My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times-Chapter 148 - 12: Primordial Imparts the Dharma, The Cause of All Fruits, The Dao Gives Birth to Its 1
Beyond the flow of time.
Douluo Palace is eternally unchanging. It has always been so, it is so now, and it will be so in the future.
This place is both Douluo and Bajing, reigning over all the epics of time, shining upon all of the past, present, and future. It persists within all of Existence and non-existence.
In other words, this Daoist Palace is itself the very symbol of Existence.
Within the Daoist Palace, Children fanned the flames of a burning furnace. An old Daoist leisurely contemplated the myriad Daos of the Celestial Realms while perusing the Red Dust of the vast Floating World.
He suddenly furrowed his brow.
The old Daoist sat up straight. As his two Children watched in bewilderment, he rose and began to pace back and forth.
"Someone is plotting against me."
The Children were even more bewildered. ’Plotting... who would dare plot against the Great Master?’
As they watched in stunned confusion,
The Supreme frowned. With a casual gesture, he unfurled the River of Time, scrutinizing the timelines within and observing them again and again.
’Hmm... there’s no problem.’
The River of Time flowed on, tranquil and smooth, like a meticulously prepared scroll. Not the slightest ripple or crease could be seen, nor any sign of a major disturbance.
’Am I mistaken?’
The Supreme’s brow furrowed even deeper. ’I would never be mistaken...’
And yet, he truly could not see any disturbance.
The only way would be if a Daoist had acted to conceal it. But The Three Pristine Ones are one and the same, so it would take four Daoists acting in concert, concealing everything simultaneously, to have any chance of deceiving him.
The problem was, at this very moment, there weren’t even four other Daoists in existence besides The Three Pristine Ones. Therefore, that possibility was out of the question.
’Then...’
The Supreme grew even more puzzled. ’Where is this feeling of being deceived coming from?’
No one could possibly deceive all of The Three Pristine Ones at once.
He shook his head, sat back down before the furnace, and sank into deep thought.
......
In the other two great Daoist Palaces.
"Spirit Treasure, can you handle this?"
"Cut the crap, Primordial! Keep going!"
A middle-aged Blind Daoist, seated at an infinite height and connected to all Cause and Effect throughout the Celestial Realms, gently waved a Jade Ruyi, fabricating a tapestry of the Years.
Another, a young Lame Daoist, ferocious and baleful to the extreme, like the very end of all worlds and all things, brandished a longsword to weave a brand-new timeline.
The two supreme beings, in a rare alliance, looked at each other, both feeling a pang of guilt.
The young Daoist rubbed his aching leg and said viciously,
"We have to be careful this time. If he finds out again, we’re in for another thrashing. That old geezer, the Supreme, shows absolutely no mercy when he lets loose!"
"Hmph." The middle-aged Daoist shot him a sideways glance and said coldly, "And whose fault was that? Last time had nothing to do with me. I was dragged into your mess for nothing. You’re completely useless!"
"Primordial, say that one more time!"
"Useless at succeeding, but more than capable of failing!" The middle-aged Daoist waved his hand impatiently, then regained his composure and said calmly,
"Relax. The Three Pristine Ones are one body. With the two of us working together, there’s no way the Supreme could possibly notice..."
As he spoke, he touched his cheek, and his anger flared up again.
The two Great Daoists exchanged a look and, with a silent understanding, stopped speaking. They continued to weave their illusory yet real tapestry of the Years, presenting it before a certain old man who was full of doubt.
No one could deceive The Three Pristine Ones. But The Three Pristine Ones could deceive themselves. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"The Supreme really did go too far," the young Daoist grumbled. "He knows you’re prideful, so he aims straight for your face..."
"That’s not being prideful," Primordial shot him a look, then nodded in agreement. "But he certainly did go too far. He knows you’re lame in one leg, so he aims for the other one..."
For once, the two supreme Great Celestial Venerables, the Great Dao Monarchs, were united against a common enemy.
"The Supreme showed no mercy first, so he can’t blame the two of us!"
"He was cruel first! Our treachery followed! It’s not our fault, not our fault!"
They muttered to themselves, both guilt-ridden and resolute, each touching their nose at the same time.
.......
「The Current World. Ancient Kongtong Mountain, Guangcheng Daoist Palace.」
Lu Xuan quietly contemplated the profound mysteries within the grand phenomena, comprehending the supreme wonders of the second layer of the Supreme Jade Steps.
After a long while, he opened his eyes and bowed respectfully to the Cyan Lamp before him.
"Thank you, Second Master, for bestowing this Dharma."
"I bestowed no Dharma," the shadowy figure of the Daoist in the fire spoke indifferently. "Your comprehension is quite good. That you were able to gain insight from the phenomena is a matter of your own fate."
After a pause, the Daoist’s voice passed through the illusory firelight, projecting into the Current World.
"This place is not the Origin. I cannot linger for long like your Third Master. Therefore, I will first bestow upon you a Daoist title, gift you a treasure, and grant you a fortunate opportunity."
Lu Xuan’s eyes lit up, and he understood at once. ’Second Master really does know what Third Master did. By that logic, First Master must know as well.’
’On second thought,’ he mused, ’the titles of Fusheng Lu Xuan Heavenly Venerable and Supreme Emperor Profound Yellow are both recorded in the annals of the Years. With First Master’s power, of course he would be able to perceive them. It would be stranger if he didn’t know...’
As Lu Xuan was lost in thought, from within the furiously burning Celestial Book above the Cyan Lamp’s flame, the Daoist—seated at an infinite height, the very image of the Cause of All Fruits and the origin of the Celestial Realms—spoke in a low voice,
"Thus, I bestow upon you the title... Fusheng’s Lu Xuan."
"The treasure I gift you is this very lamp. It is the Jade Void Glazed Lamp, which may also be called the Celestial Venerable Cyan Lamp. Keep it, but remember: before your Ascension to Immortality, you must not use it recklessly, neither in the Current World nor in Ancient Times. And..."
The Daoist warned sternly,
"Furthermore, do not even take it out. Remember this! You must remember!"
’Back then, that fool Spirit Treasure didn’t bother to give a single warning, and this boy actually pulled out the Fishing Drum right in front of the Supreme...’
The Daoist’s jaw ached, and his face stung at the memory.
Lu Xuan, of course, was oblivious to all this. He simply nodded in a daze and replied with great solemnity,
"This disciple understands."
"Good."
The Daoist nodded in satisfaction and pointed casually.
