Chapter 1782: Three People Discuss Ancient and Modern, Taixu Realm's Nine Venerables Desire Ancestors

"The Eye of the Great Path's characteristic is its ability to see through illusions!" This was Lei Xiaoxiao's exact words, and Ai Cangsen, who had seen the world through these eyes for decades, still deeply believed it.

So, when Xu Xiaoshou once again called out "Ai Gou" and thrust that peculiar "Temporal Leap" sword...

What was so peculiar about it? Zero damage!

Anyone else, witnessing such a light, airy sword, would have likely realized they were under an illusion. Beneath that sword, there would surely be another, the truly lethal strike. But under the gaze of the Eye of the Great Path, there was only "one," never "two." Ai Cangsen never doubted these eyes. Therefore, he believed that while it was strange, this sword was indeed not meant to kill him. In fact, it wasn't just this sword. Even the will of the second Xu Xiaoshou that suddenly appeared high above the battlefield was not an illusion!

"Die—" The spectators from the Five Domains saw Lord Shou's sword strike Emperor Cangsen, yet no collision erupted. Instead, Lord Shou and his sword, Emperor Cangsen and his bow, all vanished.

"A domain?" Feng Zhongzui, carrying the Preaching Mirror, felt he could no longer comprehend this battle. "Who opened the domain? Where did they go? What was so private that they had to fight within a domain? Under the protection of the Ancient War God Stage, wasn't this just needless posturing, looking for trouble?"

"No, it doesn't seem like a domain either?" Feng Zhongzui pondered, unsure of the Spirit Refiner's methods. "A Void World?"

"A Void World..."

"No, more than just a Void World. Even my body was brought in and hidden." The Temporal Leap sword didn't wound him; instead, it brought him into this peculiar, special world. Ai Cangsen didn't quite understand, but he could accept it.

In fact, upon seeing the sudden appearance of the second Xu Xiaoshou's will on the battlefield, and with the Eye of the Great Path discerning traces of dao principles on it that were incongruous with the current time and space, Ai Cangsen knew that a "variable" had appeared in this battle, the kind Dao Qiongcang often spoke of. The fundamental reason he could accept this variable so quickly, despite not understanding it, was, of course, because he had seen it before! During the Ten Seats' battle, for the first and only time, he had witnessed a similar peculiarity. There was a phrase to describe it: "The same time and space, two Kong Yuhengs." By the same logic: "The same time and space, two Xu Xiaoshous?" Ai Cangsen's only current confusion was how Xu Xiaoshou, despite not being highly skilled in the Dao of Time, managed something similar. Spirit, sword, or art?

"Alright, I've pulled everyone into the same... uh, Void World. You can talk now!" The past Xu Xiaoshou spoke first, his eyes glancing towards Ai Cangsen. The latter's demeanor at that moment was truly akin to remaining unperturbed even if Mount Tai crumbled before him. "Truly an Emperor! His acceptance level was actually higher than my own?"

With no one responding, the past Xu Xiaoshou glanced towards the void. He couldn't quite see clearly either; only by relying on his Will Dao Disc could he vaguely sense a cluster of consciousness floating there, identifying itself as "Future Jinyin." It was very blurry, very illusory, like a dream. Future Jinyin knew this wasn't a dream, yet he "read" it without responding. His first reaction, as "reverse history" changes occurred, was to actively check on his future true self's physical state. In fact, he could sense his true self's thoughts in real-time.

"It's changed..." "That weird feeling again..." Xu Xiaoshou frowned, observing the past from Jinyin's perspective while simultaneously feeling the present. When something more was added to the past, even something insignificant, the future indeed changed. Change was like casting a stone into the sea; while the overall body might remain unaffected, local ripples would certainly arise. "Very small..." Just then, a strange and uncomfortable sensation subtly emanated from his physical body. It was an indescribable feeling, somewhat akin to the various rejection reactions after organ transplants in the past. And when one tried to find and remove the "root cause," it couldn't be found or removed. "The root cause isn't organ transplant; the root cause might be that 'the past' was transplanted." Xu Xiaoshou finally had a sudden realization. He tried many methods, but they were all like scratching an itch through a boot; the incongruity persisted.

