Watching the agitated [Heavenly Destiny Divine Record], the Primordial Saint's eyes grew increasingly profound.
"Start over from the beginning."
Soon, the consciousness within the book inscribed these characters: [Indeed!]
By now, Taiyuan Xian naturally would no longer conceal anything. Moreover, under his schemes, although the Primordial Saint was not his incarnation, they were of one mind and one vision.
[You must also understand the forbidden knowledge of Mount Longhu. Back then, when the Divine Land collided with the Light Sea, an unprecedented opportunity was born. The Dao Ancestors each employed their own means, fighting until heaven and earth shattered. In the end, only Jun and I remained. I lost by a single move, letting Jun obtain the opportunity, which he used to transcend.]
[After that, I was sealed.]
[And now, Jun's method was to bring us back to that past, giving us a chance to start over from the beginning and vie for the opportunity once more.]
"Opportunity..."
The Primordial Saint pursed his lips upon hearing this. After pondering for a moment, he said in a deep voice: "What exactly is this so-called 'Deity Transformation' opportunity? A technique? A treasure? A pill?"
[It is none of these.]
Taiyuan Xian responded quickly in the book: [It is a seed. If nourished with profound wonder, it will grow into a Great Dao tree leading to the realm of Deity Transformation.]
[Ascend to the top of the tree, and you are a Deity Transformation!]
[Back then, all the Dao Ancestors struck to compete for that seed; in essence, they were feeding it with their own Dao methods. Jun was simply the one who took the lead in the end.]
The Primordial Saint frowned deeply. He did not doubt Taiyuan Xian's account, yet after clarifying the situation, one question lingered in his mind.
"I had assumed... the final destruction of the Pre-Ancient Era was due to the breakthrough of that Deity Transformation practitioner, [Jun]. But if your words are true, in fact, Deity Transformation has nothing to do with the destruction of the Pre-Ancient Era. Even if that [Jun] broke through, the Pre-Ancient Era, supported by a Deity Transformation practitioner, should have been even more powerful."
Since that was the case—
"Why did the Pre-Ancient Era perish?"
On the wilderness, Lu Yang paced, pondering the same question as the Primordial Saint: "With a Deity Transformation practitioner supporting it, the Pre-Ancient Era should have existed eternally."
How did it perish?
Just then, Lu Yang suddenly caught sight of three streaks of light flying past. He immediately restrained his aura and floated upward, shouting at the streaks of light:
"Fellow Daoist, please stay!"
At these words, as if possessing some kind of power, the three streaks of light that were previously traveling stopped abruptly and parted, revealing the figures within.
The leader was a middle-aged Daoist, his face still lingering with a trace of shock and doubt. However, upon seeing Lu Yang, this strange emotion was wiped clean by an invisible hand. Instead, he felt that the youth before him was handsome, instantly generating a sense of affection.
"May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is the matter?"
"I am passing through this place and wish to know the affairs of the world," Lu Yang said with a smile. "I ask the three fellow Daoists to explain it to me in detail. I am a kind-hearted person, and this also saves me the trouble of soul-searching."
A moment later.
Lu Yang strolled leisurely, following the intelligence provided by the "kind-hearted people." Soon, at the edge of the wilderness horizon, he saw a majestic city rising from the ground.
It was less of a city and more of a mountain range fashioned into the shape of one. Vast spiritual opportunities filled it, like a boundless ocean, immeasurable. As Lu Yang gazed out, he could see densely packed rays of spiritual light of various colors rising into the sky, unreservedly manifesting their cultivation levels.
"At the very least, they are at the Foundation Establishment level."
"The highest is around the Great Perfected Lord level."
Lu Yang's eye was like a torch; he quickly judged the strength of the auras within the city. However, just then, he suddenly felt a resonance and looked up at the sky:
"...Hmm?"
In a trance, he seemed to see a streak of spiritual light descending from the sky, falling straight into the depths of the majestic city. Immediately after, a clear, ringing cry echoed in his ears.
A baby was born?
Whose baby was it, having such prestige that even I felt a resonance at its birth?
The next second, Lu Yang realized in a flash:
"No!"
'It's the [Fate] Dao Ancestor... the one who cultivates reincarnation. Those three kind-hearted people didn't lie to me—is the [Fate] Dao Ancestor truly planning to come here to preach the Dao and spread the law?'
