Chapter 19

"No." Lin Fan shook his head and refused. "My spiritual root needs tending..."

Before he could finish, Nuwa had already tucked Lin Fan under her arm, tore open the void, and returned to Wa Huang Palace.

Though Lin Fan was unwilling, he could only stay for the time being. He had originally planned to use the opportunity of breaking through to Grand Unity to travel the Primordial World, but Nuwa kept too close an eye on him.

After Nuwa left, Lin Fan began sorting through his insights from the breakthrough. Suddenly, the familiar River of Time appeared above his head once more, and his divine sense leapt into it, swimming upstream against the current.

After advancing to Grand Unity, his divine sense was vast as the sea; he no longer needed to rely on the Primordial Pearl to travel freely through time and space. Now his perception grew ever clearer, and the sound of trickling water rang beside his ears.

Within the long river, laws such as karma, reincarnation, and fate intertwined, and every single droplet contained immense power of destiny.

Time-Space Imprint

Past, present, and future intertwined into chains of fate.

Billions upon billions of living beings rose and sank within them.

Only he had severed the Shackles, fusing the light and years of the Three Realms into one.

The River of Time surged on without end, yet only his reflection was nowhere to be seen.

Lin Fan stepped on the waves and went against the current, shuttling through endless ages.

The ripples gradually slowed, condensing into a still painted screen.

The Primordial Pearl broke through the void, opening a chaotic passageway.

He stepped into a realm of nothingness, where time itself was annihilated.

Amid devastation as far as the eye could see, black blood reflected an evil gleam.

Clear radiance flowed around the treasure pearl, carrying him across the boundless starry abyss.

At last, on the far shore of cosmic light, he picked up the Chaos Remnant Blade.

Pressure surged toward him like a tide, and Lin Fan controlled the pearl to return.

In the blink of an eye, he was already standing in Empress Wa Hall, the remnant blade in his palm exhaling and inhaling the Dao rhythm of destruction.

It was actually... the World-Destroying Millstone?

His low murmur echoed through the silent palace halls.

He perceived that countless similar fragments were scattered through that stretch of void, but it was difficult to estimate their exact number.

Deeper within that space, there were clearly even more unsolved mysteries buried, still waiting to be explored.

Lin Fan shifted his gaze to the Divine Breath of the Great Dao flowing in his palm.

Within that hazy Purple Qi surged immense Dao rhythm, and countless strands of Source Power wove and coiled through it.

Unlike what he had obtained before, the energy contained within this divine breath was even more vast, majestic, and profound—

all three thousand laws had been fully smelted within it, just like the concrete condensation of his own Dao fruit.

Ding! Host has achieved the Twelve-petal supreme Grand Unity Realm. Reward: enlightenment attempts +1. Granted Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure · Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

A ancient mirror suddenly appeared upon his Spiritual Platform, and with a shift of his thought, it had already fallen into his palm.

The surface of the mirror interwove illusion and reality, while the two qi of yin and yang flowed without cease.

When he saw the face reflected in the mirror clearly, Lin Fan only felt a surging aura of handsomeness rushing at him, solid and overwhelming—

Damn, this was way too unfair!

Even he himself wanted to take a bite of this little doll's cheek.

No wonder that demoness Nuwa could never keep herself under control.

Sigh!

An appearance far too outstanding really did invite trouble.

Only now did he know that "handsome enough to sting the eyes" was no empty saying.

Such troubles were something ordinary people would never be fated to experience in their entire lives.

Inside Zixiao Palace, Laozi stood with his body bowed before Hongjun's seat.

**I have contemplated the Hongmeng Purple Qi for a long time, yet I still find it hard to seek the opportunity to become a Saint.

I beg Master to point me through this maze.**

The Dao Ancestor opened his lips calmly.

"Your opportunity still lies with the human race.

You should go into the mortal world to seek it."

"But Nuwa has already established Human Teachings..."

Confusion rose in Laozi's eyes.

Hongjun swept his horsetail whisk lightly.

"This race's providence is extraordinary.

Even if you merely spread the Dao, merit will still descend upon you.

When the time arrives, you may rebuild a sect and pursue the realm of a Saint."

Laozi instantly understood Hongjun's words, but hesitation still lingered between his brows.

Although this method of proving the Dao had been raised by Hongjun, in his eyes, it was as difficult as scaling the heavens.

The current Wa Huang was already an exalted Hunyuan Daluo.

If he went to the human race to spread the Dao and touched the Heavenly Dao's merit, Nuwa would certainly perceive it.

At that time, if he angered Wa Huang, the consequences would be unthinkable.

There were many ways to obtain Heavenly Dao merit, so why should he cling to this one?

It would only waste his effort and bring no benefit to himself.

Even though resentment toward Nuwa had long accumulated in his heart, how could the matter of proving the Dao be treated as child's play?

Laozi hesitated again and again before finally speaking.

"Master, Nuwa's nature is fierce and unyielding. If I go to spread the Dao, she will definitely obstruct me. I beg Master to point out another path through this maze."

Seeing his hesitation, Hongjun frowned slightly.

Wa Huang had proven Hunyuan and was not bound by the Heavenly Dao; that in itself was an unknown variable.

