Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

"Primordial... Heavenly Demon?"

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor's words, Xu Yang's brow furrowed tightly.

He had only heard of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

Primordial Heavenly Demon?

It was unheard of, completely beyond his ken.

"I only know of the Primordial, never of the Heavenly Demon."

Xu Yang shook his head and cut to the chase, "Who is this Primordial Heavenly Demon, who dares to bear such a venerated title, to carry such a name?"

Previously, in the Azure Star Realm, after discussing the Dao with Jun Qing, the Master of the Alliance Heavenly Tao, he had become aware of the common reason behind the titles of Immortal Gods across realms.

The commonality of titles was not about sharing names or identical existences, but about a fundamental commonality of the Dao.

Whether it be the Taoist Three Purities or Buddhism's Shakyamuni, these were not their actual names, but rather the honored titles of their "Dao."

Put in simpler terms, these Immortal God titles were actually like professions—once one stepped on that path and grasped that power, they could bear that veneration and that title.

Because every world has its own reasons, its own laws, every world will have its own Three Pure Ones, its own Tathagata, just like every country has its own king.

If one day Xu Yang reached such a realm and comprehended such principles, he could also identify himself as one of the Three Pure Ones, as a professional title, not his true identity.

But these professional titles were not to be claimed lightly, as the more one perceives the vastness of heaven and earth, the more one realizes their insignificance. To assume such a venerable title before reaching that realm would only invite ridicule and reveal one's arrogance and ignorance.

So, was this Primordial Heavenly Demon an ignorant madman, or a powerful being truly worthy of the "Primordial" stature?

Xu Yang did not know, for it was unheard of, with no explanation to be found.

Yet, he was aware of the "Primordial" Heavenly Venerable of the World of Dao and Law.

According to the scriptures of various sects and schools in the World of Dao and Law, the creator and revered deity of genesis was the Supreme Elder Lord, that is, the Supreme Taoist Ancestor.

The Ancestor of Tao created the heavens and taught the beginning, transforming one Qi into the Three Pure Ones first—Supreme Pure Moral Heaven Venerable, Yuqing Primordial Heavenly Venerable, and Shangqing Spiritual Treasure Heaven Venerable, the venerated of Taoism, the lords over the Ten Directions' True Spirits, and billions of sacred beings.

After One Qi Transforms into the Three Pure Ones, the Ancestor of Tao descended as an instructor to the human emperors, aiding the Three Emperors in governing the world, assisting the Five Emperors in establishing order, later even traveling west through Hangu Pass, transforming barbarians into Buddhists and creating the Buddhist Sect Lineage...

In short, in the World of Dao and Law, the Supreme Elder represents all origins, the ancestor and patriarch of the Ten Thousand Laws of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. He is the Three Pure Ones, he is Shakyamuni; all "Patriarchal" gods and saints are him, and all the cultivators in the World of Dao and Law, as well as the Ancient Immortal Gods, are his disciples and grandchildren.

Although the Immortal Realm belongs to the World of Dao and Law and the Earth Immortal Realm to its own realm, with no intersection between the two, after the ancient calamity, the Yuan Spirits of the World of Dao and Law fell silent, the Supreme Taoist Ancestor led the Immortals in Ascension, reaching the Earth Immortal Realm and establishing the Tao Lineage—thus the two realms became linked as above and below.

Therefore, the Ancient Immortal Gods of the World of Dao and Law are, in fact, also the Ancient Immortal Gods of the Earth Immortal Realm. This is clearly recorded in the various sect lineages among Immortals, Monsters, Demons, and Ghost Gods, including the lineages of Dragons and Phoenixes; even the present-day Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Sect reference the Ancient Heavenly Court and the Ancient Spirit Mountain institutions to inherit the Qi Fortune of the ancient Tao Lineage.

Thus, the question arises.

Is this Primordial Heavenly Demon, mentioned by the Jade Emperor, related to the Yuqing Primordial Heavenly Venerable of the World of Dao and Law?

There must be a connection, for both are revered as the Primordial, and even if they are not the same entity, they are fellow travelers on the same path, competitors in the same race.

Besides, the disappearance of the Ancient Immortal Gods has always been shrouded in mysteries and shadows, terrifying to contemplate.

Not to mention anything else, consider the Heavenly Secret Realm, the last remnant of the Ancient Immortal Gods. Its broken and desolate scenes and the various Immortal Treasures and Heavy Weapons that had undergone great battles, all clearly indicate that the departure of the Ancient Immortal Gods was not peaceful, but rather through a fierce battle.

What cause triggered such a battle?

Where did the Ancient Immortal Gods go after the battle?

Did they all self-destruct, turning to ashes?

And what about the Supreme Taoist Ancestor, as the progenitor of a realm, the unparalleled being of creation? Even though he did not achieve the Hunyuan Dao Fruit, the Daluo Holy, he was surely esteemed as a Golden Immortal. How could such an existence leave not a word behind, simply disappearing without a trace, whereabouts unknown?

All these matters are extremely terrifying upon close contemplation, not to be deeply thought of.

On this basis, there comes a Primordial Heavenly Demon capable of altering a True Immortal—an entity that confuses the cause and effect, openly and secretly, stirring a tangled mess, with every bit being startling.

Xu Yang had no choice in the matter, even though he possessed the Heavenly Mechanism Inquiry Skill, able to search the past and future throughout heaven and earth, he was also in the dark regarding the Ancient Immortal Gods and many powerful beings, unable to find the slightest clue.

If he couldn't find out, then he would ask!

Xu Yang looked towards the Jade Emperor, wanting to learn the origin of this "Primordial Heavenly Demon" from him.

However...

"We do not know either!"

The Jade Emperor shook his head and showed a bitter smile, "I only know of the Taoist Yuqing Primordial Heavenly Venerable from ancient times. This Primordial Heavenly Demon, I have never heard of."

Xu Yang frowned, turning his gaze towards the Four Extreme Emperor but encountered similar expressions. With no other choice, he asked, "Where then did this Primordial Heavenly Demon originate from?"

"Everything has to be traced back to seventy thousand years ago,"

The Jade Emperor shook his head and sighed deeply, "Seventy thousand years ago, my forefather reigned over the Heavenly Court, when our Immortal Path was at its zenith. The forefather and four emperors dominated the Immortal Realm. Be it the Monster Nation or the Demon Abyss, all retreated out of deference, not daring to contend."

"At that time, the forefather's cultivation was nearing the Earth Immortal Realm—just one step away from breaking through."