Chapter 160: Primordial Origin

Cloud Dream Marsh.

In a few days, several fellow Daoists will come to find me; then will be the time for us to part. Now, in Cloud Dream Marsh, idleness has gone on too long—it's time to separate.

While giving an early farewell, Yang Mei placed a piece on the board; the Dao rhythm spread outward, dyeing the surrounding pieces black.

Qi, meanwhile, asked while pondering:

How will I find you in the future? I can't just blunder about in Chaos.

Yang Mei and the others' plan to leave the Primordial Wasteland had long been known to Qi and the others, who had made their preparations.

After all, cultivators who have fulfilled their Dao depart; it's reasonable, since once all heavenly and earthly karma is settled, nothing else remains to matter.

Those great gods who wish to go to Chaos had, after the Ferocious Beast Calamity, basically ceased to be active in the Primordial Wasteland.

They seek a remote place, leave behind their Dao lineage, and upon departing, also add a modest foundation to the Primordial Wasteland, so as not to be utterly heartless.

Qi holds the white pieces, yet in the current board, black and white are distinct like the two pure and turbid qi, rarely entangled yet crisscrossing.

Before those few friends arrive, I will leave you a few willow leaves; if you ever feel lost, they can point the way for you.

After leaving the Primordial Wasteland, I should also enter seclusion to attempt to prove the Dao of Primordial Origin; if successful, I may be called one who possesses the Great Freedom of Heaven and Earth.

When Yang Mei spoke to this point, an inexplicable emotion welled up in him, seeming both joy and bewilderment.

Qi felt a myriad of emotions, slightly envious, and said: 'Proving the Dao of Primordial Origin is still too distant for me; I haven't even set foot on the Dao of Primordial Origin, so the great god's words to me are premature.'

But the great god now has cultivation that penetrates heaven and earth; can he not yet be called one of Great Freedom?

Qi felt that, given Yang Mei's strength, few in heaven and earth could rival him, and nothing could disturb his tranquility.

Without proving Primordial Origin, one cannot speak of true freedom; karmic obstacles are shackles, the path of seeking the Dao is arduous—without proof, how can one claim freedom?

Upon entering Primordial Origin, heavenly and earthly karmic forces cannot affect one; past and future become unfixed, contained within the self, all ways yield, for it is the beginning of the primordial.

Within light, without darkness, the quintessence moves and true life arises; primordial qi flows and heaven and earth stand; creation extends and all things are used.

Primordial Origin encompasses all, possesses all; its greatness has no outside, its smallness has no inside, empty yet not empty, identical with the Dao, united with the Dao.

When Yang Mei mentioned Primordial Origin, his emotion grew somewhat excited, with a hint of fervor; seekers of the Dao rejoice when the Dao is clear.

Qi understood this, and seeing Yang Mei not paying attention to the board, he secretly placed another piece, saying: 'Then I wish the great god prosperous Dao fortune; perhaps we may yet enter Chaos to listen to his lectures.'

Yang Mei also calmed somewhat, yet still proudly said: 'At that time I will send word to you, but it's merely a lecture—trivial matters, not worth mentioning.'

He then looked at the board, seeing the black dragon group about to die, frowned slightly, and wondered: 'Just a few pieces—how did the situation become so dire?'

After speaking, he glanced suspiciously at Qi, saw no flaw, said nothing more, casually returned the pieces, turned and left, saying:

'Let us rest for today; I too must nurture my spirit and gather strength, for a great battle awaits observation later; prolonged chess drains energy, not advisable.'

Qi smiled; Yang Mei's Dao profundity is deep, a slight disadvantage in the game, he forcibly altered it with Dao rhythm—Qi could not stop him.

Being familiar, occasional tricks are just for fun. In Chaos.

The Ancestral Dragon, the Primordial Qilin, and the Primordial Phoenix were likewise playing chess, except they used qi as pieces, the three clans' battle as the board, and engaged each other thereby.

