Chapter 707: Slow Down?

The bizarre tree was leafless, with only bare, twisted, and coiling branches. At the end of one branch hung a peculiar fruit about the size of a fist, radiating a soft, cool brilliance.

The fruit was shaped like a coiled Qiu Long, its surface covered in fine patterns resembling Dragon Scales. A deep, profound moonlight seemed to flow slowly within, emitting a majestic Dao Rhyme that was of the Supreme Yin and Cold, yet also contained endless Vitality.

Just seeing it from a distance made Xu Yunfan's own Divine Sky Golden Core tremble slightly, stirring a strong sense of longing and resonance.

The Taiyin Nether Dragon Fruit!

The goal he had so painstakingly sought was right before his eyes.

He had never expected that this Dao Fruit had actually been manifested by this Qiu Long.

Xu Yunfan's gaze shifted to the massive, coiling dragon, his expression growing cautious.

Wukong said, "You're not actually thinking of plucking the Dao Fruit from this Demon Dragon, are you? How is that any different from snatching the Dao Fruit of a Golden Core True Monarch?!"

Xu Yunfan replied calmly.

"Precisely."

This Dao Fruit is displayed so openly, rather than being integrated into the Qiu Long's Grotto Heaven. This undoubtedly means that this great dragon was manifested from the Taiyin Nether Dragon Fruit itself. Naturally, it is an ownerless thing.

At this thought, Xu Yunfan couldn't help but look toward the distant Netherworld across the Sea of Blood, and at the Netherworld itself—a majestic and magnificent structure vaster than the stars.

Although the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation had Dao Fruits, it had no True Monarchs. The position of Lord of the Netherworld, in particular, remained unclaimed.

Just as Xu Yunfan was lost in thought, a terrifying aura began to slowly awaken from the depths of the massive White Bone Island. It was more ferocious than True Monarch Tong Xuan's Sword Intent, more bizarre than the White-haired True Daoist's craftiness, and more violent than the Celestial Punishment's thunderbolts that fell upon the Sea of Suffering.

The calm Sea of Blood surrounding the White Bone Island began to boil violently, forming a massive, bottomless vortex.

In the center of the vortex, two points of light, crimson like blood moons, suddenly lit up in the profound darkness.

An intent filled with tyranny and destruction instantly locked onto the living creature that had trespassed into this territory.

The Bitter Sea Qiu Long.

A terrifying existence, born to coexist with the Taiyin Nether Dragon Fruit.

Now, roused by the interweaving of three powerful auras, it had awakened.

Before him was a peerless monster guarding the Dao Fruit. Behind him was True Monarch Tong Xuan, seething with killing intent. And in the distance, the crafty White-haired True Daoist watched like a tiger stalking its prey.

The Wukong Avatar seemed to have fallen into an unprecedented kill-zone.

True Monarch Tong Xuan laughed heartily. "Xu Yunfan, it seems you can't escape now."

The White-haired True Daoist made no effort to conceal his greed. "Your Dao Fruit would suit me perfectly."

Once the two realized they shared the same target, they reached a tacit understanding.

Wukong—or rather, the Xu Yunfan controlling him—remained calm. Hearing their words, he showed not the slightest hint of worry. Instead, a faint smile appeared on his face.

「Meanwhile, on Divine Sky Peak.」

The brow of Xu Yunfan's true body, who was seated on the Cloud Platform, twitched sharply.

A vast and powerful Divine Thought, like an invisible net cast from the heavens, silently enveloped the entire Divine Sky Mountain.

The Divine Thought was not aggressive, but it made Xu Yunfan's heart tighten. It belonged to the current Controller of the Primordial Sect, True Monarch Pu Du.

"Junior Brother Xu..."

True Monarch Pu Du's voice, as tranquil as still water in an ancient well, echoed directly in Xu Yunfan's ears.

"To think I misjudged. I couldn't even tell if that avatar of yours was real or an illusion. Truly fascinating. Having fun in the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation?

A single move from you has set the entire board in motion.

Tongxuan of the Wansheng Sword Sect and a few other skulking cowards couldn't resist joining the fray.

It seems the fish you've hooked is even bigger than you imagined. Just be careful that instead of catching the fish, you're not the one dragged into the Sea of Suffering, doomed for all eternity."

Xu Yunfan's heart went cold. He knew True Monarch Pu Du had been watching all along and had finally decided to speak up.

He forcefully suppressed the turmoil in his Heart and Spirit caused by the fierce battle in the Sea of Suffering and the Qiu Long's awakening, and replied steadily with his Divine Thought.

