My Dreams Connect to Ancient Times

Chapter 552: Chapter 15: The Supreme Is Flawed, The Three Pure Ones Are Damaged, Slapping Taiyi

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The reverberating clang began at The Beginning of Ancient Times, echoing through the most ancient eras, past Wa Huang’s creation of humanity and the Era of the Three Emperors, all the way to the Current World at the very end of Years!

Every living being in every moment of time heard the resonating clang,

Some immortals subconsciously looked up and saw a blurry figure high in the Celestial Vault, raising a hammer and axe, striking down with force!

"Who is... forging an artifact?"

An ancient Immortal or Buddha voiced the question.

In the Great Chaos, the Demon Ancestor opened its eyes, and two majestic Buddha Lords glanced over.

Within the Great Heaven and Earth, Haotian, standing on the shores of the East Sea, was filled with astonished doubt. The battling Immortal Mother and Chu Tai were also taken aback, and even the Buddha Mother paused, staring at the illusory silhouette that transcended all Years, all of time and space!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

"Is that... in Hongmeng?" the Buddha Mother muttered, shock filling her eyes.

An unknown being was forging a Great Artifact, and the sight of the forging, the ring of the hammer, pierced through all of antiquity, penetrating everything that was and was not!

"The Three Pristine Ones!"

A peerless woman with profound eyes gently stroked Lu Nian’s head. Hongmeng had long been sealed off by the Primordial Great Celestial Venerable.

The only ones who could forge an artifact there are The Three Pristine Ones!

What are The Three Pristine Ones forging?

The question surfaced in the minds of many a Supreme Being. The Enlightened Ones frowned, the Ancient Ones were stunned, and the Daluo were terrified!

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The scene of the forging seemed to conclude. The grand silhouette set down its hammer and axe, and a blinding Immortal Light exploded before the eyes of every living being!

"Something’s wrong."

In the Great Chaos, Amitabha Buddha rose with delight, his eyes shining:

"The Supreme... seems to be falling from his realm?"

The Ancient Bodhi Buddha gazed out upon all the worlds and discovered that all the Ancient Realms and planes of existence were trembling. Nature itself had slightly waned.

A smile spread across his face as well.

"He hasn’t fallen completely, but his state has still declined. He’s on the verge of losing his [Perfect Dao Fruit]. I can already faintly imagine his true form!"

Before this, the Supreme was the only one in the current age to have achieved a Perfect Dao Fruit, placing him beyond the scope of imagination.

Even the [Enlightened Ones] could not imagine or fathom his true form, but now, the various [Enlightened Ones] and [Ancient Ones] could vaguely see the outline of the Supreme’s true self!

"What has he done?"

The Buddha Mother muttered to herself, now even more certain that this bizarre spectacle of artifact forging was the work of The Three Pristine Ones.

The moment the artifact was forged, the Supreme began to fall from his realm, re-entering the bounds of what could be imagined. Although he was still impossible to defeat,

he could at least be categorized as an [enemy] again, rather than an Existence one could only look up to in awe!

"Supreme... what did he do?"

One after another, the Enlightened Ones and Ancient Ones asked themselves this question.

「Meanwhile, before the Creation of Heaven and Earth.」

Hongmeng nearly erupted into turmoil. This was a place originally devoid of any concept, a place of absolute, true nothingness, yet at this very moment, six faint Daos had appeared!

The first was called [Cause and Effect], taken from the Jade Void Glazed Lamp. The second was [Birth and Death], from the Spirit Coffin Lamp. The third was [All Things], from the Eight Sceneries Palace Lamp.

The fourth was [Emperor], originating from the [Celestial Emperor’s Seal].

The fifth was [Nature], arising from the Shennong Cauldron. And the sixth was [Human Race], manifesting from the [Human Emperor’s Sword]!

The six Daos stood parallel to one another. The hazy, indistinct Jade Disc began to glow, bearing the six Great Daos as Cause and Effect clashed with Birth and Death,

All Things and Nature merged, and the Human Race and Emperor became intertwined!

"This..."

Lu Xuan set down his axe and hammer, which reverted to the Four Immortal Slaying Swords and the Heaven-Opening Banner, respectively.

He raised the [Creation Jade Disc] in both hands, feeling the power flowing back into him from this Great Artifact. His entire being, from his Essence, Qi, and Spirit down to his most fundamental True Spirit, seemed to be sublimating!

Lu Xuan’s gaze swept past the Creation Jade Disc and fell upon the Eight Trigrams Furnace.

The Eight Trigrams Furnace remained dim and profound, but the once extremely blurry silhouette at the bottom had become somewhat clearer.

It was recognizably a human form, yet it also resembled Nature itself. In its hand, it held the [Demon Ancestor Incarnation], lying peacefully and motionless at the bottom of the furnace.

’It’s gotten clearer...’

