Chapter 595 - 42: One Step to Supreme, Primordial True Form

Chapter 595: Chapter 42: One Step to Supreme, Primordial True Form

Profound Purity Realm.

The will of heaven and earth had taken human form, quietly comprehending every wisp and thread of the great world’s rhythm.

From the nature of all things to the breath of heaven and earth, from the passage of the seasons to the mountains and rivers...

’Heaven and earth...’

Lu Xuan murmured to himself with his eyes closed.

Everything was in place; all that remained was to wait. For the first time since he had become heaven and earth, he began to cultivate with single-minded focus, comprehending the profound and mystical sensations of his body being one with the world.

The four seasons unfolded within his mind, the cycle of sun and moon was but a slight stir of his thoughts, and the vast earth was his very skin. He could clearly feel the subtle sensation of all living things moving across his body.

This wondrous state left Lu Xuan in a bit of a daze. It was similar to when he became the Celestial Realm at The Beginning of Ancient Times, yet different. It was more... comprehensive.

’Nine Nether, Profound Clarity, Profound Yellow, Shakyamuni...’

’Four bodies as one. I wield the Nine Nether, command the Thoughts of All Living Beings, grasp the vast earth, and hold the boundless Buddha Land. With these, I can form the prototype of an Illusory Dao Fruit.’

’If I then unify the wills of Hongjun and Profound Origin Fusheng, I should be able to obtain half of a complete Illusory Dao Fruit. But that still won’t be enough. I must raise every aspect that each body focuses on to the level of Perfection. Only then can I use Great Magical Power to attain the Dao Fruit...’

As he pondered and muttered to himself, Lu Xuan’s thoughts stirred. On a barren mountain somewhere, Sakyamuni Buddha raised a hand and tossed out the Four Noble Truths Seal.

Lu Xuan toyed with the Four Noble Truths Seal, feeling the true meaning of suffering, accumulation, cessation, and the path. He comprehended the suffering of All Realms, the desires of all worlds, the nirvana of all lands, and the wondrous Dao of the Celestial Realms.

He gradually immersed himself in it, and the final barrier to the Supreme level was silently breached.

His past years, past time, and past history connected into a single, flawless, straight line.

His will was no longer trapped in various historical imprints. He had truly achieved the ability to exist simultaneously at every single moment, at all times!

Even though Lu Xuan was currently shackled to the Profound Purity Realm, he could now completely perceive the River of Time.

History and time transformed before him into a vast, flat sheet of paper, a single glance revealing everything. As long as it didn’t involve other Daluo or Dao Fruit existences, there were no obstructions, no secrets to speak of!

’The three steps of Daluo... so that’s how it is.’

Lu Xuan had an epiphany. In a way, the Daluo realm could also be considered a Foundation Establishment realm—it was just that one was establishing the foundation for the Dao Fruit!

He quietly flipped through Ancient History, filling in the gaps. He started from the first Celestial Court in the most ancient of ages, then to Taiyi’s rebellion and the establishment of the Ancient Celestial Court.

Then came Wa Huang creating humanity and mending the heavens, the fall of the Ancient Celestial Court, the arrival of the Era of the Three Emperors, followed by the age of the Five Emperors, and the dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou...

Each period of history could be summarized in just a few words, but these few words represented spans of time ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of years at the very least.

At most, the years were impossible to describe with numbers; even a hundred million was too small a unit...

He observed this entire Ancient History and personally participated in it. Existing at every moment, his figure appeared within every event.

A sense of immense age filled Lu Xuan’s heart, and as his appearance reflected his mind, his face began to grow completely old, his white hair falling around him.

In the same instant he attained the Supreme realm, Lu Xuan became an ’old man’—an ’old man’ in the truest sense of the word.

’This state doesn’t seem right...’

He frowned and searched through the memories of Sakyamuni Buddha for an answer. This was a necessary step at the Supreme level, and also the final trial of the heart.

Having seen and experienced all of Ancient History, it was inevitable that one would become a truly ancient person. If one could not see through to the true nature of it all,

one would continue to age. Although there would be no physical harm, one’s mentality would undergo a world-shaking transformation, losing all desire and the will to strive.

