“Aren’t you in a hurry? Why aren’t you going to the Twin Birth Pool to cultivate?” Li Jingyu glanced at Ji Yutang and asked leisurely.
“I’m thinking about Tai Shang Dao Mother.” This matter is likely related to the Ran Family sisters, so Ji Yutang spoke frankly.
Her gaze subtly swept over Li Jingyu’s abdomen and she continued, “Is it the one who will give birth to the Supreme Dao Ancestor?” In the records of the “Tai Shang Era,” it is said that the one who gave birth to the Supreme Dao Ancestor and the Demon Ancestor was the Taiyuan Holy Mother, who ceased to exist after transforming into the Dao.
How will the Supreme Dao Ancestor be born?
Li Jingyu noticed Ji Yutang’s gaze and her eyelid twitched.
She sneered, “Are you worried about your Heart of the Great Dao? What, suddenly realizing that those righteous cultivators are the ones coveting your heart?” Seeing Ji Yutang frown, she smiled again, “No wonder they insist on pushing you and Ran Guzhu together.”
“Then why not you?” Ji Yutang blurted out.
Li Jingyu looked at Ji Yutang with a half-smile, raising an eyebrow, “What? You think it’s me?” Ji Yutang pursed her lips, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance flashing across her face, dissatisfied with her slip of the tongue.
Fortunately, Li Jingyu didn’t dwell on her attitude, instead speaking slowly, “Can the Supreme Dao Ancestor be born from a demon body? My body is the vessel of the Demon Ancestor.
Since Ran Guzhu and I are siblings, both descendants of the Supreme Dao Ancestor, if I can, then she naturally can too.
But don’t be disappointed too soon, after all, this is just speculation, isn’t it?”
Li Jingyu unexpectedly looked at Ji Yutang, the latter half of her words not quite like something she would say.
Li Jingyu took in Ji Yutang’s expression, stepped forward, and suddenly reached out to touch Ji Yutang’s head, smiling without speaking.
Ji Yutang was startled, her face suddenly turning red, and she stepped back, her eyes full of vigilance as she looked at Li Jingyu, her voice sharp yet weak, “What are you doing?”
“I’m comforting you.” Li Jingyu didn’t blink, smiling, “I thought you should be used to it.”
Ji Yutang looked angry, biting her lower lip without speaking.
In her heart, she silently retorted, how could she get used to this? Unless her consciousness submerged, once again controlled by her “true self.” Thinking of the “true self,” Ji Yutang couldn’t help but recall what happened earlier in Ji Yue’s cave, her cheeks flushed like rosy clouds.
She looked up at Li Jingyu and said, “Are you going to stay here all the time?” Although in the Dao books, the cultivation of the divine power “Two Elephants in Harmony” wouldn’t be much, her current physique couldn’t be judged by common sense.
After “Two Elephants in Harmony” transforms into a “new self,” the personality might be completely different from the original self.
“Naturally.” Li Jingyu nodded, the smile in her eyes growing stronger.
She looked at Ji Yutang and said, “I have a sense of propriety, you don’t have to worry about doing anything inappropriate.”
Ji Yutang: “…” She didn’t believe in Li Jingyu’s sense of propriety at all.
If she had a sense of propriety back then, would she have directly manifested the divine palace and interacted with the divine dragon? Was her sense of propriety just lying down? But looking at Li Jingyu, she had no way to deal with her, she couldn’t just keep stalemating with her here, right? After giving Li Jingyu a sideways glance, Ji Yutang transformed into her dragon form and plunged into the Twin Birth Pool.
She operated the methods on the dragon skills, her whole body seemingly covered in jade and golden light.
Li Jingyu watched for a while, seeing her fully immersed in cultivation, she also found a corner to operate her cultivation method and practice Dao techniques.
If she wanted to achieve her goal, merely the Golden Core stage was far from enough.
