Chapter 421: Chapter 63: The Beginning of Ancient Times, Who Preached the Dao?

Above the Chaos.

A blurry figure held up a remnant of Chu Tai’s True Spirit, then tapped it gently, causing his body to return.

But after his body was reforged, a sword mark remained on his forehead, radiating a murderous intent that seemed to want to destroy his Dao and extinguish his spirit.

Then, his body collapsed again!

The blurry figure frowned. It used another Skill, expending a great deal of Great Magical Power and Great Divine Techniques—even a drop of its own heart’s blood—to finally suppress the sword mark for the time being and resurrect Chu Tai.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist." Chu Tai smiled and bowed.

The blurry figure stared at him and said flatly,

"You were supposed to die at Lu Xuan’s hand, your spirit obliterated, your soul shattered. Why did a sliver of your True Spirit escape and return?"

Chu Tai said helplessly,

"If I had been any slower, I wouldn’t have been able to trap that child. But by acting so quickly to send him to The Beginning of Ancient Times, he didn’t have time to kill me completely, leaving a fragment of my True Spirit intact."

The blurry figure’s frown deepened, and it shook its head coldly.

"If you do not die, his Dao will not be complete."

It clasped its hands behind its back and began to speak calmly,

"To Lu Xuan, you are as my elder brother was to me. To Lu Xuan, Yan Jiangxue is as my wife was to me."

"I killed my elder brother with my own hands and watched my wife die before my eyes. I was broken and then remade, found life in death, and forged a new path from a dead end. In the end, I merged my bloodline with my elder brother’s, achieved Great Magical Power, and seized half a Dao Fruit."

After a pause, the blurry figure continued,

"You must die at Lu Xuan’s hands, and the one Lu Xuan loves must also perish. Only then will he walk my path."

Chu Tai nodded.

"I understand... but, will sending that child to The Beginning of Ancient Times cause any unforeseen problems?"

"No."

The blurry figure spoke calmly,

"In nine hundred years, with Lu Xuan’s talent, he should be able to just barely reverse his state back to the Innate realm. After that, he’ll have a few years at most left in The Beginning of Ancient Times. That’s not enough time to do anything significant."

As it spoke, the blurry figure had an air of absolute confidence.

"Everything is within my grasp. Next, Yan Jiangxue will die, hunted by ten thousand demons, and that Old Peach Tree will also perish amidst the chaos of battle.

Lu Xuan will forge an Innate body in The Beginning of Ancient Times and may even grasp some Innate principles.

Then, we let him continue doing what he must: refining the false to reveal the true. The Immortals and Buddhas will descend upon the Current World, all his friends and family will die, until his grief is so complete there is nothing left to mourn..."

"Thus, he will be able to attain the Dao Fruit!"

Upon hearing this,

Chu Tai fell silent for a moment before sighing and asking in a low voice,

"But why is all this necessary? Surely this suffering doesn’t help one attain the Dao Fruit?"

The blurry figure glanced at him and said indifferently,

"This is what I endured... Forget it. You don’t need to know more. It would be troublesome if you fell into the sights of a Goddess and she saw everything."

With that, it looked up, gave a slight grin, and waved its hand.

"Go, go... From now on, we need only watch as events unfold. See how all things proceed according to my will!"

Chu Tai departed in silence.

......

The Great Wall.

"Where... where do we go?"

"Flee!"

Li Changgeng’s voice shook the borderlands. Many powerful figures who resided in Majestic City took to the sky. Yan Huang asked, full of shock and uncertainty,

"What’s happening?"

"No time to explain! No time!" Li Changgeng’s expression was grave. "Every Demon in the world has received a decree from some supreme being to kill Yan Jiangxue!"

Yan Huang’s expression changed drastically, and Li Yutong also looked stunned.

Xiaoyan, however, was not surprised. She just frowned and asked,

"Where’s Xiaolu?"

"I couldn’t find him, but he’s definitely fine!" Li Changgeng said urgently. Suddenly, a rumbling sound was heard. Everyone turned to see a tide of Great Demons surging toward them, endless and vast!

"Activate the formation!" Yan Huang’s face paled as he let out a thunderous roar. The Great Wall’s formation, which had just been fully repaired, activated once more. It began to spin slowly, keeping the demon tide a million li away and preventing it from approaching.

"To arms!" Li Yutong also shouted. The soldiers, who had been resting for about twenty days, all donned their armor and ascended the Great Wall step by step, presenting a formidable front.

"It’s not enough!"

The Big Black Bull spoke in a low, heavy voice.

"You don’t understand how mighty the one who issued the decree is. This demon tide is nothing. A great calamity is coming. The Great Wall won’t be able to stop it!"

Li Changgeng nodded as well, his brow deeply furrowed.

"I suspect..."

Before he could finish, a great sound suddenly erupted from the depths of the starry sky, echoing throughout the cosmos!

Then, a Divine Mountain engulfed in raging fire could be seen sweeping in from the depths of space, its momentum boundless.

