Bei Ming pondered for a moment before slowly answering, "I happened upon an opportunity. I don't know why, but I ended up here."
The old man gazed intently at Bei Ming and asked again in a measured voice, "Fellow Daoist, what kind of opportunity was that?"
Bei Ming's thoughts shifted, and he suddenly came to a realization. He raised a hand toward the vast river, a trace of shock in his eyes:
"Fellow Daoist, could this place be the River of Time? But..."
During the Chaos era, this was not worth considering;
but within the Primordial Wilderness, once Cultivators reached the Golden Immortal realm, they became immortal and no longer needed to worry about their lifespan;
upon becoming a Great Luo Golden Immortal, one of the defining traits was stepping beyond the River of Time, where past, present, and future merged into one.
Even Great Powers who comprehended the Time Law could not reverse the years and kill their opponents while they were still developing.
What puzzled Bei Ming was that the River of Time was not a river that truly existed, but an abstruse and intangible abstract concept.
When Cultivators broke through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm and gathered the Three Flowers above their heads;
although they could step beyond the River of Time, they would not truly see its tangible form.
Only those who comprehended the Time Law had a chance to glimpse its true appearance.
At this moment, clarity dawned upon Bei Ming. Looking at the old man, he said:
"Fellow Daoist, are you the spirit of the artifact for that Spirit Treasure in the palace just now?"
It was exceedingly difficult for Innate Spiritual Roots to develop intelligence, and even harder for them to take form;
even among Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots, only Zhunti had emerged;
it was likewise rare for Innate Spiritual Treasures to develop intelligence, but not impossible.
The old man nodded slightly. His voice was ancient yet deep, carrying the echo of passing years as it drifted above the River of Time:
"That is correct. I am the spirit of the artifact of this Eternal Age Hourglass. I did not expect that, through the workings of Karma, you would encounter me. It seems there is destined to be a connection between us."
Bei Ming's heart trembled slightly. Narrowing his eyes, he asked:
"A connection? Then will there also be... a time when that connection ends?"
Upon hearing this, the old man suddenly threw back his head and laughed, his voice full of ancient desolation.
He stroked his grizzled beard and looked toward the surging river as he said leisurely:
"Ha ha... where there is a beginning of fate, there is naturally an end.
Even Daoist Shichen of the past had not severed his connection with me long ago?
In the Chaos of old, the Personal Spirit Treasure of Shichen, the Time Demon God—the [Time Wheel]—was completely shattered in the Heaven-Opening Tribulation;
part of its origin merged into the Axe Handle of the Pangu Axe, ultimately bringing about the birth of the Chaos Bell;
while the other part of its origin was nurtured by Heaven and Earth of the Primordial Wilderness and evolved anew into an Innate Spirit Treasure...
Thus, I came into being."
At this point, the old man lowered his head slightly, a hint of remembrance in his eyes.
Bei Ming's expression turned solemn. He stared at the old man and said slowly:
"As far as I know, after the battle to open Heaven, whether it was Pangu or the other Chaos Gods, nearly all the Spirit Treasures they wielded were destroyed, were they not?"
The old man's eyes twitched slightly. He slowly shook his head:
"The vast majority of Chaos Supreme Treasures and Chaos Spirit Treasures were indeed damaged in that tribulation, but the extent of their damage differed.
Under the influence of the newly born Heaven and Earth of the Primordial Wilderness, the origins of many of those Spirit Treasures underwent fresh changes, and some even fused with one another.
Take Pangu's Heaven-Opening Axe, for example. It was the Number One Chaos Offensive Treasure.
After the axe shattered, it split into three, becoming the Axe Blade, Axe Handle, and Axe Back.
During their evolution into Spirit Treasures, they forcibly absorbed part of the origins of the Personal Spirit Treasures of Chaos Gods, which was why each possessed different laws.
The Axe Blade inherited the offensive might of the Heaven-Opening Axe itself and became the Innate Supreme Treasure [Pangu Banner];
the Axe Back fused with part of the origin of the Personal Spirit Treasure of the Yin Yang Demon God and evolved into the [Taiji Diagram];
the Axe Handle absorbed the remaining origins of the Personal Spirit Treasures of Shichen and Yang Mei, ultimately becoming the [Chaos Bell].
