Chapter 2028: Sealing and Refining

“Xu Xiaoshou?”

“No, it’s Dao Qiongcang, or Dao Ancestor Yiji!”

The lid of the Primal Mother Coffin was forcefully pushed open. A body, wreathed in dual black and white divine-demonic aura, rose from within, its expression one of astonishment. Its skin was a powerful bronze, with incredibly fluid muscle lines. The demonic tattoos that had once covered its entire body were gone, and even the fangs and forehead horns on its head had completely receded, as if it had achieved a state of returning to simplicity.

However, one detail seemed out of place: the skin above its neck was excessively pale and delicate, a stark contrast to the bronze below, as if the head had been borrowed and not yet fully integrated. Just a little bit more! But Saint Xin no longer cared about any of that. At this very moment, all that flashed through his mind was the figure his avatar, Zi Chong, had seen in the Time Realm.

“The Three Rivers of Grand Dao…”

“No, two Rivers of Grand Dao, plus a Sea of Intent Dao…”

How terrifying was that? While the Saint God Continent was engulfed in fierce conflict, a minor figure had been secretly hiding in the Time Realm, cultivating three Grand Daos to such perfection. Had Saint Xin not been excessively cautious, protecting his avatar Zi Chong with the perfected Divine-Demonic Dao, allowing it to secretly enter the Time Realm and catch that extra glimpse, would even a slight oversight allow the Sea of Intent Dao to directly foresee danger, enabling that individual to erase all traces beforehand, leaving Zi Chong with nothing?

“This infuriates me!”

Was he Xu Xiaoshou, or Dao Qiongcang, or perhaps Dao Ancestor Yiji? From his apparent form, he was undoubtedly Xu Xiaoshou. Yet, Xu Xiaoshou had clearly died young and, disheartened, had retreated to the Apricot Realm. Based on the fleeting traces of Heaven’s Mystery Art, it was highly probable that the avatar belonged to Dao Qiongcang or Dao Ancestor Yiji. Even more likely was the possibility that…

“From beginning to end, Xu Xiaoshou was not the Xu Xiaoshou I knew, but rather a Heaven’s Mystery Puppet of Dao Qiongcang or Dao Ancestor Yiji – his fourth generation?”

This was utterly sensational. Did Ancestor Ming not detect anything, no clue at all? If he knew and acquiesced, did that imply some unspeakable conspiracy between Ancestor Ming and Dao Ancestor?

“Just like Ancestor Ming’s agreement with me…”

At that moment, a murderous gleam flashed in Saint Xin’s eyes. Undoubtedly, he had been tricked. Ancestor Ming had not only met Medicine Ancestor but had definitely met Dao Ancestor in advance. Saint Xin was supposed to be the last Ancestral God he contacted, yet during their previous conversations, Ancestor Ming had, through his words, implied unfamiliarity with Dao Ancestor.

“Not only me, but Shennong Baicao was likely deceived too.”

“To help him cultivate the Two Rivers of Grand Dao and the Sea of Intent Dao, Ancestor Ming must have placed his most valuable bet on him!”

With a resounding boom, space shattered. His thoughts flashed through his mind in a split second, and Saint Xin had already left Mount Siling, soaring above the central domain.

Two paths! One was to go to the Apricot Realm and seize Xu Xiaoshou. Once he questioned him, he could slowly deal with the rest. But that would be too slow! Regardless of whether the person in the Time Realm was an avatar of Dao Qiongcang, Dao Ancestor Yiji, or Xu Xiaoshou’s true body, the genuine inheritor of Ancestor Ming, what his avatar Zi Chong had seen, protected by the Divine-Demonic Dao and transmitted across the Time Realm’s barrier, was absolutely accurate. Beginning with the power of the Three Rivers of Grand Dao, he undoubtedly possessed the Zero-State Ancestral God combat strength, which could threaten the life or death of any current Ancestor in the Five Domains.

“There is simply no choice.”

“I can only take the second path!”

Saint Xin instantly dismissed the idea of going to the Apricot Realm to question him, even if it would only take an instant. He immediately turned his gaze towards the Time Realm passage above the North Sea, which had faded into a faint golden trail. The arrival was ominous! The best response was not to delay, but to achieve a swift victory. But not to fight the person in the Time Realm. Instead, he had to restrict him, and before that person emerged, stabilize the chaotic war in the Five Domains.

“Since you like to hide, then don’t come out!”

The eruption happened in an instant. In that critical moment, Saint Xin’s decision was incredibly decisive. What the people of the Five Domains saw was a streak of light passing over Dao Ancestor and heading directly towards the North Sea.

