Chapter 287: Both Sides Meet, Scheming the Primordial Ancestor

Buddha Ancestor!

Buddha Ancestor Dao Friend!

How could this be?

Seeing the monk with a flesh bun spiraled hair on his head, everyone's expressions changed, each showing a different look.

The Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space wore a bewildered expression as he asked: "Buddha Ancestor, haven't you already attained the Dao Fruit position and transcended?"

Regarding the Buddha Ancestor's transcendence, He has the most authority to speak.

Originally, when the Establishing Wood bore fruit, rumors said it aided transcendence; the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space initially wanted to conceal this, using it to elevate himself and become an ancient one.

Once successful, He could free himself from the restraints of Yuanshi Tianzun and the Moral Heavenly Lord, become a true heaven-overwhelming emperor of the age, and even attain the Dao Fruit position before the epoch's collapse, escaping the fate of perishing with the epoch's end.

Who would have thought this matter was exposed by the Demon Buddha Ananda, who is also the ancient thunder god, drawing the contention of many ancient ones.

However, the ancient ones led by Yuanshi Tianzun gave Him a beating, destroying the Ninefold Heavens; upon seeing the Establishing Wood fruit, they merely said, "No reliance on external things," and turned and left.

It was like a gang of robbers breaking into the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space's home, beating him half to death, ransacking the place, and finally saying, "We got the wrong person!"

For the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space, how stifled and miserable this is!

But in the end, the Buddha Ancestor obtained the Establishing Wood fruit, which helped him perfect his Dao Fruit path, thereby transcending.

In the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space's heart, this chance for transcendence ought to have been his.

Thus, His reaction to the Buddha Ancestor's appearance is the strongest.

Ah

Hearing the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space's words, the Buddha Ancestor gave Him a deep look, palms together, let out a soft sigh: "The path to the Dao Fruit relies on nothing external."

The Buddha Ancestor also felt stifled, having thought the Establishing Wood fruit was a chance for transcendence, only to find it was actually a trap.

To outsiders, He appears to have completed the practice of reduction to emptiness and attained the Dao Fruit position.

Only He Himself knows that He has only half-transcended, not truly succeeded.

Not only did He not succeed, but He was thoroughly restrained—unable to continue pursuing the Dao Fruit path, or even to act at will; it's akin to being thrown into a small dark cell.

Ah?

After hearing the Buddha Ancestor's exposition, sensing His gaze, the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space blinked slightly, and in his mind arose the distinction between the Dao Lord and the Buddha Ancestor after transcendence, vaguely grasping something.

"The Establishing Wood fruit is a trap, a trap specially prepared for Yuanshi Tianzun and the like!"

With this thought arising in his heart, the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space's gaze toward the Buddha Ancestor changed, tinged with a hint of sympathy.

Feeling the Heavenly Emperor of Time and Space's gaze, the Buddha Ancestor's mouth twitched slightly, but He said nothing more.

Buddha Ancestor Dao Friend!

Beside Him, the Moral Heavenly Lord had long known the Buddha Ancestor's present state, so He felt no surprise, only asking: "How could you appear here? You aren't...?"

The Buddha Ancestor should now be in a special state between existence and non-existence, unable to truly manifest in the world.

They had originally made a deal with the Buddha Ancestor: when they themselves achieve future transcendence, they would help Him fall from His current realm, letting Him start anew.

Sadhu, sadhu!

The Buddha Ancestor pressed His palms together, a faint smile appearing on His face: "This is still thanks to Dao Friend Fuxi!"

Turning His gaze, He gave a slight Buddhist bow to Fengyi: "Dao Friend Fuxi's power to traverse the heavens is indeed extraordinary; it has allowed this lowly monk to temporarily escape that special state; this monk thanks the Dao Friend!"

Hearing these words, the Moral Heavenly Lord's pupils shifted slightly, and His gaze toward Fengyi grew ever deeper.

Even the Buddha Ancestor, who has reached half the Dao Fruit realm, can be influenced!

Buddha Ancestor Dao Friend, you're too polite!

Fengyi had by now clarified the reason for the Buddha Ancestor's appearance, and casually returned a salute: "We Dao Friends are mutually beneficial anyway; your appearance is timely, and with the Buddha Ancestor Dao Friend present, our chances of dealing with the Uncanny Clan are even greater."

Indeed!

Upon hearing Fengyi's words, everyone also nodded.

Although the Buddha Ancestor has gone astray and is not truly a Dao Fruit, His realm and combat power genuinely surpass the other-shore level.

Even the Moral Heavenly Lord, as one of the most ancient beings, is far from being His match.

With this half-Dao Fruit Buddha Ancestor present, unless the owner of the ashes comparable to a Dao Fruit revives, they will surely be able to suppress the Uncanny Clan, obtain the ashes left by the ultimate powerhouse comparable to a Dao Fruit, and thereby comprehend another secret comparable to a Dao Fruit.

