Time flew by, and thirty thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Xuanxiao slowly stopped lecturing on the Dao. By then, Gou Chen had long since immersed himself in comprehending the Dao and had yet to awaken.
Meanwhile, the two divine thunderbolts deep within Thunder Marsh had developed intelligence after being nourished by thirty thousand years of opportunity.
However, their intelligence was still quite immature, like that of one- or two-year-old children—naive and pure.
At that moment, the two divine thunderbolts happily circled around Xuanxiao like two lively children, frolicking in circles.
Seeing this, Xuanxiao lightly flicked the two divine thunderbolts and said with a smile, "All right, go play outside. Stop pestering me here."
Hearing Xuanxiao's words, the two divine thunderbolts were filled with reluctance, but they obediently left his side and flew merrily toward the depths of Thunder Marsh.
Xuanxiao looked around and thought to himself, My territory in Thunder Marsh is truly crude and shabby. If those two outside come in and see this, I'm afraid I'll become a laughingstock.
Ten thousand years ago, Xuanxiao had already sensed that Shi Qilin and Mo Yuan had arrived outside Thunder Marsh.
However, he had been focused on lecturing Gou Chen on the Dao at the time, so he had paid no attention to them and completely ignored their intentions.
At this thought, Xuanxiao raised a hand and lightly pointed at the void.
In an instant, countless bolts of thunder surged and shifted through the void, their radiance flashing brilliantly.
Then, a phantom palace appeared within Thunder Marsh. Any living being who stepped into the phantom palace would be directly transported to the Primordial Hall in the Primordial Realm.
Xuanxiao gently waved his sleeve, and he and Gou Chen entered the Primordial Hall together.
However, Xuanxiao placed Gou Chen in a side hall, ensuring that he could continue immersing himself in comprehending the Dao in a quiet environment.
"Fellow Daoists, please come in and have a chat." Although Xuanxiao's voice was gentle, it rang as clearly in Shi Qilin and Mo Yuan's ears outside Thunder Marsh as a great bell, as though he were whispering right beside them.
At the same time, Shi Qilin and Mo Yuan sensed a mysterious force within Thunder Marsh guiding them forward.
Hearing Xuanxiao's voice, Mo Yuan immediately looked excitedly at Shi Qilin and said, "I told you, Father! I wasn't lying. There really is an existence in Thunder Marsh stronger than you!"
However, Shi Qilin had no mind to pay attention to Mo Yuan. His brows knitted tightly as he muttered, "I did hear that voice just now, but I'm completely unable to locate its source. Could the fellow Daoist inside Thunder Marsh have already reached the realm of a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal?"
Mo Yuan did not have as many thoughts as Shi Qilin. At that moment, his mind was entirely occupied with whether he should seize this opportunity to escape.
He looked at the somewhat distracted Shi Qilin, his eyes darting about as he schemed inwardly: Should I sneak away now? I could hide somewhere for ten or so Eons, then return to the Qilin Clan.
But before Mo Yuan could make up his mind, Shi Qilin came back to his senses.
He saw through Mo Yuan's furtive intentions at a glance and said irritably, "Don't even think about running. You won't get away. Come in with me!" As he spoke, Shi Qilin grabbed Mo Yuan by the head and strode straight toward the depths of Thunder Marsh.
"Dad, no! I'm your son! How can you treat me like this?" Mo Yuan wailed as he was dragged along, but Shi Qilin, who knew his personality very well, paid him no attention.
"This Thunder Marsh is actually so dangerous!" As they ventured deeper into Thunder Marsh, the shock in Shi Qilin's heart grew increasingly intense.
Especially when they reached the core region of Thunder Marsh, the sight before him left him utterly speechless.
Purple Firmament, Chaos, and Dutian divine thunder filled the area. Even an existence as powerful as Shi Qilin had to tread with extreme caution in the face of these bolts of divine lightning.
Fortunately, with Xuanxiao secretly guiding them, the divine thunder in Thunder Marsh opened a path for them one after another and caused them no harm.
Before long, the two arrived in front of the Primordial Hall.