"But I can resist it!" This would be unacceptable for ordinary people. But such a rejection reaction, a Void Master could endure somewhat, and Xu Xiaoshou could endure it even more. To prevent further discomfort, he could only try to make Jinyin speak and act as little as possible, expressing things concisely. The past must not be drastically altered. Ask what needs to be asked, and let history proceed in its own direction thereafter.

"I come from the future." In the Void World with three beings, Future Jinyin, aided by his past true self, immediately extended his consciousness towards Ai Cangsen and said: "Please try to forget what happens here afterwards. I don't wish to cause strange changes in your futures by altering the past. Under the butterfly effect, this could also lead to anomalies in the Five Domains, which I believe neither Lord Shou nor Emperor Cangsen, both great benevolent individuals, would wish to see."

The future... The one from the future was saying he didn't want to change the past... Yet, the one from the future was indeed changing history, trying to obtain from the past what he desired but couldn't get in the future...

Ai Cangsen showed little reaction to these words. But his indifference was precisely the best proof that he could accept the "future person."

"The Ten Seats are all so bizarre! That something so outlandish could be accepted by my past self was one thing, after all, that was my true self! Ai Cangsen could actually accept it too?" Thinking this, Jinyin, still somewhat uneasy, proved his identity: "Your Upper Three Transformations cultivates 'Art Seed Incubation,' and you can currently only manifest up to the Void Ancestor level. I have witnessed it."

Ai Cangsen's expression was placid, as if the consciousness claiming to be from the future had just uttered something insignificant. "This was true imperturbability; 'True self, you should learn from him...'" Jinyin dared not think further, fearing retaliation, and continued: "You carry a Calamity Yin on you!"

This statement was brief but incredibly powerful; it was arguably Ai Cangsen's greatest secret. After all, before Calamity Yin revealed itself, even the true self wasn't fully aware that Ai Cangsen carried such a burden. And given Ai Cangsen's nature, it was unlikely he would go around telling people he was parasitized and a Calamity Yin host. Therefore, exposing this personal secret was the best proof of his origin from the future.

Future Jinyin stared at Ai Cangsen. The past Xu Xiaoshou also stared at Ai Cangsen. Ai Cangsen, under the gaze of two gazes with different thoughts, showed no significant emotional fluctuations from beginning to end. His expression was one of indifference even if the sky fell, as if everything could be handled. All changes lead back to the same principle: strength is fundamental.

Jinyin, resigned, deepened his consciousness and became extremely serious: "I have come for the Calamity Yin and will not participate in the battle. If you wish to kill me, I will not resist in the slightest, nor do I have the ability to." After a pause and completing his introduction, Jinyin chose to get straight to the point: "To be precise, regarding the Calamity Yin puppet in your hand, Emperor Cangsen, I have a few questions."

The past Xu Xiaoshou's expression subtly changed upon hearing this. Calamity Yin puppet... This was a conclusion he had just reached. But if this self-proclaimed Future Jinyin hadn't mentioned it, it seemed all his previous thoughts hadn't included the word "puppet"? "A hint? Is Calamity Yin already playing tricks?"

To date, the past Xu Xiaoshou hadn't fully believed the "Future Jinyin" claim; he merely adhered to the idea that things would sort themselves out. He thought, "Let nature take its course." If this was Ai Cangsen's art, he could simply destroy it. But if not... what harm was there in believing him somewhat, in being half-convinced?

People are born different; Ai Cangsen's thoughts were completely opposite to those of the past Xu Xiaoshou. He finally spoke, his first sentence being: "I lost." His tone sounded like a question, but it was more like a statement of fact.

