Chapter 343: Wandering the Red Dust

The Six-Eared Macaque suddenly felt its body lighten; the pressure on it, like a vast ocean, completely receded.

She gave the Victorious Fighting Buddha a deep look, not knowing what she was thinking; perhaps it was her innate nature, so she expressed no thanks, not a word.

Finally, the void rippled, she turned and vanished into it, disappearing without a trace.

"Actually, he's a pretty good kid."

The Victorious Fighting Buddha didn't mind; in his clear, deep eyes, there was instead a different gleam, and he gave a slight nod.

"I have a place of seclusion here; I'd like to invite the Emperor's Son to sit awhile."

He extended the invitation, hoping to have Yang Zhu come to his secret monastery, as he had many matters he wished to discuss with Yang Zhu.

Previously hindered by various reasons, he had never been able to fulfill his wish; yet today they met on Fei Xian Star, which could be called a kind of fate.

Yang Zhu nodded, and together with the Old Sage Buddha they returned to Fei Xian Star; upon arriving at the monastery, Yang Zhu saw a familiar figure.

He was a young monk with extraordinary bearing and a lingering aura, exuding the demeanor of an enlightened high monk.

"Amitabha Buddha, it turns out the Emperor's Son has graced us with his presence."

Golden Cicada bowed, his tone courteous and respectful toward the person before him.

On the Human Race Ancient Road, Yang Zhu's might was too great; as soon as he reached the first pass, he shook the ancient road.

Not long after, Yang Zhu swept aside all opponents on the Blood-Colored Battlefield in the morning, and with his own strength alone he slew half of the trial-takers.

Thereafter, Yang Zhu passed several checkpoints without hindrance, crushing everything in his path, invincible wherever he went.

Defeating Emperor Heaven, bestowing the Source of Dao upon others, suppressing extraterrestrial beings, waging war across many ancient roads—nothing failed to shock and awe.

Among the peerless geniuses from various star domains, those who could make it to the end were exceedingly few; even if they could, it would take over a hundred years, even several hundred.

But Yang Zhu, in just over ten years, broke through multiple ancient roads, becoming the first to leave his name before the Ultimate Emperor Pass.

To this day, Yang Zhu's various glories and deeds continue to be widely circulated on the ancient road; everyone admires him and takes him as a lifelong goal to pursue.

"When I first heard your name, benefactor, I knew you and we were ultimately not on the same path."

Golden Cicada's cultivation has now reached the Great Sage level, a height countless cultivators spend their whole lives unable to attain, yet he can dominate a domain.

Yet compared to Yang Zhu's Chaos Holy Fetus as a Quasi-Emperor, it seems "trivial"; they are no longer on the same level.

"Believing in Buddhism, cultivating body and mind, is not necessarily bad."

Yang Zhu and Golden Cicada have met once; though unacquainted, they count as a nodding acquaintance, and are quite courteous.

After saying that, Yang Zhu and the Victorious Fighting Buddha entered the monastery, discussed the Dao in a secluded place, and also shared many secret fortunes and misfortunes, each gaining considerably.

Half a day later, Yang Zhu departed.

He arrived outside the Fei Xian Star Region; with changing hand signs, various immortal lights and divine laws danced, merging with the surrounding void.

Finally, Yang Zhu spent half a month to arrange all the preparations properly.

"Let's go wander around various places."

He did not rush back to the Chaos Immortal Realm, but instead wandered aimlessly through the universe.

Seeing sights never before seen, comprehending Dao never before felt.

At his present cultivation level, advancement no longer relies heavily on heavenly and earthly essence; instead, it depends more on "Dao nature" and "insight".

Although for Yang Zhu there's no need to worry about these, personally undergoing tempering naturally has endless marvelous uses.

The Great Emperor is the supreme realm of this world; above it lies the Red Dust Immortal, though only a few have ever attained it.

To become a Red Dust Immortal, one needs the great fortune of an ancient Great Emperor, and must also temper oneself in the red dust, refining one's mind, to have a chance to break through.

In the original work, Ye Fan, after experiencing a hundred cycles of the red dust, finally had an epiphany; his cultivation rose again, and he even lived another life in reverse.

"A hundred years have rushed by, and old acquaintances are all here."

Yang Zhu sighed; there were some things he had never told anyone—not even the Jade Pool Holy Maiden or Xiaohei.

At this moment he said nothing more, merely pressing forward, occasionally pausing before some ruins and Life Gu Xing, then moving on again.

"Boom—"

As he passed an unknown star domain, killing intent shrouded this place; below, various killing lights burst forth, like a flood of ferocious beasts ravaging this corner of the heavens.

Those grand formations originally laid here were inadvertently triggered by intruders, resulting in this scene.

"Is it him?"

