Han Xuanji's mind stirred slightly, but she did not resist.
A clear light screen materialized before him, and within it appeared the figure of the Heavenly Emperor, who was majestic and appeared to be middle-aged.
"Fellow Heavenly Dao."
The Heavenly Emperor's voice rang out, peaceful and direct, lacking the solemnity and grandeur of the High Heaven Hall, but possessing a greater sense of candor in the exchange of comrades.
"Fellow Heavenly Emperor."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly, his expression calm, showing no surprise at this contact.
He wasn't flustered, but the Heavenly Emperor might be genuinely worried.
According to the script envisioned by the Heavenly Emperor, if the Devil Ancestor were to come knocking on his door, he would simply fight him head-on and fake his death to escape.
In this way, he not only preserved his reputation, but also got the mess to clean up afterwards.
However, the Devil Ancestor was no benevolent being either.
"The border situation has been temporarily resolved. I thank Your Majesty's Emperor and fellow Daoists for their assistance."
Han Xuanji's voice was ethereal.
The Heavenly Emperor's light and shadow rippled slightly:
"Fellow Daoist, you must already know the true nature of those who have attacked this time."
" Lord of Greed, Gluttony."
Before Han Xuanji could speak, the Heavenly Emperor uttered the name, his tone tinged with helplessness:
" The Devil Ancestor is certainly willing to spend money to invite such an 'unpleasant guest'."
"An unpleasant guest may come to the door, but that doesn't necessarily mean everyone is of one mind."
Han Xuanji said calmly.
He still didn't believe that the Devil Ancestor and the Lord of Greed would cooperate honestly.
If it were that simple, the Immortal Realm would probably have perished long ago.
Then, Han Xuanji also asked:
"Fellow Daoist Heavenly Emperor, do you have a solution? Do the Dao Venerable of the Immortal Realm simply not care about the survival of the Immortal Realm?"
There weren't so many variables in the simulation, so he was curious about what the Heavenly Emperor's methods were.
The Heavenly Emperor sighed softly, and then said:
"Fellow Daoist, you are unaware of this."
Han Xuanji remained noncommittal, awaiting further developments.
The scene within the light screen began to shift, no longer confined to the Immortal Realm, but revealing an endless, Chaos, and blurry outline. Within it, starlight twinkled, each star representing a world or realm, large or small, but more than anything, there was deep, lightless darkness and chaotic vortexes.
" The Immortal Realm, situated within endless Chaos, is not a place of eternal peace."
The Heavenly Emperor's voice became low and deep.
"When the Immortal Ancestor created the world, his creation was boundless. He left behind such a foundation, which will surely bless future generations. However, it is like a child carrying gold, walking in a bustling city."
In the midst of Chaos, many coveted it.
" The Devil Ancestor, or the Lord of Greed, is merely one of them."
Although it has a fearsome reputation, it is not the oldest or most terrifying of them all.
The Heavenly Emperor's light and shadow pointed to several areas of absolute darkness deep within the Chaos, areas that seemed capable of swallowing even starlight.
"This forbidden zone was created by the Forbidden Lord of Darkness. Its very existence is a symbol of the primordial 'nothingness' and 'darkness.' It slumbers silently, but once it awakens, it is a harbinger of the end of an era. Wherever it passes, all paths fall silent, and light vanishes."
"There is also the ' Primordial Lord of Tribulation Chaos, ' which symbolizes the calamities of 'formation, existence, decay, and emptiness' in chaos. His very being is calamity, and his every move is disaster."
Its form is indescribable, and it moves with the tides of Chaos. Wherever it goes, the world's birth and death accelerate, cause and effect become disordered, calamities arise spontaneously, and it is impossible to guard against them.
When the Immortal Ancestor was alive, he had a brief confrontation with him, but could not claim victory.
Upon hearing this, Han Xuanji's eyes narrowed slightly.
These titles, even those he mentioned only briefly in the ancient traditions he received, were far less clear and weighty than the Heavenly Emperor's recitation at this moment.
