Journey to the East Sea

On the East Sea Shore, even the wind seemed to have fallen still.

Upon the Auspicious Cloud, an unprecedented, profoundly bizarre silence spread among the Three Pure Ones.

The words "Three Pure Ones' Shared Daughter," jointly verified by the Dao Proclamation and Heavenly Dao Thunder,

were like a massive, invisible thunderclap that continued to rumble above the Three Pure Ones' heads, shaking their Dao Hearts and throwing their thoughts into chaos.

Yuanshi was the first to struggle free from his petrified state.

His face was ashen, and even his usually immaculate hair seemed to have come slightly undone.

The Pure Qi Crystal on his forehead flickered rapidly, revealing the extreme turmoil in his heart.

He suddenly shook his head, as though trying to fling that utterly absurd notion from his mind. His voice carried an imperceptible tremor and fierce resistance as he tried to explain it to his two brothers—though it sounded more like he was convincing himself:

"Abs... absurd! Impossible!"

He practically ground out the words through clenched teeth.

"We brothers are Pangu Orthodox, Innate Divine Beings. We cultivate in purity and remain untouched by worldly dust. How could we... how could we form some... Father-Daughter Bond with a living being out of nowhere?! And shared... shared...!"

He simply could not bring himself to say that word. His handsome face twisted slightly.

"This must be because the Heavenly Mechanism is Chaotic and the deduction was wrong! Or perhaps that force concealing the Heavenly Mechanism distorted the result and misled us! Yes, that must be it!"

The more he spoke, the more reasonable it seemed to him. His tone gradually became firm again, as he tried to bury that absurd feeling beneath logic and reason.

"The Heavenly Dao is impartial. How could it do something so... so contrary to reason! This cannot possibly be true!"

Yet the moment his words fell,

the scorched marks left at the edge of the Auspicious Cloud by the Heavenly Thunder, along with the warning-laden Heavenly Dao Pressure still lingering in the air, silently mocked him.

Tongtian also recovered from his initial extreme shock.

The expression on his face was utterly marvelous, shifting from astonishment to bewilderment, then into intense novelty and blazing gossip-fueled excitement!

He began circling Yuanshi, whose face was ashen as he tried to maintain his dignity while barely concealing his panic.

His dark eyes gleamed with excitement as he clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Oh my, Second Brother, stop being so stubborn!"

Tongtian chuckled, imitating the tone Yuanshi usually used to lecture him.

"'The Heavenly Mechanism is plain for all to see—how can it be questioned?' You say that all the time, don't you?

The Dao Proclamation appeared, and Heavenly Thunder struck. Even if it didn't hit us, how could this be fake?"

He leaned close to Yuanshi, lowering his voice and waggling his brows with an expression that said, I understand you.

"Come on, Second Brother, tell me what happened.

When you traveled the Prehistoric World before, did you accidentally enlighten some spiritual creature,

or leave behind some... uh... romantic... no, I mean, Dao essence?

And then the Heavenly Dao acknowledged it?

Don't worry, Eldest Brother and I won't laugh at you... pfft, hahahaha!"

Before he even finished speaking, he could no longer hold back his laughter.

"Utter nonsense!"

Yuanshi's face changed from green to red with fury. With a sweep of his sleeve, he wished he could immediately silence this foul-mouthed Third Brother for ten thousand years!

"I conduct myself openly and honorably. How could I be as depraved as you imagine! Do not tarnish my good name!"

His mind was in complete turmoil. On one hand, his deeply rooted concept of Order could not accept such an outrageous "Father-Daughter Bond."

On the other, the pure spiritual essence he had glimpsed at first sight, along with that inexplicable sense of closeness, lingered stubbornly in the depths of his Dao Heart.

Mixed together with Tongtian's wild speculation, it irritated him beyond measure.

The silent Laozi finally spoke slowly.

The astonishment had already faded from his face, restoring his usual tranquil, unfathomable calm.

