they activated their sundials. The realm is planted with a vast array of mesmerizing divine flowers whose fragrance can neutralize the spacetime side effects of prolonged cultivation, making it a veritable cheat code for cultivation. The only drawback is that each activation requires a massive amount of divine stones, unaffordable for most except for top-tier forces. If it weren't for the demonic body's extensive clandestine side business in the Hell Realm, even Zhenyu and his companions wouldn't have been able to afford it.

Emperor Zhenmin nodded: "I've heard that Sect Leader Xue has emerged from seclusion and gone to the Realm of Truth, where the Divine Lord intends to recommend him for the Temple of Truth. His Majesty Emperor Xuan, on the other hand, is to join the Temple of Merit. And your two sect leaders will also be taking up positions in various forces within the Heavenly Court?"

Da Vinci nodded: "That's right. The sect leader has received the decree from the True Universe Divine Lord and will be joining a top power in the Heavenly Court. This is an arrangement for the overall situation of our realm."

Wen Tailai chimed in, "Our Four Symbols Sect Master will also be heading to the Array Annihilation Palace. The Eight Trigrams Sect's Great Sage Zeyang is a master of array formations, a world-class master, and exactly the kind of talent the Array Annihilation Palace desperately needs."

Emperor Zhenmin sighed, "Sect Leader Xue and Emperor Xuan have already transcended tribulation and become gods. We must also intensify our cultivation and not fall behind."

Wen Tailai and Da Wenxi exchanged a glance and smiled at each other: "Fellow Daoist Zhenmin, we have come here today for this very reason."

Emperor Zhenmin's eyes flickered slightly: "Could it be that you two have come for the Hall of the Great Dao of the Heavens?"

"Exactly!" Dawenxi's eyes gleamed. "We already know that the Taiji Dao has moved the Grand Dao Hall of the Heavens, a legacy of the Dao Ancestor, to the Primordial World, placing it on Tianyang Mountain. We have traveled thousands of miles to enter the Grand Dao Hall and comprehend the legacy of the Dao Ancestor!"

Emperor Zhenmin laughed heartily, no longer concealing anything: "The Hongdao Palace is indeed located at the summit of Tianyang Mountain. I will now lead you two there!"

The three of them got up and flew through the air, arriving at the summit of Tianyang Mountain in a short while.

A simple and unadorned ancient hall, imbued with boundless Taoist charm, stands atop the mountain. The plaque bears the four characters "Hongdao Zhutian" (meaning "Promoting the Tao to All Heavens"), written with flowing, natural Taoist elegance. Just a moment's gaze is enough to captivate Wen Tailai and Da Wenxi, as if they were transported to the ancient times when the Taoist Ancestor preached, until they were awakened by the divine power of the True Min Taoist Emperor.

"This is the Hongdao Hall. The Dao Ancestor used to recite scriptures and preach the Dao here, teaching all the heavens. It is also the sacred place where the Daoists of my Taiji Dao have comprehended the sacred Dao and passed on the Daoist canon. Most of the Daoist traditions and scriptures of my Taiji Dao originated from this hall." Dao Emperor Zhenmin spoke with piety and pride.

Wen Tailai was deeply moved and murmured to himself, "The Qi of the heavens is vast and boundless, and my Dao is flourishing day by day... Legend has it that when the Dao Ancestor preached in the Hongdao Hall, all living beings from the ten directions and the entire universe came to listen to the Dao, to understand the Dao and the Dharma. What an unparalleled spectacle that was!"

Da Vinci was also filled with longing. He gently touched the ancient wall of the main hall, feeling the ancient Taoist charm that had settled within it, and a sense of reverence for the Taoist ancestor arose in his heart.

As Daoist cultivators, they had never stepped into the Hongdao Palace. This was because during the Kunlun Realm God War 50,000 years ago, the Taiji Dao sages sealed the Hongdao Palace with an unparalleled array until Zhenyu Shenjun became a god, at which point it was revealed to the world again.

Emperor Zhenmin pushed open the palace door and led the two inside.

The murals inside the hall were incredibly lifelike, depicting scenes of the Taoist patriarch preaching and sages spreading the Tao. The moment the two stepped inside, the hall was suddenly filled with boundless golden light, and countless phantoms of Taoist sages appeared. The sounds of chanting scriptures and expounding the Tao resounded throughout the hall, and the Taoist aura surged like a tide, engulfing the two's souls.

Wen Tailai and Da Wenxi were instantly immersed in it, their minds and spirits merging with the Daoist rhythm, and their cultivation was growing rapidly.

Emperor Zhenmin looked at the two of them with satisfaction, then turned and slowly walked up to the main hall pavilion to wait for them to finish their enlightenment.