The three-month period will arrive in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the sky was clear and the air was crisp, without a single cloud in the sky.
But from dawn onwards, the entire sky of the Xuanhuang Home Realm began to change.
In the east, a streak of azure sword light tore through the sky, its Sword Intent soaring to the heavens, clearing away the clouds for miles and revealing the deep starry sky behind it.
Amidst the sword light, a palace phantom formed from pure Sword Qi appeared and disappeared, its eaves like swords piercing the sky, radiating an unparalleled sharpness that could sever cause and effect and destroy all laws.
Sword Pavilion at Jiange.
In the south, a sea of crimson-gold flames suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Amidst the surging flames, a nine-headed phoenix, its body shimmering with seven-colored flames, stretched its neck and cried out, pulling a magnificent phoenix carriage carved entirely from ten-thousand-year-old fire jade, which slowly rose from the sea of fire.
Behind the phoenix carriage was an endless expanse of crimson-gold radiance, within which countless phantom phoenixes could be faintly seen soaring, scattering a rain of fire that illuminated half the sky with dazzling brilliance.
Phoenix Helm, arrive.
In the west, a gray fog blanketed the land, shrouded in deathly silence. This fog was no ordinary cloud; it was formed from countless tiny, decaying, grayish-white particles. Wherever it passed, light dimmed and life froze.
Amidst the gray mist, a throne built of white bones slowly emerged. Seated upon the throne was a gaunt figure, holding a dark yellow bamboo scroll, with the Daoist aura of reincarnation flowing around him, as if he were the lord of the underworld who had walked from the depths of the Nine Nethers.
Arriving at the Yellow Springs Netherworld and the Underworld.
In the north, ice froze and a cold wave swept across the land. Three phantom dragons of different colors rose from the depths of the North Sea and hovered in the sky.
The blue ones are like the blazing sun, the red ones are like lava, and the deep blue ones are like ancient ice.
The three dragon mights intertwined, transforming into a dragon domain covering tens of thousands of miles, where ten thousand dragons roared, their scales and claws flying, suppressing all directions.
The Four Seas Dragon Clan have arrived.
True Lord from various factions, including the Hao Ran Holy Land, the Hegemon Sect, the Heavenly Secrets Sect, and the Nine Kings Mountain, appeared one after another.
The arrival of each True Lord is accompanied by extraordinary phenomena that change the world.
Their auras intertwined, transforming into a vast ocean of Daoist energy that covered the entire Central Land.
Ordinary cultivators, let alone getting close, would feel their minds shake and their Dao Foundation unstable just from a glimpse of it.
However, all the strange phenomena, upon touching the faint chaotic color above the Wuji Sacred Sect, were like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, silently merging into it and becoming one.
That was a protective array set up by Qi Yun using the [ Primordial Unity ] Dao.
All laws converge, and all paths submit.
Great Void Hall, the True Lord from all sides took their seats in order.
The palace is majestic, with a high dome, and seventy-two black iron dragon pillars support the vast space.
On the pillars, the coiled dragons seemed to come alive, their eyes gleaming as they gazed upon each True Lord in the hall.
Dozens of True Lord and dozens of Great Daos have formed a delicate and fragile balance in this ancient and ancient Demonic Path Palace.
No one spoke.
Everyone is waiting.
Waiting for the convener.
"Despair."
A soft footstep came from outside the hall.
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every True Lord, as if stepping on their heartbeats.
The sound contained an indescribable rhythm, resonating subtly with the entire Great Void Hall, the entire Wuji Sacred Sect, and this world.
All eyes turned to the palace gate.
Qi Yun's figure appeared there.
He was still wearing a dark blue Daoist robe, his black hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, his face was calm, and his eyes were sparkling.
Compared to a few months ago, his aura was more restrained and profound, like a bottomless pool, making it impossible for people to see through his depths.
But the moment he appeared, the auras of the dozens of True Lord in the hall involuntarily subsided slightly, as if subjects had met their king.
That was not deliberate suppression, but a natural, superior perspective derived from the Dao Position.
Qi Yun strode into the hall. Each step he took was on a mysterious rhythm.
Qi Yun walked to the cloud throne, flicked his sleeve, and sat down.
"Fellow Daoists, you have come from afar. I, Qi, have failed to greet you properly." He said calmly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of every True Lord.
Everyone in the hall returned the greeting with clasped hands, saying, "We dare not accept that."
Qi Yun nodded slightly, said nothing more, and simply raised his hand and waved it gently.
"Buzz-"
A chaotic, colorful aura flowed from his palm, condensing in the center of the Great Void Hall into a constantly shifting scroll of light and shadow.
Within the scroll is the phantom of a divine tree reaching to the heavens. The tree is rooted in the boundless earth, its branches extending into the endless void, each leaf a realm of its own, each fruit a world unto itself.
The hall fell silent. Everyone's attention was drawn to the scroll.
"This is—" True Lord Qingyuan's eyes narrowed.
" Xuanhuang," Qi Yun said calmly.
He didn't explain further, but simply looked quietly at the people in the hall, observing the shock, contemplation, and doubt in their eyes.
He knew that some of these people had already guessed what was going on, while others were completely unaware.
But that's okay. He called them here not to tell them the truth, but to show them what he wanted them to see.
" The Great Tide of Time is approaching." Qi Yun's voice echoed in the hall. "At that time, the Xuanhuang barrier will weaken, and external enemies will be able to take advantage of the situation."
Qi has summoned you all to discuss this matter.
Silence fell over the hall. For most of the True Lord present, the term " Great Tide of Time " was merely a vague concept that had only recently come to be known.
But now, hearing it from Qi Yun's mouth, it carries a completely different weight.
" Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan," True Lord Qingyuan slowly spoke, "I have some knowledge of the Great Tide of Time."
But where do these external enemies come from?
Qi Yun glanced at him but did not answer immediately.
His gaze swept over everyone in the hall, lingering on each person's face for a moment. Then, he raised his hand and gently touched the scroll depicting the Xuanhuang Treasure Tree.
In the scroll, the enormous golden fruit suddenly shone brightly.
On the surface of the fruit, countless fine Sanskrit runes flow, faintly emanating the sound of grand and solemn chanting.
"Fellow Daoists, please take a look," Qi Yun said calmly, "This object has hung above Xuanhuang's head for eternity."
All eyes in the hall were fixed on the golden fruit.
They saw the enormous size of the fruit, its desperate attempt to devour the purple qi aura, and the branch bent under its weight.
But they didn't know what that meant.
Qi Yun didn't explain. He just let them see.
Some things don't need to be explained too clearly.
That's enough that I can see it.
"What does Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan mean—" Sage Wang True Lord frowned slightly, "That during the Great Tide of Time, this thing will be detrimental to my Xuanhuang?"
"Fellow Daoists, you only need to know that when the Great Tide of Time arrives, Xuanhuang will be in grave danger," he said calmly. "And I, Qi, already have a plan to deal with it."
Silence fell once more in the hall. All eyes were on Qi Yun, awaiting his next words.
But Qi Yun didn't continue.
He simply picked up the teacup beside him, took a small sip, and let the silence in the hall spread.
Stopping at the right time is more powerful than continuing.
Let them think for themselves, guess for themselves, and draw their own conclusions.
Only then will they truly believe and truly commit.
"Since Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan already has a plan, could you please explain it to me?" the black-robed elder couldn't help but ask.
Qi Yun put down his teacup and looked at him.
"I need you all, fellow Daoists, to each guard your respective places when the Great Tide of Time arrives," he said slowly. "At that time, someone will tell you what to do."
"Tell me?" The old man in black robes frowned. "Who will tell me?"
Qi Yun raised his eyes and looked at the vast sky outside the hall.
There, the clouds churned, the sky was dimly lit, and nothing could be seen clearly.
But the old man in black robes followed his gaze and seemed to see something.
His pupils contracted slightly, and he did not ask any further questions.
The other True Lord inside the hall also noticed Qi Yun's gaze and looked out of the hall. There was nothing there, only a sky shrouded in chaotic colors.
But Qi Yun's attitude has already said it all.
There are some things I can't say right now. It's not that I don't want to say them, but that I can't.
"In that case—" True Lord Qingyuan slowly began, "This humble Daoist will await good news from Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan."
Qi Yun nodded slightly.
Thank you, fellow Daoist.
The conference lasted for three full days.
Within three days, the various True Lord expressed their opinions and discussed strategies for dealing with the coming Great Tide of Time time.
Qi Yun mostly listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two to guide the direction of the discussion.
He never says too much, but every word he utters is just right, neither revealing his true intentions nor misleading others into thinking in the direction he desires.
Three days later, the meeting ended.
The True Lord from all sides departed one after another, and the Great Void Hall returned to silence.
Qi Yun sat alone on the cloud throne, his eyes sparkling with a captivating light, lost in thought.
"Qi boy," Cai Shen's voice came from the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, "Why didn't you explain yourself clearly just now?"
Those matters concerning the Dao King, the World-Honored One, and His Majesty—"
"What good would it do to tell them?" Qi Yun said calmly. "What can they do?"
Cai Kun was taken aback.
"If we tell them that the World-Honored One is the Dao King, would they dare to attack World-Honored One?"
"Tell them about His Majesty's fallen prime minister, will they be able to avenge him?" Qi Yun's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling indifference that seemed to see through everything.
"Cannot.
They will only panic, only retreat, and only act independently.
"Then why did you call them over?"
"I summoned them not to tell them about Wu Xiang," Qi Yun stood up, walked to the entrance of the Great Void Hall, and looked at the gradually darkening sky in the distance, "But to let them know that Kang is doing something."
Let them know that although the Great Tide of Time have come, the Xuanhuang is not without its masters.
He paused, a slight glint of light appearing in his eyes.
"As for the rest—they will find out when the time is right."
Cai Shen remained silent.
He suddenly realized that Qi Yun had convened this conference not for "discussion" at all, but for a declaration.
It asserts his sovereignty over the Xuanhuang and his ability to withstand the Great Tide of Time.
As for those Wu Jun, no matter what they were thinking, the moment they left the Great Void Hall, they had all become pawns in this game of chess.
They were unaware of this themselves.
But Qi Yun had already chosen the positions for them.
Looking at the indifferent, upright figure before him, Cai Shen's eyes flickered slightly.
Is this the difference between a chess player and a chess piece?
After a moment of silence, Cai Shen continued, "So, what are you planning to do next?"
"Wait," he said calmly.
"Wait for what number?"
"Wait for Kang to come find me."
Cai Kun was taken aback and wanted to ask more, but Qi Yun had already turned around and walked back to the withered tree.
The courtyard returned to silence. Only the Xuanhuang of the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron and the deep blue figure under the withered tree formed a silent picture.
Beyond this painting, the entire Xuanhuang Home Realm was in turmoil because of this Daoist conference.
Some were overjoyed, some were worried, some were disdainful, and some were hopeful.
But everyone knew that from this moment on, Xuanhuang's fate was inextricably linked with that Primordial Unity Wujun.
Several days later, a streak of light, the color of a sword, descended from the sky and landed in front of the Green Mountain Daoist Temple.
Qingyuan asked Wu Jun.
Qi Yun was already waiting in the courtyard. Under the withered tree, there was a stone table and two cups of tea.
"Fellow Daoist, please." Qi Yun gestured with his hand.
Lord Qingyuan Wu did not refuse and sat down with a flick of his sleeve.
" Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan seemed to have held back some of what he said that day."
Qi Yun picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and asked, "What makes you say that, fellow Daoist?"
"Intuition," Lord Qingyuan Wu said calmly, "I have cultivated for a thousand years, so I still have this much insight."
Qi Yun put down his teacup and looked at him.
What does fellow Daoist wish to say?
Lord Qingyuan Wu remained silent for a moment.
"My knowledge of the Great Tide of Time is limited."
"But since Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan already has a solution, I will not press further." He paused, lowering his voice slightly, "I only want to know one thing."
"Speaking."
"What number did Primordial Unity Daoist Hunyuan point out to that black-robed fellow Daoist that day?"
"Fellow Daoist, you don't need to know." He withdrew his gaze and looked at Lord Qingyuan Wu. "You only need to know what the Sword Pavilion should do when the Great Tide of Time arrives."
Lord Qingyuan Wu fell silent. He looked into Qi Yun's deep eyes, trying to discern something from them. But all he saw was a bottomless darkness.
"What should Sword Pavilion do?" he asked.
Qi Yun smiled slightly.
"Guard the principles of Xuanhuang."
The word "Four Bows" means "flame" is light but as heavy as a thousand stones.
True Lord Qingyuan remained silent for a long time before finally nodding.
"I understand."
He stood up, bowed to Qi Yun, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.
Qi Yun sat alone under the withered tree, gazing in the direction where Lord Qingyuan Wu had disappeared, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Qi boy," Cai Shen's voice came from the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron, "Why didn't you tell him?"
"Tell him what number?"
Tell him to be careful—that guy.
Qi Yun slowly closed his eyes, and his aura gradually subsided.
Some things don't need to be said.
Saying it will only make things worse.
"It'll be soon," Qi Yun murmured to himself.
The maidservant's quarters returned to silence.
Only the Xuanhuang of the Mountains and Rivers Cauldron and the deep blue figure under the withered tree formed a silent picture.
But beyond this painting...
This ancient game of chess is gradually coming to an end.