Now she relied on her master as a backing, but what if one day her master advanced further and left Jiuzhou to enter the void? The Jewel of the Rising Tides spun, the clear and bright water light swirling around her body, and after the moon phase manifested, six virtual shadows of the Demon God floated in the moonlight.
Although she had devoured the six Demon Gods, she hadn’t completely refined their power.
The Tianhai Demon Sect thought the six Demon Gods were parasitic in her body, and one day they could “unify,” she could indeed reach this step if she continued cultivating, but unfortunately, this unification was not the same as that unification.
The pure yang energy and pure yin energy occupied different corners of the law hall, sometimes intertwining, sometimes dispersing, and in the blink of an eye, two years passed.
The divine power “Two Elephants in Harmony” was extremely difficult to practice, as the saying goes, “The dragon has regrets” and “Extreme yang gives birth to change,” during the cultivation process, if one was not careful, the original self might not exist, replaced by another “consciousness.” Fortunately, Ji Yutang had the “Heart of the Great Dao” to guide her path, the “Daode Heavenly Book” to suppress foreign energy and yin demons, and the “Taiyin energy” remaining in the Mind Palace, making it impossible for the “extreme yang change” to be born.
In these two years, she cultivated “Two Elephants in Harmony” and also made her divine dragon body more full, with Primordial Qi flowing between her body’s apertures, her dragon scales moving like jade and gold colliding, producing a series of crisp and pleasant sounds.
Tianshui Ji Family.
Ning Huaizhen and Ji Mingcheng wore calm and composed smiles, looking at the guests from Taiyuan Dao Palace seated above, but their hearts were alarmed.
“Ji Xiaoyou is missing, aren’t you two worried at all?” The speaker was a delicate female cultivator in gray clothes, named Jin Biyou, an elder of Taiyuan Dao Palace, sitting beside her was Wang Shenyu, who looked concerned.
“The path of seeking Dao, my husband and I will not obstruct, whether she lives or dies is her own fate.” Ning Huaizhen glared at Ji Mingcheng, signaling him to shut up.
She then turned to Jin Biyou with a gentle smile.
Jin Biyou’s eyes flashed, and she smiled, “That’s reassuring.
I thought Ning Daoyou had some way to know her whereabouts.” Initially, the Demon Sect and Immortal Sect sought cooperation to find Ji Yue and Ji Yutang, but after a long time without results, the two sects, already at odds, naturally ended the “cooperation” under the manipulation of those with ulterior motives.
If it were ordinary disciples missing, they could use deduction methods to find clues, but this time, any calculation would disturb the heavenly secrets on the “Heaven and Earth Chessboard.” The heavenly secrets were chaotic, foreign energy flowed, and no accurate number could be given.
Taishi Dao Palace, after Li Qingxun’s fall, had been searching for a way to break the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, but until now, there was no feasible method.
If it weren’t for Ran Jingri’s carelessness, how would it have come to this? Thinking of this, Jin Biyou felt a bit of resentment.
“We are also worried about Yutang.” Wang Shenyu brushed her hair and sighed lightly, “Gutang’s temperament has changed drastically, she has completely fallen into the demon path, and we don’t know what she might do.”
Ji Mingcheng optimistically said, “Didn’t she end up in the Southern Border before, and nothing happened? Maybe there’s still a bit of reason left in the child.”
Wang Shenyu’s smile froze, and after a moment, she said, “But now that she’s become a demon seed, she will naturally be different from before.”
“Ji is not one to break promises, but I just want to ask, why the sudden urgency? Shouldn’t the two children be given some time to get to know each other, rather than being forcibly tied together?” Ji Mingcheng looked at Wang Shenyu.
Wang Shenyu avoided Ji Mingcheng’s bright gaze, she sighed and said, “Let my senior brother explain this to you.”
“There’s no need for that.” Jin Biyou glanced at Wang Shenyu, then turned to Ji Mingcheng and Ning Huaizhen, saying calmly, “You should know about this matter.
