Returning to the Primordial Wilderness

He let out a long breath, expelling all the years and insights that had accumulated within his chest.

Advancing to the Golden Immortal Mid-stage had not only caused his mana to surge and his Primordial Spirit to condense.

His comprehension of Great Dao laws, along with his understanding and application of his own Supernatural Powers and spells, had likewise undergone a qualitative leap, greatly strengthening his control.

Once all was settled and his condition had been adjusted to its peak, Haotian slowly turned his gaze toward the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, which floated silently in the air with its violet-gold Dao charm drawn inward.

This time, he did not dare to charge in barehanded as he had when subduing the Ten Thousand Crows Pot and the Three Talents Jade Cups.

He knew full well that the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler's might was far beyond anything the Ten Thousand Crows Pot or the Three Talents Jade Cups could compare with.

If its power were allowed to fully erupt, let alone a Golden Immortal—even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, caught unprepared, would risk being grievously injured or even slain!

The reason Haotian had been able to subdue the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin in the first place was that it was not a treasure made for attack, and its time of emergence had yet to come, leaving most of its spiritual nature and power dormant.

Even so, the process had been perilous.

Staring at the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, Haotian's expression grew solemn as he brought every method at his disposal into play.

First, with a thought, the Three Talents Jade Cups immediately blazed with light, forming a stable and profound Three Talents Restriction Formation that enveloped the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, cutting off its aura from within and without and weakening the fluctuations of its Dao charm.

Then, without hesitation, Haotian sacrificed a portion of his own fortune, activating the core laws of the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin.

A phantom of a coin emerged, and an invisible, intangible yet peculiar ripple—one that specifically suppressed the spirituality of spiritual treasures—descended, temporarily clouding and sealing the Spiritual Intelligence within the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler.

After that, Haotian controlled the Pure Glazed Bottle to pour down streams of gentle purifying light, while the Ten Thousand Crows Pot spewed the fiery force of Samadhi True Fire.

One gentle and one fierce, the two powers intertwined, further suppressing and soothing any instinctive resistance the Sky Measuring Ruler might have.

The three layers of preparation interlocked seamlessly.

Only after completing all this did Haotian dare hold his breath and focus, circulating the purest source Dao charm of his Imperial Great Dao.

The Dao charm transformed into countless tiny, profound Dao law runes, cautiously reaching toward the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler wrapped in layer upon layer of restrictions.

Then he began attempting to communicate with it, permeate it, and refine it.

"Bzzzz..."

Perhaps the innate suppressive power of the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin played the crucial role, or perhaps the Saint Power mark Hongjun had left behind was secretly soothing and guiding it.

The refinement process went far more smoothly than Haotian had expected.

Though the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler's Dao charm occasionally trembled faintly, it showed no violent resistance, as though it had tacitly permitted this "new master" to draw near and leave his mark.

Within the quiet chamber, the River of Time seemed to stretch out once more.

Haotian's mind was wholly immersed in communicating and merging with this supreme treasure, experiencing the Primordial Chaos Dao intent, mystic-yellow merit, and heaven-measuring principles contained within it.

Ten thousand unhurried years slipped by in the span of a finger snap...

On this day, at the center of the quiet chamber, the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler abruptly released a clear, lingering Dao chime.

Violet-gold radiance flowed across the Ruler Body, producing a distinct resonance with the Dao seed deep within Haotian's Primordial Spirit.

A Primordial Spirit imprint belonging solely to Haotian had already been deeply engraved into This Treasure's core restrictions.

The initial refinement was complete!

Haotian slowly withdrew his power. When he opened his eyes, there was weariness in them, but even more incomparable delight and razor-sharp brilliance.

He rose to his full height, sensing the intimate connection between his Primordial Spirit and the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, as close as blood ties. His heart surged with emotion.

With this ruler in hand, vast though the Primordial Wilderness was, where could he not go?

He recalled each spiritual treasure into the Great Dao Space within his body to nurture them.

Haotian calmed his mind and pondered for a moment before finally deciding that, although Hongjun had previously told him he could leave, propriety could not be neglected. Before departing, he still needed to offer thanks and bid farewell.

