Chapter 369

Chapter 369: Variables (Part One)

"Sect Master, please deploy us!"

The four powerful beings possessing the Three Yuan Proof bowed and said. Their auras were immensely strong, yet they still could not match Daoist Qing Xuan. He was a top-tier titan capable of challenging the human ancestor.

Behind the four stood eight more who had attained the proof of the Second Primordial Spirit, and dozens of experts with the proof of the First Primordial Spirit.

Just this Primordial Daoist Sect alone wielded strength nearly comparable to the universe Ye Xu inhabited.

Boom!

Daoist Qing Xuan summoned the artifact. His sleeves flared as a sword, like a heaven-pillaring column, shot forth with a whistle. It cleaved through the rip in the alien universe passage. An aura of profound vastness emanated from the other end.

Boom! Rumble!

The formidable members of the Primordial Daoist Sect all struck simultaneously.

In an instant, infinite phenomenal visions burst into existence, as if the heavens and earth were being created anew. They forcibly excavated and opened the alien universe passage.

"What is happening?"

"What are the Ancestors doing?"

Within the Primordial Daoist Sect, millions of cultivators stared at the scene with shaking hearts, utterly astounded.

"They made their move!"

Sensing the commotion from the other end of the alien universe passage, Lord Zun displayed joy. The Primordial Daoist Sect was incredibly powerful; their combined efforts virtually guaranteed the success of this endeavor.

"So many experts?" Mad Daoist’s eyelids twitched. The auras emanating from the other side represented five powerful beings possessing the Three Yuan Proof.

"A universe existing for hundreds of trillions of years truly is extraordinary."

Mad Daoist thought to himself.

"If this group enters our plane… that would be a true catastrophe."

Mad Daoist understood very clearly. Compared to the calamity brought by the Immortal Realm’s collapse, an invasion from the Qing Xuan plane might well be the real apocalyptic disaster.

Of course, it had nothing to do with him.

He had no interest in pondering the life or death of all living beings under heaven, nor was he likely to intervene on their behalf.

Boom!

Struck by this colossal power, the alien universe passage expanded at a visible pace. It elongated extraordinarily, seemingly piercing through cosmic chaos itself to connect two universes.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In this moment, the Heavenly Daos of the two universes experienced a brief convergence.

Immortal Realm, Purple Star Heavenly Court.

The Celestial Son abruptly jolted awake.

"Your Majesty, what happened?" The Moon Goddess looked at the Celestial Son, her expression serious. Since ascending to the throne, the Son had always remained unflappable; never before today had he shown such dismay.

"I sensed a threat," the Celestial Son said solemnly. "Someone is opening an alien universe passage, linking to another universe."

He was the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, yet he was only part of it.

Therefore, sealed by the Xuantian Great Luo Dao Array, he could not fully perceive the anomalies unfolding in the lower realm. However, he could feel the unease transmitted by the Heavenly Dao, gleaning fragments of the unfolding events.

"An alien universe passage?" The Moon Goddess trembled with profound shock. "Does such a place as another universe truly exist?"

The Celestial Sovereign nodded.

"Then what should we do now?" For the first time in her existence as an innate god, beings revered as supreme within their own cosmos, genuine fear took root. Should conflict erupt between these two universes, even her power would merely render her cannon fodder.

Death would be irrevocable, absolute.

A grim weight settled on the Celestial Sovereign’s features. He shook his head slowly. "The Human Ancestor sealed the Immortal Realm to weather that calamity. But this… an invasion from an alien universe… this is the true, great cataclysm."

"If I were to shatter the Human Ancestor’s seals now… it could only end in mutual destruction."

"This tribulation… it was destined."

"This must be the variable they spoke of."

The Celestial Sovereign muttered it under his breath.

He had never foreseen that opening the Void Tomb would unleash an extinction-level crisis upon the world.

Yet, as one currently embodying the Heavenly Dao, his ordinary human sentiments had faded. His duty lay in preserving the Heavenly Dao itself, not the teeming masses of mortal souls.

Swish!

At the same instant, the Human Ancestor’s pupils abruptly contracted.

His eyes snapped open, fixed on the alien universe passage with utter disbelief.

The passage had reached its maximum expansion. Stabilized by the focused efforts of countless supreme powerhouses, it grew increasingly solid.