Atop the Divine Mountain sat a coiled Giant Bull. Its immense might was so overwhelming that the entire Great Wall began to creak as if on the verge of collapse!

"That is..." Li Changgeng’s heart pounded, and his pupils contracted sharply. "The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven??"

The Big Black Bull’s face changed as well; he recognized this member of his own race.

’If this were in Ancient Times, this kinsman of mine would have had to bow his head respectfully before me. Although we are both from the Celestial Realms and both Great Saints, there are still ranks within the Celestial Realms, and there are differences among Great Saints!’

’The problem is, right now, my own power is suppressed to the Grand Grade Level, while that kinsman... he looks completely unharmed and at full strength?’

At that moment, Yan Huang, standing to the side, asked in a heavy voice,

"The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, a Great Saint of the Demon Race? How is that possible? The current world can’t even contain an Immortal, let alone a Great Saint..."

"It’s the mountain!" Li Changgeng stared intently at the Divine Mountain. "That’s Flame Mountain, a divine mountain from Ancient Times. It doesn’t exist within the Great Heaven and Earth. The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven is perched on the mountain, so it doesn’t count as him entering this world!"

The Big Black Bull’s gaze sharpened. Though he appeared simple and honest, his mind was actually extremely sharp. He made a swift decision.

"The Great Wall is magnificent, but it cannot withstand an assault from a Great Saint. Old Li, take Yan Jiangxue and flee to Dragon Tiger Mountain. I will go have a ’reunion’ with my kinsman and buy you some time!"

"Alright!"

Li Changgeng didn’t hesitate either. He swept up Yan Jiangxue and departed, striding across a Golden Great Dao.

Meanwhile, the Big Black Bull stepped out from the Great Wall and stood before Flame Mountain, head held high.

"Do you recognize me?"

The demon tide watched menacingly. Atop Flame Mountain, the Giant Bull opened its eyes, a look of astonishment on its face.

"It’s you? What are you doing here?"

The Big Black Bull shook his head, then said,

"You can go no further. There is a great problem with that bloodline decree. You must not follow it!"

"Is that so?"

On Flame Mountain, this Great Saint studied the Big Black Bull carefully, then suddenly shook its head.

"Was that Taibai who just fled? What happened to you and him? Your realms are shackled, unable to surpass the world’s limits..."

After a pause, the Giant Bull continued,

"You can stop me. You are, in a manner of speaking, my ancestor, so I will naturally listen. But can you stop the other Demons?"

The Big Black Bull froze for a second, then a chill ran through his heart, and he whipped his head around.

Within the Great Wall, upon the Ancestor Star, countless rifts seemed to appear. Within the cracks were gaps in the Great Heaven and Earth, seams between reality and illusion. The roars of beasts were unending, their might so heavy it could nearly topple the heavens!

The Giant Bull chuckled.

"By completing the Demon Ancestor’s decree, one can receive a great reward. I might even be able to enter the Daluo Realm. That little girl has to die eventually. Isn’t it better if she dies at my hand? What do you say?"

The Big Black Bull’s heart trembled, and he shot a sharp glance sideways.

"You intend to strike at me?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

The Giant Bull said frankly,

"I have only just awoken and know nothing. You seem to be protecting that Great Wall? Rest assured, I won’t attack the border. But don’t you forget... I am of the Celestial Realms."

The Celestial Realms possessed the ability to be Everywhere.

In the next instant, the entire Flame Mountain suddenly turned illusory. When it solidified again, it was already pressing down on the sky above Dragon Tiger Mountain!

Terrifying demonic might swept across the Ancestor Star. And it wasn’t just Flame Mountain; from the rifts, one Grand Grade Level Demon after another emerged—all beings that had existed since Ancient Times!

On Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Old Celestial Master and Li Changgeng escorted Xiaoyan into the Celestial Master’s Mansion.

Then, the Old Celestial Master gripped the Three-Five Evil-Slaying Sword and stared at the towering Divine Mountain in the sky. His heart trembled, but he felt no fear.

"Dragon Tiger Mountain is about to face a calamity."

He strode forward, blocking the path up the mountain. Li Changgeng, his brows locked tight, followed. With a flick of his pure-white Duster, he swept back many of the Great Grade Celestial Demons that were impatiently trying to enter Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Atop Flame Mountain, the Giant Bull lowered its gaze, its voice shaking the entire Ancestor Star.

"Taibai, it really is you. Leave. I will only kill one person."

As soon as it spoke, Flame Mountain came crashing down. Its immense power crushed everything. The whole of Dragon Tiger Mountain shook. Li Changgeng and the Old Celestial Master were knocked aside, each coughing up blood. Even though the Giant Bull had held back, they were both severely injured!

Xiaoyan walked out of the Celestial Master’s Mansion, gazed at the descending Divine Mountain, and closed her eyes with a soft sigh.

The next instant.