Then, boundless divine power and demonic power exploded, transforming into vibrant colors, drawing forth myriad Dao Arts from the Five Domains, consolidating into a massive handprint that slammed violently onto the Time Realm passage.

“Heaven and Earth Sealing Refinement!”

Cracking sounds echoed loudly. The divine-demonic handprint gripped the Time Realm passage tightly. Beneath Saint Xin’s feet, a Sea of Divine-Demonic Dao unfurled, borrowing countless Dao principles from the heavens, transforming them into a hundred thousand shackles that locked the Time Realm passage. It was like fitting a door with a hundred thousand locks!

Above the crossroads, Dao Ancestor turned, startled, clearly not expecting Saint Xin to suddenly appear with such a grand gesture.

“What happened?”

In the Great Desert of the Western Domain, the Ancestral God Extinction Calamity had long since dissipated. Before Medicine Ancestor, a colossal spell seed had condensed, into which all of Cui Yin’s body-snatching power had been forced. However, the residual Cui Yin consciousness in the body, and the usurpation after Bei Huai became an Ancestor, were all troubles that needed urgent resolution. His own matters were not yet complete, and Saint Xin had made a violent move?

“Why is this happening?”

With a hum, even the Ancestral Thought Divine Net stirred slightly. It wasn’t that Kuilei Han, after his Grand Dao manifestation, could make any move, but purely that Saint Xin’s action, utilizing high-level rule power, largely originated from the Ancestral Thought Divine Net. In other words, Kuilei Han’s Grand Dao manifestation, for the first time, facilitated Saint Xin’s preemptive strike!

“Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Compared to the Ancestral Gods’ mere ripples of thought, the people of the Five Domains, after a few days of brief peace, were once again in an uproar. The person who sealed the Time Realm passage was remarkably familiar; they had clearly seen him before.

“Isn’t that the Demonic Ancestor’s body?”

“His head is repaired? Why did he suddenly act?”

“He’s targeting the Time Realm passage, does that mean Ba Zun’an is returning?”

For a moment, emotions ran high. But when they saw the divine-demonic handprint drawing out a hundred thousand shackles, and the Demonic Ancestor, having sealed the passage, showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he blocked the front of the Time Realm passage, continuously pouring energy into it, clearly determined not to release the passage even unto death. At this, the people felt as if cold water had been poured over them; their hearts chilled.

“The Demonic Ancestor is blocking the path, so Ba Zun’an can’t come back?”

Outside the Southern Departure Realm, Gou Wuyue looked up, a faint light flickering in his eyes, lost in thought. At the Eastern Mountain Sword Mound, Wen Ting stood beside a sword-hemp plant, gazing towards the Eastern Domain, his brow furrowing as a strange thought arose within him. At the edge of the Great Desert, You Tu suddenly raised a hand, and the white-dressed girl and the tall white bear behind him simultaneously stopped.

“Grandpa, what’s wrong?”

Though August spoke, she stepped forward and clutched Grandpa You’s sleeve, her eyes filled with tension.

“Roar!”

Xiong Baijun’s legs trembled, but he let out a low growl, as if trying to hold them back. You Tu hesitated, on the verge of speaking.

Just as he was about to speak, a mighty rumble shook the Five Domains, and the sky turned dark. Beneath the dim heavens, radiant light rose from the far end of the desert. At the highest point of the world, sacred clouds flowed with brilliant colors, and phoenixes and cranes cried in unison. Before long, a majestic image of the Grand Ancestor materialized. The Grand Ancestor’s gaze swept over them, and all the people of the Five Domains trembled, feeling an icy chill pierce their bones and their hearts grow cold with dread.

Soon after, without any discernible movement from the Grand Ancestor’s image, a murderous Daoist voice exploded from all directions:

“From this moment forth, flying and swords are forbidden in the Five Domains. Any who rise a zhang from the ground, or attempt to draw a sword…”

“Shall die!”

“I’ve been discovered!”

In the Time Realm, as Xu Xiaoshou witnessed Zi Chong’s avatar self-destruct, countless insights flashed through his mind. The more critical the situation, the calmer he became, able to analyze many things in an instant:

“To withstand the guidance of my Intent Dao for a moment and then directly self-destruct, Saint Xin’s Dao is perfected; he definitely also has the level of a Sea of Grand Dao.”

“Indeed, to be able to make the Sea of Intent Dao undetectable and secretly search its way into the Time Realm, Saint Xin’s strength has probably recovered to a level no less than Ba Zun’an’s?”

