Chapter 2030: Embarrassing Character

"The power of a tribulation..."

Outside the Time Channel, Saint Sin, who was still maintaining the Heaven and Earth Seal, felt an inexplicable chill. He clearly sensed a faint aura of tribulation power slowly emanating from within the Time Realm. Though very subtle, it was still present.

It felt weaker than even the Nine Deaths Lightning Tribulation for severing the path. However, despite being weakened by the Time Realm and further restricted by the Heaven and Earth Seal, power was still able to seep through. If there were no obstructions, how immense would its true power be when unleashed?

"Someone is undergoing a tribulation?""Is he undergoing the Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation?"The Purple Pet Incarnation had previously only seen strange tribulation traces, neither fully ascending nor descending, stuck between the Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation and the Ancestral Origin Imperial Tribulation. Now, there was only one active entity within the Time Realm. The continued emanation of tribulation power could only mean that what was seen before was the Ancestral Origin Imperial Tribulation, but he was now seeking a breakthrough!

"Such terrifying tribulation power must be one of the listed Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulations from the 'Lightning Tribulation Compendium.' What is he undergoing?"The image of the Dual Grand Dao Rivers and a Sea of Intent Dao flashed across his mind again."Is it 'Returning to Mundanity, Devoid of Transformation, Devouring the Heart,' targeting the Intent Dao?"This Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation ranked fifth in the 'Lightning Tribulation Compendium,' just below his own tribulation, 'Myriad Dao Demonic Phantoms Devouring Origin,' which ranked fourth.

However, it seemed even his own 'Myriad Dao Demonic Phantoms Devouring Origin' shouldn't be able to transmit its aura through the isolation of the Time Realm to the Saint God Continent."Could it be the third-ranked, 'Thirty-Three Heaven Realms Annihilation'?"Saint Sin knew nothing about this particular lightning tribulation, as he had never witnessed anyone survive it.

His aptitude was among the best in the Heaven Realm. From the Saint Ancestor era of the Saint God Continent to the subsequent collapse of the Heaven Realm, no one had surpassed him at the Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation level. This indicated that throughout history, the most revered Ancestral Gods had at best a dao foundation equal to his own, with no one exceeding it. Had Xu Xiaoshou surpassed him by half a step?

"Indeed, the 'Thirty-Three Heaven Realms Annihilation' is even more comprehensive than 'Myriad Dao Demonic Phantoms Devouring Origin.' Besides his perfected Intent Dao, that fellow also possesses the Dual Grand Dao Rivers, which cannot be overlooked.""Furthermore, with the chaotic Dao laws in the Time Realm, it's possible for him to summon a 'Thirty-Three Heaven Realms Annihilation Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation,' which is a level higher than mine.""However..."

Saint Sin still found one thing incomprehensible. Even the 'Thirty-Three Heaven Realms Annihilation'—could it truly pierce through the restrictions of the Time Realm and the Heaven and Earth Seal to transmit a hint of tribulation aura?

"But it can't be anything else!""Higher up, the second-ranked 'Water, Time, Moon, Space, Glaze' involves the Dao of time and space; it was the tribulation endured by the Time Ancestor in the past.""As for the first-ranked 'Slaying-Me Tribulation,' theoretically, only that individual who dares to casually assist others in cultivating 'Me' can summon it. How could Xu Xiaoshou possibly be that powerful?"

Yet, even the top three ranked lightning tribulations in the 'Lightning Law Compendium' seemed to lack the destructive power to penetrate the Time Realm and the restrictions of the Heaven and Earth Seal."Unless...""A Lightning Tribulation Array?"Saint Sin suddenly paused, then immediately shook his head, dismissing this absurd idea. What a joke!

For so many years in the Heaven Realm, it was rare to find anyone capable of summoning a Lightning Tribulation Array. In the current era, the pinnacle of talent belonged to Baxun An. Although his tribulations were fleeting, their aura suggested they were merely the ordinary 'Endless Golden Edge Slaughter.' What virtue or ability did Xu Xiaoshou possess? Even the true body of the Name Ancestor might not be able to summon a Lightning Tribulation Array, let alone a mere Xu Xiaoshou?

