Chapter 464: Fighting for the Future

After a brief silence, the bidder lost his nerve.

'M-maybe I should just forget it,' he thought. Although the spirit treasure [Profound Nether Pot] was highly useful to him and perfectly suited his primary qi, it wasn't an absolute necessity.

'The auction is just the easiest place in my memories to acquire this kind of spirit treasure. If push comes to shove, I can find a chance to join the [Profound Law Bureau]. I remember Bai Er of the [Profound Law Bureau] has full authority over the Bright Light City region right now. Through him, I should be able to get a suitable spirit treasure too...'

Thoughts like these vanished from his mind the very next second. Countless calculations and emotions were instantly wiped clean by a single voice.

"Bid."

"Hk...!"

The bidder jerked his head up and instinctively sat bolt upright, chest puffed out. His hands trembled uncontrollably, and his mind went completely blank.

At this moment, the last shred of wishful thinking vanished from his heart. His youthful face took on the ghastly, pale hue of a corpse.

'I can't escape.'

'He really noticed me...'

The bidder's expression wavered in a daze, as if he had been thrust back to the day the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] announced himself to the Cosmos, ensuring all cultivators knew of his deeds.

Not daring to delay for a second, he shouted, "One thousand two hundred Immortal-Ascending Ingots!"

On the auction stage, Bai Yi was clearly delighted to see someone bid again. Noticing that Kunyun didn't make another offer, he slammed his gavel down in excitement.

"Sold!"

As soon as the word rang out, a beautiful woman in a cheongsam quickly walked over to the bidder and bowed, signaling him to come and collect his item.

However, the bidder felt absolutely no joy in winning his desired spirit treasure. Instead, he was filled with dread. But since it was too late to back out now, he could only follow the woman to the auction house's back courtyard with the grim mindset of a man walking to his own grave, eventually arriving at a familiar private room.

'I'm doomed...'

Stepping into the room, the bidder instantly held his breath. Before his eyes was a vast, boundless expanse of dark light crashing forward like tidal waves.

And so, the world fell deathly silent.

The bidder's eyes went wide. He instinctively looked up, only to find that the surging river of destiny—usually just within his reach—was entirely obscured by the dark light.

It felt as though he were plunging down a bottomless abyss. There was no space, no time—just absolute emptiness. He couldn't even feel the ground beneath his feet. After what seemed like an eternity, a single flicker of firelight finally ignited in the darkness, accompanied by the steady, powerful sound of approaching footsteps.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

A moment later, a figure stepped out from the shadows.

'How is this possible...?'

The bidder stared wide-eyed at the handsome youth he had seen countless times in his memories, leaving only an inexpressible shock in his heart.

It wasn't because of the youth himself, but rather the bright lamp he held in his hand.

'[Luminous Law]... is it the [Covered Lamp Fire]!?'

At this realization, the bidder's emotions grew incredibly complicated. After all, before obtaining that massive stroke of fortune, he himself had been the master of the [Covered Lamp Fire] fruition rank.

'So the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] started weaving fruition ranks this early. Since he has the [Covered Lamp Fire], the [Heaven Sky Fire] must have already appeared as well... Oh no! With the [Covered Lamp Fire] here, my true appearance must be exposed, and he definitely saw everything I just did...'

Instantly, the bidder felt as if he had been plunged into an icy chasm.

'No wonder he suspected me!'

He knew his many reactions earlier had been highly abnormal, but he had assumed his mystical concealment would hide them from sight, meaning no harm done.

But if someone actually saw them, that was an entirely different story.

This time, the bidder abandoned all hope of getting lucky.

'My [Star-Concealing Radiance] is a divine power cultivated by borrowing the profound mysteries of the [Covered Lamp Fire]. It might block ordinary scrying, but how could it possibly block the fruition rank itself!'

For a brief moment, the bidder felt a bizarre sense of relaxation. It was a kind of relief—he gave up the struggle. His life had already begun flashing before his eyes. A torrential flood of memories concerning the youth standing before him surged into his mind. Though the youth's cultivation wasn't high right now, he already exuded the majestic aura he would possess in the future.

The [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation].

He was the greatest variable the Cosmos had seen to date, a miracle unprecedented in all of history. He earned this reputation simply by shattering the rigid, unchanging status quo that had gripped the Immortal Gate ever since the heavenly venerables first transmitted the Dao.

Namely, the inheritance of the Heavenly Venerable True Mantra.

As long as records had existed, the Five Phases lineages of the Immortal Gate had always stood strong. This was because each lineage had once boasted real immortals residing in the mortal world. That was the golden age of the Immortal Dao.

However, as time flowed on, the true immortals passed away one by one, and not a single cultivator from the younger generations could ascend to immortality. Consequently, the Cosmos entered an age of decline. With its former glory lost, the Immortal Dao was forced to seek change. Through repeated reformations, it altered itself and amended the Nine-Word Mantra passed down from the heavenly venerables.

This had been the correct approach.

Because at the very end of the Immortal Dao's reformation, the Fire Qi lineage produced the first immortal of that decaying era, reopening the severed path to ascension.

The appearance of this immortal—much like the Fire Qi he represented—seemed to reignite the dying embers of the golden age. Countless exceptional talents rose rapidly in his wake.

Such as the Living Buddha.

He was yet another immortal from the age of decline. Although he walked a different path, his innate talent was faintly superior to even the Fire Qi Immortal's, allowing him to single-handedly create the cultivation methods of the Brahma Nation.

Although the Brahma Nation's Six-Word Mantra fell short of the Heavenly Venerables' Nine-Word Mantra and lacked the opportunity for immortal ascension, it was still remarkably inventive. It was a pity that the two factions eventually descended into internal strife, leading to the deaths of both the Fire Qi Immortal and the Living Buddha. The Cosmos, which had stabilized due to the presence of these immortals, was plunged back into a grand era of ideological conflict.

First, a supreme expert established the Northern Palace.

He cultivated the Nine Stars, decreed life and death, opened the profound pivot, and governed destiny and truth. He sought to hold heavenly longevity hostage to command all cultivators, undertaking monumental construction projects to commit treason, unwilling to let the Living Buddha outshine him. Later, the Human Emperor established the Great Rebellion.

An immortal nation was founded, and a multitude of True Persons came to pay homage. The Heavenly Dynasty was solidified, bringing prosperity to heaven and earth. The emperor sought to embrace the entire Cosmos in his grasp, utilizing profound truths to govern both immortals and mortals alike, refusing to let Fire Qi dominate all.

