Chapter 667 - 74: The Missing Transcendent Trait, Entering the World with the Goddess

Chapter 667: Chapter 74: The Missing Transcendent Trait, Entering the World with the Goddess

Lu Xuan’s brow furrowed.

Empty.

Empty again.

His gaze suddenly deepened. Elder Haotian’s body contained no Transcendent Traits, just as Taiyi had lost the Innate Uncertain Number!

’Why is this happening?’

Lu Xuan lowered his eyelids, concealing the profound darkness in his eyes. ’This is strange...’

First Taiyi, and now Haotian.

He thought of the two Transcendent Traits on Fu Xi. His mind raced, but he dismissed the possibility. After a moment of thought, Lu Xuan looked up and said calmly,

"I’ve come seeking Elder Haotian to ask about a certain matter."

Haotian nodded slightly.

"Please, speak."

"Elder, do you wish to achieve Transcendence?"

"I have no such intention." Haotian shook his head, his voice calm. "I know my own limits. Transcendence... it’s not for me."

Lu Xuan nodded slightly and continued,

"In that case, Elder, why did you stop my Second Master from pursuing the position of Daoist Ancestor?"

"This is a fundamental principle. It has nothing to do with our struggles or our friendship..."

Haotian spoke slowly.

"If a Daoist Ancestor were to emerge, the Dao Fruits would lose their very meaning. They might truly die. I have no grand ambition to strive for Transcendence. I’m a simple man."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"And as a simple man, all I want is to remain seated on my supreme throne. Even if I can’t defeat a few of my Fellow Daoists, at least I can... hold my own."

"Furthermore, I don’t want to face the possibility of my existence truly ending someday. I haven’t seen enough of these beautiful lands. I do not wish to place my life in another’s hands."

"I am sorry for what happened to the Primordial Great Celestial Venerable, but my hand was forced. Anyone who schemes to become the Daoist Ancestor will be opposed by all Dao Fruits."

Lu Xuan nodded silently after hearing this. He felt no blame or resentment toward Haotian in his heart.

On the contrary, he completely understood Elder Haotian’s reasoning...

Dao Fruits are immortal and unending, but if a Daoist Ancestor were to emerge, they would no longer be so.

No matter how close their relationships, no one would be willing to place their life in another’s hands—especially not that handful of beings who could suppress all of creation, whose lives were endless and whose fates were limitless.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Xuan looked up and said softly,

"I can understand your thoughts, but I also hope you can understand me. After my Second Master breaks his seal, someday in the future, he might continue to plot for the position of Daoist Ancestor. At that time..."

Haotian smiled, poured a cup of hot tea for Lu Xuan, and said softly,

"Then we shall meet on the battlefield again."

Lu Xuan nodded silently, took a sip of hot tea, and then started a game of chess with Haotian. The two played quietly, occasionally chatting about matters concerning the Journey to the West.

Like old friends of many years.

When the Great Sun finally set, Lu Xuan rose to take his leave.

"I’ll head back first to make some arrangements for the Journey to the West. With my Second Master suppressed and The Three Pristine Ones incomplete, we are at a disadvantage in this match."

"I will do my best."

Haotian said seriously,

"The outcome is uncertain, but I will do my best."

After speaking, he personally escorted Lu Xuan out of the Great Palace, watching him leave and disappear into the light of the setting sun.

"Sigh..."

Haotian let out a soft sigh, gazed at the twilight for a long time, and lowered his eyelids, seemingly guilty.

.........

"Damn it! The sun’s already down. Where’s that so-called Super Heaven Great Saint of yours?!"

Sun Wukong angrily grabbed the Little Monkey Demon.

The latter was completely unafraid, craning its neck.

"My king isn’t someone you can see just by asking! You wild monkey from who-knows-where, you’d better understand..."

The little demon’s few choice words made Sun Wukong’s eyes bulge. He immediately raised his fist, but just as he was about to bring it down, a sharp cry rang out.

"HALT!!"