These are truly the ashes left by a powerhouse comparable to a Dao Fruit, not the so-called byproduct left by the Dao Lord's practice of reduction to emptiness.

Just as everyone was discussing the details of how to deal with the Uncanny Clan, they suddenly seemed to sense something, and successively turned their gazes toward the river of time and space.

A faint smile appeared in Fengyi's eyes as he softly said: "It seems a Dao Friend of these heavens has appeared!"

Not long after his words fell, the river of time and space grew hazy, as if a sword-light streaked across, and a heroic-looking man appeared before everyone.

Sensing the familiar aura emanating from this man, Fengyi's heart felt a hint of realization.

Shi Hao, are you almost about to step into the Dao Sacrifice realm?

This heroic man is none other than Shi Hao, the progenitor of the Seed System and the son of the great calamity of the previous era.

Shi Hao Dao Friend!

Seeing Shi Hao's figure take a stance, Fengyi stepped forward, clasped his hands, and said: "We meet again!"

Xinhuo.

Having just appeared here, before He could even speak, looking at the many figures around, sensing the unfathomable qi mechanism within them, Shi Hao's expression twitched slightly.

Especially upon seeing that monk with a flesh bun spiraled hair and a face full of compassion, his heart gave a greater start.

How can there be so many powerhouses?

Looking at these powerhouses he had never heard of before, Shi Hao's heart gave rise to a hint of doubt.

The key is that He had previously sensed none of these powerhouses' existence, as if some mysterious power had formed a great net of heavenly secrets, concealing everything.

In the end, Shi Hao still turned His gaze to Fengyi and said: "Xinhuo Dao Friend, who are these Dao Friends?"

Shi Hao Dao Friend, my true name is Fuxi.

Seeing Shi Hao's expression change, Fengyi gave a light chuckle, pointed to the sky, and said: "Dao Friend, do you know that beyond our heavens lies the boundless Chaos Sea, in which actually exist many different heavens?"

The other heavens

Stone Hao's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, as if he had thought of something, and he said, "Fuxi Dao friend, you mean these dao friends are all from the other heavens?"

If that's really the case, then everything makes sense, including why this Fuxi Dao friend suddenly possesses such great strength.

Correct.

Feng Yi nodded and said: "I once entered the Chaos Sea beyond our heavens, crossed over to the other heavens, and these dao friends are helpers I invited from those heavens to deal with the strange clan on the high plateau."

Helpers to deal with the strange clan?

Stone Hao's expression trembled slightly, he took a deep breath, and a hint of surprise and joy appeared in his eyes.

The more he fought the strange clan in the high plateau, the more he understood their strength.

Relying solely on him, truly pacifying the strange clan is simply impossible.

Now suddenly so many powerful allies have appeared; how could he not be delighted?

And after Feng Yi detailed the strength of the surrounding Buddha, the Moral Heavenly Venerable, and others, even with Stone Hao's state of mind, he couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.

Although these dao friends' cultivation system differs from his, they are all beings comparable to celestial emperors, some even surpassing his realm, especially that monk with a flesh bun spiral hair on his head and a face full of compassion, who is powerful to the extreme.

After years of arduous warfare, suddenly seeing so many powerful helpers appear feels like a dream to Stone Hao, giving him an unreal feeling.

After glancing at Stone Hao, Feng Yi seemed to think of something and said: "Stone Hao Dao friend, do you know the origin of the high plateau's blighted land and the strange clan?"

'Huh?'

Feeling Feng Yi's tone, Stone Hao's eyes lit up, and he suddenly looked at him: "Fuxi Dao friend, do you know the origin of the high plateau's blighted land and the strange clan?"

Nodding, Feng Yi did not conceal anything and gave a full account of the origin of the high plateau's blighted land and the strange clan.

These secrets far exceeded Stone Hao's imagination.

After hearing Feng Yi's explanation, his face showed a hint of dazedness.

'The ashes left by an existence surpassing the Sacrificial Dao Realm'

Stone Hao didn't know what to say for a moment; he never expected the so-called strange clan to have such an absurd origin.

Merely the ashes left by a supreme being have actually caused such great harm to this realm's heavens and myriad worlds!

Feng Yi's words did not stop due to Stone Hao's changing expression; he continued to explain the situation of the strange clan:

In the high plateau's blighted land lie ten ancestors who have entered the Sacrificial Dao Realm, as well as ten ultimate-level celestial emperors.

There exists a strange substance formed from the ashes of that supreme being; even if these strange clan's powerhouses are slain, they can be resurrected on the high plateau.

Saying this, sensing everyone's expression change, Feng Yi added a bombshell: "Moreover, over endless ages, due to the continual corrosion of the ashes left by that supreme being, the entire high plateau's blighted land has given birth to a will, and the whole high plateau's blighted land can now be considered an existence surpassing the Sacrificial Dao Realm, a supreme being."

