Chapter 400

So, hand it over!

As the words fell, there was no earth-shaking sound, yet it caused ripples of intangible waves to spread across this isolated secret realm's spacetime.

Each word contained a terrifying will capable of grinding stars to dust and erasing ages.

This is not a negotiation.

Nor is it a request.

But a proclamation from a higher life form, an imperious heavenly edict that brooks no defiance.

An order.

Yes, that's an order.

Chen Ku's Dao heart was as firm as a rock, unmoving since ancient times, yet even now this simple sentence gave him a creepy feeling of being completely seen through and utterly grasped.

He already had the answer in his heart; that speculation was so heavy it could collapse a myriad-world.

Yet his face showed not the slightest ripple.

He merely raised his eyes, his gaze revealing a just-right bewilderment, an effort to understand yet finding no entry.

Ah?

A single syllable slipped from his lips, carrying a pure, unadulterated surprise.

What exactly is this senior talking about?!

He slightly tilted his head, as if earnestly discerning the deeper meaning of the other's words, his expression sincere, his eyes clear.

Why… can't this junior understand?!

Such an act, if placed on an ordinary immortal, would be convincing enough to pass as genuine.

However, what he faced was that figure seated cross-legged in the void.

The light and shadow around that figure twisted slightly, revealing the master's emotional fluctuations.

A trace of extreme icy indignation began to permeate this secret realm.

In the void, it seemed as if invisible ice crystals were condensing, emitting a faint, clear cracking sound.

Heh…

A faint cold chuckle, yet carrying the chill of ten thousand years of profound ice, instantly pierced through the layers of mental defenses Chen Ku had set up.

I observe that your spirit is refined, your Dao aura self-formed, and you are untouched by karma—clearly not a dull-witted lot.

That voice paused, as if giving Chen Ku a chance to judge for himself.

Therefore, what's the point of feigning ignorance?

Before the words even finished, the overwhelming, breath‑crushing pressure suddenly intensified!

No longer a probe, but a true suppression!

Peak of the Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal!

Just a hair's breadth away from touching the terrifying existence of that ineffable realm!

Under this pressure, Chen Ku's protective immortal light groaned under the strain, and the void beneath his feet collapsed inch by inch into the most primal Chaos.

Yet he still stood ramrod straight.

But his dazed expression could no longer be maintained, turning into a solemn look.

Seeing him drop the pretense, the figure seemed somewhat satisfied, the pressure easing slightly, yet the feeling of total lockdown grew clearer.

What I speak of is precisely that Chaos the Great Dao supreme treasure.

The last three words were uttered by the other party extremely slowly and heavily.

Each syllable seemed to use the birth and death of a universe as a footnote.

Chaos——Pearl!

Boom!!!

Word becomes law!

At the instant the three words 'Chaos Pearl' fell, Chen Ku felt a tumultuous surge of billions of feet rise in his sea of consciousness!

The pearl, deeply entwined with his origin, began to vibrate violently uncontrollably!

Exactly as expected!

Chen Ku's pupils, in a depth undetectable to anyone, suddenly contracted into the most dangerous point.

All luck was utterly shattered at this moment.

The final layer of window paper was pierced by the other party in the most overbearing, indisputable manner!

He maintained outward composure, but deep inside his heart had already been overturned.

That string, stretched to its limit, finally let out a wail before breaking.

All previous speculation converged at this moment into an crystal‑clear clue pointing to a truth that made his scalp tingle.

He once again examined the existence before him.

Also a Mixed Yuan Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Even, an existence standing at the very peak of this realm.

To make a powerhouse of this level go to such lengths—setting up such a heavenly net, personally descending, and speaking with an absolute stance of 'returning to the original owner'……

Besides that legendary supreme treasure, what else could there be?

Ordinary innate supreme treasures, in the eyes of such existences, are merely handy tools, not enough to make them go to such great lengths.

Only the Chaos Pearl!

Only this supreme treasure, which pertains to the Chaos Great Dao and contains the mysteries of endless world birth and death, carries such weight!

Chen Ku's thoughts raced wildly in the flash of lightning.

This secret realm……

Upon entering, he immediately sensed the strangeness of this place's laws.

It cut off all heavenly secrets from the outside world, forming its own realm, like a slaughterhouse meticulously prepared just for "shutting the door to beat the dog".

Now thinking about it, this is fundamentally not some ownerless secret realm, but a prison tailor-made for him by the other side!

From the moment he stepped into this place, he had already fallen into the other side's calculations.

At this thought, a trace of cold seeped from Chen Ku's back.

This is not a cultivator's cold sweat, but the Dao body's most primal warning when it senses an absolutely unbeatable danger.