Lu Xuan was startled. He shot a stunned glance toward his master.

The Supreme still stood calmly in place with a smile on his face, but he now carried new auras of [Yuanrong] and [Grandeur].

Before this, whenever Lu Xuan had observed his master, the only impressions he received were of [Emptiness] and [Supremacy]!

’Did he get stronger?’

’Or...’

’Has his realm fallen?’

Lu Xuan’s heart clenched. Holding the Creation Jade Disc, he spoke with difficulty,

"Master, you..."

The Supreme smiled and waved his hand, offering no explanation, only saying gently,

"This artifact is not yet complete. It cannot even be considered an embryo. It still lacks four components. Once you find them and reforge it, it may become a supreme embryo."

He paused, a bright smile in his eyes.

"At that time, as a mere embryo, it might be able to contend with the Qing Ping Sword, the Heaven-Opening Banner, and even my Taiji Diagram.

If, in the future, you again attain the state of an [Enlightened One] or even a [Perfect Dao Fruit], this artifact... could become the [First]."

In the current age, the Taiji Diagram, the Heaven-Opening Banner, and the Qing Ping Sword were all supreme in the world.

But ultimately, they were equals. Even the Ancient Bodhi Buddha’s Miaoshu and Amitabha Buddha’s once-complete Western Pure Land could rival them.

Though each was the first, they were [all] first.

Lu Xuan cradled the Creation Jade Disc and nodded heavily. He wanted to say something, but was startled to find that he was beginning to undergo a complete transformation.

The mysteries of Time and the great secrets of the Years flowed through his body and mind, while the profound principles of the supreme Dharma streamed before his eyes.

The feeling was familiar; he had sensed it when he attained the state of [Daluo].

’Am I attaining Daluo?’

’But I’m already a Daluo, aren’t I?’

A look of astonishment appeared on Lu Xuan’s face. He quickly closed his eyes to focus on the sensation. The footprints he had left throughout the history of the Years emerged one by one, his imprints from every age stepping forward.

From the youth in the shantytown to the supreme being he was when establishing laws and slaying the Demon Race,

Then came Lu Zi of the Spring and Autumn Years, Profound Yellow of the Qin and Han dynasties, the afterimage that met the Three Emperors, the mark that held up the Celestial Vault and stopped the great flood,

After that, [God Lu Xuan] from the most ancient times, [Profound Clarity] who roamed the four corners of the world at The Beginning of Ancient Times, and [Shakyamuni] from across all time and space,

And finally, before the Creation of Heaven and Earth, the Daoist who held the axe and hammer, his back turned to all Years, to all of reality and illusion, forging the Great Artifact...

All the imprints from across the Years merged into Lu Xuan.

An unconscious smile spread across his face as he muttered to himself,

"So, this is what it means to be a Daluo."

Achieving Daloa through the body of Shakyamuni was, in the end, [Shakyamuni’s] achievement, not [Lu Xuan’s].

Only now, by attaining Daluo once more, did he truly understand!

The hazy, indistinct Creation Jade Disc began to glow. The [Path of Great Balance] flowed across its surface before fading,

and the Creation Jade Disc itself sank into Lu Xuan’s head, instantly appearing within the minds of his every other-self and True Self Incarnation.

An unknown amount of time passed. Before the Heaven Opening, the concept of time didn’t exist.

Lu Xuan slowly opened his eyes and solemnly paid his respects to his three masters without a word.

"Go, then."

The Supreme smiled, grabbing Xiaohuo who was still desperately fueling the Eight Trigrams Furnace. He concealed its presence, bestowing upon it a trait that even an [Enlightened One] would struggle to perceive or probe, then transformed it into a Little Daoist Child and tossed it to Lu Xuan.

"Go on, go on."

The Blind Daoist and the Lame Daoist sighed faintly. They seemed to be smiling, yet their expressions were complex as they each raised a hand to send him off.

Lu Xuan’s figure slowly peeled away from Hongmeng, from the time before the Creation of Heaven and Earth, falling into The Beginning of Ancient Times and then down into the River of Time.

He remained silent, still holding his respectful posture.

Once the figures of Lu Xuan and the Little Daoist Child had completely vanished into the River of Time,

「Hongmeng.」

The Blind Daoist glanced at the Eight Trigrams Furnace and said softly,

"Supreme, you’re the one who’s always saying he can’t be bothered with the younger generation... You call this ’not being bothered’?"

The Supreme slowly closed the Eight Trigrams Furnace and said nonchalantly,

"I just gave him a little push."

"A little push?"

The Lame Daoist’s expression was also complex.

"You fell from [Perfection], using your traits of being beyond imagination and outside the bounds of heaven and earth, all to [Complete] the process for Xiaoxuan and help him forge the prototype of a Supreme Great Artifact..."

"Don’t just point fingers at me."

