Traitor!

At midnight, the moon was hidden and the stars had faded.

The Green Mountain Daoist Temple was shrouded in a thick, almost solidified darkness.

Only the Xuanhuang emanating from the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, like a solitary lamp, barely illuminated the small area of the courtyard.

The light shone on the bare branches, casting crisscrossing shadows on the ground like an impenetrable net.

Qi Yun then sat in the center of the net.

His eyes were slightly closed, his breath was long and even, and he seemed to have become one with the world around him.

To the naked eye, it would be almost impossible to distinguish his figure from the shadow of the withered tree.

He has been sitting in this position for three days.

Since his conversation with Cai Kun that day, he has not uttered a single word, nor has he changed his posture in the slightest.

Only the Primordial Unity energy flowing throughout his body expanded and contracted at an extremely slow and subtle frequency.

Within the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, Cai Kun's spiritual fluctuations also tended to stabilize.

These days, he has been staying by his fourteenth brother's side, nurturing his spirituality with the aura of the same-origin Imperial Weapon. Although he is tired, he is happy to do so.

Qi Yun could sense the two intertwined auras within the cauldron, one deep and steady, the other lively and agile, resonating and nourishing each other at a slow yet firm pace.

"In another year or two, the spirituality of the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron will be mostly restored," he silently calculated in his heart. "By then, it should be able to remember some things."

As for what he can remember, and how much he can remember, that remains to be seen.

The seal of over a hundred True Lord not only sealed its movements but also its memories.

Those deliberately sealed-away past events, those secrets that may concern the Dao King, the Xuanhuang, and the truth of this eternal game of chess, are all buried deep within its spiritual essence, like reefs sunk to the bottom of the sea, difficult to retrieve easily.

It can't be rushed.

Qi Yun is very patient.

His journey from a lowly servant disciple in the Outer Mansion to the supreme True Lord who now wields Primordial Unity has never relied on momentary impulses, but rather on meticulous planning and patiently waiting for the right opportunity.

Just as his thoughts were turning -

"Buzz."

A very slight, almost imperceptible tremor emanated from the ancient-looking token at his waist.

Qi Yun suddenly opened his eyes.

A flash of light appeared in his eyes, as fleeting as lightning in the dark night, so fast that even the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, which was right next to him, could not catch it.

He looked down at his waist.

The token given to True Lord Contemplating the One was currently emitting an extremely faint, almost imperceptible, chaotic light.

The light flickered uncertainly, like a candle in the wind, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

But this is not a message.

Rather, it's a warning.

Qi Yun's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Besides sensing the location of Long Ages Immortal Island and receiving messages from True Lord Contemplating the One, this token also has a function he has never used before - a warning.

True Lord Contemplating the One once said, if he senses any "abnormal" Dao King -level fluctuations near the Xuanhuang Home Realm, he will use this command to issue a warning.

The token is now lit up.

What does this mean?

Qi Yun's gaze deepened.

Instead of immediately activating the token to investigate the details, he slowly closed his eyes and sank his mind into the depths of his Purple Mansion.

The [Hunyuan Great Luo] Dao is operating at full power.

In an instant, his perception was infinitely elevated and extended, penetrating the restrictions of the Green Mountain Daoist Temple, penetrating the great formation of the Wuji Sacred Sect, penetrating the rolling demonic clouds above the Central Land Plains, penetrating the thick and ancient boundary wall of the Xuanhuang Home Realm, and probing straight into the vast and boundless outer void.

He "saw" it.

Near the ruins of the True Lord Stele Forest, which he had recently visited, in the shattered void that had been ravaged by the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and the Hetu Luoshu Grand Formation and had not yet fully healed, an extremely vague and obscure aura, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea, slowly swam.

The aura was not strong; in fact, it was pitifully weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

But its essence----

Qi Yun's pupils contracted slightly.

That was the aura of Dao King.

No, that's not right.

It is not a complete Dao King, nor a terrifying existence like the World-Honored One, whose power is still as oppressive as a prison even though he is blocked, nor a former Dao King like the True Lord Contemplating the One, whose foundation remains even though he has severed his cultivation.

Instead, it was a wisp of regret.

A wisp of the Dao King's lingering will, severed, abandoned, and sealed for countless years.

It did not know why it awoke, why it wandered here, or why it was sensed by the token of the True Lord Contemplating the One.

But it is indeed there.

Like a forgotten corpse floating in the void, drifting silently, aimlessly, and without purpose.

Qi Yun quietly "watched" that lingering thought, his eyes sparkling with color, as he fully deduced the [Primordial Unity] Dao.