“The Demon Ancestor’s arrival and Tai Shang’s return, I suppose the two of you have heard such prophecies? The Demon Ancestor’s arrival is self-evident, the Twelve Demon God Stakes of the Tianhai Demon Sect transform into Demon Gods to unify and summon the Demon Ancestor.
Our Immortal Sect, besides targeting the twelve stakes of the Demon Sect, also has our own ‘Tai Shang plan.'”
Ning Huaizhen’s eyelid twitched, frowning, “What does this have to do with the marriage contract?”
“Of course, it does.” Jin Biyou smiled, “The Supreme Dao Ancestor is different from demons, his return is born from a mother.
Our Taiyuan Palace deduced the heavenly secrets and found two people who can give birth to the Supreme Dao Ancestor.”
Before Jin Biyou finished speaking, Ning Huaizhen and Ji Mingcheng understood, their expressions suddenly changed.
Ning Huaizhen stood up abruptly, the chair scraping a sharp sound on the ground.
How could she not understand who the two people Taiyuan Palace pinned their hopes on were? One was the Ran Family girl, and the other was Xiao Tang! Heart of the Great Dao, directly connected to the transformation of the Great Dao!
“It’s just that the heavenly secrets have changed, for some reason, Li Qingxun’s daughter became twins, and you—” Jin Biyou smiled at Ning Huaizhen, her words stopping abruptly.
Ning Huaizhen coldly shouted, “Get out!” Jin Biyou was unfazed by Ning Huaizhen’s cold face, she stood up calmly, “The Demon Ancestor’s arrival cannot be changed, and Tai Shang’s return is also a predetermined number, Tai Shang will guide us to subdue the demon path, his return is a major event for our Immortal Sect, I hope the two of you will think deeply.” After speaking, without waiting for Ning Huaizhen to drive her away, she waved her sleeve and left gracefully.
Wang Shenyu’s expression changed slightly, facing Ning Huaizhen’s angry face, she showed an apologetic smile, then quickly followed Jin Biyou.
“Sister, why did you say that?” Wang Shenyu asked discontentedly.
Jin Biyou looked back at her, “Isn’t it the truth?”
“But we are just trying to promote the marriage between the two families to welcome the Supreme Dao Ancestor’s birth, isn’t it a good thing for both the Ji Family and the Immortal Sect? What you just said makes it sound like we’ve been scheming since we met them!” Wang Shenyu said anxiously.
Jin Biyou’s lips curled into a faint smile, she asked, “Isn’t it?”
Wang Shenyu was stunned by her words.
– Inside the house.
Ning Huaizhen poured several cups of tea but couldn’t calm her anger.
She held the teacup, waves of energy surging from her body, the teacup instantly turned into a pile of powder, and the table and chairs shook, making a series of noises.
“No wonder they swore before the Supreme Dao Ancestor.” Ning Huaizhen sneered, her gaze sharp.
“Do you think Brother Ran knows about this?” Ji Mingcheng frowned.
Ning Huaizhen sneered, “What do you think? What is Ran Jingri’s relationship with Wang Shenyu? Taiyuan Dao Palace knows, would he be kept in the dark?”
“So, is there another hidden story behind Senior Sister Li’s matter?” Ji Mingcheng shook his head, “I don’t know.” After a pause, he added, “If it’s for the Immortal Sect, for the Supreme Dao Ancestor, Brother Ran could have spoken frankly, what is this now?”
“What, are you willing to sacrifice your daughter’s happiness for the Immortal Sect’s righteousness?” Ning Huaizhen coldly looked at Ji Mingcheng, all her anger pouring onto him, “Ji Mingcheng, use your brain, with such concealment, will it only concern ‘happiness’? Why did the heavenly secrets change? Isn’t that contrary to the Great Dao? During this process, what kind of price do you think your daughter will pay? In the past, the Taiyuan Holy Mother gave birth to the Dao Ancestor and the Demon Ancestor, then transformed into the Dao herself, does your daughter have to be this ‘Dao Mother’?”