Both figures emerged one after another, and each led an entire era. They left behind countless monumental exploits, etching trajectories into destiny that would endure for eternity.

Yet neither of them could compare to that man.

Originating as Human Firewood in the [Eight Trigrams Furnace], he rose from utter obscurity. Three years to reach Qi Refining, five years to attain Truth Cultivation, and ten years to claim the absolute Pinnacle Station of heaven and earth. Even at the very beginning of his cultivation journey, he had been transcending a life tribulation.

During the Tribulation Transcending stage, he escaped from the grasp of a True Person. In the Qi Refining stage, he drew his bow and shot a True Monarch dead. During his Truth Cultivation, he shattered the schemes of an immortal. The sheer radiance of his existence was enough to eclipse every cultivator from ancient times to the present. After all, while others crossed two major realms downward to bully weaker cultivators, he was the only one who crossed two realms upward to slay his superiors.

A true heaven-defying slaughter!

Even today, the bidder could still perfectly recall the day he first laid eyes on that man. Every time the memory surfaced, an unstoppable wave of awe would wash over him.

The endlessly surging river of destiny experienced an unprecedented tranquility that day. Not a single ripple marred its surface; it reflected only a single figure.

The [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation].

That man simply stood atop destiny, backed by thirty Five Phases fruition ranks, casually holding the severed head of True Person Xuanxiao Yingyuan in his hand.

He hadn't even achieved Truth Cultivation at the time. He was merely an Ancient Cultivator Daoist at the Breaking Ten Layers state, yet he forcibly slaughtered a True Person fully possessing a title, an honorific, and a reverent name. The Five Phases fruition ranks shone with dazzling brilliance because of this feat. Through this battle, he proclaimed his existence to the Cosmos and began his invincible legend.

However, his combat prowess was merely a trivial footnote among his many exploits.

What truly placed him leaps and bounds ahead of his predecessors was his Dao lineage.

Both the dharma body path and the Dharma Power Dao echoed throughout the Cosmos because of him. In later generations, they would completely replace the Nine-Word Mantra of the heavenly venerables, becoming the very foundation of Immortal Dao cultivation.

'Yes, it was right around this time.'

'The [Heaven Defiance Palace]...'

At this thought, the bidder finally snapped out of his vast ocean of memories. This was the final ruin of the Great Rebellion, the last and most critical window of opportunity in the Cosmos.

Targeting the Heaven Defiance Palace, the various lineages of the Immortal Gate and the many True Monarchs had engaged in countless schemes and clashes, each displaying their divine powers. This struggle lasted for three full years.

Three years later, the Heaven Defiance Palace was completely shattered.

The Great Rebellion Exploits were severed. Even the contingency plan left behind by the Human Emperor was useless; his heaven-defying return was thwarted as the various True Monarchs joined forces to seal him back into the annals of time.

Yet, just when everyone thought the dust had settled, from the deepest depths of the Heaven Defiance Palace, the true immortal who had been suppressed by the Human Emperor in the past finally emerged.

This sparked yet another world-shaking battle... Unfortunately, as a mere low-level cultivator at the time, he couldn't witness the outcome, and future generations had no records of it either. The only certainty was that, after the war, the immortal did not take control of the Cosmos, and the True Monarchs of every lineage sealed their Immortal Realms, never to emerge again.

The entire Cosmos was very nearly beaten to pieces.

During those three years, almost every Dao lineage executed ruthless schemes. They all had their own plans and unyielding bottom lines, turning the entire situation into absolute chaos.

In later eras, someone even made a summary of those events.

Although they avoided speaking of the intricate details out of reverence for the mighty figures involved, the general gist was captured, effectively covering all the major events of those three years.

It read: "Earth Qi steals destiny; the six qi return to the Cosmos once more."

"Wood Qi restores longevity; the human position wanders no longer."

"Metal Qi unlocks the hidden vault; Immortal-Serving undergoes bodily dissolution in the Great Void."

"Fire Qi enters Nirvana; the Radiant Qilin Dao smelts true gold."

"Water Qi shines brightly; Mingxing ascends to immortality and takes flight."

By the end of the wars, the Cosmos was laid utterly bare, stripped of its former vastness. The Immortal Dao was left heavily weakened and entangled in malicious karma, at one point even teetering on the edge of extinction.

Fortunately, the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] transmitted the Immortal Dao anew. He established the Five Phases, elevated the dharma body path, and cultivated Dharma Power Dao, finally stabilizing the crumbling situation.

His ambition lay in balancing the myriad laws, and thus he earned the title of Equal Law.

His innate talent was as though the Great Dao itself had descended, earning him the reverent moniker of Dao Transformation.

His exploits far surpassed his predecessors, granting him the grand title of Heavenly Venerable.

In the post-decline era, the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] stood as the sole supreme cultivator. No one knew his true cultivation realm; they only knew he was utterly invincible.

Regarding this, some believed it was simply his unparalleled combat prowess that made him the greatest in history. Others believed he had already ascended to immortality and had long since transcended the mortal realm, only choosing to hide his true status.

The former scoffed at the latter's claims. In response, the latter brought up the "dark history" of the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] having cultivated Water Qi in his youth. Naturally, the former denounced this as the most absurd fallacy in history, even accusing them of insulting the Dao Venerable with malicious intent. As a result, the two factions argued endlessly...

'Of course, no matter what, a nobody like me shouldn't have been able to provoke such an almighty figure!' The bidder trembled in fear as countless chaotic thoughts constantly surfaced and faded from his mind.

'Where exactly did I slip up?'

The bidder racked his brain, but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't figure out where the problem lay. Everything had developed in a completely different direction from his original plan.

He had only made a tiny alteration to history during the auction, raising the price of a spirit treasure just a little bit to prepare for the grand scheme he truly wanted to execute. Yet, because of such a minuscule action, he had been targeted. Who could he even complain to?

He could only curse his own rotten luck.

In all honesty, he was already starting to regret attending this auction. If he hadn't come, he wouldn't have been zeroed in on by a future supreme being this early on.

But after thinking it through, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, 'I had no choice but to come.'

After all, the Heaven Defiance Palace was simply far too important.

As the final window of opportunity in the Cosmos, even the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] had relied on it to complete the most critical step of his foundational accumulation.

