Gu Xiechen and Fu Ya slipped back into the Lineage Abyss without alerting anyone! Fu Ya? Ming settled into her quiet chamber within her own manor.

No sooner had she sat down than the Six Souls Banner turned into a plume of black smoke shooting skyward. The divine sense of the Grandmaster of Heaven transmitted once more: "Fellow Daoist using a thread of the Lineage Abyss for concealment, truly an ingenious idea. This humble Daoist has a Nine Heavens Thunder Roc among his disciples who has a grievance with you. I have mediated on your behalf, Fellow Daoist need not grieve too much."

The Grandmaster of Heaven chuckled, and the Six Souls Banner drifted away, its destination unknown.

Gu Xiechen’s face wrinkled, and he shook his head. This favor felt unearned; did he truly need to fear that Nine Heavens Thunder Roc?

Of all that transpired today, the Grandmaster of Heaven benefited the most. As for that Tower Fragment, whatever it was, seeing how cautiously Jieyin and Zhunti carried it personally, and the situation the Grandmaster of Heaven engineered to force them to surrender it, it could not be an ordinary object if it made these Sages so careful.

But, what did it matter to him?

With one hand holding Fu Ya? Ming, and the other taking hold of Wuming’er.

His left hand held his wife, whose countenance was like jade, dignified and stately. His right hand held his only son, mischievous and currently rolling his eyes toward the heavens. Gu Xiechen forced a wry smile: "Wuming’er, Wuming’er, I need to give you a name."

After a brief moment of thought, Gu Xiechen smiled: "Harmonizing with light and dust, rounded and agreeable, you shall be called Gu Daoyuan! It fits our origins and status quite well."

Wuming’er rolled his eyes, looked at Gu Xiechen, and shook his head: "Daoyuan, Daoyuan? A round, chubby meatball cultivating the Dao? It doesn't sound good, not good at all. As long as the sound is similar, I prefer Daoyuan. Daoyuan, the source spring of cultivating the Dao—that suits my identity!"

Wuming’er, no, Gu Daoyuan let out a few loud laughs, forcefully broke free from Gu Xiechen’s grasp, slapped his bottom, and transformed into a gust of clear breeze, shooting out of the quiet chamber.

"You two chat slowly; it’s been hundreds of thousands of years since you last met. There must be much to say and much to do, right? I won't be a superfluous presence here. Hmm, I'm going to find Mom's bald disciples and ask them if any are willing to return to secular life? If someone is willing to grow their hair and return, I'll set them up with some good marriages."

The muscles in Gu Xiechen’s face stiffened. He stared blankly in the direction Gu Daoyuan vanished, then offered a bitter smile: "Did you teach him that?"

Fu Ya? Ming spread her hands and stated with unexpected directness: "I don't know how to raise children. I don't know how he grew up. Anyway, if he causes trouble outside, I'll step in and solve it for him. As for the rest, most of the time he was following my disciples."

Those disciples? Gu Xiechen’s face suddenly darkened. He suddenly recalled that Fu Ya? Ming’s disciples, back in their original universe, used to spend all their time mingling with the wicked monks and fierce nuns of the Mohe Sect. No wonder Gu Daoyuan became so eccentric. Fortunately, fortunately, his essential nature hadn't turned corrupt; he could gradually discipline him later.

Holding Fu Ya? Ming’s small hands, Gu Xiechen stared at her and asked: "Well, since our son has spoken, should we say something, and then do something?"

Her pretty face flushed, Fu Ya? Ming scolded in a low voice: "Nonsense! Let’s discuss serious matters first. Why are we still lingering here?" Gu Xiechen’s expression sobered, and he began calculating on his fingers.

Back then, the Three Pure Ones and Haotian had already begun scheming against his ill-fated twin brother, Li Sheng, while he was still in the womb. Zhunti and Jieyin, unwilling to be outdone, had naturally also made countless arrangements behind the scenes. They all believed they had calculated him perfectly, ensuring he would serve them one way or another.

Alas, alas, the Profound Yellow Indestructible Body Divine Art passed down by Haotian, Gu Xiechen had transferred to the Profound Yellow Indestructible Venerable Buddha. If Haotian was willing to accept a monk as a disciple, Gu Xiechen wouldn't mind if the Profound Yellow Indestructible Venerable Buddha served Haotian as master.

Most of the Primordial Spirits of those Heavenly Soldiers and Generals had the Hongjun personally affixing hidden restrictions within them. But Gu Xiechen had also removed these restrictions. All the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who posed a problem were kept with him; if Haotian needed them, Gu Xiechen wouldn't mind returning them.

