The Return to the West

The sword light, like a dragon, tore through the sky, its sharp sword energy splitting the void in two, the cracks slowly mending.

This was the strike of a peak Taiyi Golden Immortal. Though his realm was only early stage, his power rivaled that of a late-stage expert.

Lu Tian advanced instead of retreating, the golden, wooden, and water true qi within his body erupting.

Though it hadn't formed a cycle, the immense spiritual power already stirred up astonishing might. He took a step forward, transforming into a hundred-zhang twin-headed Vajra, four arms wielding the Moon Washing Blade, Plain Cloud Boundary Banner, Vajra Scepter, and Stone Staff.

Taiyi Zhenren's pupils contracted, his look of disdain vanishing completely.

The Golden Brick grew in the wind and smashed down from above. In a flash, Lu Tian's blade cut the bright moon, clashing head-on with the Yin Yang Sword. The Cloud Boundary Banner unfurled like waves, and as golden light flowed, it actually wrapped around the Golden Brick!

In an instant, Taiyi Zhenren's offensive was completely dissolved.

Pharmacist burst from the earth, flashing to Lu Tian's side to provide support.

"Be careful, this person's moves are vicious and conceal treachery."

When they fought, he already felt that the old daoist fought like a madman, specializing in trading blows.

Pharmacist's warning couldn't reach Lu Tian's ears. In their brief clash, he had already experienced how troublesome Taiyi Zhenren was—the moment he was intercepted, the old daoist immediately unleashed a Dao technique from the flank to restrain him, while simultaneously recalling the Yin Yang Sword. Without a word, he thrust the sword straight at Lu Tian's True Spirit. The sword light poured down like a galaxy, scouring the surroundings!

Clang!

The blade light, like a new moon breaking through the sky, severed the surging sword energy. Lu Tian's three arms moved in unison: the Plain Cloud Boundary Banner entangled the Golden Brick, while the Vajra Scepter and Stone Staff smashed down in the gap as the opponent recovered!

Taiyi Zhenren suddenly inhaled, his body swelling to a hundred zhang. Under the Dharma Heaven and Earth Manifestation divine ability, his giant palms grasped left and right, actually seizing two Innate Spiritual Treasures!

Boom--!

The heavy blow caused half his body to sink into the ground. Taiyi Zhenren's mouth bled, but his expression was calm. In contrast, Lu Tian hastily retreated half a step. When he looked again, the Golden Brick had broken free and returned to its owner.

What a powerful physique! Lu Tian marveled inwardly. He only spat out a mouthful of blood after taking such a heavy blow. This Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique's mastery...

Before his thoughts could finish, golden light suddenly appeared! The Yin Yang Sword pierced the sky, so fast that even the Plain Cloud Boundary Banner instinctively defended itself.

Earth-Soaring Golden Light! Lu Tian's mind was clear. This was a secret technique of the Heavenly Origin Sect, a mandatory skill for second-generation direct disciples!

Golden light flashed repeatedly, and the battle instantly reversed.

Amidst the crisscrossing golden light, Lu Tian's vision was filled with sharp killing intent. The edge of the Yin Yang Sword attacked from all directions, making it difficult for him to parry.

The Plain Cloud Boundary Banner unfurled a defensive barrier, and Lu Tian barely managed to block the onslaught, but he had no power to counterattack.

The secret techniques of the Heavenly Origin Sect are indeed well-deserved of their reputation...

He pondered a countermeasure for the Earth-Soaring Golden Light. This move was truly troublesome; even with his drawing speed, it was difficult to keep up. Perhaps only by advancing to the Taiyi Realm could he see through this move.

Unbeknownst to him, Taiyi Zhenren was also complaining inwardly at this moment.

Where did this kid get so many magical treasures!

When did the Western Teachings become so generous? Could it be that the two Sages gave him all their wealth?

These are the Five Directions Innate Banners!

Taiyi Zhenren clicked his tongue inwardly. If this set of supreme treasures were gathered, they were said to be invincible among those below the Sage level. Now, they appeared in the hands of a Golden Immortal. Although he couldn't unleash their full power, they had already rendered him helpless.

What shocked him even more was that the Vajra suddenly sat cross-legged in the void, and a crystal-clear Twelve-Grade Lotus Platform appeared beneath him.

Twelve-Grade Lotus Platform?!

As the lotus petals unfurled, a drop of water fell. The seemingly light drop of water actually leveled an entire mountain peak.

Primordial Heavy Water!

The heaviest substance in heaven and earth, a single drop possessed immense power. If not for the deep foundation of Qianyuan Mountain, the entire mountain range would have already collapsed.

Immediately after, a monstrous wave poured down, sweeping in all directions.

