Chapter 964: Chapter 983: Lotus Blossoms from the Tongue
Ye Xuan made a sworn vow in his heart, the snippets of memories about Sun Wukong unconsciously replaying in his mind, immersing him completely in his past thoughts.
Time passed by little by little, the Five-Colored Divine Stone gradually melting until it transformed into a blinding haze of mist that spread across the Heavenly Vault.
This was an act of Heavenly Mending, a merit, and also a divine opportunity to become a Saint. All eyes were fixed on the birth of a new Heavenly Dao Saint.
"Go!"
Above the heavens, within the void, Ziwei’s majestic roar echoed. The blinding haze of light in his hand rippled outward, covering the shattered billions of miles of the Heavenly Vault, gradually repairing the damage.
Rumble!
Heavenly Dao merit, vast and boundless, as Ziwei mended the Heavenly Vault, countless golden lights of merit emerged from the eight directions, rushing towards Ziwei in an instant.
Buzz!
The Hongmeng Purple Qi swayed and integrated into Ziwei’s Heavenly Spirit amidst the focus of all. Instantly, he erupted with boundless Holy Light, as waves of terrifying Heavenly Dao Saintly Might spread around.
At the same time, the vast and boundless golden light of merit filled the air and ground, as members of the Heavenly Court sat cross-legged cultivating and absorbing the scattered Merit Power. Various Daoist traditions and Quasi-Saints were not to be outdone, plunging the entire Buzhou Mountain into silence.
This is the Heavenly Mending Merit, extremely nourishing, not only significantly enhancing cultivation but also deepening one’s understanding of the Heavenly Dao.
Upon the Heaven Ascending Platform.
Ye Xuan and Luo Hou sat side by side, neither absorbing the Merit Power, while Luo Hou casually sipped his wine, his eyes revealing only disdain and contempt.
"Heavenly Dao merit can enhance cultivation, but it shackles one to this realm, getting small benefits while losing the great Dao. Who would know such folly!" Luo Hou spoke dismissively.
"Heaven nurtures all things to sustain humans, yet humans have nothing to repay heaven. Since all beings are born from Heaven and Earth, they naturally have to abide under the Heavenly Dao," Ye Xuan replied calmly.
"Heh."
Luo Hou smiled slightly, looking at Ye Xuan, saying, "What you say is true, but you and I do not fall into this category. We can completely transcend Heaven and Earth, achieve great freedom and ease, ultimately becoming the Saint among Saints."
"Oh?"
Ye Xuan smiled, looking at Luo Hou, "Freedom can be obtained, but ease is hard to find. This Heavenly Dao prison is not so easy to break free from; on this matter, I need to seek your guidance."
"The so-called Heavenly Dao prison is merely the rules of this realm. These Heavenly Dao rules bind us; if we wish to break the rules, we need power that surpasses them." Luo Hou smiled slightly.
"I wonder, do you possess the power to break these rules?" Ye Xuan said with a light smile.
"Perhaps not before, but now I do."
Buzz!
As Luo Hou spoke, an aura as grand as the Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique circulated around him. Though faint, it undeniably existed on Luo Hou.
"Hmm?"
Feeling the aura on Luo Hou, Ye Xuan’s expression changed drastically, a look of astonishment passing through his eyes.
"This... Is this the Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique?" Ye Xuan said, word by word.
"You have good eyes, Daoist."
Luo Hou withdrew his aura, calmly stating, "By cultivating the Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique to its peak, one can generate the Power of Causality. The path you tread—Proving Dao with Power—can birth the legendary Power of Silent Annihilation. Both these powers transcend the Heavenly Dao, fully capable of breaking the shackles of Heaven and Earth."
Gazing at Luo Hou’s radiant smile, Ye Xuan regained his composure, saying, "But as far as I know, the Dao Ancestor Hong Jun has integrated himself with the Dao. As Heavenly Dao is him, and he is Heavenly Dao, I fear he would slay us before we master these powers."
"That’s why, my friend’s Heavenly Dao Nine Tribulations include facing Hong Jun, and I, too, in my Red Dust Nine Tribulations, will likely encounter him. Our meeting today is to propose an alliance; only by joining forces can we overcome this calamity." Luo Hou sighed deeply.
"How laughable, utterly laughable."
Suddenly, Ye Xuan’s smile vanished, his eyes turning cold as he looked at Luo Hou, "Do you really think that from Nuwa to Wutian, your actions have truly built goodwill with me?"
The thin veil of pretense was pierced by Ye Xuan. With words brought to this point, further pretense would be futile.
"Ye Xuan, you’re still too young, overly concerned with irrelevant matters. Be it Nuwa or my disciple Sen Luotian, they are but pawns in our hands, mere bones on the path to Sainthood, not enough to make us adversaries."
Luo Hou spoke eloquently, then pointed to Gu Beichen who was cultivating, saying, "Back then, you sent him to the Demon World. I recognized his identity immediately, but so what?"
"I accepted him as a disciple, imparted all my Demon Techniques to him, even gifted him the Demon Heaven Eight Transformations. Do you really think I valued his cultivation potential?"
"As for Nuwa and Wutian, they were merely my means to test you, to see if you are worthy of joining hands. Don’t you understand yet?"
Proudly, Luo Hou spoke, without a trace of humility, instead scanning the surrounding for people, "Ye Xuan, you and I are the same kind of people, always acting for ourselves. Others are mere ants in our eyes. Only by joining forces can we break free from Heaven and Earth. You should understand this reasoning."
Inspiring and assertive, Luo Hou’s demeanor was dazzling. Just his words had already made Ye Xuan’s eyes lose focus.
After all, the Demon Ancestor is the Demon Ancestor, his words candid and forceful, tangibly shaking Ye Xuan’s state of mind.
At this moment.
Luo Hou observed Ye Xuan’s bewildered expression, an almost imperceptible joy flickering in his eyes. He prepared to continue speaking, yet Ye Xuan abruptly regained calm, looking at him serenely.
Clap—clap—clap.
Ye Xuan applauded lightly, the rhythmic sound causing Luo Hou’s brow to furrow, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Ye Xuan.
"Resounding, impassioned. The Demon Ancestor deserves his title; in bewitching the mind, I truly can’t compare to you." Ye Xuan praised.
"Ye Xuan, you...?" Luo Hou’s expression slightly changed, a hint of surprise flickering in his eyes.
"Honestly, you’re right in many ways, without a single flaw. But you forgot one thing, one extremely important thing."
Ye Xuan spoke indifferently, continuing, "You forgot that you said we are the same kind of people. Although you hide it well, I saw something called ambition in your eyes."
"Your eyes tell me that you have enormous ambition and are selfish, sinister, and ruthless. The so-called alliance is merely a beautiful lie. You want something from me; that’s your true motive, isn’t it?" Ye Xuan lightly sipped his wine, looking at Luo Hou with a composed expression.