Settling Karma

Time flew by. Dao Xuan discussed the Dao and cultivated in seclusion with the two great powers at Wuzhuang Temple, and before he knew it, several hundred years had passed.

The Top Three Flowers above his head grew ever more solid, the Five Qi in the Chest flowed with perfect ease, his Grand Unity Dao Fruit became stable, and his mysterious cultivation art's seventh revolution had advanced considerably as well.

Yet Dao Xuan remained concerned about his Eastern Sea domain, while the aura of the calamity grew heavier by the day.

One day, their discussion of the Dao had just ended.

Dao Xuan rose to his feet and solemnly bowed to Zhenyuanzi and Old Ancestor Hongyun.

"Elders, this junior has imposed upon you for far too long and benefited greatly. I am deeply grateful."

"However, the matter of my Eastern Sea domain has always weighed upon my heart."

"Moreover, the calamity qi of the primordial world is rising. I fear this is no place to remain for long."

"This junior wishes to take his leave and travel to the Eastern Sea in search of a foundation. I hope you will grant your permission."

Upon hearing this, Zhenyuanzi stroked his beard and nodded.

"Little friend, your aspirations lie in purity and tranquility. That is only proper."

"The Eastern Sea is vast, with immortal islands scattered like stars. It is indeed an excellent place to establish a Daoist sanctuary."

He pondered briefly, a trace of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.

"During my travels through the Eastern Sea long ago, I once happened upon an island in a certain sea region."

"That island was hidden within a void illusion. It could not be seen by ordinary means, and only when the Stars of the Heavens shifted and the illusion dispersed somewhat would it reveal itself."

"The island's spiritual energy was abundant beyond compare, and its wonders of creation were unlike anything I had ever seen."

"However, I already possessed the Longevity Mountain Blessed Land and was content with it, so I did not linger long or claim the island."

Old Ancestor Hongyun, who had been listening nearby, clapped his hands and laughed.

"Dao brother speaks the truth! That island was truly extraordinary!"

"I traveled there with Dao brother back then, and only entered by a fortunate coincidence."

"It contained another world within, with countless spiritual roots and immortal flowers, rosy radiance and auspicious mists. It truly was an ideal Daoist sanctuary!"

"What a pity, what a pity! We already had our own foundations, so it will be you who benefits, little friend!"

Dao Xuan was overjoyed upon hearing this.

An island so highly praised by both Zhenyuanzi and Old Ancestor Hongyun could not possibly be ordinary!

"Such a treasured land truly exists? Might I ask where it is located...?"

Zhenyuanzi smiled faintly and flicked his finger. A spark of spiritual light flew out and entered Dao Xuan's glabella.

"These are the sea region coordinates I recorded back then, along with the moment when the stars shift."

"Little friend, follow this route and wait patiently for the right time."

"Remember, though opportunity may be good, patience is still required."

Dao Xuan felt a star map, a sea-region marker, and an impression regarding a particular celestial phenomenon appear in his Sea of Consciousness.

He hurriedly bowed deeply once more.

"Dao Xuan will never forget this great kindness, Senior!"

Old Ancestor Hongyun waved a hand and said with a smile,

"You are too courteous, little friend. Once you establish your Daoist sanctuary, just remember to invite us over for a cup of clear tea."

"Certainly! Certainly!" Dao Xuan answered solemnly.

After bidding farewell to Zhenyuanzi and Old Ancestor Hongyun, Dao Xuan mounted the Five Spirit Qilin and transformed into a streak of five-colored auspicious light, leaving Longevity Mountain and heading straight for the Eastern Sea.

Five Spirit trod upon auspicious clouds, wind rising beneath its four hooves as it sped through the sky.

Before long, the boundless Eastern Sea came into view.

Azure waves stretched for ten thousand miles, sea and sky merging as one. Immortal islands dotted the waters from time to time, while spirit birds and auspicious beasts soared overhead.

Dao Xuan suppressed the urge to immediately head for the sea region marked by Zhenyuanzi.

