No.

The jade talisman, Changgeng, Ancestor of Demons, the prairie dog, the Pangu God…

Yellow Dragon Daoist felt his head spinning. In a daze, he left the secret chamber and his cave-dwelling, standing quietly lost in thought beside the river.

Where had the happiness gone?

Had he been coming here too frequently lately?

Would Mother and Changgeng have some conflict… Changgeng still represented the Heaven Court’s ministers under Heaven’s Way, while his mother had barely escaped with her remnant soul from Heaven’s punishment before.

Why had things suddenly changed like this?

True Person Yellow Dragon sighed softly. Suddenly sensing something approaching from behind, he instinctively swept out with his divine sense and his whole body froze for an instant.

An old Daoist in gray robes.

His face and form were unclear, but his aura felt balanced and proper, seemingly not malevolent.

Just as True Person Yellow Dragon was about to turn around, he had already called out: “Fellow Daoist…”

The gray-robed old Daoist struck like the wind, pointing a finger at Yellow Dragon’s back. Yellow Dragon’s primordial spirit was instantly sealed, and his form swayed forward, collapsing softly onto the grass.

The gray-robed old Daoist walked forward slowly, gradually transforming into Yellow Dragon’s appearance.

But after walking a few steps, the gray-robed old Daoist halted…

Suddenly, he felt an inexplicable impulse, and so looked down at Yellow Dragon lying on the ground, revealing a slightly strange smile at the corners of his mouth.

Shortly after;

The riverbank returned to calm. The Yellow Dragon transformed from the gray-robed old Daoist who had already walked into the river, his form slowly swallowed by the flowing water.

In the riverside forest, under the branch of a certain large tree, True Person Yellow Dragon had been tied round and round, hanging from the tree branch, continuously spinning, with a comfortable and peaceful smile at the corners of his mouth.

Not far from this large tree, within the trunk of another large tree, Li Changshou’s paper avatar silently watched this scene, and couldn’t help but tilt his head.

This Heaven’s Way avatar…

Was quite playful.

In the secret chamber of the hidden cave-dwelling, Li Changshou stood expressionlessly, silently facing one of Ancient Dragon Ancestor’s companions.

She had been one of the ancient Dragon Race’s few exceptional experts, her strength naturally extraordinary. She had played her part in shattering the ancient primordial world back then. Li Changshou naturally wouldn’t show any disrespect.

But he wouldn’t be too polite either.

His coming here was actually just for a transaction, aiming to learn the location where the Ancestor of Demons had perished, after which he would naturally give the Dragon Race an opportunity.

Dragon Mother was no ordinary being and had been secretly observing the primordial world all along. She should now be able to make a choice.

“Friend, you still haven’t said what you seek.”

Li Changshou took out a treasure pouch from his sleeve, and from it retrieved the God-Slaying Spear.

This God-Slaying Spear had been struck once by the Twenty-Four Heavens, enduring a force equal to that which could kill a Sage, and in the instant when the Twenty-Four Heavens covered the Sixth Sage’s connection to the world’s fundamental essence, had evaporated the Sixth Sage’s primordial spirit.

Now, this divine spear showed an obvious curved arc and much of its killing energy had dispersed, greatly reducing its power.

Li Changshou said: “The fragments of the God-Slaying Spear and the Ancestor of Demons’ fundamental killing energy.”

Dragon Mother’s brows furrowed, her floating dragon whiskers wavering like water waves as she slowly said:

“Just for that bit of remaining power from the Ancestor of Demons?”

“What else?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Besides the Ancestor of Demons’ remaining killing energy, what else does the Ancestor of Demons have that I would need?”

As he spoke, Li Changshou reached forward with his left hand, his five fingers gently closing, and ‘air’ in his palm developed cracks, collapsing with a pop into a small sphere of void.

Li Changshou closed his palm, directly extinguishing this black sphere.

Dragon Mother’s eyes showed several traces of wariness, as if bowing slightly in greeting, and said: “As expected of the Great Clarity disciple who could slay a Sage, your physical body’s strength has reached such a level.

But how did you obtain such power?”

“Through Heaven’s Way,” Li Changshou said calmly, “Found a little trick, nothing worth mentioning, others can’t copy it.

Can you tell me now?”

As he spoke, Li Changshou winked slightly at Dragon Mother, his words completely unaffected.

“Where exactly is the place where the Ancestor of Demons perished?”

Dragon Mother said: “If you only seek the Ancestor of Demons’ fundamental power, you can search the deepest earth veins in the Western Cattle Gift Continent, no need to specifically seek the Ancestor of Demons’ corpse.”