She had to be checked.

Having Laozi establish a teaching among the human race and split apart their providence was truly an excellent plan.

If he sat by and watched the human race grow stronger, Nuwa's strength would rise along with them, and in the future she might become difficult to control.

"Just go. If you encounter obstruction while spreading the Dao, I will naturally assist you."

Having obtained Hongjun's promise, Laozi's worry turned to joy.

"Thank you, Master."

Inside Wa Huang Palace.

Lin Fan was refining the Yin-Yang Mirror when he suddenly felt the Kongtong Seal tremble faintly.

The providence connected to Human Teachings actually showed signs of fluctuation.

His eyes snapped open, surprise showing on his face.

"Could it be that something has happened to the human race?"

He pinched his fingers and divined the workings of heaven, only to find that everything was clear and that there was nothing unusual with the human race.

But the mark of the Kongtong Seal could not be false. The loss of providence was absolutely real.

This left Lin Fan puzzled.

Could it be that someone had deliberately concealed the heavenly secrets?

That was extremely possible.

And the one with such ability was probably none other than Laozi.

In the past, Eldest Sister had founded Human Teachings and seized his opportunity.

How could Laozi, who had yet to become a saint even now, possibly let the matter rest?

Thoughts flickered through Lin Fan's mind. Unable to hold himself back any longer, he rose and left Wa Huang Palace, heading straight to set foot on the lands of the Primordial World.

Beside the East Sea.

Taishang Laojun sat cross-legged atop the clouds, auspicious qi flowing around him. He looked down at the Human Tribe below, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

The living beings of this race were indeed fated with this Humble Daoist.

To avoid alerting Nuwa, he only preached and expounded the Dao among the outlying tribes of the human race.

Many humans gathered beneath his seat.

During his preaching, Laojun took in a ** of extraordinary talent, named Xuandu.

He sensed the revelation of Heavenly Dao: the nature of the human race was quite compatible with the true meaning of his inaction.

No wonder Master had given him that hint.

Thinking of the opportunity that should have belonged to him being intercepted by Nuwa, a measure of unwillingness surged up again in Taishang's heart.

All of a sudden, the Hongmeng qi within his Purple Mansion trembled slightly, and joy immediately appeared on Laojun's face.

The opportunity to prove the Dao had arrived.

He proclaimed in a clear voice:

I am Taishang Daojun, and I have comprehended the heavenly secrets of the human race.

Today, I establish the lineage of Xun Sect.

It shall guide all living beings to comprehend nature, remain empty and tranquil in non-action, and conform to Heavenly Dao.

Xun Sect, formed!

As soon as these words were spoken, strange phenomena suddenly appeared above the nine heavens.

Myriad Rays of Divine Light surged in from the east.

Heavenly flowers fell in riotous profusion, and golden lotuses grew in clusters.

At the summit of Kunlun Mountain.

Venerable Lingbao gazed toward the East Sea. Seeing purple qi rise across the sky, surprise showed in his eyes.

Elder Brother was actually about to attain the saintly seat?

Ever since the Two Sages of the West had proven the Dao, Laojun had remained gloomy and dispirited. He had not expected the opportunity to arrive so quickly.

Venerable Yuanshi also sighed with emotion:

Who would have thought Elder Brother's good fortune would actually be answered through this human race?

Such a grand spectacle startled hidden mighty beings in every direction.

Countless gazes gathered on the shore of the East Sea.

Was another saint about to appear?

As the head of the Sanqing, the Dao Ancestor's direct disciple, and one who bore Hongmeng Purple Qi, Laojun proving Hunyuan was only reasonable.

What exceeded all expectations was that this opportunity had only appeared today.

And just as the immortals were all watching—

The purple qi of the ninth heaven suddenly scattered, and all the phenomena of heaven and earth vanished.

The mighty beings of the Primordial World looked at one another in bewilderment.

Taiqing Saint was likewise utterly stunned.

At this moment, he could no longer sense the existence of Heavenly Dao at all.

The Human Race Destiny seemed to have been forcibly severed, and he could no longer draw even the slightest bit of it.

How could this be? Damnable Human Teachings!

Taiqing's expression turned as dark and sunken as water.

Human Teachings had practically monopolized ninety percent of the Human Race Destiny. The tiny remnant left was nowhere near enough to help him prove the Dao and become a saint.

Taiqing! You have such nerve, daring to steal my race's destiny!

A golden treasure seal suddenly appeared in the void.

Phantoms of Sun, Moon, Mountains, and Rivers revolved, transforming into a complete small world that crushed down.

Caught completely off guard, Taiqing was blasted a hundred li away on the spot.

Lin Fan?

Taiqing steadied himself and glared furiously at the figure appearing in the void.

He had already harbored a grudge against Lin Fan, and now he had suffered a sneak attack.

Old hatred and new resentment tangled together, finally erupting.

"You whelp! How dare you run wild!"

Before the words had even fallen, Taiqing had already unleashed supreme divine abilities and charged in to kill.

A heaven-shaking battle erupted in an instant.

Countless divine abilities and precious arts intertwined and collided, their divine radiance lighting up a million li of sky.