What?

Stone Hao's heart jolted.

The high plateau's blighted land actually gave birth to a will?

Is it stronger than the ancestors who entered the Sacrificial Dao Realm?

Thinking of this, Stone Hao's heart involuntarily felt relief, secretly glad he had not rashly entered the high plateau's blighted land.

Otherwise, his fate would certainly not be good!

Not only Stone Hao, but upon hearing that the high plateau's blighted land had given birth to a will, equivalent to an existence surpassing the Sacrificial Dao Realm, even the Moral Heavenly Venerable and others showed extremely solemn expressions.

Those strange clan ancestors are not afraid, after all these people have reached a realm comparable to theirs through the corrosion of the ashes.

They are confident their combat power will absolutely not be inferior to those beings relying on external objects.

Even if their numbers are inferior to the opponent's, with their methods they will not easily be defeated.

But the fact that the entire high plateau's blighted land has given birth to a will, becoming an existence surpassing the Sacrificial Dao Realm, is something they cannot contend with.

After all, the further one progresses in cultivation toward the end of the Great Dao, the larger the gap between each realm becomes.

This cannot be made up for by any other external objects.

Thinking of this, everyone's gaze turned to the Buddha.

To counter the will-born high plateau's blighted land, probably only the Buddha, a half-Dao Fruit level existence, could do it.

'Sadhu, sadhu!'

The Buddha pressed his palms together and softly intoned a Buddhist chant: "Fuxi Dao friend, everyone, rest assured, this lowly one will certainly not shirk his duty!"

Even Amitabha Buddha and the Zhunti Daoist can perceive that this realm's cultivation system aligns with the Buddhist gate; as a half-Dao Fruit Buddha, how could he fail to notice?

Even saying his insight is deeper, the path of this realm's heavens ultimately leading to emptiness is almost tailor-made for the Buddhist gate.

This might be an opportunity for him to achieve the Great Dao without needing to drop his realm and start over; naturally he would seize it.

Let alone the will born from the high plateau's blighted land being corroded by the ashes; even if the ashes became a spirit, he would still go to subdue demons and eliminate evil.

'Hehe.'

Feeling everyone's urgency, Feng Yi gave a light chuckle, waved his hand, and said: "Everyone also need not be so anxious; for now I have temporarily concealed the heavenly secrets, the high plateau cannot detect our presence, we can properly discuss how to deal with the strange clan."

"I think we should first capture a strange clan ancestor, study the power contained within him, thereby probing the essence contained in the ashes left by that supreme being."

Feng Yi's current realm is not far from the Sacrificial Dao Realm; if he could obtain the ashes of the Bronze Coffin Master contained within a strange clan ancestor's body, perhaps he could gain some new insights, thereby completing the Sacrificial Dao and truly entering that realm.

Even others, including the Buddha and Stone Hao, could gain some insights from it, making it easier later to deal with the strange clan.

Otherwise, directly rushing head-on to clash with the high plateau's blighted land, even if the Buddha could truly oppose the will-born high plateau's blighted land, the ten strange clan ancestors who can die and be resurrected are not that easy to handle.

"Capture a strange clan ancestor?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, all showing interested expressions.

After discussion, everyone finally turned their gazes to Stone Hao:

"Stone Hao Dao friend, this all probably still relies on you to lure the strange clan ancestor out of the high plateau."

"As long as the strange clan ancestor is lured out of the high plateau, everyone will swarm up, and with the Buddha, a half-Dao Fruit existence, could we still fail to capture a strange clan ancestor?"

"With the strange clan ancestor as an experimental subject, everyone can each research what they want from him."

"By then, those who should raise their cultivation will raise it, those who should study the Dao will study it, and everyone will reap benefits."

Shi Hao glanced at everyone, the corner of his eye twitched slightly, and suddenly he had a strange feeling.

Obviously we are dealing with the Strange Clan and ensuring peace of all heavens, so why do we feel that our side doesn't seem like good people?

He secretly shook his head, dispelling the strange thoughts in his heart, and Shi Hao said, "Rest assured, I'll take care of all this."

After discussing the specific details, Shi Hao's figure vanished, and he began to implement the plan to lure the Strange Ancestor out of the plateau.

Seeing Shi Hao's figure leave, Feng Yi looked toward the Buddha and others, smiling and said, "Friends of the Dao, you should also be interested in this universe; you can go take a look."

Anyway, for beings at their level, a single thought can traverse infinite time and space, and there's no need to worry about missing the siege of the Strange Ancestor.

"That works too!"

Morality Heavenly Venerable nodded: "I just happened to discover a special other-self."

The moment his words fell, Morality Heavenly Venerable's figure vanished on the spot.

Seeing this, the Buddha and others also disappeared one after another, leaving only Feng Yi and Nüwa.

"Sister, let's also go check out this universe."

"Mm."

"(End of chapter)"