Truth Cultivation.

If he missed this window and failed to achieve Truth Cultivation, he would forever remain a mere ant manipulated by True Persons and True Monarchs, completely losing any chance of jumping off the chessboard.

Having finally stumbled upon such a miraculous opportunity to live his life over again, he had long since resolved to risk everything. His primary goal was naturally to alter history and save the Immortal Dao from its decaying future. His secondary goal was his own cultivation—he needed to use the Heaven Defiance Palace's opening to elevate his realm to the absolute limit.

Only then would he have any room to maneuver in the future.

If there was hope of achieving Truth Cultivation, that would be ideal. If not, he would settle for the next best thing and defect to the bandit cultivators early; that way, he could at least secure a fruition rank for himself.

At this thought, the bidder finally let out a long breath.

Seeing him like this, Wang Ping, who had remained silent the whole time while watching the bidder's changing expressions with great interest, finally gave a soft chuckle.

"Have you sorted out your feelings?" he asked in a leisurely tone.

Not daring to dawdle, the bidder hurriedly bowed.

"Greetings, Senior Deity Transformation—!"

His voice came to a screeching halt.

Almost simultaneously, the smile on Wang Ping's face rapidly began to widen. The bidder inwardly cursed himself; upon coming face to face with the future almighty expert, he had momentarily lost his wits.

'I shouldn't have blurted out his Deity Transformation Dao title...'

As far as he knew, this was the Dao title the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] had used while cultivating Water Qi. However, this supreme expert's rise had simply been too rapid.

It had been less than three years in total.

Therefore, aside from the true transmission disciples around the [Eight Trigrams Furnace] region, most people had only heard of his name. Very few actually knew what he looked like.

'Especially a newly ascended Qi Refining cultivator like myself. In theory, all my focus should have been entirely devoted to surviving my life tribulation. It should be absolutely impossible for me to pay attention to outside changes, let alone recognize him at a single glance and even call out his Dao title. By blurting that out, I've just exposed a massive secret.'

In the next second, Wang Ping's gaze met the bidder's.

"You recognize me."

As those words fell, the bidder instantly felt as if he had been plunged into an icy chasm once again.

'I'm exposed.'

For a moment, the entire private room fell back into silence. Endless dark light shrouded everything inside and out, isolating karma and severing the connection between the inner and outer worlds.

'It's the dual application of the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time and [Covered Lamp Fire]... Why don't I just come clean? If I can let the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] know all the future changes in advance, he might be able to do better than in history. Plus, I could have him carry me...'

The bidder couldn't help but think this.

However, he quickly snuffed out the thought. 'No. Knowing the historical changes in advance might not be a good thing for this mighty figure.'

'Because the affairs of the world are not set in stone.'

'I merely raised the price by one hundred Immortal-Ascending Ingots at the auction, and it caused such a huge mess. Who knows how many other variables will arise?'

'If I tell the still-growing [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] about future changes, it will inevitably trigger even greater and more irreversible variables.'

'Most importantly, I don't know the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation]'s specific actions in the future, only the results. That makes it too easy to make a mistake. What if he listens to me, learns that he will definitely achieve greatness later, and chooses to take a risky gamble when he should have been cautious?'

'His personal failure would be a small matter.'

'But the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] is the key to whether the Immortal Dao can be revived after the Heaven-Tilting Catastrophe. If things go wrong because of me, even dying ten times wouldn't be enough to atone for it.'

At this thought, the bidder immediately firmed his resolve. 'I can't tell him. As long as I guard the secret with my life, he probably won't be able to guess anything.'

Over here, the bidder had made his decision.

On the other side, Wang Ping had also reached a conclusion. 'Unwarranted fear, feigned calm... He clearly recognizes me. This feeling is truly familiar.'

In a daze, he felt as if he had returned to the historical fragment, back to the scene when he met the [Heavenly Banner Pardoning True Monarch]—only this time, their positions were reversed.

He was sitting in the position of the [Heavenly Banner Pardoning True Monarch].

The bidder was sitting in his position. The two of them sat facing each other. This subtle parallel gave Wang Ping an intense sense of déjà vu.

Thus, after a moment of silence, he spoke.

"May I ask for your name, Daoist Friend?"

Hearing this, the bidder hurriedly replied.

"Profound Changes Immortal Peak, sixth true transmission disciple, Teng Xian greets—"

"Not that."

Teng Xian's pupils violently shrank!

'This feels great. So this is what it feels like to be a superior cultivator?'

Wang Ping looked at Teng Xian with a faint smile. The [Covered Lamp Fire] in his hand abruptly flared, effortlessly stripping away the mystical concealment on the other party to reveal his true face.

"I mean, Daoist Friend's name on the outside."

After saying this, Wang Ping actually grew a little nervous himself. He stared straight at Teng Xian, refusing to miss a single shift in his expression or the slightest fluctuation in his sea of consciousness.

However, the response he got was a blank, dazed look.

"...Outside?"

How should one put it? It was as if he had braced himself to answer a deliberately difficult question, but what he was actually asked was something completely irrelevant.

Hence the brief moment of confusion.

Wang Ping carefully scrutinized the shifts in Teng Xian's expression and the fluctuations of his divine sense before finally drawing a conclusion. 'It doesn't seem like a disguise. He really is confused.'

Ultimately, if Teng Xian possessed acting skills natural and flawless enough to deceive him, he wouldn't have aroused his suspicions in the first place. From this perspective, Wang Ping was actually relieved—at the very least, it meant the world he was currently in was highly unlikely to be a historical fragment.

'No, I can't be certain yet.'

After all, he himself didn't know what people in historical fragments and true history actually felt like, or if there were other methods to judge.

'...Everything is false.'

Wang Ping sighed inwardly, once again realizing the importance of Truth Cultivation. Without Truth Cultivation, without a sufficiently "real" perspective, many things remained unclear.

Of course, even with Truth Cultivation, there were still things that couldn't be seen clearly.

For instance, hadn't the rumored supreme expert of the Northern Palace been completely fooled by his own primordial sovereign? ...Though that was according to the Dao-Achievement Ten-Complete Sage.

Regardless of whether he had told the truth, even if he had, it might not be accurate.

After all, although he was very powerful, at best he was merely a True Person. To a True Monarch, he was a subordinate cultivator. What he said wasn't necessarily the truth of the matter.