“The Ancestor of Demons still has the remaining corpse?” Li Changshou immediately caught the key point.

“Indeed, it is something the Ancestral Master of Dao could not destroy,” Dragon Mother said, “It happened in the final battle that shattered the ancient primordial world, now depicted as — the Dragon Phoenix Great Catastrophe that shattered the primordial world over several grand kalpas.

The true great battle only lasted several hundred years, just a confrontation between two camps.”

Li Changshou asked: “Dao and Demon?”

“Correct, Dao and Demon, Ancestral Master of Dao and Ancestor of Demons.

But at that time there was no word for ‘Dao’, and no word for ‘Demon’, ah…”

Dragon Mother sighed softly: “It should be said that it was a confrontation between two completely different Great Daos.

The battle that shattered the primordial world and unbalanced Heaven’s Way was just a discussion of Dao between the Ancestral Master of Dao and the Ancestor of Demons.

And the Ancestor of Demons, in this discussion of Dao, lost to the Ancestral Master of Dao.”

“Mother.”

Outside the secret chamber, that ‘Yellow Dragon’ called out, pushing open the stone door and walking in.

Li Changshou immediately said: “Senior Brother, you shouldn’t hear these things, these are Heaven’s Way’s secrets, the more you hear the more dangerous it is for yourself.”

‘Yellow Dragon’ smiled and said: “What’s wrong with hearing these things?”

That Dragon Mother said calmly: “These matters are just past events, Yellow Child can stay here.”

‘Yellow Dragon’ slowly nodded, very naturally walking beside that painting, less than half a chi from the painting.

At this moment, in the secret chamber, one living being, one ancient soul, and one Heaven’s Way will each harbored their own thoughts, yet strived to maintain peace.

Li Changshou suddenly wanted to take this opportunity to reach an understanding with Heaven’s Way, telling Heaven’s Way the small part of the information he already knew, thereby making Heaven’s Way feel this information wasn’t secret, and thus not implicate other beings.

Sometimes, trying to cover up a secret often requires paying an enormous price.

[But when a secret is no longer mysterious, no one pays it much attention.]

Li Changshou gazed at Dragon Mother and said:

“This discussion of Dao, I knew about it long ago. A senior left behind an ark, and within it were many classics.

These classics seemed unremarkable, but some passages, read horizontally and vertically, forward and backward, had completely different interpretations.

This is how I understand the different paths chosen by the Ancestor of Demons and my Ancestral Master back then.”

“Oh?”

Dragon Mother’s eyes carried traces of curiosity, “Tell me about the path the Ancestral Master of Dao chose.

You truly are an interesting being. That discussion of Dao hidden behind the battle of that year, those who knew numbered no more than several tens, and all have already perished.

I’m truly curious how much you understand.”

‘Yellow Dragon’ stood by with hands behind their back, and to respect his current character setting, asked: “What discussion of Dao?”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “The debate between the Ancestral Master of Dao and the Ancestor of Demons… Let me put it simply.

The Dao that the Ancestral Master of Dao argued for at that time was thus, ahem.

The past is not the past, the future is not the future, the Dao performs the infinite endless transformations of heaven and earth, and everything in the future is determined by the past and the Dao.

Senior Brother, don’t you understand? Then let me explain more plainly.

My Ancestral Master believed that all things in heaven and earth exist within the Great Dao. If one mastered the Three Thousand Great Daos of the primordial world and understood a being’s past, one could predict what that being would do at every node in the future within the primordial world.

Everything is predetermined, everything exists within cause and effect and can be controlled.

It’s like when you catch a fish today – you think you decide whether or not to catch that fish, but this decision was already determined by your personality, your habits, the fish’s appearance, the initial ripples in your heart, and so on, a series of factors.

Self-consciousness is just an illusion just some instincts and counter-instincts intersecting in thought.”

‘Yellow Dragon’ slowly nodded and said:

“These things, the Ancestral Master spoke of them all when lecturing in the Purple Void Palace. What of the Ancestor of Demons’ Dao?”

“It’s not the opposite, but there is one point where they mutually conflict.

Luohou felt that the Ancestral Master of Dao’s way was quite absurd.”

Li Changshou slowly said:

“The Ancestral Master of Dao’s way was to entrust oneself between heaven and earth’s Great Daos, interconnecting with the Great Dao, emphasizing the Dao’s inherent laws while neglecting beings’ self-initiative.

The Ancestor of Demons’ way was to use the fundamental self to devour everything – Dao, laws, beings, all returning to his self, he being the strongest.

Let me say some rebellious words.

The Ancestral Master of Dao and the Ancestor of Demons were both pursuing beings’ highest realm back then — omniscience and omnipotence.