The other side's obsession with the Chaos Pearl has surpassed mere greed.

That sentence, "This treasure concerns the foundation of proving the Dao," is the most crucial evidence.

Foundation of proving the Dao!

What is the foundation of proving the Dao?

That is the fundamental goal cultivators seek all their lives, the sole bridge to a higher realm!

For an existence at the peak of the Mixed Yuan Grand Luo Golden Immortal, the direction of his 'foundation of proving the Dao' goes without saying.

Then……

Then the identity of the figure seated cross-legged in the ancient void before us is no longer a secret.

As clear as day!

A title, an ancient name that exists only in the Primordial legends before heaven and earth were split, struck heavily upon Chen Ku's heart.

Chaos Ancestor!

Exactly!

It can only be him!

In the legends, one of the Three Thousand Chaos Demon Gods, born with Chaos, should have perished in the calamity of Pangu opening heaven, a supreme existence!

And the Chaos Pearl is said to be his natal supreme treasure!

Chen Ku's mouth corner twitched slightly uncontrollably.

He felt an unprecedented sense of absurdity.

This is like a commoner who, by sheer luck, picked up the lost heirloom jade seal of a previous emperor's dynasty, and before he could even warm it up, the emperor who should have been dead for centuries suddenly crawled out of his tomb, blocked the doorway, and said to him with a blank expression:

"The thing is mine; give it back."

This damn...

So now it's the victim coming to his door?!

The void was dead silent, not even a speck of dust's movement could be sensed.

The concepts of time and space here became blurred, as if wiped away by an invisible hand.

Ah, suffering, ah, suffering...

This life is simply unbearable.

"Who the hell have I provoked?!"

Chen Ku's five viscera and six bowels were twisted into a knot, deep in his soul it felt as if billions of steel needles were simultaneously pricking.

That face seemed born to endure all the world's suffering.

He maintained that expression, controlling even the slightest twitch of his eyelids, his gaze locked dead-on onto the figure ahead.

That figure sat cross-legged, surrounded by an indescribable, grayish haze.

That was neither mist nor smoke, but a more primal substance—the original form of all things returning to stillness before the Great Dao had opened.

Merely gazing at it, Chen Ku felt his soul being assimilated and dissolved, destined to return to that void.

He forcibly steadied his mind; each word seemed squeezed from between his teeth, carrying a hoarse confirmation.

"It seems... Senior, you must be the Chaos Ancestor, right?!"

The moment his words fell, something in this dead-silent void seemed to be touched.

The seated figure's head, which seemed unmoved since ancient times, twitched imperceptibly.

The movement was extremely slight.

So slight that unless Chen Ku focused all his mind on it, it could not be detected.

Yet this tiny movement surpassed any grand sound in heaven and earth, surpassed any verbal confirmation.

In an instant, an indescribable sense of arrogance spread from between the figure's brows and eyes.

It was a lofty, self-satisfied aloofness that towered over all things and overlooked the turning of ages.

It seemed that, in his eyes, the entire world from birth to destruction was merely a boring cycle of rebirth.

And Chen Ku speaking his name at this moment was, in that boring cycle of rebirth, a tiny interlude that could slightly pique his interest.

Seeing the other side actually admit it, Chen Ku felt utterly vexed!

It really is him!

What made Chen Ku's scalp tingle most was that, according to some scattered ancient secrets buried by time, this guy—even in that Chaos Era where the strong were as numerous as forests and demon gods walked the earth—his strength was enough to rank solidly in the top ten, even... the top five!

What a terrifyingly extreme concept!

Every one who survived that calamity of opening heaven is a monster among monsters, and he is one of the pinnacles among monsters.

In Chen Ku's heart.

An unprecedented sense of gravity turned into substantive pressure.

Just as Chen Ku exposed his identity, the gaze of the Chaos Ancestor opposite underwent a subtle change.

Originally merely a disdainful overlooking of ants, it now gained a substantive scrutiny.

That gaze pierced through the layers of chaotic currents, becoming sharp and domineering, as if two heavenly blades capable of severing the river of time were placed at Chen Ku's neck.

This kid... actually heard my name?!

The Chaos Old Ancestor's thought rippled in the heart‑lake that had been silent for countless ages.

This, however, saves a lot of talk.

Since you know who I am, you should also understand my stature and clearly see how foolish resistance is.

That's even better.

It seems the Chaos Pearl is sure to be mine today.

Even the Chaos Old Ancestor's unchanging state of mind over hundreds of millions of years now flickered with a hint of delighted determination.

He spoke again.

His voice remained as kind as before, betraying no joy or anger, yet it now carried something extra.

