Chapter 382: Chu Chu Chaoran

All things are born and perish; heaven and earth know turbidity and clarity. Incense honors immortals and gods; demons and monsters plague the mortal realm.

Since the Dao Ancestor, those claiming to uphold the Supreme Law have governed the Three Heavens, slain ghosts to give life, exterminated evil and falsehood, purified ghostly qi, and all mountain and sea sects, hidden realms, and demonic spirits have bowed to them…

This is a great transformation of heaven and earth!!!

A faint voice drifted from the ancient temple, like thunder rolling across the sky, shaking the mountains.

"Smash the mountains, destroy the temples!"

Ming Ming Shenshou's gaze hardened into a single thread, his voice low and heavy.

At this moment, the words spoken by the Qin Ling Demon Lord were the most important, most pivotal event in Daoist history.

From then on, the Daoist sect expanded greatly, growing ever more prosperous; all mortal incense came to belong to the immortal halls, and the millennia-long life-and-death feud between the Wu Wei Sect and the Daoist sect began.

"Talismans carry heaven's mandate, seals command the gods, swords slay evil…"

"The Dao Ancestor, at He Ming Mountain, sealed the Six Heavenly Ghosts within the 【Jiegui Well】…"

The faint voice came again, louder now, and the incense within the ancient temple boiled violently.

"Supreme Talisman!"

"Yangshen Seal!"

"Sanwu Sword!"

It is said that the Dao Ancestor, Zhang Zhang Daoling, received these three treasures at He Ming Mountain, founding the Daoist lineage, and sealed all demons and ghosts of the world within the 【Jiegui Well】. The Supreme Talisman carries heaven's command, the Yangshen Seal commands the immortals and gods, and the Sanwu Sword subdues and slays demons and monsters—since then, the world has known peace.

"As the ancients Xiangchuan, whoever obtains these three treasures may find the ancient well at He Ming Mountain, offer sacrifice to heaven, and open the Demon Gate…"

Ming Ming Shenshou walked to the temple's entrance, staring at the broken fragment of the 【Lei Cheng Prison Demon Golden Seal】 lying before the door.

"All the seals of the Long Hu Zhang family derive from the mysterious essence of the 【Yangshen Yuan Tian Du Treasure Seal】," Ming Ming Shenshou said with deep implication.

He vaguely understood why the Qin Ling Demon Lord coveted the Zhang family's seals.

"Too bad this is only a small seal."

Suddenly, the wooden box exploded violently; threads of lightning rose, lifting the broken seal into the air.

Inside the temple, the grotesque clay dragon statue seemed to come alive; from the boiling incense, a human figure emerged, slowly stepping forward, its pale hand reaching out to cradle the broken seal.

"How could such a small seal require seven days?"

A cold laugh echoed before the ancient temple. A young man stepped out, barefoot, treading the muddy ground, his eyes deep and dark, a deep scar stretching from his forehead to his right eye, his left hand cradling a massive stone pillar weighing a thousand jin.

Qin Ling Demon Lord, Yin Yin Pobai!

In the mountain-sea hidden realms, countless demons and ghosts dwell—this one stands at the very summit. Even Bai He of Bai He Temple, the gray ape of Mount Laojun Mountain, and the ancient tortoise of Zhenwu Mountain all fear him.

"Lord Yin, long time no see!"

Ming Ming Shenshou bowed lightly.

"Lord of Jianggong, what brings you to my humble place today?" Yin Yin Pobai's gaze swept lightly, then his left hand flung the thousand-jin stone pillar sideways—it hurtled straight toward Ming Ming Shenshou.

Hum…

Ming Ming Shenshou stood motionless. Suddenly, a strange ripple spread—his form dissolved into a lingering afterimage, hovering in midair. The massive stone pillar plunged like a stone into a deep lake, crashing down behind him as if missing entirely.

"Daoist technique: Flying Body, Leaving No Trace!"

Yin Yin Pobai spoke softly, sitting directly on the temple's threshold, idly playing with the broken 【Lei Cheng Prison Demon Golden Seal】.

"Over the years, you've grown stronger, seized many techniques."