At this thought, Lu Yang suddenly rubbed his palms together.
"If my calculations are correct, the Heaven Beyond Heaven sending the Dao Lords to this past of the Pre-Ancient Era and claiming it is an opportunity for transcendence suggests that the opportunity must be a physical entity."
"Does this mean we are to fight for it once more?"
"But since it is the past, how could the Dao Ancestors of the Pre-Ancient Era be mere 'tools'? This struggle... I fear it is not just an opportunity for us Dao Lords of the Light Sea."
It is also an opportunity for the Dao Ancestors of the Pre-Ancient Era!
After all, that is [Jun]. With the majesty of Deity Transformation, he aims to "equalize" the Great Dao for all sentient beings in the world; how could he favor one side over the other? He must treat the Light Sea and the Pre-Ancient Era equally!
"Since that is the case, interaction with the Pre-Ancient Dao Ancestors is inevitable... After all, the Primordial Saint and Taiyuan Xian are in league, and they know the intelligence of the Pre-Ancient Era like the back of their hand, while I am blind to it. If I don't interact and join forces with the Pre-Ancient Dao Ancestors, I fear I will be beaten to the punch by the Primordial Saint."
At this thought, Lu Yang reached a decision:
"I will meet with this [Fate] Dao Ancestor first."
Divine Land, deep within the dome.
This place is unnamable, unknowable, and unmeasurable. All that met the eyes were dazzling rays of light, oceans of clouds, and a magnificent palace standing upon them.
Before the palace gates stood a stone tablet inscribed with three characters:
[Zixiao Palace]
The characters were purple-gold, emitting billions of rays of light, reflecting the sea of clouds below, causing the purple aura to come from the east for thirty thousand miles. As it surged, it seemed to be interpreting supreme, profound Dao wonders.
Inside the palace, a Daoist child with bright white teeth and red lips, wearing broad Daoist robes, suddenly opened his eyes. Despite having young and lively eyes, they were filled with long-standing age. For a time, he felt somewhat dazed and at a loss, until he saw the clothes he was wearing and the place he was in.
His pupils then trembled abruptly.
"I am back?"
In an instant, this great cultivator, who possessed immense divine abilities and whose cultivation was second only to the Dao Ancestor, struggled to stand up like a mortal, stumbling as he ran wildly.
"Dao Venerable! Dao Venerable!"
Stumbling along, he pushed open the main hall doors, unable to wait to look toward the primary seat, after which the light in his eyes returned to gloom.
Because there sat a prayer mat.
Yet it was completely empty.
Rustle, rustle...
A clear breeze brushed past, carrying a hint of coolness, gently rolling his dark hair as if an invisible, large hand had descended, stroking his head in comfort.
Luxian knelt before the prayer mat for a long time, and the breeze blew over him for a long time. It was not until he came to his senses and stood up slowly that the sound of the wind disappeared without a trace. Luxian let out a long sigh and wiped the corners of his eyes: "The Dao Venerable is really going too far… is he just toying with me?"
The sound of the wind rose again.
However, Luxian turned his head away, looking as if he were refusing to speak to it. He no longer looked at the empty prayer mat and walked quickly out of the main hall.
He already understood everything.
"The struggle for Deity Transformation, start over from the beginning. This time, the Dao Venerable will cease to exist. The Transcender has renounced the secular world, and the various Dao Lords will have a second chance to compete."
Although, logically speaking, if the Dao Venerable hadn't obtained the opportunity for transcendence but it had been seized by someone else, then theoretically, the Dao Venerable couldn't have transcended. However, a Transcender had already jumped out of this entire cycle, so even if the past were recreated and the opportunity granted, his own transcendence would remain unaffected.
"I must find a way to tell Senior Xuande."
At this thought, Luxian recited a hand seal from the bottom of his heart, chanting in a low voice:
"With a sincere heart, I take refuge in the Dharma..."
As he spoke, deep within the Zixiao Palace, on the prayer mat, a breeze brushed past and a title shone brilliantly, making the Heaven Beyond Heaven palace appear even more sacred and transcendent.
It is called—
[Myriad Laws Equalizing Dao Venerable]
(End of Chapter)