A moment later, he slowly withdrew his senses and opened his eyes.

"Interesting," he murmured to himself, his voice unusually clear in the quiet courtyard.

The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron trembled slightly, and Cai Kun's spiritual energy emanated from it, tinged with confusion. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Qi Yun said calmly. "Someone... gave us a big gift."

"A grand gift?" Cai Shen's voice became more clear-headed. "What grand gift?"

Qi Yun did not answer.

He simply stood up slowly, brushed the hem of his robe, walked to the center of the courtyard, and looked up at the sky obscured by thick clouds.

Deep within the clouds, faint starlight peeked through, as weak as a flickering candle, struggling to illuminate something but powerless to do so.

"Senior Cai," he suddenly spoke.

"Yes, I'm here," Cai Kun replied quickly.

"Tell me, what would happen if the lingering spirit of a Dao King who has been dead for countless millennia drifted near Xuanhuang?"

Cai Shen was stunned for a moment, then gasped. "The remnant of the Dao King? That thing—that thing is a huge problem!"

How so?

"Though the Dao King is dead, his Dao still lives on!" Cai Shen's voice became urgent. "His lingering spirit may seem weak, but in fact it carries the imprint of the Great Dao cultivated by a Dao Lord throughout his life!"

If it were to fall into the hands of a True Lord, and through study and comprehension, he might be able to glimpse the threshold of the Dao King!

If it falls into the hands of those lurking in the shadows—"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was crystal clear.

Qi Yun nodded, his expression remaining calm.

"So, this is bait," he said calmly. "A bait placed at the entrance to Xuanhuang."

"Bait?" Cai Shen was taken aback. "You mean—someone deliberately lured it here?"

"Otherwise?" Qi Yun retorted, "The void near Xuanhuang is vast and boundless. It didn't appear earlier or later, but it just happened to appear at the very moment when the True Lord Stele Forest was destroyed, the Lord of the Ancient Coffin fell, and the Demon Master Kunpeng appeared."

Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?

Cai Shen remained silent.

After a moment, he said in a hoarse voice, "Then... who put it there?"

"I don't know." Qi Yun shook his head. "It could be the World-Honored One, it could be the Demon Master Kunpeng, or it could be some other being that is even more deeply hidden."

But no matter who it is, their goal is the same.

"Lure me out of the cave."

After those four words were uttered, the courtyard fell into a deathly silence.

The Xuanhuang of the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron seemed to dim slightly, and the movement of the nine divine dragons slowed down, as if even they sensed the murderous intent hidden beneath the calm words.

"Then... then what do you plan to do?" Cai Shen's voice was a little tense.

Qi Yun did not answer immediately.

He stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the courtyard, looking up at the sky obscured by thick clouds, his eyes sparkling with a knowing light, lost in thought.

a long time.

"Since it's bait, it means someone wants me to take it."

"Then I'll take a bite."

"Look at this hook, is it poison, or... honey?"

Upon hearing this, Cai Shen hurriedly said, "You know it's a trap, yet you still go? What if—"

"What if what?" Qi Yun interrupted him, his voice calm, "What if we can't win? We can just run."

Cai Shen was speechless for a moment.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but realized that with Qi Yun's current cultivation level and methods, this was no exaggeration.

Once the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation is deployed, even the remnant spirit of the Dao King must avoid its sharp edge.

Even if they are truly outmatched, with the profound mysteries of the Dao of Primordial Unity, escaping is not difficult.

"Besides," Qi Yun's voice deepened, "The appearance of this lingering will at this time may not be entirely a bad thing."

"A bad thing? How could it be a good thing?" Cai Shen asked, puzzled.

"The remnant of the Dao King carries the imprint of his entire life's Dao," Qi Yun slowly. "If I can refine it and use the Dao of Primordial Unity to govern and absorb it, my understanding of the Dao King realm will deepen further."

"At that time, even if the World-Honored One Honored One himself descends, he might still have a fighting chance."

Upon hearing this, Cai Kun fell completely silent.

He suddenly understood why Qi Yun, knowing it was a trap, still went.

Because this is a completely open and aboveboard strategy.

The Dao King is sad!

This is an almost irresistible temptation for True Lord, especially for Great Perfection True Lord like Qi Yun!

Qi Yun never misses any opportunity to become stronger.

"I'll go with you." Cai Shen stopped trying to dissuade him, his voice becoming firm.

"No need." Qi Yun shook his head. "The spirit of the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron has not yet recovered; it needs you to stay by its side and nurture it."

Moreover----"

He paused, his gaze becoming deep and unfathomable. "Having you around would only distract me."

Cai Kun opened his mouth, but ultimately did not refute it.

He knew Qi Yun was telling the truth.

With his current abilities, facing a clash at the level of Dao King's remnant spirit, he would not only be of no help, but might even become a burden.

"Then be careful," he said in a muffled voice.

"Don't worry," Qi Yun smiled faintly, "I haven't lived enough yet."

Having said that, he said no more. With a slight sway, he transformed into a faint, chaotic Flowing Light, silently piercing through the restrictions of the Green Mountain Daoist Temple and disappearing into the vast night.

The courtyard returned to silence.

The Xuanhuang on the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron flickered erratically, and the nine divine dragons stopped swimming, their eyes gleaming as if they were watching something go.

Cai Shen's spiritual energy emanated from within, carrying a mixture of worry and trust. "Fourteenth Brother, do you think—will he return safely?"

The Mountains and Rivers Cauldron remained silent for a moment.

In the Vast Divine Land Mountains and Rivers Altar Map " at the bottom of the cauldron, the main gate of the majestic city slowly closes, the people disperse, and the long street is deserted.

Only a single flag atop the city wall fluttered in the wind, pointing into the distance.

It seemed to be an answer, yet also a blessing.

The outer void.

Qi Yun's figure was like an invisible ghost, moving among the shattered stars and floating remnants of the world.

He didn't push himself to the limit, but kept his speed at a moderate pace, moving silently while remaining constantly alert.

The aura of that lingering remnant of the Dao King became increasingly clear in his perception.

It was right ahead, at the edge of that shattered void ravaged by the Immortal Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and the Hetu Luoshu Grand Formation, floating weakly and aimlessly like a stranded giant whale.

Qi Yun slowed down, concealing his aura to the extreme.

His figure became blurred, as if he had merged into the void itself, without even the slightest fluctuation of Spiritual Qi leaking out.

The [Primordial Unity] Way governs all laws and naturally excels at concealment.

He approached that lingering remnant of hope silently, like a fallen withered leaf.

It's getting closer.

Closer now.

Finally, less than a thousand miles from that lingering remnant, Qi Yun stopped.

He hovered in the void, his gaze piercing through layers of spatial folds, landing on that wisp of lingering will.

It was an extremely faint, almost imperceptible grayish-white halo, about the size of a fist, drifting slowly in the void. Within the halo, countless fragmented images could be vaguely seen flashing by—majestic palaces, vast star rivers, warring cavalry, and fallen gods.

The images flashed by so fast that even Qi Yun couldn't capture a single complete fragment.

But he could sense the Daoist essence contained within that halo.

That was a path completely different from his own.

Domineering, sharp, and self-centered, like an emperor reigning over the world, looking down upon all living beings.

Yet it also carried a hint of resentment.

A trace of resentment, forcibly ended, forever frozen in a certain moment.

Qi Yun quietly "watched" this lingering thought, his eyes sparkling with color, as he fully deduced the [Primordial Unity] Dao.

After a moment, he slowly frowned.

The state of this lingering resentment was worse than he had anticipated.

It was not merely severed or abandoned, but rather, its existence was "erased" from its very source by some more powerful and domineering force.

It remembers its past power and glory, but it has forgotten who it is, where it came from, and where it is going.

It was merely a lingering, unwilling-to-dissipate obsession, drifting aimlessly in the void, searching for a home that no longer existed.

"Pitiful," Qi Yun murmured to himself, but his eyes showed no pity whatsoever.

The path of spiritual practice has always been the same.

The victor is king, the loser is villain; life and death are determined by fate.

The owner of this lingering remnant must have once been a supreme being who dominated the heavens and ruled the world.

But now, he is nothing more than a dissipating obsession abandoned in the void, having even forgotten his own name.

Qi Yun withdrew his gaze and began to deduce the scenario in his mind.

How should we deal with this lingering regret?

Direct refining?

Given the domineering nature of the Dao of Primordial Unity, it might be possible to achieve this, but are there any hidden tricks involved?

Should we take the seal away? Or bring it back to Xuanhuang for slow research?

The risk is too great. Who knows what traps are hidden behind this lingering regret?

Or perhaps----

Just as his mind raced—

"Buzz."

That lingering regret, which had been floating silently, trembled slightly without warning.

Immediately afterwards, it shot towards Qi Yun's location at an incredible speed!

Qi Yun's gaze sharpened, but he did not retreat.

As that lingering resentment flew towards him, an extremely faint, indistinct yet clearly discernible thought, like a whisper that had traversed countless ages, entered the depths of his mind: "You—you—have his aura—on you—"

"Participate--

"That traitor..."