Soon, the trio arrived at the Primordial Temple.
The temple’s grand gate was over a dozen zhang wide, flanked by dozens of massive stone pillars as thick as an adult’s torso. The pillars were carved with ferocious demon beasts.
Ye Xuan gazed at the temple, its entirety exuding an ancient, weathered aura.
Dao Ling said gravely, “Brother Ye, this place is no ordinary site!”
Tian Qi suddenly spoke, “Danger!”
Ye Xuan turned to Tian Qi, “You’ve been here?”
Tian Qi hesitated, then shook his head, “Didn’t dare!”
Didn’t dare!
Ye Xuan fell silent.
He knew demon beasts were highly sensitive to danger. If Tian Qi didn’t dare come here, this place was truly perilous.
And he himself felt a faint unease.
Very dangerous!
Suddenly, the four turned their heads. At the distant horizon, two terrifying auras surged toward them. One was the Calamity Lord’s, while the other was far stronger!
Ye Xuan immediately said, “Inside!”
With that, he pushed open the Primordial Temple’s gate and led the four inside.
Just as they entered, the Calamity Lord and a middle-aged man appeared at the temple’s entrance.
As the Calamity Lord moved to follow, the middle-aged man stopped him.
The Calamity Lord looked at him, “Master Yun?”
The man called Master Yun shook his head slightly, “Danger!”
The Calamity Lord said gravely, “I know, but they went inside!”
Master Yun’s expression was calm, “Wait!”
The Calamity Lord hesitated, then said, “My suggestion is to not give them a chance. Every so often, these guys’ strength surges dramatically…”
Master Yun didn’t respond. He stared at the Primordial Temple, his brows slightly furrowed, a trace of wariness and doubt in his eyes.
The Calamity Lord looked at the temple, a hint of worry in his gaze.
Very dangerous!
He felt it too, but Ye Xuan and his group had gone inside!
…
Inside the temple, Ye Xuan glanced back, noting that the Calamity Lord and his companion hadn’t followed.
Clearly, this place was indeed dangerous.
Ye Xuan surveyed their surroundings. They stood in a vast courtyard paved with bluestone. At its center was a nearly withered tree.
The area was eerily silent, unnaturally so!
Suddenly, Tian Qi’s body trembled slightly.
Ye Xuan looked at him, “What’s wrong?”
Tian Qi clenched his fists, eyes full of caution, “Danger!”
Danger!
Dao Ling also said gravely, “Brother Ye, I feel a strong unease!”
Ye Xuan suddenly asked, “Is it as dangerous as my sister’s sword back then?”
Dao Ling hesitated, then said, “Not quite!”
Ye Xuan blinked, “Then what are you scared of?”
Dao Ling thought for a moment, then said, “You’re right. I don’t feel so nervous now!”
Shi Tian suddenly said, “Because Brother Ye’s here, his sister might not kill you. But here…”
Dao Ling: “…”
Shi Tian glanced at the nearly withered tree, “Brother Ye, that tree’s not normal.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I noticed.”
Shi Tian hesitated, then said, “How about we leave? The danger outside is visible, but here… I can’t see it!”
Ye Xuan considered, then said, “No worries. If anything happens, I’ll take the lead!”
With that, he walked toward the withered tree.
Shi Tian grabbed Ye Xuan, shaking his head, “Danger!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I know! But if we go out and face the Calamity Lord and his ally, what are our odds?”
Shi Tian shook his head, “Don’t know!”
Don’t know!
Ye Xuan smiled faintly, “Someone once read my fate, saying my life is tough and I’m hard to kill!”
With that, he walked toward the withered tree.
Dao Ling’s voice trembled, “Brother Ye, who read your fate? Are they reliable?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “I think they’re probably reliable!”
He reached the withered tree and sat down, saying, “Not long ago, I told my sister I wanted her to stop suppressing the Great Dao Brush, that I’d walk the path of the Great Dao on my own.”
He paused, shaking his head, “We bear the Fortune of the Great Dao, yet you feel dangerous to us. Clearly, you must be an unparalleled master. Today, my four brothers entered this temple with no ill intent. We only wish to see if we can become your disciples. If we could, we’d surely carry forward your legacy with honor.”
He continued, “I’d love to be humble, but our strength doesn’t allow it. Outside, no genius or prodigy surpasses us four. Senior, if you wish to pass down your legacy or teachings, we’re the perfect candidates.”
No response.
Dao Ling hesitated, then whispered to Shi Tian, “Do you think Brother Ye’s approach will work?”
Shi Tian shook his head, “Don’t know!”
Ye Xuan bowed slightly, “Senior, your silence means consent!”
He turned to Dao Ling and the others, “Hurry and pay respects to our master!”
Dao Ling and Shi Tian froze. What? We’re disciples now?
Without hesitation, Ye Xuan bowed, “This junior pays respects to Master…”
Before he finished, a terrifying aura enveloped him.
Ye Xuan’s heart skipped, but he remained calm, as the presence hadn’t attacked.
The tree suddenly trembled, and a voice emerged, “Young man, you’ve got some thick skin!”
Ye Xuan: “…”
The voice continued, “Why do you think I won’t kill you?”
Ye Xuan replied promptly, “No reason!”
The voice said, “The Fortune of the Great Dao on you four is highly beneficial to me!”
Ye Xuan laughed heartily.
The voice asked, “What’s so funny?”
Ye Xuan grinned, “I’m laughing because Senior’s joking with me. With your strength, would you care about this measly Fortune of the Great Dao? Let alone that, even the Great Dao Brush probably can’t touch you!”
The voice fell silent.
Ye Xuan added, “Senior, your mere pressure makes us four tremble in fear. With such power, even the Great Dao Brush would bow before you!”
The voice burst into laughter, “Young man, you’re quite the flatterer!”
Ye Xuan bowed slightly, “Every word I speak is from the heart, not a single lie.”
The voice chuckled, “The Great Dao Brush’s power is far more terrifying than you imagine. But as you said, I’m not too afraid of it!”
Ye Xuan bowed again, “Senior, may we four have the honor of becoming your disciples?”
The voice fell silent.
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “I understand!”
He sighed softly, “Not being able to join Senior’s sect is a great regret!”
The voice suddenly said, “Young man, back in my day, I’d have gladly taken you four as disciples. You’re all prodigies among prodigies, and your personality suits my taste. Unfortunately, now…”
It trailed off.
Ye Xuan asked gravely, “Senior, are you still alive?”
The voice laughed, “What do you think?”
Ye Xuan shook his head, “I believe no one in the world could kill Senior unless you wished to die. Otherwise, who could harm you?”
“Haha!”
The voice laughed loudly, “Little guy, I know you’re flattering me, but I must say, it feels good!”
Ye Xuan smiled, “When we four entered, we were uneasy, thinking Senior might be hard to approach. But now, it seems we overthought!”
The voice said, “I made you uneasy earlier because I didn’t want to be disturbed. But I’m curious about you four! By rights, you should be rivals, yet you’re working together!”
Ye Xuan grinned, “Because we have stronger enemies!”
The voice asked, “The two outside?”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Yes! That Calamity Lord—Senior, have you heard of him? He claims to be the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Calamities, invincible across all realms…”
The voice scoffed, “What nonsense Ancestor of Ten Thousand Calamities, invincible across all realms? Did he say that?”
Ye Xuan nodded eagerly, “Yes! When he bullied us three brothers, he said he was invincible, and we could try whatever we wanted…”
“What a load of crap!”
The voice dripped with disdain, “He’s just a bolt of calamity lightning that gained sentience and achieved minor cultivation! To claim invincibility—what a frog in a well, ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth!”
Ye Xuan said gravely, “Senior, that Calamity Lord is really formidable. Before, my three brothers combined couldn’t match him. His calamity lightning strike… it was terrifying!”
He paused, then added, “Of course, he’s far inferior to Senior. Your mere aura makes us four tremble, while we didn’t feel that facing the Calamity Lord! Still… he’s quite strong!”
The voice said, “He’s just trash, a lackey for someone else. You three may not match him now, but surpassing him in the future will be effortless!”
Ye Xuan nodded slightly, “Thank you for your confidence, Senior! We four brothers will work hard!”
He hesitated, then said, “Senior, since you’ve no intention of taking disciples, we’ll take our leave!”
With that, he turned to go.
Dao Ling and the others were stunned but followed Ye Xuan.
Just then, the voice said, “They’re right outside. Going out now is dangerous!”
Ye Xuan nodded, “I know! But if we stay, we might implicate Senior. If the Calamity Lord and his backer target you… our conscience couldn’t bear it!”
The voice burst into laughter, “Little guy, you think I’m afraid of them?”
Ye Xuan seemed to want to speak but held back.
The voice chuckled, “Watch closely, little guy. I’ll show you what a true powerhouse is!”
As the voice fell, a black shadow appeared in the sky outside the temple, looking down at the Calamity Lord. “You’re the trash claiming to be invincible across all realms? Have you no shame to spout such nonsense?”
The next moment, a giant hand swept down, moving so fast that the Calamity Lord couldn’t react. He was blasted away!
Boom!
The Calamity Lord was hurled a million zhang away. As he stopped, his body shattered, exploding into countless bolts of lightning scattering in all directions…
Calamity Lord: “???”