It was already too late.

"Hahaha…" A raw ache surfaced in the Human Ancestor’s gaze. "Master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion… is this the variable you foretold?"

In this moment, profound despair washed over the Human Ancestor.

Clang!

He urged his divine power into motion. Even facing certain doom, he must fight back.

For he had been born bearing this very purpose.

Swish!

Vast virtue coalesced into a beam of immense, righteous sword light. It slashed decisively towards the alien universe passage.

"Daoist friend, stop him!" Esteem cried out, paralyzed by terror.

This was the critical juncture. The Human Ancestor absolutely could not be allowed to ruin their grand scheme.

"Leave it to me." The Mad Daoist chuckled darkly. The Primordial Immortal Gate surged skyward. Countless Symbols flowed across its surface, morphing into legions of primordial exotic beasts racing forward continuously to intercept the descending sword luminescence.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the sword light descended, the sky filled with exotic beasts exploded into scattered ash.

The Mad Daoist stood calmly at his post. With a pulse of power, he commanded the Primordial Immortal Gate. It trembled and yawned wide, instantly swallowing the destructive sword light whole, banishing it… into the distant past.

Boom!

The sword light shattered instantly, utterly vanquished.

"Old madman!" The Human Ancestor roared, fury blazing. "Will you truly stand idle and watch the cataclysm unfold?!"

"I just wish to transcend."

Mad Daoist lifted his head, the Primordial Ancient Mirror hovering above him. He gazed at human ancestor and said lightly, "Elder brother, I respect your ideals, but you cannot interfere with my methods."

"If you seek battle, I shall oblige."

"You’re inviting the wolves into the house!" human ancestor cried with sorrow and rage.

"Hahaha…"

Suddenly, laughter echoed through heaven and earth as Heavenly Emperor Li Ruoyu materialized out of thin air. Staring at human ancestor, he chuckled lightly, "Teacher, opposing this calamity yourself is certain death."

"But if we, master and disciple, join forces, the path to transcendence becomes effortless."

Human ancestor’s gaze turned sharply icy.

In just moments, Li Ruoyu’s injuries had fully healed. His strength remained immense, unmatched beneath the transcendents. Even Nuwa’s formidable power had failed to wound his foundation.

Human ancestor inhaled deeply and slowly closed his eyes. With both Li Ruoyu and Mad Daoist aligned, resistance was futile.

"For now, we can only play it by ear," human ancestor stated solemnly. The purpose of the alien universe invasion remained unclear. It seemed he must pay another visit to Heaven’s Secret Pavilion.

RUMBLE!

Under the bombardment of immense power, the alien universe passage fully opened. Li Ruoyu could even glimpse the grand, primordial halls of the Primordial Daoist Sect at the other end, and the faint outlines of many Three Yuan Proof masters.

"How intriguing…"

Li Ruoyu commented with a thin smile. "So many Three Yuan Proof experts appearing at once…"

His eyes showed not the slightest trace of fear.

Over countless ages, his body had been refined into the number one fierce weapon, impervious to all arts. His cultivation reached its very peak. Only a transcendent could possibly extinguish him now.

A mere Primordial Daoist Sect was unworthy of concern.

"Ahahahaha!"

Zun erupted in triumphant laughter. His objective was finally within reach.

"It is not finished," Mad Daoist declared gravely.

The opening of the alien universe passage would never be tolerated by the Heavenly Daos of the two separate universes.

They would soon face Heaven’s wrath.

This was no ordinary heavenly tribulation.

BOOM!

Indeed.

Hardly had Mad Daoist spoken when the firmament trembled. An oppressive, vast heavenly presence manifested, saturating every corner of the world, pressing down on all life forms, forcing them to bow and tremble.

Across the heavens, forty-nine divine patterns materialized.

"The Great Dao is fifty… but Heaven’s plan reveals only forty-nine."

Murmured Mad Daoist, eyes flickering slightly.

A faint stirring of insight bloomed within him.

KRAKOOOM!

In the next instant, the first Heavenly Divine Ability erupted. Majestic heavenly might surged, bearing down with overwhelming power. A divine entity coalesced from the very fabric of the Dao. Its gaze was unfathomable, its face expressionless. Slowly, it lifted a hand and pressed it down upon the alien universe passage.