Chapter 541 - 475: Cooperation

On the third day after the Mountain and River Cauldron awakened, the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple welcomed an uninvited guest.

It was early afternoon. The slanting autumn sun stretched the shadow of the dead tree in the courtyard to a great length. Qi Yun remained seated cross-legged beneath the tree, his aura so still that he seemed to have merged with Heaven and Earth.

The Mountain and River Cauldron hovered in a corner of the courtyard, its nine divine dragons swimming slowly across its surface. The Profound Yellow luster flowing over the cauldron was visibly brighter than it had been in previous days. Cai Shen, having materialized as a translucent human figure, sat cross-legged beside it, chattering endlessly to Brother Fourteen about his experiences over the years. Occasionally, the cauldron emitted a low HUM, as if responding or sighing in lament.

Right at this moment, Qi Yun opened his eyes. His gaze pierced past the low courtyard walls, looking toward the southeastern horizon where the clouds were churning. A faint cyan Flowing Light was rapidly approaching.

When he sensed the aura of that Flowing Light, the sealed grayish-white lingering thought in his sleeve gave an extremely faint throb. The sensation was so weak it was almost imperceptible, like a candle flame in the wind being gently flicked by an invisible hand. Qi Yun’s eyes shifted slightly, but he paid it no mind.

"There is a guest," he said plainly.

Cai Shen paused and glanced back. Nodding slowly, he transformed into a streak of golden light and merged into the Mountain and River Cauldron. The Profound Yellow luster on the cauldron also dimmed slightly, and the swimming motions of the nine divine dragons became slow and steady, making it look like nothing more than an ordinary antique.

A moment later, the cyan Flowing Light arrived above the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

The light faded to reveal a figure dressed in a green robe, an Ancient Sword hanging at his waist. It was the Sword Pavilion’s Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch. Instead of descending directly into the courtyard, he hovered above the temple, his calm gaze sweeping over the small yard below. When he saw the Mountain and River Cauldron floating quietly in the corner, a hint of fleeting surprise flashed through his eyes before he returned to his usual composure.

"Fellow Daoist Qingyuan has traveled a long way. Why not come down for a chat?" Qi Yun’s voice was not loud, but it reached the high altitudes with absolute clarity.

Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch gave a slight nod. With a blur of motion, he landed in the courtyard. He stood opposite the dead tree, barely ten feet away from Qi Yun. The Ancient Sword hung at his waist in an unadorned scabbard. Though it did not leak a single trace of its aura, it naturally carried a deep, imposing steadiness like a towering mountain or a deep abyss.

"Fellow Daoist Primordial," he said, bringing his hands together in a salute. His voice was as clear and resonant as the ringing of a blade. "Please forgive my unannounced visit."

Qi Yun gently raised a hand. A soft force lifted a nearby stone stool and moved it to Qingyuan True Monarch’s side.

"You are too polite, Fellow Daoist. Please, sit."

Qingyuan True Monarch did not decline. With a sweep of his sleeve, he took a seat. His gaze lingered on the Mountain and River Cauldron for a moment before shifting to the faint grayish-white halo peeking out from Qi Yun’s sleeve, a flash of understanding passing through his eyes.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Primordial has had a bountiful harvest lately," he said casually, his tone betraying neither joy nor anger.

Qi Yun’s lips curled up slightly in a noncommittal smile. "May I ask what brings you here today?"

Qingyuan True Monarch did not answer immediately. He raised his eyes, looking past the low courtyard walls toward the western horizon. The clouds there were thick, shrouded in the vast twilight, making it impossible to see clearly. However, his gaze lingered in that direction longer than it had on either the Mountain and River Cauldron or the lingering thought.

Qi Yun noticed this detail but did not point it out.

"The Great Tide of Time is approaching," Qingyuan True Monarch finally spoke. His voice was very soft, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty. "Does Fellow Daoist Primordial know what this means?"

