Looking at the primordial qi from all directions, seemingly wishing to recreate the universe, Qi Xiu slightly trembled, comparing himself to this Primordial Guardian.

His understanding of the Primordial Path truly pales in comparison.

Whether in quality or quantity, there is quite a disparity.

Dugu Wuhui even disclosed to him a much bigger secret.

His comprehension of the Primordial Path seems not to be mere coincidence.

[Primordial Chaos].

It should be a Daoist inheritance passed down through generations.

This Ancient Martial Great Saint was once a Protector of the Third Generation Primordial.

As for him, he belongs to the later era's Primordial.

With a flutter of heart, Qi Xiu suddenly realized.

Perhaps, his inexplicable return to this Prosperous Tang Era was not a mere accident...

...

Amid the boundless surging waves, on a solitary stone cliff in the vast ocean.

A slightly chubby figure, draped in a blue Daoist robe, wielded a horsetail whisk, muttering incantations.

Nearby in the void, there faintly spins droplets of colorful light, harboring countless luminous scenes, resembling small worlds, like mercury, hanging precariously.

Whenever these droplets fall.

The void shatters inch by inch from the impact.

Immediately, the fat daoist would wield the whisk to disperse them, yet his robe would open a slight, unnoticed crack.

Such a situation seems to have been ongoing for quite some time.

The Daoist robe on the fat daoist had visibly become quite tattered.

The void trembled slightly, water flower gathered into shape.

Stepping upon a mass of pure water, Elder Shui arrived atop this stone cliff amidst the terrifying ocean storm, gazing at the seated, ragged Daoist Qingya, eyebrows furrowed.

"Hasn't he returned yet?"

"He's already made contact, shouldn't be too long." Slightly opening his eyes, Daoist Qingya breathed out a white mist, chilling and formidable.

"Bearing all backlash from the Cosmic Light Path alone, can you endure it?"

Gazing at Daoist Qingya's ragged robe, Elder Shui frowned.

The backlash of the Cosmic Light Path is heavy.

Even the Primordial Spirit True Honor can't handle much, let alone Qingya who already carried injuries; if the harm compounds, it would be difficult to fully recover.

"No problem, with this borrowed [Taiji Duster], I can still bear it.

Only, it's a pity for this Acquired Divine Instrument.".

Lowering his gaze to the whisk in hand, each strand appeared intact, yet within, it was filled with cracks, ready to collapse at any moment, Daoist Qingya shook his head in regret.

"You do know this thing is borrowed..."

Speechless toward Daoist Qingya, Elder Shui shook his head, gazing at the sky where thousands of Cosmic Light Divine Water droplets gathered, hesitantly saying:

"My Water Monarch Order can still be used a few more times, do you want to..."

"No way! I painstakingly removed your divine status from the Heavenly Dao. If you use the Water Monarch Order, you'll be locked again by the Heavenly Dao, making escape difficult.".

Lightly shaking his head, Daoist Qingya while speaking, swung the Taiji Duster again, dispersing a Cosmic Light Divine Water droplet:

"You needn't worry, that child has already made contact with Dugu, should return soon.

The Third Generation Primordial, though failed in Chongfa and was slain by the Heavenly Dao.

Before annihilation, left behind a secret arrangement.

Only the Fourth Generation Primordial was too weak, not to be entrusted with the secret arrangement, Dugu didn't pass it to him.

Before exhausting his lifespan, he failed to see the birth of the Fifth Generation Primordial.

This secret arrangement amassed the life's work of the Third Generation Primordial, it must be claimed.

For this, I secretly injured that girl many years ago, and secretly gave her information about the Time Array and Phoenix Emperor Heritage.

Thousands of years' arrangement is finally nearing success.".

Speaking of previous arrangement, Daoist Qingya chuckled:

"Once Qi Xiu retrieves the secret arrangement, he'll have his place, then you and I can be at ease.".

"You're truly bold, in the Sheng Tang Era, with dragons and snakes lurking, are you not afraid he might encounter dangers there.".

For Daoist Qingya whose style always takes risks, Elder Shui disapproved.

Yet, each of the fat daoist's plans, though sounding dangerous, has always been surprisingly safe.

"It won't happen, the Dragon Sovereign's influence in Sheng Tang has already become dominant. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

That child, having achieved True Dragon Body, and possessing the True Dragon Mark, is essentially a living True Dragon.

