"What a skillful method."

Seeing Qi Xiu's Cloud Seal Suppressing Talisman, Old Gao showed a hint of surprise in his eyes, nodding slightly.

"This talismanic method is quite profound, resembling the form of the Great Dao, mysterious and clear, surpassing the systems of ordinary talisman sects by more than a notch.

You should make a good study of this method. In the old man's view, it is no worse than my Primordial Chaos Transformation Method."

Old Gao gave high praise to the Cloud Seal Talismans.

He even openly stated that it was not inferior to his own Primordial Chaos Transformation Method.

"I understand, elder."

With a response, Qi Xiu flipped his palm, retrieving the exotic treasure heavily pressed by the Suppressing Talisman from within the Universe in the Sleeve.

Even though it was tightly wrapped by the Suppressing Talisman, with chains formed by the Suppression Talisman Seal Skill almost binding it like a zongzi,

the exotic treasure still struggled relentlessly, trembling incessantly in Qi Xiu's palm.

It was also the first time he had seen such a stubborn and obstinate magical treasure. Qi Xiu's eyes showed curiosity; if not for fear of it escaping, he would have liked to unravel the Suppressing Talisman and study it carefully right now.

"This exotic treasure was given a solid foundation by Ruyi, then I, old man, thoroughly refined it anew with my profound technique.

It is now even more superior than before.

Its quality and power are no less than an Acquired Divine Instrument.

When you achieve the Primordial Spirit Realm, you can refine and assimilate it into a second Primordial Spirit, benefiting you greatly.

It's a formidable weapon!"

Removing the felt hat from his head, Old Gao smoothed his graying hair, feeling refreshed. To dispel his regrets before transcending into the Dao, he was very satisfied.

Must I wait until the Primordial Spirit Realm?

Upon hearing Old Gao's words, Qi Xiu pinched the exotic treasure with his five fingers, weighed it lightly, then with a flash of divine light between his brows, he swept it into his Ancestral Aperture.

"Alright, I've done what I needed to do.

What comes next is up to you."

Putting on the worn felt hat, Old Gao lazily stretched, a faint smile hanging on his wrinkled face.

"If the elder has no matters, could you stay a few more days, I still have some doubts on the Primordial Path, not sure if I could..."

"No, young one.

It's not that I, old man, am holding back.

Each generation of Hunyuan has their own path to tread.

What I can teach, I've already taught you.

What did my Ruyi say... oh, don't think about becoming me, but about surpassing me.

Your emergence proves that the path we took wasn't right.

At least, not entirely correct.

If I teach you too much, you'll inevitably have my shadow on you.

In the short term, it might indeed make you progress rapidly, with great improvements in cultivation.

But if you wish to achieve the Great Dao, this isn't helping you; it's harming you."

Waving his hands, Old Gao explained why he couldn't give Qi Xiu guidance.

Each generation of Hunyuan must carve out their own path on the Primordial Great Way.

So-called inheritance is faith, not a Dharma Gate.

This is what makes the Primordial Lineage most distinct from other Daoist inheritances.

And the Primordial Chaos Transformation Method that Old Gao imparted to Qi Xiu is only a method, not a foundational Dharma Gate. Without sufficient cultivation in the Primordial Great Way, studying it would be useless for Qi Xiu.

"Understood." Qi Xiu nodded slightly.

"You, young man, harboring the Great Dao in your chest and possessing extraordinary qualities, perhaps what needs to be done by my Primordial Lineage could be accomplished in your hands." Smiling at Qi Xiu, Old Gao seemed to see his once high-spirited nephew who once overshadowed the world, his eyes reflecting a hint of reminiscence.

"That's enough. I've spent my life aimlessly, hiding here and there; it's time to relax before the end arrives."

With a light stomp, Old Gao and Qi Xiu's Hunyuan Palace vanished in an instant, surrounded by myriad colorful hues, and the two had returned to the residence building of the Protectorate Mansion.

Surprised at the dissipated Hunyuan Palace, Qi Xiu gained a deeper understanding of this Fourth Generation Chaos's power.

"Heh heh, impressive, right? It's no extraordinary skill, once you reach the Primordial Spirit Realm, you'll be able to do it too." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Showing off a bit in front of his junior, Old Gao chuckled, tightened his short jacket, and turned to leave:

"Young one, in our lineage, few words are left behind.

But if later generations ask about me, you must tell them that I, old man, am not a cowardly or incompetent person, it's just...

Forget it, I won't say anymore.

I'm leaving now."

Before the words were finished, without waiting for Qi Xiu's reaction, Old Gao had already transformed into a wisp of Primordial Qi, drifting away through the opening he came from.

Silently watching the direction of Old Gao's departure, Qi Xiu, after a moment, slowly clasped his hands and deeply bowed:

"This junior respectfully sends off the Fourth Generation Chaos!"

...

"There're too many things, and a lot are clearly regulated by Tang laws, making them difficult to obtain."

At night, in the hall of the mansion building.

Looking at the materials Qi Xiu requested to set up the Time Array, Hu Tianzong kept scratching his head.

During this time, he left Evernight Ancient City and went outside.

He originally thought that the cultivation world under the Great Tang Dynasty would be more enriching and exciting than later generations, but after journeying around, the result was far from what he had imagined.

Under the rule of the Great Tang, although the country was powerful and the people prosperous, living in peace and contentment,

the mighty Tang Dynasty's control over sect aristocracies was also much stricter than in later times.

