The Old Mother has returned!
These five words sent shockwaves through Meng Qi’s heart. Even with his ability to scrutinize thoughts at the Creation level, he found it momentarily difficult to suppress the turmoil. Given Xiaosang’s connection to the Old Mother, there was no way she could be mistaken about this.
The Old Mother of No Birth—the former Golden Emperor—had truly returned to the world!
A true figure of the Other Shore had come back!
In his previous discussions with Xiaosang, Meng Qi had already prepared for the possibility that figures of the Other Shore might return from the Primordial Chaos earlier than expected through various means. He had considered this the most likely scenario for his tribulation, which was why he had taken the risk to covet the remnants of Donghuang’s flesh. But never had he imagined that the Golden Emperor would return so swiftly, so soon. Qingdi had only just given him a warning, and now She had already traversed the vast Primordial Chaos and re-entered the River of Time, leaving him almost no room to strategize!
Too fast! Faster than lightning could strike. He had only just begun his preparations—how could he possibly be ready in time?
But how could the world wait for one to be fully prepared? Especially when it came to a life-and-death calamity?
The shockwaves in his heart subsided in an instant. Meng Qi cast aside all unnecessary emotions, and only one thought surfaced in his mind:
Run! Run now! Escape immediately!
But where could he flee?
Use the Wheel of Life and Death to hide within the Origin Point? Rely on the hidden karmic connections to conceal himself in the highest layers of the Celestial Realm or the Netherworld? Ideas flashed through his mind one after another, only to be ruthlessly dismissed. What was the point of hiding in such places? This time, he wasn’t facing a pseudo-Other Shore figure. His past in the real world would be exposed, pale and helpless, before the Old Mother of No Birth. With a mere wave of Her hand, She could erase his former self, and the “present” him would vanish into nothingness. Hiding would be futile!
Only now did Meng Qi truly feel the despair of opposing a figure of the Other Shore. It was a darkness without a glimmer of hope, a fate where all efforts were doomed to fail.
Only a figure of the Other Shore could oppose another figure of the Other Shore!
…
Clang!
Within the Changle Imperial Palace, the Human Emperor Sword at Gao Lan’s waist suddenly emitted a soft hum, radiating a faint golden light. It condensed into images of mountains, rivers, the sun, the moon, and all things under heaven. The essence of the Kingly Way had materialized, as if stirred by an inexplicable aura.
“Has a figure of the Other Shore returned?” Gao Lan, the emperor who had always remained unshaken even if mountains collapsed before him, slightly raised his chin. His thin lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes betrayed clear astonishment.
The unity of the Human Dao and Heaven had been flawed due to Han Guang’s interference. The Human Emperor Sword would still take over a decade to fully awaken and unleash the might of an Other Shore-level divine weapon.
…
Splash!
Within the halls of the Xuantian Sect, waves surged around the Blade of Time, as if forming a long river.
The return of an Other Shore figure naturally triggered responses in corresponding artifacts!
…
Deep within the Netherworld, a vast, pure white lotus bloomed petal by petal, suffusing the entire realm. One by one, vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts shed their obsessions, their ferocity, even their Yin energy, as if reborn and returned to their homelands. Countless as the stars in the cosmos, they knelt in unison, their voices rising like a tidal wave:
“We welcome the return of the Old Mother!”
The Old Mother of No Birth, standing above them, seemed veiled by endless layers of time and space. Only Her ancient, elegant, and intricately adorned robes and Her eyes—which contained all beauty and all possibilities—could be discerned.
A halo of pure light surrounded Her, forming a perfect, moon-like radiance. Innumerable tiny white lotuses drifted down, each giving birth to a deity representing a different Great Dao or rule. Without taking a single step, She appeared in the deepest part of the Netherworld, behind Zhen Yuanzi, within the grand, pitch-black hall.
At that moment, the flawless halo of light behind Her trembled, as if shifting from a full moon to a waning one. It fluctuated several times before stabilizing, delayed by a full two or three breaths.
Then Zhen Yuanzi heard the Old Mother’s sacred, ethereal whisper:
“She has indeed revived.”