The Ancestral Master of Dao’s omniscience and omnipotence was having the power to calculate everything, focusing on omniscience – namely obtaining all information in the primordial world, achieving the effect of calculating everything, and knowing all past and future through constructing a thought network.

The Ancestor of Demons’ omniscience and omnipotence was gathering heaven and earth’s power within himself, obtaining the power of destruction and creation, reaching Pangu God’s realm, able to destroy everything and also create everything, focusing on omnipotence.

When the two conflicted, and both were that era’s strongest, both having the possibility of taking the final step, a great battle was unavoidable.

I’m also very curious, what principles did Dragon Ancestor and First Phoenix follow back then?”

“They both followed the Pangu God. In that ancient great battle, did they ultimately support the Ancestral Master of Dao or the Ancestor of Demons?”

Dragon Mother remained silent.

‘Yellow Dragon’ however said: “Father supported the Ancestral Master of Dao, while Senior First Phoenix supported the Ancestor of Demons.”

Li Changshou smiled and said: “Then why was the victorious side still used to fill the sea’s eye?”

‘Yellow Dragon’ fell silent.

“In that battle of the past, there was no victor.”

Dragon Mother slowly sighed, her words unspeakably heavy.

“That was the curtain fall of an era, the final radiance of Pangu God’s will.

In ancient times, beings were free and unfettered, primordial beings were born in harmony with the Great Dao. The Three Thousand Great Daos weren’t just three thousand paths, but countless Great Daos, they were the rules of heaven and earth, with primordial beings in the world serving as representatives for each.

That was the beings’ final glory when Heaven’s Way was still just a thin formation layer wrapping the sky and earth.

And when that era approached its final point, all beings were either intoxicated by their desires or began contemplating the ultimate mysteries of the Dao.

Just as you said – omniscience and omnipotence, the way of the Primordial Ultimate Sage.

That was truly the primordial chaos, while today’s heaven and earth are but the remaining body of the primordial chaos, merely the ruins of antiquity. Beings had their moment of glory but ultimately buried a great era.

The Ancestor of Demons was defeated, the Ancestral Master of Dao was also gravely wounded, Heaven’s Way rose, and the Dragon Race became the first beings to suffer Heaven’s punishment.

Now, no extra records are remaining, only the marks of several of that era’s strongest still circulate in heaven and earth.

The Ancestral Master of Dao, Ancestor of Demons, Dragon Ancestor, First Phoenix, Qilin…

This old one has not a bit of magical power left, only wanting to see an outcome, wanting to wait for the result of that era’s discussion of Dao – will it truly end as the Ancestral Master of Dao said, with heaven and earth returning to silence?

How I wish to see…”

The nearby ‘Yellow Dragon’ slowly nodded and said: “Mother, you need not worry too much.”

“So,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “where is the Ancestor of Demons’ corpse? I need to properly forge this divine spear.”

“Nine Pollution Spring,” Dragon Mother sighed, “a place beings cannot reach.”

Li Changshou slightly furrowed his brows, exchanged gazes with Dragon Mother for a moment, then gave a bitter smile: “Since that’s the case, I can only go collect killing energy from the depths of Western Cattle Gift Continent.”

That ‘Yellow Dragon’ slowly nodded and said: “Let me help Junior Brother along.”

“No need,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “Senior Brother should not get involved in these matters. The Ancestral Master and I now walk different paths.

Although I am the Ancestral Master’s fan, our ideas ultimately differ.”

“Different ideas?”

‘Yellow Dragon’ smiled and said: “How does Junior Brother view the debate between the Ancestral Master and the Ancestor of Demons?”

Li Changshou inwardly laughed – this word ‘fan’ was accepted so easily, yet they say it has nothing to do with Senior Wave’s memories.

“What omniscience and omnipotence,” Li Changshou smiled and said, “they both took the wrong path, overlooking one key factor.

Boundaries.

The boundary of omniscience lies in being unable to grasp all information.

Like Heaven’s Way – Heaven’s Way can never be perfect. Even if it can achieve a near-omniscient state through one era’s fleeing one leaving the primordial chaos, there will always be flaws, always variables. This is determined by the most fundamental Great Dao.

The boundary of omnipotence lies in being unable to transcend the most basic Great Dao. Changing these Daos would be self-negation. After the measure of years loses meaning, one step forward is self-destruction.

Therefore, theories under ideal conditions can only ever be theories.

Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.”

‘Yellow Dragon’ was stunned, muttering: “Practice is the criterion for testing truth…”

Li Changshou clasped his hands behind his back and sighed softly, saying:

“Looking at the current situation, the Ancestral Master is determined to try. I will leave at an appropriate time.

