Chapter 426: Chapter 65: The Dao Is Born of Xuan Sheng, The Dao Is Born of the Self, Return
Lu Xuan was stunned. ’The first Celestial Emperor??’
He looked down the mountain at that devout flame.
The flame noticed Lu Xuan’s gaze and began to dance with joy, overjoyed.
"The Daoist Ancestor is looking at me! I have the Daoist Ancestor’s favor!"
The Barbaric Creatures gathered from ninety million li around were greatly alarmed. After a burst of chattering, they all bowed respectfully toward the flame.
Lu Xuan’s eye twitched.
The Blind Daoist’s gaze, however, was profound. He seemed to be contemplating something, and only after a long moment did he speak.
"This flame has also had a difficult fate. As soon as the Years and Time emerged from The Beginning of Ancient Times, he became the first Celestial Emperor. He and his wife gave birth to ten Great Suns, and he ruled and patrolled the heavens, the most revered being of antiquity."
"Unfortunately, Taiyi later struck him down, then devoured his wife and ten sons to obtain half a Dao Fruit. Afterward, he usurped the Celestial Court to gain the other half... Oh, right. Taiyi is his younger brother, born after The Beginning of Ancient Times came to an end."
Hearing this, Lu Xuan’s pupils contracted sharply.
"Fratricide, devouring his sister-in-law and ten nephews..."
The Blind Daoist nodded.
"But things seem different now. This flame is actually showing signs of rising again, trending toward a return within the great expanse of Years. This is likely because of you."
Lu Xuan grew pensive.
"Because of my sermon?"
"No, because of your Dao Ancestor Embryo." The Blind Daoist smiled and gestured with his hand. The Primordial Fire immediately flew up to Jade Capital Mountain.
Xiaohuo bowed excitedly, shouting:
"Daoist Ancestor! Daoist Ancestor!"
Lu Xuan focused his attention and asked:
"Do you have a name?"
"I don’t! I don’t! Please, Daoist Ancestor, grant me a name!" Xiaohuo bowed low.
Lu Xuan paused for a moment. ’The first Celestial Emperor...’ He made his decision and said:
"Then let your surname be Di, for Emperor. I shall call you... Emperor Jun. How does that sound?"
"A great name, a great name!" Xiaohuo danced with joy again, while the Blind Daoist’s expression flickered as he said softly:
"Xiaoxuan, by bestowing this name, if you were to also crown him..."
Lu Xuan froze, then understood.
After a moment of silence, he looked at Xiaohuo.
"Since you have listened to my Dao, it means we are fated to meet. Are you willing to become my disciple?"
"I couldn’t ask for anything more! Nothing more!" Xiaohuo’Er performed another grand ritual, making three bows and nine kowtows with the utmost reverence.
Lu Xuan pondered for a long while before saying softly:
"Xiaohuo’Er, for now I will record your name as my disciple. You, in turn, must remember my Daoist title."
"Tell me, Teacher, tell me!" Xiaohuo’Er urged, unable to wait.
Lu Xuan’s expression grew solemn. ’Supreme Profound Clarity is out of the question, as is Profound Yellow...’ He recalled the words of his second master.
"If you truly become the Daoist Ancestor in this Beginning of Ancient Times, this ultimate land, it will mean that ’The Dao is born from you’!"
’The Dao is born from the Self... Profound Clarity, Profound Yellow, Profound Origin Fusheng...’
A smile spread across his face.
"The Dao is born from the Profound. My title, therefore, shall be Xuan Sheng."
Xiaohuo’Er, only half-understanding, bowed once before scampering to the edge of the mountain and shouting to the Barbaric Creatures below:
"The Dao is born from the Profound! The Dao is born from the Daoist Ancestor! The Daoist Ancestor is Xuan Sheng!"
He repeated this three times in a row. The myriad Barbaric Creatures, still unenlightened, simply chanted along with him three times.
Then, Xiaohuo’Er called out again in a clear voice:
"In The Beginning of Ancient Times, who is it that preaches the Dao?"
Some of the Barbaric Creatures shouted "Lu Xuan," while others shouted "Xuan Sheng."
Xiaohuo’Er turned his head back innocently and asked in a loud voice:
"Teacher, Teacher, which one is it supposed to be?"
Lu Xuan looked to his second master. The Blind Daoist pondered for a moment before instructing the little flame:
"The Daoist Ancestor is Xuan Sheng. Only when the Daoist Ancestor has spread his teachings to every corner of existence and brought Cultivation to all living things will the Daoist Ancestor then be... Lu Xuan."
Xiaohuo’Er nodded, still a bit confused, then let out a cheer, leaped off the mountain, and ran off to spread the word. Meanwhile, the Blind Daoist silently placed a Great Ban on the Souls and True Spirits of these Barbaric Creatures.
Lu Xuan grew pensive.
"Second Master, I have only brought Cultivation to an area of ninety million li. Within the entirety of The Beginning of Ancient Times, that is but a drop in the ocean. Is that why I only possess the Dao Ancestor Embryo? If I bring Cultivation to all of The Beginning of Ancient Times, will I then be able to..."
"Exactly."
The Blind Daoist rose gracefully and instructed:
"But absolutely not now. If you go west, you will encounter two with Dao Fruits. Go east, and you will meet three... Although I am suppressing them, you will be exposed if you meet them."
Lu Xuan’s expression tightened.
"What do you mean?"
"Only when you have attained your Dao Fruit can you spread your own Dao throughout this special era of Years and truly have the Dao emerge from you. Until then, stay hidden."
"I understand, Second Master!" Lu Xuan performed a formal bow.
The Blind Daoist nodded.
"And as for Emperor Jun, now that you’ve named him, his fate of premature death has become negligible. Even I cannot see through Taiyi’s schemes, but one day, when you feel the time is right, you may be able to bring Emperor Jun out of here."
Lu Xuan flinched and shook his head.
"I won’t do that until I can stand against Taiyi head-on. It would only bring harm to Xiaohuo’Er... I am his teacher."
The Blind Daoist was taken aback for a moment, then he looked at Lu Xuan with a serious expression.
After a long moment, a smile spread across his face.
"Excellent."
The Blind Daoist praised him softly, tapping Lu Xuan on the head.
"It’s time for you to go back. Remember, everything that has happened here must be kept secret. You now possess an Innate Body, and your foundation is absurdly deep. Once you return, it will be time to consider the matter of becoming Immortal."
Lu Xuan nodded.
"I’m going to marry Xiaoyan. After the wedding, I will go to the lands of Qin and attain my Immortality there... It’s a shame you won’t be able to come to my wedding, Teacher."
The Blind Daoist clicked his tongue, also looking a bit regretful. Then, suddenly, his eyes lit up.
"What is your relationship with the Goddess?"
Lu Xuan blinked, then answered honestly:
"The Lady... is my mother."
"AHEM..." The Blind Daoist coughed a few times, his expression turning strange. Then he said:
"In that case, speak with the Goddess and ask her to allow an incarnation of mine to enter the Current World. She should agree."
"What about the Teacher and the Three Masters?" Lu Xuan asked curiously. "Will you invite them for me?"