The stronger the former Holy Maiden, the more the Old Mother is affected… This thought inexplicably surfaced in Zhen Yuanzi’s mind, followed by a subtle shift in the chaotic layers of time and space.
The Old Mother had made Her move!
…
On Mount Jiuhua, suspended beyond the azure heavens, Guangchengzi was meditating, exploring the path to the Other Shore.
Suddenly, a sacred yet familiar feminine voice echoed in his ears:
“By decree, I inform you: Su Meng has repeatedly opposed me, refusing to yield. Out of respect for the legacy of the Celestial Venerable, I have tolerated and avoided him, repaying karmic debts without ever striking to kill. Yet now, he still shelters the obstacle to my Dao attainment. This is intolerable, and he must be severely punished. Should any of you dare interfere, do not blame me for showing no mercy and executing you without warning!”
The Old Mother of No Birth… Guangchengzi’s eyes snapped open, filled with astonishment, as if a wisp of purple energy expanded and contracted within them.
At the same time, Manjushri, Chijingzi, Yu Dingzhenren, Daoxing Xianzun, Nezha, and other great supernatural beings of the Yu Xu lineage heard the Old Mother’s proclamation. All were momentarily stunned, filled with trepidation and disbelief.
…
Only a figure of the Other Shore could oppose another figure of the Other Shore!
With this thought flashing through his mind, Meng Qi realized where he must flee: the domain of an Other Shore figure who would shelter him.
Among the benevolent figures of the Other Shore, the Primordial Celestial Venerable had been missing for years, leaving the Yu Xu Palace without a master. It was no place to hide, and there was no guarantee He would intervene this time—he couldn’t pin his hopes on that. The Old Mother of No Birth had once bestowed great grace upon Qingdi for attaining the Dao. Though Qingdi would surely spare his life if he entered the Fusang Ancient Tree Realm, that would be the extent of it. Qingdi would not hinder the Old Mother from doing other things to him—inspecting his body to find Xiaosang, taking away the Peerless Heavenly Blade, sealing or suppressing him, rendering him incapable of further cultivation, or forcing him to swear the heaviest karmic oath never to oppose Her again, thus eliminating all potential threats.
What difference was there between living like that and death?
Thus, there was only one place left for him: the Tushita Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens!
Just then, a voice descended from the heavens, piercing his ear and echoing with the words of the Silver Horned Boy:
“Junior Brother Su, disaster has struck! Amitabha has blocked the gates of the Tushita Palace and is contending with the Grandmaster. The Ancient Buddha of Bodhi has also dispatched the Daoist Zhunti to the Demon Emperor’s Hall. You must find another way out!”
“Also, the Old Mother of No Birth has returned. Though something seems to have delayed Her for now, time is not on your side. Decide quickly!”
Hearing this, Meng Qi felt as though the vast heavens and earth had no place left for him to hide.
At that moment, Gu Xiaosang, hidden within the Peerless Heavenly Blade, smiled faintly. The fear and shock in her eyes vanished, replaced by calm. “Husband,” she said softly, “if the Old Mother comes, just hand me over. You have the potential to reach the Other Shore. When the time comes, you can reverse time and revive me. Death means nothing remains.”
Meng Qi’s divine sense immersed into the blade, gazing deeply at her. Suddenly, he laughed bitterly.
“You didn’t hear the Silver Horned Boy’s words, so you don’t know the current situation. The Old Mother’s early return was part of an exchange with Amitabha and the Ancient Buddha of Bodhi—they’ve temporarily formed an alliance. You are the obstacle to Her Dao attainment, and I am a thorn in the Ancient Buddha’s side. Neither of us can escape. Handing you over won’t spare me from this calamity.”
Even if the Primordial Celestial Venerable intervened, He would likely be intercepted by the Numinous Treasure Celestial Venerable. The others were either suppressed or in no state to act—and most were his enemies anyway. There was no hope left.
The only way out now was to rely on himself!
Meng Qi’s eyes burned with resolve, just as they had when he once raised his blade and sword against the Devil Buddha.
This path truly offered no chance of survival.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage