Within Mount Sumeru's Secret Realm, the lingering ripples of Dao resonance had yet to completely subside. Fine arcs of interwoven laws still crackled through the air, accompanied by the faint, indistinct hymns of the Great Dao.
Ming Xin's Three Bodies had returned as one. His main body's aura was as deep as the sea, and his Dao Cultivation at the Late Golden Immortal of the Origin realm was incomparably stable.
With the accumulated insights of his Past Self's Mortal World Reincarnation and his Future Self's ability to deduce Fate, his strength had already far surpassed others of the same realm. He could even give some veteran Late Golden Immortals of the Origin a headache.
The system silently operated within the depths of his primordial spirit, smoother and more natural than before, deeply integrating with his understanding of the various Great Daos.
Daoist Jieyin's Nirvana Buddha Light circulated flawlessly around him, and his aura was many times more powerful than before his secluded cultivation.
Daoist Zhunti appeared even more solemn and majestic. The Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree floated above his head, radiating a vast pressure of flawless completion that lacked only a final ascension.
All four had gained immensely, yet there was little joy on their faces. Instead, their expressions had grown even more grave.
"The Jade Disk of Creation fragment truly contains the supreme principles of the Great Dao. Its mysteries are inexhaustible."
Daoist Zhunti spoke first, his tone solemn after a trace of amazement. "Yet the Reincarnation, Fate, spacetime, Five Elements, and even Chaos Dao it manifests are all boundless.
"What we comprehended today is no more than a drop in the ocean, mere superficial knowledge."
Daoist Jieyin slowly nodded, his face growing increasingly sorrowful. "The Great Dao is infinite, yet what we know is finite.
"The more we comprehend, the more deeply we feel our own insignificance. The road ahead is long. Moreover..." He paused and looked beyond the Secret Realm, his gaze seeming to penetrate layer after layer of the Mountain-Protecting Array.
He saw the surging waves of the Primordial World's future. "In this Chaos Struggle, we have thoroughly offended the Three Pure Ones and the Demon Clan Heavenly Court. One day, this Cause and Effect will surely be settled."
Ming Xin said gravely, "Master is right. The Three Pure Ones were already powerful, and now that they have obtained treasures transformed from the Green Lotus of Creation, their Fortune is linked and their strength has increased further.
"Di Jun and Tai Yi have lost face and their supreme treasures. They will never let this go. Although The West has gained this opportunity and our strength has greatly risen, our foundations remain shallow. We are far from being able to rest easy."
With a slight movement of his thoughts, his Future Self's Phantom flashed behind him before vanishing. Countless fine threads of Fate flowed, snapped, and reformed around his fingertips.
"Using my Future Self for a brief deduction, I found that the overall situation of the Primordial World has undergone drastic changes because The West has risen so suddenly.
"Signs of a killing calamity have emerged, and Killing Intent is surging in the shadows. A great Tribulation capable of sweeping across heaven and earth may be approaching."
A sharp light flashed in Daoist Zhunti's eyes. "Under a great Tribulation lie both danger and opportunity!
"The West is barren. We must seize this chance to broadly save those with affinity, accumulate merit, and strengthen our influence!"
He looked at Ming Xin. "Disciple, you have comprehended the Path of Mortal World Reincarnation. This path is most easily tainted by Cause and Effect, yet it is also the easiest way to seize resources amid the vast Mortal World and temper one's Dao heart.
"The heavy responsibility of The West's future prosperity falls squarely upon you!"
Ming Xin solemnly accepted. "This disciple understands. My path inherently relies on the Cause and Effect, emotions, and desires of all living beings.
"Through this enlightenment, this disciple has formed a new idea. Perhaps I can combine the Cause and Effect of all living beings with Mortal World Reincarnation.
"By placing more 'pieces' throughout the Primordial World, I can aid my own cultivation while subtly spreading the wondrous teachings of The West."
Daoist Jieyin nodded. "Good. But remember to proceed cautiously. Do not be overly aggressive and invite a backlash.