Yang Zhu's divine gaze swept over; none of the killing formations could block his sight in the slightest, and he soon made out the situation below.

Upon seeing the trapped person, he couldn't help but startle; he never expected to meet them here after so many years.

"Puff—"

Yang Zhu pointed a finger; a dazzling Chaos Immortal Light fell, and in an instant it eradicated all killing intent.

"What's going on..."

Below, a person stood dazed; he had been besieged for days, suffered heavy injuries, his body stained with blood in many places, bleeding incessantly.

He had intended to give it his all today, seeking a chance to break through, but he never expected that upon taking action, the killing intent here would be dispelled in an instant.

"Is… you?!"

When the Crow Daoist saw Yang Zhu step down from beyond the domain, his expression turned both surprised and delighted.

Back then, in the Endless Fire Realm of the Southern Region, Yang Zhu had forged weapons for him as a sacrifice, and he in turn gifted Yang Zhu a stone carving as an exchange.

At that time he saw that the young man before him possessed extraordinary talent and boundless aptitude, yet he never imagined he was the exalted Human Race Emperor's Son, a Holy Body Dao Fetus!

After learning everything, the shock in his heart can be imagined.

"It's been years since we last met; your cultivation, senior, has risen greatly."

Yang Zhu was courteous; his impression of the Crow Daoist remained quite good.

Moreover, the All Ancestor Character Secret and the Lingbao Heavenly Venerated Emperor's Armament he now possesses were obtained thanks to that stone carving, so he feels grateful toward the Crow Daoist.

"Haha, who would have thought the old Daoist's encounter years ago was with the Emperor's Son—this too counts as a great fortune bestowed by heaven upon the old Daoist."

The Crow Daoist laughed, feeling somewhat emotional.

What brings you here, senior?

Below there is a hundred‑thousand‑year‑old medicine king and a half‑human‑tall divine material; I originally wanted to seize it, but unfortunately that killing formation is too dangerous.

The Crow Daoist came here to obtain the two supreme treasures deep inside, but this place is extremely dangerous; he stalemated for half a month, not only failing to get them, but also being trapped by the killing formation here for many days.

I see.

After understanding the full story, Yang Zhu flicked his hand, and the medicine king and divine material located deepest were seized by him and then given to the other party.

Immediately, Yang Zhu stroked out, a gentle light entered the Crow Daoist's body, his bodily injuries and fractured ribs were instantly repaired.

Senior, be careful in the future.

Finally, Yang Zhu left behind a fragment of a Nine‑Revolution Immortal Pill, then turned and departed.

This is…

The Crow Daoist stared in astonishment at the Immortal Pill fragment glowing with immortal light before him; rich immortal qi drifted out, bathing a radius of a thousand li in a halo of light. He dared affirm that the object's value could absolutely rival the essence of the Undying Medicine, making it a peerless immortal treasure! Only after a long while did he snap back to his senses, realizing that Yang Zhu had long since departed—'Old Dao thanks the Imperial Son!'

He carefully gathered everything, then bowed in the direction Yang Zhu had departed.

Dark turmoil…

Yang Zhu continued his stroll through the cosmos; when he arrived at a once‑living ancient star, Gu Xing, he saw the desolate ruin below and couldn't help but feel moved.

The massive ancient star, Gu Xing, dimmed, lacking light, and was stained with a layer of blood‑red; due to the passage of time, many stars have already been eroded away by the ages.

Yet the blood of some powerhouses has seeped deep into the ground, enduring without dissipating.

Here Yang Zhu had previously passed through; back then it was vast and teeming, with myriad races living together.

But when the dark turmoil erupted, everything changed.

The Heaven‑Abandoning Sovereign descended upon this place, a single step trampling and slaughtering countless living beings, not even leaving behind the so‑called 'fire seed', burning everything to utter ruin.

This was merely a microcosm of the calamity at that time; had Yang Zhu not appeared in time, it would have been another, even more horrifying scene.

Everything has cause and effect; it all depends on this place's fortune.

Yang Zhu took a sprout from a life‑ancient tree, planted it at the source of a withered dragon vein, then irrigated it with divine source, causing it to exude rich vital qi here.

He wanted to try whether, using a fragment of the Undying Medicine's essence, he could rekindle the vitality of this place.

Whoosh…

Around came a rustling, perhaps sensing the unprecedented vitality; the withered yellow plants, some reduced to just a few leaves…

At this moment the branches and leaves trembled, and actually began to regrow!

Seeing the remarkable effect, Yang Zhu let his finger slide down, a huge pattern emerged, drawing vital qi from the living places in all directions of the universe to here, replenishing this place's exhaustion.

Before departing, he set up a Deceive‑Heaven Grand Formation, which could conceal this place's anomaly from others; perhaps after thousands of years, this ancient star, Gu Xing, could return to its former state.