Qi Yun’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly. The Great Tide of Time. He had only ever heard this term from True Monarch Shen Yi and Demon Master Kunpeng. Those two—one a former Dao King who had severed his own Status, and the other the Grandmaster of the Ancient Demon Race—were both existences standing at that supreme echelon. It was not surprising that they knew such secrets.

But Qingyuan True Monarch...

Qi Yun’s gaze deepened slightly. He did not press Qingyuan True Monarch on where he had learned those words. There were some things that did not need to be asked. Asking would only yield a carefully fabricated answer. It was better to see for himself.

"It means the barrier between the Profound Yellow Origin Realm and the Outer Realm void will become fragile," Qi Yun said calmly, following Qingyuan True Monarch’s train of thought. "It means those existences hiding in the shadows can spy on this realm more easily.

"It means someone will take advantage of the vulnerability and invade."

Qingyuan True Monarch gave a slight nod.

"The World Honored One is one of them.

"But it won’t just be the World Honored One."

He did not continue, but his meaning could not have been clearer. Qi Yun fell silent. He naturally knew that the World Honored One was far from the only player in this chess game. True Monarch Shen Yi, Demon Master Kunpeng, and the unknown entity hiding behind the door connected to that lingering thought... Everyone had their own calculations. Everyone was waiting for the flower to bloom and the fruit to fall.

"So, Fellow Daoist has come today to warn Qi?" Qi Yun asked evenly.

Qingyuan True Monarch did not answer right away. He raised his right hand, gently pressing his thumb against the hilt of his sword. The Ancient Sword let out a very low HUM, as if it had sensed something.

"Not to warn," he said slowly. "To form an alliance."

An alliance. Hearing those two words come from the mouth of Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch was rather strange. A True Monarch who led the Righteous Dao was seeking an alliance with a Demon Dao True Monarch.

Qi Yun’s eyes flickered slightly. "An alliance? Between the Sword Pavilion and my Holy Sect?"

"More than that," Qingyuan True Monarch shook his head. "Between me and you."

He looked directly at Qi Yun, his gaze open and sincere.

"Once the Great Tide of Time arrives and the barrier of the Profound Yellow Origin Realm weakens, the Dao Kings will be able to project more of their power here. When that time comes, whether it is the World Honored One or any other entity, none of them will pass up the opportunity.

"And within the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, the only one qualified to contend with existences at the Dao King level..." He paused. "...is you alone, Fellow Daoist Primordial."

Qi Yun did not respond immediately. He slowly stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard, tilting his head back to gaze at the Celestial Vault obscured by thick clouds.

The moment he stood, the lingering thought in his sleeve gave another extremely faint throb. This time, Qi Yun clearly pinpointed the source of the sensation. It was not the thought itself, but the faintly discernible Sword Intent hidden deep within it. It seemed to share some subtle connection with Qingyuan True Monarch’s arrival, much like ripples on a lake being gently disturbed by a pebble thrown from afar.

Qi Yun’s heart stirred, but his face remained impassive.

"Fellow Daoist overestimates Qi," he said indifferently. "I have only just entered this game involving Dao King-level machinations. How could I possibly speak of contending with them?"

"Fellow Daoist Primordial is being too modest." Qingyuan True Monarch also stood, walking over to stand side by side with Qi Yun.

"To prove the Dao of the Primordial, refine the fruit into a pill, and carry the Great Dao with you... Throughout the eternities of the Profound Yellow world, you are the only one who has achieved such a feat, Fellow Daoist."

His gaze landed on the Mountain and River Cauldron, then shifted to the faint grayish-white halo emanating from Qi Yun’s sleeve.

"Not to mention, you already hold the key that could change the entire chess game, Fellow Daoist."

Qi Yun neither confirmed nor denied this. The autumn wind swept through the courtyard, blowing the last few withered leaves from the dead tree’s branches. They twirled in midair, refusing to settle on the ground for a long time.

"What is it that you want, Fellow Daoist?" he asked suddenly.

