Chapter 144: with translation of chapter title

Qilin Cliff, Three Illusion Gods.

"Old Changchong, what's the matter?"

Ancestor Qilin looked curiously at Ancestor Dragon, after all this meeting was initiated by Ancestor Dragon; as old friends since time immemorial, they still cared for each other.

Ancestor Phoenix didn't really care about Ancestor Dragon's affairs, her expression always a bit distracted, because those two riddle-makers earlier had really sparked her imagination:

Reversing time……future matters……

Who exactly is he? What's his purpose?

Until now, Ancestor Phoenix still hasn't come up with a more reasonable answer, pondering whether she should personally go to Jade Capital Mountain……

Facing two teammates with differing thoughts, silent Ancestor Dragon opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something directly.

Ancestor Phoenix also snapped out of her random thoughts, seeing Ancestor Dragon ask this question again, she was rather speechless:

The Ancestor Dragon in green robes warily eyed the two visitors:

【You solemnly state that if the plan can avoid extra variables, then avoid them as much as possible; after all, the small group totals three people, so if we sow discord between Ancestor Dragon and Ancestor Phoenix, the remaining Ancestor Qilin would essentially be isolated, right!】

"If only one person can attain the Dao, then leave the Dao's position vacant; whoever dares to attain it, we'll unite against him, so nobody ends up dissatisfied!"

Ancestor Dragon hesitated a bit, feeling his words might break unity, but some issues are better resolved early:

"I think, rather than later descending into chaos, we should first draft a contingency plan……just in case……"

Chatting about heaven and earth, everything under the sun, they gradually talked about cultivation matters, and Ancestor Dragon, feeling interested, also voluntarily shared his cultivation insights.

This matter had been settled when the alliance was first formed, after all, all three feared the other would attain Dao first, and what if the one who attained Dao first tried to monopolize it?

So to avoid meaningless internal strife, they arrived at the current policy:

The three would attain Dao together, without distinction of order.

【Feeling the foundation more solid than in his previous life, he couldn't help but feel moved: Hope this is my final round of cultivation……】

Upon saying that, the meeting immediately fell silent……

Ancestor Qilin rolled his eyes:

【One yuan, two yuan, three yuan……】

【A certain element, certain meeting, certain fortune, a Great Luo Golden Immortal named Jiao Ming attacked Qilin Cliff; he called himself Jiao Ming, fought desperately, even exchanging wounds for wounds, wielding a platinum-colored strange fire that terrified Ancestor Qilin so much his soul fled; he hurriedly called for help.】

"Old Changchong, you're really too paranoid……"

【You drew on your past-life experience: during the final battle, that wheel-war plan was obviously devised by Ancestor Qilin; Ancestor Dragon is a half-brute, Ancestor Phoenix isn't any better, so Ancestor Qilin had those two disturb me while he himself slaughtered the dragon and phoenix clan slaves in the back.】

【Saying that, you again confirmed with Hongjun: Have the Three Ancestors still not begun to awaken their spirits?】

Quite the enjoyable gathering……

After the two left, Ancestor Dragon merely assumed they were here to play, so he didn't think much of it.

【Saying that, you resumed your cultivation, while Hongjun began to furrow his brow, pondering how he could, like in his previous life, cut out that so-called evil corpse Rahu……】

"I propose: either we all attain Dao together, or none of us attain Dao, to avoid disputes."

Ancestor Qilin's strategy left the other two stunned:

This is……directly banning the Dao's position?

Although the vacant position feels odd, Ancestor Qilin's words aren't without reason; anyway, not attaining Dao still makes one invincible, so rather than fighting to the death over this position, we might as well treat it as if this realm doesn't exist!

【Seeing you awake, Hongjun immediately bitterly complained: Fellow Daoist, we now lack three Great Luo Golden Immortals on our side!】

"I thought you were going to say something else; didn't we already agree? When the time comes, we'll all attain Dao together, without distinction, so nobody can trust anyone."

But no matter how good the policy, it ultimately can't escape a fundamental problem: can the Primordial be refined multiple times?

【But the problem is, if the Three Ancestors' small team isn't split, they remain three standard Great Luo Golden Immortal powerhouses, while our side, even counting Rahu, still only has three people.】

But since they are guests, Ancestor Dragon still observed proper etiquette on the surface……

【Thus the optimal solution is: the battle must be won decisively at the Great Luo Golden Immortal stage!】

【You and Hongjun composed yourselves and formally began the second step of the plan……】

【However, a seed was quietly planted in the hearts of the three……】

【After hearing your explanation, Hongjun fell into thought.】

"I'm wondering, when we attain Dao, who should go first?"

【Soon after, you and Hongjun privately visited the Crystal Palace to seek an audience with Ancestor Dragon.】

【By then, even if I could slay the Three Ancestors single-handedly, it would merely be a replay of the past tragedy.】

【……】

【Three vs. three—winning that would be impossible!】

【Since we've decided to eliminate all three Ancestors, and cannot use the previous life's method of sacrificing myriad spirits to kill them, there is clearly only one path forward.】

【"Therefore, our primary and most crucial target is Ancestor Qilin!"】

Various heavenly materials and earthly treasures were prepared as a banquet; Jiao Ming and his companion said little, merely eating and chatting with Ancestor Dragon.