This was both a good thing and a bad thing.

How could one walk the Great Dao without striving?

If even the thought of ’striving’ was gone, there would likely be no more chances to advance further.

From the Great Heaven and Earth to the Celestial Myriad Realms, the total number of Daluo was barely over a hundred, and the number of Supreme-level Daluo could be counted on two hands.

But in truth, as far as Lu Xuan knew, from the true beginning of time to the present history that had been modified and edited countless times...

...the number of Daluo that had been born was uncountable, and the number of Supreme beings was likely innumerable. However...

...the vast majority of them had been reduced to nothing in the repeated contests for the Dao Fruit, forgotten by Ancient History.

After Lu Xuan attained the Supreme realm, he also naturally came to know that only one Supreme being had survived from the very first Ancient History to the current one.

Zhenyuan Zi.

Of the Supreme beings from his era, one or two achieved the Dao Fruit, but most were forgotten by history, vanishing in the struggle for the Dao Fruit.

’Daluo...’

Lu Xuan’s expression grew complicated. This realm, the highest beneath the Dao Fruit, offered the hope of contending for it.

But at the same time, it was also the most tragic.

A Daluo who failed to attain the Dao Fruit was destined to not meet a good end. The same was true even for him.

’If I fail to attain the Dao Fruit by the time the final calamity arrives, or even into the new Era, then even if my three masters continue to protect me...’

’...a single mistake is all it would take for me to become cannon fodder in the contest for the Dao Fruit, to be forgotten, to be erased.’

In quiet contemplation,

The ’sense of age’ in Lu Xuan’s heart dissipated somewhat, replaced by a renewed desire to ’strive’.

He composed himself, gathered his thoughts, and drew upon the Thoughts of All Living Beings in the Profound Purity Realm to deduce the secrets of magic techniques like the Mediation of Creation, the Four Immortal Slaying Techniques, and the Primordial Body.

His Mediation of Creation reached the Extreme Realm, and Lu Xuan comprehended all one thousand eight hundred Great Dao Texts.

He also completely mastered the Four Immortal Slaying Techniques. Slaying, Ending, Slaughtering, and Trapping were now at his fingertips as he grasped their true nature.

The progress of his Primordial Body was relatively small. Though it had reached Perfection, it had not yet reached the Extreme Realm.

Even so, the improvement the Primordial Body brought Lu Xuan was, conversely, the greatest of all!

His physical form and true aspect were subtly changing.

His mortal shell advanced beyond the Innate Divine Demon Body, gaining the colors of Hongmeng that he had once seen.

Chaos also gathered naturally, forming a robe upon his body. Seventy-two-colored rays of light emerged from his back, while layers of dim, profound universes floated around his form.

The airflow circulating in his chest transformed into Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. Above his head appeared the vista of Yin Yang, the Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams, while what he stood upon became the Three Calamities, Six Tribulations, and Nine Journeys!

"This must be..."

The Daoist treading upon the Three Calamities, Six Tribulations, and Nine Journeys murmured slowly. With every breath he took, Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water swirled, and the Chaos Daoist Robe on his body fluttered loudly!

"This must be the Primordial True Form."

At Minor Achievement, the Primordial Body grants the Primordial Dharma Aspect. At Great Success, it coalesces the Primordial Dharma Form.

Now, at Perfection, what he obtained was the Primordial True Form!

"A pity I couldn’t step into the Extreme Realm in one go... This step will most likely be very difficult to take."

Lu Xuan felt a little regretful. He had a premonition that if his Primordial Body reached the Extreme Realm, he would probably be able to attain the Dao Fruit directly with Great Magical Power!

If he wasn’t mistaken, his Second Master’s half Dao Fruit came from the Heaven-Opening Transformation. The other half was likely attained through the Primordial Body.

"The Primordial True Form at the Perfection level already has such a terrifying appearance..."

Lu Xuan examined his own body. Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water; the Three Calamities, Six Tribulations, and Nine Journeys—all of it moved as an extension of his will, manifesting naturally within his physical form.

He couldn’t help but sigh with emotion:

"I wonder just how strong Second Master was in his prime, at his moment of perfection..."

