Zhen Yuanzi Arrives; the So-Called Four Remnant Starfield

Laozi stood in the center, clad in a Taiji Daoist Robe. His features were ancient and unadorned, his expression as still as an ancient well. His eyes seemed to contain the Great Dao of heaven and earth, neither sorrowful nor joyful, bearing only a faint, understated majesty.

Yuanshi stood to the left, wearing a Nine Heavens Crown. His handsome face carried an inborn air of arrogance between his brows, and his gaze was sharp as a sword. The look he gave Moon-Malefic Star Lord was filled with disgust and disdain.

Tongtian stood to the right, dressed in an Upper Pure Immortal Robe. His bearing was valiant, his eyes blazing, and he hated evil as though it were his sworn enemy.

As it turned out, the three brothers had happened to be traveling through the Primordial World. Passing through this place, they sensed an eruption of evil Demonic Qi and detected Lingxiao's Solar Origin aura, so they immediately rushed over.

Leaving aside how evil paths harmed others for their own gain and ravaged all living beings, making them the common enemy of every race in the Primordial World, to be slain by all who encountered them—

During the War of Dao and Demons, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had personally quelled the demonic chaos. The three had attended his teachings in Violet Firmament Palace and thus had the substance of a master-disciple connection with him. They had long been irreconcilable with such evil paths.

What was more, Lingxiao had likewise been born from Pangu's legacy. Since they shared the same origin and had no conflict of interests, there was even some good karma between them.

How could they possibly stand by and watch him die?

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoists." After some thought, Lingxiao put away the Chaos Bell he had been holding at the ready.

Boom!

The Three Pure Ones were bound by one breath and connected branch to branch. Their three streams of Great Firmament mana fused into one and poured wholly into the Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda.

The pagoda swelled against the wind, transforming into a towering ten-thousand-zhang structure. Mystic yellow merit golden light flowed across its nine levels, and countless streams of Mystic Yellow Mother Qi fell from it, enveloping Lingxiao as well.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Moon-Malefic Star Lord's attacks came one after another.

The surging river of blood slammed against the pagoda, producing deafening explosions. One hundred and eight thousand Demonic Thought Puppets howled as they pounced, their claws and fangs madly tearing at the mystic yellow barrier.

The pagoda trembled slightly beneath the assault. Its merit golden light and Mystic Yellow Mother Qi churned unceasingly, while the entire ten-thousand-zhang tower was even slowly forced backward by the scouring blood river.

A Primordial Golden Immortal—even a severely wounded Primordial Golden Immortal—still stood separated from Great Firmament Golden Immortals by a chasm as vast as heaven and earth.

Had the Three Pure Ones not been united in heart, their mana fused together, and had they not possessed such a defensive Supreme Treasure as the Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, any other Great Firmament Golden Immortals would have been no match for the wounded Moon-Malefic Star Lord, even if they joined forces.

They might even have followed in the footsteps of those Innate Sacred Beings he had once hunted down and devoured, becoming Demonic Thought Puppets themselves!

"Damn it!"

Moon-Malefic Star Lord's face darkened until it seemed water could drip from it. His triangular eyes brimmed with venom and fury.

He had been on the verge of success. As long as he devoured Lingxiao's one-of-a-kind Great Sun Golden Crow origin, he could turn extreme yin into yang, transform extreme yang into yin, complete the Yin-Yang Dao, and break through his cultivation bottleneck.

Yet three meddlesome fools had appeared out of nowhere!

How could he not be enraged?

But after his fury subsided, a measure of wariness arose in his heart.

In the current situation, not only was shattering the Three Pure Ones' defenses and abducting Lingxiao no longer realistic, but even if he truly could accomplish it, it would hardly be done in a moment.

Moreover, evil paths were the enemy of all beings, and he was severely wounded. If ancient mighty figures such as Patriarch Candle Dragon or Patriarch Fire Phoenix arrived, would he not be in danger?

"Fellow Daoists, I have arrived!"

At that moment, from Mount Longevity at the edge of the Western Lands, an earthen-yellow immortal light shot into the sky. Carrying an incomparably heavy Wu Earth aura, it reached the battlefield in an instant.

The newcomer wore a Carefree Crane Cloak, a Purple-Gold Lotus Crown, and held a Whisk in his hand. It was none other than Zhen Yuanzi.

"Earth Book, arise!"

Without another word, Zhen Yuanzi raised his hand and unleashed his companion spiritual treasure, the Earth Book.

Hum!

The Earth Book transformed into an ancient jade tome and hung before the Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. Its pages slowly unfolded, and boundless Wuji Earth Divine Light descended, becoming thirty-three layers of thick-earth barriers that fused with the mystic yellow barrier, protecting them all as tightly as an iron wall.

The Earth Book was one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Formed from the fetal membrane of the Primordial Lands, it was a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

As long as one stood upon the earth, one could draw upon the power of the myriad Earth Veins of the Primordial World to bolster oneself. In terms of defense, it was no weaker than the Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda or the Chaos Bell.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Black Moon Netherfire and the bloody river unleashed by the Yin Demon Skull struck the double barrier without pause.

Though the Earth Book was also pushed back slightly, the instant it touched the Heaven-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, the two treasures most adept at defense braced against each other and became utterly immovable.

Mystic Yellow Mother Qi and Wuji Earth Divine Light intertwined, forming an indestructible barrier. No matter how Moon-Malefic Star Lord activated his divine abilities, he could not shake it in the slightest.

"Hmph!"

At this sight, the last trace of greed in Moon-Malefic Star Lord's heart was forcibly suppressed.

