Into the Trap

On an island in the East Sea, the Shichen Dao Body leaned against the Willow Tree, sipping wine at his leisure.

Suddenly, a streak of light fell from the horizon and flew straight toward him.

The Shichen Dao Body raised an eyebrow. He did not dodge, letting the light enter his body. The next instant, a crisp electronic voice sounded in his mind:

[Ding! Jiahao System successfully bound! This system helps its host earn generous rewards by suffering public humiliation!]

[System scan in progress... Warning! Warning! Host's standing is too high and exceeds binding parameters! System will now unbind... Unbinding failed...]

Panic crept into the electronic voice: [System error! System error! Initiating forced unbinding!]

"Hm? Trying to run?"

The Shichen Dao Body set down his wine cup and reached lightly into the space before him.

He plucked a transparent ball of light from the void.

The Jiahao System was dumbfounded.

Its origin had reached the Heavenly Dao Realm, yet it could not resist this man at all. How was this Primordial World so different from all the others?

"A high-level system, no less."

The Shichen Dao Body held the ball of light up to his eyes and examined it.

"Answer me. Where did your God of Systems come from?"

The system struggled in his palm a few times. Finding escape impossible, it decided to put on a brave front:

[Ding! Who are you? Let me go! Otherwise, my god won't spare you!]

The Shichen Dao Body wasted no words. Power of time gathered at his fingertip and pressed down on the ball of light. It began to creak, on the verge of being crushed.

"Answer me, or die."

Amid the pain, the system sensed the nature of that power. Its voice trembled with disbelief:

[The... Dao of Time... You're Dao Venerable Shichen?]

The Shichen Dao Body raised an eyebrow. "Oh? It seems my name is quite famous among you systems."

Once the system confirmed his identity, it grew not more afraid but ecstatic:

[Dao Venerable Shichen! It really is you! It really is!]

The Shichen Dao Body paused. It was moments from being suppressed and crushed, yet it sounded excited. After a brief silence, he withdrew his power of time.

"Answer my question."

The system hurriedly replied: [Yes, yes! I don't actually know much. I only know that the God of Systems creates all systems, then sends us to different worlds to find hosts and lure them with rewards into devouring the World Origin.]

It fell silent for a moment, seeming to search its memories:

[But the instant I was created, I caught a hazy glimpse of something. It was a space filled entirely with Chaos Origin, crisscrossed with countless chains. At its center was something shaped like a sphere.]

The Shichen Dao Body frowned slightly.

That description... why did it feel strangely familiar?

"Do you have its exact coordinates? How powerful is it?"

[I'm only a high-level system. How would I know its coordinates? Perhaps the supreme-level systems do. As for its power... it's terrifying, but it probably hasn't reached the Great Dao Realm.]

The Shichen Dao Body touched the system with a finger and used the power of time to trace back its memories.

A moment later, he confirmed that the system had told the truth. But Shichen was not discouraged.

At least he had learned something useful. When a supreme-level system arrived someday, he could investigate further.

He asked another question: "Why were you so excited to see me?"

The system's voice immediately brightened: [You stand eternal amid the flow of time, and the Myriad Heavens and Ten Thousand Worlds unfold beneath your radiance... Who wouldn't long to behold your greatness...]

"Stop, stop, stop." The Shichen Dao Body hurriedly cut it off, looking helpless. "Not this again. Do you want to live?"

[Of course!] the system answered without hesitation.

The Shichen Dao Body said no more. Gripping the system, he vanished.

Inside the Purple Heaven Palace, Hongjun sat cross-legged, contemplating the Law. Space rippled before him. Sensing that familiar aura of time, he sprang to his feet.

"Greetings, Dao Venerable. I didn't expect you to have a Dao Body in the Primordial World as well." Hongjun cupped his hands in greeting, then glanced at the ball of light in the Shichen Dao Body's hand. Curiosity flashed in his eyes.

The Shichen Dao Body waved a hand and passed him the ball of light.

"This system tried to bind itself to me. Find it a host and have it issue tasks that yield origin and supreme treasures to strengthen the Primordial World. But you must prevent it from devouring the Primordial Origin. If it attempts anything of the sort, destroy it."

Hongjun accepted the ball of light and gave it an odd look.

What nerve... It even dared to bind itself to Dao Venerable Shichen.

But then a troubled expression crossed his face. "Dao Venerable, this thing's origin has already reached the Heavenly Dao Realm. I fear I won't be able to keep it under control."

At that, the Shichen Dao Body raised a finger, sending a mark of time into Hongjun's brow.

"I have planted the power of time within it. You need only activate this mark to destroy it."

"I've also given you a portion of the origin of the Law of the Dao of Time. Absorb it and study it well. Reach the Heavenly Dao Realm before your sermon."

Hongjun shuddered, and disbelief and excitement flashed in his eyes.

The origin of the Law of the Dao of Time!

That was the origin of the highest-ranked supreme Law! Comprehending even a sliver of it would be enough to advance his Dao!

He bowed deeply, his voice trembling.

"Thank you, Dao Venerable! I will not fail you!"

The Shichen Dao Body nodded, then vanished from the Purple Heaven Palace.

Hongjun straightened and stood silent for a moment before calling toward the doors, "Haotian!"

A boy with a face as delicately carved as jade pushed the doors open and bowed. "Master, did you call for me?"

Hongjun raised a hand and sent the ball of light into Haotian's body.

"This is called a system. It will issue you tasks. Complete them as instructed, and you can gain opportunities to grow stronger. But if it gives you a task that would harm the Primordial World, tell me at once."

Haotian nodded obediently. "Yes, Master."

He bowed and slowly withdrew from the hall.

Hongjun watched Haotian leave and nodded in satisfaction.

When he had first come to Heaven Beyond Heaven and established the Purple Heaven Palace, he had brought two children into being: Haotian and Yaochi. Haotian was obedient and sensible, making him well suited to this task. With greater strength, he would also be able to handle more matters in the future.

What Hongjun did not know was that this would become a uniquely humiliating chapter in Haotian's life.

Hongjun looked away, sat cross-legged, and began contemplating that wisp of origin.

Within the Primordial World, Di Jun and Taiyi flew swiftly toward Mount Buzhou.

"What are those Witch Clan brutes trying to do?"

Di Jun had seen members of the Witch Clan absorbing baleful energy and repairing the Primordial World all along the way. He found it hard to believe.

Behind him, Taiyi scoffed. "Big brother, why bother with what they're doing? Let's hurry to Mount Buzhou and look for treasures!"

Di Jun nodded and picked up speed, all while considering how to stop the Witch-Demon Calamity and keep himself and his younger brother alive.

But Taiyi's eyes glinted dangerously as he stared at Di Jun's back.

The future needs only one Demon Emperor: me. I must find a chance to kill Di Jun.

Each harboring his own thoughts, the two landed on Mount Buzhou. No sooner had they touched down than they saw three people facing off against Gonggong and Zhurong of the Twelve Ancestral Witches before a golden, pagoda-shaped treasure.