Qingyuan True Monarch fell silent for a moment.

"The Sword Dao," he said slowly. "Since time immemorial, the Sword Dao Fruit Position has always hung high in the All Marvelous Heaven. No one has ever been able to truly refine it entirely.

"That is because that Fruit Position is too domineering and too fierce. It suppresses many other Sword Dao Fruit Positions, causing some Great Masters of the Sword Dao to be forever unable to prove their Dao and become Monarchs."

He looked at Qi Yun, his gaze burning bright.

"But Fellow Daoist Primordial is different.

"Your Dao of the Primordial is capable of Commanding All Skills and encompassing the heavens. If you were to refine that Sword Dao Fruit Position, all Cultivators who practice the Sword Dao in the future would benefit from it.

"When that time comes, the lineage of the Sword Dao will usher in a new era!"

Qi Yun was quiet for a moment. He naturally knew which Fruit Position Qingyuan True Monarch was talking about. The Immortal Slaying Dao Fruit. The peerless, murderous weapon he carried with him—the very one that had slain the Master of the Ancient Coffin with a single strike in the Outer Realm.

"You certainly know how to calculate," he said evenly, though a very faint smile touched his lips.

Qingyuan True Monarch’s expression remained unchanged. "This is a mutual victory.

"For Fellow Daoist Primordial to refine the Sword Dao Fruit Position is adding brilliance to your already great power. For the lineage of the Sword Dao, it is a monumental merit that will last through the ages.

"Furthermore..." He paused slightly. "The Great Tide of Time is approaching. The Profound Yellow Origin Realm needs more True Monarchs capable of fighting and winning wars. And when it comes to slaughter and conquest, the Sword Dao is unrivaled."

Qi Yun did not answer right away. He turned around, walked back to the dead tree, and sat down cross-legged once more. The autumn breeze swept past his robes, making his Deep Blue Daoist Robe flutter gently.

"I have noted your words, Fellow Daoist," he said flatly. "Allow me a few days to consider."

Qingyuan True Monarch gave a slight nod, not pressing him any further. He brought his hands together in a salute, and his figure transformed into a streak of cyan Flowing Light. He shot up into the sky and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye. Yet, in the instant he departed, his gaze swept toward the west one last time. There, the clouds churned and the twilight deepened, concealing everything from sight.

Qi Yun took all of this in. He retracted his gaze and closed his eyes. The lingering thought in his sleeve had completely settled down, no longer throbbing. It was as if the two faint palpitations from earlier had just been his imagination.

But he knew it was no illusion.

"Qi the Kid." Cai Shen’s spiritual nature fluctuated as his voice rang out from the Mountain and River Cauldron, laced with a bit of confusion. "How did Qingyuan True Monarch know about the Great Tide of Time? Isn’t that..."

"I don’t know," Qi Yun interrupted, his tone indifferent. "Maybe True Monarch Shen Yi told him. Maybe it was someone else."

"Someone else?" Cai Shen was taken aback. "Who?"

Qi Yun did not answer. He simply lifted his gaze, looking toward the west. It was the direction Qingyuan True Monarch had glanced at twice before leaving. It was also the direction of the towering, ancient city hidden within that lingering thought.

"Interesting," Qi Yun muttered under his breath, a very faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He did not pry any deeper. He knew that the chess players hiding in the shadows would not let him see the full picture so easily. They would only push the game forward step by step, making those who were meant to enter the board walk in on their own accord, one by one.

All he could do was wait. Wait for them to lose their patience. Wait for them to expose a flaw. Wait for them to personally deliver that crucial chess piece right to his front door.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

"Elder Cai." On this day, Qi Yun, who had been meditating in deep cultivation, suddenly spoke.

"I’m here," Cai Shen replied hastily.

"Go pass on a message." Qi Yun’s eyes were half-closed. His voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable certainty. "Tell Fellow Daoist Qingyuan that the matter he spoke of...

"I agree to it."