Thinking carefully about it, the grand supreme expert of the Northern Palace was absolutely an outstanding figure even among True Monarchs. In the end, he was actually deceived to the point where he couldn't even distinguish between true history and a historical fragment, ultimately getting himself killed through his own recklessness. Could such an absurd death truly happen to a True Monarch?

There were likely hidden circumstances behind it.

Right at this moment, Teng Xian finally spoke up.

"This junior is slow-witted and does not understand Senior's true meaning..."

"No matter."

Wang Ping waved his hand, not dwelling on it. In fact, even if Teng Xian clearly stated that they were in a historical fragment, he wouldn't completely believe it.

He would even suspect whether this was a setup.

Just like how his own primordial sovereign had deceived the supreme expert of the Northern Palace, intentionally instilling memories into a lower cultivator to make him mistakenly believe reality was a historical fragment.

It wasn't impossible!

While Wang Ping sank into deep thought, Teng Xian on the other side was suffering torment, completely unable to understand the thoughts of the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] before him.

'What exactly did he see? Outside... What is the outside? Could he have guessed wrong? Did he fail to see through my secret and misunderstand something instead?'

A second later, Wang Ping spoke.

"So it is Daoist Friend Teng Xian, the sixth true transmission disciple. I've long looked forward to meeting you."

Saying this, Wang Ping immediately stepped forward on his own initiative, throwing an arm around Teng Xian's shoulders as he chuckled.

"At first glance, I felt that I had an affinity with you, Daoist Friend."

"We should become sworn friends unto death!"

'Hiss... That is not a good term!'

Teng Xian's mind quickly flashed through the unofficial histories concerning the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation], including how he used to be a Water Qi cultivator who went around swindling and deceiving others...

Rumor had it that barely anyone he called a sworn friend unto death had survived.

At this thought, Teng Xian hurriedly said in a strained voice, "I am but at the Qi Refining First Layer and have just transcended my life tribulation to achieve a minor attainment in Entering the Dao. How could I possibly associate with Senior as an equal?"

It was better to avoid this kind of close relationship.

Meanwhile, Wang Ping clearly sensed the Teng Xian he was holding flinch. The man's muscles stiffened, and his divine sense reeked of fear.

Although it only lasted a moment before he completely brought his body back under control, that nearly instinctive reaction still left an extremely deep impression on Wang Ping. Looking sideways, he noticed that after he mentioned being sworn friends unto death, Teng Xian inexplicably shrank his neck, his expression incredibly rigid.

'As expected, he is very familiar with me.'

The next second, Wang Ping forcefully patted Teng Xian's shoulder.

"Daoist Friend, you are being too distant. Why call me Senior? From now on, just call me Brother Wang!"

"This..."

Teng Xian's eyes widened. Looking at Wang Ping's utterly sincere expression, he became somewhat hesitant, simply because he suddenly realized that this was actually an opportunity as well.

If he could build a good relationship with the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] early on, it would greatly benefit his Dao path. Moreover, the man was truly so earnest; he didn't seem like a bad person at all.

"Daoist Friend Teng Xian?"

Wang Ping blinked, then immediately continued to channel the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time. Layer after layer of profound divine ability rapidly descended onto Teng Xian.

It hid away his sense of danger, his wariness and suspicion, and everything related to negative emotions, leaving only trust and goodwill toward him... As Wang Ping's cultivation grew higher and higher, the range that the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time could affect also grew ever larger.

Only after finishing all this did Wang Ping chuckle softly.

"Daoist Friend Teng Xian, there's no need to be formal. Come on, call me Brother Wang."

"This... Might not be appropriate."

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Seeing that Teng Xian was still somewhat resistant, Wang Ping instantly increased the output of his divine ability. Just like that, another moment passed before Teng Xian finally said in fear and trepidation, "Brother Wang..."

Hearing this, Wang Ping narrowed his eyes.

'You actually dare to call me that?'

'Very well. It looks like he's not far from drooling... Hmm, let's stop here. Any more would be overkill. I'll probably have to observe the rest a bit longer.'

Thinking to this point, Wang Ping finally reached out and pressed his hand against the center of Teng Xian's brow, saying softly, "Don't move. Relax a little. Feeling dizzy is normal."

Teng Xian's face was filled with terror.

His gaze landed on the center of Wang Ping's palm, where a bright, flawless beam of moonlight caught his eyes. It was crystal clear and transparent, condensing into a bottomless deep pool.

[Supreme Yin Dwelling]!

The first phenomenon of Water Qi, the major divine ability corresponding to [Supreme Yin Weak Water]. Wang Ping pressed it right into the center of Teng Xian's brow, the moonlight submerging into his sea of consciousness in an instant.

The very next second, all relevant memories were hidden away by an invisible, mighty power, vanishing from Teng Xian's mind. He only remembered a brief conversation with Wang Ping just now. Finally, he closed and opened his eyes. Even the look of terror on his face had been wiped away, restoring him to how he appeared at the start.

"Daoist Friend, you may leave."

Wang Ping took a step back and handed over the [Profound Nether Pot], chuckling lightly.

"The transaction is complete. I wish you a fruitful harvest inside the Heaven Defiance Palace, Daoist Friend."

"...Many thanks, Brother Wang."

Teng Xian walked unsteadily out of the private room just like that, unable to collect his wits for a long time. He had passed the hurdle just like that? That grand personage hadn't asked a single tricky question.

'Phew... It seems it really was a misunderstanding!'

Teng Xian finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless, the outcome was good. He had obtained the [Profound Nether Pot], and everything was ready. He could finally go execute the first major event in his plan.

As for the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation]...

In history, he hadn't participated in the incident at the seventh ring of the Heaven Defiance Palace. His first appearance was inside the Imperial Guard Garrison Headquarters. It shouldn't be a big problem.

After this time, they likely wouldn't cross paths again anytime soon.

Inside the private room, Wang Ping retracted his gaze.

'It's a pity I can't search his soul directly, and I can't make him spill his true thoughts using the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time. As for killing him to refine into a Yin Spirit...'

'The risks aren't quite manageable.'

Wang Ping lightly tapped his index finger against the armrest.

He wasn't going to take risks. The reason he had called Teng Xian into the private room and planted the [Supreme Yin Dwelling] on him essentially served only one purpose.

'The Primordial Sovereign... Should still be watching me, right?'

