Escaping Yaochi's Watch

Yet they knew no restraint, blindly taking from heaven and earth without ever giving anything back.

As a result, the Myriad Spirits of the Great Desolation withered away, while only the Three Clans flourished.

Thus, Luohu found an opening to exploit.

By the time of the Dao-Demon Hegemony, Luohu—who had already reaped boundless benefits by blood-sacrificing the Three Clans—conceived the notion of blood-sacrificing the entire Great Desolation to attain Hunyuan.

In the end, though victory had been firmly in his grasp, Hongjun, backed by heaven and earth, turned the tables on him.

This included the later Witch-Demon War, the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, and even Journey to the West...

Whenever a calamity arose, the side supported by the Heaven and Earth Great Momentum emerged victorious!

Though the Heavenly Dao's intervention might have played a part in this, the greater reason was still the force of "momentum."

This "momentum" was the allegiance of the Myriad Spirits of the Great Desolation, the shared will of all things between heaven and earth.

Whoever defied this great momentum, no matter how peerless their Supernatural Power, would ultimately be buried within the calamity.

This was also the fundamental principle that allowed the Primordial World to endure through endless ages.

"I cultivate the Imperial Great Dao, so I must win the support of the Heaven and Earth Great Momentum."

"And as long as I obtain the support of the Heaven and Earth Great Momentum, then at least within the Great Desolation, I will be invincible." Haotian's thoughts had become completely clear.

He had even thought of a way to swiftly win heaven and earth's favor.

"The Western Lands have had their Spiritual Veins utterly destroyed and their earth qi scattered ever since the Dao-Devil War. Countless Demonic Evils also lie dormant there, ready to wreak havoc..."

"If I can help restore it, I will surely gain Immeasurable Merit and gather the Heaven and Earth Great Momentum upon myself."

Haotian knew that the Western Lands had always been a major problem within the Great Desolation.

To resolve this problem, the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun had even spared no expense in offering up two Saint Positions, ultimately having Zhunti and Jieyin take on this mess.

From the day they underwent Form Transformation, the two had painstakingly labored over it. Only after passing through the two great calamities of the Witch-Demon War and the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation did they begin to see results in the era of Journey to the West.

It was also because of this achievement that the Western Teachings they founded—later Buddhism—enjoyed a considerable period of prosperity.

Even the Mystic Gate founded by Hongjun had no choice but to avoid its edge.

"Restoring the Western Lands... Hah... Zhunti and Jieyin, it seems you Two People are fated with me, Haotian!" A faint smile curved Haotian's lips.

He had already resolved to use the opportunity of this Purple Firmament Palace lecture to forge a good bond with these two future Saints.

Time Flies, and several thousand more years slipped by.

Within the Purple Firmament Palace, the Dao aura around Haotian gradually receded.

The Imperial Great Dao he had newly comprehended had already stabilized. It merged with his Primordial Spirit, becoming an illusory Dao seed that rose and fell within his Purple Mansion Spiritual Terrace.

He calculated with his fingers. There were still a Hundred Thousand Years before the Purple Firmament Palace began its lecture.

"Since crossing over, I have remained trapped in the Purple Firmament Palace and have never once set foot upon the Great Desolation Land."

"Now, both my Cultivation and Dao Practice have reached a bottleneck. Quiet cultivation will bring little further progress. I might as well enter the world and seek out some fated opportunities."

Having made up his mind, Haotian flicked his sleeve and rose. His plain-colored Daoist robe stirred without wind, shimmering with a faint clear radiance.

With a slight movement of his body, he arrived in another Quiet Room.

Inside, Yaochi sat cross-legged upon a Cloud Bed, cultivating. Taiyin Qi circulated around her like flowing ribbons; clearly, she was comprehending the Innate Pure Yin Great Dao.

Haotian was not surprised.

After all, if he had not been a transmigrator with memories of later generations, he too would likely have chosen to cultivate the renowned Innate Pure Yang Great Dao.

After waiting quietly for a moment, Yaochi slowly concluded her cultivation, and the moonlight around her gradually faded.

She opened her eyes, and the phantom of a cold, clear moon briefly flashed within them.

Though she still bore the appearance of a girl of eight or nine, Innate Deities were never ordinary mortals. From the day of their Form Transformation, they possessed an otherworldly Dao aura.

Now that her Dao Foundation had gradually solidified, her cold and lofty bearing became ever more pronounced.

