Someone Who Shouldn't Have Appeared; The So-Called Grand Trend of Heaven's Dao; Dongwang Gong Bows His Head

The Three Pure Ones had joined forces, yet Ao Chen was still overpowering them. If word of this got out, it would be enough to shake the entire Primordial Wilderness!

However, Ao Chen's brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He realized that although he had the upper hand and had even wounded the Three Pure Ones, truly defeating them—or even killing them—was almost impossible!

Supreme Clarity Laozi's Taiji Diagram and Heaven and Earth Yellow Exquisite Pagoda had such absurdly powerful defenses that they were practically invincible!

Primordial Lord of Heaven's Pangu Banner had peerless offensive power. The slightest misstep could leave Ao Chen injured!

Sect Master Tongtian's swordsmanship was even more fearsome, cutting through everything and leaving no opening to defend against it!

"So it really is like this?" Ao Chen murmured softly, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

Chapter 54: The One Who Shouldn't Have Appeared, the So-Called Grand Trend of Heaven's Will, East King Duke Bows His Head

In the void, the longer Ao Chen fought, the more deeply his brows furrowed.

He realized that although he had the upper hand and had even wounded the Three Pure Ones, truly defeating them—or even killing them—was almost impossible!

It wasn't just that the Three Pure Ones and their treasures were powerful. More importantly, he could sense that some even greater force seemed to be protecting them: Creation Merit and the fortune of Heaven's Will!

"Can't kill them?" Ao Chen's heart sank. He knew that continuing the fight would accomplish nothing but waste time.

If so...

A cold glint flashed in Ao Chen's eyes. He suddenly made a feint, forcing the Three Pure Ones back, then fixed his gaze once more on the platform, where the already gravely wounded East King Duke and West Queen Mother lay!

"If I can't kill you, then I'll kill them first!"

With a thought, Ao Chen summoned the Kunwu Sword to his hand, its edge revealing the full sharpness of a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"Die!"

Ao Chen no longer hesitated. He poured all his understanding of Nirvana, spacetime, and the Great Dao of the stars into this one sword strike!

A terrifying gray sword-light, seemingly capable of severing the ages and destroying reincarnation, slashed down toward East King Duke and West Queen Mother, who had long since lost the power to resist!

This strike was more terrifying than any of his previous attacks! More resolute, too!

Only endless despair remained in East King Duke and West Queen Mother's eyes. They seemed to see their own Form and Spirit Annihilated!

The Three Pure Ones' expressions changed drastically when they saw this. They tried to stop him, but it was already too late!

Yet at this final moment, when life and death hung in the balance, an unexpected change occurred!

"Fellow Daoist, spare them!"

"Amitabha! Fellow Daoist, you are far too bloodthirsty. You have a karmic connection with our West. Why not come with us to Spirit Mountain, recite the Yellow Court in peace, and dispel your hostility?"

Two voices rang out abruptly, brimming with compassion and serenity, yet carrying an undeniable air of command!

Immediately afterward, two figures appeared before East King Duke and West Queen Mother: one thin, one stout. They stood atop the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit and the Nine-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, their bodies suffused with Buddha Light as endless Buddhist chants filled the air!

They were none other than Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti from the West!

Daoist Jieyin wore a look of sorrow. With a gentle wave of his Jieyin Banner, he scattered billions of rays of Buddha Light, attempting to guide away and dissolve Ao Chen's terrifying sword-light!

Daoist Zhunti went further, bringing out the Seven-Treasure Wondrous Tree and sweeping it fiercely toward the gray sword-light!

Boom!

The gray sword-light struck the Buddha Light and the Seven-Treasure Wondrous Tree, unleashing a deafening explosion!

Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti both groaned. The Merit Golden Lotuses beneath their feet flashed wildly, clearly under tremendous strain!

Daoist Zhunti was especially affected. His Seven-Treasure Wondrous Tree was said to sweep away anything in its path, but when it touched the gray sword-light, which contained the Annihilation Force, a faint crack rang out. One of the relics set into the tree had shattered!

"Pfft!"

Daoist Zhunti's face paled. He spat out a mouthful of golden Buddhist blood, clearly paying a steep price!

But no matter what, they had managed to stop Ao Chen's fatal strike!

"Those two from the West?"

Ao Chen's brows knitted together as he looked at Jieyin and Zhunti, who had appeared out of nowhere. A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Jieyin, Zhunti, what do you mean by this?"

Daoist Jieyin pressed his palms together and said with a sorrowful expression, "Amitabha. Fellow Daoist Ao Chen, the two of us have an unresolved karmic debt with Fellow Daoist East King Duke. We had no choice but to help him today. I hope you will forgive us."

Just then, another voice rang out, cool and noble, as if it held the Power of Creation!

"Fellow Daoist West Queen Mother and I are old acquaintances. I hope you will let this matter rest for my sake."

A graceful, peerlessly beautiful figure descended slowly on auspicious clouds, holding the Red Embroidered Ball. She stood in front of West Queen Mother.

It was none other than Nuwa, the future Demon Clan Saint!

For a moment, the atmosphere on Yingzhou Immortal Island grew even stranger and more tense!

The Three Pure Ones! The Two Sages of the West! Nuwa!