“If that’s the case, even if I disguised myself as Dao Qiongcang at the last moment, would he not see through it?”

Saint Xin was also a cunning individual. How else could someone so cautious send an avatar, Zi Chong, into the Time Realm for inspection, even with the aid of various roundabout guidance and memory obliteration? Therefore, even if he had impersonated Dao Qiongcang to divert trouble, it was likely futile. But going out now, with his Spirit Dao incomplete…

“Cultivate!”

Xu Xiaoshou’s consciousness retreated to the Supreme Slash space, directly interrupting the storytelling session, and shouted at Hua Changdeng, “Immediately, right now, cultivate!” His eyes were somewhat bloodshot. War Ancestor, witnessing Zi Chong’s self-destruction, didn’t understand what had happened. Hua Changdeng had no external viewing permissions and saw nothing, but upon hearing the command, he looked thoughtful.

“We’ve been discovered…”

As expected, Xu Xiaoshou’s bitter tone confirmed his guess. Without hesitation, Hua Changdeng sat cross-legged in the Kan position of the Supreme Slash, intending to begin comprehending Dao, but then suddenly opened his eyes wide:

“Perhaps…”

His words were still on the tip of his tongue. Xu Xiaoshou, merely meeting his gaze that attempted to warn him, also had a flash of inspiration and realized something.

“Apricot Realm!”

“No, not just the Apricot Realm!”

Thinking from another perspective, if he were Saint Xin, and someone in the Time Realm saw a terrifying existence with 3.5 Grand Dao Rivers… what would be the best solution? Not to go to the Apricot Realm to question someone, but to immediately block the Time Realm passage to prevent the trapped beast from escaping its cage.

“I must get out!”

Xu Xiaoshou had no time to explain. His consciousness returned, and he immediately started moving, attempting to exit the Time Realm passage the same way he entered.

But… they were all cunning old foxes, and the opponent’s cultivation was even higher. After his combat strength was exposed, Saint Xin’s vigilance had been immediately triggered. What Xu Xiaoshou had thought of a moment later, the opponent had clearly already put into action.

“Ohm!”

At the entrance of the Time Realm passage, a continuous stream of divine-demonic power infiltrated. What he saw here was just a tiny fraction; on the other side, it must have been an overwhelming power sealing it.

“The door is blocked…”

Xu Xiaoshou could no longer sense the time and space nodes around the exit, unable to borrow a path home. Saint Xin had not severed the Time Realm passage. Because the Time Realm passage was connected to the Time Realm itself, how could he destroy the entire Time Realm in a short time? But he only needed to “sever” the connection between the Time Realm passage and the Saint God Continent. The Time Realm, as an independent plane, had Dao Arts even superior to those of the Saint God Continent. There would be no further connection between the higher and lower planes. It was like the single-plank bridge home had been destroyed; how could he return?

“There’s a chance, there’s still a chance…”

The divine-demonic power was gradually intensifying, meaning Saint Xin was only just beginning to exert his full strength. If his power here was stronger, could he strike through the mountain, shattering the blockade on the other side? As long as even a sliver of connection was established, Xu Xiaoshou was confident he could return!

“I can assist you.”

War Ancestor’s Dharma Form spoke. The Dao-snatching tentacles twisted, pulling it out of the Supreme Slash space. Without a single wasted word, Xu Xiaoshou raised a fist, simultaneously transforming into an Extreme Giant, golden light radiating from his body, and roared deeply, “Exert your full power!”

Hearing this, War Ancestor’s eyes blazed with fervor, and he too prepared a punch. With a mere shift into a horse stance, all the chaotic power within a ten-thousand-mile radius of the Time Realm was instantly sucked into a vacuum. The Heaven’s Dao mark on his forehead suddenly brightened, and his entire body surged, transforming into a giant ten thousand zhang tall. The two colossal figures, with two deliberate, destructive punches, aimed at the small, pitiable, helpless Time Realm passage, striking it simultaneously.

“Wait…”

Behind him, a figure rapidly condensed as it sensed the sudden surge of power. A closer look sent shivers down his spine.

“No—!”

Only an anguished howl remained!

Xu Xiaoshou reacted instantly. Seeing Anxiety Guy’s terrified expression, he immediately understood something. He instantly changed his stance, turning directly towards War Ancestor’s Dharma Form, altering his punch’s target to collide with War Ancestor’s fist. In the silent Time Realm, layers of airwaves pushed outwards, instantly sweeping across ten thousand miles. Even just facing the aftermath of War Ancestor’s and Xu Xiaoshou’s colliding fists, Kong Yuhen’s body visibly cracked and disintegrated at an alarming rate. Along with the Time Realm passage behind Xu Xiaoshou, the divine-demonic power showed no signs of weakening, but the passage itself cracked audibly, as if on the verge of complete destruction.

