The Dao Ancestors all have their own work to do.
Lu Yang stood up, flicking his sleeves with a mix of emotion and curiosity: "You currently possess no strength to truss a chicken, Fellow Daoist. How do you intend to implement your predetermined plan?"
Dao Ancestor Guiming's idea was to kill everyone and then lead them to reincarnate into the Light Sea era following the Final Tribulation. However, setting aside the various Dao Ancestors, the [Fate] lineage—a tradition specializing in reincarnation—didn't seem particularly suited for combat. How did he intend to resolve this issue?
Upon hearing this, Dao Ancestor Guiming chuckled:
"That is why I came to see you, Junior Brother."
"Me?"
Lu Yang blinked: "Surely you don't think that after a casual chat and providing some intelligence, I would go and wipe out the Pre-Ancient Era for you?"
This was no laughing matter.
If he agreed to Dao Ancestor Guiming, the Dao Ancestor of [Feng Shui] would certainly fight him to the death. Wouldn't that be creating a powerful enemy out of thin air?
Judging from the impact of that previous clash, the Dao Ancestor of [Feng Shui] had clearly completed two qualitative metamorphoses of his essence; in terms of strength, he was not a whit inferior to Lu Yang.
In such a situation, Lu Yang was no fool. How could he possibly act as a shield for Dao Ancestor Guiming and provoke such a powerful enemy for no reason?
"I naturally understand this."
Dao Ancestor Guiming nodded slightly: "Rest assured, Junior Brother. Since this is the path I have chosen, it naturally requires me to walk it personally. How could I borrow the hands of others?"
"My transaction is a mutually beneficial affair."
"...Tell me."
"It's very simple." Dao Ancestor Guiming said in a deep voice: "Since my path requires all living beings to walk it, I must walk it myself first to ensure it is viable."
"Therefore, I intend to reincarnate once first."
"To the Light Sea era of the future."
Lu Yang turned around abruptly.
Dao Ancestor Guiming continued: "If I succeed, it proves this path is viable. What follows is simply how to lead all sentient beings to walk it together."
"If I fail, then I die in pursuit of the Dao, which is a fitting end."
"However, regardless of the outcome, if I succeed, I will inevitably re-attain the status of Dao Ancestor in the future Light Sea era. At that time, I will certainly return with a new identity."
Dao Ancestor Guiming's words finally made Lu Yang solemn: 'Reincarnating to the Light Sea—is he joking? Can he succeed? If he succeeds, doesn't that mean one of the Light Sea Dao Lords who entered this memory world is actually his reincarnation, just with memories unawakened?'
At this thought, Lu Yang spoke immediately:
"As far as I know, there is no Dao Lord in later ages who calls himself [Guiming]. The possibility of this trip failing is very high; I fear even your Primordial Spirit won't remain!"
"No matter."
Dao Ancestor Guiming shook his head with a smile upon hearing this: "Reincarnating across the Final Tribulation is naturally easy to grind away the True Spirit. I am prepared, which is precisely why I need you, Junior Brother."
After speaking, he sat up straight, his young face revealing resolve: "I ask you, Junior Brother, to kill me with your own hands, and then accept my True Spirit. If I can truly reincarnate into the Light Sea and walk this path successfully, you can use this to awaken me. Afterward, I will naturally guide all living beings to walk it together."
He intended to use his Primordial Spirit consciousness to reincarnate?
"..."
Lu Yang was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice: "If so, your reincarnated body will inevitably be born with a new consciousness. The one in control may not be you."
"Success does not have to be achieved by me."
Dao Ancestor Guiming smiled: "Moreover, if I reincarnate to become your close friend, Junior Brother, and you value the reincarnated body more and are unwilling for me to revive, what then?"
"So, it is better to erase this hidden danger first."
"Hold my True Spirit, awaken a portion of my memories, and in the end, it will still be my reincarnated body in control. If I ultimately attain transcendence through this, then it is also my current self who transcends."
