Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Praise! Supreme Profound Clarity

Lu Xuan was finally 100% certain. This really was the Ancient Times, the age of myths!

’I… I’m in the primordial era?’

He felt dazed, as if it were all a dream.

Guangcheng Zi, however, was even more shocked. ’Little Junior Brother actually came from the future?’

One must understand that traversing the years and walking upon the River of Time was something that, under normal circumstances, even a Celestial Venerable at the Immortal Realm could not achieve. Not even an Upper Celestial Venerable like himself could do it!

Only the Ancient Ones, who had achieved Transcendence over the years and attained Eternal Proof, were capable of such a feat!

’Little Junior Brother… Was he born with the traits of an Ancient One?’

’Or does he possess a time-related Supreme Treasure?’

’Wait, that’s not right!!’

Guangcheng Zi was, after all, the Chief Disciple of Jade Void. He understood some of the world’s mysteries and had a sharp mind, so he quickly figured it out.

The future is uncertain, but the past is set in stone!

In other words, the future can never be determined. The only things that are certain are the present and the past!

If that’s the case, then rather than saying Little Junior Brother came from the “future,” it would be more accurate to say he came from the “present” or the “current node in time.”

By the same token, this meant that this very moment was already the “past,” already “within history”!

Only then could Little Junior Brother have arrived here!

As a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, Guangcheng Zi gave an awkward smile.

“This… I’m not sure what the situation is. After all, I haven’t truly established my Daoist Lineage yet. I have some ideas, but that’s for a later time…”

As he spoke, a flicker of terror crossed his face.

’If in the future… or to be precise, at the “present” node on the River of Time… if I’m still around, how could I possibly allow people from Guangcheng Palace to cause trouble for Little Junior Brother?’

’Unless…’

At this thought, Guangcheng Zi’s expression darkened slightly, but he quickly composed his turbulent emotions with a soft sigh.

He looked at the still-dazed Lu Xuan and smiled.

“Little Junior Brother, in that case, the ones causing you trouble are likely my own descendants and disciples.”

Lu Xuan waved his hand. Just as he was about to say that it wasn’t really “causing trouble,” Guangcheng Zi’s speaking speed suddenly and inexplicably quickened, cutting him off.

“Little Junior Brother, I will not ask about the future, nor will I ask for the reason. Logically, this might be a trial or tribulation for you, but I have no reason to stand by and watch my descendants become that tribulation for you.”

After a pause, Guangcheng Zi glanced at the Old Master. Seeing that his Grand Senior Brother had no objections, he continued.

“Therefore, I will grant you a Decree. This Decree has only one use: to command the disciples of Guangcheng Palace. When you activate it while facing disciples of my palace, no one below the Immortal rank will be your match… though it is, of course, limited only to the disciples of Guangcheng Palace.”

“After all, Little Junior Brother, you can be considered their ancestor. If they are at fault, you have every right to punish and discipline them.”

With that, he casually wrote out a Decree and, with a gentle push, sent the Golden Decree into Lu Xuan’s body.

“I shall take my leave now!”

Guangcheng Zi stood up, bowed to the Old Master, and then laughed heartily as he walked out the door.

Although he had guessed from all this that there was a possibility he might fall or die in the future, he wasn’t worried. The chance was small, after all. Perhaps he would merely go into seclusion or enter Reincarnation?

Besides, even if he truly perished, his soul scattering to the winds… so what?

’My Daoist heart is firm. Mere life and death cannot shake it!’

The Old Master witnessed this, smiled, and nodded, murmuring his approval. He then tapped Lu Xuan on the head and also chuckled.

“Alright, I am leaving as well… Remember, after the Keeper of the Records token shatters, you are to pass down the Tao Te Ching to the people of this world. Do not forget!”

As his voice faded, the old man’s figure dissipated into the void. And in a certain Daoist Palace, the Primordial Celestial King let out a quiet sigh of relief.

In the Guardian Storage Room, Lu Xuan looked around in a daze, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

The people from Guangcheng Palace had come looking for trouble, but it seemed there wasn’t any real malice. They wanted to make him their patriarch…

’No, wait. I guess I really can be considered their patriarch.’

