Chapter 423: Chapter 64: Shocked Dao Fruits, Tight-lipped Primordial

The nearby creatures were all a bit stunned. ’Your Majesty?’

The Giant Bull subconsciously glanced to the side.

"Taibai, you know him too? Your Majesty..."

Its words came to an abrupt halt.

Venus, a high minister of the Central Celestial Court—who could make him cry out ’Your Majesty’?

It seemed there was only one person.

"N-no... It can’t be, can it?" the Giant Bull muttered as if in a dream, its face filled with bewilderment and sudden horror.

At that moment, the cliff had arrived.

The Emperor Corpse on the precipice stared placidly at Flame Mountain.

"We know you."

The Giant Bull trembled, desperately lowering its head, its entire being struck dumb.

The Emperor Corpse then lowered his gaze to the young woman standing quietly atop Dragon Tiger Peak and spoke with a smile.

"You must be Yan Jiangxue?"

Xiaoyan looked up. "Are you also here to kill me?"

"No."

The Emperor Corpse shook his head slightly and added,

"We have come to take you to see your Lady Jun."

"Lady Jun?" Xiaoyan was a little confused, but the Emperor Corpse explained patiently, "She is the mother of your husband-to-be."

Realization dawned on Yan Jiangxue. Unafraid of the frightening-looking skeleton, her eyes sparkled.

"You mean Xiaolu’s mother?"

"Mm."

"Then what about them?" Xiaoyan pointed to the trembling Giant Bull and the dozens of Great Grade Celestial Demons beside it on Flame Mountain.

The Giant Bull shuddered violently, bowed its head as low as it would go, and stammered,

"Sp-spare me!"

Amidst the dead silence, the Emperor Corpse seemed to ponder for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"That child, Xiaoxuan, will handle it. He is the direct lineage disciple of Supreme, and you are his wife. It is not Our place to make decisions for him."

Ultimately, he was unwilling to interfere in the Current World or make a move. Doing so would cause him to return from death to life, to fall back into the category of [Existence], and be exposed once more to the gazes of all the Daoist Fruits.

Furthermore, all the arrangements and plans he had made over the years could be calculated and deduced by the Dao Fruit holders, rendering all his previous efforts void.

As the Emperor Corpse spoke, the Giant Bull on Flame Mountain felt dizzy, and its heart sank once again.

Xiaoyan, only half-understanding, was about to step onto the precipice when she saw the expression on the skeleton on the cliff suddenly change.

"Something’s wrong."

The Emperor Corpse looked up, his gaze fixed on the River of Time. He traced it all the way back to The Beginning of Ancient Times, but could see nothing.

The Beginning of Ancient Times was controlled by that person from Jade Void. It is an extremely special period of time. Under normal circumstances, not even Daluo, let alone Dao Fruit holders, could travel freely to that era!

But now, a great change seemed to be occurring at The Beginning of Ancient Times. The change was like a single spark falling upon a vast prairie. At first, there was no obvious movement, but a breath later, it became a great fire. Another breath after that, it had the momentum to set the entire plain ablaze!

"Something is seriously wrong,"

the Emperor Corpse repeated, his expression growing impossibly grim.

.........

「Above the Great Chaos」

One by one, the Enlightened Ones who occupied Complete Dao Fruits opened their eyes.

"Who is tampering with fundamental history?"

Houtu emerged, grasping the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and demanded loudly. The two Great Buddhas also strode over, their faces grim and filled with alarm.

The Lame Daoist arrived with a limp, and Douluo Palace descended. The old man walked out from within, mysterious light flowing over his ancient robes.

Then, the five Enlightened Ones of the Current World all turned to look at the Blind Daoist. The latter’s expression was utterly bizarre—a mixture of shock and trepidation, yet also tinged with joy.

"Primordial!"

The Buddha Lord, holding a wondrous branch from a giant tree and bathed in an infinite, pure radiance, demanded,

"What happened at The Beginning of Ancient Times?"

The beginning of the Creation of Heaven and Earth was an extremely special period of time, occupied by the [Primordial Great Celestial Venerable], who sat enthroned over it.

Without his permission, not even Daluo, let alone Dao Fruit holders, could journey to that time period, nor could they look back or gaze upon it!

Even the ever-composed Supreme spoke up, asking,

"Primordial, what in the world happened? Who made a move at The Beginning of Ancient Times? Was it you?"

"Not me!"

The Blind Daoist shook his head so vigorously it was like a pellet drum, and said in a low voice,

"There has indeed been a great upheaval. A being has been preaching the Dao at The Beginning of Ancient Times and has been revered as... the Daoist Ancestor."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of all the Dao Fruit holders changed.

