Chapter 1954: Terror

Art seed?The art seed of imprisonment?Love all beings... no, Su Yin's art seed?

Every time the Medicine Ancestor paused and then spoke again, astonishing words would follow. The idea of involving Su Yin had indeed been considered before. However, turning Su Yin into a World Tree to elevate the status of the Sacred God Continent to the Heavenly Realm level... wasn't that perhaps too fantastical?

Xu Xiaoshou remained silent, unable to hide his astonishment. The Name Ancestor, appearing outwardly, listened with a furrowed brow, turning to ask:“The plan lies with Su Yin, not with oneself?”His implication, naturally, contained a degree of doubt.

After all, if the Medicine Ancestor intended to self-reset, the pace and control would be entirely up to him. But involving Su Yin, even if Su Yin's current state was poor, he was still a dual-unified Ancestor God. Compared to the Hua Ancestor, Su Yin was older and possessed more life-saving techniques. Even Ba Zun'an might find it difficult to completely eradicate him in a short time.

“As for the specific details, there's no need for the Name Ancestor to know too much.”Revealing this much, the Medicine Ancestor indeed showed ample sincerity. However, he had no intention of elaborating further on the plan or its execution. A few brief sentences concluded the matter:“The Name Ancestor only needs to know that this matter is known to the Name Ancestor, the Medicine Ancestor, and even the Demon Ancestor.”“Elevating the cultivation level of the Sacred God Continent is not a sudden whim, but a long-standing plan. That should be enough.”

The Demon Ancestor is also involved? So, Su Yin, this unwitting scapegoat, who was defeated after the revival of the Divine Ruins, then desperately tried to gain a share in the Sacred God Continent, even humbling himself to ally with the Demon and Medicine Ancestors... Could it be that *he* was the 'share'?

The Name Ancestor hesitated to speak, his expression complex. It seemed he was disgusted by the alliance of the Demon and Medicine Ancestors, their scheme involving Su Yin, and the intent to sacrifice him to elevate the cultivation level of the Sacred God Continent. If there were a better way, the Name Ancestor would likely uphold justice, given his noble character. However, constrained by the Great Tribulation, the Name Ancestor was not rigid. If sacrificing a few could save many, and if the Medicine Ancestor’s plan could truly be achieved, he would choose to turn a blind eye. Ultimately, after a long deliberation, the Name Ancestor only uttered a sentence:

“The art transformed by Su Yin is even more erratic and unrestrained; he won't be easy to deal with.”“How much confidence does the Medicine Ancestor have in this matter?”After speaking, the Name Ancestor lowered his gaze in deep thought, seemingly calculating the feasibility and variables, the risks involved in success or failure, and the changes to the continent. In short, he wasn't trying to gauge how much the Medicine Ancestor had prepared or completed; he wasn't probing for a bottom line.

The Medicine Ancestor chuckled upon hearing this, glancing over. Just as he was about to utter a slight taunt, he saw the Name Ancestor deep in contemplation, evidently thinking very far ahead. Startled, the Medicine Ancestor reined in his tone:“Name Ancestor, if this matter can be told to others, how much confidence should that person have?”It couldn't be a full hundred percent, could it?

Xu Xiaoshou's expression subtly changed. He racked his brain but still couldn't figure out what trump card the Medicine Ancestor had planted in Su Yin that gave him such confidence. The Demon and Medicine Ancestors first, then the Art Ancestor... It couldn't be that from the very beginning of his enlightenment, or even his becoming evil, and all nine transformations of his art seed, the Art Ancestor had been influenced by the Demon and Medicine Ancestors, could it? But if there was an influence, having already achieved dual-unity, wouldn't Su Yin have realized it and removed it?

“Unsuitable.”The Name Ancestor looked up and stated firmly, clearly a well-considered answer. He did not explain why it was unsuitable. Firstly, there was too little information for Xu Xiaoshou to fully grasp. Secondly, the Name Ancestor’s perspective was profound, and his considerations were certainly thorough, so he didn’t need to explain to the Medicine Ancestor. In fact, the mere fact that the Heavenly Realm could house multiple Ancestor Gods, including those who had achieved 'reset,' proved how elevated that plane of existence was. Even if Su Yin reset, could using him as a World Tree instantly elevate the Sacred God Continent? Perhaps. Shennong's Hundred Herbs, give me more, convince me!

