The content of the Divine Hierarchy Chart entered Meng Qi’s vision: the First Dao Ancestor, the Second Emperor, the Third Star Lord. The biggest difference compared to Gan Ruoxu’s usual view was that the position that should have borne the name of the Jade Emperor was now replaced with “Dong Huang Taiyi,” exuding faint traces of a savage yet sacred aura.
Meng Qi’s pupils reflected the Daoist Glazed Lamp. He gently passed his right hand over the name “Dong Huang Taiyi,” using the connection through spiritual resonance to trace it backward.
The surroundings became illusory, radiant threads of stars emerging. One of them exuded an ancient and weathered sensation, linking Dong Huang’s name with the infinite distance.
The Law of All Effects activated. Meng Qi’s consciousness flashed forward like lightning along this karmic thread, feeling as though he pierced through layers of illusions and plunged through endless depths, as if traversing one world after another.
Suddenly, ahead appeared a pitch-black abyss where karma ceased to exist and time curled inward, as if concealing a monster capable of devouring everything. Meng Qi’s consciousness was violently shaken and abruptly repelled, snapping his eyes open.
“It’s neither Mei Shan Great Sage Yuan Hong nor Han Guang…” he murmured softly.
Although the previous tracing failed to confirm Dong Huang Taiyi’s identity, it at least eliminated several possibilities based on the characteristics of the karmic thread.
In Meng Qi’s mind, the number of powerful beings capable of impersonating Dong Huang Taiyi without revealing any flaws was limited. Among them were Yuan Hong, the Mei Shan Great Sage who possessed fragments of the Dong Huang Bell, the “Demon Sage” Han Guang, and Su Wuming. However, after the retroactive sensing, he was nearly certain it wasn’t them.
It seemed to be another mighty expert, perhaps even one where Dong Huang Taiyi himself had not truly perished—alive despite apparent death! Suddenly, an image flashed through Meng Qi’s mind: a monster sealed deep within the snowy mountains, bound beneath nine ancient tombs of Immortal Venerables, roaring words eerily similar to “Taiyi.”
Could it be Dong Huang was indeed still alive, surviving precariously into this era and pulling the strings behind certain events?
Recalling how the Dong Huang on the Divine Hierarchy Chart went to great lengths to stop him from restoring the Seven-Slayer Stele, preventing the Abyssal Sea’s transformation, strange thoughts stirred within Meng Qi:
If Dong Huang truly hadn’t perished and had deceived the Jade Emperor of Heaven, then his current stance clearly leaned toward Jiuyou. All matters connected to him appeared chaotic and frenzied. At the time, the Demon Lord had unexpectedly shattered his limits and ascended to the other shore, surpassing the expectations of many powerful beings. Even more surprising was that instead of concealing his power and strengthening himself, he recklessly chose to attack the Heavenly Court…
Could that event be related to “Dong Huang Taiyi”?
Only someone who had reached the other shore could oppose, deceive, and guide the Demon Lord while concealing all traces from others on that level.
If Dong Huang was indeed still alive, how had he managed to deceive Heaven itself, escaping even the notice of the Jade Emperor, who was among the mightiest beings of the Primordial Age?
Back in the Primordial Age, the Jade Emperor was undoubtedly among the most supreme beings. Even if slightly inferior to the Primordial Lord, he likely stood at the same level as Amitabha Buddha. No matter how mighty Dong Huang might have been, surviving only in a weakened state, how could he possibly evade the Jade Emperor’s perception?
Compared to the myths of the Ancient Era, the events of the Primordial Age, having survived multiple epochs of annihilation, had long become unverifiable, shrouded in mystery and strangeness. Meng Qi’s thoughts swirled, yet he found no way to confirm his suspicions. He resolved to question Lu Ya in the future about the battle between the Jade Emperor and Dong Huang Taiyi, and if the opportunity arose, explore the ancient Fusang Tree.
With a flick of his right hand, the Divine Hierarchy Chart rolled up. Meng Qi closed his eyes once more, sinking back into a chaotic, primordial world. Having received the projection of the Primordial Lord, even if the so-called “Dong Huang Taiyi” were to send his own projection from that universe, Meng Qi would have nothing to fear. After countless millennia of accumulated history, the Primordial Lord stood supreme above all, while Dong Huang Taiyi, though second in rank, was confined to the Taiping Kingdom, the Yellow Turban Sect, and its affiliated minor states—unrecognized by the Divine-Blessed Nations or the Way of Five Pecks of Rice. Unlike Dong Huang, the legend of the Primordial Lord extended wherever Daoism flourished.
In a direct confrontation of projections, Meng Qi was confident he could suppress Dong Huang!
…
Time passed, and the years changed. After foiling one scheme after another, Gan Ruoxu felt himself entering a mysteriously profound state. Without the need for the Celestial Lord to actively bestow power, merely through the feedback of their resonance, he had already become one of the most formidable beings under Heaven.
