One year later, they finally approached the depths of the Shenxu Forest.
Tens of thousands of cultivators had perished on this journey.
This was the terrifying nature of the Shenxu Forest; even a True Immortal with an endless lifespan would meet their end here.
Looking ahead, they saw a mountain peak formed from solidified divine origin.
The divine origin mountain towered over a thousand zhang, its body emitting profound runes, appearing grey and shimmering with the pulsating divine origin.
At the summit, three thousand paths of rhyme flowed, shrouded in grand visions of the Great Dao. A seven-colored pillar of light shot up from the peak, piercing into the boundless chaos.
Within the seven-colored pillar, a rich aura of primordial energy overflowed, spreading like ripples on still water.
"Is this a primordial supreme treasure? What a terrifying aura."
There was still some time before the primordial supreme treasure would fully manifest, so they could only wait patiently.
Their eyes were fixed on the seven-colored pillar, staring intently.
Even the thousand-zhang divine origin mountain in this place was a supreme treasure.
A primordial supreme treasure, however, was something that could only be encountered by chance, a peerless artifact rarely seen in ten thousand ages.
From ancient times to the present, it had been rarely glimpsed.
Yuan Datou swallowed, his face beaming with excitement.
"Brother Zhang, if you and I obtained such a treasure, wouldn't it be like divine aid?"
Zhang Fanchen was also moved, but after surveying the terrifying auras around them, he sighed softly.
"Brother Yuan, at most, we might get some divine origin. If we were to truly obtain a primordial supreme treasure, we likely wouldn't be able to leave the Shenxu Forest alive."
Hearing this, Yuan Datou looked dejected and pouted.
"If the Master were here, this treasure would surely be his."
...
In the void, Yin Yin excitedly tugged at Mu Changqing's sleeve.
"Big Brother, there's delicious food, Yin Yin wants to eat!"
Mu Changqing was somewhat surprised that this little one wanted to eat a primordial supreme treasure; she was truly a monster.
However, treating a primordial supreme treasure as a meal was too extravagant.
"Be good, there's no rush."
Mu Changqing said casually, his violet eyes piercing through the seven-colored pillar, falling upon the primordial supreme treasure.
It was a mass of grey liquid, constantly writhing as if alive, filled with primordial energy.
Seeing this, Mu Changqing frowned slightly, somewhat puzzled.
Even he had never seen a primordial supreme treasure before.
Suddenly, the space beside him rippled.
Immediately after, a somewhat lewd and disheveled figure appeared.
It was the Dao Ancestor.
"You fellow, you truly are everywhere."
Mu Changqing was not surprised, as the Dao Ancestor had intentionally left his aura behind, making it easy for Mu Changqing to sense his presence.
The Dao Ancestor grinned, unfazed by Mu Changqing's teasing.
He opened his mouth and said.
"This is a good thing."
"Oh? What do you mean? Isn't it just a primordial supreme treasure?"
Mu Changqing was not overly concerned with the so-called primordial supreme treasure. When one's strength is sufficiently great, treasures are merely adornments.
"No, this is not a fully formed primordial supreme treasure, but primordial embryo fluid. If one obtains it, it can tailor-make whatever the host desires, grow with the host, and eventually reach the primordial realm. It also has the function of evolving all things, far surpassing a mere primordial supreme treasure."
The Dao Ancestor's explanation caused Mu Changqing some surprise.
"There are such treasures? The Hongmeng Chaos is truly wondrous, full of marvels."
He exclaimed, his interest piqued.
A moment later, Mu Changqing looked at the Dao Ancestor curiously and asked.
"What brings you here? Are you here for this primordial embryo fluid?"
Hearing this, the Dao Ancestor scratched his head and nodded sheepishly.
"Burial Emperor, you do not need the primordial embryo fluid now, but it is of great use to me. We are on the same side, you see...!"
Mu Changqing's expression remained unchanged. His violet eyes fixed on the Dao Ancestor's aged face, which held a somewhat humble smile, and he said calmly.
"Dao Ancestor, even if I do not need this so-called primordial embryo fluid, using the reason of being on the same side to ask me to give it up seems insufficient."
The Dao Ancestor's old face creased like a chrysanthemum, showing a look of anguish and entanglement.
Seeing Mu Changqing's faint smile and Yin Yin glaring fiercely at him, he sighed.
"Burial Emperor, you simply want to know my true purpose, don't you? I won't hide it. This thing is indeed very useful to me. As for its specific use, I cannot tell you."
After a pause, the Dao Ancestor's aura flowed.
In an instant, his expression became steady, and his demeanor changed completely, as if the Lord of the Three Thousand Great Daos himself had descended, reigning over the world.
"However, I can promise you this: when you engage in the ultimate battle with the Demon Ancestor's faction, I will block the Demon Ancestor. How about it?"
Seeing the Dao Ancestor's sudden shift to an invincible confidence, Mu Changqing felt as if he was witnessing the return of the Dao Ancestor who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Demon Ancestor.
Mu Changqing pondered for a moment and said with a serious expression.
"Very well. I will not interfere this time and will let you take the primordial embryo fluid."
The Dao Ancestor, hearing this, smiled wryly and shook his head, his gaze fixed on a certain void of chaos.
"No, I need you to hold them back!"
"Them? Are there primordial beings from the Demon Ancestor's faction here?"
Mu Changqing asked with slight confusion.
The Dao Ancestor glanced at Mu Changqing's earnest and puzzled expression, then returned to his original demeanor, appearing somewhat... lewd again.
He chuckled and said.
"Burial Emperor, stop playing your little games. You simply want to know the affiliations of the primordial beings, don't you? Otherwise, with your strength, and this little girl, how could you not know that two primordial beings are hidden here?"
Mu Changqing was not surprised by this. With a calm smile, he gestured for the Dao Ancestor to continue.
From beginning to end, the Dao Ancestor had never truly stood on the same side as him.
Now, he had made a choice, and because of this, he would reveal more information about the primordial beings.
This was the only gap between Mu Changqing and the primordial beings.
The more he knew about the secrets of the primordial beings, the more confident Mu Changqing would be in suppressing these so-called primordial beings.
And in the grand finale of their game.
This time, the Dao Ancestor would no longer be evasive.
Because he understood that only Mu Changqing could help him achieve his plans and return to his peak.
"The primordial beings are divided into three factions. The first is the Demon Ancestor's faction, which you already know."
"The second is the Human Ancestor."
Mu Changqing was slightly startled. Another new primordial being.
From the title, Mu Changqing could not help but deduce his identity.
"Humans are the primates of all beings, blessed with the destiny of heaven and earth. From ancient times to the present, humans have always been the protagonists of the world."
"And the Human Ancestor is the only primordial being among humans. His birth predates even the Demon Ancestor; he was the first primordial being to be born in the Hongmeng, and his terrifying strength makes him worthy of the title of the foremost among primordial beings."
Upon hearing this secret of the world, Mu Changqing's heart trembled.
So, there had long been beings among humans who had transcended the chess game of heaven and earth, and were even outstanding players in the chess game of the later ages.