Lu Xuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He then grew pensive and murmured:

“Does this count as… being born in the present, but achieving Enlightenment in the past?”

“No, that’s not right. I haven’t reached Enlightenment yet.”

He chuckled, then fell silent.

Since he was in the past, in Ancient Times, did his every word and action conform to the original history, or was he… changing history?

Either way, it seemed to create a paradox, defying all common sense.

After a long silence, Lu Xuan suddenly broke into a smile. Sitting in the Guardian Storage Room, he straightened his clothes and muttered to himself:

“Forget it, forget it. Does it really matter which one it is?”

“The Teacher said the future is uncertain.”

“I just need to follow the path I’m meant to walk, keep moving forward, and never stop. That’s enough!”

As he spoke, a brilliant smile bloomed on the young man’s face, as if he’d had a sudden epiphany. Just like Guangcheng Zi before him, he began to laugh.

His clear laughter awakened the dreamer, awakened himself.

……

「The Current World.」

「East Sea City, the shantytown.」

The three Earth Immortals were still facing off, and tensions were high among the five little Daoists. The small wooden house was like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.

And everyone’s attention was focused on the bed, on the sleeping young man.

Outside the window, rain pattered gently, the sense of spring fading.

Time trickled by. The Qing He Daoist’s expression grew increasingly grim. Qi Tiansheng gripped his Peach Wood Sword tightly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

As for Wu Datong, he appeared calm and still, but in reality, he was also tense. He was facing two Earth Immortals, after all. Though one was suffering from a plague tribulation and had low combat power, and the other was not of a high realm himself—only a Two-Tribulation Earth Immortal.

The problem was, he himself was severely injured and not at his peak.

The atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

Suddenly.

CREAK!

The bed shifted slightly. Everyone in the room turned to look at the same time.

The young man on the bed sat up, stretched lazily, and looked refreshed and full of energy.

The tap from his Teacher before he left had restored his spirit, which had been exhausted and overdrawn to its absolute limit.

Lu Xuan sat up straight and scanned the people in the room, a wide smile suddenly spreading across his face.

“What’s this? Are you all planning to have a fight?”

His tone was calm, his expression serious.

The Qing He Daoist frowned, then said:

“This stalemate is not a solution, Scholar Lu Xiao. My Guangcheng Palace has come seeking you, which is a tremendous opportunity for you. If you still don’t believe me, you can have this Earth Immortal accompany you. How about it?”

Qi Tiansheng first sneered, then also spoke:

“Your surname is Lu, correct, little scholar? Scholar Lu, why not accompany this humble Daoist on a trip to Dragon Tiger Mountain? My Dragon Tiger Mountain is recognized as the world’s foremost Daoist Lineage. What could you possibly have to worry about?”

Lu Xuan didn’t answer, merely asking a question in return:

“I already understand why Guangcheng Palace has come. But I don’t know why Dragon Tiger Mountain is here.”

Qi Tiansheng narrowed his eyes, clearly displeased, but he answered nonetheless:

“Scholar Lu, you share a connection of Cause and Effect with my Dragon Tiger Mountain. I have come to this city under the Celestial Master’s orders to find the people and things tied to this Cause and Effect.”

“A connection of Cause and Effect…” Lu Xuan lowered his gaze thoughtfully. Before, he definitely wouldn’t have believed it, but now he was about thirty percent convinced.

The reason was simple. Dragon Tiger Mountain was renowned, and its history was said to stretch back to the time of the Qin and Han dynasties. Since he had been traveling in and out of the Ancient Times, it was entirely possible he really did have some connection to this ancient Daoist Lineage.

After some thought, Lu Xuan lifted his gaze and said:

“I will go to both Guangcheng Palace and Dragon Tiger Mountain, but not right now. I still have unfinished business in East Sea City. Once I’m done, I will visit each of them.”