Future Jinyin fell silent immediately. To this statement, or rather, this question, he gave no definitive answer. He feared that if his answer was revealed, Ai Cangsen would immediately activate Art Seed Imprisonment: Nine-Tier Unsealing in the subsequent battle. Then the true self would have no chance at all. He was even more afraid that if the true self learned the battle outcome in advance, he might become overly complacent, carelessly lose the advantage, and ultimately lose the battle. After much thought, Jinyin realized that a Dao Qiongcang-style conversation was actually the most effective at this moment: "Everything is possible."

Though he said this, the three present were not fools. The past Xu Xiaoshou could surmise that if Future Jinyin came to the past only to ask for answers to a few questions, it meant that no matter how poorly he performed in this battle, it wouldn't be too bad. Ai Cangsen could immediately infer that if even confusion regarding the "Calamity Yin puppet" required traveling to the past to ask, this could only mean that the moment he saw "Future Jinyin," he was already dead. Annihilated in body and spirit, which is why he couldn't ask?

"Speak." Ai Cangsen said calmly. He was as calm as if sitting before the Sacred Imperial Hall, giving instructions to his subordinates, already having come to terms with life and death. Or perhaps, he never believed the "Future Jinyin" fact from the beginning, merely treating it as a trick played by the past true self.

Jinyin didn't understand. Jinyin's task was simply to ask, and at present, he only asked: "Does the Calamity Yin puppet seal the Calamity Yin's consciousness?"

"Yes." Ai Cangsen nodded directly. Jinyin subconsciously looked at his past true self. The past Xu Xiaoshou's micro-expression was subtle, revealing nothing. But only he himself would know. Any other affirmative answer would not trigger an anomaly. The answer "yes" would trigger the passive system's lie detection function, which would pop up "Deceived" or not based on the actual situation.

The past Xu Xiaoshou didn't answer. Future Jinyin merely glanced, didn't ask, and continued to Ai Cangsen: "Did the Calamity Yin consciousness attach to you starting from the Divine Ruins?"

"Yes." This time, Ai Cangsen nodded, then shook his head: "Not entirely."

"How so?" This statement was too ambiguous. But neither the past Xu Xiaoshou nor Future Jinyin expected Emperor Cangsen to reveal so much information to an enemy during a major battle. Ai Cangsen paused, then said indifferently: "The Calamity Yin's revival began after I entered the Divine Ruins. The Calamity Yin parasitized me thirty-six years ago, when I obtained the Evil Sin Bow."

The past Xu Xiaoshou, Jinyin, and Xu Xiaoshou (the present one experiencing the rejection) were all moved. "This guy was already enduring the torment of Calamity Yin before the Ten Seats? Oh, no, Calamity Yin hadn't revived then."

"So that means..." Jinyin couldn't help but ask, "Was your entry into the Divine Ruins actually guided by the Calamity Yin?"

Ai Cangsen hesitated. Clearly, Emperor Cangsen's hesitation wasn't about whether to reveal the answer to this insignificant question. He was likely hesitating over other matters. After making a decision, he chose to say: "If I die, if you are the future Xu Xiaoshou..." After another pause, he seemed to have firmed his resolve, returning to a calm tone: "Regardless of who you are or what you intend, your threat is not as great as his. I will only give you one piece of advice: Beware of Dao Qiongcang."

At this, both the past Xu Xiaoshou and Future Jinyin felt a chill down their spines. "What does that mean? Did this imply that Ai Cangsen's entry into the Divine Ruins was not only guided by Calamity Yin but also orchestrated by Dao Qiongcang?"

"It seems so..." In the present, Xu Xiaoshou, connecting the cause and effect, felt it was plausible. "But if that were the case, wouldn't it mean Dao Qiongcang had some 'intentions' when he tricked Ai Cangsen into the Divine Ruins? Was this intent related to the grand scheme of Calamity Yin's revival? But that's not right! Dao Qiongcang clearly only learned that the focus inside wasn't the Ranming inheritance but the Calamity Yin's revival *after* entering the Divine Ruins. Moreover, he never had the idea of colluding with Calamity Yin; in fact, he had always been fighting alongside him against it."