"Your Younger Sister greets Elder Brother." Yaochi rose and offered a respectful salute.

Haotian waved a hand. "No need for such formalities, Younger Sister. I have come because there is an important matter I wish to discuss with you."

At this, Yaochi's expression turned solemn. "If Elder Brother has a matter to discuss, please speak freely."

Haotian pondered briefly before saying, "In my recent cultivation, I have deeply felt the Profound Mysteries of the Great Dao. Progress has become difficult, and it cannot be broken through by shut-door Hard Cultivation alone."

"Therefore, I wish to make a trip to the Great Desolation and seek an opportunity for a breakthrough."

"Go to the Great Desolation?" Yaochi's delicate brows drew together slightly. She hesitated before saying, "But before Esteemed Master entered Secluded Cultivation, he instructed us to carefully tend to the palace."

"If Elder Brother goes to the Great Desolation without permission, should Esteemed Master discover it..."

"Younger Sister's concern is entirely justified. That is why I have come specifically to ask a favor of you," Haotian said warmly.

"Ask a favor of me?" Confusion appeared in Yaochi's eyes.

Haotian smiled lightly. "I ask that Younger Sister remain here and stand guard. If you sense any sign that Esteemed Master is emerging from Secluded Cultivation, use the Purple Firmament Token to send me word. Your Elder Brother will naturally return at once."

At these words, Yaochi froze, her rosy lips parting slightly. "This... if Esteemed Master learns of it, wouldn't that..."

Haotian shook his head reassuringly. "Younger Sister worries too much."

"Since Esteemed Master bestowed upon us a sacred decree that allows us to travel freely between the Primordial World and Purple Firmament Palace, he clearly does not forbid our comings and goings."

"Besides, a Saint's heart embraces the cosmos. How could he become angry over such a trivial matter?"

Yaochi still looked hesitant, her jade-like fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her sleeve.

Seeing this, Haotian could only say, "If it truly comes to light, Younger Sister can say that I forced the matter and place all the blame on me."

Who would have thought that, at these words, Yaochi's eyes instantly reddened, her voice choked with emotion. "What do you mean by that, Elder Brother?"

"Do you take your little sister for some selfish, cowardly, heartless, and faithless person?"

Panic rose in Haotian's heart, and he hurriedly explained, "Younger Sister misunderstands. Your elder brother absolutely meant no such thing!"

Tears still shimmered in Yaochi's eyes as her pearly teeth gently bit her lower lip. Her aggrieved appearance was enough to make one's heart ache.

Helpless, Haotian raised a hand as though to slap himself. "It was all your elder brother's careless speech. I shall slap myself three times and beg Younger Sister's forgiveness."

"No!" Yaochi hastily grabbed his wrist and said urgently, "Elder Brother must not... I simply won't cry anymore."

As she spoke, she raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears, truly forcing down her emotions.

Haotian quietly let out a breath of relief.

In both his Previous Life and this one, what he feared most was girls crying.

Because, across both lives combined, he had never once gotten into a relationship and had no experience comforting girls.

"Very well. Since Elder Brother insists on going to the Primordial World, then set off early. Do not miss the proper time," Yaochi said softly, lowering her eyes.

Haotian hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back. In the end, he let out a long sigh.

He wanted to reach out and gently stroke the top of her head, but felt it would be inappropriate. He could only cup his hands and give a solemn bow. "Your elder brother thanks Younger Sister for granting this."

"I will surely repay this kindness when I return."

With that, before Yaochi could respond, Haotian activated the Purple Firmament Token. His body turned into a streak of light and vanished into the void.

By the time Yaochi lifted her head, she was the only one left in the Quiet Room.

"Foolish Elder Brother..." she murmured, yet a faint smile rippled across her lips.

The Primordial World was vast and boundless.

The five great continents of east, south, west, north, and center stood towering beneath the heavens, surrounded by the four oceans of east, south, west, and north.

Haotian had undergone Form Transformation from a Primordial Chaotic Stone and possessed none of the Primordial World's inherited memories, so his knowledge of the world's laylines was limited.

Yet the time for this journey was exceedingly precious; he could not afford to wander aimlessly.

Thus, relying on memories from his Previous Life, he used the power of the Purple Firmament Token to draw as close as possible to the southeastern region of the Primordial World...

Buzz!

Ripples spread through the void. When Haotian stepped out from a spatial rift, he had already transformed into a Youthful Dao Body.