As for the damaged Chaos Green Lotus, its transformations were even more numerous.
Most of the Spirit Treasures it split into also fused with the origins of other demon gods' Spirit Treasures.
For instance, the Lotus Pod absorbed part of the origin of the Personal Spirit Treasure of the Qiankun Demon God and became the [Qiankun Cauldron];
the five lotus leaves became the Five Directional Flags, corresponding to the Five Elements...
Many Spirit Treasures came to be for this reason."
Bei Ming listened quietly, his thoughts churning as he found it somewhat plausible.
During the previous Immeasurable Kalpa, those Chaos God remnants who had come from outside were still active.
The Taiji Diagram was in Yin Yang Lao Zu's hands, while the Qiankun Cauldron was held by Qiankun Lao Zu.
After Innate Spirit Treasures emerged, they could be fought over through one's own ability. Before they emerged, however, they were protected by Primordial Formations and could only be obtained through opportunity.
By all rights, these Spirit Treasures should have been Pangu's relics. How had they fallen into the hands of those enemies from the past?
Unless the origins of these Spirit Treasures had always been connected to them.
There was no need to consider Hongjun and Luo Hou. The two had chosen to contend for the position of the Heavenly Dao's Spokesperson and had already been absorbed by the Primordial Wilderness;
having joined midway, they could not really be considered complete outsiders anymore.
According to what the Destruction Demon God had said before, Yang Mei wished to leave the Primordial Wilderness, so he did not dare form too much karma;
therefore, even if the Chaos Bell were placed before him, he most likely would not want it.
Although the Chaos Bell, which contained the Laws of Time and Space, might tempt Yang Mei somewhat;
its main body, as part of the Heaven-Opening Axe, was too deeply entangled in karma with the Primordial Wilderness and Pangu.
Bei Ming cupped one fist in salute and asked in a deep voice, "May I know how to address you, Fellow Daoist?"
The old man's beard and hair moved with the wind, as if he had merged with the River of Time:
"Poor Daoist is Yong Sui. The Eternal Age Hourglass possesses forty-eight Restrictions and contains the Time Law.
Time is of great consequence, so Fellow Daoist must proceed with caution.
Should a critical moment arise, I will also appear and lend you a hand."
As soon as he finished speaking, brilliant radiance burst forth around the old man, and dazzling divine light once more enveloped the surroundings.
Bei Ming instinctively raised a hand to shield his eyes. When the intense light faded and he opened them again, he had already returned to the palace from before.
He lowered his head and stared at the Small Hourglass in his hand:
"In truth, my position never changed. You merely made the River of Time manifest here, correct?"
Eternal Years Daoist replied, "Fellow Daoist is correct.
I have remained here for countless Yuanhui, and the palace has long been filled with the Dao resonance of the Time Law.
This is precisely a good opportunity to refine the Spirit Treasure. With my assistance, it will not take much time."
Bei Ming hesitated slightly before saying, "I am not traveling alone. Two Fellow Daoists are accompanying me."
Earlier, while facing the trial, he had been trapped within it and truly unable to escape;
now that the opportunity was in hand and he could leave, it would be somewhat lacking in loyalty to leave Nüwa and Fuxi outside.
Eternal Years Daoist paused slightly, then revealed an unexpectedly pleased smile and nodded in praise:
"I did not expect Fellow Daoist to be so benevolent."
Changing the subject, he asked, "Let me ask you this: how do you view the talent, foundation, and luck of those two Fellow Daoists?"
Bei Ming pondered for a moment before succinctly uttering four words: "Transcendent Talent."
A gratified gleam flashed through Eternal Years Daoist's eyes. "That is enough.
The Innate Gods who ascend to the pinnacle rarely return empty-handed.
Perhaps they are also within the Secret Realm at this very moment.
Rather than hesitate, it would be better to hurry and refine it.
Even though time in the Primordial Wilderness is long and endless, it must not be squandered.
Those who betray time will ultimately be betrayed by time."
Before you continue