He knew there would be no opportunity today. With a cold snort, he did not utter a single threat. He decisively swept up the Yin Demon Skull, transformed into a streak of black light, and fled toward the depths of the Primordial Starry Sky, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

"The powerful enemy has retreated. Many thanks to you all, Fellow Daoists, for acting righteously." Lingxiao stepped out of the barrier and gave the Three Pure Ones and Zhen Yuanzi a deep bow, his tone sincere.

"Hahaha, it was merely a small effort. Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, there is no need for courtesy!" Tongtian stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his bright voice echoing through the mountains and wilderness. Then he furrowed his brow in puzzlement.

"Still, now that you mention it, the War of Dao and Demons ended long ago. The remaining demons have long vanished without a trace, hiding in the shadows and not daring to show themselves. Yet this fiend dared to ambush you in broad daylight. His nerve is rather too great, is it not?"

At these words, not only Tongtian but also Laozi, Yuanshi, and Zhen Yuanzi frowned slightly in surprise.

How long had it even been since Dao Ancestor Hongjun became a sage?

Not long ago, that vast Heavenly Dao sage might had swept across the entire Primordial World. Had this demon grown tired of living, or lost his mind, to dare be so wildly arrogant?

Was he not afraid that Violet Firmament Divine Thunder would descend upon his head at any moment, and that a Heavenly Dao Sage would personally settle his evil karma with him?

"This is Moon-Malefic Star Lord of the Four Remnant Starfield." Lingxiao sighed softly and began to explain.

As soon as he said this, everyone's expression changed slightly.

"The Four Remnant Starfield?" Zhen Yuanzi paused in the motion of stroking his beard, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes.

Innate Sacred Beings were born with knowledge. Aside from hidden secrets that severed karma and obscured heavenly secrets, they knew the general outline of all other matters, even if they had not yet taken form at the time.

The Four Remnant Starfield, also called the Four Remnant Outer Enclosure and Hidden Luminary Demon Heaven, was an independent starfield at the outermost edge of the Primordial Starry Sky. It revolved around the primary stars of the heavens. Its origin came from the residual Five Elements Qi left behind when Pangu opened heaven, and from the moment of its birth, it had been divided by innate Sha Qi into the two poles of good and evil. It was the earliest source of the conflict between righteousness and evil in the Primordial World.

"Correct. It is that Four Remnant Starfield of Devil Ancestor Rahu and Demon Venerable Jidu."

Lingxiao nodded. "Rahu was originally the reincarnation of the True Spirit of one of the Great Dao Demon Gods. He first became the first-generation Star Lord of Rahu Star, accumulated strength in the starry sky through countless Yuanhui, and only entered the Primordial World to make his arrangements when the time was ripe. In the end, he forged the title of Devil Ancestor."

"During the Dragon-Han Calamity, the balance of the Four Remnant Stars was indeed that the Dao faded while demons flourished." The usually taciturn Laozi spoke slowly, his gaze seeming to pass through the Thirty-Three Heavens and fall upon the edge of the Primordial Starry Sky.

"Fortunately, the Dao Ancestor ended the War of Dao and Demons, and the situation has now been reversed." Lingxiao smiled faintly and continued.

"Back then, the Four Remnant Starfield produced four Great Supernatural Beings:

"The first was Ziqi Yuanjun, who governed auspicious karma. He was the only righteous one among the Four Remnants. From the moment of his birth, he had drawn a clear line between himself and the other three luminaries. He had long guarded the Southern Starfield, keeping the evil demons in check.

"The second was Rahu.

"The third was Jidu, Rahu's fated shadow. Rahu created him by fusing the reflection of his own demonic thoughts with Saturn's residual qi. They were two sides of one body, sharing glory and loss alike, and he would never betray Rahu.

"The fourth was this Moon-Malefic Star Lord, who governed punishments, calamities, curses, and puppet control. By nature, he was treacherous, vicious, and ruthless."

"Other than Ziqi Yuanjun, none of the other three were good people."

"It is only that after Rahu self-destructed and established the Outer Heavenly Demon Realm, the Star Lord positions of Rahu Star and Jidu Star were left vacant. I fear it will take countless Yuanhui before new Star Lords take their places."

Yuanshi frowned slightly and snorted coldly. "So he is a remnant of Rahu's Demon Cult. No wonder he is so fierce and savage. He escaped today, but if we encounter him again, we shall pull up the weeds and dig out the roots!"

As Pangu Orthodox Lineage formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, Yuanshi had never lacked confidence.

His cultivation might be inferior to Moon-Malefic Star Lord's today, but one day he would surpass him from behind!

Zhen Yuanzi also sighed. "I only knew that the Devil Ancestor came from the starry sky back then. I did not know there was such a history behind it. It seems that the heaven and earth of the Primordial World have never truly known peace."

Afterward, they exchanged a few more pleasantries.

The Three Pure Ones then explained that they had descended the mountain to travel through the Primordial World, taking heaven and earth as their teachers and comprehending the natural Great Dao. With less than one Yuanhui remaining until Dao Ancestor Hongjun's second sermon, they could not linger long and would continue onward.

"Fellow Daoists, we shall meet again at Violet Firmament Palace!" Tongtian clasped his hands toward Lingxiao and Zhen Yuanzi, then transformed with Laozi and Yuanshi into three streams of clear qi that vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.

Lingxiao watched the Three Pure Ones depart, seeming to think of something. He hesitated as though he wished to speak, but in the end merely sighed softly.

Thinking that they would reunite at Violet Firmament Palace in just a little over a hundred thousand years, he did not pursue them.

After the Three Pure Ones departed, Zhen Yuanzi smiled at Lingxiao. "Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, it is rare for you to visit the Western Lands. Why not come with me to Five Villages Temple for a brief rest and a cup of clear tea?"

"It is precisely what I wished for, though I did not dare ask." Lingxiao nodded with a smile.