Chapter 397: Lord of Order

On the third day after the Victory Celebration Assembly concluded, a secret order spread throughout the core echelons of the Spirit Realm Alliance. The secret order consisted of only four words: 'Assemble immediately.' The issuer of the secret order was not Wang Ping, not Cang Xuan, not any God Transformation stage expert, but a person everyone thought had ceased to exist—the founder of the Spirit Realm Alliance, the ancient ancestor who fought side by side with Jiang Mingyuan thirty thousand years ago, honored as the 'Lord of Humanity,' Xuanyan Daozun.

This being, who had lived for over thirty thousand years, had remained in seclusion deep within the Spirit Realm, striving to break into the illusory Void Refinement realm. For thirty thousand years, he had not stepped a single foot out of his seclusion, had paid no attention to any affairs of the Spirit Realm, and even no one knew whether he was still alive. But at this moment, he emerged from seclusion.

The moment the news spread, the entire Spirit Realm Alliance trembled. Those God Transformation stage experts, the sect masters and elders of various sects, and the cultivators who had survived the Spirit Realm's defense war all rushed from every direction. For they knew that only one thing could cause this being, who had already stood at the peak of the Unity Stage thirty thousand years ago, to emerge from seclusion—the Spirit Realm was about to undergo a cataclysmic change.

The Ninth Dao Institute, the Hall of Deliberation. This hall, which was normally used only for elder conferences, was now sealed off by layer upon layer of formations. Outside the hall, ten God Transformation stage experts personally stood guard, allowing no one to approach. Inside the hall, a massive round table stood at the center, around which sat the twelve most core members of the Spirit Realm Alliance.

Wang Ping sat on the left side of the round table. Before him lay a cup of tea, already cold, yet he did not drink. His gaze fell upon the illusory figure at the center of the table. It was an old man wearing a gray-white Daoist robe, his beard and hair all white, his visage gaunt, resembling Jiang Mingyuan to some degree. But his eyes were deeper than Jiang Mingyuan's, as if they contained the birth and death of countless stars. His aura was faint, as if it might dissipate at any moment, yet also as if it had merged with the entirety of heaven and earth.

This was Xuanyan Daozun. Of course, this was merely a projection of his divine sense. His true body remained in seclusion deep within the Spirit Realm. Yet even this projection exuded a pressure that left every God Transformation stage expert gasping for breath.

Around the round table also sat Cang Xuan, Yuliuli, Youying, and several late God Transformation stage elders of the Spirit Realm Alliance. Yunhao attended as a representative of the Guardians of the Ruined Clan, and Jiu Er sat beside Wang Ping, her petite frame trembling slightly, yet she did not leave. For the Building Tree had told her that the matter to be discussed next concerned her.

Xuanyan Daozun's gaze swept over everyone, and he spoke slowly: 'Everyone, I have been in seclusion for thirty thousand years and originally did not wish to emerge, but now I have no choice.'

His voice was soft, yet it resonated like a great bell in everyone's hearts.

'Three days ago, I sensed an aura. That aura came from the depths of the Primordial Chaos Sea, from the lair of the Pure World Court. That aura is very familiar to me. Thirty thousand years ago, I once crossed blows with its master.'

He paused, then said word by word: 'The Lord of Order is about to awaken.'

Around the round table fell a deathly silence. Everyone was digesting this information, and every face turned grim.

Cang Xuan was the first to speak: 'Senior, what exactly is the Lord of Order?'

Xuanyan Daozun fell silent for a moment, then spoke calmly: 'Thirty thousand years ago, I, together with my junior brother Jiang Mingyuan and seven other Unity Stage experts of the Spirit Realm, once battled the Lord of Order.' His voice was tranquil, yet everyone could hear the bitterness beneath it. 'In that battle, of the eleven of us, only three returned alive. Junior Brother Jiang Mingyuan suffered grave injuries, his Dao foundation nearly collapsing. I have remained in seclusion for thirty thousand years and have yet to regain my peak. As for another... his whereabouts remain unknown to this day.'

He paused, his gaze deepening: 'The Lord of Order merely slumbers. After thirty thousand years, he is about to awaken.'

Wang Ping's hand clenched beneath the table: 'Senior, what is the cultivation level of the Lord of Order?'

'The Void Refinement stage,' Xuanyan Daozun said softly, yet those three words weighed upon each heart like a mountain. 'A true Void Refinement stage—not a half-step, not a false one, but a stage where the Dao fruit is condensed, laws are fused, and one transcends the God Transformation stage. In our Spirit Realm, over the past thirty thousand years, no one has ever reached such a realm.'

Yuliuli's voice trembled slightly: 'Then... what should we do?'

Xuanyan Daozun remained silent for a long time. Everyone around the round table held their breath. After a while, he spoke slowly.

'There is a method. Thirty thousand years ago, the founder of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers once battled the Lord of Order. In that battle, both sides perished together. The Lord of Order fell into slumber, and the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers were destroyed. Yet before his demise, the founder left behind something.'

His gaze fell upon Youying.