Qi Tiansheng frowned at first, then spoke up:

“Scholar Lu, I’m afraid you may not be aware, but a major event is about to occur in East Sea City. Why not first accompany this humble Daoist on a trip to Ancient Kongtong Mountain? You can avoid the turmoil in East Sea City that way.”

“What kind of event?” Lu Xuan asked in return.

Qi Tiansheng patiently explained:

“First, a few days ago, several Earth Immortals fell just outside East Sea City. It’s also said that a mysterious Daoist Monarch appeared in the city… a True Immortal!”

Wu Datong’s expression turned a little strange, and he glanced at Lu Xuan.

At this point, Qi Tiansheng’s expression grew a bit more solemn as he continued:

“Secondly, there are rumors everywhere that on the sixth day of the sixth month, a great ruin will appear in East Sea City. In the coming days, Grandmasters, Celestial Humans, and even Earth Immortals from all over will flood in. It will be a chaotic mix of good and bad.”

Lu Xuan listened patiently, then chuckled.

“But that’s precisely why I need to stay in East Sea. How about this: once the matter of the ruin is settled, I will personally pay a visit to Dragon Tiger Mountain. What do you say?”

The five little Daoists from Dragon Tiger Mountain and Guangcheng Palace all had strange expressions. Where did this young man get the confidence to refuse them time and again, and so calmly at that?

’Is it just because of the Earth Immortal beside him?’

Qi Tiansheng’s expression turned icy. The Qing He Daoist at his side, however, had lost his patience.

“Since Scholar Lu Xiao is truly unwilling to leave, then as my senior brother instructed, we will have to forcibly invite you on a trip to Kongtong… Forgive my impudence!”

Qi Tiansheng snorted coldly.

“If he’s going anywhere, he’s coming with me! Dragon Tiger Mountain is the foremost Daoist Lineage in the current age. Guangcheng Palace… I’ve never even heard of it!”

Having been provoked time and again, even the best-tempered person would have had enough.

He said coolly:

“The foremost Daoist Lineage in the current age… Ridiculous! Your Dragon Tiger Mountain has an Ancestral Celestial Master, but do you even know his name? My Guangcheng Palace may not be famous in this world, but at least the name of our founder has been passed down!”

With that,

the Qing He Daoist’s expression became solemn. He formed a hand seal, and the three Daoists behind him followed suit.

The four of them chanted in unison:

“All hail! The Predecessor of the Human Emperor, the Infinite Venerable Guangcheng!”

As the seals were formed and the praise was chanted, the void trembled. Illusory Golden Lotuses appeared, and ethereal Immortal Music drifted through the air.

Lu Xuan’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this all along. He watched with great interest, even taking a sip of water like an onlooker enjoying a show.

Wu Datong and Qi Tiansheng, however, paled. The history of Ancient Times was fragmented, and the Daoist titles of most Immortals and Buddhas were lost, with very few surviving to the present day.

But when these people from Guangcheng Palace chanted the Celestial Venerable’s title, a phenomenon manifested. This meant that even if the title they chanted was incomplete, it was not incorrect!

The phenomenon faded. The Qing He Daoist stared proudly and defiantly at the three Daoists from Dragon Tiger Mountain and sneered.

“Come on, why don’t you show me something too? Hmph. You’ve lost the name of your own ancestor, yet you still dare to call yourselves the world’s foremost Daoist Lineage?”

Qi Tiansheng’s expression shifted, becoming extremely ugly.

After a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up, and he too sneered.

“Who says Dragon Tiger Mountain’s legacy is broken and its ancestors forgotten? Hmph. It is now spring, just when the peach blossoms are in bloom. It’s the perfect time to chant this venerable title!”

He raised his hands and formed a seal. The two juniors behind him were confused at first when they saw the hand seal, but they quickly understood, their spirits lifted, and they formed seals as well.

Qi Tiansheng stood proud and defiant, holding his head high in an arrogant posture.

“All hail!”

“The Supreme Profound Clarity, the Fusheng Lu Xuan Heavenly Venerable!!”

Lu Xuan spat out a mouthful of water.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep