This line of Cause and Effect... where did it begin?

Standing on the Emperor Chariot, Lu Xuan fell into deep thought. He activated [Dao Generating One], and abstruse star-like lines intertwined in his eyes.

He seemed to sense something and gazed in a certain direction.

’Could it be... Xiaoyan has also come to this great era?’

Lu Xuan frowned. If that was truly the case, and he had a sudden premonition, Xiaoyan’s situation was likely not good.

But the Celestial Palace had just fallen from the sky, shaking the world. Everything was obscured, making it difficult to deduce specific matters or objects. There was only a vague, general direction.

’If I were to return to the Current World now, would the beings flung here by the Bronze Divine Mountain be able to return to the Current World with me?’

After some thought, Lu Xuan decided not to gamble. He immediately sat back down on the Emperor Chariot, pointed in the direction of the vague feeling, and ordered the Celestial Soldiers bearing his regalia to return to the Emperor’s Palace bestowed by the Celestial Emperor.

Then, he steered the Emperor Chariot and sped through the sky.

As the True Phoenix flew swiftly, Yang Jian and Zhu Wuneng followed alongside, both shocked and suspicious. They couldn’t understand why this great fiend from the ’future’ had summoned them.

The two Ancient Immortals shot inquiring looks at Nezha. They had noticed earlier that Nezha had also suppressed and replaced his counterpart from this era.

Noticing their gazes, Nezha could only shrug.

After all, he was still completely clueless himself. He had followed this person to the Dragon Palace and then to the Netherworld, but he was still unclear on his specific objective...

As the Emperor Chariot continued its rapid journey, Lu Xuan emerged from his contemplation and glanced sideways at the three Immortals who were constantly exchanging glances.

He chuckled. Making no attempt to be discreet, he casually cast a Great Ban to seal the True Phoenix’s hearing and Spiritual Sense before asking calmly:

"By the way, what about this era’s Nezha, Yang Jian, and Tianpeng?"

The three Immortals’ expressions instantly stiffened. Xuandu glanced over in surprise. He didn’t recognize the fat general, but he knew of Nezha and Yang Jian.

In a way, they could be considered his martial nephews, the grand-disciples of his Second Martial Uncle.

Just then, Yang Jian let out a dry laugh.

"Emperor, I don’t understand what you mean..."

"Don’t play dumb," Lu Xuan chuckled. "What, did your brain get rusty after staying in Gouxian Town for tens of thousands of years?"

Nezha, who had been called out by Lu Xuan about ’Gouxian Town’ before, was relatively calm. However, Yang Jian and Zhu Wuneng’s expressions changed drastically, a chill running up their spines!

His heart went cold for a long moment. After a lengthy silence, Yang Jian took a deep breath.

"This era’s ’me’ is suppressed within my Acupoint Heaven and Earth."

Nezha said in a low voice:

"Same for me."

Zhu Wuneng shrank his neck.

"Me too!"

Lu Xuan nodded calmly, then continued in a low voice:

"This can’t go on forever. You haven’t entered the Daluo realm, so your past and present are not one. If you suppress them for too long, your ’present’ will change along with the past."

The three Ancient Immortals’ expressions changed again. Xuandu, on the other hand, looked thoughtful, having likely figured out what was going on.

After some thought, Lu Xuan said carefully: 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"After this matter is concluded, you will accompany me to the Nine Nether. I will resolve this issue for you, but in return, I have a condition."

The three Ancient Immortals looked at each other, then said in unison:

"Please speak, Emperor."

They were all a bit helpless. It was obvious now that the situation was out of their hands. They knew nothing about this Profound Yellow Emperor, yet he seemed to know them like the back of his hand...

’Why is this happening??’

The more perceptive Yang Jian’s mind flashed with the image of that Martial Uncle Lu Xuan, but he immediately dismissed it. ’This... that’s not possible.’

’The Supreme Emperor Profound Yellow is the disciple of the one from Biyou Palace... Hmm?’

Yang Jian’s expression suddenly changed, his breathing quickening slightly. ’Martial Uncle Lu Xuan is of the Taishang Lineage, and also one of the Thirteen Immortals of Jade Void.’

’From this perspective, adding the identity of a Direct Lineage disciple from Biyou Palace... doesn’t seem entirely impossible??’

His heart pounded with sudden dread.

Lu Xuan didn’t notice Yang Jian’s change in expression, or rather, he didn’t particularly care.

After a moment of contemplation, he said calmly:

"I won’t hide it from you. I have already begun a game of chess against the Four Imperial Lords and the Queen Mother of the Jade Pool. I intend to undertake the grand feat of conquering the heavens, and I want you to enter the game."