Yet deep within those clear eyes lay more profound contemplation than usual, along with a trace of... indescribable curiosity.

First, he cast a faint glance at Tongtian, who was bouncing about.

"Third Brother, stop fooling around."

His voice was not loud, yet it carried its own authority. Tongtian immediately Shrink Neck and stood properly.

Then he looked toward Yuanshi, who was still trying to resist reality with reason, and said slowly:

"Second Brother, the Heavenly Dao is ever-changing, yet its traces can still be followed.

The Dao Proclamation is neither false nor illusory.

Since it has revealed the bond of 'father and daughter,' whatever form it may take, the karma has already been set.

Resistance is futile and will only breed Inner Demons."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the depths of the East Sea. His tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Since it is Heaven-Ordained Karma, avoiding it is not the Righteous Path.

Let us follow the direction indicated by the deduction and go see for ourselves.

Whether it is real or false, karma or tribulation, only by seeing it with our own eyes can we know clearly."

Laozi's stance was clear.

No matter how absurd it was, the Heavenly Dao had stamped its approval. They had to accept it.

Hiding was useless. They might as well face it directly.

Besides, a trace of curiosity had indeed been stirred within him.

Just what kind of "spiritual creature" could make the Heavenly Dao go to such lengths to conceal it, then forcibly assign it to the Three Pure Ones as their "daughter"?

The moment Tongtian heard this, he immediately raised both hands in agreement.

"Eldest Brother is wise! We should go take a look! I can hardly wait to meet our... uh... shared 'niece'!"

He had already cast himself in the role of an uncle and begun imagining their meeting.

Yuanshi opened his mouth, still wanting to object.

But when he saw Laozi's calm yet resolute gaze, as well as Tongtian's excited expression that seemed to say, If we don't go, we're not people of the Prehistoric World,

and thought of the warning from the Heavenly Dao Thunder... he knew there was no turning back.

In the end, he let out a dejected sigh and tacitly agreed.

His expression remained terribly ugly, however. He would likely spend the entire journey drowning in the indignation and absurdity of having a daughter forcibly thrust upon him.

"Since it is... Eldest Brother's wish, then let us go."

Yuanshi spoke the words through nearly clenched molars, then immediately turned his face away. He stopped looking at his two brothers and went off to sulk alone.

All along the way, there would likely be no shortage of his muttering.

"Father-Daughter Bond... how absurd... there must be some flaw in the Heavenly Dao's workings... once we see her, I must argue the matter clearly..."

Laozi nodded slightly and said no more. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Auspicious Cloud beneath their feet carried the three of them,

transforming into a streak of light as it sped toward the depths of the East Sea, in the direction of Fangzhang Immortal Island indicated by the Heavenly Mechanism.

Tongtian was the most excited. Standing at the very front of the Cloud Top, he shaded his eyes and peered into the distance, chattering nonstop.

"Faster, faster! I wonder if the child is afraid of strangers?

Should we prepare some gifts for our first meeting?

What should we give her?

Spiritual Treasures?

Alchemical Pills?

Or should we catch a cute Spiritual Beast for her as a pet?"

Yuanshi followed at the rear, his face ashen and his entire body radiating a low pressure that warned strangers to stay away. He responded to Tongtian's suggestions with a cold snort.

Laozi stood between them. He appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but his Spiritual Sense had long since spread outward.

He carefully avoided the various natural danger zones and places of karmic entanglement above the East Sea, safeguarding this sudden journey to acknowledge their kin.

The Three Pure Ones each held different feelings, yet they shared the same goal. Breaking through layers of clouds and mist, crossing endless waves, they headed straight for fate's turning point.

And on distant Mount Fangzhang,

the person at the center of it all, Su Miao, had just awakened from a beautiful dream.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes and letting out a tiny yawn,

she knew nothing of the three "Heaven-Ordained fathers" she was about to receive.