The Name Ancestor shook his head resolutely, a complete rejection. This act of feigned retreat instantly made the Medicine Ancestor feel as though he was grasping quicksand, losing his hold. He instinctively opened his mouth, wanting to offer more, but surprisingly, held back. After a meaningful glance at the Name Ancestor, as if making an internal assessment, the Medicine Ancestor ultimately shifted the topic, no longer focusing on himself, but instead returning to Su Yin:

“I know what the Name Ancestor is concerned about.”“However, when the Heavenly Realm shattered, the Name Ancestor was not present, so perhaps you are unaware.”“On that day, when the thirty-three heavens of the Heavenly Realm collapsed and the Grand Dao fractured, it didn't simply vanish. Instead, the Ancestor Gods present divided up the essence of the Dao Rime.”

This was truly unheard of. So, it seems that the shattering of the Heavenly Realm also had the deliberate actions of various Ancestors behind it? Xu Xiaoshou was curious. But he couldn't ask, as it would expose his ignorance.

The Name Ancestor merely let out a cold snort, which conveyed both condemnation and sarcasm towards the petty schemes of the various Ancestors, and an unresolvable frustration and helplessness over the irreversible demise of the Heavenly Realm. It was as if he fully understood the Ancestors' hidden motives, but was unable to prevent them due to his absence at the time. Now, he no longer wished to speak of it, focusing solely on the future. Prioritizing the bigger picture, he was a steady Name Ancestor.

The Medicine Ancestor felt a little smug, having provoked the noble Name Ancestor. Watching him look displeased but helpless was quite amusing. However, he understood the principle of knowing when to stop, and immediately continued:

“The path of art, pushed to its extreme, can trace back the myriad transformations of the Heavenly Realm's Dao, perfectly aligning with the ultimate end of Su Yin's path.”“On the day the Heavenly Realm collapsed, when the Ancestors divided the essence of the Dao Rime, Su Yin received the nourishment of the artistic Dao. While his path might have been unclear before, he should have since comprehended where the end of the Dao lies.”“However, after the war, the Ancestors fell into decline, and only now have they returned, and Su Yin is no exception.”“The current Su Yin may not have fully cultivated all ten thousand variations of the Heavenly Realm's Dao, but within his art seed, the perfect solutions for each of the Heavenly Realm's Dao are already contained. It only awaits the splitting of the seed, its transformation into a tree, blooming, bearing fruit, and forming the Dao fruit.”

A fierce glint flashed in the Medicine Ancestor’s eyes, his voice deepening:“Su Yin’s path doesn’t require him to fully cultivate it personally; indeed, it would be difficult for him to achieve perfection.”“Once I succeed, when he resets, I will refine him into a World Tree, which will naturally help him complete and deduce everything that follows.”“Coincidentally, the art seed returning to its origin, the art seed nurturing the divine, and the art seed’s myriad changes inherently correspond to the entire life process of 'forming the seed,' 'growing vigorously,' and 'flourishing.' ”“He was born to become a World Tree, and the perfect Dao fruit formed by his art will bless all cultivators in the new Heavenly Realm. Through him, practitioners of all paths will be able to glimpse the ultimate end of 'resetting.' ”“The true blossoming of a hundred flowers will occur after the reshaping of the new Heavenly Realm, and all cultivators will be grateful to him. It can be said: 'One Su Yin falls, ten thousand things are born!' ”

They'll be grateful to *you*, won't they? The Medicine Ancestor's immense ambition was now blatantly clear. The key was that after hearing these words, it became apparent that the Medicine Ancestor had not only meticulously planned the path of 'resetting' with every step calculated. He even had a perfect plan for the future of the new Heavenly Realm, and absolute confidence in it.

Su Yin's Path... Which is to say, the Primordial Path! Xu Xiaoshou vaguely recalled that Dao Qiongcang's "Briefing" given to Aicangsheng contained information about the Primordial Path cultivated by Su Yin.“The Primordial is one, from which infinite derivations extend outward, and inward it transforms to zero as the Dao — meaning, Dao gives birth to Primordial, Primordial gives birth to infinity, and infinity transforms into Su Yin!”“The Primordial Zero is also called the 'Primordial Circle,' the 'Primordial Dao,' or the 'Art Seed.' ”The subsequent nine transformations of the art seed, including projection, limitation, and nurturing the divine, were all applications of the Primordial Path. Essentially, the Primordial Zero represented 'resetting.' The Art Ancestor's philosophy was undeniably advanced, as he was, after all, the first dual-unified Ancestor God on the continent.