“Ten years of pure cultivation, ten years of solitude—fame spreads in a single day.” Gan Ruoxu opened his eyes, slowly rising to his feet and respectfully bowing before the statue of the Primordial Lord, whose gaze seemed unfathomably deep.
Suddenly, he felt the miniature stele within his dantian awaken, spinning rapidly, transforming into light, then piercing through his body, flying out of the hall and into the sky.
“Has the Celestial Lord reclaimed this treasure?” Gan Ruoxu felt surprised. Ever since obtaining the stele, though ten years had passed, he had never had the chance to use it.
Wasn’t that a complete waste?
His thoughts stirred briefly before he quickly calmed himself. With his current resonance with the Celestial Lord, did he really need any external artifact?
Let it go—no attachments!
He calmly gazed forward, stepping slowly out of the Three Pure Ones Hall, whispering inwardly, “The ‘Heavenly Queen’ Yun Gu, the ‘Black Emperor’ Lin Fengxiao, the ‘Eastern Emperor’ Zhang Zijing—I’m coming!”
…
The formation lit up, layers of light shifting. Xu Feiling wept bitterly, waving goodbye to Chang’e, both mentor and friend.
Once again wandering the mortal world, the boundary between immortals and mortals remained. She had to return to the Heavens!
Watching Ruan Yushu, who held the “Primordial Stele,” fade into the distance, Xu Feiling sniffled and shouted, “Immortal Lady, every full moon, I’ll offer you a feast!”
It was the most sincere and simple expression of emotion, cultivated through years of immersion!
…
Within the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, forbidden techniques shimmered like stars, vast and boundless. A white-robed figure, as if emerging from the deepest reaches of the cosmos, descended gracefully.
“Good. You’ve refined yourself, accumulated enough strength, and after a brief retreat to consolidate, you should attempt a breakthrough,” Meng Qi smiled and nodded.
Over the past ten years, Ruan Yushu had refrained from using secret treasures or divine weapons, yet had engaged with fully matured figures like the “Heavenly Queen” Yun Gu and the “Black Emperor” Lin Fengxiao, either in sparring matches or life-and-death battles. These encounters had given her invaluable insight into the characteristics of different divine authorities, helping her clarify her own path.
Ruan Yushu retrieved bundle after bundle from her ring, looking at Meng Qi and saying, “These are local specialties, easy to carry.”
This too was the most sincere and simple expression of emotion.
After Meng Qi accepted both the Seven-Slayer Stele and the local delicacies, she suddenly frowned and asked, “Can I receive Xu Feiling’s offerings?”
“No problem. Worldwide express delivery,” Meng Qi replied solemnly.
After some casual conversation and laughter, watching Ruan Yushu depart, Meng Qi stroked the stele, preparing to descend into the Journey to the West world.
Of course, using the Seven-Slayer Stele to return to the past would grant him only limited time. He needed to determine in advance the precise moment when the All-Worlds shattered and the Calming Sea Pearls scattered. The best way to do this was to consult those who had personally experienced that catastrophe—such as the Immortal Demon God, the East Sea Dragon King, or the Spirit King of the Southern Jambudvipa.
Meng Qi planned to question each of them, cross-referencing their accounts to avoid errors.
…
In the Southern Jambudvipa, one lake after another formed a vast sea-like expanse, filled with strangely shaped aquatic soldiers.
Two crab generals patrolling the central region suddenly saw a Daoist priest in a fan-shaped cloud crown and flowing robe appear before them.
“Two esteemed crab generals, uh, crab generals, this humble Daoist is Su Meng. I seek an audience with the Spirit King,” Meng Qi smiled and bowed respectfully.
For some reason, the two crab generals felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity with this priest, as if he were their own father, naturally evoking deep reverence. They hurriedly said, “We shall announce your arrival at once.”
One of the crabs swam off, diving for what seemed like an eternity before reaching a magnificent crystal palace. After announcing his arrival, they gained an audience with the Spirit King, wearing golden armor and a fish-like face—the former golden fish familiar of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara!
“Great King, a Daoist named Su Meng seeks an audience,” the crab general announced loudly.
The Spirit King was in the middle of eating bloody offerings, contemplating increasing the number of child sacrifices next year. Upon hearing this, he sneered, “Su Meng? Never heard of him. Tell him to leave!”
His voice rumbled like underwater thunder, making the crab general tremble. As if regaining its senses, it hurriedly exited to reject Meng Qi.
“What an inexplicable fellow. Do you think the Great Spirit King can be seen by just anyone?” the Spirit King muttered.
After a while, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. The surrounding aquatic beings seemed to grow restless. Then he saw the crab general rush in again, panic-stricken.
“Report! Great King, that Daoist Su Meng has blocked our ‘front door’! None of the water beings can leave the lake!”
Blocked the door? The Spirit King’s eyes flared with golden light as he looked toward the lake surface. High above, a clear-faced Daoist in flowing robes sat cross-legged, a gorgeous purple lightning saber resting across his lap, occasionally unleashing bolts that struck every corner of the lake, preventing any aquatic being from escaping. Alone, he had effectively sealed off the entire entrance!
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