Gu Xiechen had re-extracted a wisp of true spirit from all the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals using the demonic arts provided by the Original Primordial Demon. This allowed for the recreation of their true bodies and souls, forming an entirely new legion absolutely loyal to them. Currently, what Gu Xiechen used to replace Yang Jian and his heavenly host were these newly summoned World Puppets. On this front, he incurred no loss.

Taishang Laojun and Yuanshi Tianzun had spared no expense in gifting him their Three Purity Path to Enlightenment methods and various Innate Supreme Treasures—well, this created a colossal Karma that was impossible to escape. However, he later shifted to cultivating the Pangu True Body, practicing the three grand techniques—Origin Sun, Origin Yin, and Chaos—that he had comprehended himself. Furthermore, he used the Great Reincarnation King, one of the Great Evolution Fierce Blades, to destroy all the Innate Supreme Treasures!

He hadn't cultivated their techniques, and all the supreme treasures were destroyed by the Great Reincarnation King. This massive Karma had long since been washed clean by Gu Xiechen. If Taishang Laojun or Yuanshi Tianzun were standing before him now, Gu Xiechen wouldn't need to pay them any mind; he would simply strike.

Finally, there were Jieyin and Zhunti. They were equally cunning, actually planning to target Fu Ya? Ming. They had long forced Fu Ya? Ming to practice Buddhist cultivation techniques, thereby forcibly binding a wisp of Karma, intending to convert her to Buddhism and make her a fighting hand for the Buddhist path.

Since Fu Ya? Ming was trapped in Buddhism, and by extension, Gu Xiechen’s precious son was dragged along, coupled with the hidden measures Jieyin and Zhunti had placed in Gu Xiechen’s womb beforehand, Gu Xiechen logically should have no way to escape their schemes. He would likely have to obediently lead Siren, Penghua, Mohe, and the others into Buddhism, increasing the number of Sage-level fighters under Jieyin and Zhunti.

Unfortunately, unfortunately, the calculations of Jieyin and Zhunti were ultimately surpassed by the three hundred and sixty million Primordial Demons of the Great Antiquity era. Their essence blood and surging resentment condensed to form Gu Xiechen. While still in the womb, he simply devoured his co-born brother, Li Sheng. That unfortunate child was the target of the Three Pure Ones, Haotian, Jieyin, Zhunti, and even Hongjun—

Jieyin and Zhunti had mistaken their primary target. By targeting Fu Ya? Ming without provocation, they incurred immense enmity from Gu Xiechen.

Today, Gu Xiechen had injured them. Even though Fu Ya? Ming practiced Buddhist arts and Jieyin and Zhunti held a substantial master-disciple bond with her, because they schemed against Gu Xiechen first, the grievances canceled each other out. This matter was concluded.

After calculating everything, Gu Xiechen suddenly felt a wave of relief, a lightness throughout his body.

Grievances settled, no ties remained. He should quickly take his wife, son, and brothers back to their original universe.

Over there, Gu Xiechen controlled the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao. Even if the Three Pure Ones and other Sages joined forces to counterattack now, they would not be his match. Moreover, Gu Xiechen had mastered quite a few of the Heavenly Dao laws in that universe. Without relying on the power of the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao, a direct confrontation would likely not put him at a disadvantage against these Sages either.

Living carefree, roaming joyfully with his wife, son, and brothers, was far better than constantly engaging in mind games with these Sages.

These long-lived Sages—each one more calculating, more cunning, and more treacherous than the last. One misstep in their plans, and one might suffer greatly. Better to return, better to return. Gu Xiechen had no desire to fight or wrangle with them.

Linking arms with Fu Ya? Ming, Gu Xiechen smiled: "If there's nothing else we must do, let's find the path back. When Penghua and the others arrive, we’ll leave everything behind and go straight back."

Reaching out to stroke Fu Ya? Ming's face, Gu Xiechen chuckled softly: "The flowers in your Yafike Palace should be blooming again."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, and suddenly a brilliant light erupted around them, causing the surrounding void to tremble slightly. Their bodies gradually merged into a hazy spatial illusion. But in the blink of an eye, both of them shook violently, spitting blood from all seven orifices as they were violently ejected from the illusory void.

Fu Ya? Ming fared better; her Buddhist Zen Arts balanced flexibility and rigidity, allowing the Buddha-light to spontaneously protect her when the recoil hit, thus mitigating the shock.

But Gu Xiechen, currently prioritizing the Pangu True Body, possessed an incomparably sturdy physical form and incredibly rigid power. The counter-force from the void against him was equally domineering, as if a great mountain had descended upon him, crashing fiercely against Gu Xiechen’s millstone body. Gu Xiechen’s insides emitted continuous sounds of bone-breaking, each crack sounding like a clap of thunder.