"Still, he cannot be underestimated!"After all, the tribulation power aura was genuinely emanating. Saint Sin dared not delay, turning his gaze towards the Medicine Ancestor in the Western Regions, who was still dawdling with the Art Seed, and shouted:

"Shennong Baicao, if the New Heaven Realm isn't forged now, then when? The Time Channel has become aberrant; the Name Ancestor's reincarnated body has achieved mastery in Baxun An's Sword Dao, comprehended the 'Self' of the Playful Crane, cultivated the Five Grand Dao Rivers, and even possesses a Sea of Intent Dao. At this very moment, he is undergoing tribulation within the Time Realm.""If he emerges, capable of fighting a hundred on his own, how will you and I resist?!"

This vast voice, like thunder, struck the Medicine Ancestor dumbfounded, even short-circuiting his thoughts.What?Five Grand Dao Rivers, and one of them is the Sea of Intent Dao?The Medicine Ancestor's first reaction was disbelief. After looking down at the Dual Grand Dao Rivers beneath his feet, his second reaction was that Saint Sin was trying to trick him!

Even the collective efforts of an entire generation wouldn't be enough to cultivate Five Grand Dao Rivers. Hadn't Shennong Baicao, from ancient times to the present, deployed various strategies and only managed to forge the Dual Rivers of Life and Reincarnation Dao? Saint Sin, was he not even bothering to plan his deception? Just blurting it out?

"You don't believe me?"Seeing no reaction from the Medicine Ancestor, Saint Sin sneered, transmitting another message:"Body, Spirit, Intent, Self, Sword—think carefully if it's possible!""The flow of time inside and outside the Time Realm is different. I can only maintain the seal for at most the time it takes an incense stick to burn.""Once that time is up, if the New Heaven Realm isn't forged, then the Saint God Continent is yours!"

Upon hearing this, the Medicine Ancestor finally understood the severity of the situation. Only when pushed to the limit would Saint Sin speak of yielding the New Heaven Realm."What exactly happened?"A drop of sweat rolled down his temple. Shennong Baicao asked, while continuing to refine the sinister residual consciousness within the Life Seed.

"No time to explain!"Saint Sin, impatient, had no desire for further discussion. His face showed clear frustration:"You only have an incense stick's worth of time. Don't think I don't know that you've secretly accumulated years of energy for the New Heaven Realm—bring it out.""If you try to keep hiding it, when he achieves the Ancestral God sealing, if we don't exploit the geographical advantage, we'll inevitably face greater consumption, perhaps even a mutual defeat."

Despite his words, Saint Sin knew what kind of person the Medicine Ancestor was. It was impossible to make him reveal everything with just a few sentences, so he offered further concessions on their previous agreement:"Once the New Heaven Realm is formed, we'll split it equally.""The Sinister Shade still belongs to you, but I want to reclaim the Ancestral Thought Divine Net; I want the Thought Dao. As for the Dao Ancestor's Self-Recall, we'll split it equally.""Yes or no, just one word. We don't have time!"

The drop of sweat slid down his cheek, falling onto the desert and vanishing without a trace. The Medicine Ancestor's hands were still frantically busy, refining the Art Seed to form the Life Seed, whose roots already spread throughout the void, as if poised to grow into a towering tree.But...He was strong on the outside but hollow within!The true suffering in Shennong Baicao's heart was truly difficult to express!

He had stored enough energy for eighteen Life Medicine Pools, but those reserves had been completely emptied by that damned thief!"I...""What are you hesitating for?!" Saint Sin interrupted explosively. "This is the greatest concession; I cannot retreat another half-step. This is the bottom line!"

"I know...""You know, and you still haven't started?" Saint Sin wished he could rush to the Western Regions and wring the water out of the Medicine Ancestor's brain. "What happens between us afterward can be discussed later. First, deal with that Five Grand Dao Rivers!"

Ahhh!The Medicine Ancestor wanted to go mad, to scream his lungs out. He longed to tell Saint Sin that even if ten thousand years passed, let alone the time it took an incense stick to burn, he might not be able to forge the New Heaven Realm. Was it his intention to drag his feet refining the sinister residual consciousness within the Life Seed?No!It was because of that dog!

The power of the Life Medicine Pools had been completely drained; he would have to sacrifice his life to forge the New Heaven Realm—yes, he could only use his life! But if he himself became the Life Seed... If he sacrificed himself, transforming into energy equivalent to eighteen Life Medicine Pools... Even if the New Heaven Realm were forged, wouldn't Saint Sin simply devour all the benefits alone, and he himself would be utterly annihilated?