Supreme’s expression was solemn.

"A being, revered as the Daoist Ancestor at The Beginning of Heaven Opening, and has even received the recognition of Heaven and Earth? Who is it?"

The other Dao Fruit holders also cast their gazes over, and a Great Buddha declared emphatically,

"This should not have happened. It must be reversed. The being who rashly tampered with The Beginning of Heaven Opening must be slain!"

Houtu, who was dragging the Six Paths of Reincarnation, also nodded.

"Correct. No matter which Dao Fruit holder dared to plot this, to desire to become the Daoist Ancestor is to break a taboo... Primordial, who is it?"

Faced with the demands of all the Dao Fruit holders, the Blind Daoist gave a light cough and said mysteriously,

"I’m not telling you."

"..."

"???"

All the Dao Fruit holders were taken aback, with three question marks practically appearing over their heads.

Supreme frowned and snapped,

"Nonsense! This is no joking matter! Primordial, speak at once!"

This time, even the Lame Daoist didn’t side with the Blind Daoist, nodding and trying to persuade him.

"Primordial, you know the consequences of usurping the position of Daoist Ancestor. It’s equivalent to placing a being above all of our heads..."

After a pause, he added,

"The Beginning of Ancient Times was entirely barbaric. Innate lifeforms emerged endlessly, including no shortage of Innate Divine Demons. If they are guided by someone with ill intentions, it could lead to a great catastrophe!"

The Buddha holding up the Western Pure Land also declared forcefully,

"What I don’t understand is who could possibly possess the status to bear the title of [Daoist Ancestor]. An ordinary Dao Fruit holder couldn’t do it!"

"Correct." The Blind Daoist nodded decisively. "Forget ordinary Dao Fruit holders. Even I, or any single one of The Three Pristine Ones, could not accomplish this."

"So who is it?"

"I’m not telling you."

The Blind Daoist pointed his nose to the sky and nonchalantly took out the Three-Bejeweled Ruyi.

"This matter has far-reaching implications. It is enough that I know. The rest of you need not..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and fled.

"Primordial!!" the Enlightened Ones shouted in unison. The two Great Buddhas gave chase, Houtu threw her Reincarnation, and even Supreme frowned, about to capture Primordial.

But the Lame Daoist suddenly stopped him, advising,

"Supreme, since Primordial is unwilling to speak, he must have his reasons... Besides, he isn’t me; he would never do something so reckless."

"But..."

Supreme’s brows furrowed tightly.

"An unknown being has usurped the position of Daoist Ancestor. Although they haven’t obtained the complete great station and status, the rudimentary form is already there. You should know what this means."

"I understand," the Lame Daoist said calmly.

"But Supreme, think about it. Among all things in existence, who could bear such a station?"

Supreme pondered for a long time before shaking his head.

"No one, unless we, The Three Pristine Ones, were to bear it together."

"Indeed, indeed." The Lame Daoist seemed to have an epiphany, but then he suddenly fell silent, looking over at Primordial, who was being cornered.

The Blind Daoist’s skill at fleeing was far inferior to his own. He had already been blocked by the two Buddhas and Houtu. He was fighting one against three and was at a disadvantage, getting beaten up quite badly, yet he resolutely refused to say a word.

The Lame Daoist suddenly smiled.

"So that’s how it is."

"What?" Supreme frowned and glanced sideways. But the Lame Daoist, just like that Primordial Celestial Venerable, stuck his neck out in a stance of ’a dead pig isn’t afraid of boiling water’ and said,

"I’m not telling you!"

Supreme was so angry his teeth hurt. He summoned Douluo Palace, and inside the Daoist Palace, Lu Jianxue’s teeth also seemed to ache as she called out,

"Grandpa Li, go easy on him this time!"

"Yes, yes, yes," the Lame Daoist yelped, covering his head and scurrying away like a rat. "Go easy!"

.........

「The Beginning of Ancient Times」

A great celestial phenomenon manifested.

Infinite Light suddenly fell upon the young man, and Heaven and Earth resonated with it. The Primordial Fire was still asking again and again,

"At The Beginning of Ancient Times, who preached the Dao?"

And the Barbaric Creatures would cheer in response every time,

"Lu Xuan! Lu Xuan!"

Amidst the extreme clamor, Lu Xuan closed his eyes, as if he had gained something, as if he had reached an epiphany.

And at that very moment, a bruised and swollen Blind Daoist abruptly appeared. Zhenyuan Zi’s expression changed. He was about to offer a formal greeting but was stopped by the Blind Daoist.

"Just watch quietly," he said, looking at Lu Xuan with a smile.