The quiet chamber shook faintly. Hearing the sound, Mo Tanglong Gen rushed in, clutching Xiao Qing.

Gu Xiechen spat out a mouthful of blood, slowly and methodically wiped the blood from his body, and frowned: "We are in trouble."

Fu Ya? Ming nodded repeatedly: "Yes, we actually cannot leave."

Mo Tanglong Gen’s face shifted. Almost instinctively, he cried out: "We can't go back? How is that possible?"

Gu Xiechen glanced at Fu Ya? Ming. The two immediately sat cross-legged, their divine senses merging, using their combined Nascent Souls to deduce the cause and effect. Seeing this, Mo Tanglong Gen quickly puffed out his chest and stood guard nearby, lest anyone disturb their work.

Xiao Qing was not to be outdone. His body rapidly expanded, coiling dozens of times around the quiet chamber. If an outsider tried to force their way in, they would have to shatter his body first. The interior of the chamber was momentarily filled with Xiao Qing's squirming, soft body, which looked somewhat unnerving.

Gu Xiechen and Fu Ya? Ming’s divine senses traversed the void, gradually merging into the mysterious laws of the Heavenly Dao.

All of Gu Xiechen's cultivation experience and comprehension of the Heavenly Dao were transmitted to Fu Ya? Ming during this process. Their minds intertwined, indistinguishable, moving through the void as if they were a single consciousness.

In the vision of the Nascent Soul, countless illusions rushed towards them. Within the scope of their abilities, some deep secrets of this universe were exposed.

This universe’s origin was immensely powerful, more than ten million times stronger than the universe they hailed from. But this universe was also sorrowful; their Pangu had not completely separated heaven and earth, nor had he thoroughly established the universe's rules, before he perished due to an accident.

If Pangu had died without other complications, this universe could have gradually absorbed power from the Chaos space to perfect itself and mend the Heavenly Dao.

However, the first batch of Sages and Ancient Sacred Beings from Gu Xiechen's original universe charged in like hungry wolves, massacring the innate life forms of this universe and plundering its resources. Even the Yuan Long lineage, a powerful race destined by the Heavenly Dao to guard the four directions of heaven and earth, was slain before it could even gestate.

The Heavenly Dao was damaged. The already fractured laws of the Heavenly Dao were further shattered into pieces. Especially after Hongjun joined this war of plunder, the Sages spawned by this universe also perished one after another. Sages were incarnations partially manifested by the Heavenly Dao; Hongjun killing Sages was equivalent to killing the Heavenly Dao of this universe.

When the Heavenly Dao is incomplete, Sages patch it.

When the Heavenly Dao shattered, the Sages became like concrete, attempting to mend the Heavenly Dao by patching holes.

Hongjun, getting carried away, slew every single Sage native to this universe, leaving behind only minor innate beings like Ju Lan God and Kui Bang God to continuously cause trouble for the cultivation world.

If the Sages had immediately retreated with their disciples to their original universe after Hongjun was dealt with, peace might have been restored.

Unfortunately, although this universe was incomplete, its origin was too powerful, its resources too abundant, and its laws too high-level. Including Hongjun, none of the Sages and Sacred Beings could bear to leave this universe.

Cultivate here, in this universe! Amitabha, Haotian, the Queen Mother, Mahasthamaprapta, Guanyin, and others had all achieved their enlightenment in this universe.

And the elder Sages like the Three Pure Ones and Jieyin-Zhunti were wholeheartedly meditating on the Heavenly Dao within this universe, firmly integrating themselves into it.

Alas, these dozen or so humanoid patches were formed, and they could no longer leave. They had become the very substance of the Heavenly Dao. Unless their power surpassed the limit of this universe’s Heavenly Dao, they could never depart this shattered realm.

Now, Gu Xiechen and Fu Ya? Ming had also become patches of this Heavenly Dao, like critical pivot components in a giant machine, expected to remain here to maintain the normal operation of the universe’s sun, moon, stars, earth, water, fire, and wind. How could they leave?

It was not just Sages like Gu Xiechen and the others; even seasoned Grand Unity Golden Immortals like Yellow Dragon True Person had become tiny screws on this Heavenly Dao, playing an undeniable role in maintaining the operation of this universe!

Thus, over these many years, among so many Sages, only the few disciples Gu Xiechen encountered had been sent back. It was not that the Sages were unwilling to send more capable individuals back to the original universe to calculate and act; it was simply that the Sages lacked the sufficient power to send too many people back.