“This is bad.”

As soon as he unleashed the punch, Xu Xiaoshou realized something was terribly wrong. It wasn’t as simple as he had imagined at all! Attempting to strike through from within the Time Realm to break the external Saint God Continent’s power blockade on the Time Realm passage was simply wishful thinking. This would only shatter the Time Realm passage and Kong Yuhen, who was trying to protect the Time Realm passage. The divine-demonic power blockade wouldn’t diminish in the slightest, but his and Ba Zun’an’s path home would be severed by these two punches!

But… Xu Xiaoshou’s command of “exert your full power” had led to a truly merciless punch from War Ancestor. Even with his perfected Body Dao, he was a step too slow in reacting and changing his stance. Barely managing to meet the punch, Xu Xiaoshou instantly lost a large part of his body. Only by activating the Immovable Wisdom King midway at the critical moment did he manage to blast off one of War Ancestor’s Dharma Form’s arms.

“Why is this?”

War Ancestor frowned, not understanding why Xu Xiaoshou had suddenly sided with Saint Xin. Xu Xiaoshou’s heart trembled with fear. This guy was only at 90% power! Having just been born in the Supreme Slash space, he definitely wasn’t at 100%. At most, he had just opened a Heaven’s Dao, and one punch nearly shattered half of his body?

“Can’t do this!”

“Calm down first!”

Xu Xiaoshou flicked a finger, sending one ten-thousandth of the Life Potion Pool’s energy towards Kong Yuhen, locking his shattered body. He then expelled another ten-thousandth of the Life Potion Pool’s energy, using the Textile Art to pull the broken Time Realm passage, barely maintaining its shape.

“Master Xu!”

“Master Xu, don’t be reckless!”

Only now could Kong Yuhen’s anxious voice finally be heard, as he vomited blood and screamed, “It can’t be broken!”

“Both inside and outside are independent planes. If you try to punch through from the Time Realm to the Saint God Continent to affect the power blockade on that side…”

Swallowing a mouthful of blood, Kong Yuhen was on the verge of tears: “The Time Realm will shatter first!”

It was over. Xu Xiaoshou’s heart sank to rock bottom. Saint Xin was not War Ancestor, yet his judgment of the situation was even more terrifying than that of the Four Realms. With that blockade, he was utterly powerless here!

“No…”

“It’s not over, not yet…”

If brute force was useless, then he could only rely on his mind. Xu Xiaoshou’s brain raced. But no matter how he thought, all strategies proved futile. After all, he was in the Time Realm, and the opponent had locked the door. This was an innate disadvantage. Geographical advantage! The strategic advantage he had gained by comprehending Dao in the Time Realm had been turned into a restriction by Saint Xin’s discovery. With power capable of resisting the influence of perfected Intent Dao, and calculations no less than Shennong Baicao’s, Saint Xin was not to be underestimated in the slightest. One misstep, and the entire game would be lost!

“There’s a chance…”

“And…”

He couldn’t even contact Lingxi Art, nor could he summon Dao Qiongcang or Dao Ancestor Yiji for help. Xu Xiaoshou stepped into the Sea of Intent Dao, attempting to cross the boundary between the Time Realm and the Saint God Continent by connecting the Sea of Intent Dao with the Sea of Memory, thereby reaching Dao Qiongcang. It was also fruitless. Something must have happened on their side too. After all, he had just framed Dao Qiongcang; perhaps after Saint Xin sealed the Time Realm passage, he immediately went after Dao Ancestor.

“Don’t panic, it’s not a big deal.”

“Haven’t you heard, Heaven always leaves a way out?”

“At worst, what if I really shatter the Time Realm?”

Cultivation had always been fraught with peril, and his ingrained calmness was indeed a good habit. Xu Xiaoshou wasn’t agitated. He carefully sensed, trying to contact his second true body, Jin Ren, to coordinate an inside-out attack. However, after Saint Xin blocked the path, the already weak connection between the Time Realm and Jin Ren had long since been severed.

But then, Xu Xiaoshou had a flash of inspiration.

“The Sacred Dao can influence Kuilei Han through the method of refining Spirit Thunder-affinity.”

“I have the Fire Dao Disk, why can’t I penetrate and access this divine-demonic power?”

