Chapter 524 - 461: Scheme!

"I really didn’t expect this..." Qi Yun snapped out of his sudden epiphany. The chaotic multicolored light in his eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a profound sigh.

"To think it was... such a simple, yet... nakedly brutal reason."

After the shock faded, a complex mix of emotions remained from seeing through the essence of the matter. He had thought it was some eternal blood feud or a grand battle over the Great Dao. He never expected that, in the end, it would boil down to such a "simple" monopoly.

"Sometimes, things are far less complicated than we imagine." True Monarch Shen Yi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the eternal flow of chaos outside the Immortal Island. A faint, detached smile of one who had seen through the ways of the world played on his lips.

"The Profound Yellow Origin Realm is the beginning of all realms," his voice was steady, "and All Marvelous Heaven suspended high above it is the source of all Daos!

"Only the Profound Yellow Origin Realm can birth a Dao King!

"To those who have already ascended to the throne of a ’Dao King,’ Profound Yellow and All Marvelous Heaven are like a ’Living Water Well’ that constantly gushes forth new springs." True Monarch Shen Yi turned around, his gaze piercing. "As long as they completely destroy the Profound Yellow Origin Realm and shatter All Marvelous Heaven, it’s equivalent to fundamentally severing the source of this well!

"In this way, new ’Dao Kings’ can no longer be born. The current Dao Kings..." He paused slightly, a hint of mockery creeping into his voice, "can naturally rest easy without worrying about latecomers threatening their positions."

To destroy the cradle was to ensure no more infants could be born. The logic was cruel and straightforward, yet it explained everything.

"Come." True Monarch Shen Yi said no more and gestured to Qi Yun. The two left the lawn in front of the thatched cottage and strolled deep into the Immortal Island along a path shrouded in immortal mist.

At the end of the path, the sound of water grew louder.

The view suddenly opened up. A towering, majestic peak, entirely grayish-white, stood at the edge of the Immortal Island. From the summit, a magnificent waterfall thousands of feet wide crashed down. It was a bizarre silver-gray color, swirling with the light and shadow of billions of different eras and fragments of destiny. Like a silver galaxy plunging from the highest heavens, it slammed into a bottomless pool below that exuded intense fluctuations of space and time!

SPLASH! Water droplets flew in all directions. Every single drop reflected a fleeting life or a corner of an annihilated world, erupting with a deafening roar that sounded like the convergence of all the joys and sorrows in creation.

True Monarch Shen Yi led Qi Yun to the top of this "Waterfall of Years." Standing by the cliff, overlooking the turbulent currents that carried the weight of myriad times and endless karma, True Monarch Shen Yi raised his hand and pointed to the source of the waterfall.

"The waters of this ’Passing River Waterfall’ are directly Guided from the River of Heaven and Earth Years." His voice remained clear despite the roaring water. "Its volume and the speed of its flow are closely related to the great river itself.

"Whenever..." True Monarch Shen Yi’s gaze deepened, "the flow of this waterfall significantly decreases, slows down, or even becomes intermittent...

"That signifies that the Great Tide of Years is approaching!"

Qi Yun focused his gaze and saw that the waterfall before him was still surging and terrifying. The silver-gray waves smashed against the cliff face, stirring up billions of splashing ripples.

After a brief pause, True Monarch Shen Yi turned to look at Qi Yun.

"Qi Yun, since you have understood the root cause, you should know that the time left for you, and for Profound Yellow, is running out.

"To become a ’Dao King,’ you must attain the Dao through ’Void Verification’!

"By creating the Primordial and turning the fruit into a pill, you already possess the qualifications and potential to verify yourself as a Dao King." True Monarch Shen Yi’s eyes held a hint of admiration. "However, truly achieving the status of Dao King is no easy feat."

With that, he flipped his palm. A simple gray light flashed, and an object appeared in his hand. It was an ancient scroll made of an unknown material. It felt cool to the touch, and its edges were slightly tattered.

The scroll had no markings of mountains, rivers, cities, or nations. There were only countless faint, ever-shifting wisps of swirling mist. Within the mist, abstract and profound Dao Patterns and starlight could be faintly seen, changing unpredictably.

"This is the Westward Journey Error Map." True Monarch Shen Yi handed the scroll to Qi Yun. "Holding this map, you can traverse the vast void to reach... an old place."

Qi Yun accepted the scroll. The moment he touched it, he sensed a very faint yet highly peculiar pulling force.

"You have... a very heavy karma of the ’Dao of Wealth’ on you." True Monarch Shen Yi’s gaze was piercing, seeing through all of Qi Yun’s secrets. "Did you make some sort of deal with those... ’Dao of Wealth Imperial Soldiers’?"

He didn’t expect the other party to even know about the existence of Cai Shen! Qi Yun’s heart trembled slightly, and his eyes flickered involuntarily. His deal with Cai Shen was extremely secretive, involving the borrowing of luck and future repayment. He hadn’t expected this Patriarch to see through it.

He slowly nodded, not hiding anything.

"That’s even better." The corners of True Monarch Shen Yi’s lips curled up slightly. "The place indicated on this map hides another set of... Golden Tang Dynasty Imperial Soldiers!