Intimidation.

That is an intimidation that merges with law, with heaven and earth, and with the origin of all things.

"Young friend, since you already know who I am, you ought to act wisely."

Each word and sentence rang like a decree of the Heavenly Dao, thundering in Chen Ku's ears and shaking his divine soul.

"Hand over the Chaos Pearl today, and we'll form a good karma— alright?!"

Good karma.

That word, spoken from his mouth, bore an indisputable air of a granted favor.

It seemed his willingness to tie fate with Chen Ku was a blessing Chen Ku had earned over eight lifetimes.

Had any being in the primeval heavens and earth heard these words, they would surely have been shattered in mind and spirit by that supreme overwhelming pressure, kneeling and trembling, offering everything, daring not the slightest objection.

But today, the one he faces is Chen Ku.

This man usually wears a bitter‑melon face, as if the sky were falling and would strike him first, appearing timid and obedient, as if he'd be scared stiff at any moment.

Yet reviewing his bloody‑tear‑stained rise from obscurity, when has he ever faced anything but an enemy a million times stronger? When has he not danced on the razor's edge?

When has he ever truly yielded to anyone, bowed his head?!

His bones are harder than anyone's.

Besides, setting aside strength, Chen Ku's knack for mischief and troublemaking— if called second, no one in the myriad heavens and worlds would dare claim first.

He met that gaze capable of collapsing the ancient blue sky, and the wry smile on his face grew all the more intense.

"Ah… suffering, suffering…"

This time, it was no longer a secret complaint in his heart.

He blurted out this catchphrase, his voice filled with endless bitterness and helplessness, as if bearing life's unbearable weight.

That sigh actually caused the terrifying intimidation to falter ever so slightly.

Chen Ku faced the Chaos Old Ancestor, bowed slightly, lowered his posture to the utmost, and his tone became exceedingly polite.

"Senior Chaos, these words truly flatter the junior."

"What merit or ability does the junior have to dare hope for a good karma with the senior?!"

His words were flawless, polite to the utmost.

But in his heart, it was already quite another matter.

A stream of bullet‑comments nearly filled his entire sea of consciousness.

"Form a good karma?"

"Screw your good karma!"

"A good karma, and you want to trade it for the Chaos Pearl?! Your immortal‑old face— is it made of Chaos Qi? So thick!"

"Dammit, where's the good karma? This is plain robbery! Or outright robbery!"

"Your old fellow's good karma is surely too precious?! Made of gold?! No, even if made of primordial purple gold, it wouldn't be this outrageous!"

Chen Ku's heart raged wildly, yet his face remained that of startled‑yet‑favored bitterness.

His words seemed modest, but each word was actually a polite refusal.

Have him hand over the Chaos Pearl?

What a joke!

This is one of his lifelines, one of his greatest trump cards for survival in this dangerous world.

Hand it over?

What's the difference between that and washing his own neck clean and delivering it to the enemy's blade?

How could that be easy?!

As expected!

No sooner had his words fallen than the Chaos Old Ancestor also sensed his hidden meaning.

That terrifying intimidation that suppresses the ages and erodes epochs actually showed a barely perceptible stagnation at this moment.

In the Chaos Old Ancestor's void‑piercing eyes, for the first time there surfaced a pure emotion belonging to living beings.

Surprise.

A lofty deity, looking down on ants, yet discovering the ants dare to stare straight at the heavens— that surprise.

What a primeval brat!

What a reckless junior!

He actually dares to refuse me?!

In merely an instant, that hint of surprise was replaced by endless chill.

The Chaos Old Ancestor's gaze grew icy inch by inch; the surrounding chaos qi flow ceased its surging, turning into absolute still, gray crystal.

That gaze was no longer hostile, but a pure, undisguised killing intent.

That was not anger toward a particular living being, but a higher‑dimensional indifference.

However, to Chen Ku's surprise, this time the Chaos Old Ancestor did not immediately attack, nor did he unleash the wrath of heavenly thunder.

"In the past… the War of Opening Heaven ended, Pangu perished…"

His voice suddenly became incredibly distant, as if he were no longer speaking to Chen Ku but instead holding a memorial for that bygone era which buried endless secrets.

In the depths of those icy pupils, a grand and tragic scene truly reflected itself, a sight that made myriad paths wail in sorrow.

Blood stained Chaos, gods and demons fell.

A giant who stood between heaven and earth, wielding a colossal axe, cleaved three thousand, ultimately his body collapsed and transformed into the primordial heavens and earth.

That memory's image flashed by, yet it carried an aura that, even separated by myriad ancient epochs, still made Chen Ku's soul tremble with desolation and tyranny.

