Chapter 432: Chapter 69: August 15, Primordial Arrives

After burying the Bronze Coffin, which had the Demon Saint for a lid, deep underground, Lu Xuan personally carved a tombstone and solemnly erected it.

He then bowed three times to the tombstone before letting out a soft sigh and asking, his gaze shifting to the side:

"Old Li, are you saying that Reincarnation no longer exists, so we can’t let Teacher Lu reincarnate right now?"

Beside him, Li Changgeng nodded gently and explained,

"The Six Paths of Reincarnation collapsed during a great calamity many years ago. True reincarnation was also taken away by that person and no longer exists in the Current World."

After a pause, he quickly added,

"Of course, it’s not entirely impossible for him to reincarnate. It’s just that he can’t do it in the Current World. You can cast Lu Xiuyuan’s sliver of True Spirit into one of the other Celestial Myriad Realms."

Lu Xuan’s brow furrowed.

"What’s the difference between them?"

"There is."

The one who spoke was the Big Black Bull, his voice muffled and deep.

"The Current World is the Great Heaven and Earth. It’s the Origin World, the Main World, the Central World. It holds the highest status. The rest of the All Realms are more like reflections or derivations of the Current World, with a lower status than this one."

After a moment of thought, it described it like this:

"You can think of the other realms and worlds as subordinate or subsidiary to the Great Heaven and Earth. The Current World can support the existence of the Dao Fruit, while the other worlds might top out at the Daluo, Celestial Realms, or even the Immortal level."

"I see." Lu Xuan understood now. "So, they’re Lower Realms?"

"You could say that."

While Lu Xuan and the Big Black Bull were talking, Xiaoyan turned her head and said softly,

"Xiaolu, why don’t we just send Teacher Lu to one of those ’Lower Realms’ to be reincarnated? We can just guide him back later."

"That works."

Lu Xuan nodded slightly. With a thought, the Jade Void Glazed Lamp materialized.

He held the lamp in his left hand and cupped the last remnant of Lu Xiuyuan’s True Spirit in his right. A brilliant light bloomed in his eyes, reflecting the Profound Mysteries of the Dao and its principles.

The flame of the Jade Void Glazed Lamp flickered, and within its light, the magnificent sights of countless Great Realms rose and fell, one after another.

"This is the one."

After silently observing an infinite number of different Great Realms, Lu Xuan selected a vibrant, budding world. Although its upper limit was only the Immortal Level, its advantage was its youth; it was countless years away from decline.

"Open."

He let out a soft command. His hand, formed of pure Innate Material, shattered the spatial barrier and thrust forcefully into that Great Realm.

That Great Realm was in an ancient era. Countless sect patriarchs, Dynasty Great Emperors, and reclusive titans were all startled by the intrusion.

One great figure after another soared into the sky. The patriarch of the world’s number one sect spoke in alarm,

"That... That’s a hand??"

The top powerhouses of this realm were dumbfounded. They watched as the Celestial Vault cracked open and a hand of impossible size slowly descended.

The giant hand was accompanied by orbiting Qingyun and auspicious omens, and the grand performance of immortal melodies and the symphony of Hongmeng!

"Go on, go on..."

A soft sigh echoed from beyond the realm, washing over the entire world. The great hand opened, and a glowing sliver of True Spirit, wrapped in Innate Material, flew toward a certain town and descended into it.

The great hand vanished, and the shattered Celestial Vault returned to normal. Only the lingering afterglow of the Qingyun, auspicious omens, and the divine immortal music proved that what had just happened was real.

The hearts of the many titans in this realm pounded as they all, by unspoken agreement, turned their gazes toward a particular town.

"A supreme figure from the Upper Realm has personally delivered a new life!"

One titan gasped.

"This child must not come to any harm! Otherwise, if that supreme figure becomes enraged, we will all suffer a catastrophe!"

"He does not belong to this realm. He is destined to return to the Upper Realm someday. He will soar, and perhaps he will leave behind a blessing for us!"

Countless titans discussed and debated before finally reaching a consensus.

From that day forward, in a certain town in a remote part of the Dynasty, many new people appeared. Some became cooks, some private tutors, some fortune-tellers...

All of them settled down, centering their lives around a newborn named Lu Xiuyuan.

.........

「Current World.」

After sending Lu Xiuyuan off to be reincarnated, Lu Xuan spoke with Li Changgeng and the others. They decided to set the wedding date for the fifteenth of the eighth month, nine days from now, and sent out invitations to all parties.

"The Phoenix Crown and Brocade Robe is ready, the grand sedan has been forged, and all preparations are complete."

Lu Xuan held Xiaoyan’s hand as they walked to Dragon Tiger Peak, where they slowly sat down in front of two peach trees.

The withered peach tree seemed to be bursting with new life, while the Old Peach Tree swayed gently, scattering waves of peach fragrance as if in celebration.

"Xiaolu."

