Chapter 548 478: Abnormal Movements in the West

The Auspicious Cloud tore through the celestial vault, heading straight east.

Qi Yun stood at the head of the cloud with his hands clasped behind his back. His robes fluttered wildly in the wind, and the colorful intent in his eyes swirled endlessly.

On the journey back from the ancient city of Chang'an, he had been digesting the four merging portions of the Sword Dao. The power left behind by the Great Emperor of the Golden Tang Dynasty was incredibly vast. Even with the dominating capability of the Primordial Dao, it was impossible to absorb it all in a short time.

But he was not in a hurry. Some things required time to settle. Some powers needed to be tempered before they could truly be utilized as his own.

The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron hovered by his side. The movements of the nine divine dragons were much steadier than before. The brilliance in the dragons' eyes no longer flickered; instead, it shone constantly like nine unextinguishable Everlasting Lamps.

Cai Shen did not speak. His previously frantic spiritual nature fluctuations had calmed down, replaced by an indescribable tranquility.

Qi Yun knew what he was thinking.

Eons ago, during the peak of the Golden Tang Dynasty, the Twenty-four Imperial Soldiers guarded the Great Emperor, suppressing the providence of all heavens. Those were their most glorious years, and also a homeland to which they could never return.

Now, Chang'an was gone, and the Great Emperor was gone. Only these "relics" like them were left wandering the world.

"Elder Cai," Qi Yun suddenly spoke.

"I'm here," Cai Shen hastily replied.

"Your fourteenth brother mentioned that an Imperial Soldier defected back then."

Cai Shen's spiritual nature fluctuations trembled slightly. He remained silent for a moment before replying hoarsely, "...Yes."

"Who was it?"

Cai Shen did not answer. The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron let out a low thrum. Within that sound lay anger, sorrow, and a trace of unspeakable shame.

"You don't have to say it," Qi Yun said calmly. "I will know sooner or later."

He did not press the matter. He knew that those defected Imperial Soldiers must now be serving under some Dao King. As the tide of time approached and the Dao Kings stirred restlessly, those Imperial Soldiers would inevitably reveal themselves. When that time came, the truth would come to light.

"Qi the Kid," Cai Shen's voice rang out again, tinged with hesitation. "Are you... really not planning to do as His Majesty said?"

"Protect Profound Yellow?" A smile tugged at the corners of Qi Yun's lips. "I have."

Cai Shen paused in surprise. "You have? When?"

"From the moment I sealed the Celestial Court in the West Sea," Qi Yun said calmly. "The World Honored One wanted to destroy Profound Yellow; I blocked him.

"Shen Yi wanted to reap the harvest; I guarded against him.

"Demon Master Kunpeng wanted to drag me into the game; I observed.

"Qingyuan True Monarch wanted to borrow my power to unlock the shackles of the Sword Dao; I agreed."

He paused, the colorful intent in his eyes concentrating slightly. "Aren't all of these acts protecting Profound Yellow?"

Cai Shen opened his mouth but found himself unable to refute. It was true. Many of the things Qi Yun had done over the years were, in fact, acting as a shield for Profound Yellow. He wasn't a guardian in the same vein as His Majesty, but everything he did protected Profound Yellow.

"It's just..." Cai Shen hesitated. "You don't plan to walk the path His Majesty laid out?"

"His Majesty has his path, and I have mine." Qi Yun withdrew his gaze, looking forward at the approaching lands of Profound Yellow.

Cai Shen fell silent. He knew that once Qi Yun made a decision, he would never change it.

"Let's go," Qi Yun said calmly. "It's time to go home."

The Auspicious Cloud accelerated, transforming into a streak of Flowing Light that tore through the celestial vault. Carrying him and the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, it vanished into the thick, ancient boundary wall of the Profound Yellow Origin Realm.

***

In the Profound Yellow Origin Realm, at the Wuji Holy Sect's Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

Qi Yun's figure landed in the courtyard. The withered tree remained the same, and the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron returned to its place. Everything seemed as if he had never left.

But Cai Shen knew things were different. Qi Yun possessed an indescribable quality now. It wasn't power or an imposing aura, but a deeper, more fundamental change. His connection to Heaven and Earth was much closer and more inseparable than before.

"Is that the 'protection' His Majesty spoke of?" Cai Shen thought to himself, though he did not voice it.