The Chaos Old Ancestor's voice continued to echo in the silence, each word carrying the weight of history.

"Since then, the Chaos Pearl has also become ownerless."

"Since this item bears the name Chaos, it is innately aligned with my Dao; it rightfully should be under my control."

He spoke as if it were a matter of course, as though stating an obvious truth.

That arrogance towering over all beings has been etched into the very source of its existence.

"Back then, although Pangu was domineering, I still could not contend for it."

He said this extremely calmly, without a trace of shame or unwillingness, merely stating a cold fact.

Acknowledging Pangu's strength does not diminish his dignity in the slightest.

For in his eyes, Pangu is already past history, while he is the eternal present.

"However, today, do you think you can stand against me and keep that Chaos Pearl?!"

His words suddenly took a sharp turn!

Every syllable transformed into substantive Chaos Divine Thunder, exploding in Chen Ku's sea of consciousness, shaking his soul and destabilizing his essence!

"Little friend, I hope you won't refuse a toast and instead drink the penalty."

The Chaos Old Ancestor no longer concealed himself, his words already carrying a hint of cold laughter.

The final sentence was an outright threat without any concealment.

As the words "penalty drink" fell, the entire space emitted a groan unable to bear the weight, as if it would at any moment be utterly crushed by this will and return to nothingness.

However, these few words, this deadly threat, upon reaching Chen Ku's ears, stirred up a tremendous wave.

Not because of fear.

But because the information leaked from the Chaos Old Ancestor's words was shocking enough to overturn the entire Primordial Wasteland's understanding!

Pangu perished, so the Chaos Pearl became ownerless?!

Moreover, the Chaos Old Ancestor also dared not contend with Pangu?!

What does this mean?!

These few short words, each like a heavy hammer, slammed hard into Chen Ku's heart, shattering everything he previously knew!

The amount of information is enormous!

So great that for a moment he overlooked the opponent's killing intent that almost wanted to grind him into powder!

Chen Ku remained silent.

He forcibly suppressed the turmoil of his soul, his brain operating at an unprecedented speed, carefully pondering every detail and every logical node.

After a moment.

Only after a moment.

A blinding flash of lightning split the mist in his mind, instantly letting him sort out everything.

A conclusion that left even his own mind and spirit trembling surfaced in his thoughts.

The legend from his two lifetimes' memories turned out to be false?!

The "common sense" believed by the beings of the Primordial Wasteland and even the myriad spirits of later generations is fundamentally wrong!

This Chaos Old Ancestor is not the master of the Chaos Pearl?!

Correct!

Exactly so!

At this moment, Chen Ku's thoughts were utterly firm and utterly clear!

Listening to the Chaos Old Ancestor's words, the ancient Pangu Great God was clearly the true master of the Chaos Pearl.

He is that supreme being who opened heaven and earth, transformed his body into myriad things, and wields this Chaos Supreme Treasure!

And the Chaos Old Ancestor of old, this terrifying existence who proclaimed himself the incarnation of Chaos and the origin of myriad paths, though he coveted this treasure immensely, could only look up to Pangu.

He did not even dare to give rise to the thought of contending for it!

He personally admitted that he "could not contend for it"!

Therefore, only after Pangu Great God exhausted his strength and perished in the Calamity of Opening Heaven, his body and Dao extinguished, did this Chaos Old Ancestor hidden in the darkness see hope of controlling the Chaos Pearl.

He awaited the opportunity!

An opportunity he had waited for endless ages!

Thereafter, this guy, for that goal, actually searched for myriad ancient epochs, from the beginning of the Primordial Wasteland all the way to the present?!

Thinking of this, Chen Ku's heart could not find peace.

He even somewhat admired this guy's persistence.

To obtain something not his own, he could actually wait and search by the epoch as a unit.

This state of mind, this perseverance, is itself a kind of terror.

Chen Ku's heart could not find peace; he never expected that this Chaos Pearl, this supreme treasure, would also involve such an ancient secret.

This is no longer merely a secret rumor.

One could even say it overturned the previous cognitions of all beings.

But thinking of this, Chen Ku's mind, which had been tense from the pressure, became even more at ease.

In the depths of his eyes, the last trace of apprehension toward the Chaos Old Ancestor's identity as the true master completely dissipated.

So you, Chaos Old Ancestor, are merely a treasure-seeker eyeing this supreme treasure?!

One like me, a latercomer?!

Since you are not the original owner of the Chaos Pearl, I have even less to worry about.

Instantly, Chen Ku became as steady as an old dog.

He looked at the Chaos Old Ancestor, gave a light laugh, and said:

"Hehe, Chaos Senior, your words are even more unreasonable."

