Chapter 17

However, the leader was determined to capture Tai Ming personally, even if it meant losing face within the clan.

He decided to send word to the clan. Even if it meant humiliating himself, he would capture Tai Ming.

The Xuanwu then began transmitting the message.

Tai Ming suddenly received an alarm from the Heart of the Earthly Path: "Kid, things look bad. You've thoroughly angered those fellows. A Grand Unity Venerable God is about to descend."

Immediately afterward, a terrifying force erupted, wrapped around Tai Ming, tore through space-time, and vanished in an instant.

Right after that, a divine light pierced heaven and earth, condensing into an immense Xuanwu divine demon Dharma Form whose vast figure shrouded all directions.

Watching the traces vanish amid the ripples of space-time, the Xuanwu Divine God snorted coldly. "Hmph! He ran fast!"

He then realized that this familiar fluctuation of power seemed to belong to the former Earthly Dao Lineage. He understood that what had happened in the Northern Region might be revenge by the Earthly Dao Lineage against the Black Tortoise Divine Race.

But he firmly believed that once the clan's grand plan was complete, everything would resolve itself.

At the same time, in another unknown place, a faint demonic nature permeated the void.

A rift suddenly appeared in the void, and a disheveled figure tumbled out of it. It was Tai Ming.

He began to doubt the Heart of the Earthly Path's prediction. "Senior, didn't you say that the Grand Unity of the Xuanwu Clan wouldn't personally act against me?"

At that moment, Tai Ming was still shaken. Recalling the terrifying power he had sensed before escaping, he knew that his cultivation was utterly incapable of resisting a Grand Unity.

Yet the Heart of the Earthly Path responded casually, "Times have changed. Even those old, simple-minded Xuanwu have become clever."

Despite the twists and turns, the Earthly Dao Lineage considered this a beneficial trial. "Just treat it as experiencing the power of a Grand Unity at close range. Set a small goal for yourself."

Although his earlier assurance had been proven wrong, both of them were optimistic by nature, and they soon put the matter behind them.

Their next priority was to figure out where they were.

Sensing the faint demonic aura in the air, they already had a preliminary guess.

Before long, the Heart of the Earthly Path's words made Tai Ming understand at once.

"So this is the legacy of Rahu Demonic Path from the past. It has already grown to such a level. Astonishing!"

It could be confirmed that in the Primordial World, only Demon Ancestor Rahu could wield this kind of demonic power.

Therefore, the place they were in was undoubtedly the territory of Rahu Demonic Path.

This demonic domain extended across the vast Western Land of the Primordial World.

Tai Ming realized that they had crossed from the Primordial Northern Region to the Western Land. Though he had been somewhat prepared, he was still astonished by the power of a Grand Unity.

A Grand Unity knew everything and could do anything.

Especially in the Primordial World, Grand Unity Venerable Gods stood atop the endless dimensions. With a single thought, they could give rise to their own timelines.

Thus, the Black Tortoise Clan's Grand Unity crossing space-time was merely basic operation.

To the Grand Unity Venerable Gods of the Primordial World, distance no longer existed.

"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Tai Ming's assistance, I, Gluttonous Demon Lord, have been able to advance further."

Today, Gluttonous Demon Lord was the first to expound on his Path of Gluttony and guide everyone forward.

As his words fell, the demonic sound of the Great Dao echoed through the void. The divine beings present became intoxicated, one after another manifesting their own Great Dao Spiritual Mechanisms and drawing nourishment from the collisions of the Great Dao.

As time passed, Wonderful Desire Demon Lord, Wrathful Demon Lord, Fearful Demon Lord, and the others all shared their own paths.

At last, it was the turn of the seemingly indifferent yet unfathomably deep former Tai Ming.

What kind of principles would he expound? Where would he lead everyone?

"My path remains the unremarkable Great Freedom True Demon Dao."

"What is called great freedom transcends life and death, is without thought or worry, without desire or pursuit, without order or restraint. Thus, it fears nothing, is free and unobstructed, does as it pleases, and returns to the true self."

The Dao Sound rippled outward, and black Dao lotuses continuously blossomed in the void.

Wherever the sound waves reached, the living beings of billions of great worlds became immersed in them.

At that moment, a strange sight appeared. All living beings forgot every desire and worry, smiles rising from the depths of their hearts.

It looked peaceful, like a pure land, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

This was precisely Tai Ming's Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao, penetrating deep into the realm of the Demonic Dao.