The three Immortals’ expressions all changed at once.

Xuandu then said nonchalantly:

"Junior Brother, since you’ve spoken so plainly to these three, if they are unwilling, then you have no choice but to eliminate them."

’Junior... Junior Brother?’

Yang Jian’s heart pounded furiously. He whipped his head toward the Ancient Daoist. ’Who is this?’

’I’ve never seen him before. He must have concealed or altered his face.’

’If my guess just now was correct, this Daoist who cut down a Celestial Palace with his sword is probably not from Biyou Palace.’

’Then is he one of the Thirteen Immortals of Jade Void, or... the one from the Taishang Lineage??’

As his thoughts raced, Yang Jian came to a conclusion, having roughly guessed Xuandu’s identity.

Lu Xuan continued, "If you are willing to enter the game, I will resolve the issue of the temporal conflict between your past and ’present.’ For now, you don’t need to do anything. Just continue being Immortals as you should. When the time comes, I will naturally seek you out."

These three... one was the Three Altar Sea Assembly, one was the Erlang Xiansheng True Monarch, and even Zhu Wuneng commanded the Celestial River Navy during these Years!

Frankly, they were all influential figures in the Celestial Court. Their positions were key. If the day came when he raised an army to conquer the heavens... they would be of great use.

After a long silence, the three Ancient Immortals nodded in unison, accepting the terms. Xuandu reminded him from the side:

"Shouldn’t you have them swear some great oaths?"

"There’s no need." Lu Xuan smiled. "They come from the same place as me. I estimate they’ve probably already guessed who I am. I trust them."

Yang Jian’s heart trembled; he was now almost certain of his guess. Nezha was lost in thought, having a vague idea. Zhu Wuneng, however, was still clueless, looking around in confusion.

"Huh? Guessed what?"

The two Ancient Immortals shot him a speechless glare.

Lu Xuan didn’t answer. Instead, he straightened up and stared ahead.

"This is getting interesting."

In the extreme distance, a sea of lightning could be seen roiling, with the shadowy figures of Immortals present. It all lay above a majestic Divine Mountain.

"Dragon Tiger Mountain?" Lu Xuan’s eyes narrowed abruptly.

......

「Meanwhile, on Dragon Tiger Mountain.」

"But I don’t know you," the Little Peach Spirit said in a crisp, clear voice, curiously sizing up the strange uncle before her.

Then she raised her head and glared, puffing her cheeks, at the True Saint of the North Pole.

The latter frowned and offered no explanation. The sea of lightning under his control only grew more ferocious as it pressed down!

"Look out!!"

Yan Huang’s expression changed. He shielded the Little Peach Spirit, who looked identical to his own daughter.

Nearby, Wang Zhiyao, Zhang Jifeng, and the others, who had also been staring at the Little Peach Spirit in astonishment, snapped back to their senses. They looked up with pale faces at the sea of lightning and the giant hand descending from the Celestial Vault, completely devoid of any will to resist.

’This is no longer a question of how large the gap in power is...’

The Old Celestial Master wanted to try and resist, but all the techniques he unleashed were useless. He could only give a bitter smile and sigh.

"The difference of a single step truly is another world entirely..."

Just as everyone had given up the thought of resisting, prepared to let the Immortal in the sky capture them,

the Little Peach Spirit looked at the trees and rocks all over the mountain being pierced by heavy lightning, her heart aching with distress. She said angrily:

"Uncle, he’s a bad guy! Beat him up! Beat him up!"

Everyone was stunned to hear this, but the Old Celestial Master’s expression suddenly lit up with excitement, as if he had remembered something.

In the next Instant, the Old Peach Tree, which seemed to prop up the sky, swayed slightly. A peach branch suddenly shot out, shattering the void inch by inch as it flew toward the Celestial Strategy True Saint!

The latter let out a soft "hmph," changing his palm into a fist to strike the peach branch, creating a massive ripple.

The peach branch disintegrated into ash, and the Celestial Strategy True Saint’s palm also cracked, dripping Celestial Venerable Blood.

"Interesting."

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

"I didn’t expect to find a Demon Race Great Saint of the [Celestial Realms] level here... I am acting under the orders of Emperor Ziwei. Does this Great Saint wish to make an enemy of the Northern Celestial Court?"

The Old Peach Tree swayed gently, and an ancient voice was heard:

"Celestial Strategy True Saint, you jest. But do you know what this place is? How dare you act so presumptuously?"

The Celestial Strategy True Saint narrowed his eyes slightly.

"What place?"

The Old Peach Tree extended a peach branch, pointed at the Daoist Palace, and said calmly:

"I was originally a peach tree demon that had gained a sliver of intelligence. A certain great personage once sat in the Daoist Palace for ten thousand years. I was influenced by his Dao Rhyme, which is how I came to be what I am today."