Disciples from Jieyin’s original universe could come here, but sending them back was something even the Sages were somewhat powerless to do.

Understanding all this, Gu Xiechen opened his eyes in horror and gave Fu Ya? Ming a bitter smile: "This is hard!"

Fu Ya? Ming’s expression changed dramatically, and she shouted: "That Tower Fragment is the essence fragment of this universe’s shattered Heavenly Dao laws!"

Gu Xiechen leaped up suddenly; he had finally discovered the greatest danger.

Currently, all Sages, including Hongjun, were imprisoned by this universe; all were deeply entangled in the Heavenly Dao and unable to extricate themselves. Unlike their original universe, where Sages acted under the Heavenly Dao and there were various means to compensate, scheme, or avoid consequences, in this universe, everyone had become a part of the Heavenly Dao. Once someone collected all the Tower Fragments, everyone would be subject to their control!

It was easy to imagine that Hongjun, the Three Pure Ones, and other Sages who participated in that great battle would each hold one or two Tower Fragments. These fragments would also serve as the source for their cultivation advancements and profound power growth. The Heavenly Dao rules within them undoubtedly perfected these Sages.

And now, the Tower Fragments held by Jieyin and Zhunti were seized by the Grandmaster of Heaven, and Gu Xiechen had helped him seize them.

Different from the Heavenly Dao laws of the original universe—which manifested as a massive Wheel of the Heavenly Dao—the manifestation of the Heavenly Dao laws in this universe, upon complete perfection, was supposed to be a pyramid shape, constructed from tens of millions of Wheels of the Heavenly Dao—the Tower of the Heavenly Dao. Because this universe was not yet perfected, the Tower of the Heavenly Dao had not yet materialized into the void but was quietly gestating somewhere.

As a result of Hongjun’s ruthless strikes, which annihilated the native Sages of this universe one by one, the Tower of the Heavenly Dao was affected and immediately shattered into fragments.

"This spells real trouble!"

Gu Xiechen looked at Fu Ya? Ming.

Fu Ya? Ming nodded slowly: "I have no desire to be manipulated and dictated by some Sage in the palm of their hand."

They exchanged a look and clasped hands once more, merging their Nascent Souls into the boundless void.

This time, their combined divine senses smoothly swept up and down the entire length of the Lineage Abyss. Their Nascent Souls merged, achieving an effect greater than one plus one, and they finally glimpsed some of the abyss's secrets.

Under their divine scan, the Lineage Abyss was no longer a single, extremely long band of stars but a slender light rope shimmering with verdant light from end to end. This light rope emitted a captivating, soul-stirring, strange radiance, within which countless light wheels rotated slowly.

By the instinct of Sages, Gu Xiechen and Fu Ya? Ming intuitively felt that this light rope bore an indescribable, elusive relationship with the Tower of the Heavenly Dao.

Considering the heavy garrisons stationed by the Heavenly Mansion and the Immortal Gate here, the two vaguely seemed to understand something more. After a moment of contemplation, Gu Xiechen waved a hand and summoned a wisp of the split spirit of the Goddess of Auspiciousness from his Sea of Consciousness, rapidly infusing her with immense spiritual energy. The Goddess of Auspiciousness groaned softly, quickly condensing her soul and remaking her body.

Pouring a stream of Chaos Sacred Power onto the Goddess of Auspiciousness, Gu Xiechen said coldly: "Go back and tell the Corpse Emperor and Aredia that I need their help. I need them to lead everyone to assist me... Before everyone comes, extract a wisp of their split spirit and store it here with me. In case they perish, I can still allow them to be reborn."

The Goddess of Auspiciousness’s beautiful eyes flowed, and she gave Gu Xiechen a charming smile.

Fu Ya? Ming became furious. She snatched the Goddess of Auspiciousness by the neck in one swift motion, tore open the void, and threw her in.

"Smile like that again, and I will ensure you can never smile for eternity."

A dense sense of sourness echoed in the quiet chamber. Gu Xiechen tilted his head back, looking at the sky. Mo Tanglong Gen and Xiao Qing beside him, acting with tacit understanding, also stared fixedly at the ceiling, not blinking an eye.

Activating her innate divine ability, the Goddess of Auspiciousness traversed the spatial barrier of this universe with ease. Protected by Gu Xiechen’s Chaos Sacred Power, she returned to their original universe flawlessly.

"They have a great number of people, but due to various conflicts of interest, they are divided into several factions."

"We are not fewer in number, and we are united in purpose."

"In this battle, the ones who will ultimately win are us."

Gu Xiechen tightly grasped Fu Ya? Ming's hand.