Looking back one hundred thousand Yuan Hui ago, when Tai Ming had first arrived in the Western Land, he had sensed a faint demonic nature and inexplicably entered a state of enlightenment.

As he explored the mysteries of the Demonic Dao and Ghost Dao, Tai Ming discovered that the two seemed to share a hidden connection.

The deeper he delved into the mysteries of the Demonic Dao, the more his Ghost Dao grew.

When Tai Ming awoke from his self-enlightenment, a dense Dao Qi of the Demonic Dao already permeated his body.

At some point, a terrifying Black-Robed Divine Being had appeared before him, bringing him fear born from his Life Instinct.

More strangely, apart from sensing this mysterious existence, everything else was as empty as the void.

The Heart of the Earthly Path deep within his mind had also vanished. No matter how he called out to it, it did not appear.

Fear arose in Tai Ming's heart. He knew he had encountered an existence beyond imagination.

He decided to respond cautiously and ask his senior.

He was certain that he had never seen this Mysterious Black-clad Divine before.

For some reason, this terrifying existence had taken notice of a weakling like him.

In response to Tai Ming's question, the Black-Robed Divine Being studied him with a strange look for several moments before shifting his gaze away and saying nothing more.

Tai Ming encountered an abrupt conversation. The other party's tone was forceful, leaving him unable to refuse.

"Interesting. You actually comprehended a New Dao resembling the Demonic Dao."

That was what the other party said.

"Since you chose to comprehend my Demonic Dao, become one of my Demonic Dao's people.

I hope you will not disappoint me."

Before Tai Ming could react, the other party vanished.

Thinking back on it afterward, he felt that he had encountered a transcendent existence—a powerhouse of the current Primordial World, Demon Dao Ancestor Rahu.

At that moment, Tai Ming discovered that the Destiny of the Demon Dao had appeared on his body.

He finally understood why Demon Ancestor Rahu had noticed him: a branch of the Demonic Dao had developed from his Ghost Dao, namely the Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao he had named himself.

This discovery both shocked and frightened him, because he realized that he had stolen the Destiny of the Demonic Dao under Rahu's watch.

He already considered himself extraordinarily fortunate that Rahu had not punished him on the spot.

However, Rahu had stamped the Brand of the Demon Dao onto his Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao.

Unless Tai Ming separated himself from the Demonic Dao and established his own path, the portion of the Destiny of the Demonic Dao on him would remain closely linked to the Demonic Dao.

Would Tai Ming dare to break his Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao away from the Demonic Dao? He did not dare take the risk.

Therefore, throughout the following one hundred thousand Yuan Hui, he could only obediently mingle with the ranks of the Demonic Dao.

Although this conduct brought him an additional identity, it also brought many unexpected benefits.

His friends in the Demonic Dao—Gluttonous, Wonderful Desire, Wrathful, Fearful, and the other Demon Lords—formed deep friendships with him.

Through exchanging insights and discussing the Dao over the years, his cultivation had risen from the Late Immortal Venerable God stage to the Great Perfection Realm.

All of this was because he had devoted immense effort to the Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao.

At first, he had merely wanted to muddle along in the Demonic Dao's ranks while improving his cultivation.

However, Rahu seemed to be watching him closely. Every so often, a pressure would descend, leaving him trembling with fear.

Later, through interacting with other Innate Divine Beings of the Demonic Dao, he learned that this was Rahu's reprimand over his slow progress.

In the end, he had no choice but to devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivating the Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao before he could escape the torment of that pressure.

At present, Tai Ming's comprehension of the Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao had reached the pinnacle. It was comparable to his own cultivation of the Ghost Dao, with its level approaching the Great Perfection of the Immortal Venerable God realm.

Time passed, and ten thousand years went by.

At this moment, the discussion of the Dao that Tai Ming and the others were participating in was nearing its end.

As the initiator of this discussion of the Dao, Gluttonous Demon Lord suddenly spoke solemnly. "Everyone, have you also received the news? The Demon Ancestor will join forces with the Monks of Mount Sumeru to oppose the White Tiger Clan?"

Everyone nodded. Wrathful Demon Lord was especially agitated, nearly bursting with eagerness to act.

"Yes. The Five Directions Divine Race possess enormous power, and in recent years, their conduct in the Primordial World has become increasingly unscrupulous.

"The White Tiger Clan's suppression of the Demonic Dao has been especially blatant.