【If I also list it as a discord target, it's highly likely it will turn the tables on me, bringing in the Two Ancestors to ally against me……】

But in the end, selfishness prevailed; Ancestor Dragon pondered, then tentatively asked:

【Five energies intertwined in the chest, three flowers bloomed on the shoulders, three flowers and five energies united, plus a hint of round, metallic, immortal gold……thus you reached the limit of personal cultivation, the Great Luo Golden Immortal.】

【You sighed helplessly: Fellow Daoist, you don't know Ancestor Qilin is the intellectual pillar of the three-person team!】

【Really want to split the remaining benefits equally with the other two?】

【You smiled faintly: the highest strategic value lies with Ancestor Qilin; once he's eliminated, the other two are just side dishes……】

……

【If the innate divine beings end up splitting benefits equally, then there's only one situation: nobody can overcome anyone!】

【Having received an affirmative reply, your mood eased again: good, there's still time!】

And all of this is within your calculations...

So, splitting the three ancestors is the only solution……

East Sea, inside the Crystal Palace.

If it cannot be done, then we cannot avoid a fight to the death……

And after obtaining a reluctantly satisfactory answer, although the Ancestral Dragon was still somewhat displeased, he did not dare to reveal his ambition in front of the two, for that would be courting death……

This way, the interests of all three parties can be preserved.

【A meeting to divide interests, reluctantly concluded in a way that all three parties could accept……】

【If there were a choice, naturally no one would want an even split; the innate divinity's moral quality has always been low, and putting oneself above all else is the normal mindset.】

The Ancestral Dragon's worries, the Ancestral Qilin naturally understands; after many years of friendship, no one expected that when the time came they would fight to the death.

【When you opened your eyes, you immediately saw the old Daoist Hongjun under the old tree with a worried frown: he still had not cut forth the evil corpse Rahu!】

【That is, you must complete the killing mission before the three ancestors awaken their spirits; once they awaken, not only will their cultivation quickly rise to the peak of Da Luo, even to quasi-saint, but also the great war among the three clans will surely result in heavy casualties.】

【When you achieved Da Luo for the second time, with the aid of the true spirits of all beings, you only spent ten yuanhui, and later even broke through to quasi-saint.】

【In your previous life you were the sole quasi-saint-level powerhouse of the wilderness; your retraining speed naturally far surpasses that of ordinary people, even the innately divine cannot keep up with your progress!】

The Ancestral Qilin, who always has the best ideas, after a moment's thought, gave a feasible plan:

【One meeting, two meetings, three meetings……】

【Of course, to achieve this, we need at least three Da Luo on our side.】

The Ancestral Qilin furrowed his brows and said displeasedly:

"What lofty opinions do you have?"

The Ancestral Dragon's thoughts churned, and he probed again:

"What if only one person can attain the Dao?"

A person in a red robe, calling himself Jiao Ming, though the Ancestral Dragon does not recall such a figure in the wilderness.

【I don't know why; clearly, under your prompting he learned the concept of "cutting the three corpses" in advance, yet he simply cannot cut forth the evil corpse……】

If we could really prepare a contingency plan in advance, then whether or not it gets used, it at least counts as insurance!

"Then good!"

In the Ancestral Dragon's cautious words, the Ancestral Qilin keenly sensed his little thoughts:

"You…… what you say is not without reason."

【Remember, when you first achieved Da Luo, you definitely spent at least a hundred yuanhui.】

"I think……"

【On Jade Capital Mountain, aside from daily discussions of the Dao with Hongjun and diligent cultivation, you were concerned with and pondered the affairs among the three ancestors.】

【Upon hearing this bad news, you, who were originally in high spirits from your breakthrough, couldn't help but feel your heart sink…… yet you still comforted Hongjun: It's fine, two Da Luo can still fight!】

But to its great surprise, these two fellows soon gave it a big trouble!

【Even the matter of slaughtering slaves, which concerns attaining the Dao, the Ancestral Dragon and Ancestral Phoenix dare to entrust it to him, which naturally proves that the Ancestral Qilin has always been the most reliable.】

【One circulation, two circulations, three circulations……】

"Alas!"

【Days with goals and effort are the most motivating, and thus time flowed by like this.】

【But before the Ancestral Dragon and Ancestral Phoenix could arrive to help, the wounded Daoist Jiao Ming nevertheless voluntarily withdrew, only to curse before leaving: "You mere oxen and horses, dare to hinder the Ancestral Dragon Daoist's great undertaking? This time I am venting anger for the Ancestral Dragon Daoist!"】

【Now, upon achieving Da Luo for the third time, although you lack the true spirits of all beings to aid your cultivation, your retraining experience is already more than sufficient; thus after only fifteen yuanhui, you finally reattained Da Luo Golden Immortal!】

"Anyway, even if we do not attain the Dao, our upper limit can still be one realm higher than others, equally invincible in the wilderness."

A person in a purple robe, indeed Hongjun.

【"Dao friend, I don't quite understand……"】

【One day, Hongjun gazed at you cultivating under the tree and, somewhat puzzled, asked: "Since we want to split the three ancestors, why not also write a letter to the Ancestral Qilin?"】

【In his view, you first used a self-destruct identity to sow discord between the Ancestral Phoenix, then used an anonymous letter to stir up the Ancestral Dragon; what about the Ancestral Qilin? Why not try splitting together?】

【Ancestral Qilin: ……】

……

(End of chapter)