With the loud shout,

Sun Wukong looked up to see a youth approaching, clad in pitch-black armor with a Purple Gold Crown on his head. Auspicious clouds formed with his every step, and his body was wreathed in roaring thunder!

Ben Bo’Erba roared,

"Hey, monkey! Let go of this grandpa’s little demon!"

He was full of bravado, his heart thumping with excitement as he subconsciously licked his lips.

’At this point in time, Lord Great Sage... if I remember correctly...’

’He’s not even an Immortal yet, is he??’

’Beating up Sun Wukong... Hehe, hehehe...’

A goofy grin spread across Ben Bo’Erba’s face. He couldn’t help but rub his hands together. ’Good heavens, who would’ve thought I’d get a chance to thrash Lord Great Sage in this life??’

’This was something I wouldn’t have even dared to dream of before!’

At this moment, Sun Wukong looked Ben Bo’Erba up and down, a look of confusion appearing on his face.

’Is this demon a fool?’

’Why is he just standing there with that stupid grin, rubbing his hands together like a fly?’

Sun Wukong clicked his tongue, growing impatient, and let out a sneer.

"Little demon, have you gone mad? Let your Grandpa Sun cure you!"

He had been stuck by the Purple Cloud Palace Master’s side for a hundred years, with nothing to do but cultivate day in and day out. He was bored out of his mind. Now that his Divine Techniques were complete, he was itching to test them out!

Immediately.

"Eat a punch from Old Sun!"

Sun Wukong threw a straightforward punch.

Ben Bo’Erba put his hands on his hips and threw his head back with a laugh.

"Little monkey, this Great Saint will let you have ten free shots, just so you know how powerful I am..."

His words had barely left his mouth.

BOOM!!!

With an earth-shattering roar, Ben Bo’Erba shot away like a kite with a snapped string. He smashed straight through Huaguo Mountain and flattened an entire mountain range...

"Is that it?"

Sun Wukong grinned.

"Not so tough after all... Again! Again!"

He strode forward, straddled the utterly dumbfounded Ben Bo’Erba on the ground, and raised both fists.

BAM! BAM! BAM!!

He rained down a flurry of blows.

"Grandpa Sun, I was wrong, I was wrong!"

.........

"Lady."

In the Kongtong Immortal Realm, hidden from the mortal world, Lu Xuan bowed respectfully.

The exceptionally beautiful woman slowly opened her eyes and smiled softly.

"I saw everything through you. Don’t be sad or heartbroken. Your Second Master is merely sealed; he is in no real danger."

"I understand."

Lu Xuan nodded lightly, then asked softly,

"Lady, have you ’seen’ Elder Haotian recently?"

"Haotian?"

The beautiful woman was a little surprised, shook her head, and said with a smile,

"Ever since he was reborn from death, I really haven’t seen him again... What’s wrong?"

Lu Xuan fell silent, his mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

After a long time, he looked up and said,

"Lady, do you know about Elder Haotian’s Transcendent Traits?"

The beautiful woman had a puzzled look on her face.

"Haotian? When did he ever have Transcendent Traits?"

Lu Xuan’s expression suddenly turned solemn.

’This is troublesome...’

The Lady’s eyes could see through anything and everything—except for matters directly related to herself.

Even Fu Xi could not hide from the Lady’s eyes!

The more he thought about it, the more Lu Xuan felt that the disappearance of Elder Haotian’s Transcendent Traits was strange and deeply unsettling.

’Could it be that Elder Haotian never possessed Transcendent Traits in the first place?’

’Did that ’Wa Huang’ lie?’

’Or...’

’Had Elder Haotian already lost his Transcendent Traits before he met the Lady?’

’Could it be related to Fu Xi’s extra Transcendent Traits?’

After a moment of contemplation, he asked again,

"Then, Lady, you once saw Taiyi in person. At that time, you sighed and said, ’So that’s how it is.’ Did you... see something?"

The beautiful woman became unusually silent.

After a long moment, she nodded gently, then just as gently shook her head.

"I saw everything, but Xiaoxuan, don’t ask any more. I won’t tell you. If I were to inform you, it might cause unforeseen changes."