He activated the Purple Firmament Token, and his figure instantly shifted to the entrance of the quiet chamber where Hongjun cultivated.

There, he saw Yaochi already standing quietly before the door.

She wore elegant, unadorned palace robes, her expression serene, as though she had been waiting for quite some time.

When Haotian appeared, he walked over to Yaochi.

Before he could speak, Yaochi gave a graceful bow, her voice cool and pleasant:

"Elder Brother, Esteemed Master has entered secluded meditation to comprehend the supreme Great Dao."

"He said that if Haotian arrived, there was no need to announce him or bid farewell. He may leave on his own."

"He also said that Elder Brother need not return to the Purple Firmament Palace before its next lecture."

"Finally, Esteemed Master bestowed this decree: when acting in the Primordial Wilderness, follow only your own heart."

"As long as Elder Brother believes something ought to be done, and has no shame before Heaven and Earth or his own heart, then he may act without restraint."

"The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth has its own fair judgment. It will never wrong one whose heart upholds the righteous path."

Yaochi's words were clear, every one of them, yet they piled clouds of doubt within Haotian's heart, churning without end.

But seeing that Yaochi's expression remained as calm as ever, devoid of any excess emotion, Haotian knew there was no use in pressing further and could only suppress his countless doubts.

He straightened his robes and cap, then solemnly bowed three times toward the tightly shut doors of the quiet chamber.

Haotian then turned to Yaochi and cupped his hands. "Since Esteemed Master has issued a holy decree, your elder brother shall respectfully obey his command."

"I must trouble you, dear sister, to keep a closer watch over the affairs of Purple Firmament Palace."

"Your elder brother will be leaving now. Take care of yourself."

Yaochi's expression remained unchanged. She merely nodded lightly, a trace of concern passing through her eyes as she said softly, "Elder Brother, please be careful on this journey as well, and return soon."

Haotian said no more. He cast one last deep look at the lofty, mysterious holy realm of Purple Firmament Palace behind him, its Dao rhythms curling through the air, then without hesitation activated the Purple Firmament Token glowing with violet light in his robes.

In an instant, radiance flowed. Endless Great Dao patterns surged forth from it, weaving together into a brief yet stable passage.

The surrounding scenery blurred and twisted, as though space and time had been folded and crossed.

In the blink of an eye...

Haotian felt his body lighten, and his feet were already planted firmly upon the ground, returned to the vast and boundless Primordial World.

He immediately circulated his divine sense, sending it sweeping outward in every direction like invisible ripples.

Thanks to the complete "Primordial World Inheritance" he had obtained from Bai Ze, information on the mountains and rivers, the lay of the land, and the flow of the Earth Veins naturally surfaced in his mind.

Haotian swiftly determined his location.

The heartland of the Central Continent.

He was already extremely close to the Pillar of the Great Desolation, the source of ten thousand mountains—Buzhou Mountain.

This time, the direction was clear and the goal precise. There was no longer any fear of losing his way.

Haotian raised his gaze into the distance. Though still separated by a great span, Buzhou Mountain's outline was already visible at the end of his sight—a blue-gray barrier linking heaven and earth.

Though called a mountain, Buzhou Mountain was in truth a vast, boundless, supremely towering mountain range.

Its main range stretched for countless billions of miles, while its subsidiary ranges sprawled in every direction like coiled dragons and serpents.

Within the range rose innumerable strange peaks. Any mountain that appeared ordinary was vast enough to rival an entire great thousand world.

Merely gazing at it from afar, Haotian felt an immense pressure dating back to the dawn of World Creation, steeped in endless ages, pervading heaven and earth like an invisible tide.

That pressure was heavy, ancient, and sacred. It carried the supreme will of Great God Pangu's spine, which had propped up heaven and supported earth, forcing all things to bow and filling all living beings with awe.

Even with Haotian's current Golden Immortal Mid-stage cultivation and Dao Heart, his breathing tightened slightly and his Primordial Spirit trembled.

If he drew any closer, he feared the vast divine might would crush his Dao body to pieces and flatten his true spirit.