Chapter 598: Godhead Awakening, Taichu Inheritance

Hun Dun Dao Venerable turned slowly, his white robes fluttering to stir a light breeze. Every step he took landed on the ancient stone slabs, emitting a faint, ethereal sound, as if striking the bell of time.

"Children, follow me."

Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan followed closely behind, passing through the layers of corridors in the divine palace. These corridors were even more ancient than the outer hall; the murals on the walls depicted various legends from the Taichu period, each one so vivid it seemed as if they might step off the wall at any moment.

After walking through the nine-curved corridors, they arrived before a thick stone door. This door was three zhang high and cast entirely from black divine iron; carved upon it were complex Taichu Runes, each rune emitting a profound radiance like the stars in the night sky.

Hun Dun Dao Venerable gently stroked his palm against the door and whispered an incantation. As the sound of the incantation rose, the runes on the stone door lit up one by one, emitting a melodious chiming sound. When all the runes were illuminated, the heavy stone door slowly parted to the sides, revealing the mysterious space behind it.

This was a circular secret chamber, about a hundred zhang in diameter, with a height so unfathomable it seemed to lead directly into the Void. The walls of the chamber were made of pure white divine jade, inlaid with countless night-luminescent pearls that lit the entire space as bright as day.

But the most shocking sight was in the center of the chamber.

In the very center of the space floated a massive Eight Trigrams Array. This array was fifty zhang in diameter and woven from countless golden and silver rays of light, each ray containing profound laws of heaven and earth. The array rotated slowly, stirring up vortices of Spirit Qi and emitting a low, solemn humming sound.

At the Core of the array floated two dazzling crystals. One emitted a brilliant golden light, as scorching and majestic as the blazing sun; the other emitted a soft silver radiance, as cold and pure as the bright moon. Each crystal was the size of a fist, and countless light spots could be seen swimming within them, as if they contained the mysteries of the entire universe.

"This is... the Godhead?" Xiao Yuan looked at the two crystals, her eyes filled with awe.

Hun Dun Dao Venerable nodded: "Correct, this is the original Godhead of the Taichu Immortal Lord and the World-Purifying Immortal Maiden. The golden one belongs to the Taichu Immortal Lord, and the silver one belongs to the World-Purifying Immortal Maiden. When you were reincarnated back then, the Godheads were sealed here, waiting for the right moment to reawaken."

Lin Xuan felt the familiar aura emanating from the golden Godhead, and an inexplicable sense of intimacy welled up in his heart, as if it were a part of his own body. "What must be done to merge with the Godhead?"

"First, you must understand that the awakening of a Godhead is no easy task," Hun Dun Dao Venerable's expression turned serious. "The Godhead seals all the memories and power from the Taichu period; once the fusion begins, there is no turning back. Your current consciousness will clash violently with the memories of your past life; if you are the least bit careless, you may be swallowed by the Taichu memories and lose your current self forever."

This warning made both of them feel immense pressure. What did it mean to lose their current self? It meant that while they would gain powerful strength, they would also lose their current feelings and memories, becoming entirely different beings.

"Moreover, the awakening of a Godhead requires passing through three trials," Hun Dun Dao Venerable continued. "The first is the Heart State Trial, testing whether you have a sufficiently firm will to withstand the impact of the Godhead; the second is the Memory Trial, testing whether you can maintain your self under the assault of Taichu memories; the third is the Power Trial, testing whether you can fully control the immense power within the Godhead."

"What happens if we fail?" Xiao Yuan asked.

Hun Dun Dao Venerable was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "At best, you will lose all your cultivation; at worst, your soul will be utterly destroyed. But if you succeed, you will regain all the abilities of the Taichu deities and possess the power to contend with Nitian Mozun."

Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan looked at each other, both seeing the determination in the other's eyes. Although the risks were immense, for the safety of the Three Realms, they had no choice.

"We are willing to try," Lin Xuan said firmly.

"Very well," Hun Dun Dao Venerable nodded with satisfaction. "Then let us begin. Lin Xuan, you go first."

Lin Xuan took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the center of the array. The moment he stepped into the array, the entire Eight Trigrams Array immediately lit up with dazzling light, and the golden lines became even brighter, swimming beneath his feet as if they had a life of their own.

The golden Godhead floating in the air sensed his aura and began to descend slowly. When the Godhead touched Lin Xuan's forehead, it instantly transformed into countless golden light spots and merged into his body.

"Ah—"

Immense pain struck instantly, and Lin Xuan could not help but let out a cry of agony. It felt as if thousands of sharp swords were traveling through his body, and every inch of his flesh was enduring tearing pain. Even more terrifying was that countless unfamiliar memories surged into his mind like a tidal wave.

These were the memories of the Taichu Immortal Lord: the magnificent scene of the creation of the world, his heroic figure fighting side-by-side with the gods, the profound realm of comprehending the laws of heaven and earth, and the beautiful times spent knowing and loving the World-Purifying Immortal Maiden...

These memories were so real, so intense, they almost completely scattered his current consciousness. Lin Xuan felt as if he were about to split into two people: one was the current Lin Xuan, the other was the Taichu Immortal Lord. The two consciousnesses were violently fighting for control of his body.

"Hold on!" Hun Dun Dao Venerable's voice rang in his ears. "Remember who you are, remember your current feelings and attachments!"

Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, desperately recalling all his experiences with Xiao Yuan in the Human Realm. Those beautiful memories were like a beacon, pointing the way for him amidst the assault of the Taichu memories. He was Lin Xuan, not just the reincarnation of the Taichu Immortal Lord, but a person with his own unique experiences and feelings.

Xiao Yuan watched Lin Xuan struggling in agony within the array, her heart aching. She wanted to rush over to help him, but was stopped by Hun Dun Dao Venerable.

"You cannot disturb him now," the Dao Venerable shook his head and said. "This is a trial he must face alone."

As time passed, Lin Xuan's pain gradually lessened. He began to find a balance, learning how to maintain his self-consciousness while accepting the Taichu memories. Golden light flowed within him, and his cultivation began to rise rapidly.

When the first trial ended, Lin Xuan opened his eyes. His gaze was more profound than before, as if he could see through the very essence of heaven and earth. But most importantly, he was still himself, still deeply in love with Xiao Yuan by his side.

"Lin Xuan!" Xiao Yuan called his name excitedly.

"I am still me," Lin Xuan smiled gently. "Just with a few more... distant memories."

Seeing Lin Xuan successfully pass the first trial, Xiao Yuan also gathered her courage and stepped into the array. The silver Godhead slowly descended and merged into her body.