Apart from a handful of recluses, the most powerful figures in the Primordial Wilderness had all appeared at this moment, standing against Ao Chen for the sake of East King Duke and West Queen Mother!

Watching this unbelievable scene unfold before him, Ao Chen was utterly stunned.

He slowly put away the Kunwu Sword. The icy killing intent on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complicated, contemplative look, as if he had seen through some hidden truth.

"So that's how it is... So that's how it is..."

He murmured to himself, his eyes flickering with shifting light.

"Heaven's Will... the grand trend... karma... Heh. Interesting. Truly interesting!"

Thoughts raced through Ao Chen's mind.

Jieyin and Zhunti had always been known for never acting without something to gain. For the sake of the West's rise, they would abandon every last shred of dignity. Ao Chen didn't believe a single word of their claim that they had an old connection and karmic ties with East King Duke.

Their sudden appearance now probably had some other motive—or perhaps some invisible force had compelled them to act!

And then there was Nuwa, the future Demon Clan Saint. She was detached by nature and had never cared to involve herself in the Primordial Wilderness's conflicts. She rarely even interfered in the affairs of the Demon Clan, let alone stepped forward to defend West Queen Mother.

They might indeed have been on friendly terms, but Ao Chen still found it hard to believe their relationship was strong enough for Nuwa to risk offending someone as unfathomably powerful as him just to protect her.

The Three Pure Ones' intervention could at least be explained as an effort to uphold the Dao Ancestor's authority and maintain order in the Immortal Dao.

But the appearance of the Two Sages of the West and Nuwa seemed far too deliberate, far too coincidental!

So coincidental, it was as if an invisible hand were secretly controlling everything, ensuring that East King Duke and West Queen Mother wouldn't perish today!

"The grand trend of Heaven's Will?"

Ao Chen looked up again toward the unseen heavens, his gaze growing unfathomably deep.

He thought of the "fixed destiny" Hongjun had spoken of while teaching the Dao, of the inevitability of the Witch-Demon Tribulation, and of the many schemes that would shape the future Investiture of the Gods...

Could the deaths of East King Duke and West Queen Mother have already been assigned a time and manner? Were they destined to become stepping stones for the Demon Clan's unification of the Primordial Wilderness, rather than perish at the hands of an "anomaly" like him?

It was a strange feeling.

It was as if an invisible web covered the entire Primordial Wilderness, trapping every living being, strong or weak, in its strands.

And Heaven's Will—or Hongjun—was the weaver, coolly watching the fates of its prey play out.

Ao Chen felt neither stifled nor angry.

On the contrary, he found it very interesting!

This intangible yet undeniably real "grand trend," capable of manipulating the course of all living beings' fates, seemed to have something in common with the path of Mythical Grand Unity that he pursued!

The ultimate goal of the Mythical Grand Unity Method he had created was to transcend everything, rise above the River of Time, define rules, and alter reality!

The Mythical Golden Immortal Realm required one to begin mastering a power that could manipulate fate and alter the rules of spacetime, influencing reality through karma!

The grand trend of Heaven's Will before him differed from the Dao of the self he pursued—the former was more like a cold, mechanical program, while the latter was the limitless extension of subjective will. Yet the level of power it displayed had given Ao Chen tremendous insight!

"So this is the power that stands above the laws? It's still crude and passive, but it's certainly interesting. In a way, all roads lead to the same destination."

Ao Chen thought to himself. His understanding of the Mythical Golden Immortal Realm seemed to grow a little clearer.

However, he also knew that with his current cultivation at the peak of the Mythical Heavenly Immortal level, the legendary Mythical Golden Immortal Realm was still a hundred and eight thousand miles away.

He was nowhere near ready to truly understand the core mysteries of Heaven's Will's grand trend, let alone toy with it as if it were in the palm of his hand.

"Forget it..."

After a moment of thought, Ao Chen finally decided to abandon his plan to kill East King Duke and West Queen Mother that day.

As he had thought, his purpose today had been to establish his might, win justice for the Dragon Race, and deter petty forces.

He had publicly erased Grand Unity Golden Immortal Star Lord Chang Geng, gravely wounded East King Duke with a single strike, damaged West Queen Mother's Kunlun Mirror with a flick of his finger, and finally stood his ground against the combined might of the Three Pure Ones alone...

That record was enough to shake the entire Primordial Wilderness and make any force that dared covet or oppress the Dragon Race think twice about the consequences!

He had accomplished his goal of establishing his might. As for the lives of East King Duke and West Queen Mother...

If the "grand trend of Heaven's Will" intended to protect them, then he could let them live a little longer.

After all, from this day onward, the Immortal Court's prestige would be in tatters, its fortune greatly diminished, and its downfall only a matter of time. Whether he killed them or not no longer mattered much.

He could force his way against this grand trend, but it would surely cost him dearly and might even draw direct intervention from Hongjun. It would not be a wise move.

With that thought, Ao Chen dispelled the killing intent around him and looked again at East King Duke, who lay collapsed on the ground, his face ashen. His voice was indifferent as he spoke:

"East King Duke, for the sake of the Three Pure Ones, Fellow Daoist Jieyin and Zhunti, and Fellow Daoist Nuwa, who have pleaded on your behalf, I'll spare your life today."

At these words, East King Duke was stunned. Even the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa, and the others were taken aback, clearly not expecting Ao Chen to relent so readily.