Since you too have come seeking the Chaos Pearl, you should know the principle of first come, first served.

This treasure was first discovered by me, the junior, in the Treasure-splitting Rock; it is due to my fortune.

Today, Senior, why must you be so overbearing and high-handed, seizing it by force?!

Chen Ku responded thus.

After speaking, he lightly swayed his body, as if ready to face any possible conflict at any moment.

And the Chaos Old Ancestor, upon hearing Chen Ku's words, couldn't help but sneer repeatedly.

That laughter echoed in the vast Chaos Void, devoid of any mirth, only bearing a bone‑scraping steel knife's sternness and harshness.

First come, first served? Fortune's doing?!

His voice suddenly rose, each word carrying a terrifying pressure capable of crushing stars, crashing down upon Chen Ku.

Haha…… laughable, truly laughable!

The Chaos Old Ancestor's laughter grew wilder, shaking the surrounding Chaos airflow into violent surges, forming visible terrifying vortices.

His eyes, deep and bottomless, now burned with two clusters of dark fury, locked firmly on Chen Ku.

This Chaos Pearl rightfully belongs to me, as decreed by the Great Dao!

The Chaos Old Ancestor's tone grew ever firmer, each syllable like a law's verdict, allowing no doubt, with no intention to yield.

He also couldn't be bothered to argue any reasoning with Chen Ku.

Reason?

In this Chaos Sea, on this endless path of cultivation, fists are reason, strength is heavenly principle.

He, the Chaos Old Ancestor, carved a bloody path out of the Primeval Barbaric Era, standing atop the ages, relying never on gentleness, goodness, respect, frugality, or yielding.

Sufficient strength is his absolute confidence.

In the Chaos Old Ancestor's view, his ability to restrain himself and converse with Chen Ku, this ant that crawled out from nowhere, is already ample courtesy.

This is a condescension stemming from the level of life, a boon to the weak.

But seeing Chen Ku so sharp‑tongued and eloquent, daring to bind him with the words 'reason,' the Chaos Old Ancestor's patience has also nearly run out.

His aura began to turn dangerous; what was merely pressure now seeped forth strands of substantive killing intent.

Those killing intents spread like invisible tendrils through the void, and wherever they passed, even the Chaos airflow emitted agonized groans unable to bear the burden.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ku likewise grew a bit more fierce in expression.

He felt that killing intent washing over him, an icy cold that sought to completely freeze his body and soul.

But he did not retreat.

His spine straightened like a sword about to be drawn, its edge concealed yet capable of piercing the heavens.

Oh? The Great Dao decrees?!

A faint arc curled at the corner of Chen Ku's mouth, concealing undisguised mockery.

He met the Chaos Old Ancestor's gaze, which could make an ordinary Great Luo Golden Immortal's mind shatter, speaking each word distinctly, his voice clearly spreading across this turbulent void.

Then, Chaos Senior, why not ask the Great Dao what it actually says?!

Upon these words, heaven and earth suddenly fell silent.

The Chaos airflow that had previously surged due to the Chaos Old Ancestor's anger now eerily stalled at this moment.

Time, as if pressed by an invisible giant hand, hit pause.

The two stood needle‑point to needle‑point, the atmosphere growing ever more tense.

Chen Ku's words were like a resounding slap, fiercely striking the Chaos Old Ancestor's face inscribed with 'Heaven's Mandate,' turning all his previous overbearing and high‑handedness into a complete joke.

The Chaos Old Ancestor's arrogant smile instantly froze.

His pupils suddenly contracted to the size of a pinprick.

An indescribable emotion, mixing fury and shame, surged from the depths of his heart like a volcano.

He was left speechless by the retort, his face turning ashen.

Ask the Great Dao?!

What a joke!

These four words, like four red‑hot iron awls, fiercely pierced the Chaos Old Ancestor's mind, causing his prideful composure and resolve to collapse instantly.

Since time immemorial, the Great Dao has remained hidden and unseen, lofty above all beings, the aggregation of rules, the source of order.

It is without emotion, without self, without thought, without desire.

Unless it actively manifests, or unless it involves the Great Calamity of the entire Primordial Heaven and Earth, no one could possibly communicate with it.

This is practically an iron law of the cultivation world, a fact known to all powerhouses standing at the pinnacle.

His earlier remark 'The Great Dao decrees it' was merely a pretext for his forcible seizure, cloaked in a righteous guise.

It was said for Chen Ku to hear, and even more for himself to hear, to make his actions logically self‑consistent and appear justified.

Yet he never imagined that this ant, Chen Ku, would dare so brazenly, following his words, to tear away that fig leaf outright and stomp on it fiercely on the ground!

