Chapter 553

And this time, there was no Gu Yuan calling a halt.

It was at the critical moment when Shangyang was about to be chopped into pieces by Xingtian's axe that Hongjun intervened.

A single divine decree, and heaven and earth ceased hostilities.

"The timing is too coincidental." Gu Yuan opened his eyes, a gloomy cold light flickering in his gaze, "It's as if he had been watching Luoxia Valley all along, striking when the last sliver of health remained."

Why?

Gu Yuan knew very well in his heart, because the great trend cannot be changed.

The so-called great trend is the Three Lectures of the Purple Cloud Palace: lecturing on the Dao, distributing treasures, and determining saintly positions.

This is the core process by which Hongjun controls the Wilderness and unites with the Heavenly Dao.

Before this process is completed, the witch and monster clans, as the protagonists of heaven and earth, must not prematurely launch an all-out war, let alone inflict mutual destruction at this moment.

If Shangyang dies, Emperor Jun goes berserk, and the monster and witch clans prematurely fight until heaven and earth shatter, then who would have the heart to listen to the Purple Cloud Palace's Second Lecture ten thousand years later? How could Hongjun still transmit his Three Corpses Slaying Dao? How could he turn these innate gods into pawns under his Xuanmen?

Therefore, Hongjun must intervene.

He not only saved Shangyang, but also used this opportunity to display the absolute authority of the Heavenly Dao to the entire Wilderness, and naturally announced the opening of the Second Lecture.

"Does this indicate that Hongjun, or rather the Heavenly Dao of this world, does not possess absolute, infallible control? As long as I do not touch the bottom line of the 'great trend,' I can do whatever I want."

Gu Yuan pondered this silently in his heart.

He thought of his own system task.

{Calamity Tribulation Game: In the vortex of the witch-monster calamity, make your choice. Option One: Assist the monster clan and rule the nine heavens. Option Two: Aid the witch clan and govern the earth. Option Three: Quell the calamity and recreate the universe. }

{Seeking Roots and Asking the Dao: Upon the Wilderness earth, find an innate item belonging to you. (Completed)}

{Foundation of Proving the Dao: Under the Heavenly Dao, saints are eternal. In this mythic source, prove the Dao. }

"The first task, the Calamity Tribulation Game."

Gu Yuan tapped the armrest.

For him, regardless of whom he helps, he will surely complete the task in the end.

The only difference might be good or bad.

Task two is not to be mentioned for now.

Regardless, it's just task three...

"In this mythic source, prove the Dao......"

"System, this Three Corpses Slaying method—if I don't listen to it, don't learn it, then isn't it impossible to complete the third task?"

{……In theory, yes. This world is the orthodox source of the Xuanmen; the Dao transmitted by Patriarch Hongjun is the sole saintly path recognized by the Heavenly Dao. }

"The only one?" Gu Yuan sharply seized on that word, "What about proving the Dao through strength? Is the path walked by the great god Pangu not a path?"

{……The great god Pangu is a chaotic demon god; his Dao has transcended beyond this world's Heavenly Dao and cannot be replicated. }

"What about the twelve ancestor witches? They don't cultivate the primordial spirit, only refine their physical bodies—isn't their path also one of proving the Dao through strength?"

{……According to the system database analysis, the witch clan's path is flawed; its endpoint cannot reach the true saintly realm. }

"I see." Gu Yuan nodded in understanding.

Put bluntly, Hongjun is the GM of this world; he set the rules, and all players must level up according to his rules.

You want to break out of the rules?

You can, either you have the ability to delete and restart like Pangu, or like the witch clan, you get eliminated by the version.

This Three Corpses Slaying method is a required course.

Does this indicate?

Are celestial emperors like saints?

Numbers and the method of breakthrough.

Are they all constant?

"There's still another problem." Gu Yuan's expression grew solemn, "Regarding that blood sacrifice Great Array, that piece of black bone fragment—I always feel something is off."

"I, in the name of Donghuang, have ordered Bai Ze, Shangyang and other monster saints these past days to secretly re-examine all tribes in the western Wilderness that have ever appeared similar to blood sacrifices. Guess what the result is?"

{……}

"Nothing at all." Gu Yuan's voice turned gloomy cold, "Apart from the resentment Great Arrays laid down by the witch clan, there isn't a trace of external aura. The 'source-extinguishing force' I initially suspected—there's not even a shadow of it."

{……Master, the system can guarantee with 100% certainty that in this Wilderness world, the pollution level marked in the system database is zero; it is one of the absolutely pure source worlds, with no direct interference from any source-extinguishing forces. }

"Direct interference?" Gu Yuan sharply caught that word, "What about indirect interference?"

{……}

Gu Yuan did not press further.

He guessed perhaps the Now Faction: Zang Tian Ge had not sent anyone in at all.

That the bone pit blood sacrifice Great Array really is, coincidentally, entirely the choice of the Wilderness's own living beings.

"Forget it, asking you is pointless."

Or rather.

Even if the system said so.

Gu Yuan also doesn't believe it.

This broken system has never been right once.

Which time isn't it that, while doing something, an unexpected accident occurs?

Gu Yuan's heart stirred, and a divine sense silently crossed space, transmitting into the mind of the monster saint Bai Ze, who was organizing intelligence.

"Just in case, continue sending people to monitor all parts of the Wilderness, especially the west."

"Pay special attention to any suspicious traces, beings that do not seem like native Wilderness living things."

They might be wearing black robes, or perhaps using secret arts to conceal their faces, making them hard to discern.

But the most important feature is that the aura they give off feels like a blend of deathly stillness, ending, and filth — utterly unlike ordinary killing intent and resentment, a disgusting impurity rooted at the source.

If you discover anything, remember not to startle the snake; report to me immediately.

Yes, Your Highness the Eastern Emperor.

After severing the psychic link with White Marsh, the solemn expression on Gu Yuan's face gradually faded, restoring his usual ease and comfort.

Among the countless demon gods of the demon heavenly court, only White Marsh could be trusted with such delicate work.

The demon master Kunpeng, ambitious and overly bloodthirsty, would likely start killing halfway through an investigation, thus alerting the target.

The other demon saints are mostly simple-minded warriors; they can still manage charging into battle, but having them do this sort of investigation requiring patience and wisdom is like trying to catch fish by climbing a tree.

Only White Marsh, the legendary auspicious beast said to comprehend all things in the world, is naturally cautious and meticulous — a born intelligence chief.

Entrusting him with this secret matter concerning the hidden hand behind the primordial wilderness, Gu Yuan felt at ease.

Professional matters should be left to professionals.

The rest…

Gu Yuan stretched, leaned back in the rocking chair, and curled the corner of his mouth into a mischievous smile.

Ten thousand years… that's not a pace he likes.

"Student Xiao Ai," he lazily called out in his mind.

【Master, Xiao Ai is here~】

"As the saying goes, ten thousand years is too long; we should seize the moment."

Gu Yuan's voice carried a hint of malicious coaxing,

"So… do you have any way to make time pass a little faster?"