"However, they have a rather bad temper." True Monarch Shen Yi shook his head, seeming to recall some unpleasant memories. "I once followed the map in the past, attempting to subdue them, but... I failed, only managing to figure out a few of their tricks.

"You have deep karma with the Golden Tang Dynasty, carrying the luck of its official positions, and you also have the karma of the Dao of Wealth Imperial Soldiers on you..." He looked at Qi Yun, a trace of expectation in his eyes. "Perhaps, you are the fated one.

"If you can find and subdue them, it will be of great benefit to your future path.

"Even if you cannot subdue them, forming a good connection is still a good thing."

Another set of Imperial Soldiers! And related to the Golden Tang Dynasty, no less! Qi Yun’s heart leaped. Imperial Soldiers were existences that surpassed conventional Magical Treasures. He had already witnessed Cai Shen’s miraculous abilities. If he could obtain another...

"Thank you, Patriarch, for bestowing this map!" Qi Yun solemnly put the Westward Journey Error Map away and bowed deeply to True Monarch Shen Yi.

"No need for formalities." True Monarch Shen Yi waved his hand and took out another speck of chaotic multicolored light from his sleeve. It was similar to the guiding Spiritual Light from before, but much more condensed.

"Hold onto this Spiritual Light. In the future, if you have any doubts, you can sense the location of this place and follow the trail back.

"Remember, the Great Tide of Years is approaching. Time waits for no one!

"Seize every moment to improve yourself," True Monarch Shen Yi advised one last time.

Qi Yun nodded solemnly, put the Spiritual Light away, and bowed once more. "This disciple understands. I will definitely not disappoint your expectations, Patriarch."

"Go." True Monarch Shen Yi waved his hand.

Qi Yun said no more. His figure blurred as he transformed into a streak of chaotic multicolored light and shot into the sky. He quickly passed through the curtain of chaotic mist surrounding the Immortal Island, diving into the eternally flowing River of Heaven and Earth Years. Following the sensation from his arrival, he sped away in the direction of Profound Yellow.

True Monarch Shen Yi watched until Qi Yun’s figure completely disappeared deep within the fog of the grand river.

SPLASH!

Around the Immortal Island, the temporarily parted river waters of time, displaying the primordial colors of chaos, lost their restraint. They slowly closed up again, submerging this Longevity Immortal Island once more and isolating it in the deepest depths of the river of time, completely severing its connection with the outside world.

Atop the waterfall, the gentle, kindly, and instructive smile on True Monarch Shen Yi’s face receded as quickly as the tide, replaced by an expression of cold indifference. He turned around and walked silently to the thatched cottage, coming up behind the moon-white figure who was still sitting quietly and weaving.

"How was it?" True Monarch Shen Yi’s voice was flat, devoid of any fluctuation. It was as if he were a completely different person from just a moment ago.

True Monarch Feng Xi’s slender fingers paused slightly. She slowly set down the Cyan Gold grass vine in her hands, which had already been woven with bizarre patterns. She raised her peerless, aloof eyes. The detachment she had shown when facing Qi Yun was gone, leaving only an icy, scrutinizing gaze that seemed to see through everything. Shaking her head slowly, her voice was like jade beads falling onto a plate—crisp but freezing cold.

"It won’t work.

"This child’s method of verifying the Dao... is very bizarre.

"Not only does the Great Dao follow him, integrated into his Primordial body, but he is also guarded by an unimaginably resolute mind.

"There isn’t a single flaw, not a single gap. If one were to even slightly touch his core or show the slightest intent..." She looked at True Monarch Shen Yi, her gaze narrowing. "He would definitely notice it!"

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, True Monarch Shen Yi not only showed no disappointment, but an unfathomable smile even curled the corners of his lips. "Truly worthy of being a junior of our Holy Sect.

"However..." His gaze deepened significantly. "The more it is like this, the better."

True Monarch Feng Xi glanced at him and slowly stood up, her moon-white dress rippling like water. She looked at True Monarch Shen Yi, her flat tone carrying a trace of inquiry. "You were... quite generous this time.

"You even gave away that Westward Journey Error Map, which took quite a bit of effort to acquire."

"Heh..." Hearing this, True Monarch Shen Yi’s lips curled into a faint smile that nonetheless sent a chill down one’s spine. He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing up, and half-curled his fingers.

BUZZ...

A hazy, bizarre cluster of light slowly emerged above his palm. It constantly changed colors and shapes, with countless microscopic Dao Patterns pulsing, being born, and dying within it. The aura of this light cluster was extremely obscure, yet it shared a faint, indescribable resonance with Qi Yun!

"You can’t catch the wolf..." True Monarch Shen Yi lowered his eyes, staring at the constantly pulsating, hazy Daoist Intent in his palm. His voice was soft, yet it dripped with a heart-stopping coldness and calculation. "...without risking the child.

"Just... one or two more times." The smile on his lips gradually widened, morphing into the detached certainty of someone who had everything under control. "And it should be... just about enough."

The Immortal Island remained silent, save for the eternal roar of the "Passing River Waterfall" in the distance and the majestic, silent surge of the grand river of time flowing outside the island.

Sunlight pierced through the dense immortal mist, casting dappled shadows in front of the thatched cottage. Yet, it could not dispel the formless, profound chill lingering between the two transcendent figures.

...