Only when this ‘fleeing one’ has fled will the Ancestral Master possibly sense the existence of boundaries. Perhaps then he will abandon the pursuit of so-called omniscience and omnipotence.

I suddenly understand somewhat why Pangu God chose to perish after opening the heavens.

Why so many primordial gods and demons would choose to fight to the death with Pangu God rather than yield even a small territory in the chaos sea to be opened into a realm?

Thanks for Senior’s guidance, take care.”

As the words fell, Li Changshou casually drew a circle, a Taiji diagram slowly appearing, its black and white fish chasing each other, then transforming into a gray mass, opening a gateway.

Just as Li Changshou was about to step away, he suddenly turned his head toward ‘Yellow Dragon’ and smiled, saying:

“Here’s an interesting hypothesis for Senior Brother to consider.

How did the chaos sea come to be?

Doesn’t the state of the chaos sea seem like there was once a being who reached the end of the Great Dao, who walked toward self-destruction in pursuit of omniscience and omnipotence?

Thus the Dao principles shattered, laws became unclear, and boundless energy returned to its most primitive, most initial state of no attributes – the state of chaos.”

After speaking, Li Changshou stepped into the cosmic gateway where a sea of clouds lay ahead, seemingly the Heaven Court.

As the gateway slowly closed, ‘Yellow Dragon’ tightly furrowed his brows, turning his head to look at the nearby painting where Dragon Mother’s remnant soul had already returned.

“Hmph!”

…

“Eh? What’s this?”

By the riverside in the grove, Yellow Dragon Daoist opened his eyes to find himself tied up and hanging from a tree, bound by immortal rope with no small power, unable to break free for the moment.

However…

This technique, this binding force, this indescribable feeling of constraint, this sensation of being cared for in the tight binding.

“Hehe…”

A certain old Daoist’s face reddened as he squinted and softly sighed, slowly turning half a circle in the air.

Li Changshou’s paper avatar hiding in a nearby tree trunk silently raised its hand to poke its own eyes.

Shortly after, True Person Yellow Dragon remembered something was amiss – he had seen a gray-robed old Daoist who had easily subdued him, then went off to do who knows what.

Hurriedly breaking free of the immortal rope, True Person Yellow Dragon hastily dove into the river.

Li Changshou waited quietly nearby, also waiting for an outcome.

Whether Dragon Mother’s remnant soul lived or died.

Though this wasn’t important, Li Changshou at this moment… desperately wanted to know the result.

Half an incense stick’s time later, True Person Yellow Dragon emerged drifting from the river with hands behind his back, humming a tune, riding clouds toward the valley’s exterior, his eyes full of peace.

Li Changshou raised an eyebrow, unconsciously smiled, and quietly dissolved the paper avatar in the tree trunk.

It was indeed as he had expected.

Nine Pollution Spring…

His main body, having already returned to the Heaven Court, again lay on the lounging chair before the elixir chamber, as if it hadn’t moved at all before.

Nine Pollution Spring cannot be reached by beings and is also a place beings cannot find.

The Ancestor of Demons’ corpse being suppressed in Nine Pollution Spring, or rather having caused Nine Pollution Spring, was a reasonable explanation.

Could Dragon Mother have lied?

More accurately, why would Dragon Mother tell him the truth?

She was originally a supporter of the Ancestral Master of Dao, that place very possibly being one of the Ancestral Master’s hidden pieces.

What Li Changshou said to ‘Yellow Dragon’ was meant for the Ancestral Master of Dao to hear, letting him know there was no need to kill innocent people to keep any secrets.

Regarding that final hypothesis, Li Changshou naturally held something back – he hadn’t pointed out the final section.

If he had truly pointed it out, he would likely have been sent to the chaos sea by now, or been slapped to death by the Ancestral Master of Dao.

That section was…

[I remember seeing in the eyes of a certain Senior Prairie Dog that during the battle to open heaven and earth in the chaos sea back then, Hongjun had appeared and was spared by Pangu God.

The rules of the chaos sea were such that even Pangu God was a being born of multiple true spirits resonating with the Great Dao. Strength depended on how many true spirits one could attract to gather, which was also the fundamental reason why Pangu God grew stronger the more he fought against the three thousand gods and demons.

But Hongjun was a being born from a single true spirit resonating with the Great Dao, yet possessed considerable strength, causing Pangu God to call him:

‘The ideal form of single true spirit life.’]

Deep thought brings terror.

Li Changshou raised his hand to yawn, adjusted his lying position, and quietly waited for the little fairy to fly over from afar.

Ling’e was still more comfortable, not having to consider anything.