Yan Jiangxue’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.

"I’ve started to remember some things from my past life, although only a few small fragments..."

"Oh?" Lu Xuan made a soft sound of surprise and asked curiously, "What kind of things?"

Yan Jiangxue recalled,

"There were scenes of my cultivation, a Buddhist Technique, and a Demon Cultivation Killing Skill that looked like a fish-bird hybrid. I also went to the Underworld and spoke with a Divine Spirit who taught me the Dao."

As she spoke, a smile appeared on her face.

"In my memories, there was also a person wearing a mask..."

A flicker of emotion crossed Lu Xuan’s face. He didn’t hide it and said cheerfully,

"That was me."

"I know." A sly look appeared in Xiaoyan’s eyes. Her voice suddenly softened as she called out in a mushy tone,

"Daddy..."

A chill ran down Lu Xuan’s back, and a vein throbbed on his forehead. Xiaoyan, however, started cackling like a goose, her eyes curving into crescents, shimmering like water.

The Old Peach Tree seemed speechless as well. It shook violently, and a hoarse, muffled voice rumbled,

"I’m alive."

Lu Xuan’s face twitched, which only made Xiaoyan laugh even more joyfully.

The two of them snuggled together until dusk, watching the Great Sun sink in the west as layer upon layer of evening clouds filled the sky.

Yan Jiangxue leaned on Lu Xuan’s shoulder, hugging his arm, and said softly,

"This is so nice."

"It is." Lu Xuan gazed at the Celestial Vault, at the descending Great Sun, and also responded softly, "It really is."

They fell silent. The only sounds on the mountaintop were their heartbeats, their breaths, and the rustling of the evening wind through the Old Peach Tree.

Everything was quietly beautiful in the tranquil stillness.

「For a long time.」

「The bright moon now hung in the sky.」

"Xiaolu, after the wedding, are you going to do something big?"

"Mhm, but there’s no rush. I’ll accompany you on a journey through the mountains and rivers, to see the sights of the Red Dust. At the end of the year, I’ll have to leave for a while."

"How long will you be gone?"

"I don’t know either."

Lu Xuan inhaled the peach fragrance that filled the mountain and reached out to rub Xiaoyan’s head.

"A lot of people are waiting for me. The scheme has been unfolding for thousands of years."

"Can you win?"

"Probably not. In that era, our foundation was too shallow, too weak."

Yan Jiangxue lifted her head, gazing at the young man’s chiseled profile, as sharp as if carved by a knife. She leaned in and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

"Doing something you know is impossible... doesn’t that make you an idiot!"

Lu Xuan chuckled lightly.

"Someone has to do it. Someone must do it... From the Spring and Autumn Period, to the Qin, and all the way to the Late Qin Dynasty..."

He spoke quietly, and Xiaoyan listened quietly.

"Winning or losing isn’t always what’s most important. A lost game can be a key piece in a much larger game. A senior once told me that I lack the grand spirit to enter the game myself, to be a pawn in my own right. To be honest, I don’t really understand..."

"But I will understand."

"If not this time, then the next time, and the time after that..."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan’s expression darkened slightly, and he sighed.

"I’m not afraid of losing. I’m afraid for the countless living beings who will die in this grand scheme."

The act of defying the heavens, regardless of victory or defeat, would surely lead to the deaths of many people, many living beings.

Yan Jiangxue nodded silently and gently took Lu Xuan’s hand.

"There will be many bones along the path, but those bones won’t grow cold. They will become a sheltering shade for the future generations."

"Mhm."

He hugged Xiaoyan, his heart pounding powerfully. They held each other for a long time before separating.

Lu Xuan rubbed his face, wiping away his despondency. He let the night wind whip at his robes and said gently,

"I almost forgot something. I have a disciple, someone you know, named Chong Shanhu. I haven’t given him his crowning and title yet... Let’s wait until after the fifteenth of the eighth month."

"I want to go too when the time comes!"

"Alright."

The young man nodded, summoned the Daoist Temple, and walked inside. The Sanqing Temple floated in the darkness, separate from heaven and earth. The night wind grew stronger, but it didn’t disturb the temple in the slightest.

The two walked hand in hand into the Daoist Temple. Inside was another world, vast and boundless, with a great, surging lake.

The soil was rich with immortal charm, and the lake was filled with liquefied Immortal Spiritual Qi and Divine Essence. A Grand Grade Corpse Puppet stood within, swaying slightly.

The Daoist Temple faded from the void and reappeared above Taishan.

"Why did we come here?" Xiaoyan stood at the entrance of the Daoist Temple, gazing down at the magnificent Divine Mountain below as she asked curiously.

"A sudden whim. I came to have a look, to confirm a few things."

Lu Xuan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her, holding Xiaoyan’s soft little hand, also looking down upon the Divine Mountain and staring at the massive Coffin and Casket on its peak.