His Fire Dao Disk was at level 89, just one more Dao Seed away from Super Dao Manifestation. Super Dao Manifestation could view Ancestors… Xu Xiaoshou had deliberately reserved the opportunity to actively meet the Grand Ancestor, perhaps due to some concerns at the time. Now it seemed that his past self had been too wise!

“Charge!”

The Dao Seed was unceremoniously charged. The patterns on the Fire Dao Disk lit up brightly, and in an instant, a vast amount of knowledge flooded his mind.

“Fire Dao Disk (90).”

The Fire Dao Disk spun, and he entered a state of “Heaven and Man as One,” comprehending Dao on the spot with open eyes. In just a flash, he found the Saint God Continent’s Dao Art for refining Spirit Fire-affinity within the divine-demonic power, and he actively engaged with it.

“Ohm!”

The divine-demonic power inherently held no will. Suddenly, as if sensing an “unexpected uprising,” it became curious, and a wisp of Saint Xin’s will passed through. In that same instant, the will, which seemed to wonder what insignificant being dared to attempt Super Dao Manifestation on the Spirit Fire-affinity Dao at this moment, appeared to touch upon something utterly terrifying, and hastily severed itself, fleeing in panic.

“Too late!”

Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes widened, and his teeth clenched. His heightened senses were fully active. When caught off guard, he couldn’t retaliate, which led to his current predicament. Now that he had the initiative, how could he give Saint Xin a chance to escape, or let go of this sliver of hope for Anxiety Guy?

“Come here!”

With a forceful tug, bolstered by the Sea of Intent Dao, Xu Xiaoshou’s intent became like a maggot clinging to bone, forcibly attaching itself to Saint Xin’s rapidly retreating consciousness, simply wanting to cling on.

On the Saint God Continent, as perceived by the people of the Five Domains, the hitherto imperious Grand Ancestor, just as the word “die” had settled, suddenly trembled, as if targeted by a great terror.

“Get lost!”

He absolutely dared not let go, fearing that if the power ceased, Xu Xiaoshou would arrive with the Three Grand Dao Rivers. But he dared even less to directly confront Xu Xiaoshou’s perfected Intent Dao consciousness in such a state. Immediately, he could only self-sever that wisp of consciousness, which curiosity had nearly cost an Ancestor, abandoning it between the Saint God Continent and the Time Realm passage.

That was enough…

Even without returning to the Saint God Continent, this consciousness was close enough. Xu Xiaoshou could already sense the faint connection reappear. He called out softly, his voice incredibly gentle:

“Jin Ren…”

Silence for a long moment.

Fine, Ancestor Ming Jin Ren, right? You’re ignoring me, are you? Everyone betrays me! Then everyone can just die!

Just as despair rose in Xu Xiaoshou’s heart, and he was about to turn, bristling with killing intent, towards Anxiety Guy, a wailing sound echoed in his mind, having presumably been calling out for a long time:

“Brother!”

“My True Form Brother!”

“The Saint God Continent is in danger, quickly save me, quickly return, quickly return!”

Xu Xiaoshou was startled. I misunderstood you, baby Jin Ren. But returning is impossible. At most, I can only coordinate from here, a two-pronged approach with you. Time was running out, so Xu Xiaoshou immediately ordered:

“Initiate Protocol Three, activate the Apricot Realm Roaming Plan. The population must be preserved. Passive Points don’t inflate; I still have great use for them!”

“Initiate Protocol Five. Directly open guidance with perfected Intent Dao. You, Wen, and Gou, all go. Gou Wuyue can definitely do it. He’s a Seven Sword Immortal, and a Ten Venerable Seat. He’s the last one with hope for a surge, even if it’s just a glimmer. Trust the ancient sword cultivators!”

“Initiate Protocol Thirteen. If Dao Ancestor Yiji and Dao Qiongcang also make you choose between them, pick Dao Qiongcang without hesitation. We are too unfamiliar with Yiji. With Dao Qiongcang, there’s at least a chance or two of success.”

“Initiate Protocol Nineteen. When necessary, you attack Saint Xin…”

Beep! Beep!

The connection seemed to suddenly break. Xu Xiaoshou didn’t give up, clinging to the last half-breath before his consciousness collapsed, and rapidly fired off commands to Jin Ren:

“Of course, there’s also Shennong Baicao, Cui Yin, Bei Huai, Dao Ancestor Yiji, Dao Qiongcang—come on, they’re just six Ancestors. Wait for me to return!”

“Jin Ren, remember to have them unseal the Time Realm passage!”

“Jin Ren, you can definitely do it!”

“Jin Ren, I’m not by your side, you must take good care of yourself, you absolutely must take good care of yourself, Jin Bao—!!!”