He looked toward that Primordial Gate, his hands forming a spacetime seal. Layer upon layer of increasingly complex, increasingly sturdy spacetime restrictions surged out like a tide.
They completely sealed and concealed that stone wall, even twisting the spacetime coordinates around it to a certain extent.
“This gate shall be sealed away for all eternity. Unless there is truly no other choice, no thought of opening it again is ever to be entertained.”
Immortal King Wuzhong delivered his verdict.
Immortal King Six Paths of Reincarnation, the True Dragon King, and the others all nodded one after another, lingering fear still in their hearts.
Their desire to explore the secrets of the Emperor Fall Era had no choice but to be suppressed for the time being in the face of absolute danger.
The willow branches of the Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit swayed gently, transmitting a thought.
“The source of darkness… as expected, it has always existed. To guard this heaven and earth is a burden heavy and far-reaching.”
Lu Xuan looked at the stone wall buried beneath countless seals. There was not much regret in his heart, only vigilance.
The secrets of the Emperor Fall Era, the origin of the Realm Sea—these were certainly tempting. But the prerequisite was possessing enough strength to face the terror that followed them.
“It seems there truly aren’t many peaceful days left.”
He murmured softly to himself, his gaze seeming to pierce through the void once more, looking toward that boundless and perilous Realm Sea.
On this journey to the ancient realm, though he had not obtained the fortune he had expected, he had avoided a potential cataclysm.
It had also given him a clearer understanding of the enemies he would face in the future.
Increasing his strength could not wait!
And at the very same time that Lu Xuan and the giants of the ancient realm sealed the Primordial Gate—
In an unknowable depth of the Realm Sea, within a stretch of eternal darkness, it was as though some existence, in the midst of slumber, had… shifted ever so slightly.
After that dangerous Primordial Gate was sealed, the atmosphere within the valley remained grave.
Heavy topics such as the Emperor Fall Era and the source of darkness hung over everyone’s hearts like dark clouds.
To dispel this oppression, and also to thank Lu Xuan for his crucial warning, Immortal King Wuzhong suggested that the fellow Daoists present sit and discuss the Dao here in the valley.
As soon as this proposal was made, it immediately received everyone’s agreement.
At their level, a high-level exchange on the Dao was far more precious than any rare treasure.
And so, within this hidden valley sealed off by countless restrictions—
Several existences standing at the pinnacle of the Immortal King realm gathered around the sealed stone wall, each manifesting the rhythm of their Dao, beginning this rarely seen grand gathering of discourse.
Immortal King Wuzhong was the first to evolve the true meaning of spacetime. The illusory image of the river of time flowed from his fingertips as he expounded upon the profundities of ending and return, as though he could make all eternity become emptiness, and could also freeze an eternal instant in place.
Though Immortal King Six Paths of Reincarnation had yet to recover from his injuries, he still forced himself to concentrate, manifesting six hazy reincarnation caves and interpreting the supreme principles of the alternation between life and death. That profound aura seemed capable of drawing even one’s primordial spirit into reincarnation.
The Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit’s countless willow branches swayed gently. Emerald divine radiance transformed into a hymn of life, expounding upon the Dao of purification and protection. That majestic vitality and its restraining power against darkness drew sidelong glances from all present.
The True Dragon King’s blood and qi roared, dragon might surging vast and boundless. What he displayed was the tyranny of shattering the void, as well as the ancient battle arts passed down by the dragon race.
The Immortal Monk King recited true scriptures, Buddhist light shining everywhere. What he interpreted was the Chan principle of compassionate deliverance and an unmoving mind, which actually held a faintly complementary wonder with the Golden Crow race’s resplendent Great Sun Dao.
As for Lu Xuan, he evolved the Great Dao in which his own chaos and sun merged as one.
He did not manifest the Chaos Bell, but the chaotic currents and true solar fire naturally flowing around him seemed to be opening miniature universes, evolving earth, water, fire, and wind, expounding upon a supreme conception that embraced all things.
His Dao possessed both the sun’s illumination and destruction, as well as chaos’s primal nature and unknown depths. Even the well-informed giants seated there felt it was incomparably profound and gained no small benefit from it.
The Great Daos resonated together, and myriad phenomena appeared.