Not only were their regional positions, the number of disciples they recruited, and the procurement of various cultivation materials all under a very comprehensive management system,

but even some large ancient sects had people dispatched by the Sky Observation Department stationed there.

In name, it was to strengthen the connection between the court and localities, but in reality, it was to monitor these forces to ensure they did not overstep.

For these cultivation organizations, such stringent regulations were already in place.

Even so, rare cultivation materials were even more stringently managed.

According to Tang law, privately buying or selling cultivation materials was a major crime.

The main offender would face the extermination of three generations.

Accomplices would be exiled to Cold Mountain Prison for two hundred years, then expelled from the Tianyuan Main Realm, never to return.

It could be said that without a government-issued procurement order, no matter how wealthy you were, you wouldn't be able to buy even a strand of hair.

"Normal procurement is certainly impossible. If it really doesn't work, we can only hope that Song Baiyi might be able to help." Unable to think of a better solution for the moment, Hu Tianzong suggested looking for Song Baiyi.

As the commander of Evernight Ancient City and a court-appointed Upper Protector of the third rank,

the things needed to set up the Time Array were many, but they shouldn't be a problem for him.

"That's not suitable. Although Song Baiyi looks rough and bold, he is also a meticulous person. If we use him to procure so many things, with his personality, there's no way he wouldn't ask questions.

With the Tang Dynasty's methods, it wouldn't be hard to trace back the source and purpose of this Time Array.

Once our identities as people from the future are exposed, leaving would not be so easy."

Looking at the list in front of him, Qi Xiu felt a sense of melancholy.

Even though they had a good relationship with Song Baiyi, as a Great Tang Upper Capital Protector, if he truly knew about their situation as future people, he might report it.

"Let's first see if there are any places like Ghost Markets or black markets. Money is not an issue. I have a batch of talismans and elixirs; selling them all should be enough to purchase materials for the Time Array.

If all else fails, I have other ways." Qi Xiu said.

"Alright, I'll go out and have another look. If I find anything, I'll let you know right away." Nodding, Hu Tianzong got up and left.

After seeing Hu Tianzong off, Qi Xiu returned to the house. After locking his aura with a Suppressing Talisman, he stepped into the Hunyuan Palace.

The previously extremely powerful Profound Technique aura of Old Gao had overawed the Red Lotus Seed that had been wreaking havoc in the Hunyuan Palace with its Red Lotus Karmic Fire. Now it floated there stupidly, without any trace of its earlier strangeness, akin to a perfectly formed red pill.

Glancing at the Red Lotus Seed that seemed to have been scared out of its wits, Qi Xiu planned to ignore it.

With those Red Lotus Karmic Fires no longer active in the Hunyuan Palace, it was much more convenient; he didn't need to activate the Haotian Mirror for protection every time he came and went.

Sitting cross-legged in this small world, Qi Xiu raised his hand and lightly waved, setting the Cosmic Light Flow Speed to the lowest.

Then images of the transformations and operations of Primordial Qi began to appear in his mind, profound and immensely intricate, mysterious and hard to comprehend.

These images were the Primordial Chaos Transformation Method he had acquired from Old Gao.

And this Primordial Chaos Transformation Method was what he referred to earlier when he mentioned finding alternative procurement paths.

"Since Old Master Gao was able to transform an Acquired Divine Instrument with this Primordial Chaos Transformation Method,

couldn't I mimic that and transform myself into a Time Array?" Reflecting on the Primordial Chaos Transformation Method in his mind, a stream of divine light flowed in Qi Xiu's eyes.

This Primordial Chaos Transformation Method could be said to be the life's work of the fourth generation of the Hunyuan lineage, capable of transforming even a Great Dao Divine Artifact born of the Dao.

I believe transforming a Time Array should not be a problem.

Possessing the Hunyuan Myriad Laws Immortal Body, Qi Xiu had almost entered the door of this Primordial Chaos Transformation Method, and this method could only be cultivated by those of the Hunyuan lineage who have mastered Primordial Qi.

When Old Master Gao created this method, he intended for it to be passed down.

Therefore, this method wasn't a Palm Dao Holy Technique only cultivable by those in the Primordial Spirit Realm; it could be cultivated even by those below it.

"It's been a long time since I felt such urgency to practice a method."

Rubbing his brow and shaking his head with a light smile, Qi Xiu found humor in it.

Ever since he became a Dao Expert, his abilities and cultivation had become extremely profound and substantial, his status and position consequently rising.

Situations as difficult to resolve as today's had not been encountered for a long time.

However, practicing methods like this was second nature to Qi Xiu.

Sitting cross-legged, he calmed his mind.

Even though he had done similar things many times before, today Qi Xiu rarely felt a bit of a long-forgotten quietude.

Perhaps it started when he got embroiled in various entanglements…

Or perhaps it was his gradually emerging talents, leading him to become regarded as a genius in people's eyes, someone they increasingly admired and looked up to…

As his cultivation grew higher, his responsibilities increased.

Even he couldn't quite remember; there had been a long time since he had quietly cultivated without distractions, as he used to.

In past recollections, he merely wanted a simple place,

where he could cultivate and seek enlightenment, peacefully and freely.

"I don't know when it started, but I seem to have lost my true self…"

With eyes serene like a deep pool, Qi Xiu took a long breath and began comprehending the Primordial Chaos Transformation Method.

...