Below, the Human Race was terrified beyond measure, trembling uncontrollably.

But Lin Fan had long since schemed for this.

In secret, he had laid down protections to ensure the innocent would not be affected.

Inside Huoyun Cave, Hongyun witnessed this great battle, his heart pounding wildly.

How did Lin Fan dare do this?

In his view, this move was truly unwise.

Taiqing was the head of the Sanqing, his Dao arts reaching the heavens.

And Lin Fan was only at the Grand Unity Realm.

With an entire major realm between them, there should have been no chance of victory.

By acting so recklessly, he feared Lin Fan would suffer a great loss.

Within Wa Huang Palace.

Nuwa perceived the disturbance in the Primordial World, and her expression changed abruptly.

For Taiqing to go this far—not only stealing Human Race Destiny, but even ruthlessly striking at Lin Fan.

But she did not intervene at once. Instead, she focused on watching the battle, ready at any moment to act and save him.

Lin Fan wielded the Kongtong Divine Seal, his momentum like a rainbow, his might shaking the universe.

A vast Great Luo Pressure, like a **, surged and billowed, far surpassing the realm of an ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

As the Great Star Arts were unleashed, countless ancient stars in the firmament bloomed with light, starlight pouring down like a waterfall and enveloping his entire body.

Lin Fan's aura blazed to the heavens, and he actually stood toe-to-toe with the first disciple of the Mystic Gate without falling the slightest bit behind.

Seeing that his prolonged assault could not prevail, a few traces of embarrassment flashed across the old man's face.

To be locked in battle with a mere child to this point—

It was truly a Saint's shame.

The Sanqing valued face above all.

How could he endure such an awkward plight?

Holding nothing back any longer, The Taiji Diagram emerged across the sky, Carrying the mighty power of space and time as it shook the heavens.

Divine radiance gushed from around the youth, His childish face solemn and dignified, As if, beneath the glow of holy light, a heavenly god had appeared in the world.

The Kongtong Seal transformed into ten thousand li of mountains and rivers, rising into the air.

This supreme treasure of merit that carried Human Race Destiny

Had now become a heaven-shocking killing weapon, its power terrifying.

The instant the supreme treasures clashed—

Rumble!

The universe trembled, The void shattered, And within the dazzling Immortal Light erupted a world-destroying might.

All the gods of the Primordial World who glimpsed this scene were horrified.

That Lin Fan could actually stand against Taiqing!

For one at the Grand Unity Realm to clash head-on with a Quasi-Saint—

It was unheard of!

Laozi had even used the Taiji Diagram, Yet he still could do nothing...

All Saints were astonished beyond words.

The old man in the midst of battle felt even greater stormy waves surging through his heart.

He had thought him no more than a child who had luckily attained the Dao, And the gulf between their realms should have been impossible to cross.

He had never expected his combat strength to be so terrifying, So much so that even an Innate Supreme Treasure could hardly subdue him.

Under the mingling of shame and fury, He finally unleashed the divine ability he kept at the bottom of his chest—

That supreme Daoist art, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, abruptly appeared.

Three clones, each carrying seventy percent of the main body's power.

As spiritual light flickered, each clone wielded a divine weapon and closed in from three directions, their sharp edges aimed straight at Lin Fan. The killing intent that had been building for so long was laid bare, vowed to punish this disrespectful man at this very moment.

Suddenly, Hunyuan pressure split through the sky and descended, and Nuwa's Dharma Form manifested between heaven and earth. Wherever her saintly might swept, the three illusory figures shattered like glazed glass, and Laozi's true body staggered and fell from the clouds.

"Senior Brother, acting in such a manner—do you not find it overstepping?" Nuwa's eyes were frosted with snow, and chaotic qi still swirled, not yet dispersed, around her fair hand.

Laozi's face flushed red, his Daoist robe violently vibrated. In the extremity of his anger, he laughed instead—today, it had clearly been that Lin Fan who had struck first, so how had it instead become his fault?

At that moment, the waves of the East Sea suddenly stilled. Everyone raised their heads, only to see Hongjun standing upon the void, his sleeves fluttering as if resonating with the Heavenly Dao.

"Master!" Laozi almost blurted out. From the time his proof of the Dao had been obstructed until now, he had lost all face; at this moment, seeing the Dao Ancestor was like seeing a savior.

Hongjun's gaze swept over everyone, finally fixing on Nuwa. "The matter of establishing a teaching was originally brought about by Heavenly Mandate."

Nuwa's arched brows knit slightly. "The fortune of Human Teachings will be divided; this matter..."

"The human race bears Heaven's mandate, and what Laozi has done also accords with the Heavenly Dao." The Dao Ancestor's words carried hidden meaning, yet he avoided speaking of the root of it.

Lin Fan stood quietly to the side, watching, a cold laugh in his heart. This kind of cover-up was so very similar to the heavenly secrets that had been disturbed when he was deducing them—sure enough, it was this old Daoist's handiwork again.

Nuwa fell silent, her gaze calm and deep as an abyss.

Hongjun turned to Laozi. "If you do not establish it now, what are you waiting for?"