Even with Taiyi Zhenren's incredible escape techniques, he was helpless against this overwhelming heavy water, with no choice but to flee!

The vast torrent swallowed the mountains.

That golden escape light gradually receded, finally disappearing into the depths of the clouds.

Seeing Taiyi Zhenren retreat, the gloom on Lu Tian's brow slightly eased.

Although in the Investiture of the Gods tribulation, the battle records of the Twelve Immortals of the Heavenly Origin Sect were quite dismal—

The Sanxiao Maidens set up the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, and actually crippled all of them, even their Three Flowers on top were severed.

Yet, looking across the Primordial World, this group of Sage disciples were still top-tier experts among their peers.

To be able to force Taiyi Zhenren to retreat with his Golden Immortal cultivation was already no small feat for Lu Tian.

After all, the opponent had received direct teachings from a Sage, and his Dao techniques were profound.

Without the blessings of numerous Spiritual Treasures, the outcome of this battle was uncertain.

A Golden Immortal reaching this point could be considered the extreme.

What was there to be ashamed of?

Fortunately, the Taiyi Realm was within reach.

When the Mystic Gate grand gathering resumes, he would definitely settle this properly.

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Tian's eyes.

Since my transformation, I've faced countless tribulations, forging a steadfast Dao heart.

Even with my recent brilliance, I haven't lost my clarity.

"Senior brother, I'll gladly accept the Nine Dragon Fire Cover."

With a flip of his hand, Lu Tian retracted the heavy water that had filled the sky and sent a message into the distance.

Pharmacist arrived, tearing through the void. He gazed at the nine dragon shadows, dulled by the heavy water, and sighed, "This treasure is fated for my junior brother. I am simply not fortunate enough."

Though the nine crimson dragons showed signs of weakness, it wasn't due to the Spiritual Treasure's inferiority, but rather the lack of a wielder.

Originally, he had discovered this opportunity first...

He shook his head, no longer dwelling on it.

"My skills are inferior to yours; this is how it should be."

If it were anyone else, they might have resorted to some tricks.

But since it was obtained by a fellow disciple, he accepted it wholeheartedly.

Lu Tian formed a hand seal, and the nine dragon shadows suddenly froze.

As Immortal Power surged, the illusions of the crimson dragons dissipated, revealing their true forms—

Nine crimson-gold swimming dragons coiled into a cover, their snouts spewing Samadhi True Fire. This was the true appearance of an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

"Please trouble you, Senior Brother."

Lu Tian spoke directly.

Once he refined the Kunyuan Dao Robe and this Fire Cover, reaching the Taiyi Realm would be a natural progression, eliminating the need for pleasantries.

Such a supreme treasure of fire was the perfect tool for tempering his fire-attribute True Qi.

Pharmacist nodded in acknowledgment, setting up a barrier formation around them. He then sat guard while Lu Tian performed the refinement.

Lu Tian once again cast an concealment spell, completely hiding his form. The power of the Nine Dragon Fire Cover and the Kunyuan Dao Robe continuously flowed into his body, aiding him in refining the fire and earth spiritual energies. Once the Five Qi in his chest were perfectly blended, he would ascend to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

This seclusion lasted for six hundred years. In the eighty-fourth year, all his senior brothers were summoned by the Sages Jieyin and Zhunti to listen to their teachings and assist them in breaking through their realms. Only Lu Tian was personally protected by a grand formation set up by Jieyin—he had gathered the heavenly materials and earthly treasures to impact the Taiyi Realm so quickly that even the Sages were astonished.

Three hundred and sixty-two years passed. Taiyi Zhenren arrived at the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, riding on clouds. He remained tight-lipped about his defeat at Lu Tian's hands years ago. When he noticed that the Western Teachings' disciples had gathered at Kunlun but Lu Tian was nowhere to be seen, his suspicion grew even stronger. From then on, he cultivated with even greater diligence, becoming the most hardworking disciple of the Heavenly Origin Sect and earning the deep appreciation of Yuanshi Tianzun.

In the snow season of the sixth century, the mountain peak where Lu Tian resided was covered in a layer of silver, yet he himself remained untouched by the snow. That day, tribulation clouds pressed down, and divine lightning struck continuously from the nine heavens. Lu Tian neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the lightning to temper his body—the second level of the Profound Comprehension Heart Method was forging his golden body with heavenly lightning. The lightning surged through his meridians, each arc making his muscles and bones more perfect.

The body-tempering effect exceeded expectations... A slight smile touched Lu Tian's lips. After the last bolt of tribulation lightning dissipated, his physical strength had doubled. He casually drew upon the residual lightning energy, and a distant peak ten thousand feet high was instantly shattered. This was the destructive power of lightning bestowed by the origin of the Creation-Destruction Bamboo. With this, the Dao Fruit of a Taiyi Golden Immortal was achieved.