With a faint smile on his face, Xuanxiao looked at Mo Yuan and said, "May I ask why the two fellow Daoists have come to Thunder Marsh this time? Could it be that, because of our previous conflict, Fellow Daoist Shi Qilin brought you here to seek revenge?"
Hearing this, Mo Yuan's heart gave a jolt, and he inexplicably panicked. I knew we shouldn't have come to Thunder Marsh! The Qilin Clan is probably facing a great disaster now!
Although he was frightened inside, Mo Yuan still forced a wide smile and looked at Xuanxiao. "Senior, I absolutely have no intention of seeking revenge against you! This time, I was completely dragged here by my father. There is a debtor for every debt, so if you have any grievances, take them up with my father!"
This fellow really is a clown—a perfect example of filial piety that could make an entire hall laugh, and of fatherly kindness and filial devotion. Shi Qilin hasn't been willing to kill him after all these years, so he must truly be his biological son.
Looking at Mo Yuan, Xuanxiao could not help sighing inwardly. Compared to him, I feel like I'm already exceptionally filial to Father Dao.
Just then, a whip suddenly flashed out of the void and cracked beside Xuanxiao, sending a powerful gust of air surging outward.
The sudden change made Xuanxiao instinctively shudder all over.
However, when he saw that the whip had not struck him directly, Xuanxiao immediately breathed a sigh of relief and secretly congratulated himself. Phew, that was close. Father Dao still cares about me. He clearly knew there were outsiders present and left me some dignity.
Meanwhile, Shi Qilin and Mo Yuan stared in horror at the spot where the whip had struck.
Why does this whip seem to contain the aura of the Great Dao? But hadn't the Great Dao already withdrawn from the world? Why would it appear in the Primordial World? What did that whip just now mean? Was it warning us? Just who is Fellow Daoist Xuanxiao, that he could attract the attention of the Great Dao? Shi Qilin's heart was filled with doubt and shock.
Xuanxiao noticed the fear in Shi Qilin and Mo Yuan's eyes and understood that they had mistaken the whip for a warning directed at them, but he had no intention of explaining further.
At this moment, Shi Qilin looked at Xuanxiao with added respect and said:
"Fellow Daoist, I brought Mo Yuan here not to seek revenge, but specifically to apologize to you. Previously, my Qilin Clan did not know that Thunder Marsh was your Daoist temple and rashly disturbed you. It was truly offensive of us. I have come today to make amends, and I hope you can forgive us."
"It's nothing, it's nothing. There's no need to mention what happened in the past. However, I hope something similar won't happen again. After all, it's not every time that you'll run into someone as even-tempered as me." Xuanxiao smiled and waved his hand.
"Even-tempered?"
Mo Yuan secretly complained inwardly, The members of our Qilin Clan who besieged Thunder Marsh disappeared for no reason. If I hadn't shamelessly clung to life, I would probably have been struck to death by you as well. If that counts as being even-tempered, then if you ever lose your temper, wouldn't you wipe out the entire Qilin Clan? It seems the best course of action is to stay far away from here.
"Fellow Daoist, rest assured. I solemnly guarantee here that as long as my Qilin Clan still exists, Thunder Marsh will never again be disturbed by any living being." Shi Qilin made his vow with a solemn expression.
Xuanxiao merely smiled faintly and said nothing.
After this incident, Xuanxiao had already decided to set up a Profound Yellow Thunder Tribulation World-Ending Array in Thunder Marsh.
The array's power was astonishing. Without the strength of a Primordial Grand Luo Golden Immortal, anyone who entered Thunder Marsh would have their life force exhausted by the divine thunder within.
In addition, the phantom of the Primordial Hall within Thunder Marsh was directly connected to the Primordial Realm.
Thus, with a single thought, Xuanxiao could use the Primordial Realm to return swiftly to Thunder Marsh no matter where he was in the Primordial Wilderness.
Although Shi Qilin's promise might have limited effect, Xuanxiao did not reject the goodwill. After all, fewer troubles were better than more.
Before you continue