To truly live once.
The Primordial Saint's words plunged the Terminus Tiger into a brief silence. From this single sentence alone, it deduced many things, knowing that the Primordial Saint understood its condition very well.
It was different from the Ancestral Dragon.
The Ancestral Dragon was born at the origin of the Light Sea, possessing a near-eternal lifespan equal to the Light Sea itself. The flaw was that, as a Dao God, it was still only in its infancy.
In contrast, it was born at the end of the Light Sea. As a Dao God, it was undoubtedly an ultimate form, so its stature and mighty power far exceeded the Ancestral Dragon's. The flaw was its short lifespan; reaching its peak also meant marching toward destruction. Like a shooting star on the horizon, it had only a momentary flash of brilliance.
Variables...
The Terminus Tiger murmured in its heart. The Primordial Saint endowed it with human nature, and the essence of being the "End of the Light Sea" made it mature at the fastest speed.
Therefore, it forcefully suppressed the desire in its heart.
Next, it asked the most fundamental question:
"Why?"
The Terminus Tiger looked at the Primordial Saint, its gaze carrying a wordless sharpness, and said coldly, "With Fellow Daoist's cultivation, why do you want to cooperate with me? And what do you need me to do?"
The Primordial Saint wasn't surprised by this. Instead, with considerable sincerity, he recounted the situation he was in, the causes and consequences, and the existence of Sisui in full. Finally, he said in a deep voice, "To Fellow Daoist, the existence of Sisui is highly likely to become the true [Terminus Tiger] in the future."
Sisui opened up [Tianhuang] and emptied the Light Sea.
If this trend continues, given time, the Light Sea will inevitably head toward destruction. Sisui, who caused all this, would therefore take the position of the [Terminus Tiger].
In the past, the [Terminus Tiger] wouldn't have cared.
However, now that the [Terminus Tiger] possessed its own spiritual nature, it naturally did not wish to see someone other than itself take its place.
However—
"This statement applies equally to you."
The Terminus Tiger looked coldly at the Primordial Saint. "Compared to that Sisui, Fellow Daoist seems much more like the person who will destroy the Light Sea. It seems Fellow Daoist is also my enemy."
"You are mistaken."
The Primordial Saint smiled. "How could I destroy the Light Sea? Even if [Paramita] at its peak crashed down, at most it would only smash the Light Sea to pieces."
That is far from being called the [Final Tribulation].
Mere fragmentation can easily be reassembled. It is completely different from the true meaning of the [Final Tribulation] and cannot be conflated.
"However, Sisui is different."
"By opening a new world, he is truly removing the firewood under the cauldron—completely exterminating the Light Sea from its roots... Fellow Daoist should have a judgment in your heart on which is a greater threat."
Hearing this, the Terminus Tiger shook its head. "Sophistry. When all is said and done, you just want me to help you eliminate your opponent, using me as your hired thug."
"I do not deny that." The Primordial Saint's tone was calm and frank. "However, I prefer to call it mutual benefit. If Fellow Daoist and I suppress Sisui and destroy the new world together, I can eliminate a major enemy, and you can eliminate a hidden danger. Why not do it?"
"Indeed..."
The Terminus Tiger tilted its head upon hearing this, seemingly pondering something. Then it changed the subject. "...However, it seems I shouldn't be the one rushing at this moment."
"Although the new world has been opened, to replace the Light Sea and lead it to the [End], I'm afraid it will still take a near-eternal, exceedingly long time."
"I can wait, but can Fellow Daoist wait?"
"If you could wait, you wouldn't have come to see me so anxiously, seeking to cooperate... From this perspective, Fellow Daoist is the one who is anxious."
The Primordial Saint's expression remained unchanged, but he sighed inwardly.
Not easy to fool.
Is it because it's a spiritual nature I enlightened? It was clearly just born, yet it's so sensitive, grasping the crux of the problem in just a few words.
Fundamentally, he was the one asking the Terminus Tiger for a favor this time.
Even if their interests didn't conflict, and their goals were even the same, once the person asking for a favor was seen through, they inevitably had to pay a higher price.
"Speak plainly, Fellow Daoist."
Thinking of this, the Primordial Saint said straightforwardly, "If the request is not excessive, I can agree to it. Otherwise, Fellow Daoist can only return to the final tribulation."
Knowing not to push too hard, the Terminus Tiger immediately stated its demand: "I want to visit the present world first. The Ancestral Dragon should be with you, right? No matter what method you use, let me meet the Ancestral Dragon face-to-face. A conscious Ancestral Dragon, not the puppet you manipulate."
"..."
The Primordial Saint frowned deeply. This request was indeed not excessive, and he could fulfill it. But the Terminus Tiger's attitude made him sense something was slightly off.
Peculiar...
Completely opposite to the Ancestral Dragon, this Innate Dao God symbolizing the end of the Light Sea was very shrewd and sharp, and the intelligence it possessed was not something the Ancestral Dragon could compare to.
If I let it out, will there be variables?
The Primordial Saint hesitated.
He actually had a judgment in his heart regarding the Terminus Tiger's strength. As an ultimate form Innate Dao God, its stature was probably even higher than his own at his peak.
Perhaps equivalent to the ninth layer of [Paramita]!
Of course, the one talking to him right now did not possess such mighty power. After all, it was enlightened by him, so its stature was at most equal to his own.
Strictly speaking, the enlightened [Terminus Tiger] was no longer the same entity as the Innate Dao God symbolizing the [Final Tribulation]; they were merely connected. But because of this, the [Terminus Tiger] would definitely be extremely eager to reclaim the position of the Innate Dao God.
After pondering for a long time, the Primordial Saint finally nodded:
"...Alright."
As his voice fell, the mighty power from [Inevitable Fate] crashed down, landing on the blurred light and color of the [Terminus Tiger]'s incarnation, making it gradually clearer.
Soon, the light and color were no longer blurred.
Instead, a young Daoist wearing a yellow robe appeared, with a handsome face and an elegant demeanor. Only his pupils harbored a dead, grey silence.
Exhale...
The next second, the young Daoist, relying on [Inevitable Fate], surprisingly walked out of thin air from the [Future] at the end of the Light Sea into the [Present].
In an instant, the Primordial Saint felt a strong conceptual force blow against his face like a gale. Right where the young Daoist stood, the concepts of myriad things and all matters completely collapsed, uncontrollably marching toward decay and extinction, just like birth, aging, illness, and death. Even time could only stand still at this moment.
This is the [Final Tribulation], the future destined to happen.
Therefore, it is also [Inevitable Fate].
Rumble!
In an instant, the Primordial Saint's concept of [Inevitable Fate], which had been largely depleted, surprisingly surged back up a large chunk with the appearance of the young Daoist.
It actually works...
Feeling the mighty power further rising within his body, the Primordial Saint, clearly having anticipated this, immediately turned around and gently waved his sleeve toward the direction of the [Past].
The next second, the gazes from Sword Lord and the others, which were about to pierce through the [Past], were concealed again and continued to sink. With the conceptual boost brought by the Terminus Tiger's manifestation, the Primordial Saint further recovered his state, stabilized the [Long River of Time], and also bought himself more time.
"..."
The Terminus Tiger, in the guise of a Daoist, looked around and then closed its eyes, fully experiencing the vibrant atmosphere where myriad things vied to grow, so different from the [Final Tribulation].
Only after a long while did he open his eyes and look at the Primordial Saint:
"Where is the Ancestral Dragon?"