This is no longer mere provocation.

This is humiliation!

It was done to his face, pointing at his nose, scolding him for being hypocritical, scolding him for being fierce outwardly but weak within!

Furthermore, even if one were to retreat ten thousand steps and suppose the Great Dao truly manifested, how could it possibly lend its power to this Chaos Old Ancestor?!

On what grounds?

Just because he has lived long? Because his strength is strong?

The Chaos Old Ancestor asked himself, even if his strength were greater, he had not yet reached the point where his words become law, able to have the Great Dao endorse him.

The path he walks is a path of plunder, a path of hegemony, which fundamentally runs contrary to the balance and justice of the Great Dao's origin.

If one were to truly ask the Great Dao, if the Great Dao had spirit, the first divine thunderbolt to strike down would likely be this guy who speaks falsely of Heaven's Mandate!

In an instant, the Chaos Old Ancestor's face turned from iron-blue to soy-purple, then from soy-purple to a gloomy black.

The killing intent that had merely been leaking from his whole body could no longer be contained, erupting like a breached dam.

"Boom—"

The terrifying aura shot up to the heavens, stirring the Chaos Sea within a radius of hundreds of millions of miles into turmoil.

Jet-black spatial rifts, centered on him, spread wildly in all directions, like a black spiderweb being torn apart.

"Junior..."

The Chaos Old Ancestor's voice was no longer speech, but a roar condensed from pure killing intent and fury, each word carrying the will to obliterate everything.

"You're courting death!"

His complexion, that timeless visage, for the first time showed an iron-blue hue.

Words are now useless.

The struggle of the Great Dao ultimately comes down to a primal clash of power.

Boom!

There were no further omens, and no chance was given to Chen Ku to speak.

The Chaos Old Ancestor's body shuddered violently, and the void universe shrouded by his will instantly boiled.

Not evolution, but creation!

Using his body as the origin, a primordial Chaos world is being forcibly birthed!

Strands of Chaos mist spewed from each of his pores, each strand as heavy as an ancient divine mountain, containing the heaviness and stillness before the heavens and earth were split.

The mist rose and intertwined, no longer a simple form of energy but transformed into the most primal chains of law.

Order, at this moment, descends into chaos!

Countless jet-black divine chains of law hung down from the void, bearing a dim, murky light, each capable of collapsing a myriad-worlds realm.

The void wailed, shattering inch by inch in its high-pitched lament, revealing behind it an even deeper, more heart-stopping absolute nothingness.

Above the high heavens, the stars that once adorned it didn't even have time to utter a lament before being silently annihilated under the spreading Chaos qi, reduced to the most insignificant cosmic dust.

This is the true majesty of the Great Dao Demon God.

This is the terrifying power of the peak of the Mixed Yuan Grand Luo Golden Immortal, only half a step away from touching that supreme realm!

The Chaos Old Ancestor's gaze was no longer angry, but indifferent.

An indifference that views all things as straw dogs and all resistance as illusory.

"Hmph."

A cold snort emanated from his chest, yet it stirred thunder across the entire Chaos domain.

"I originally wanted to reason with you nicely and give you some dignity."

His voice carried no emotion, yet it was more soul-shaking than the fiercest roar.

"What a pity, you don't know what's good for you!"

"If that's the case, I'll take it myself!"

Let's see just how much weight your so-called Buddhist World Honored One has, to dare make a racket before me!

His words had not even fully dissipated in the shattered void.

The Chaos Old Ancestor has already made his move!

His giant hand that blotted out the sky simply reached out to grab Chen Ku.

The motion seemed slow, yet it locked onto every spacetime node of past, present, and future.

Within his palm, myriad strands of Chaos law wove into a deadly net, within which could be vaguely seen the terrifying spectacle of worlds being born and destroyed in endless reincarnation.

Divine might like a heavenly river pouring down, celestial light like a waterfall rushing forth!

At this moment, the heavens lost their color, the sun and moon hid!

The light of the entire star field was completely devoured by this palm, plunging into eternal darkness.

Merely the ripple from the palm's advance caused distant star systems to burst into pieces, turning into the universe's most splendid yet sorrowful fireworks.

The might of the peak of the Mixed Yuan Grand Luo Golden Immortal is fully revealed now, with no reservation left.

This strike has reached the pinnacle of force and the extreme of hegemony.

The Chaos Old Ancestor had absolute confidence that under this palm, even if Chen Ku possessed the ability to reach the heavens, he could only be suppressed.

By then, the ownership of the Chaos Pearl would be beyond doubt.