Around the Coffin and Casket, many Dead Immortals were wandering. Then, as if sensing something, they all raised their heads to look.

The Large Bronze Coffin trembled slightly. The lid lifted a crack, and a hoarse, deep, and ancient voice emerged from within.

"On the day of your great wedding, a gift will be presented."

Lu Xuan’s ears twitched. ’That’s not Zheng’Er’s voice...’

He nodded slightly and said with a smile,

"Will you be coming to the banquet, Your Excellency?"

"I cannot. I am unable to leave... It’s not a restriction of this heaven and earth; I simply cannot get out."

The being inside the Coffin and Casket spoke with a smile.

"Lu Xuan, cherish the present."

Lu Xuan didn’t quite understand, but he still nodded.

"Alright."

Laughter echoed from the Coffin and Casket again. The nine Immortal Level Dragon Corpses all raised their heads and bowed toward the Daoist Temple in the sky.

Around Taishan, countless Dead Immortals also bowed their heads, letting out unintelligible cries that sounded like chants of praise.

Inside the Coffin and Casket, the laughter stopped abruptly, followed by a long sigh. The being within hesitated before speaking again.

"The Qin Dynasty ultimately could not last for ten thousand generations. This loss is merely a stepping stone for the next victory. You mustn’t lose heart."

Lu Xuan frowned. ’The being inside the Coffin and Casket is very strange. It’s definitely not Zheng’Er, but...’

He pondered for a long time before nodding slightly and bowing toward the Coffin and Casket.

"I’ve known about this for a long time."

"Go on, go on..."

From within the Coffin and Casket, the ancient voice chuckled again.

"Oh, right. On the fifteenth of the eighth month, there may be unwelcome guests."

"Let them come."

.........

「In the gaps of the Great Heaven and Earth.」

The Three-Faced Evil Buddha kowtowed and said in a low voice,

"I can’t contact Ben Bo’Erba. Perhaps he has already been slain."

"As expected."

The Wounded Immortal nodded slightly and said coldly,

"The Immortal Mother and the Demon Ancestor both take this matter very seriously. Some old acquaintances have also forced their early return. I have received the Great Medicine bestowed by Emperor Gouchen, and my injuries are about to fully heal."

The pupils of the Three-Faced Evil Buddha shrank. He then said cautiously,

"My lord, but if that’s the case, once you return to the Celestial Realms Level, even if the world itself is upgraded, I’m afraid... you won’t be able to enter it."

"Who says?"

The Wounded Immortal gave a cold smile.

"The great figures have long had a plan for this. A being will arrive carrying a Jade Pool Fragment. On the fifteenth of the eighth month, when the Jade Pool Fragment falls into the Current World, the area it covers will be outside the domain of this heaven and earth."

The Three-Faced Evil Buddha gasped and said with focus,

"Does that mean that within the Jade Pool Fragment, an Immortal can unleash their full power, and those at the Celestial Realms level can also move freely inside?"

"Precisely."

The Wounded Immortal stood with his hands behind his back, his voice flat and cold.

"This is not a battle, but a one-sided slaughter. The one who was so renowned during the Spring and Autumn Period is also about to die. There is no salvation for him."

The Three-Faced Evil Buddha hesitated for a moment before asking,

"My lord, what exactly did Lu Zi do during the Spring and Autumn Period?"

The Wounded Immortal was silent for a moment before saying flatly,

"Nothing much. Relying on a certain Existence backing him, he dismantled the West Pole Celestial Court and made a mortal enemy of Emperor Gouchen."

Without looking at the Three-Faced Evil Buddha’s horrified expression, the Wounded Immortal continued,

"But this is the Current World. Even the Existence behind him cannot interfere, or even cast a gaze here. Lu Zi will die in silence, without anyone knowing."

He spoke with extreme certainty, his gaze piercing the void. He saw old friends, one after another, forcing their return, squeezing their way into this gap, and he broke into a grin.

The Three-Faced Evil Buddha also saw this scene. He saw the Immortals and Buddhas squeezing into this space one by one, and his heart shook violently.

With a single glance, he saw they were almost all household names, each one renowned in Ancient Times!

Immortals strolled, Buddhas smiled, and Great Saints stood proud and untamed!

The Wounded Immortal greeted them one by one, then announced in a clear voice,

"We just have to wait nine more days."

"This Human World will once again return to the age where Immortal Gods lit up the world!"

"Any who do not submit shall be killed!"

"We just wait... for nine more days!"

.........

「Nine days later.」

「Early morning, the fifteenth of the eighth month.」

"You’ve arrived?" Lu Xuan bowed respectfully. Beside him, Xiaoyan copied his actions and also bowed, then looked curiously at the simple and unadorned middle-aged Daoist.

The middle-aged Daoist seemed very ordinary. He strode over, his face wreathed in smiles.

"Good disciple, I have arrived."

Lu Xuan bowed again.

"Greetings, Second Master."