Lu Tian suddenly felt numerous divine abilities surge within him; his cultivation could be described as a complete transformation compared to before!

He sat cross-legged, regulating his breathing, his aura surging like rivers.

Five-colored divine light—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—rotated on his chest. As they interacted, they unleashed boundless spiritual resonance, and immortal radiance emanated from his body, causing ripples in the void.

"Magnificent!"

A long cry shook the surrounding clouds.

This was a transformation of the essence of life—

From the mortal Golden Immortal Dao body to the Body of Five Elements Origin, the difference between the two was like that between clouds and mud.

Although his physical form remained unchanged, his inner being had been completely reforged.

In the past, when he killed the Asura Taiyi, he had to exhaust the opponent's Five Elements Origin to achieve victory.

The root cause was that cultivators in the Taiyi Realm had long transcended the limitations of flesh and blood:

A drop of blood could transform into a vast ocean, and a speck of dust could create mountains and rivers.

Every inch of his flesh and blood contained the cycle of the Five Elements. As long as a sliver of life force remained, he could reshape his Dao body by borrowing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.

And this was merely the introductory profundity of the Taiyi Realm!

Lu Tian stretched his limbs, feeling the Chaos Power surging within him, golden light flowing in his eyes.

If he were to fight Taiyi Zhenren again now, the outcome would be decided in an instant.

But he had another important matter at hand—

He lightly tapped his fingers to calculate the celestial timing. After regulating his breathing, he transformed into a streak of light and headed directly for Kunlun.

The Mystic Gate Grand Gathering was less than eight hundred years away; he had to hasten his journey.

He traveled and rested along the way, pausing for brief respites at spiritual mountains and blessed lands. In the blink of an eye, four hundred years passed.

Suddenly, he stopped on a cloud, his divine sense scanning an area two thousand miles away. A subtle curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.

After wandering the Primordial World for tens of thousands of years, he had finally found traces of the Human Race!

Gazing at the nascent tribe in the mountain ravine, drilling wood to make fire, a ripple stirred in the river of his memories. The legends of the Primordial World from his previous life were the very foundation upon which he stood in this world.

Without the fortuitous foresight, let alone crossing the Eastern and Western realms, he would have struggled to even survive that True Immortal tribulation.

Occasionally, he would recall that era of steel jungles, but the nostalgia would vanish in an instant—

After all, if he had truly wanted to find the Human Race during these tens of thousands of years, he would have encountered them long ago.

Lu Tian had been unable to protect himself before, too preoccupied with his own survival to interact with the Human Race.

Furthermore, the Human Race has no spare capacity to assist, and rashly engaging would benefit neither party.

This chance encounter, however, might be worth investigating.

His divine sense swept over, instantly grasping the situation ahead—

A Human Race tribe of about a hundred thousand was scattering and fleeing during their migration.

The source of the disaster was a Wildcat Demon at the Golden Immortal realm.

This prodigy wasn't in a hurry to unleash its divine abilities. Instead, it toyed with them like a cat playing with mice, occasionally snatching several people away, relishing their terrified flight.

It had also set up an illusion technique, trapping the hundred thousand people as if caught in a spiderweb. No matter how they struggled, they couldn't escape its designated death trap.

Lu Tian tapped his toes lightly and vanished into a spatial rift.

He knew the current state of the Human Race well:

The Primordial Humans Created by Nuwa had long since withered away. While their descendants now reproduced rapidly, few had cultivated to the Golden Immortal realm due to the hardships of survival.

Fortunately, the implicit protection of the Sages' names meant that powerful races like the Witch-Demon saw them as ants, not worth slaughtering. This, however, left room for lesser demons to wreak havoc.

To avoid disaster, the Human Race migrated year-round.

Their footprints gradually spread, eventually covering the Primordial World and even reaching the shores of the East Sea.

Perhaps...

A dark glint flickered in Lu Tian's eyes.

Even though decades of past life memories were insignificant compared to ten thousand years of cultivation, there was still a blood connection.

In the past, he lacked the strength, but now, with the Western Teachings at his back, having secured a foundation for himself, why not...

A wisp of golden light condensed at his fingertips.

He was by no means a benevolent savior.

The calamity of the Demon Race slaughtering the Witches would arrive sooner or later. At that time, rivers of blood would flow, something he couldn't reverse.

Making a move now—

Was merely a move to seize the Human Race's destiny.

The Human Race's destiny was of paramount importance; even Sages needed its power. Otherwise, why would the Three Sects preach among the Human Race?

If that weren't the case, why would they go to such lengths to arrange the Journey to the West?

The Human Race was the key to the Sages' gambit!

It could even be said to be the foundation of the Sages' sects, a place that outsiders could never covet.