And in the Medicine Ancestor's world... The Primordial was a tree seed, and once cultivated into a tree, its infinite derivations represented the ultimate limit of the Heavenly Realm's myriad Dao laws. It just so happened that Su Yin had also received the nourishment of the artistic Dao after the Heavenly Realm's shattering, thus possessing the potential to reach this ultimate limit. Therefore, once Su Yin became the World Tree, cultivators across the Five Domains, under the new Heavenly Realm, regardless of their path, would indeed have hope of witnessing 'resetting.'Flawless!Seamless!

Xu Xiaoshou found it utterly unbelievable that this 'art seed' didn't bear the Medicine Ancestor's influence from its very inception, causing it to manifest in a 'seed' form. Perhaps Su Yin’s appearance, as the last of the Ten Ancestors, wasn’t accidental but a predetermined outcome in this 'pig farm'? Even without Su Yin, there might have been a Su Yang, Su Yue, or Su Ri. Was his very definition of existence to cultivate, cultivate, and cultivate until he ultimately became the 'World Tree' spoken of by the Medicine Ancestor? But when Su Yin was born, the Heavenly Realm had clearly not yet shattered... So, was there a mid-course change of plans? Beneath the grand narrative of the rise and fall of Medicine Ghosts, was Su Yin also secretly planned?

No one in the Five Domains could have prompted the Medicine Ancestor to scheme like this; the Eight Ancestors hadn't even been born then. Therefore, the only one capable of exerting such immense pressure on him was the Demon Ancestor, who had achieved enlightenment even earlier than the Medicine Ancestor!

The Name Ancestor chuckled softly, a hint of wistfulness and amusement in his voice:“The struggle in the Five Domains is truly fascinating.”“However, what the Medicine Ancestor speaks of is too grand and too distant. Leaving aside other points, I only have one question:”“Will he let you have your way?”

No explicit mention was needed; once these words were spoken, the Medicine Ancestor would naturally recognize who his great enemy was. But Xu Xiaoshou didn't see the Medicine Ancestor panic. Instead, the latter confidently curved his lips:“Wait and see.”

Time to go! Xu Xiaoshou couldn't extract any more information, and an alarm bell rang in his heart. He still had so many questions: for example, he wanted to ask the Medicine Ancestor exactly what he planned to do, and what he feared most in terms of interference. He also wanted to ask about the Demon Ancestor from the Medicine Ancestor's perspective, as this individual had so far only revealed his physical, spiritual, and conscious paths, with his hidden schemes remaining completely unrevealed. Furthermore, with Kui Leihan about to become an Ancestor, how did the Medicine Ancestor plan to contain him, and how might the Demon Ancestor, Su Yin, and others act? There were too many, simply unanswerable questions. But was the Medicine Ancestor an easy target? He had already gained sufficient advantage by leveraging the information asymmetry to extract so much information, essentially getting something for nothing. After this exchange, it would be the Medicine Ancestor's turn to ask questions. Even though Xu Xiaoshou had cast many hooks earlier, using concepts like the 'Great Tribulation,' 'Mount Taiyao,' and 'Heaven's Mandate' — whether true or false, concrete or vague — to lure in the Medicine Ancestor, a big fish. Xu Xiaoshou himself was perfectly aware of how much he actually knew about these things. Beyond a few terms, he knew nothing else; he couldn't stand up to questioning at all!

“Hmm…”His eyelids twitched violently. The Name Ancestor's slightly closed eyes showed a hint of struggle. Every muscle in his body began to twitch subtly, as if someone was trying to seize control of his body.

The Medicine Ancestor was startled. Damn Xu Xiaoshou! This has just begun, what are you doing? I've said so much, and now that it's almost the Name Ancestor's turn, you want to come back?“Name Ancestor!”The Medicine Ancestor let out a sharp cry, and then saw the Name Ancestor suddenly halt all abnormalities in his body. He fixed his gaze, letting out a slight sigh of relief. From the Name Ancestor's still indifferent gaze, it was easy to tell that Xu Xiaoshou couldn't return yet, and the Name Ancestor had not temporarily departed.