"I proposed long ago that the Demon Ancestor should lead us in teaching them a harsh lesson."

Wrathful Demon Lord rose angrily and slammed the table.

Fearful Demon Lord then reminded him, "Shh—don't speak nonsense.

"How could you question the Demon Ancestor's intentions? Still, what Wrathful said is not wrong. It is time to teach those arrogant White Tigers a lesson."

The Dao Field buzzed with discussion, while Tai Ming immersed himself in interpreting the news from a different perspective.

Rahu's alliance with Mount Sumeru was beyond his expectations. The Demonic Dao and Buddhist Dao were not forces that could easily join hands.

Perhaps before joining forces against the White Tigers, internal conflicts would already arise between them.

However, despite having this thought, news of the two sides joining forces had already spread. There had to be other factors at play.

Tai Ming's thoughts raced. He only hoped that this incident would not implicate him.

Yet what he feared came to pass.

When a deafening boom came from the horizon, a powerful figure that reached heaven and earth appeared.

Accompanied by surging demonic energy, it formed boundless Dao Qi Demon Clouds.

Billions upon billions of terrifying demons stood ready within the clouds, advancing murderously toward the territory of the Western White Tiger Divine Race.

Even more shocking was the Dragon of Destiny of the Demonic Dao surrounding that Demon God. It looked down indifferently upon the entire Primordial World, and the entire Western Primordial World seemed to transform into a Demon Domain.

At that moment, the Demon Dragon was like a colossal void devouring heaven and earth, sweeping up the destiny of the entire Primordial World and visibly swelling without end.

All living beings within the Primordial World stared toward the west in terror.

"White Emperor Rahu—is he planning to completely assimilate the Western Land into the Demonic Dao?"

"Rahu's Demonic Dao has developed to such a level without anyone noticing. I'm afraid that apart from the Heavenly Dao Lineage, even the Five Directions Divine Race may be unable to match it."

"But we must still be cautious. If Rahu wants to monopolize the Western Land, he will likely have to get past the Ascetic Monk on Mount Sumeru and the White Tiger Divine Beast Clan."

As soon as those words fell, another change occurred in the Western Land.

As the Dao Qi of the Demonic Dao wantonly invaded the land, two surging auras of the Great Dao erupted from Mount Sumeru Divine Mountain and the Land of the Far West, neither inferior in the slightest.

One formed an supreme Lapis Lazuli Giant Spirit, with thirty-three profound divine rings of the Great Dao circling its body. It manifested such beautiful concepts as supreme immeasurability, supreme compassion, and supreme wisdom, weaving them into an eternal pure land. All demons retreated before it, forming a stark contrast with Rahu's Demon Domain.

The other transformed into a ferocious White Tiger Divine Beast Dharma Image, coiled in the Land of the Far West and breathing in and out Essence of Metal.

The Dharma Image of the White Tiger Divine Beast was covered in Great Dao Divine Talismans, depicting the scene of the Primordial Conquest.

This was the Innate Great Dao authority controlled by the White Tiger Divine Beast Clan. It contained the powers of slaughter, conquest, and battle, bearing an astonishing resemblance to the Demonic Dao.

Since the era of the Divine Court, the White Tiger Divine Race Ancestor had competed with Rahu for the White Emperor Throne. Now, the appearance of these two Innate Divine Beings represented the only force in the Western Land capable of matching Rahu.

One was the Nameless Ascetic Monk on Mount Sumeru, founder of the Primordial Pure Land Lineage; the other was the White Tiger Divine Venerable, ancestor of the Western White Tiger Divine Race among the Five Directions Divine Race, who had once competed with Rahu for the White Emperor Throne.

With the appearance of the two, the Western Land, which had originally fallen into a Demon Domain, formed a Tripartite Confrontation.

The situation, which should never have become such a confrontation, had been broken—for instance, by the alliance between Rahu and the Ascetic Monk.

This was why Tai Ming did not wish to participate yet had no choice but to become involved.

Tai Ming's figure quietly appeared among the Nameless Ascetic Monk's faction. The reason could be traced back to one of his dangerous attempts to steal the Destiny of the Demonic Dao.

That experience had caused him to develop the Great Freedom True Demon Ghost Dao.

Demon Ancestor Rahu had not directly destroyed him or reclaimed the Destiny of the Demonic Dao. Instead, he had seen the possibilities brought about by an alliance between Tai Ming and Mount Sumeru.