The higher he climbed, the more he understood how terrifying his three masters were!

"With the Primordial True Form complete, I should be able to move unhindered among the Daluo, even without relying on Supreme Treasures like the Heaven-Opening Banner or the Profound Yellow Pagoda..."

"Next, all I have to do is wait."

"Sixty years will pass in the blink of an eye."

Murmuring to himself, the Daoist smiled, then yawned and stretched. Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water surged from his mouth.

His Chaos Daoist Robe unfurled, Yin Yang, the Eight Trigrams, and the Four Symbols wavered, the Three Calamities, Six Tribulations, and Nine Journeys raged, and the seventy-two-colored rays of light shone brilliantly!

.........

「Late Han Dynasty, Luoyang Imperial Palace.」

"According to our projections, the North will make its move in sixty years."

The Emperor of Shu said in a low voice:

"Right now, the elders are still reinforcing the Emperor Pass and making their final preparations. The situation is growing more and more grim!"

A grim expression also appeared on the Emperor Wei’s face, and he sighed softly.

"The main issue is that Elder Profound Clarity and Elder Profound Yellow have both entered seclusion. My National Preceptor hasn’t, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong..."

"What’s wrong with Elder Hongjun?" the Emperor Wu asked hastily.

The Emperor Wei mulled it over for a moment before speaking hesitantly.

"I just have this feeling that the National Preceptor only exists in my memory... I can’t explain it clearly. It’s very strange."

The Emperor of Shu and the Emperor Wu looked at each other in bewilderment.

Thanks to his ability to "occupy a part of the future," Hongjun Daoist had not been shackled by Amitabha Buddha’s Great Divine Technique along with the others.

But by the same token, he could only appear in a certain possible future.

Lu Xuan had conversed with Cao Cao in a possible future. Once that "future" became real and turned into the "past," the scene would naturally surface in Cao Cao’s memory.

But in fact...

He had spoken with Lu Xuan, and yet he had never spoken with Lu Xuan at all.

After pondering for a long time, the Emperor Wei still didn’t know how to explain this profound and mystical feeling. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a soldier come to report.

"An Immortal and a Great Grade Immortal are requesting an audience!"

"An Immortal? A Great Grade Immortal?"

The three emperors exchanged a puzzled glance. After a moment’s thought, the Emperor Wei ordered,

"Bring them in."

Before long, Lu Xiuyuan walked into the Imperial Palace Hall with Lin Youwei.

His gaze swept over the three emperors, and he was secretly shocked. ’They’re all Immortals...’

Not dwelling on it, Lu Xiuyuan bowed slightly and said in a grave voice,

"Dare I ask if you three are the emperors of Wei, Shu, and Wu?"

As he spoke, he felt a bit strange. ’Wei, Shu, and Wu... how is this just like the Three Kingdoms?’

But in history, those three would never have sat together so peacefully.

Cao Mengde frowned, gazing at the Immortal-level youth, and asked coolly,

"What is your business? Speak plainly."

Lu Xiuyuan nodded seriously and bowed again.

"I would like to ask the three of you... to abdicate."

The three emperors rose to their feet at once. Their gazes were sharp, and a terrifying pressure bore down on him!

.........

「North.」

In seventy-eight million, four hundred and sixty thousand futures.

"You, do you understand?"

"Elder, I understand!"

A single breath passed. Of the seventy-eight million, four hundred and sixty thousand futures, one became the present.

Another breath, and the ’present’ became the ’past’.

A memory that felt both real and illusory surfaced in Yuan Shao’s mind. He was taken aback. ’Did I... just communicate with that elder?’

He looked at the attendant by his side and asked in a focused tone,

"Just now, did anything seem different?"

The attendant was slightly startled and found the question baffling. He shook his head and answered honestly,

"Your Majesty, you have been reviewing memorials the entire time."

"Is that so?"

Yuan Shao’s expression flickered with uncertainty.

After a long while, he let out a slow breath and commanded,

"Relay Our imperial decree. We have been suddenly inspired and wish to build a... Golden Platform."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After the attendant received the order and departed, Yuan Shao seemed a little dazed and muttered to himself,

"The Golden Platform..."

"What is its purpose?"