"A-Yao..."A faint voice echoed in his mind: "Your divine soul is boiling.""Shut up!" The Medicine Ancestor was on the verge of collapse. "Once I recover, I'll refine you!""A-Yao, I helped you seize the Sinister Shade. Even so, can you still not tolerate me?""Shut up!"

The Medicine Ancestor couldn't be bothered with any more nonsense from Beihuai, that cancerous growth. Just moments ago, after Kuileihan was forced to transform into the Ancestral Thought Divine Net, Beihuai's momentum to become an ancestor had become unstoppable. In the manner of a ghost beast, he used the Medicine Ancestor as a host, rooting himself within the vast energy, enduring the Ancestral God Extinguishing Law Great Tribulation, and thus sealing himself as the Huai Ancestor.

However, after successfully becoming the Huai Ancestor, he did not separate from him. On the contrary, he "kindly" helped the Medicine Ancestor refine the sinister consciousness-extraction and body-snatching power, and even cleared effects like the Great Profound Cognition Art from the Dao Ancestor. The payment, naturally, was forcibly taking half of the Medicine Ancestor's bodily control. Ostensibly, the Medicine Ancestor was now in a completely new state, having recovered to his peak. In reality, whenever Beihuai wished, he could contend with the Medicine Ancestor, naturally putting him at a disadvantage in subsequent negotiations with Saint Sin. Of course, this would be entirely detrimental to both the Medicine Ancestor and the Huai Ancestor, so Beihuai would naturally not do so for the time being. But this mad dog was currently in a period of calm; there was no telling when he might go insane and completely lose his mind.

With such a malignant tumor remaining within his body, and an utterly unforgeable New Heaven Realm outside, coupled with Saint Sin's continued pressure, an unknown Five Grand Dao Rivers, and the Dao Ancestor seemingly just one step away from unifying his will... The Medicine Ancestor was truly going mad. His brain capacity was vast, but it wasn't enough for him to find the optimal solution in such a chaotic situation within a short time. Or rather, that optimal solution simply no longer existed!

"I want the Dao of Memory!"The Medicine Ancestor continued to "drag his feet," as if to imply that if Saint Sin didn't grant his demand, he wouldn't immediately forge the New Heaven Realm, ready to fight Saint Sin to the bitter end.

"You're insane!"Saint Sin immediately burst out in curses, wondering what audacity this fellow had to make such an outrageous demand. "Don't think I don't know that Beihuai hasn't separated from your body after becoming an ancestor. Even if you're being greedy, this is not the time for it!"

This isn't greed, Saint Sin.This is the only path to salvation!The Medicine Ancestor closed his eyes heavily, knowing that neither the Dao of Memory nor the Dao of Reincarnation would suffice to break this deadlock.

Only by shattering the River of Life and transforming it into energy equivalent to eighteen Life Medicine Pools could he refine the sinister residual consciousness within the Life Seed into the New Heaven Realm within the short span of an incense stick's burn time. But doing so would inevitably lead to Saint Sin's backlash once the New Heaven Realm was complete. The Medicine Ancestor, with only one River of Reincarnation and even with Beihuai, would still be no match for Saint Sin—he'd be like fish on a chopping block, left to be butchered. His Dao being seized would also be inevitable. Therefore, the Medicine Ancestor needed not only the Dao of Art, a combat-oriented Grand Dao, but also the entirety of the Dao of Memory to even dare to fight Saint Sin. But was this possible? Even the Medicine Ancestor himself felt he was being too greedy as he spoke.

However, he absolutely dared not reveal the truth to Saint Sin, so he could only feign ignorance, stubbornly pursuing one path:"I not only want the Dao of Memory, but you must also help me defeat the Dao Ancestor and seize the River of Memory within half an incense stick's time.""Otherwise, the New Heaven Realm is yours; I don't want it anymore."

Something was wrong!Saint Sin was not so easily fooled. After just a few sentences, he detected that the Medicine Ancestor's greed was unusually extreme. Was he being influenced by Beihuai's will?"Impossible.""He isn't weak enough to have his Dao seized by Beihuai. The only explanation is..."