Wang Ping hadn't forgotten that whether it was the gentleman should hide his implements at the right time on his body or the spiritual treasure [Profound One Calamity-Crossing Ring], both were inextricably linked to the Primordial Sovereign.

And as long as his own Primordial Sovereign was still keeping an eye on him, she could definitely see Teng Xian as well. The inside story that he couldn't see through, the Primordial Sovereign would surely be able to see.

'If even the Primordial Sovereign can't tell...'

'Then what's the point of playing? I might as well just give up.'

Thinking of this, Wang Ping suddenly relaxed a lot. It was still the same old saying: if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. It wasn't his place to worry blindly on behalf of his superiors.

Thus, Wang Ping waited very patiently. Sure enough, it wasn't long before his mind stirred, sensing a foreign object enter his Dao and Virtue Grotto-Heaven.

The next second, Wang Ping circulated the power of the Grotto-Heaven to shift through the void, appearing above the Dao and Virtue Grotto-Heaven. What met his eyes was a scene of thin mist and fine rain. The profound scenery shifted, finally condensing into a long shirt and revealing a pair of golden vertical pupils that looked over with a ferocity unique to monsters.

The Water Qi Yin Spirit, Yunlong.

Immediately after, the golden vertical pupils faded, and all the fierce aura returned to a peaceful state. Then, Yunlong was seen cupping his hands, saluting formally and rigidly as he said, "Greetings, Dao Child."

Wang Ping immediately returned the salute.

"Greetings, Senior Yunlong."

Seeing this, Yunlong smiled faintly.

"Dao Child has been cultivating outside for many days. The Primordial Sovereign misses you and specially asked this lowly one to pick you up to return to the Deity Transformation Realm for a chat."

After these words fell, Wang Ping didn't answer. He was also well aware that Yunlong's words were not directed at him—because at the exact same time Yunlong appeared, a figure materialized beside him as well. It was none other than Fu, who had been closely protecting him ever since they left the Dao Tomb, looking quite displeased.

"You're going?"

Fu looked sideways at Wang Ping.

In all fairness, he didn't really like Wang Ping getting too close to Mingdu. After all, from ancient times to the present, there had been far too many Dao Children who had been played to death by Mingdu.

He was worried that that female demon would eat Wang Ping clean.

"I have no choice but to go."

Wang Ping's expression was grave. He indeed had many doubts regarding Teng Xian's appearance. As things stood, he feared that only his own Primordial Sovereign could clear his confusion.

"Dao Child, please."

Yunlong turned sideways and extended a hand. Wang Ping took a deep breath, then stepped forward. Soon, he once again sensed the aura of the Deity Transformation Realm that he had lost contact with for a time.

Rumble!

The world spun. By the time Wang Ping recovered from the boundless dark light, his vision gradually cleared, and the familiar sight of the sea of ten thousand islands spectacularly entered his eyes.

At the same time, inside Bright Light City.

Teng Xian hadn't waited for the auction to end. After all, he had no money left. Therefore, after obtaining the [Profound Nether Pot], he headed straight for the center of the Grotto-Heaven the moment he left the private room.

'I must hurry!'

Teng Xian's heart was filled with urgency.

After paying the entry fee, he barreled straight into the secret realm of the Heaven Defiance Palace. After the profound scenery shifted several times, he landed within a cluster of palaces.

There was only one chance. If he missed it, there would be no more hope.

Teng Xian swallowed nervously, continuously reviewing his plan in his mind, striving to perfect every detail to ensure that nothing could possibly go wrong during execution.

The unexpected event at the auction was, in the end, merely a brief interlude.

This current matter, however, allowed no room for error.

'If I fail, I'll likely have to abandon this fateful opportunity.'

Speaking of his fateful opportunity, it was actually quite simple. It was a fruition rank created by the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation], which granted him a chance to start over.

That fruition rank was known as [City Wall Earth].

Its profound mystery was called [Mastering Past and Present]. It could determine karma and alter destiny, serving as an anomaly within the Cosmos. Thanks to this profound mystery, he was able to live a second life.

Being able to bring all his memories of the future back to the day he transcended his life tribulation and successfully reached Qi Refining—this kind of extreme reversal, an opportunity that allowed one to start anew, could practically be called defying the heavens and changing one's fate for a lower cultivator. Therefore, Teng Xian cherished it deeply, unwilling to waste even half a second.

Entering Heaven Defiance Palace.

Teng Xian's gaze was resolute, his movements without the slightest hesitation. Locking onto a direction, he sped away. He had deduced and simulated this route countless times.

His destination was called Jade Firmament Palace.

The true core and vital ground of the Five Thunders Divine Firmament Office, the mansion of the Great Rebellion that controlled the Heavenly Thunder, and also the hiding place of the Heaven-Stealing Thief, Gan Wujiu.

'The target this time... is him!'

The Heaven-Stealing Thief, Gan Wujiu.

He carried tremendous weight among the Tribulation Transcending cultivators of the Immortal Gate. As the former number one true transmission disciple and a descendant of an immortal, the overlapping halos of glory upon him filled many with awe.

However, the truth was not so.

In Teng Xian's memories, the death of the Heaven-Stealing Thief was undoubtedly tragic and heroic. Being an immortal's descendant hadn't brought him the slightest advantage.

Instead, it only brought endless trouble.

With his aptitude, if he didn't have the identity of an immortal's descendant, he might have had the hope of reaching Truth Cultivation. It was just a pity that destiny had never been reasonable.

'At this time, he should still be suspected by most True Monarchs of being the offspring of the Fire Qi Immortal, while a small minority suspect him of being the Living Buddha's illegitimate son. But only I, along with that Earth Qi True Monarch who only deals with lower cultivators, know that he isn't the blood descendant of either of those two immortals.'

Teng Xian looked up.

Even the Heaven-Stealing Thief himself might not know this point, or perhaps Earth Qi had intentionally hidden it; after all, that True Monarch naturally excelled at such methods.

Thinking of this, he looked toward the deepest reaches of Heaven Defiance Palace—that was right, the Heaven-Stealing Thief was actually the offspring of the exalted figure in the very depths.

He was merely sent out through some special method.

That was why the Earth Qi True Monarch took advantage of his life tribulation, using destiny to obscure the karma and force him into the depths of Heaven Defiance Palace.