A look of confusion appeared on Lu Xuan’s face.

’What did the Lady see on Taiyi?’

’She can’t even tell me?’

Just as he was about to continue asking, the beautiful woman interrupted him.

"I’ll say it again: don’t ask. That includes asking about that Qing Xuan Daoist. Don’t ask anything, don’t investigate... If possible, I hope you never find out who Qing Xuan is."

’This is the third time.’

Lu Xuan’s expression grew solemn. ’First, my Second Master. Second, Qing Xuan himself. And now, the Lady...’

They were all telling him the same thing, saying, ’If possible, I hope you never find out who Qing Xuan is.’

Immense doubt surged in Lu Xuan’s heart. The hairs on his arms stood on end, and a tremor ran through him.

Qing Xuan, Taiyi, Fu Xi...

The mysteries intertwined before him, forming a thick fog he couldn’t possibly see through!

"Lady, I don’t understand..."

"Child, don’t ask anymore."

The beautiful woman sighed softly.

"Some things are originally destined to happen, but if they are spoken aloud, they might change... You should understand my meaning."

She rose gracefully. The pull of her Divine Chains made the entire Celestial Vault tremble violently.

Then,

The Goddess gazed at Lu Xuan and said gently,

"If I told you, things would only take a turn for the worse. Knowing your personality... Never mind. Just don’t ask. If nothing unexpected happens, you will know everything when the Journey to the West concludes."

Lu Xuan nodded silently. ’When the Journey to the West concludes...’

He looked up and bowed respectfully.

"Lady, I understand."

"It’s good that you understand."

The beautiful woman smiled, but her expression suddenly turned to one of heartache, and her eyes widened as she puffed out her cheeks in a pout.

"Lady, what is it?"

"Xiaobao is getting beaten up."

She said worriedly,

"You are now the Cause of All Fruits. By looking at you, I can see everything that happens beneath the level of the Dao Fruits. And right now, Xiaobao is getting thrashed by that disciple of yours. It’s horrible!"

She paused, then lightly bit her lip.

"This won’t do. I have to go stand up for my Xiaobao..."

Lu Xuan was taken aback. His mind raced, and he immediately understood the whole situation. Torn between laughter and tears, he tried to stop her.

"Lady, it’s just the young ones roughhousing. There’s no need for you to get involved, is there?"

The beautiful woman huffed, her gaze unfriendly.

"And isn’t this all your fault!"

"Me?"

Lu Xuan gave a wry smile and subconsciously rubbed his nose. ’It really is my fault. I taught Wukong a little too well...’

’Just the dense, innate origin from The Beginning of Ancient Times had already forged an Innate Physique for Sun Wukong, one no less impressive than that fat-headed fish’s.’

’He’d also dabbled in both the Celestial Spirit Great Divine Techniques and the Earthly Fiend Divine Techniques, reaching the Immortal level far ahead of schedule. But still...’

A look of confusion appeared on Lu Xuan’s face.

"Wukong is only at the Immortal stage right now. That fat-headed fish is at the Celestial Realms level, so how could he be no match for Wukong?"

"Transcendent Traits," the beautiful woman said with a displeased pout. "The Victorious Fighting Buddha passed his own Transcendent Traits to Sun Wukong. Now, every punch and kick from that monkey is empowered by the might of the cosmos!"

Lu Xuan came to a sudden realization. He sensed it carefully, and it was indeed so.

’Wukong’s Celestial Intent Dao Rhyme... has been activated.’

"Now this is interesting."

Muttering to himself, Lu Xuan bowed to the beautiful woman once more.

"Lady, I would like to ask you..."

Before he could finish speaking, the beautiful woman nodded slightly.

"I see what you are thinking. Very well, I shall accompany you. But we must be discreet. If we are exposed, the Demon Ancestor himself will appear."

Lu Xuan nodded heavily.

’The situation with Haotian is fraught with Profound Mysteries and is a major problem. Transcendent Traits vanishing into thin air...’

He planned to bring the Lady back into the world.

Trapped here for countless years, it was time for the Lady to leave.

(One more Chapter to come.)