"What do you mean?" Xu Xiaoshou wanted to directly have Jinyin ask this question. But on second thought, if Ai Cangsen knew why, he wouldn't have ended up that way in the future. Before he could ask, Ai Cangsen shook his head to himself: "I don't know."

"Indeed..." Xu Xiaoshou knew no one could figure out what the flashy old Daoist was thinking. Just as, back then, if he hadn't heard Dao Qiongcang mention "Calamity Yin puppet," he would have still thought this guy was an ally, an insignificant pawn in this game. But the three characters "Dao Qiongcang" seemed inherently incompatible with being an insignificant pawn. "That's right, Ba Zun'an also told me to beware of Dao Qiongcang, and to be extra cautious after leaving the Divine Ruins. Am I still not wary enough of him..."

His thoughts gradually drifted. Even his connection to Jinyin began to become unstable. The rejection reaction grew stronger; clearly, the more he gained from the past, the greater the karma in the present, and the stronger the "restitution."

"Still bearable..." After receiving his true self's affirmative reply that he could withstand the physical anomaly, in the Void World, Jinyin's consciousness locked onto the object hidden in Ai Cangsen's chest and asked again: "If someone obtains your cloth doll, should they tear it apart?"

Thump-thump! The moment the words left his "mouth," his true self's heart suddenly accelerated. That uncontrollable urge to gag seemed to transmit across the river of time, reaching Jinyin. Unfortunately, Jinyin had no body, so he couldn't gag. The past Xu Xiaoshou lowered his head, seemingly trying to discard something, shaking his head to try and not remember Future Jinyin's words. Xu Xiaoshou was always a "mouth king," but in reality, not one to get carried away easily.

Jinyin knew what his past true self was thinking. But there was no helping it; at this point, separated by that almost transparent sheet of paper... Though it hadn't been explicitly torn, everyone likely understood what was implied. "I win. He loses."

"I've utterly, completely lost..." Ai Cangsen chuckled, saying noncommittally, "It's a matter of time." This answer had a somewhat mystic quality to it. Jinyin didn't want this kind of answer: "If, in situations where every second counts, should this puppet be torn?"

"Every second counts..." Ai Cangsen didn't know what this floating cloud of consciousness was talking about. After a moment of silence, he said: "Tear it as late as possible, if at all."

Jinyin: "I understand."

This time, it was the past Xu Xiaoshou who was a little bewildered. He didn't understand what this self-proclaimed Future Jinyin had understood. Did he even know what he was doing or asking? If he were Jinyin, what he was asking for at this moment was an answer from his own enemy. When the enemy didn't even know if "Future Jinyin" was a legitimate concept, the answer, regardless of yes or no, was meaningless in itself. It was full of uncertainty! But they... Ai Cangsen and Future Jinyin, they had such good rapport! He didn't seem like his own Jinyin; instead, he seemed like Ai Cangsen's Jinyin!

Just as the past Xu Xiaoshou was about to doubt Jinyin's identity once more, Jinyin finally spoke: "Ai Cangsen, give me a piece of advice!"

At that moment, a thought arose in the minds of both the past Xu Xiaoshou and Ai Cangsen: "That's something Dao Qiongcang would say." Then they heard Jinyin say with a chuckle, "Assuming I'm not Dao Qiongcang." Both felt a chill in their hearts. If this cluster of consciousness was Dao Qiongcang, everything they had discussed before would collapse completely.

However, Ai Cangsen was the first to smile, maintaining his indifferent expression: "Whether you are Dao Qiongcang or not, this next piece of advice will be valid."

"Hmm." Jinyin listened intently.

Ai Cangsen said: "Among the Ten Seats, everyone except me desires to be deified and proclaimed an Ancestor." The Void World fell into silence.

Ai Cangsen gave not one piece of advice, but two: "In the war for the Dao, no means are too extreme."