"Our foremost priority is still to consolidate our cultivation and fully absorb the gains from this opportunity. We must take turns comprehending this Jade Disk of Creation fragment and thoroughly turn its Dao resonance into The West's foundation."
"Exactly so," Daoist Zhunti added. "Senior Brother, although you and I have reached the late stage and even completion, the realm of the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal cannot be attained merely through the accumulation of Magic Power. It requires great perseverance, great wisdom, and great opportunity.
"From this comprehension, I have gained some insight into the Dao of 'Cause and Effect' and 'Great Vows.' Perhaps we can attempt to make Great Vows, borrow the power of the Heavenly Dao, and strike at the Saint Realm!"
Making Great Vows to become Sages! This was precisely the path the Two Sages of the West had taken in the original course of events! Now that Zhunti had obtained the Jade Disk of Creation fragment, his understanding had deepened, and he could already see that clear yet arduous road.
A flash of realization passed through Jieyin's eyes. He had evidently felt something similar. "Great Vows are easy to make, but merit is difficult to repay.
"Once made, they form a contract with the Heavenly Dao. If they cannot be fulfilled, one's Dao path may end there. Junior Brother, this matter must be considered carefully. We must plan it thoroughly."
"Of course." Zhunti suppressed the excitement in his heart and nodded heavily.
The four discussed matters for a while longer and established their strategy for the coming period: enter seclusion to consolidate their cultivation, take turns comprehending the Jade Disk, and deduce and perfect their respective paths.
Ming Xin would also be responsible for beginning to integrate the system and the Red Dust Law more deeply into the propagation and development of the Western Teachings.
With their decisions made, Jieyin and Zhunti withdrew most of their divine senses and entered deep meditation, consolidating their immense cultivation at the Late Golden Immortal of the Origin and completion realms.
Ming Xin, however, did not immediately enter deep seclusion. With a thought, his Future Self quietly stepped out and sat facing his main body.
The main body raised a hand, and the Chaos Five Elements Pagoda and White Bone Life-Death Sword floated into view. Chaos currents around the pagoda grew increasingly dense, and amidst the evolution of the Five Elements, it faintly showed signs of transforming into a true Chaos spiritual treasure;
Amid the Slaughter aura surrounding the bone sword, there was now also a trace of Reincarnation Nirvana.
"Five Elements reversing into Chaos, Slaughter returning to Nirvana, Mortal World drawing Fate..."
Ming Xin's main body murmured to himself. Countless runes flowed through his eyes as the system rapidly deduced and integrated all the gains from this enlightenment, optimizing his own framework and divine abilities.
His Future Self slightly closed his eyes and held his hands before him. A constantly shifting illusory scroll composed of countless lines of light slowly unfolded within his embrace.
It was a projection of the many possible futures of the Primordial World, deduced through the Dao of Fate and time combined with the system's computational power.
Within it, the rise and fall of the Western Teachings, the movements of many great cultivators, and even the shadow of the Tribulation appeared and disappeared faintly.
"A great Tribulation is about to rise. Beneath the Sages, all are ants. Yet even ants may aspire to shake a tree... Perhaps my Life Protection Way will be the variable among variables."
The Future Self murmured softly and gently tapped the illusory scroll with a fingertip. A nearly imperceptible point of light, carrying an exceedingly faint aura of the Life Protection Way and the Red Dust Dao Seed,
Silently passed through Mount Sumeru's Mountain-Protecting Array and merged into the vast world beyond, vanishing without a trace.
That was the first true "piece" Ming Xin had placed.
Having done all this, the Future Self slowly dissipated and returned to the main body. Ming Xin completely closed his eyes, withdrawing all Dao resonance around him as he entered deep enlightenment and consolidation.
Mount Sumeru returned to silence. Only the Nirvana Bodhi Great Array continued operating in silence, protecting this holy mountain that had undergone a complete transformation, a Hidden Dragon lying in the abyss, along with the four within who were gathering power sufficient to shock the Primordial World.
The winds and clouds of the Primordial World had changed because of them. And they were ready to face even greater storms.
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