All sorts of utterly different Dao laws collided and fused within the valley, bursting forth with sparks of wisdom.
At times, the others listened with rapt attention; at times, they opened their mouths to expound upon their own Daos; and at times, they clapped their hands in admiration at another’s exquisite discourse.
This Dao discussion continued for several months. Every participant felt that they had gained greatly, acquiring new insights into their own paths. Much of the gloom brought about by the Primordial Gate also dispersed.
By the end of the discourse, the atmosphere had become extremely harmonious.
Immortal King Wuzhong and Immortal King Six Paths of Reincarnation exchanged a glance. Then Immortal King Wuzhong spoke, looking solemnly toward Lu Xuan.
“Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan, the Great Dao is wondrous and profound. Only after discussing the Dao with you today do we know there are always heavens beyond the heavens. Your inheritance, bearing, and strength all truly earn our admiration.”
He paused, his tone becoming even more sincere.
“Now the Foreign Realm watches us like a tiger eyeing its prey, and in the depths of the Realm Sea there is an even more unfathomable darkness. Though our Primordial Ancient Realm is small, it is also the front line resisting the darkness, bearing the hopes of countless living beings.”
“After this matter, we understand all the more deeply that only by uniting more like-minded people can we fight for a thread of survival in this great age.”
Immortal King Six Paths of Reincarnation took over, his voice weak, yet carrying incomparable seriousness.
“Therefore, we, on behalf of the Primordial Ancient Realm, solemnly invite you, Fellow Daoist—to join our ancient realm, jointly wield authority over this realm, and together guard all living beings!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the valley instantly fell silent.
The True Dragon King, the Immortal Monk King, and the Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit all looked toward Lu Xuan, anticipation in their eyes.
This was undoubtedly an extremely weighty invitation!
It meant that Lu Xuan would directly become one of the highest rulers of the ancient realm, equal to Wuzhong, Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the others!
Immortal King Wuzhong made an even more concrete promise.
“If you agree, Fellow Daoist, the resources of the ancient realm will be yours to use as you please. We can share with you the secrets of the ancient realm’s core inheritances, such as spacetime, reincarnation, and life. We may even honor you with the position of Eastern Emperor, with status equal to ours, and discuss all major affairs of the ancient realm together!”
The position of Eastern Emperor!
Sharing the core inheritances!
Jointly wielding authority over an entire realm!
Such conditions could not be called anything but generous, anything but sincere!
They were enough to move the heart of any Immortal King!
When Lu Xuan heard this, he was also slightly startled.
He could sense the sincerity of the ancient realm’s giants. This trust and esteem indeed stirred a faint ripple in his heart.
Joining the ancient realm meant obtaining a stable and powerful rear base, sharing in the foundation and knowledge accumulated over countless years. For exploring the Great Dao and facing future crises, it undoubtedly held enormous appeal.
In that instant, he was indeed somewhat tempted.
However, after a moment of silence, the newly born Fusang divine tree in the Golden Crow ancestral land flashed through his mind, and even more so, the deeper karmic ties concerning himself and the Realm Sea that he seemed destined to face and explore alone.
He slowly raised his head, his gaze clear and firm. Cupping his hands toward Immortal King Wuzhong and the others, he spoke with an apologetic yet unquestionable tone.
“Many thanks for your great regard, fellow Daoists. For such sincerity, I, Lu, am endlessly grateful.”
Then his words changed direction.
“However, as the ancestor of the Golden Crow race, I bear the heavy responsibility of my clan’s rise and fall, and it is difficult for me to set that aside. Furthermore, my Dao lies in chaos and in the sun. I must walk the heavens, seek the Dao among myriad worlds, and temper myself through battle. I fear it would be difficult for me to remain guarding one realm for long.”
He looked at everyone and spoke sincerely.
“Moreover, the Immortal Domain and the ancient realm are already as close as lips and teeth, each the other’s support. Though I, Lu, will not enter the ancient realm, my heart in resisting darkness and opposing the Foreign Realm is no different from yours, fellow Daoists. If the ancient realm faces calamity one day, I, Lu, will certainly not shrink from duty and will come to aid you with all my strength! This heart and this resolve may be witnessed by heaven and earth.”