Chapter 520: Fated Duel, Taiji Twin Birth

Their surrender triggered a chain reaction like falling dominoes, and more and more people began to waver.

However, at this critical moment, the Hun Dun Heart in the center of the Dharma Array suddenly erupted with blinding purple light, and a low, evil voice echoed throughout the entire valley:

"Interesting... truly interesting..."

The intense light within Hunyuan Valley gradually subsided, and Lin Xuan was just preparing to press his advantage and strike directly at the "Hun Dun Heart" suspended in the center of the Dharma Array. However, the moment he took his first step, a voice both familiar and strange slowly resonated throughout the valley.

"Very good, it seems Taijizi did not misjudge the person. You truly possess the qualifications to fight me."

This voice carried an indescribable majesty and vicissitudes, as if it had experienced the baptism of countless years. Lin Xuan's footsteps paused, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Those Guixu Sect cultivators, who had originally been terrified, all knelt down upon hearing this voice, their expressions becoming incomparably devout. They chanted ancient incantations in unison, their voices low and orderly, as if welcoming the arrival of their deity.

Deep within the Dharma Array, the black mist slowly dispersed, and a figure walked out from within.

When Lin Xuan first saw the person, a stormy sea surged in his heart. He had seen this person's face before—in the images left behind by Taijizi, in the records of ancient books, and even in his own dreams. However, the Helian Chen before him was completely different from the gentle and refined scholar image in his memory.

The current Helian Chen had a tall build, and his entire body was surrounded by dense, tangible Hun Dun Power. These purple-black energies swirled around him like living creatures, at times transforming into dragons and snakes, at times condensing into flowers and birds, changing unpredictably. Most shocking of all were his eyes; the deep purple-black seemed like two miniature black holes, capable of swallowing even light.

But what shocked Lin Xuan even more was that within this Hun Dun Power, he could actually sense the charm of Taiji!

This kind of Taiji was completely different from the one he practiced; it lacked the harmony of Yin and Yang balance and was instead filled with a violent cycle of destruction and rebirth. If Lin Xuan's Taiji was as gentle as a spring breeze and nourishing rain, then Helian Chen's Taiji was as violent as a thunderbolt.

"You are confused, aren't you?" Helian Chen seemed to see through the shock in Lin Xuan's heart, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly to reveal a meaningful smile, "Why do I also possess the Taiji Dao?"

Lin Xuan gripped the Eight-Trigrams cane in his hand, and the Taiji Three Origin Power within his body operated autonomously, forming a defensive stance. He did not answer, but the doubt in his eyes had already provided the answer.

"Because Helian Chen and I were originally fellow disciples." Helian Chen said slowly, each word striking Lin Xuan's heart like a heavy hammer, "No, to be precise, I am Taijizi, or rather, Taijizi is me."

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Lin Xuan stunned for a moment. His mind went blank, unable to comprehend this shocking truth.

Taijizi is Helian Chen? Helian Chen is Taijizi? Then the grandmaster he had always worshipped and the great enemy he was now fighting were actually the same person?

"Looking at your expression, you must find it hard to accept this fact." Helian Chen continued, his tone carrying a complex emotion, both pity and indifference, "Let me tell you the truth."

He paced slowly, each step causing purple-black ripples to spread across the ground beneath his feet: "Thousands of years ago, my original name was Helian Chen, and I was the youngest Taiji Grandmaster in the Cultivation World. I dedicated myself to studying the mysteries of the Lun Hui System, hoping to find a way for all living beings to attain eternal peace."

Lin Xuan listened quietly, the shock in his heart growing increasingly intense.

"However, during a deep study, I accidentally came into contact with the origin of Hun Dun Power." A trace of painful memory flashed in Helian Chen's eyes, "That power was too immense, exceeding my limits of endurance. At the moment of contact, my soul was completely split into two parts."

He stopped walking and looked at Lin Xuan: "One part maintained the original philosophy and continued to search for ways to maintain balance; that is the Taijizi you know. The other part was completely transformed by Hun Dun Power and saw the truth of a higher level, understanding the hypocrisy and fragility of the existing order; that is the current me."

Lin Xuan's worldview collapsed completely at this moment. He had always thought he was inheriting Taijizi's legacy to fight against the evil Helian Chen, but now he discovered that they were actually two sides of the same person!

"We are the Yin and Yang sides of the same person," Helian Chen's voice became more weathered, "representing different answers to the same problem. Taijizi chose to maintain the existing order, while I chose complete innovation. Taijizi left behind a legacy to cultivate you, while I established the Guixu Sect to find followers. This duel was already destined from the moment the soul split thousands of years ago."

Lin Xuan finally found his voice: "Then... then Senior Taijizi..."

"He has already completed his mission." Helian Chen said indifferently, "Cultivating a successor like you to pass on his philosophy. And now, it is my turn to complete my mission."

As he spoke, Helian Chen slowly raised his right hand, and a massive Hun Dun Vortex formed in his palm. This vortex was not a simple gathering of energy, but a true distortion of space. It frantically devoured everything around it—light, sound, and even time itself were twisted and deformed within it.

The entire Hunyuan Valley began to tremble violently; rocks crumbled and the ground cracked, as if unable to bear the immense pressure of this power. Those Guixu Sect cultivators kneeling on the ground were pressed even lower by this aura, and some with weaker cultivation even fainted directly.

"This is not just a duel of power, Lin Xuan." Helian Chen's voice remained clearly audible amidst the roar of the Hun Dun Vortex, "This is a fundamental divergence in the understanding of the essence of the universe. You believe that order is beautiful and balance is necessary; while I believe that only complete reshaping can bring true liberation."

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Regardless of the complex relationship between Taijizi and Helian Chen, and regardless of the deeper meaning behind this duel, there was only one thing he needed to do now—stop Helian Chen's plan and protect the peace of the Cultivation World.

"Senior," Lin Xuan gripped the Eight-Trigrams cane, and the Taiji Three Origin Power within his body began to circulate frantically, "No matter what your philosophy is, your actions have already harmed countless innocent lives. On this point, this junior cannot agree."

"Innocent?" Helian Chen laughed, his laughter filled with endless sarcasm, "In my view, continuing to maintain this decaying system is the true cruelty. Rather than letting them suffer in ignorant reincarnation, it is better to give them a chance for complete liberation."