Chapter 607
by fanqienovelChapter 607: Unexpected Change and Variable
A faint, ghostly light drifted out from the human skin, coalescing into a hazy figure so insubstantial it resembled a candle flame in the wind, flickering perilously as if it might vanish at any moment.
Emperor Ling’s heart skipped a beat.
This single fragment of obsession had manipulated a patch of human skin and wielded the Great Wilderness Furnace, nearly suppressing both him and the Chaotic Ancient God. It all felt utterly unbelievable.
"Ancestor!"
Wu Xuan knelt immediately, his heart heavy with grief. "This is the ninth era."
"The Ninth Era?"
The Witch Master chuckled softly. "Nine represents the supreme limit. It seems you too have reached the final juncture. A pity… this old man departed one step earlier and cannot witness the ultimate outcome."
"???"
A flurry of question marks rose in Ye Li’s mind.
Final juncture?
Could it be that something momentous was happening in the Ninth Era?
"I’m so done… nothing but riddlers…" Ye Li silently cursed to himself.
The group fell into silence.
It was evident that every Dao Ancestor present was at least partially aware of the information the Witch Master had just revealed.
"Primordial Daoist friend," the Witch Master continued with a faint smile, "Since it was your effort that granted me this brief moment of clarity, I shall require your assistance once again shortly… to help this old man find release."
"Naturally."
The Primordial Dao God nodded gravely. "But friend, pray tell – who delivered the fatal blow?
Was it the Celestial Sovereign? Or the Dao master?"
He deliberately omitted the Faceless Celestial Sovereign of the Haotian lineage, clearly aware that the Faceless Sovereign would never strike against the Witch Master.
The Witch Master shook his head slowly.
"This old man…"
"It… it has come…"
In that instant, an expression of utter terror twisted the Witch Master’s face. As if sensing a terrifying presence, his newly regained consciousness plunged back into madness.
"Hehehe…" The Witch Master’s laughter turned eerie and chilling. "You shall all be buried alongside this old one…"
"Ancestor!"
Wu Xuan paled in alarm and whirled towards the Primordial Dao God. "Senior, what is happening?"
His brow slightly furrowed, the Primordial Dao God channeled a stream of pure Dao energy. It coiled around his index finger before he pressed it against the Witch Master’s forehead.
Yet, the Witch Master remained lost in madness.
Simultaneously,
the gathered Dao Ancestors sensed the arrival of two strangers.
East Sky Azure Dragon and South Emperor Vermilion Bird.
These two ancestors of the four symbols, cultivators at the Great Celestial Lord Realm, had long undergone complete physical decay, leaving behind only their skeletal remains. Each step produced a distinct crackling sound.
Within their hollow eye sockets burned ethereal flames of the spirit.
From these spiritual fires emanated an overwhelming psychic aura.
"So something truly is amiss with these two individuals!" Emperor Ling exclaimed with alarm. As two Great Celestial Lords, they couldn’t possibly have journeyed so deep into the Disaster Soil. He had found their presence puzzling upon first encountering the Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon. But back then, preoccupied with delving into the Disaster Soil to seek the secrets of Ascending to Dao One, he had spared no further thought.
Now, encountering them again, suspicion flared instantly within him.
The Chaotic Ancient God squinted his eyes.
He had already recognized the strangeness the very first time he saw them within the Disaster Soil.
It must be understood:
The Chaotic Ancient God led the lineage of Innate Divine Beings. Both the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird were his subordinates. Yet upon seeing him, they hadn’t uttered a single word, utterly indifferent.
Such abnormal behavior could not escape the Chaotic Ancient God’s notice.
"That flame is the fire of the spirit,"
the Leader of the Dao Clan stated solemnly. "It must be a method of the Heaven Clan."
"Do not come closer…"
Witch Master stared fearfully at the two skeletons.
His obsession was dissipating rapidly.
Primordial Dao God’s expression darkened.
"Hold!"
He bellowed a command, invoking the principle that words dictate laws. The Great Dao of heaven and earth obeyed him like a loyal follower, manipulated at will as he attempted to fix Witch Master’s fast-dissolving wisp of obsession.
The next instant.
Witch Master’s obsession was held in stasis.
Yet, consciousness was beyond retrieval.
His obsession had arisen due to the Behind-the-Scenes Culprit. This intense agitation could only mean he had sensed information intimately linked to that culprit.
The shred of spiritual consciousness manipulating the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird seemed deeply suspicious.
"Daoist friend, grant me my release!"
"Hahaha…"
Witch Master alternated between whimpering in pain and bursting into wild laughter, like someone plagued by schizophrenia. Xuanxin watched, heart torn asunder by blades of despair, his molars clenched till they threatened to crack.