Qi Yun walked back beneath the withered tree and sat cross-legged. He didn't immediately go into seclusion. Instead, he took out his Taixu Jade Order and probed it with his Divine Sense. A moment later, he withdrew his Divine Sense, the colorful intent in his eyes solidifying slightly.

"Interesting," he muttered to himself.

"What is it?" Cai Shen asked.

"Things have been quite lively while I was away."

Qi Yun didn't elaborate. He simply stood up and brushed the hem of his robes. "Elder Cai, you stay in the Daoist Temple and keep your fourteenth brother company. I'm going out for a walk."

"Where to?"

Qi Yun didn't answer. With a single step forward, his figure vanished from the courtyard.

***

In Central Earth, at the Wuji Holy Sect's Taixu Hall.

Qi Yun's figure appeared outside the hall's doors. The guarding Holy Sect Disciples were stunned for a moment before hastily dropping to their knees. "Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Qi Yun nodded slightly and strode into the hall.

Inside, dozens of Holy Sect Masters were discussing matters. Upon seeing Qi Yun, everyone stood up in unison and bowed deeply.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!"

Qi Yun waved his hand, walking straight toward the cloud seat at the head of the hall and taking a seat with a sweep of his sleeves. His gaze swept across the crowd before finally resting on Black Mountain Master's face.

"During my absence, have there been any major events in Profound Yellow?" he asked casually.

His eyes flickering slightly, Black Mountain Master stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, there are three major matters.

"First, the news regarding the tide of time has somehow been leaked. Now, the Profound Yellow Origin Realm is in a state of panic, and all factions are stepping up their preparations for war."

Qi Yun's eyes flashed. The news of the tide of time had leaked? Who was it? Shen Yi? The World Honored One? Or someone else entirely?

"And the second?" he asked.

"Second, the Sword Pavilion has announced an alliance with the Holy Sect, and Qingyuan True Monarch has come for a personal visit."

"And the third?"

Black Mountain Master remained silent for a moment before lowering his voice slightly. "Third, the Overseas Buddhist Cultivators... are making unusual moves."

Qi Yun's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "The World Honored One's pawns?"

"Yes." Black Mountain Master nodded. "According to our scouts' reports, several Bodhisattvas are moving frequently within the Overseas Pure Land, seemingly preparing some Grand Array.

"There are rumors that they are waiting for..."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for the tide of time."

Qi Yun fell silent. He thought of the World Honored One's will projection, the golden Buddha's Hand that pressed down on him, and the warning that "the journey west is fraught with unpredictable perils."

The World Honored One was warning him, but also testing him. Now that he had returned, what would the World Honored One do?

"Continue monitoring," he ordered evenly. "Report immediately if there are any unusual movements."

"Yes, sir!"

Qi Yun asked a few more questions before waving his hand to dismiss the crowd.

The doors closed, leaving him alone in the massive Taixu Hall. He didn't leave immediately. Instead, he sat quietly on the cloud seat. The colorful intent in his eyes swirled as the Primordial Dao operated at full capacity, deducing the next step in this ancient game of chess.

Shen Yi was waiting. The World Honored One was waiting. Demon Master Kunpeng was waiting. The Dao Kings hidden in the shadows were all waiting. Waiting for the tide of time. Waiting for the barrier of Profound Yellow to weaken. Waiting for the moment they could project more of their power.

***

A few days later, a streak of cyan sword light arrived from the horizon, landing in front of the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

It was Qingyuan Dao Seeking True Monarch.

Qi Yun was already waiting in the courtyard. Under the withered tree sat a stone table and two cups of clear tea. He raised a hand in invitation. "Please, Fellow Daoist."

Qingyuan True Monarch didn't decline, taking a seat with a sweep of his sleeves. His gaze lingered on the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron for a moment before shifting to Qi Yun, a trace of complex emotion flashing through his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Primordial, you've reaped quite a harvest on this trip."

Qi Yun picked up his teacup and took a light sip. "Thanks to you, Fellow Daoist."

Qingyuan True Monarch was silent for a moment before speaking slowly, "I wasn't the one who leaked the news about the tide of time."

Qi Yun set down his teacup and looked at him. "I know."

"Do you know who it was?"

"It's not important," he replied nonchalantly. "The news has already spread; tracing the source is meaningless. What matters is how the various factions will respond."

Qingyuan True Monarch nodded slightly. "The Sword Pavilion has already begun to contract its defensive lines and recall its scattered disciples.

"The major Righteous Sects are doing the same."

"And the Demon Dao?"

