Ancestor Wuhua

The matter that Ziyue inquired about concerned the Divine Suppression Talisman.

She had intentions of forming a dual cultivation partnership with Pang Yue, to support each other on the endless path of cultivation and to seek the Great Dao together.

If Pang Yue agreed, she would take him along to meet Ancestor Wuhua, requesting the elder to withdraw the Divine Suppression Talisman.

But Ziyue had one condition...

That Pang Yue must sever all ties with other female cultivators, never again to flirt or entangle himself with others in this lifetime.

Before Pang Yue had unraveled the illusion of the Heavenly Demon, he gently refused upon hearing this.

How could the dignified Seven Kill Demon Lord compromise on such a matter?

But now, things were different.

Compared to allowing the Immeasurable Light Buddha to advance to the Primordial Spirit realm, forming a dual cultivation partnership with Ziyue was the most cost-effective solution to break the curse.

Once the Divine Suppression Talisman was lifted, he could return to the mortal world, severing all ties with this realm.

Pang Yue laughed heartily and said, "With such kindness from the Palace Mistress, it would be most ungrateful of me to refuse again!"

Ziyue's face lit up with joy, exclaiming in surprise, "Are you willing to give up your junior sisters and disciples from the White Bone Demon Sect?"

Pang Yue did not wish to linger on this question.

He moved swiftly, appearing behind Ziyue, and wrapped his arms around her slender waist.

"Don't..." Ziyue's beautiful face flushed with shyness as she hurriedly waved her hand to cast a restriction. Mist rose around the lake, concealing them from view.

"You have dust on your face. Let me blow it away..." Pang Yue leaned in, and the two became entangled.

The lake rippled rhythmically with circles of waves.

...

Nine Gods Mountain.

Before the statue of a bird-headed, human-bodied figure.

Pang Yue and Ziyue stood respectfully.

This was Pang Yue's first encounter with the legendary Ancestor Wuhua—an automaton of the Nine Gods at the Primordial Spirit level!

Under the gaze of the Nine Gods automaton, Pang Yue felt boundless, vast, and profound divine consciousness descend upon him.

For the first time, Pang Yue directly sensed the difference between himself and a Primordial Spirit master.

It was not merely a matter of realm.

If he, at the peak of Golden Core, was a single leaf, Ancestor Wuhua was a towering tree with lush branches and leaves!

The gap in magical power and divine sense was counted in thousands, even tens of thousands!

"Master, I wish to form a Dao partnership with the Seven Kill Demon Lord. I earnestly request you to withdraw the Divine Suppression Talisman," Ziyue stated outright.

Ancestor Wuhua neither agreed nor refused, casting a calm glance at the two and asked, "Do you know why I am seizing the origin of the worlds?"

"I do not, Master," replied Ziyue.

"And you?" Ancestor Wuhua looked at Pang Yue.

Pang Yue shook his head, "I do not know."

"Ninety thousand years ago, the corpse of a Supreme Heavenly Demon fell in this realm, corrupting the heavenly principles and severing the path forward for billions of cultivators."

"Since then, no Golden Core cultivator has ever advanced to Primordial Spirit."

"If not for myself and several companions sealing the demon's corpse in the void beyond, the world would have been transformed into a demonic domain."

"All living beings would have been tainted and turned into Heavenly Demons."

"The origin of each world is used as a spiritual source to seal the demon's corpse."

Ancestor Wuhua spoke calmly, yet revealed a shocking secret.

"For endless ages, I have wondered about the origins of the Heavenly Demon’s corpse... I had speculations before, but could not confirm them. Now, at last, I have the answer."

His eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of countless years.

"Master, where did that Supreme Heavenly Demon come from?" Ziyue asked.

This sidekick... Pang Yue thought absurdly to himself.

Ancestor Wuhua smiled faintly, casting a meaningful glance at Pang Yue, and uttered two words: "The Upper Realm."

"The Upper Realm?" Ziyue was startled, exclaiming, "Is it the legendary realm that can be ascended to... a higher plane of existence?"