“But the Demon Ancestor’s arrival, if—”
“Shut up!” Ning Huaizhen’s anger intensified, she said decisively, “Why can’t we cultivators fight against the demon cultivators ourselves, instead of pinning our hopes on a vague person? Ji Mingcheng, remember this, this marriage cannot happen, even if we die from breaking the oath, it cannot happen, do you understand?”
Ji Mingcheng looked helpless, he nodded, “I understand.” After a pause, he added, “I’ve already found a way to avoid the oath, just need to retrieve that thing.” Even without this, he didn’t want to force Ji Yutang.
He indeed didn’t want to be someone who breaks promises, but wasn’t it the Ran Family who first broke the promise? After Ran Guzhu ran away, it was hard to restore things to how they were.
– Outside Wolong Mountain.
Collapsed rocks were piled up haphazardly, weeds growing in the crevices.
After Zhu Jiuyin was suppressed and killed, the Demon God Stake here had been sealed, but in the central area, there was still a strong residual turbid evil energy.
Ji Yutang stood on the cloud, she turned to look at Li Jingyu, and after a long time, she said, “Are you going to follow me to Tianshui City?”
Li Jingyu crossed her arms, a smile on her lips, she asked back, “Can’t I?”
Ji Yutang shook her head, she said seriously, “If you insist on staying in the Demon Sect and traveling with the Tianhai Demon Sect cultivators, then you and I are not on the same path.”
Li Jingyu was indifferent, “You’ve said this many times.”
Ji Yutang was a bit dissatisfied with Li Jingyu’s casual attitude, she emphasized seriously, “This time it’s true!”
Li Jingyu laughed, “Are you going to say ‘after parting here, the next time we meet will be when we draw our swords’?” Seeing Ji Yutang purse her lips, she smiled meaningfully, “I look forward to that day, but I suppose it won’t be long.”
Ji Yutang: “…”
The mountain wind blew, the surroundings silent.
Ji Yutang no longer looked at Li Jingyu, she turned to leave.
But after flying a distance, she returned, her dragon skills operating, a pair of small antlers emerged from her forehead.
She stood in front of Li Jingyu, bit her lower lip, but took the initiative to grab Li Jingyu’s hand and let her touch the dragon horns.
She suppressed the electric current surging in her body, her eyes like flowing autumn water, “After parting today, let’s consider it even between us.” Saying this, without looking at Li Jingyu’s expression, she hurriedly left.
Li Jingyu stood still, watching Ji Yutang until her figure completely disappeared.
With a flip of her wrist, a delicate grass weaving appeared in her palm, she chuckled softly, “Want to be even? It’s not that easy.” Before her plan was fully implemented, it was impossible to be even.
– Ji Family.
Every plant and tree was as it was when she left, as if time had left no trace.
Ji Yutang’s lips curled into a light smile, she ran towards her mother’s small courtyard.
But what awaited her was not Ning Huaizhen’s joyful expression, but a head-on question, “What are you back for? Do you want to marry Ran Guzhu?” Ji Yutang’s eyelid twitched, noticing something from Ning Huaizhen’s expression.
“Mother?”
Ning Huaizhen sighed, putting away her temper.
She looked Ji Yutang up and down, seeing no injuries on her, even her cultivation had improved a lot, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Half concerned, half reproachful, she said, “You came back at a bad time, it would have been better to travel outside longer.” After a pause, she added, “Were you with Ran Gutong?”
Ji Yutang hesitated for a moment, then nodded honestly.
Before Ning Huaizhen could continue to dwell on “Ran Gutong,” Ji Yutang asked, “Did something happen?”
Ning Huaizhen said slowly, “Taiyuan Dao Palace came to force a marriage.”
Ji Yutang was dissatisfied, “Are they in such a hurry? If they really want to marry, why don’t they go themselves?”