"Furthermore, there are other Old Devil or strange beings from other Chaos, none of whom are benevolent."
The Heavenly Emperor continued, seemingly having finally found an outlet for his emotions:
"Although the Immortal Realm has given birth to Dao Venerable such as Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, Wuliang boundless Divine Ability, their respective Great Daos had already extended into the depths of Chaos. Their adversaries and entanglements were equally widespread throughout the myriad realms... and there was also my master, the Dao Ancestor of the Immortal Realm."
When the Dao Ancestor was mentioned, the Heavenly Emperor's image clearly revealed complex emotions.
"In order to transcend Chaos and verify the supreme Dao, Master has long since left this Chaos and gone to explore the deeper and more unknowable ' Primordial Sea '."
Before departing, he said that the calamities facing the Immortal Realm must be faced and resolved by us ourselves, which is also a form of cultivation.
"Unless it is a true matter of life and death, a desperate situation where the Great Dao is about to collapse, one should not easily call it back. Otherwise, all previous efforts will be in vain, and it may even attract the attention of unknown beings in the Primordial Sea, with unpredictable fortune or misfortune."
Han Xuanji suddenly realized.
No wonder the Dao Venerable were so elusive; it turned out they not only had to deal with opponents in the Chaos, but also, with the departure of the Dao Ancestor, they needed to shoulder even greater responsibilities, and their vision was no longer limited to a corner of the Immortal Realm.
The Heavenly Emperor, who sits in the Immortal Realm, actually bears considerable pressure. Moreover, the Immortal Realm was ultimately created by the Immortal Ancestor, and the Heavenly Emperor also has his own selfish motives, not wanting to spend his entire life in the Immortal Realm.
"Entrusted by my master, I have been stationed in the Immortal Realm, harmonizing Yin and Yang, and rectifying the Heavenly Dao, for countless eons."
The Heavenly Emperor's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible weariness and resolve.
"However, the Great Dao is boundless, and I too have my own desires. This calamity is perilous for the Immortal Realm, but for me... it may also be an opportunity to break free from constraints and pursue my own path."
At this point, the Heavenly Emperor also revealed his true feelings.
He looked at Han Xuanji:
"The survival of all beings in the Immortal Realm, and even the safety of the very origin of this world..."
The Heavenly Emperor gave Han Xuanji a deep look.
"I also need your help, fellow Daoist."
These words carried immense weight, essentially entrusting half of the Immortal Realm to Han Xuanji!
Why do you trust me so much, fellow Daoist?
Han Xuanji did not immediately agree, but instead asked,
"Aren't you afraid I'll escape to the immortal Immortal Realm and live a carefree life?"
"Moreover, I have only just entered the Wuji Realm, and I am already facing such a great demon. Fellow Daoist, you are giving me too much credit."
The Heavenly Emperor said meaningfully and calmly:
"I cannot see through you, fellow Daoist, nor can the Supreme Dao Venerable... The Devil Ancestor must also be wary of you, fellow Daoist, which is why he invited the Lord of Greed."
" The Dao Ancestor once said that a 'variable' would emerge in the future, affecting the Immortal Realm and even Chaos..."
The Heavenly Emperor paused slightly, then seemed to confirm his guess:
In my opinion, fellow Daoist is that variable.
Han Xuanji nodded and said no more.
The Heavenly Emperor had already made his intentions clear, and both sides understood each other without saying a word.
" The Lord of Greed and his subordinates, I will order the Heavenly Court to do its utmost to deal with and restrain his incarnations and minions."
If its true form were to forcibly descend...
"We will still need your help, fellow Daoist. When and how to make our move is up to you."
"Furthermore, Chaos is not only an enemy."
If there are other entities that act because of you, or because of the manifestation of calamity, whether they are friend or foe, you must discern for yourself.
This is both a calamity and fortuitous opportunity.
As soon as he finished speaking, the light screen dissipated, and the Heavenly Emperor's will had faded away.