"The Demon Dao..." Qingyuan True Monarch paused. "The Demon Dao is expanding its forces."

Qi Yun chuckled softly. "As expected."

The tide of time was approaching, the barrier of Profound Yellow was weakening, and the Dao Kings were itching to make a move. For the Demon Dao, this was both a crisis and an opportunity. If they could seize enough providence during this great calamity, the Demon Dao's strength would rise to a whole new level.

"How does Fellow Daoist Primordial plan to respond?" Qingyuan True Monarch asked.

Qi Yun didn't answer immediately. He stood up, walked to the center of the courtyard, and looked up at the celestial vault obscured by thick layers of clouds.

"Wait," he said evenly.

"Wait for what?"

"Wait for them to make the first move."

Qingyuan True Monarch fell silent. He knew Qi Yun was right. In this ancient game of chess, the one who moved first wouldn't necessarily gain the upper hand, and the one who moved last wouldn't necessarily fall behind. The key lay in who could seize that fleeting opportunity.

"And if they never make a move?" Qingyuan True Monarch asked.

Qi Yun turned around and looked at him, the smile on his lips slowly widening. "Then we force them to move."

***

After Qingyuan True Monarch departed, Qi Yun didn't return to the withered tree. Instead, he stepped out of the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple.

He strolled leisurely along the mountain path. He didn't channel his Magical Power or utilize any Divine Techniques. He simply walked step by step along the bluestone-paved mountain path, like an ordinary mortal.

On both sides of the path, ancient trees towered toward the sky, and streams murmured gently. Occasionally, Holy Sect Disciples would pass by. Upon seeing him, they hurriedly dropped to their knees and greeted him as "Sect Leader." Qi Yun simply nodded and continued onward.

He reached the summit of a mountain peak. This was the highest point of the Holy Sect, offering a sweeping view of Central Earth. Qi Yun stood at the peak with his hands behind his back. As far as his eyes could see, thousands of miles of mountains and rivers were taken in at a glance. Seas of clouds churned, mountains stood like dark silhouettes, rivers flowed like silk ribbons, and cities dotted the land like stars.

This was Profound Yellow. It was the beginning of all things and the origin of all heavens. It was also the prey that the Dao Kings wanted to destroy, divide, and replace.

"Eons ago, His Majesty held them back single-handedly," Qi Yun muttered to himself softly. "Eons later, it's my turn."

He wasn't impassioned, nor was he tragically resolute. He merely stated a fact, calmly and indifferently. Because he knew this was a path he had to walk. Not because he had promised His Majesty, nor because he had to protect Profound Yellow. But because he was Qi Yun. He was Primordial. He was the sole anomaly in this ancient game of chess.

***

A few days later, a piece of news spread throughout the Profound Yellow Origin Realm.

Primordial True Monarch Qi Yun would hold a "Dao Discussion Assembly" at the Wuji Holy Sect in three months. He invited all True Monarchs and Great Masters from various factions to gather and discuss strategies for dealing with the tide of time.

As soon as the news broke, Profound Yellow was shaken. Some were overjoyed, some were anxious, some were disdainful, and some were expectant. But everyone knew that this Dao Discussion Assembly would be the largest and highest-level gathering in the Profound Yellow Origin Realm since ancient times.

And the convener was none other than the one who had slain a Buddha with a single sword strike in the West Sea, carved his Daoist name in All Marvelous Heaven, and suppressed True Monarchs single-handedly in the Outer Realm—the Primordial Grand Encompassing True Monarch.

At the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple, beneath the withered tree.

Qi Yun sat cross-legged, his eyes half-closed. The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron hovered by his side, its nine divine dragons swimming slowly. Cai Shen's spiritual nature fluctuations emanated from the cauldron, tinged with a bit of curiosity.

"Qi the Kid, are you really going to hold a Dao Discussion Assembly?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Qi Yun didn't answer. He simply opened his eyes slowly, the colorful intent within them swirling as a very faint smile graced his lips.

"Because..." He paused, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable certainty. "It's time to lay our cards on the table about certain matters."

Cai Shen was taken aback. He wanted to ask more, but Qi Yun had already closed his eyes again.

The courtyard returned to silence. Only the Profound Yellow luster on the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron and the dark blue silhouette beneath the withered tree formed a silent painting.

Outside this painting, the entire Profound Yellow Origin Realm was surging with undercurrents because of the news.

Three months later, the Dao Discussion Assembly.

All factions were waiting. Waiting for this grand event destined to go down in history.