At that moment, her resentment towards Taiyuan Dao Palace reached its peak.
Ning Huaizhen looked at Ji Yutang, hesitating to speak.
Logically, this matter concerned Ji Yutang, she should be informed.
But she feared Ji Yutang might give up on herself out of momentary compassion and agree to marry the Ran Family girl.
“Is it… because of the Supreme Dao Ancestor?” Ning Huaizhen was still hesitating when Ji Yutang asked.
Ning Huaizhen’s expression changed drastically, she blurted out, “How do you know?”
Ji Yutang lowered her eyes, speaking softly, “I encountered the estate of the Taishi Lineage Chongxu Zhenren, inside I found the remains and relics of Senior Wang Jingzhi.
Among his relics was a memory jade slip, recording some images.
Uncle-Master Ran was with Senior Li because she was a Tai Shang bloodline, capable of nurturing the Tai Shang Dao Mother—a mother capable of bearing the Tai Shang Dao fetus.”
When Ning Huaizhen learned about the “Supreme Dao Ancestor,” she had a vague suspicion, but now that Ji Yutang had pointed it out, she felt a heavy chill surging within her.
Since the encounter with Li Qingxun was a deliberate calculation by Ran Jingri, then what about their interactions with herself and Mingcheng? Were the past interactions all a facade drawn by Ran Jingri, just to swear before the Supreme Dao Ancestor?
“Mother?” Ji Yutang looked at Ning Huaizhen with concern.
Ning Huaizhen forced a smile and said, “I’m fine.” She pressed her temples and continued, “You should leave Tianshui quickly, don’t stay here.
We’re at the final step, and they might do something unexpected.”
Ji Yutang held Ning Huaizhen’s hand in return, frowning, “What about you?” She pursed her lips and added, “After all, it’s the Immortal Sect, they wouldn’t resort to such forceful tactics.”
“Have you forgotten Pure Lotus Zen?” Ning Huaizhen looked up, gazing at Ji Yutang with a deep expression.
Ji Yutang recalled the bloody massacre, and a chill ran through her.
She was at a loss for words for a long time.
Ning Huaizhen, feeling troubled, said, “Pure Lotus Zen fell into madness due to obsession, who says Taiyuan Palace won’t do the same? Once your father finds a way to break the oath, our family will leave Tianshui.” As a rogue cultivator, although the Immortal Sect’s teachings are said to originate from Tai Shang, she, as a rogue cultivator, doesn’t hold much reverence for the Three Supreme Palaces.
In facing such matters, she could only assume the worst.
Ji Yutang took a deep breath and nodded.
Tianshui was no longer a place to stay, and she had returned to leave with her parents.
Recalling the murals she saw at Chongxu Daoist’s dojo, she didn’t believe that after Tai Shang’s return, the Immortal Sect would have a better future.
After sitting in the room for a while and not seeing Ji Mingcheng return, Ji Yutang felt worried and got up to leave.
Just as she was about to step out, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
Looking up, she saw the gentlemanly Ran Jingri.
“Yutang niece, where are you going?” Ran Jingri looked at Ji Yutang and spoke gently, “It’s been two years, A Zhu has missed you greatly.”
Ji Yutang showed caution.
She was now only at the Golden Core stage and wasn’t confident in dealing with Ran Jingri.
“Ran Jingri, what do you want?” Ning Huaizhen flew out at this moment.
After learning the truth, she had severed ties with the Ran Family unilaterally.
Seeing Ran Jingri now, her tone was anything but polite.
Ran Jingri smiled calmly, “Daoist Friend Ji is also at the Ran Family.
You and your daughter can come over to discuss the marriage.” Seeing Ning Huaizhen’s cold expression, he added, “Isn’t fulfilling the oath the best way to erase it?”
“You—” Ning Huaizhen shouted angrily.
She instantly understood Ran Jingri’s meaning.