The Supreme said with a smile, stroking the Eight Trigrams Furnace,

"Are you two any better? One of you infused his fundamental path of the End into the Four Immortal Slaying Swords, and the other placed all of his Primordial Skill into the Heaven-Opening Banner..."

He paused, lowering his gaze.

"That fundamental End and all that Primordial Skill were forged into the Creation Jade Disc. You two must have suffered some damage as well, haven’t you?"

"It’s for the sake of the younger generation," the Lame Daoist chuckled. "What, only you are allowed to care for them, Supreme? Aren’t we allowed to care, too?"

"That’s not it."

The Supreme looked at the two beaming Daoists and sighed.

"What I’m curious about is, he’s my disciple, not yours. Why did you two go to such lengths..."

The Eight Trigrams Furnace was lifted high into the air.

"Supreme!!"

The two Daoists’ faces fell. They tried to flee but were suppressed by the furnace. The Lame Daoist had it worst, grimacing in pain.

The Blind Daoist, relying on his home-field advantage here, fared slightly better, but not by much...

"Supreme, haven’t you fallen from your realm?!"

The Blind Daoist roared, trying to escape into The Beginning of Ancient Times.

"Do you dare fight me in The Beginning of Ancient Times?"

"Heh."

The old man smiled.

"I wouldn’t dare."

As he spoke, the Eight Trigrams Furnace descended once more, Covering the Sky and Sun.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!!

Countless ancient Immortal Gods, even the Daluo and Dao Fruit cultivators, heard the clanging sound once more.

The Buddha Mother focused her senses and muttered,

"This artifact... it’s still not done being forged?"

Within Chaos, the once-beaming Amitabha Buddha and Ancient Bodhi Buddha now frowned.

The former put his palms together.

"Something is not right. What in the world are The Three Pristine Ones doing? What kind of Great Artifact are they forging? I must take a look..."

"Be careful! Before the Heaven Opening, only The Three Pristine Ones exist. That place is under their complete control!" the Ancient Bodhi Buddha warned. "If you try to pry by force, you might be grievously injured!"

"I have to look, even if I get injured! Otherwise, my heart will not be at ease!"

Amitabha Buddha’s expression was solemn. Stroking the dilapidated Western Pure Land in his hand, his eyes pierced through all things.

Even as he coughed up mouthfuls of blood, even as his Western Pure Land became more dilapidated, even as his own status as an [Enlightened One] began to waver, he finally set his sights on Hongmeng!

He saw the old Supreme holding the Eight Trigrams Furnace, chasing down a blind Daoist and a lame one, beating them relentlessly.

He heard the clang of the Eight Trigrams Furnace as it smashed against the bodies of the two Daoists.

Amitabha Buddha fell silent.

PTUI!

The majestic Buddha coughed up another mouthful of blood.

CRACK!!

A crack appeared on the Western Pure Land.

...

「Late Han Dynasty, above Giant Deer.」

Taiyi smiled as he watched the Daoist Profound Clarity before him open his eyes.

"So you’ve attained Daluo? What happened before the Heaven Opening?"

He subconsciously ignored the Little Daoist Child who had appeared beside Lu Xuan. Every time he tried to glance over, the thought would naturally stop itself,

and even his consciousness was unable to imagine the Daoist Child, as if the child simply did not exist.

The Supreme’s true form had left a trace of a trait similar to being [Beyond Imagination] on Xiaohuo’er; he could be seen, but not comprehended.

A [Perfect Dao Fruit] was, in itself, the greatest of all [Transcendent Traits].

After all, the child was his grand-disciple.

As Xiaohuo’er looked around,

Supreme Profound Clarity rose gracefully. He glanced at the battling Hongjun Daoist and Immortal Mother, then said nonchalantly,

"I have indeed attained Daluo, and the benefits were not insignificant."

"Is that so?" Taiyi sneered. "The stronger you become, the more it benefits me. Excellent, excellent..."

Lu Xuan said nothing, simply thrusting a palm toward Taiyi.

Taiyi neither dodged nor evaded, just let out a laugh.

"What, you attain Daluo and instantly become arrogant? The gap between you and me is greater than that between heaven and earth."

The greatest difference between a Dao Fruit cultivator and a Daluo was that the former had completely leaped beyond the flow of Time and Years, existing on a completely different plane from a Daluo.

A Daluo looking at a Dao Fruit cultivator was truly an ant gazing up at the Cyan Celestial Realm.

Taiyi let out a lazy yawn.

"Although I have fallen to the level of an Ancient One and was wounded by the Supreme’s attack, I can sit right in front of you, and you still can’t touch me. After all, a Dao Fruit Cultivator has achieved Transcendence from Time, whereas you, even as a Daluo, are still within it..."

SMACK!

Lu Xuan’s palm landed squarely on Taiyi’s face.