Something went wrong with the sinister residual consciousness within the Life Seed? Or perhaps the method for forging the New Heaven Realm had changed? Ultimately, the Medicine Ancestor no longer had the ability to systematically advance the perfect plan they had made during their alliance!*Exhale...*Saint Sin let out a long, ragged breath, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably. If he weren't currently unable to leave the Time Channel or interrupt the Heaven and Earth Seal, he would have been the first to strike, severing Shennong Baicao to verify his suspicions.

"Useless!"He cursed, but the indignation in his heart remained. Shennong Baicao remained silent, appearing utterly helpless, confirming his suspicions.The game had collapsed... What had seemed like a perfect chess match had, in reality, lost its most crucial thread, and a single move affected the entire situation, leading to the current predicament.

What Saint Sin didn't understand was when the thread had broken. Xu Xiaoshou in the Time Realm was merely an unexpected variable; forcefully dealing with him wasn't impossible in the end. The key lay with the Medicine Ancestor—whose vicious hand had he fallen victim to, to the point of silently swallowing his own teeth with blood, not daring to tell him even half the truth until now?

"Dao Qiongcang?""Dao Ancestor's Self-Recall?"Saint Sin cast his gaze afar, just in time to see the towering figure above the crossroads, its ten thousand rays of light now contained. Having concluded the inheritance and the enlightenment, it raised its eyes to meet his gaze.

The wind howled fiercely, ruffling the folds of his starry robe. The Dao Ancestor's lips curved into a slight smile; it was impossible to tell if it was Dao Qiongcang in control or the Dao Ancestor's Self-Recall consciousness dominating, but they were united in facing outward:"Saint Sin, your era has ended."

With a thunderous boom, the sound of the Dao erupted. Starry light from across the sky converged, forming countless fragments of memory that pieced together beneath the Dao Ancestor's feet, coalescing into a vast Sea of Memory. Ripples spread across its surface, and from it, countless threads of heavenly mechanism shot out, sweeping towards various directions across the five regions, piercing into numerous figures.

The Dao Ancestor stepped forward. His sleeves fluttered lightly, his brows and eyes filled with fervor, and as his lips parted, the five regions immediately resonated with sonorous Daoist chanting:"To uphold a collapsing edifice, to turn the tide against an overwhelming current.""I, Dao Qiongcang, hereby declare the cessation of the Spirit Refining Era and the commencement of the Era of Heavenly Mechanisms, starting from this moment.""From this day forward, the five regions shall regard the teachings of heavenly mechanisms as the righteous path, and treat demonic medicines and sinister spirits as evil ways. Those who align with Heaven shall be aided by the Dao; those who defy Heaven shall be extinguished by the Dao. Thirty million 'I's, merge into one, continuing the past and forging the future, for eternal prosperity!"

The threads of heavenly mechanism shot from the Sea of Memory, pulling upwards.Thunderous roars erupted across the five regions as figures were lifted into the air, soaring towards Dao Qiongcang, the Dao Ancestor."This..."The people of the five regions looked up in shock.

They saw that across the continent, half of the renowned Half-Saints were uncontrollably soaring into the sky, each with expressions of shock and confusion, unable to comprehend what was happening. Yet, after a brief moment of bewilderment, they clutched their heads, wailing in immense pain."What is this?""Thirty million 'I's merging into one... are these people all Dao Ancestors?""Impossible! Who is that? That's Pei Zai, the Free Half-Saint of the Northern Region Seven Stars! Doesn't he cultivate the Spirit Refining Dao? He should be a contingency of the Demonic Ancestor, right? How did he start flying?""Alliance Master, Yan Sheng, the Alliance Master of the Northern Region, he, he, he... he's turned into a Heavenly Mechanism Puppet? Is he also a Dao Temple Master? No, a Dao Ancestor?"

Those figures flew into mid-air. On their foreheads, backs of their hands, or chests, either a handshake pattern or a "囧" character symbol lit up. Before long, their bodies transformed into crystal-clear jade, clearly becoming Heavenly Mechanism Puppets, merging into the Sea of Memory. The Daos they cultivated also transformed into nourishment for Dao Qiongcang, the Dao Ancestor, and were entirely absorbed by him.

"Look, that's...""Half-Saint Ye Xiaotian, is he also a Heavenly Mechanism Puppet?""No, he doesn't seem to be. He's intercepting something, he's trying to stop it?"In the direction of the Eastern Regions, streams of light also began to rise. Among them, the most representative were the three figures that shot out after the Heavenly Profound Gate of the Sky Mulberry Spirit Palace broke open.