As long as he's within Great Tang, no one dares confront him.

Moreover, there's something you surely aren't aware of."

Daoist Qingya gave Elder Shui a mysterious smile, preparing to reveal a deep secret to him.

"What is it?"

"That sage from the Prosperous Tang Era, you know of him, don't you?"

"Of course, besides my master's clan, that sage is the only one revered as the Heavenly Qaghan by All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds."

At the mention of the Emperor of Great Tang, Elder Shui also showed a hint of admiration.

"The reverence for dragons during the Tang was widespread, do you know why?

Because that sage once went against the current, walking the River of Time, and made a deal with the True Dragon Clan of the Ancient Times."

"What?!"

Perhaps this revelation from Daoist Qingya was too astonishing, even an ancient being like Elder Shui appeared surprised and shocked.

As an old servant of the Dragon Palace, he had never heard of such a thing.

"Is this true?"

"Otherwise, without the help of the True Dragon Clan, the Sheng Tang might have been established, but not nearly as swiftly.

That sage would not have been able to personally campaign Outside the Domain, making the All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds crumble and bow in submission." With eyes shimmering, in truth, even Daoist Qingya was surprised when he learned of this news back then.

"Such wanton disruption of the Heavenly Dao's rules, are they not truly afraid of divine punishment?" Recovering from his shock, Elder Shui frowned.

The Heavenly Dao looms high, ruling over all living things.

Any existence that transgresses the Heavenly Dao's rules is destined to face divine retribution.

Those who align with heaven lament!

Those who defy heaven die!

This is an iron law since the creation of heaven and earth.

Those who dare break it never meet a good end, a truth he's witnessed too often.

"If they feared, they wouldn't go through with it.

Aren't you and I doing the same now?" Daoist Qingya stated calmly.

"So then, did the sudden disappearance of the Sheng Tang Empire also result from divine punishment, just like with my master's clan?

Could it be that the Sheng Tang Empire didn't dissipate, but rather ventured far away..."

"No, the Sheng Tang Empire did indeed collapse because what they attempted was more blasphemous than even the True Dragon Clan, and thus bore even more severe divine punishment.

So much so that their traces were not allowed to remain, forcefully erased from existence."

At this, Daoist Qingya paused, meeting Elder Shui's gaze.

"If things go as you suggest, should we fail, our fate would be worse than the Sheng Tang Empire's demise, right?" Elder Shui scoffed.

"No."

Uncharacteristically shedding his usual joking demeanor, Daoist Qingya slowly sat up straight, his posture tall and imposing like a towering mountain, with a slight tilt of his head looking up at the Sky Dome:

"We will not fail!"

...

"This is what the Third Generation Primordial left behind, keep it well; when you return to the future, it will be your reliance against the grand calamity."

Taking out an unremarkable, dull-grey stone, resembling the common rocks found along roadsides, Dugu Wuhui placed it into Qi Xiu's hand.

"This..."

Looking at the palm-sized stone, with its uneven edges, Qi Xiu rubbed it carefully, his Dragon Eyes flickering, attempting to probe the stone's extraordinariness using the Qi Observation Technique.

But no matter how he researched and observed, only one conclusion emerged.

This was just an ordinary rock.

No trace of anything extraordinary.

"A true treasure conceals its brilliance, it's naturally impossible to see its wonders before its time to emerge." Noticing Qi Xiu's puzzled look, Dugu Wuhui chuckled and explained, continuing:

"Years ago, I was already in extinction, with only a remnant soul supporting my body, waiting for you to arrive.

Now, the task left by the Third Generation Primordial is complete, and I too am about to dissipate.

The Boundless Calamity is approaching.

This might be the last chance.

After I leave, you may take the three Phoenix Emperor Feathers and this body as a small personal gift to you, a Primordial of the later generations."

As he spoke, Dugu Wuhui's figure grew increasingly blurred and faint.

With no Primordial Spirit Idea, to endure solely with a remnant soul to this day is a miracle enough.

Now that his determination has faded, the day of dissipating and release has naturally come.

"Later generation Primordial, always remember, never forget the determination of the Primordial Lineage.

Man can conquer heaven!

Man can... conquer heaven!"

...