'Right now, he probably still thinks he outsmarted them, slipping into Heaven Defiance Palace right under a True Monarch's nose to snatch a thread of life for his life tribulation... In reality, he was only able to hide in Heaven Defiance Palace because the True Monarch wanted him to hide in Heaven Defiance Palace. He never escaped at all!'

The minds of monarchs were unfathomable; it was nothing more than this.

'That Earth Qi True Monarch only deals with lower cultivators. He has far too much experience and far too many tricks. Furthermore, he's fully proficient in Concealing Mystery. He is truly ruthless toward lower cultivators.'

In the current Cosmos, the only person capable of besting him in this regard was likely that Water Qi Primordial Sovereign Mingdu Xuanyi; there could be no one else.

Even the cultivation base of the Heaven-Stealing Thief—not daring to enter Qi Refining and halting at Tribulation Transcending—was carefully calculated by that Earth Qi True Monarch. The intent was to keep his cultivation low. After all, only with a low cultivation could he remain inside Jade Firmament Palace and be easily manipulated. The future return of the Ancient Qi of the Six Heavens would all start because of this person.

The reason was quite simple.

The supreme treasures and formations used by the Great Rebellion in the past for Purging the Stale Qi of the Six Heavens were all housed within Jade Firmament Palace. Once they were broken, the Ancient Qi of the Six Heavens would return to the Cosmos.

Among them, the Heaven-Stealing Thief was the linchpin.

Not only that, as the descendant of the immortal trapped inside... the eventual escape of that immortal might also have a certain connection to the Heaven-Stealing Thief.

'Moreover, that Earth Qi True Monarch also leveraged the life tribulation of the Heaven-Stealing Thief, attempting to drag down that Water Qi True Monarch who cultivates [Water-Heaven Waiting]. If he succeeded and a Water Qi True Monarch manifested in the world, the Water Qi faction's situation of concealment, which has lasted for countless years, would inevitably be severely compromised.'

'Three birds with one stone!'

Reviewing it from the perspective of later generations, the Heaven-Stealing Thief was involved in far too much. He had virtually no path to survival; all his attempts to survive ultimately became nothing more than pieces played by the True Monarchs.

Thinking of this, Teng Xian grew even more resolute.

'I can only kill him.'

In Teng Xian's view, the Heaven-Stealing Thief was an absolute root of disaster—the fuse that would detonate the layouts of various factions within Heaven Defiance Palace. He had to find a way to eliminate him.

'Once the Heaven-Stealing Thief dies, without this most critical chess piece, the plans of the various Daoist lineages might not fall completely short, but they will inevitably be stalled. They will need to select new pieces to enter the board. The Heaven Defiance Palace incident, which was originally supposed to end in just three years, should be extended to over ten years.'

An extended window of opportunity was also beneficial to him.

After all, he wasn't the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation]. Wanting to progress from newly entering Qi Refining to the level of Truth Cultivation in a mere three years was pushing it too far.

However, if he had ten or twenty years, relying on his knowledge of the future and the fateful opportunities within Heaven Defiance Palace, his hopes would be vastly greater!

Soon, Teng Xian arrived at his destination.

What met his eyes was a clearing. Jade Firmament Palace was unlike the other thunder offices; its essence was actually a Grotto-Heaven. Its main body was constructed deep within the void, leaving only an invisible portal on the outside. Without the corresponding incantation, it was entirely impossible to open, let alone enter.

Fortunately, he knew this incantation.

After all, in his future era, all the secrets of Heaven Defiance Palace were no longer secrets. Anyone with an interest in archeology had the chance to learn them.

Teng Xian formed the hand seals and commanded aloud, "Above, supporting the Human Emperor; below, commanding Yin and Yang..."

In an instant, a hazy halo of light rose up from the empty clearing. Without any hesitation, Teng Xian plunged headfirst directly into the glow.

Immediately after, the world shifted.

"Hmm!?"

What entered his vision was remarkably a vast expanse of profound clouds stretching endlessly beyond sight. The entire Grotto-Heaven was actually enveloped by these dark clouds, practically transforming it into an ink-black sea.

And above this profound, ink-black sea of clouds, streaks of lightning could faintly be seen shuttling back and forth. However, they were different from mundane lightning, and entirely distinct from the lightning stimulated by Heavenly Yang Wood. Instead, they took on a noble purple hue. Every time a bolt of lightning flashed, it was the result of the collision of Yin and Yang energies and the convergence of heaven and earth.

In addition to this, there were palatial halls suspended within the sea of clouds.

According to the records, there should be one hundred and eight halls here.

Every single hall served as a formation base. When combined, they transformed into the ink-black sea of profound clouds—this was the array itself, used to suppress and seal the Ancient Qi of the Six Heavens.

'The Heaven-Stealing Thief should be over there right now...'

Teng Xian took a deep breath, then rode his evasion light, precisely dodging all the purple lightning bolts as he flew toward a hall located in a certain corner of the cloud sea.

It didn't take long for him to find his destination.

"Phew..."

Looking at the target hall and the grand formation encircling it, Teng Xian inhaled deeply, finally suppressing all his nervousness as he slowly formed a hand seal.

'It's fine. I can win!'

Although the Heaven-Stealing Thief was an immortal's descendant with extremely high Dao attainment, could resonate with the Qian Trigram while only at Tribulation Transcending, and held a superior Spiritual Treasure in his hands.

'But no matter how strong he is, he's at most on par with a Corpse Dissolution Immortal.'

'And I have already reached Qi Refining!'

This was also the reason why Teng Xian had set his sights on the Heaven-Stealing Thief. After all, his other target, Xianfu, had in all likelihood already reached Qi Refining by this time.

Leaving aside the fact that as the reincarnation of a True Person, Xianfu was similarly involved in the Wood Qi's layouts, that True Person Xuanxiao Yingyuan practically acted as his personal bodyguard. There simply wouldn't be any chance to strike. Even if an opportunity truly arose, with his own meager tricks, trying to defeat a reincarnated True Person would probably still be somewhat difficult.

Compared to him, the Heaven-Stealing Thief was much easier to deal with.

No matter how high your Dao attainment or how deep your background, you were ultimately just at Tribulation Transcending. As a dignified Qi Refining cultivator, even if he couldn't fight an upper cultivator, couldn't he bully a lower cultivator like you?

'Not to mention, I also have a Spiritual Treasure now.'