One month later, Yang Zhu arrived at the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star; he gazed upon the ancestral cave of the Tyrant Body lineage and sensed that two supreme‑level powerhouses were still in hiding.

Just clinging to life.

Yang Zhu's gaze was tranquil; his figure pierced the void and entered the ancestral cave.

He never had a liking for the Tyrant Body lineage; since the dark turmoil, when one accomplished Tyrant Body joined the ranks of the supremes, he has only grown more contemptuous.

Hah…

A cold chuckle rang out, tinged with anger and a roar; yet surprisingly, neither of them showed any sign or made a move.

The Tyrant Body lineage has always been inferior in status and prestige to the Sacred Body, and there's a reason for that—they are merely petty scoundrels.

Yang Zhu showed no mercy; his words were sharp and reasonable, and anyone from the Tyrant Body lineage who heard them would fly into a rage.

To them, this was an outrageous disgrace! 'You are truly arrogant!'

Surely, someone inside immediately bellowed; the whole ancient star trembled with the vibration, and the Tyrant Body lineage on it, not knowing why, all trembled in fear.

A supreme aura burst forth, flooding the heavens and earth, pressing down on the nine heavens, as if a supreme existence were slowly awakening.

I am right here; if you dare to emerge, I will strike you down on the spot.

Yang Zhu spoke plainly, yet carried an undeniable authority, calm and composed as if stating something trivial.

Now… 'Forget it…'

Just then, another voice sounded, carrying a hint of helplessness and deep apprehension.

He fully understood Yang Zhu's might; even if a perfected Tyrant Body emerged, it would be no match for him, let alone a perfected Tyrant Body with exhausted blood and qi.

Moreover, Yang Zhu's background can only be described as 'terrifying': the corpse of the Numinous Treasure Heavenly Sovereign, two perfected Sacred Bodies, several imperial weapons, the Beginningless Great Emperor and his empress who have not yet undergone corpse‑demise…

He had no doubt that if those two dared to show their heads, they would face endless calamity, with not a shred of chance to survive.

From now on, you had better continue hiding; otherwise I will raze this place to the ground and, as a bonus, behead the two of you.

Yang Zhu remained as composed as ever, delivering a warning with undeniable resolve, saying what he would do and doing it.

As long as the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star exists, the day it emerges he will surely strike it down with thunderous means, exterminating it!

……

After a long while, no sound came forth again; seeing this, Yang Zhu then turned and departed.

He continued onward, aimless, following his heart, having traversed many ancient sites, witnessed much, and heard many secrets.

He knew that eight years later, in the cosmic wilderness he saw the long‑missing Fire Qilin Child.

Long time no see.

You are… the Fire Qilin Child?

At the moment they met, Yang Zhu almost failed to recognize him, for the change was truly enormous.

The Fire Qilin Child, of the ancient qilin emperor's bloodline, was sealed away together with his sister in this lifetime.

Formerly, his countenance was like jade, his frame tall and slender, his skin more crystalline and translucent than many peerless beauties, every gesture revealing an innate noble aura.

But now, the Fire Qilin Child exposes his upper body, his skin showing a bronze hue full of strength.

Over these many years, he has battled mighty beings in this place; merely standing there, an invisible killing intent washes over him, causing those slightly weaker to shudder with fear.

Now, his aura has become even more condensed.

Compared to before, he had withdrawn that kind of unbeatable arrogance, and gained a steady composure that lay dormant yet ready to move.

Not only his own enlightenment, but also the tragedy of the ancient Qilin Emperor brought him a great shock.

"He has reached the fifth layer of the Quasi-Emperor..."

Fire Kirin Child stared at Yang Zhu, but not only did his eyebrows rise; he, who had been engaged in life-and-death battles here for years, eventually found that the gap between him and Yang Zhu was growing larger...

"In the future, there will inevitably be a decisive battle between us."

But he was only slightly startled for a moment, his expression quickly returned to calm, and he spoke with a firm tone.

"I have been waiting for you."

Yang Zhu smiled; actually, he and the other party had no direct grudge; ultimately, it was merely a "struggle of the great age".

They have been like this, they were like this before, and they will continue to be like this in the future.

In each great age, only one who proves the Dao is destined; stepping on countless withered bones, he ascends to the supreme peak of the world, cruel yet glorious.

Thus, every Dao-prover will leave a splendid chapter in the annals of history.

Both bore little ill will; instead, they sat opposite each other, cross-legged, wanting to talk about many things.

"If Kirin Child is safe, I can rest easy."

Upon learning that his sister had come to no harm, Fire Kirin Child let out a deep sigh of relief.

He had long dwelt in this bitterly cold land; for months or even years, he saw not a single living soul, almost cut off from the world, knowing little of outside affairs.

"Another great age will arise; you too should return."

(End of chapter)