The Primordial Phoenix's movements in Bei Fang were noted by the three, especially the qi response, which was extremely evident.

When the Azure Dragon compelled the Primordial Phoenix to swear an oath, the Primordial Phoenix's qi in hand instantly collapsed halfway; the qi of the Bei Fang continent returned to heaven and earth, and most of it fell into the Dragon clan's hands.

Seeing this, the Primordial Qilin laughed and congratulated: 'Still, Ancestral Dragon Dao friend's methods are astonishing; the heaven and earth of Bei Fang have entirely entered the Dragon clan's grasp.'

Yet his eyes held a solemn hue; the Primordial Qilin knew that, henceforth, the Bei Fang lands would not be a match for the Qilin clan against the Dragon clan.

Compared to the Phoenix, it is merely a slower defeat; without a second Primordial Origin influence, this has already begun to appear slowly.

'Dao friend, you overpraise; watching the fire from across the shore, I have suffered no loss—I only wonder whether you will have the chance to snatch chestnuts from the fire.'

Only the Primordial Phoenix's face grew grim; now, in the Primordial Wasteland, the Phoenix clan's main base in the Nan Fang continent is being pressed by the Dragon clan, while Bei Fang has been completely lost.

This inevitably leads the Primordial Phoenix to ponder: when the Phoenix clan bears the Dragon clan's main force, why cannot the Qilin clan break through the Dragon clan's defenses?

Moreover, it even lets the Dragon clan have spare strength to stir trouble in Bei Fang—could the Dragon clan truly be so mighty as to suppress both clans? Or are the Phoenix and Qilin clans simply too weak, overprotected to the point of losing their fighting spirit?

After all, during the Ferocious Beast Calamity, the three sides' battle strengths were not far apart, and the Qilin clan even served as the main force against the ferocious beasts.

Suppressing the qi backlash's influence, the Primordial Phoenix laughed and said: 'After all, it is still the Ancestral Dragon Dao friend's superior skill—he can simultaneously subdue the Nan Fang continent, resist the Qilin clan's assault, and still have energy to act in Bei Fang.'

Upon these words, the Ancestral Dragon and Primordial Qilin's faces changed, but before they could react, the Primordial Phoenix again fanned the flames:

'Look at the board—Ancestral Dragon Dao friend truly has fine sons; especially this second son, Ya Nie, with merely weak forces can block the Qilin clan's main force.'

'Observing the qi shifts, he nearly turned weakness into strength, scattering the enemy's offense.'

'Even so, he can still occasionally launch counterattacks; it seems that after the Responding Dragon, the Dragon clan will yet produce another war god.'

The Primordial Qilin's face darkened; after all, the opponent who made Ya Nie famous is the Qilin clan, yet this Ya Nie is indeed outstanding, worthy of attention.

The Primordial Phoenix continued without pause: 'Now seeing his qi weakened, it seems the Qilin clan's counterattack is also fierce; their gains should not be small.'

'Ancestral Dragon Dao friend, your two sons now likely face mortal danger; will you truly not intervene to save them?'

The Ancestral Dragon's face darkened, but he believes Ya Nie can overcome this crisis, taking the Responding Dragon as his goal, and thus should not fall here.

'Since we have agreed that Primordial Origin shall not act against the three clans' members, I naturally will not interfere; regardless of outcome, I can accept it, for one without faith cannot stand.'

When he finished speaking, the Ancestral Dragon's face turned from grim to iron‑blue, while the Primordial Phoenix laughed: 'Your words are quite right, Dao friend; you should keep your promise, otherwise the several children of the Primordial Qilin Dao friend slain by Ya Nie would likely die with unresolved resentment.'

Killing intent rose on the Primordial Qilin's body; he stared fixedly at the Primordial Phoenix and said: 'Primordial Phoenix Dao friend, please restrain yourself!'

Same as before

(Chapter complete)