"Precisely."

Ancestor Wuhua continued, "Ziyue, I've heard your Dao partner is quite the charmer, with many companions. The Divine Suppression Talisman should remain for now, to help keep him in check."

Ziyue's beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Pang Yue.

Pang Yue felt uneasy—did Ancestor Wuhua discern that he was not a native of this realm?

His expression remained unchanged, but his heart churned.

"In that case... let us follow the ancestor's wishes," he said to Ziyue with a smile, feeling a growing sense of departure.

Ancestor Wuhua said, "Ziyue, you may go. I have matters to discuss with him."

"Yes, Master."

Ziyue, full of doubts, gave Pang Yue a reassuring look. Spiritual light surged around her as she transformed into an ice-blue streak and departed.

Atop Nine Gods Mountain.

Ancestor Wuhua remained silent for a long time.

Pang Yue focused inward, patiently waiting.

"Sigh..."

After a long while, Ancestor Wuhua sighed.

Without any visible movement, Pang Yue suddenly found himself transported into a strange space.

...

A black earth stretched to the horizon.

The sky was hung with crimson clouds, thunder flickering within.

A massive red lantern, as large as a mountain, was toppled upon the land.

Strangely, this "lantern" was composed entirely of countless red fleshy tendrils, its surface writhing and undulating, suffused with demonic intent.

Compared to the Reincarnation Heavenly Demon Pang Yue had seen outside the Demon Talisman Sect’s Devouring Demon Hall, this was like an ant beside an elephant.

"The Reincarnation Heavenly Demon."

Pang Yue turned and saw not far away the bird-headed, human-bodied statue standing in the void, its voice ancient and hoarse.

"You are not unfamiliar with it, I trust?"

Pang Yue forced a bitter smile and nodded, "This is the second time I’ve seen it."

Ancestor Wuhua said, "The Heavenly Demon race is truly astonishing."

Pang Yue vaguely guessed—the Reincarnation Heavenly Demon before him was the Supreme Heavenly Demon Ancestor Wuhua had spoken of, whose corpse had fallen in this realm.

A single demon corpse could corrupt the heavenly principles of countless worlds, severing the path of advancement for cultivators.

More terrifying still, had Ancestor Wuhua and other masters not sealed it, the corpse would have transformed the worlds into a demonic domain!

"Ancestor, you brought me here for a reason. I beg your guidance, as I am slow-witted."

Pang Yue bowed respectfully.

Ancestor Wuhua gazed at the distant Reincarnation Heavenly Demon and said, "Through the Divine Suppression Talisman, I sensed subtle changes in your soul and deduced certain things."

"Your soul is from another world. Your most urgent desire now is for me to remove the talisman, so you may escape the shackles of this realm!"

Pang Yue's heart clenched, shocked that his greatest secret had been so easily exposed!

"Ancestor, you discern rightly. Fellow Daoist Ran and I were undergoing a trial in the void, when we inadvertently fell into the great array of the Reincarnation Heavenly Demon. If we delay any longer, our true bodies may come to harm."

Pang Yue composed himself, bowed, and spoke truthfully.

Ancestor Wuhua nodded and asked, "By reason, unless you attain Primordial Spirit, it is impossible for your soul to regain clarity and distinguish previous incarnations. How did you achieve this?"

"..."

Pang Yue was momentarily silent, unwilling to lie, yet unable to tell the whole truth.

"Very well, if you do not wish to say, you need not."

Ancestor Wuhua waved his hand and asked, "Tell me—do you believe this world and its myriad realms are real or illusory?"

Pang Yue had pondered this question deeply and answered without hesitation, "I believe it is real... Those Reincarnation Heavenly Demons that trapped me likely do not possess the ability to construct such an immense, complex, and convincingly authentic illusory world."

"Correct. The true power of the Reincarnation Heavenly Demon is to plunge souls into endless cycles. This realm differs from your world only in the dimensions of time and space, but in essence, there is no difference. In other words, the people here, at this moment and in this place, truly exist."

Ancestor Wuhua spoke slowly.