The Celestial Strategy True Saint began to laugh.

"Great Saint, you’re not being truthful, are you? Mere influence from Dao Rhyme created a [Celestial Realms] expert? What great personage possesses such might?"

The Old Peach Tree said slowly:

"Jade Void."

As soon as this was said, the drumming Golden Boys stopped, the singing Jade Maidens fell silent, and the expressions of the Celestial Soldiers and Generals on their celestial steeds changed drastically.

Even the Celestial Strategy True Saint, one of the Four Saints of the North Pole who was nominally equal to Emperor True Martial, froze.

After a long moment, his expression became dark and uncertain. He took a deep breath.

"Great Saint, that is not a joke to be made."

"Would I dare to joke about that personage?" the Old Peach Tree said somberly. "Therefore, I must ask the True Saint to withdraw. This place does not permit Weapons of war."

The Celestial Strategy True Saint’s expression flickered uncertainly, but he didn’t dare to make a decision on his own. As the peach tree had said, no one would dare use that personage’s name to bluff...

After a long moment, he took a deep breath.

"In that case, I will not disturb you for now."

The Celestial Strategy True Saint had made his decision: he would ask the Emperor for guidance. Only the Emperor could make a call on a matter like this.

With that, he prepared to leave, intending to use the [Everywhere] characteristic to ask the Emperor face-to-face.

Everyone on Dragon Tiger Mountain was both bewildered and overjoyed. Their gazes then turned peculiar. ’This Dragon Tiger Mountain of the Ancient Times... seems even more incredible than we imagined??’

Just as both sides were lost in their own different thoughts, in the Instant before the Celestial Strategy True Saint was about to withdraw.

"Insolent."

A grim voice resounded from the horizon, like a great wave, rolling in layer upon layer!

Everyone instinctively looked over and saw a True Phoenix speeding toward them, pulling a magnificent Emperor Chariot. Ancient Immortals flanked it, wreathed in Qingyun and surrounded by floating auspicious omens!

"Who goes there?" The Celestial Strategy True Saint frowned, halting his departure. He shouted loudly, "Halt!"

Beneath his mask, Lu Xuan’s expression was extremely grim. He saw his acquaintances from Dragon Tiger Mountain, and he saw Xiaoyan.

Now, seeing the Celestial Soldiers in formation and that magnificent being stirring up a sea of roiling lightning, he assumed the two sides were in conflict and showed no mercy.

"Yang Jian, seize him."

"Emperor..." Yang Jian’s expression tightened. "That is the Celestial Strategy True Saint, who serves under Emperor Ziwei of the North Pole."

"Seize him," Lu Xuan repeated.

Yang Jian took a deep breath and said grimly:

"Yes."

In the next Instant, the Celestial Strategy True Saint saw an Ancient Immortal fly out from beside the Emperor Chariot. He was slightly stunned and said in surprise:

"True Monarch Erlang? Why are you here..."

Before he could finish, he saw this True Monarch Erlang open the third eye on his forehead. A divine light erupted, sealing the heavens and locking the earth as it came for him!

The Celestial Strategy True Saint’s expression changed.

"Does the Central Celestial Court wish to declare war on my North Pole Celestial Court?!"

As he yelled, he didn’t hesitate, unleashing a Killing Skill and tangling with Yang Jian. But he was at a disadvantage after just one exchange!

The more they fought, the more frightened the Celestial Strategy True Saint became. This True Monarch Erlang was far stronger than the rumors suggested, deeply rooted in the [Celestial Realms] level!

And while the two [Celestial Realms] experts were fighting, the Emperor Chariot descended from the sky and landed on Dragon Tiger Peak.

"Greetings, Emperor!"

Yan Huang and the others were shocked and bewildered, hastily paying their respects. In the distance, Zhang Liang’s lips trembled, and the Old Celestial Master was both shocked and suspicious.

Nearby, however, the Little Peach Spirit stared with wide eyes at the masked young man, a sudden joy appearing on her face.

"I know you! I remember your scent! I can see our Cause and Effect!"

On the Emperor Chariot, Lu Xuan froze. He looked toward ’Xiaoyan’ and realized something wasn’t right.

’Hmm?’

’Is this Xiaoyan?’

’The Cause and Effect is connected, so it must be Xiaoyan, but...’

Just as Lu Xuan was getting confused, the Little Peach Spirit spoke in her crisp, clear voice:

"You’re my daddy!"

Lu Xuan’s expression froze. Yan Huang, who was in the middle of bowing, staggered. The Little Peach Spirit, meanwhile, leaped toward him joyfully.