"The time has not yet come, and the stars have not shifted. Going now would be futile."

A thought stirred in his mind.

"Better to return to the place where I took form and have a look first."

He had fled in haste back then. Now that he had attained Grand Unity, it was the perfect time to go back and see it.

Following his memories, Dao Xuan rode Five Spirit toward that nameless little island from long ago.

Before he even drew close, he sensed faint Demonic Aura on the island and saw the glimmer of formation lights. It was clear that the island already had an owner.

Dao Xuan lowered his cloud and landed upon the sandy shore at the island's edge.

A figure immediately flew out from the island.

The newcomer wore a Fish Tail Golden Crown and a dark cloud-patterned Daoist robe, with a silk sash at his waist and hemp shoes on his feet.

His face was waxen yellow, with three sparse, short strands of beard beneath his chin. His gaze flickered constantly, and he possessed the cultivation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

He was none other than the Fish-Tail Crown Daoist who had hunted Dao Xuan down and forced him to leap into the sea to escape!

After tens of thousands of years, this man's cultivation had advanced to the middle stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

When the Daoist saw Dao Xuan riding a five-colored qilin, his bearing extraordinary and the rhythm of the Dao flowing around him, unfathomable in depth, he immediately recognized that Dao Xuan was at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

His heart trembled. Daring not to be negligent, he hurried forward and bowed deeply, lowering his posture to the utmost.

"This junior is Xuan Yin. Greetings, Immortal Elder! May I ask why Immortal Elder has come to this humble island? What instructions do you have?"

Dao Xuan sat upright upon Five Spirit's back, looking down at him with a calm gaze.

Five Spirit snorted, five-colored auspicious qi curling around it and making Dao Xuan appear even more transcendent.

"Instructions?"

A faint, almost smiling curve appeared at the corner of Dao Xuan's lips.

"Xuan Yin? After tens of thousands of years, have you forgotten even an old acquaintance?"

Xuan Yin froze at those words. He raised his head and carefully examined Dao Xuan.

That handsome, elegant face, that Blue Gauze Headband, that Apricot Yellow Eight Trigrams Robe...

A memory buried beneath the dust was suddenly pried open!

The image of a miserable little True Immortal who had only just taken human form, chased by him until there was no path to heaven or earth, slowly overlapped with the dignified, unfathomable Grand Unity Golden Immortal before him!

"It's... it's you?!"

Xuan Yin's face turned deathly pale in an instant, as though he had seen a ghost. His eyes were filled with unbelievable terror!

"Impossible! You... you were only a mere True Immortal back then. After jumping into the Eastern Sea, you should have died without question! How could you..."

"How could I attain Grand Unity?"

Dao Xuan finished for him. His tone was calm, yet it carried invisible pressure.

"The Heavenly Dao turns in cycles, and retribution never fails."

"You hunted me relentlessly back then to seize my accompanying spiritual treasure. Did you ever imagine there would be a day like this?"

Xuan Yin's entire body shook violently, icy cold rushing from the soles of his feet straight to the crown of his head!

Back then, he had truly believed Dao Xuan had long since been buried in the bellies of fish or devoured by some great sea demon.

Who would have thought that Dao Xuan had not only survived, but had attained Grand Unity Golden Immortal in merely tens of thousands of years!

This completely overturned everything he believed!

Fear seized his heart in an instant!

Run!

He had to run!

Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Yin transformed into a streak of black light and shot toward the edge of the island!

He did not even care about the foundation he had built upon the island!

"Hmph! With karma yet unsettled, how could I let you escape?"

Dao Xuan snorted coldly, remaining seated without moving.

With a thought, the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd at his waist became a dazzling streak of golden light, striking after yet arriving first!

It moved like lightning and carried the force of a rainbow, containing the true intent to shatter all laws!

"No—!"

Xuan Yin felt the aura of death descend over him. He turned back in terror and saw only a golden radiance tearing through space!

Splurt!

The golden light pierced straight through his body!

Xuan Yin's body abruptly stiffened, the light in his eyes rapidly fading.