It seemed Ji Mingcheng’s efforts over the years had been in his sight.
The so-called way to erase the oath might just be bait thrown by Ran Jingri.
After all, before knowing the truth, they hadn’t guarded against the Ran Family.
Ji Yutang’s heart sank suddenly.
She looked at Ran Jingri coldly and said, “I’ll go.” If nothing unexpected happened, before she married Ran Guzhu, Ran Jingri wouldn’t let them leave, and even after marriage, if she couldn’t give birth to the Supreme Dao Ancestor, they wouldn’t be free.
And after the Supreme Dao Ancestor descended, would she still exist? No matter what, she wouldn’t let it come to that.
Li Jingyu probably wouldn’t want to see this either.
Where would she be in Tianshui at this moment? Would she let the Ran Family go this time? Ji Yutang’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her head to suppress her thoughts.
— Fulai Inn, a hidden paradise.
After sending Ji Yutang back to Tianshui, Li Jingyu didn’t plan to leave.
“The Ji Family has been invited to the Ran Family,” Shi Qingchen said calmly.
“Ran Jingri is shameless to this extent? Planning to force a marriage?” Li Jingyu raised an eyebrow, surprised.
“Perhaps,” Shi Qingchen’s eyes flickered.
She had also learned about the “Supreme Dao Ancestor” from Li Jingyu.
She looked at Li Jingyu and said, “What do you plan to do about this? Aren’t you going to let the Tianhai Demon Sect know?”
“If they find out, will Ji Yutang have a way out?” Li Jingyu replied, knowing Shi Qingchen was referring to the “Supreme Dao Ancestor.”
“Then how do you plan to use the Tianhai Demon Sect’s power?” Shi Qingchen nodded and smiled.
“Aren’t I a daughter of the Ran Family?” Li Jingyu said leisurely, “I want to sever worldly ties like a Wangqing Sect cultivator.
Isn’t that normal? Isn’t that the kind of demon seed they want? As for the involvement of Taiyuan Dao Palace, they don’t need to know.” Once she mastered the supreme method, she could eliminate those chaotic demon cultivators.
But since she hadn’t mastered it yet, she could only rely on others to deplete the Demon Sect’s power.
Shi Qingchen nodded and added, “There’s another piece of news.
The Ran Family has been investigating your relationship with the Ji Family girl.”
Li Jingyu responded with a “hmm,” resting her chin on one hand, absentmindedly playing with the grass on the table.
Ran Jingri’s urgency likely had other motives, right? She and Ran Guzhu were twins, both supposedly Tai Shang’s bloodline, but no one knew which one was the true “Dao Mother.” Could it be that they wanted both sisters to try? Or to merge them into one? Whatever method he chose, he had to capture her to continue.
— Ran Family.
In the desolate courtyard, wild grass grew abundantly.
But there was one spot watered with blood, leaving only a patch of barren red soil.
Ran Jingri stood with his hands behind his back in front of the courtyard, unexpectedly recalling scenes from the past.
His brows furrowed, and his gaze deepened.
“Senior Brother Ran, you’re indeed here.” Wang Shenyu approached gracefully, gazing at Ran Jingri with deep affection, and said casually, “Are you thinking about Senior Sister Li?”
Ran Jingri turned his head and said indifferently, “I’m thinking about what else she did besides the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.”
Wang Shenyu frowned, “Are you worried about the Tai Shang plan?”
Ran Jingri neither confirmed nor denied, only saying, “She calculated some things back then.
I’m wondering, during those brief five years, she would disappear occasionally—later we confirmed she didn’t return to Taishi Dao Palace but went elsewhere.
And every time she returned, she focused all her attention on Atong.
“Doesn’t this suggest that Atong is the one?” Wang Shenyu frowned, “But she’s a demon seed.”
Ran Jingri chuckled lightly, “Don’t forget, the Demon Ancestor and Supreme Dao Ancestor were both born of Taiyuan Holy Mother.”