"Understood."
Primordial Dao God’s brow furrowed, and his palm struck downwards.
Boom!
Witch Master’s obsession detonated.
Vanishing like scattered smoke.
"We bid farewell to the Ancestor!" Wu Xuan’s eyes were red; hatred and killing intent surged in his heart; his vital energy swelled, and he fiercely charged toward the East Sky Azure Dragon and the South Emperor Vermilion Bird.
Swoosh!
Primordial Dao God flicked his long sleeve, and Wu Xuan was immobilized in place, unable to move.
"To find the behind-the-scenes culprit who killed the Witch Master, they are the key," Primordial Dao God said solemnly.
He gently waved his hand, and the bones of the East Sky Azure Dragon and South Emperor Vermilion Bird flew toward him.
"This mass of fire of the spirit is extremely pure; throughout the world, only the Heaven Clan could master it," Wu Xuan roared. "The death of the Ancestor is inevitably linked to the God Sovereign!"
Chaotic Ancient God frowned deeply.
"Daoist friend, if it truly was done by the Heaven Clan, then manipulating these two, wouldn’t that be exposing themselves?" Chaotic Ancient God said slowly.
"Exactly," Emperor Ling nodded. "In my opinion, the truth of the matter is far from that simple."
"These two are very likely a smokescreen, used to confuse us and lure us to investigate in the wrong direction."
"Things are indeed becoming increasingly interesting," Ye Li muttered.
"Looking at it now, the East Sky Azure Dragon and South Emperor Vermilion Bird ambushed the senior, probably also wanting to muddy the waters even more," Ye Li pondered.
Mu Fanyin’s gaze was profound. "The level this matter involves is the greatest secret of the Hongmeng Dao Realm; upon leaving this place, it must rot in our hearts."
Buzz!
Primordial Dao God activated his magic power, two beams of cyan light enveloped the East Sky Azure Dragon and South Emperor Vermilion Bird; his thoughts flowed into the two masses of fire of the spirit, attempting to trace back their memories.
Crack!
But the instant his thoughts touched the two masses of spirit fire, they shattered like glass, instantly destroyed.
The two Great Celestial Lords completely became empty husks.
"As expected…" Primordial Dao God sighed; this scene was within his expectations.
Since the behind-the-scenes person dared to manipulate the puppets to appear, it proved he had the confidence not to expose his identity; trying to find clues from the East Sky Azure Dragon and South Emperor Vermilion Bird was no different from a fool dreaming.
"Senior, any clues?" Wu Xuan asked.
"None," Primordial Dao God said calmly. "The primordial spirits of these two had long been erased; all memories are unrecoverable."
Wu Xuan clenched his fist tightly.
"Everyone, return," Primordial Dao God said. "If I ever get the answer, I will inform the Witch Clan."
"This junior kowtows in gratitude for your great kindness!" Wu Xuan kowtowed and bowed.
"This Great Wilderness Furnace belongs to the Witch Master; take it with you," Primordial Dao God thought briefly, and the Great Wilderness Furnace flew into Wu Xuan’s hand.
Wu Xuan nodded, stored the Great Wilderness Furnace in his Purple Palace, and rushed out of the disaster soil.
"Senior, this junior takes my leave," Emperor Ling clasped his hands in salute, turned, and flew out of the disaster soil.
Chaotic Ancient God, the Leader of the Dao Clan, Xuan Ancestor, and Qin Huangluo, the four, also vanished into the River of Time, disappearing without a trace.
Mu Fanyin was about to leave when Primordial Dao God’s voice suddenly came.
"I have some attainments in the way of Heaven’s Secret," Primordial Dao God said with a smile. "If there is a chance, I hope to discuss with the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion, and please do not hesitate to give guidance."
Mu Fanyin blinked her eyes.
Feng Wuji gave Ye Li a meaningful look.
Primordial Dao God’s words were clearly spoken for the master of Heaven’s Secret Pavilion; Mu Fanyin and Feng Wuji were smart people; almost instantly, they learned Ye Li’s true identity.
However, neither of them exposed it.
"…" Ye Li’s mind went blank.
He seemed mortified.
"Senior, this junior will surely convey your words to the master," Mu Fanyin smiled radiantly. "If there is nothing else, we will take our leave first."
Mu Fanyin speaking finally eased a part of the awkward atmosphere.
Primordial Dao God smiled inexplicably as he watched Mu Fanyin leave the disaster soil.
"Who exactly is the one who devoured the Witch Master?" Primordial Dao God murmured.
"In any case, the variables in this epoch are increasing more and more; for us, this is a good thing."
"The more variables there are, the less the outcome will be predetermined."