“My time is limited…”The Name Ancestor's tone grew somewhat weaker, not as if being pushed by Xu Xiaoshou, but rather due to the immense effort of revival and meeting. Waking up forcibly in another's body without seizing control was indeed highly draining, especially since Xu Xiaoshou's path of will was considerable, a fact the Medicine Ancestor had perceived. However, the Name Ancestor was indeed a person of strong loyalty and integrity; he hadn't simply left, making him someone who could be befriended...

The Medicine Ancestor naturally knew how poor the Name Ancestor's state was—a 'piece of trash' even inferior to Su Yin—but he couldn't resist the fact that the Name Ancestor knew a lot. He immediately cast aside his scattered thoughts and directly asked:“What is the Great Tribulation?”

You ask me? Who should I ask? Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes internally. The Name Ancestor also shook his head slightly, glanced at the Medicine Ancestor again, and said:“Before 'resetting,' there's no need to delve deep.”“After 'resetting,' you will naturally know.”

It sounds... Somewhat intriguing... Wait! How is this different from nonsense? The Medicine Ancestor grew angry, feeling played, but he forcibly calmed himself down, once again pondering the deeper meaning of those words... There doesn't seem to be any? Really none? There should be, right? No, there just isn't! The Medicine Ancestor couldn't hold back his fury: “I’ve said so much, and you… at least give me a hint!”

The Name Ancestor couldn't help but sigh, hesitating for a long moment before pointing to himself:“My current state, as you can see, is one of responding to the tribulation.”The Medicine Ancestor's expression immediately hardened. Had the Name Ancestor fallen to this state because he was struck by the Great Tribulation? He listened intently, awaiting further explanation.

The Name Ancestor, however, remained silent... Useless! Say more! The Medicine Ancestor wished he could plant this fellow in the ground to nourish him with more vitality, at least enough to grow a glib tongue: “Is that all?”

Hearing this, the Name Ancestor seemed about to speak, then stopped.“So?”The Medicine Ancestor's eyebrows shot up, his eyes blazing with fury.The Name Ancestor sighed, like squeezing toothpaste: “The Time Ancestor, too.”

Do I have no brain? Anyone could guess that! The Medicine Ancestor felt he was being strung along. Could it be that this Name Ancestor was fake and knew nothing?

Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, the Name Ancestor's brows furrowed even deeper. After racking his brain, his voice gained an ethereal quality:“The mystery of 'resetting,' once revealed, is lost.”“What is regained after loss, cannot compare to the original intent.”

These words, however, carried more profound meaning... The Medicine Ancestor cupped his chin, pondering, as if gaining some insight. Xu Xiaoshou dared not let him ponder too long, lest the facade crumble. He immediately added a hint of melancholy, saying:“Since the Medicine Ancestor insists, I can only offer another indirect reminder.”“Time and Name are such; they are not of the highest Nüwa. Do not proactively touch the cause of the Great Tribulation, lest you incur the fate of self-sacrifice for the Dao. Have you noted this down?”

The Medicine Ancestor’s expression immediately became more solemn: “Noted.”“Repeat it once.”The Medicine Ancestor froze, staring wide-eyed, thinking he had misheard. The Name Ancestor’s expression was unexpectedly serious, as if this matter was more important than 'resetting.' He repeated:“Repeat it once.”

“...Uh, not of the highest Nüwa?” the Medicine Ancestor began hesitantly, but seeing the Name Ancestor’s eyes filled with unchanging ancient profoundness, devoid of any jest, he finally took it seriously:“Not of the highest Nüwa, do not proactively touch the cause of the Great Tribulation, lest you incur the fate of self-sacrifice for the Dao! Is what I said correct?”

The Name Ancestor nodded, his voice solemn, and asked again: “Have you noted it?”“Noted!”“Forget it.”

The Medicine Ancestor’s pupils suddenly dilated, and a chill ran down his spine. Not even remembering it was allowed; it had to be submerged in the deepest recesses of memory, becoming an invisible guide, forever untouchable before 'resetting'… a great terror?!