"I appreciate your concern, Senior Brother Pudu. Fishing is naturally risky, but if the bait is tempting enough, there's always a reward. I'm just not sure if you're contacting me now to persuade me to back down, or if you have something else in mind."

While engaging in this verbal chess match with True Monarch Pu Du, he kept the vast majority of his Heart and Spirit focused on the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation.

On Chenghua Mountain, True Monarch Pu Du sat at the center of the ever-revolving Eight Trigrams Daoist Platform.

The cool light and flickering trigrams on his gray-white Daoist robe intertwined, reflecting a piercing, purple-gold trajectory deep within the Sea of Suffering.

He raised his gaze toward Divine Sky Peak, his words filled with compassion.

"Junior Brother Xu, it has been barely a century since you achieved your Daoist Golden Core. To force your way into the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation to seek the Taiyin Dao Fruit... it is too soon."

Xu Yunfan sat cross-legged atop Divine Sky Peak, Thunder Patterns faintly visible within his sleeves.

"And your meaning is, Senior Brother?"

"It would be best to slow down."

True Monarch Pu Du said slowly, "Tongxuan of the Wansheng Sword Sect has already crippled his own Cultivation to enter the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation, and the Puchen Pure Land is also making a move.

If you succeed, the True Monarchs of the Three Sects will surely join forces to attack the Primordial Sect. When that time comes, even I will not be able to protect you."

As the Divine Thought transmission vibrated through the void, Xu Yunfan lowered his head to hide the cold glint in his eyes.

'When Pu Du mentioned three factions making a move, he was naturally including the Primordial Sect as well.'

'Within the Primordial Sect, there is only room for one to reign supreme at the Mid-Stage Golden Core realm.'

'How could this True Monarch, who had controlled the Sect for ten thousand years, possibly allow a newcomer to share his authority?'

After pondering for a long time, Xu Yunfan finally suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart.

"This junior brother will heed your teachings."

True Monarch Pu Du's compassionate voice rose again.

"You achieved the Golden Core in a single lifetime, a sign that you are favored by the Sect's Destiny. However, the path of the Dao is like climbing a celestial ladder—being too greedy for progress will only cause you to fall."

"The White-haired True Daoist is a traitor who betrayed the Sect a hundred thousand years ago. Tongxuan has burned away his Sword Spirit for a final, desperate gamble. And what's more, the Bitter Sea Qiu Long lies in wait. This situation is a deathtrap with no chance of survival!"

Xu Yunfan suddenly looked up. "And what if I didn't enter this trap alone?"

A sharp glint flashed through Pu Du's eyes, gone in an instant.

"The art of having an avatar wield a treasure is indeed ingenious."

"However, the Sea of Suffering Reincarnation isolates the Ten Thousand Laws. Even the might of a Spiritual Treasure would be less than thirty percent of what its wielder could normally channel."

He had long seen through the truth of the Wukong Avatar, but he didn't know that the Star Spirit Banner could borrow the Power of Dao Fruit from the main body. Nor did he know that Xu Yunfan possessed an Attribute Panel, which allowed him to fight at his full peak state.

Of course, Xu Yunfan had no intention of revealing any of this.

Seeing Xu Yunfan's silence, True Monarch Pu Du's voice turned grave and cold.

"Qingyuan was just as proud and untamable as you are now, and he ended up utterly destroyed, his body dead and his Dao erased."

"The Primordial Sect cannot afford to lose another True Monarch!"

"Yunfan will engrave Senior Brother's earnest advice in his heart."

Xu Yunfan bowed slightly.

Before True Monarch Pu Du turned into a gentle breeze and dissipated, he left behind one final message.

"There's no need to go to the Netherworld for the Taiyin Dao Fruit. There is one in this world as well. When the time is right, I, your senior brother, will get it for you."

"..."

'Slow down? By the time I return with the Taiyin Dao Fruit, it'll be time for your Chenghua Mountain to have a new master!'

His heart grew cold. He naturally understood what True Monarch Pu Du was telling him: one Mid-Stage Golden Core True Monarch was enough for the Primordial Sect. If another one appeared, would Pu Du still be able to remain the one in charge?

Xu Yunfan rubbed the bridge of his nose. 'If only this world didn't have so many scumbags, things would be so much more pleasant.'

'I just want to seek the path to Longevity, to see the view from the summit of the road to immortality, to become a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord. Why is it that every time I try to take a single step forward, so many people jump out, screaming for my head?'

But how could this possibly make Xu Yunfan shrink back from the challenge? After all, True Monarch Pu Du had no idea that Xu Yunfan could transfer his Magical Power and fight at his full, peak state. He merely assumed it was an avatar acting alone.