"Techniques are heaven-given; only the worthy may possess them. Any who lose their techniques to me were never worthy of such heavenly blessings," Ming Ming Shenshou said, descending slowly to sit atop the massive stone pillar.

"I am heaven's trial for them. Only those who pass may truly possess the technique."

"Bold words," Yin Yin Pobai sneered. "With such power, surely the next Wu Wei Sect leader will be you?"

"Then, when you wipe out the Daoist sect and flatten Bai He Temple, you can feast directly within the Technique Association."

Heaven-given techniques are exceedingly rare; the Technique Association gathers most awakened technique users in the world.

If Ming Ming Shenshou entered the Technique Association, he could truly enter a buffet mode.

"Lord Yin, you jest," Ming Ming Shenshou shook his head.

"You didn't come here just to show off your techniques," Yin Yin Pobai changed tone abruptly.

"Nothing brings one to the Heavenly Palace without purpose!" Ming Ming Shenshou said gravely. "Lord Yin, secluded in Qin Ling—do you know what the world's most watched event is right now?"

At this, Yin Yin Pobai's deep gaze snapped up, coldly fixed on Ming Ming Shenshou.

"I've hidden, not died!"

He paused slightly, then continued: "Chu Chu Chaoran is taking a final disciple."

"Correct," Ming Ming Shenshou nodded.

"So his great calamity draws near—he's rushing to find a successor," Yin Yin Pobai sneered.

"You see through this so clearly," Ming Ming Shenshou said, staring at Yin Yin Pobai.

"The Three Corpses Daoist once said: to dwell in the mortal realm is the greatest calamity. Even if Chu Chu Chaoran has reached Pure Yang Zhao Wuji, as long as he walks among mortals, calamity still awaits him…"

Yin Yin Pobai's expression grew colder.

Mentioning that name made the scar on his forehead throb. Sixty years he had hidden within the three-thousand-li Qin Ling, waiting for this day.

"When fate arrives, heaven and earth unite in strength; when fate departs, even heroes are not free…"

"Chu Chu Chaoran, undefeated for sixty years, should die," Yin Yin Pobai said coldly.

Because of Chu Chu Chaoran, the world's greatest master fell atop Mount Dongyue Peak.

Because of Chu Chu Chaoran, the Wu Wei Sect vanished for sixty years, leaving the Daoist sect unrivaled.

Because of Chu Chu Chaoran, demons and ghosts of the world hid within mountain-sea realms, daring not step a single step into the mortal realm.

Sixty years have passed; heaven and earth now harmonize, and all things must change.

"You came for this?" Yin Yin Pobai asked, eyes cold.

"Correct," Ming Ming Shenshou nodded. "The Lord of Yuangong has glimpsed heavenly fate: Pure Yang will vanish; Chu Chu Chaoran's calamity is within reach!"

"The Lord of Yuangong?!"

Yin Yin Pobai's gaze darkened. Among the Wu Wei Sect, only three men truly frightened him—the Lord of Yuangong was one.

His cultivation was unfathomable, towering above the Three Palaces, profoundly mysterious, and already rivaling the Wu Wei Sect's Deputy Leader, 【Nian Mr.】.

"He glimpsed heavenly fate—the Pure Yang calamity is near… Chu Chu Chaoran's disciple-taking ceremony?" Yin Yin Pobai felt it, and asked.

"Correct…"

"Whether it ends or not, whether it perishes or not, the seventy-third generation has its pause—Zhenwu Mountain's ancestors foresaw this long ago," Ming Ming Shenshou said coldly.

"Chu Chu Chaoran's calamity is Zhenwu Mountain's calamity."

"When this pillar of the Daoist sect falls…"

"Heaven collapses, earth sinks," Ming Ming Shenshou's eyes gleamed with strange light.

Then, the world's balance would shift instantly—the new age would arrive.

"Then I must prepare a grand gift for Chu Chu Chaoran!"

Yin Yin Pobai murmured softly, rising slowly. Behind him, the temple's incense swayed; deep within the mountains, the earth trembled, and strange roars echoed, shaking ten li without end.

…