If he didn't have a Spiritual Treasure, even if the Heaven-Stealing Thief couldn't defeat him, he could still escape. The [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation] seemed to have had a similar experience back in the day.

However, with a Spiritual Treasure, the situation was completely different.

This was especially true of the [Profound Nether Pot]. Although this Earth Yin soil Spiritual Treasure did not excel at slaughter, it possessed the ability to trap and lock, making it absolutely perfect for preventing someone from escaping.

At this thought, Teng Xian immediately offered up the [Profound Nether Pot] in mid-air. Aiming the mouth of the pot at the hall below, he thoroughly locked down and sealed the entire surrounding area. Only then did he circulate his divine power, condensing an abyssal, dark light in his palm. With a backhand strike, he furiously slammed it down upon the palatial hall below.

"Bang!"

The dark light surged, yet it was completely silent. It instantly melted away the grand formation surrounding the hall, breaking open the portal and blasting more than half the eaves and roof into collapse.

Following this, the scene inside the hall was revealed. It was a youth dressed in luxurious clothes, seated atop a mountain-shaped Spiritual Treasure, currently meditating to regulate his breathing.

The state of the youth sitting on the mountain appeared especially bizarre. He was clearly close at hand, yet actually approaching him gave off the feeling that he was as distant as the horizon.

In the next second, the youth opened his eyes.

"Hmm!?"

The Heaven-Stealing Thief revealed a look of astonishment. He hadn't expected someone to actually be able to enter Jade Firmament Palace; the entry and exit incantations were supposed to be known only to him.

'Not good...'

In an instant, the Heaven-Stealing Thief reacted as if facing a formidable enemy. He had been able to continuously ignore outside affairs precisely by relying on the fact that without the incantation, one could not enter or leave Jade Firmament Palace. And as long as Jade Firmament Palace wasn't breached, even if the other four thunder offices were entirely destroyed, it wouldn't affect the Great Rebellion's exploits of Purging the Stale Qi of the Six Heavens.

But things were different now.

Once the entry incantation for Jade Firmament Palace was leaked, given the Immortal Gate's sheer size and their locust-like style of plundering, how could he possibly defend this place all by himself?

'I must capture this person!'

Without any hesitation, the figure of the Heaven-Stealing Thief vanished from the spot, instantly entering a timeline completely different from Teng Xian's.

Time-Stealing Thief!

Seeing this, Teng Xian was also extremely vigilant. The Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Method was said to be a supreme Dharma formulated by the Human Emperor, and seeing it now, it truly lived up to its reputation.

A Dharma that could be cultivated even at Tribulation Transcending actually involved temporal changes. Being able to open-source such profound mysteries to lower cultivators showed that the Human Emperor's methods were truly extraordinary.

Of course, it still fell short of the [Heavenly Venerable of Equal Law and Dao Transformation].

After all, that exalted figure didn't just open-source profound mysteries to lower cultivators; he open-sourced the entire cultivation system of the Cosmos's Immortal Dao to lower cultivators.

As he thought about this, Teng Xian suddenly froze.

'Wait... that's not right!'

'This is a magical battle. How did my thoughts suddenly drift away? Speaking of which, where is the Heaven-Stealing Thief? Why couldn't I track his movements...'

Teng Xian found it somewhat inconceivable. Even if the Time-Stealing Thief possessed extremely high profound mystery, he himself was a Qi Refining practitioner. Dealing with a Tribulation Transcending cultivator under the suppression of a higher realm, no amount of profound mystery should have mattered. In theory, he should have been able to see through it at a single glance. Yet just now, he had actually blanked out for a moment?

It was the God-Stealing Thief...

Squelch!

The next second, the very instant Teng Xian realized what had happened, a palm had already pierced straight through his chest, sending his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs spilling out all at once.

Up until this moment, Teng Xian hadn't even processed it. A massive flood of combat thoughts surfaced, only to inexplicably vanish, ultimately turning into a stare of utter blankness.

This was absolutely not at the level of Tribulation Transcending.

Even augmented by a Spiritual Treasure, resonating with the Qian Trigram, and perhaps even rivaling a Corpse Dissolution Immortal, it was absolutely impossible for his dharma body to be torn apart so effortlessly.

—Qi Refining?

The Heaven-Stealing Thief, who in his memory was supposed to halt at Tribulation Transcending and never reach Qi Refining before he died, had actually reached Qi Refining? Why had history changed again?

"Ah?"

Deity Transformation Realm.

Wang Ping followed Yunlong all the way up, descending into the bottom of that Xuanhe above the heavenly vault. Before long, the Dao platform he had seen once before entered his line of sight.

Prior to this, there had been no one on the Dao platform.

The last time he came here, he had obtained the [Profound One Calamity-Crossing Ring], yet the sovereign had not shown her face. This figure had exuded an intense aura of mystery from beginning to end.

It was the same this time.

Wang Ping looked over, only to see that although there was an extra person on the Dao platform, it wasn't a woman, but rather a youth clad in a black robe with a kind and benevolent face.

It was very similar to the scene when he met the Heavenly Banner Pardoning True Monarch. Even though he had seen his true face, when he tried to recall it, he was left with only the impression of "kind and benevolent." He couldn't remember his actual appearance. Furthermore, a bright heavenly light radiated from the youth, illuminating all directions and exuding an astonishingly profound sense of clarity.

Untouched by karma, unstained by external tribulations.

In Wang Ping's perception, the youth before him was spotlessly clean, looking exactly like a good person, as if he would never form a grudge or enmity with anyone.

Heaven-Water Dispute.

'I'm afraid... this is the True Monarch's true body!'

Wang Ping understood implicitly. He immediately stepped forward, kowtowed in salute, and greeted, "Disciple Wang Ping pays his respects to True Monarch Shuofang Hanyou. I respectfully wish the True Monarch great prosperity in the Immortal Dao."

Hearing these words, the youth on the dao platform seemed to smile.

Then, an amiable, warm, and highly intimate voice rang by Wang Ping's ear, "Rise."

"Although there is a vast gap in age and cultivation between us, my young friend, I have long viewed you as a close friend despite our years. There's no need for such grand formalities the next time we meet."

Wang Ping paused. 'Motherfucker, is this Water Qi bastard trying to set me up?'

In the next second, the youth reached out a hand. Wang Ping instantly felt the rift between himself and his Grotto-Heaven being forcibly pried open, allowing the palm to reach right inside.