However, faced with an attack that would make any peer despair, Chen Ku's reaction exceeded the Chaos Old Ancestor's expectations.

He made no preparations, did not unleash any treasure, and even his expression did not change in the slightest.

On that face always bearing three parts helplessness and seven parts laziness, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly upward.

It was a smile full of mockery, yet also tinged with quiet confidence.

"Alas..."

A long sigh rang out, seeming especially out of place in this universe on the verge of collapse.

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Translation: Spatial law!

But need exclamation. "Spatial law!" Keep exclamation.

Chinese

Translation: Temporal law!

Chinese

Translation: The two supreme laws perfectly merged under his will, without the slightest conflict or repulsion.

Check: "two supreme laws" = two supreme laws. "under his will" = under his will. "perfectly merged" = perfectly merged. "without the slightest conflict and repulsion" = without the slightest conflict and repulsion.

"Om—"

"Om—"

Thus 【384】 output: "Om—". But we need to include the brackets: 【384】 "Om—". Ensure single line.

Chinese

Translation: The void emitted a strange tremor.

Chinese

Translation: This is nothing else; it is Chen Ku's ultimate divine ability, formed by the fusion of spatial and temporal laws and further sublimated into the supreme escape art—the Gate of Myriad Marvels!

Check: "ultimate divine ability hidden away" = ultimate divine ability hidden away. "supreme escape art" = supreme escape art. "Gate of Myriad Marvels" = Gate of Myriad Marvels!

Chinese

Translation: In an instant, the void before Chen Ku began to twist and fold.

Chinese

Translation: Strands of void turbulence sprang up out of nowhere, yet were bound by an invisible force, converging toward the center.

Chinese

Translation: Fragments of time and space danced in the turbulence, displaying lights and shadows of past and future.

Chinese

Translation: A doorway woven from light and dark, time and space, suddenly appeared before Chen Ku.

Chinese

Translation: Within the doorway, bizarre lights flickered, galaxies flowed, as if connecting to a universe of another dimension.

Chinese

Translation: He took a step forward.

Chinese

Translation: His figure was about to sink into that mysterious spacetime gate.

Chinese

Translation: As long as he returns to Western Mount Sumeru, there three sages suppress the qi fortune, and a great Buddhist formation guards it.

Check: "three sages" = three sages. "suppress the qi fortune" = suppress the qi fortune. "great Buddhist formation" = great Buddhist formation.

Chinese

Translation: Even if the Chaos Ancestor is stronger, would he really dare to attack Mount Sumeru and go to war with the entire Buddhist sect?!

We need to keep punctuation: "？！" combine. We'll output "?!".

Chinese

Translation: However, who would have known.

Chinese

Translation: Although Chen Ku's movement was fast.

Chinese

Translation: On the other side, the Chaos Ancestor was even faster.

Chinese

Translation: Seeing the Gate of Myriad Marvels appear, the Chaos Ancestor also unconsciously raised an eyebrow, feeling quite astonished at such a divine ability.

Chinese

Translation: That was a doorway that cannot be described in words.

Chinese

Translation: It is not a physical entity, but rather woven from endless Great Dao runes, each rune seemingly containing the birth and death of a world.

Chinese

Translation: The river of time flowed across the doorframe, raising golden ripples; the bulwarks of space folded on the door panels, reflecting the images of myriad stars.

The instant the doors burst open, what lay beyond was no known starfield or world, but a pure void leading to 'Nothing'—an absolute passage that could instantly free him from this secret realm, and even from the entire primordial causality.

In the Chaos Elder Ancestor's eyes—ancient wells without ripple, as if they had witnessed countless eons rise and fall—a faint clear ripple appeared for the first time.

It wasn't shock; it was an astonishment akin to appraising an antique.

He could feel that the spatiotemporal laws within that door were so exquisite they had reached the extreme of the Primordial Origin Realm.

Interesting.

The Chaos Elder Ancestor's lips twitched upward as he uttered two words; his voice was soft, yet it bore a strange rhythm that made heaven and earth resonate.

Instantly, that hint of astonishment turned into pure indifference and contempt.

Hmph, spatial divine abilities?!

A cold snort—not like thunder, yet more imposing than thunder.

In that instant, the laws of the secret realm trembled and wailed, as if subjects hearing an emperor's rebuke.

"Just petty tricks—don't even dream of leaving this place!"

The Chaos Elder Ancestor suddenly bellowed.

Before his words even faded, his seemingly ordinary yet vast robe sleeve—one that seemed able to shroud the heavens—stirred.

No earth-shaking immortal light, no heaven-shattering aura.

Just a light wave.

A simple as can be motion.