A transcender of Deity Transformation is eternal in the past, present, and future.
If Dao Ancestor Guiming truly attained Deity Transformation and transcended the world through this, then whether it was his reincarnated self or his past self, both would transcend.
It was merely two sides of the same coin.
In Dao Ancestor Guiming's view, there was no difference.
Having spoken, Dao Ancestor Guiming pressed his palms together, forming a hand seal. A point of red light abruptly emerged at his brow, and the smile on his face became gentle.
"My resolve is set."
"As for you, Junior Brother, killing me can also add to your prestige, and at the same time, allow you to befriend [Feng Shui], gaining another reliable assistant."
Lu Yang frowned deeply at this sight.
"...Why choose me?"
Truth be told, he and Dao Ancestor Guiming had met for less than half an hour, and such matters concerning the path to the Dao should be entrusted to those one knows well.
"Is that even a question?"
Dao Ancestor Guiming blinked: "You are the person the Dao Venerable transcended space and time to take as a disciple. Strictly speaking, you are the Dao Venerable's only disciple."
"We attained the Dao even before the Dao Venerable; he was simply a latecomer who surpassed us."
"Although Luxian obtained some methods, he was merely an attendant, not a successor."
"A successor of Deity Transformation—just this title alone outweighs everything else. There must be a layout by the Dao Venerable upon you. What problem is there in my wanting to borrow your strength?"
Lu Yang: "..."
No problem. It was perfectly logical.
"I understand. Then I will fulfill your wish, Fellow Daoist."
At this thought, Lu Yang no longer hesitated. In any case, the anchor point had been set; even if Dao Ancestor Guiming really had some plot against him, it wouldn't matter.
In the next second, Lu Yang slowly extended his palm. Within his palm, a brilliant ring manifested, connected head-to-tail yet reversed at the junction, thus becoming endless. It continuously overlapped, representing the profound majesty of [Infinite], all gathered within this single palm.
Then, he pressed down.
Almost simultaneously, throughout the Divine Land.
The Dao Ancestors of the Divine Land, the Dao Lords of the Light Sea, and all existences whose stature surpassed the mortal realm looked up one after another, gazing toward the dome with astonishment or realization.
"RUMBLE."
A Dao-voice, so vast it seemed capable of shattering myriad phenomena, vibrated above the dome, resounding throughout all realms, rippling through the entire memory world like a tidal wave.
Then, a streak of firelight vanished.
Seventeen Dao Ancestors of the Divine Land, ten Dao Lords of the Light Sea—the twenty-seven Primordial Spirit fires that had pierced the heavens—at this very moment, one of them was permanently extinguished.
"Guiming is dead? Impossible!"
"Not another reincarnation?"
"The Primordial Spirit is destroyed. If it were truly a reincarnation, he would have left the current time; it's impossible he went to the past. Does that mean he headed for the future?"
"So that's how it is."
"He wants to practice his Dao..."
"Foolish. The Seed of the Great Dao is right before our eyes, yet he insists on seeking some great merit. He doesn't know what he is doing."
"It is understandable. After all, Guiming only had one qualitative metamorphosis of essence. Even if he came to compete for the Seed of the Great Dao, his chances of winning were near zero. It is better to take a different path."
Meanwhile.
On another plain in the Divine Land, a monk wearing golden robes also saw that disappearing firelight, but his reaction was different from the others.
Even he himself found it somewhat strange.
He clearly did not recognize that extinguished Primordial Spirit and had never seen it before, yet in this instant, he felt an inexplicable, inexpressible joy.
As if his merits were complete; as if his great vow was about to be fulfilled.
In the dark, he suddenly had a resonance— his own opportunity perhaps lay right there.
At this thought, the World Honored One lowered his eyelids, carefully experiencing the changes in his heart. After a long while, he pressed his palms together and slowly uttered a single sentence.
"If I do not enter hell, who will?"
"Amitabha."
(End of Chapter)