Immediately after, he pulled an item out of it.

[Profound-Dwelling Dharma-Warding Robe]!

Because it supposedly contained all the karma that True Monarch Water-Heaven Waiting had within the Cosmos, Wang Ping had never dared to take this profound artifact out since acquiring it.

Yet now, True Monarch Shuofang Hanyou had taken it out. He intimately beckoned Wang Ping to step forward, gently draped the profound robe over his shoulders, and smiled.

"The weather has been turning cold lately. Let me add a layer of clothing for you, my young friend. Don't catch a cold."

"...Many thanks, True Monarch."

Wang Ping almost crushed his teeth from gritting them so hard, yet he didn't dare show the slightest hint of his true feelings. He could only force out a touched expression and bow deeply to the youth before him.

"Very good."

Seeing this, the youth finally smiled. Then, his expression abruptly turned solemn. His voice, which had initially lacked any anomalies and sounded like a normal person's, gradually grew deep and resonant.

Faintly, Wang Ping seemed to hear the overwhelming crash of ocean waves mixed with the muffled rumble of thunder. Firmness and gentleness intertwined as the sound echoed by his ears.

"Dao Child, the Water Qi has a decree."

In an instant, a boundless, obscure light surged from all sides of the dao platform, rushing forward to shroud it completely, as if plunging it into the deepest depths of the sea.

As a result, karma could not be perceived and destiny could not be seen. No one could pry into this place, nor could anything be deduced after the fact. It wouldn't even leave the slightest trace in history.

The Water Qi had concealed itself; this place had reached the absolute zenith of secrecy!

Wang Ping experienced an instant epiphany.

This wasn't the youth, nor was it True Monarch Shuofang Hanyou speaking—at least, not him alone. Rather, the entire Water Qi Daoist Lineage was speaking through his mouth!

"First, the Five Thieves Stealing Heaven Method in Gan Wujiu's hands originates from the Five Thunders Divine Firmament Office. The crucial element lies within the Jade Firmament Palace, which holds the formation and supreme treasure used by the Great Rebellion during the Purging the Stale Qi of the Six Heavens. You must find a way to protect this place, ensuring the formation is not destroyed and Gan Wujiu does not die."

Wang Ping's eyes instantly went wide.

'Sure enough, Teng Xian's appearance was a catalyst. Someone has played a piece on the board, so the Water Qi side has no choice but to respond. I just don't know what the crucial point is...'

Not daring to hesitate, he hurriedly bowed.

"I will strictly obey the decree."

The youth nodded slightly and spoke again. However, the voice that emerged this time was extremely chaotic and androgynous, one Wang Ping had never heard before.

"Second, Xianfu is the reincarnation of the Wood Qi True Person, and his ambition lies with the Cavern Abyss Pure Profound Dragon Thunder Water Directorate Divine Position. You must seize it and prevent Xianfu from attaining it."

Wang Ping bowed once more.

"I will strictly obey the decree."

He understood.

'It's Water-Heaven Waiting! The one speaking right now must be that deeply hidden Water Qi True Monarch who abandoned the mortal world and has never even revealed a trace of his presence!'

On the dao platform, the heavenly voice continued to echo.

"Third..."

After those words fell, the youth stopped speaking. Instead, he let his sleeves drop and took a step back, lowering his head slightly as a sign of respect. Only the sounds of waves and thunder remained between heaven and earth.

Immediately following that, a familiar voice from Wang Ping's memories—the magnanimous, generous voice of a noblewoman—finally rang out.

"Find a way to help Mingyou achieve Truth Cultivation, and enable Tianxing to attain the Dao."

"Finally, the previous leader of the Fire Qi Dao, the Heavenly Wheel Radiant Qilin Saint King, was slain by the Human Emperor in the past, and his severed head was hung in the Heaven Defiance Palace. After the Great Rebellion was destroyed, the Radiant Qilin's head also vanished. It must have gained sentience and is seeking to restore its original body... Find this skull, and execute it using the Northern Palace Divine Edge."

This was the first time.

This was the very first time the usually reticent and reclusive Primordial Sovereign had spoken at such length. Wang Ping could sense just how much importance she attached to this matter.

The crash of the waves gradually subsided, and the rumble of thunder slowly ceased.

All the profound mysteries dissipated along with them. The obscure light shrouding the area vanished without a trace, much like the ebbing of a tide. Wang Ping raised his head, subconsciously looking at the youth before him.

"True Monarch..."

"There is no need to say more."

The youth waved his hand and smiled.

"Just keep what was said in your heart. Do it, but do not speak of it. Once the matter is over, you will naturally be given a result."

Hearing this, Wang Ping could only bury his doubts in the bottom of his heart. He asked instead.

"What about that lower cultivator?"

Teng Xian. He believed his Primordial Sovereign had definitely seen him. Wang Ping had even buried the [Supreme Yin Dwelling] over there. Was the Primordial Sovereign not planning to deal with this person?

A second later, the youth chuckled.

"That lower cultivator—he himself holds no significance whatsoever."

Speaking up to this point, the youth seemed to have caught the mood for conversation. He simply motioned for Wang Ping to sit down on the dao platform. The two sat facing each other before the youth spoke in a soft voice.

"You must remember, the chess players of this Cosmos would never stake the victory or defeat of the entire game solely on a mere lower cultivator, a single chess piece."

"You might feel that this lower cultivator seems to be hiding many secrets, and that the chess player behind him might be trying to achieve some goal through him... However, the way we see it, the moment that lower cultivator appeared in the Cosmos and showed up before you, the chess player's goal was already achieved."

Wang Ping partially understood, yet remained somewhat confused.

So, the youth explained further.

"In short, what matters isn't what that lower cultivator did, but his very existence itself."

"Because he anchored a future."

"In the past, the Human Emperor once did something similar through Xuanzhi's innate divine power, but he failed. The future he anchored was smashed to pieces."

"Because of that, the Human Emperor went missing, and the Great Rebellion perished as a result."

"Now, another Daoist friend has anchored a future. To be able to do this, they must either be a True Monarch holding a quasi-immortal artifact, or a quasi-immortal themselves."

"That is the crucial point."

"In other words..."

Having said that, the youth finally brushed his sleeves and stood up. The "kind and benevolent" aura gradually faded from his face, replaced by a solemn gravity.

"...Next, what we must fight for is the future."