One figure, wrapped in a yellow turban, stared blankly at his hands with aged eyes, as layer after layer of Grand Dao diagrams lit up beneath his feet, completely beyond his control."Elder Zhong, Zhong Yuanzi?"Another sat cross-legged with closed eyes, an incredibly brilliant array diagram beneath his feet, vaguely outlining patterns of life and reincarnation."One of the Four Sons of the Saint Palace, Qiao Qianzhi?"A third figure was a small, bald boy with red lips and white teeth, seemingly harmless. Yet, his body surged with immense Spirit Refining Grand Void power and Saint power, constantly evolving. Alongside the emergence of chaotic consciousness and the formation of killing intent, it finally successfully evolved into divine and demonic powers."Isn't that Master Shou's Ah Jie? Has Master Shou also been affected?"

Ye Xiaotian's eyes were bloodshot as he continuously launched attacks after the streams of light, cursing under his breath, attempting to intercept Qiao Qianzhi. However, all his power passed straight through Qiao Qianzhi, Zhong Yuanzi, and the others, utterly unable to stop the pulling of the heavenly mechanism threads.

"Boom!"The sky shattered, and the Qian Shi Imperial Realm exploded with a loud bang. Figures of Dao clan members from the Qian Shi Imperial Realm were also drawn in by the threads of heavenly mechanism, pulled into the Saint God Continent."Dao Qiongcang, you win..."Dao Peipei, who was directly targeted, completely gave up resistance, closing her eyes and letting herself be pulled. Behind her, the ancient turtle carrying the entire Qian Shi Imperial Realm also shrunk from large to small, offering no struggle, and melted into the Sea of Memory.

In the Southern Region's Heavenly Mechanism Divine Cult, almost ninety-nine percent of the Heavenly Mechanism practitioners, like Nangong Youshu, were drawn into the sky, as if one person achieved enlightenment and even their mundane followers ascended. In the Western Region's Buddhist Sect, the young novices showed no anomaly, but the elder brothers within the sect who had cultivated the second-generation divine thought of Vows were also, in their terror, led into the sky, as if ascending to the Pure Land.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..."From the east, south, west, north, and center, threads of heavenly mechanism pulled, and cultivators from all five regions ascended into the sky. Streams of light passed, and no matter what legends the cultivators had created in the past, they were now like fireflies, all converging into the vast ocean of the Sea of Memory.

"The Dao of Saint-Demon, the Dao of Life, the Dao of Reincarnation, the Dao of Art, the Dao of Thought..."Beside the Time Channel, Saint Sin, who had been about to mock, saw this shocking scene and was rendered speechless. He clearly perceived the Dao Ancestor's ambition: to ensnare all these Grand Daos in one fell swoop. Where did he get such confidence?No...That's not right...He *could* have such confidence!

He himself had to maintain the Heaven and Earth Seal, unable to free his hands; the Medicine Ancestor was restricted by the sinister residual consciousness, unable to act; the sinister residual consciousness was trapped within the Life Seed, utterly powerless to retaliate; the Thought Ancestor had transformed into the Ancestral Thought Divine Net, completely immobile...In the entire world, the only one who could act was the Dao Ancestor. When he made his move, everyone and everything in the world that could have restrained him was already inexplicably confined. Saint Sin felt his scalp tingle.

Xu Xiaoshou in the Time Realm still posed an unresolved problem. Had the Dao Ancestor taken a preemptive step, intending to seize the Daos of all the other Ancestors?"Shennong Baicao, hand over control of the Life Seed to me.""Now, immediately, use all your strength to confront the Dao Ancestor. As long as you defeat him, the Dao of Memory will entirely... belong... to... you..."Saint Sin roared, turning his head, but his voice gradually trailed off. For no other reason than that a "囧" character symbol had lit up on the Medicine Ancestor's forehead; inside the Life Seed beside him, power was clearly activated, and the Life Seed also lit up with a "囧" character symbol.

"You..."Saint Sin looked, and the Medicine Ancestor looked back. In the Medicine Ancestor's gaze towards him, there was even a hint of terror, as if he had witnessed something unbelievable and horrifying."What happened to me?"Saint Sin's spiritual sense swept over himself, and he was aghast to discover that a "囧" character symbol had also lit up on his own chest.This was...When did this happen?