His protective immortal radiance and Grand Unity Dao Body were like paper before the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd!

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, yet only spat out a mouthful of filthy blood mixed with shattered organs.

The next instant, his body and primordial spirit exploded with a bang!

They became specks of spiritual light and scattered between heaven and earth.

His Dao was extinguished, and he perished!

The karma from tens of thousands of years ago was finally settled today.

Dao Xuan recalled the Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd, his expression neither sorrowful nor joyful.

The strong devoured the weak. That was the iron law of the primordial world.

Had his cultivation not far exceeded Xuan Yin's today, the outcome would likely have been entirely different.

Riding Five Spirit, he slowly entered the island.

When he had taken form here, the island had been small but spiritually beautiful.

There had been several Immortal Herbs that accompanied his birth, along with a small spiritual spring.

Yet now, the island was a complete mess.

That Xuan Jizi had carelessly carved out numerous cave dwellings across the island and laid down crude formations, damaging its earth veins.

The spiritual spring had been polluted, and the Immortal Herbs had been plucked clean, leaving behind only a few malformed spiritual plants.

Residual Demonic Aura and turbid qi filled the air, with none of the clear spiritual atmosphere of old remaining.

"A perfectly good Blessed Land of Grotto-Heaven has been ruined into such a state."

Dao Xuan frowned slightly.

He flew down from the qilin and landed at the center of the island.

"Very well. Since I have returned to this old place, I might as well clean it up."

Dao Xuan formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation.

"Heaven and Earth Limitless, Mysterious Purity True Law! Filthy qi, disperse!"

Grand Unity mana surged forth, turning into a gust of pure, sacred wind that swept across the entire island!

Wherever it passed, the lingering Demonic Aura, turbid qi, and foul qi vanished like melting ice and snow, completely cleansed away!

He then drew upon the Earth Vein Spiritual Energy and connected with the power of water.

"Earth veins return to origin! Water spirits cleanse the world!"

Buzz!

The island trembled faintly as its damaged earth veins were gradually straightened out and returned to their natural state.

The polluted spiritual spring began to bubble with clear springwater, and its spiritual energy revived.

Dao Xuan then took out several spiritual seeds obtained from Wuzhuang Temple and scattered them with a wave of his hand.

The seeds took root the moment they touched the ground, growing rapidly and radiating vigorous life.

In only a short while, the entire island had been transformed.

Though it could not compare to the natural spiritual beauty it possessed when Dao Xuan had first been born here, it was now quiet and elegant, brimming with spiritual energy.

Dao Xuan looked over the restored island and nodded faintly.

"This island was once the place where I took form. We share a certain affinity."

"It is long and narrow, its two ends slightly upturned, faintly resembling a flood dragon emerging from the sea..."

He pondered briefly.

"Then I shall call it Golden Flood Dragon Island."

"If fate allows me to take disciples in the future, I may grant this place to one of them for cultivation."

Dao Xuan raised a hand, and the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal flew from his sleeve.

The seal hovered above the center of the island. Nine dragon phantoms circled it as a heavy Dao Rhyme spread through the air.

"Nine Dragons Suppress the Land! Conceal!"

Dao Xuan activated the seal.

Nine streams of Chaos Qi descended, merging into the island's earth veins and the void.

In an instant, all of Golden Flood Dragon Island became hazy, as though veiled by an invisible layer of light gauze. Its aura was completely concealed.

From the outside, this place appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary stretch of sea, with no trace of any island remaining.

"This will at least leave behind a memento."

Dao Xuan put away the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal and leaped back onto the Five Spirit Qilin.

He looked toward the depths of the Eastern Sea, in the direction of the sea-region coordinates Zhenyuanzi had given him.

"The time is drawing near. It is time to seek out my true Daoist sanctuary!"

Understanding his intent, Five Spirit let out a clear whinny. Its four hooves stepped upon the clouds as it transformed into a streak of five-colored light and raced toward that mysterious sea region.

Azure waves stretched for ten thousand miles, while immortal traces faded into the distance.