Chapter 115: The Desolate Era World

But he said, “Precisely because he never went to Zixiao Palace to listen to the Dao, don’t you find it strange? Why didn’t he go? The only explanation is that he simply didn’t need to. As a great being from the same era as the teacher, his insight and realm are likely not inferior, and he probably once exchanged and debated the Dao with the teacher. Considering this, he must have deep foundational reserves. Now that he has attained sainthood through enlightenment, it makes perfect sense.”

“But it still doesn’t add up. He shouldn’t possess the Hongmeng Purple Qi; how could he attain the Dao?” Yuanshi asked repeatedly.

Tongtian replied, “Second Brother, then where do you think the teacher’s Hongmeng Purple Qi comes from? The teacher can wield seven streams of it, so who’s to say the Primordial Ancestor of Heaven and Earth doesn’t have any?”

“Perhaps the Primordial Ancestor’s Hongmeng Purple Qi was bestowed by the teacher,” Yuanshi speculated, his thoughts racing.

Once they grasped this, the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, each silently overwhelmed by complex emotions. A sage like this had just been born! Moreover, the Primordial Ancestor was exceedingly mysterious and unfathomable—surely not an ordinary sage. Even if the Three Pure Ones themselves ascended to sainthood in the future, they would never dare to neglect or underestimate the Primordial Ancestor.

While the Three Pure Ones could guess some of the situation, other great cultivators stirred by this saintly aura—such as Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti—were utterly baffled, dumbfounded, completely at a loss. No matter how they racked their brains, they couldn’t fathom who this newly anointed saint was! They could only say this great being was too enigmatic, never heard of before, and far too low-key.

What perplexed them even more was the possibility that, besides the seven streams of Hongmeng Purple Qi from Hongjun Daozu, there might be other streams as well. As for attaining the Dao independently without relying on Hongmeng Purple Qi—well, they didn’t dare even to consider that.

For a time, the myriad beings of the primordial world, especially those with some insight into the top-tier great beings, couldn’t help but harbor suspicions.

No matter their conjectures or doubts, the Primordial Ancestor paid them no mind. At this moment, he was seated cross-legged upon the cloud bed inside the Heaven and Earth Hall on Fangzhang Island, immersed in the joy of having attained enlightenment and becoming a Perfected Great Dao Golden Immortal.

“After so long in the primordial world, creating a universe within the Star Transformation World and comprehending the Heavenly Dao of space, at last, I have attained enlightenment and become a saint. From now on, atop the vast primordial world, I shall stand at the pinnacle, looking down upon all beings, truly becoming a carefree and powerful immortal,” the Primordial Ancestor murmured excitedly, slowly closing his eyes to feel the surging, world-destroying power within his body and the sovereign control over the surrounding space, as if he were an emperor. He spread his arms wide, a smile blossoming across his face. “Ha ha...”

His laughter echoed throughout Fangzhang Island, lingering long and faint until a cold, mechanical voice sounded in his mind: “Congratulations, master, on attaining sainthood and achieving the Perfected Great Dao Golden Immortal fruit. You are awarded 100,000 system points. May you continue your efforts and break through again soon.”

“100,000 system points? The same reward as when my clone created a universe in the Star Transformation World?” The Primordial Ancestor’s eyes narrowed, shining brightly. “Continue my efforts? Indeed! Though I have become a saint, I am only a novice Perfected Great Dao Golden Immortal. I must still strive to reach the mid and late stages of this realm. Even among saints, there are gradations of strength. If I am to be a saint, I shall be the strongest one.”

As such ambitious thoughts rose, the system’s cold, mechanical voice continued: “Reminder, master: You have the opportunity to travel to the ‘Chronicle of the Wilderness’ world. Sending a clone there requires 5,000 system points. Warning: The ‘Chronicle of the Wilderness’ world has a Heavenly Dao that will detect direct traversal. Fortunately, it has a cycle of reincarnation. The system can send your clone to reincarnate there, disguising your identity. Although rebirth will obscure memories, once your clone’s primordial spirit awakens, memories will naturally return.”

“Chronicle of the Wilderness?” The Primordial Ancestor paused, then his eyes lit up with interest. “The cultivation and Dao-seeking in that world appear very similar to the primordial world’s system. Moreover, the system there is more structured. The Dao is divided into Heavenly Dao, Great Dao, and Lesser Dao, even pointing toward the origin of various paths. The mysteries of the Dao would be clearer and easier to comprehend. It’s a vast world in the later stages, a great place to go! The Chronicle of the Wilderness world will surely bring me great gains.”

With a decision made, the Primordial Ancestor swiftly cultivated a clone. Since he had now become a saint, even a casually cultivated clone possessed Golden Immortal power and a strong primordial spirit.

“Huh? What? How much? Ten thousand system points? Didn’t you say five thousand before? You doubled the price? Why don’t you go rob some then?” The Primordial Ancestor blinked sharply when the system said it required ten thousand system points to complete the traversal.

The system responded evenly: “The system does not rob, only grants. Sending a clone through requires five thousand points, but sending a clone through and then reincarnating naturally costs more. Ten thousand system points is already very reasonable.”

“Reasonable my foot!” The Primordial Ancestor grumbled. Ten thousand points—that was one percent of his Opening Heaven merit! Moreover, the system’s demands kept escalating: the first traversal cost five hundred points, then two thousand, now ten thousand—who knew what next time would require?

But there was no arguing with the system. Though displeased, the Primordial Ancestor held his nose and accepted.

...

In the Great Xia world, within An Tan Commandery’s Tianyun Mountain region, near the lower reaches of the Liuyun River originating from Tianyun Mountain, not far from the riverbank, stood a sizable tribe. Surrounding the tribe was a wall constructed of massive stones, appearing from afar like a small city. Outside the several-zhang-wide city gate stood two tall wooden towers, each guarded by over ten warriors clad in beast-skin garments, standing watch.

“Huh? Someone’s coming. Who’s that...” One burly warrior frowned and scrutinized the distance. Far off, dust billowed as a troop of several dozen galloped swiftly. As they drew near, it became clear they all wore white armor and rode steeds with silver-white pointed horns sprouting from their foreheads; each unihorned steed also clad in armor. The entire formation surged toward the gate like a white torrent.

This troop was not uniformly armored. Leading them was a spirited and handsome youth dressed in exquisite white fur clothing. Beside him followed a cold-eyed elder in black robes.

“Outsiders, this is the Xia Tribe. Halt at once!” The warrior atop the tower shouted angrily at their fierce approach.

“The Xia Tribe? Within tens of thousands of li around Tianyun Mountain, it is the Yun Clan who truly rules!” The handsome youth sneered arrogantly, casting a cold glance at the tower guards. Suddenly, a silver-white sword with a gleaming scabbard appeared in his hand. With a swift draw and a single arc, a fierce beam of sword light shot forth, cleaving the shouting warrior atop the tower in half.

Immediately after, the youth spurred his horse and charged toward the wooden city gate, slashing it open with a single stroke before leading his men inside.

Within the city lay a plaza paved with massive stones, where many Xia Tribe warriors, youths, and children practiced and sparred. Witnessing this sudden intrusion, they were both shocked and enraged, yet no one acted impulsively at that moment.

“The Yun Clan’s Cloud Armor Guards? To have so many accompany him, this youth must hold a high rank in the Yun Clan,” remarked some knowledgeable onlookers, their expressions darkening upon seeing the white-armored cavalry.

A towering youth over two meters tall, bare-chested and clad only in coarse cloth trousers, stepped forward and bowed slightly to the handsome youth. “May I ask, honored master of the Yun Clan, what brings you to our Xia Tribe?”