Boom—

The indescribable roar did not come from outside; it erupted directly deep within Chen Ku's primordial spirit, within the very source of his Great Dao.

Chinese (quoted)

Chinese (quoted)

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chinese

Chaos Old Ancestor still stood in the same place, his wide sleeves slowly hanging down, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of insignificant dust.

This time, it's really somewhat tricky, ah.

……

On the other side, the Western Buddhist Sect, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Here, time loses its meaning, and space transforms into eternal Mount Sumeru.

A colossal Bodhi ancient tree, too vast to describe in words, takes root in the void, its branches spreading; each leaf bears a three-thousand-world realm, chanting the supreme Zen sound.

Beneath the tree, in the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, a golden lotus blooms silently; dewdrops roll on its leaves, reflecting visions of the universe's birth and death, the turning of ages.

Everything is still.

Absolute stillness.

Even the alternation of light and dark has become the most harmonious rhythm; not a whisper of noise dares to arise here.

Jieyin sits upright beneath the Bodhi tree, his countenance solemn, eyes tightly closed.

His breath has long merged with the pulse of this heaven and earth; each inhalation and exhalation refines boundless faith into merit-golden light that coils around him, invulnerable to all laws, indestructible through all eons.

His divine sense transcends the river of spacetime, like an eternal observer, looking down upon the cycle of sentient beings, the rise and fall of the mortal world.

To him, a mortal's century and the rise and fall of a speck of dust are no different.

The birth and death of a world, the opening and closing of a lotus flower, are likewise indistinguishable.

This is the realm of the sage: a mind like still water, unmoved by external things.

Yet, at this very moment.

This eternal stillness is lightly stirred by a ripple so faint it is nearly imperceptible.

It is neither sound nor an energy fluctuation.

It stems from a higher-dimensional layer—causality.

Immersed in the Supreme Great Dao, Jieyin's holy heart, like an ancient well, is suddenly struck by a stone without warning.

His breath, which harmonizes with heaven and earth, hesitates for an instant.

Merely this instant's hesitation, for this Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, is no less than a storm on the level of the Heavenly Dao.

Upon the Bodhi tree, the Zen chants of myriad worlds, at the same moment, exhibit a minuscule break.

In the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, a dewdrop reflecting the turning of ages rolls off a lotus leaf half an instant early, shattering in the golden water; instead of ripples, it spawns a patch of void chaos.

Jieyin's eyelids twitch slightly.

This tiny motion makes the merit-golden light coiling around his body surge violently, as if a giant beast stirs beneath a calm golden sea.

Something's off.

Something went wrong.

This thought does not come from reflection; it is the Great Dao's most direct warning, etched upon his holy soul.

As a Heavenly Dao sage, he has long been on par with the Heavenly Dao, overlooking the river of fate; past and future lie in his grasp.

All phenomena in the world, every cause and effect, are as clear as the lines on a palm.

Whatever causes this sudden palpitation is certainly no trivial matter.

That means a force—or an event—has already exceeded the bounds of the River of Fate, even attempting to pollute and twist it!

"Mm…"

A faint groan escapes from Jieyin's mouth.

In that sound lies a hint of confusion he himself does not notice.

How many aeons have passed?

Since attaining the Dao and becoming a saint, presiding over the West, he has never felt this way before.

A feeling… of losing control.

He does not immediately open his eyes, but instead spreads his holy sense in an instant.

This thought, formless and weightless, in an instant envelops the Three Realms and Six Paths, pierces the boundless cosmic barriers, enters the Netherworld Sea of Blood, sweeps past the Nine Heavens' Gang Wind.

The Immortal Realm, the Human Realm, the Underworld…

Countless beings' fate lines, myriad races' causal chains, all lie bare beneath his divine sense.

Everything is in orderly sequence.

The Heavenly Court remains majestic, the Underworld still turns the wheel of rebirth, mortal dynasties rise and fall—all within the ordained numbers.

Jieyin's brows, above his tightly closed eyes, furrow ever so slightly.

His divine sense does not withdraw; instead, it concentrates further, beginning to trace the source of that palpitation.

Following that vague feeling, his will pierces layer after layer of spacetime, finally contacting a… chaos.

A pure chaos, filled with the aura of destruction and ending.

This force is overbearing, brutal, full of contempt and hatred for the existing order.

Worse still, when his holy sense tries to probe deeper, that chaos emits a tremendous recoil, like a slumbering beast disturbed in its dream, letting out a silent roar.

Even Jieyin's sage-like thought is blocked by this force, unable to perceive its full extent.

"How… could there be such an ominous premonition?!"

Jieyin mutters to himself, his voice betraying a hint of worry.