A branch from the Old Peach Tree lashed out, colliding violently with Flame Mountain, and the two were locked in a stalemate!

"Oh?" the Giant Bull uttered in surprise, then smiled faintly. "This is unexpected. But a peach tree that is already on the verge of death cannot stop me."

The mountain continued to press down, and the peach branch shattered.

Meanwhile, in the Kongtong Mountain Range.

Qing Xuan Daoist walked out of Guangcheng Palace. He was about to move forward but then paused.

He glanced to the side and saw that next to Gouxian Town, beneath the green mountain and the Stone Stele, a blood-stained cliff face was soaring into the sky!

"Good."

The current Palace Master of Guangcheng Palace smiled, nodded, and withdrew.

......

「The Beginning of Ancient Times」

Celestial flowers fell like rain and golden lotuses bloomed from the earth. Above, Qingyun and other auspicious omens gathered into a vast and majestic canopy!

Just like that, Lu Xuan sat on Jade Capital Peak and, under Zhenyuan Zi’s astonished gaze, began to recite his own Dao for the world to hear.

And it wasn’t just the world that was listening.

Countless Innate creatures from the Barbaric Wilderness came running, layer upon layer, until they had completely surrounded Jade Capital Mountain.

Regardless of whether they had awakened their intelligence or not, they all assumed respectful listening poses, coiling around the mountain in silent stillness, simply listening.

Lu Xuan expounded upon his Dao, mutually verifying it with the heavens and the earth. Then, his gaze swept over the Barbaric Creatures, who were listening with ravenous hunger. As if inspired, he began to recite a Cultivation Skill.

"In the beginning of cultivation, one builds a Jade Tower..."

"The next step is Climbing the Divine Ladder. I have my own insights on this method, a scripture’s worth..."

"As for the step of the Heaven Ascending Gate, one who succeeds can be called an Earth Immortal. This realm has nine steps, and each step has its own tribulation..."

"Face the Heaven-Facing Palace, prove oneself a True Immortal, understand one’s true heart, and know the path beneath one’s feet..."

He narrated the Dao and explained its principles, spoke of cultivation, and discussed Skills. He mutually verified his understanding with the world while also providing Cultivation for the Barbaric Creatures within ninety million li, one Dao after another, one principle after another!

Zhenyuan Zi watched, dumbfounded. His heart trembled as he muttered to himself,

"How can he do this?"

"In The Beginning of Ancient Times, to preach the Dao to all living beings, to bring Cultivation to the Barbaric Wilderness..."

"How can he possibly bear such immense Cause and Effect??"

As he muttered to himself, the Years passed. Another century went by.

A Dao, a Dharma, and a lifetime of insights—all had been fully narrated.

The countless Barbaric Creatures surrounding Jade Capital Mountain all raised their heads.

At the forefront, an Essence formed from the Primordial Fire of the Creation of Heaven and Earth spoke,

"Dao... Daoist Ancestor!"

The world first fell silent.

The next instant, the Barbaric Creatures gathered there all copied the sound of the Primordial Fire, imitating its words.

"Dao... Daoist Ancestor!"

The calls gradually synchronized and grew louder.

"Daoist Ancestor! Daoist Ancestor! Daoist Ancestor!!"

Zhenyuan Zi’s scalp went numb. He was so shocked that he stumbled back nine steps, his pupils shrinking abruptly!

’Great Cause and Effect... This is Great Cause and Effect...’

The world trembled, Red Dust billowed, divine light shone without end, and auspicious omens appeared limitlessly!

Lu Xuan frowned and looked at the Barbaric Creatures.

The shouting instantly ceased.

He said,

"I am not the Daoist Ancestor."

"My name is Lu Xuan."

Only then did Zhenyuan Zi let out a breath of relief. ’Daoist Ancestor... If this child had truly accepted that title, things would have gotten out of hand!’

’I myself might have been dragged into it and faced a calamity!’

At this, the Barbaric Creatures around the mountain looked at each other in confusion.

Then,

it was that same wisp of fire that joyfully shouted,

"In The Beginning of Ancient Times, who was it that taught the Dao?"

"In The Beginning of Ancient Times, who was it that taught the Dao?"

The Barbaric Creatures were silent at first, then they spoke in unison. Their voices were like a tide, like rolling thunder, yet still filled with confusion as they answered uncertainly,

"Lu... Xuan?"

The Primordial Fire shouted again,

"In The Beginning of Ancient Times, who was it that taught the Dao?"

This time, all the Barbaric Creatures were certain, and they replied with a great roar,

"Lu Xuan! Lu Xuan!"

On the peak, Lu Xuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Beside him, Zhenyuan Zi’s face was ashen as he stared at the Primordial Fire and muttered,

"That damn thing, no wonder it died so early... No, wait!"

Zhenyuan Zi was startled. He discovered that the destiny of the Primordial Fire had changed. It was originally fated to die young, but now, it showed signs of being able to attain the Daluo!

A great tide rose in the river of Years.