Youying shuddered all over: 'Senior, you mean...'

'Immortal Realm fragments,' Xuanyan Daozun said word by word, 'the remnants of the ancient Immortal Realm, containing secrets that transcend the Void Refinement stage. The founder of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers grasped the method to oppose the Lord of Order within those fragments.'

Youying's face instantly turned ashen: 'Immortal Realm fragments... the legend left by my clan's forefather actually turns out to be true...'

Xuanyan Daozun nodded. 'It is true. But no one knows where the Immortal Realm fragments are. After the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers were destroyed, the fragments vanished. For thirty thousand years, no one has ever found them.'

He looked at Wang Ping: 'But you are the inheritor of the Chaos Dao, and within you lies the primordial source of disorder left by the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers. Perhaps you can find it.'

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then said softly: 'Senior, are the Immortal Realm fragments in the depths of the Return to the Ruins?'

A glint flashed in Xuanyan Daozun's eyes: 'How do you know?'

Wang Ping did not answer. He simply took out a jade slip from his bosom—a jade slip obtained from the treasury of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers, which recorded the Great Void Translocation divine ability. In the deepest part of the jade slip, there was a line of tiny characters almost invisible: 'Immortal Realm fragments sink in the Return to the Ruins; only those who follow the Chaos Dao may enter.'

Xuanyan Daozun stared at that line of tiny characters, remaining silent for a long while. After a long time, he let out a soft sigh.

'Heaven's will. It turns out the founder of the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers had already foreseen this day. He left the Immortal Realm fragments not for his descendants, but for the inheritor of the Chaos Dao.'

He rose to his feet, faced Wang Ping, and bowed deeply.

'Wang Ping, the future of the Spirit Realm is now entrusted to you.'

Wang Ping hastily rose and supported him: 'Senior, I... I, what merit or ability do I have...'

'You are capable of bearing it.' Xuanyan Daozun interrupted him, his gaze firm. 'You are the inheritor of the Chaos Dao, you possess the primordial source of disorder within you, you have the power of the Building Tree, you have the Great Void Translocation. You are the only one who might possibly find the Immortal Realm fragments.'

He paused, then said word by word: 'The awakening of the Lord of Order leaves at most three years. Within three years, you must find the Immortal Realm fragments and discover a way to oppose the Lord of Order. Otherwise—'

He did not continue. But everyone knew that otherwise, the Spirit Realm would cease to exist.

Wang Ping remained silent for a long time. Three years, only three years. Within three years, he must find the Immortal Realm fragments, comprehend the secrets that transcend the Void Refinement stage, and discover a way to oppose the Lord of Order. This was nearly an impossible task, yet he had no retreat.

He drew a deep breath and lifted his head.

'Senior, I will go.'

Xuanyan Daozun looked at him, a glint of relief flashing in his eyes.

'Very well. I, the old man, will await your news in the Spirit Realm.'

His figure gradually faded. The divine sense projection that had persisted for thirty thousand years finally exhausted its last strength.

In the Hall of Deliberation, a profound silence fell. Everyone gazed at Wang Ping, their eyes filled with hope as well as worry.

Cang Xuan was the first to speak: 'I will accompany you.'

Wang Ping shook his head: 'No. The Spirit Realm needs you to stand guard.'

Cang Xuan fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly.

Yuliuli whispered: 'I cannot go either. My zither is still not repaired.'

Youying said nothing, merely lightly grasping Wang Ping's hand. Her hand remained cold, yet she held it firmly.

Wang Ping lowered his head to look at her.

'You...'

'I will accompany you.' Youying's voice was soft yet unquestionable, 'The Immortal Realm fragments were left by the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers; I understand their history. Moreover, my Void laws may be of help.'

Wang Ping fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly: 'Very well.'

Jiu Er raised her little hand: 'Big brother, I also want to go!'

Wang Ping squatted down and gently rubbed her head: 'Jiu Er, stay behind. The Building Tree needs your guardianship, and the Spirit Realm also needs your protection.'

Jiu Er looked at him, her eyes reddening: 'But... but if big brother goes alone, I cannot rest easy...'

Wang Ping smiled: 'Big brother is not going alone. Elder sister Youying will accompany big brother.'

Jiu Er looked toward Youying, who gave her a nod. Jiu Er bit her lip, then finally nodded.

'Then... then big brother must promise Jiu Er that he will surely return.'

Wang Ping looked at her and solemnly said: 'Big brother promises you.'

He stood up, facing everyone.

Everyone, after I leave, the Spirit Realm will be in your hands. Brother Cang, you are responsible for defending the Spirit Realm. Jade Immortal, you are responsible for contacting the Myriad Heavens Alliance. Brother Yun, you are responsible for resettling the survivors of the ruins. Nine, you are responsible for guarding Jianmu.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Three years. Give me three years. After three years, whether I find it or not, I will come back."

Everyone looked at him, nodding heavily.

Wang Ping turned and strode out of the council hall. Behind him, a shadow followed closely. Their silhouettes vanished in the sunlight.