Chapter 324 : Tianyi True Dragon

Chapter 324: Tianyi True Dragon

Within Taiyi Hall.

Moonlight lay tranquil, and the jade desk shimmered with a soft glow.

‘A Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact is the manifestation of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. It possesses its own true spirit—how could it ever be obtained by force!’

Zhu Wuya crushed the stray thoughts in his heart, and his gaze gradually sharpened.

Today, the unusual movement of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror signified the great rise of the sect. The long-quiet Earth Proliferation Territory would also stir because of it, raising a storm.

As the sect’s patriarch, how could he damage the sect’s foundation for the sake of personal gain or loss?

“Buzz!”

At that moment, the sound of something cutting through the air, along with a voice announcing arrival, suddenly came from outside the hall.

Zhu Wuya’s expression shifted slightly. All emotion was concealed beneath calm eyes.

“Enter,” he said faintly, his tone steady.

Flawless Foundation Establishment was certainly rare—but he, Zhu Wuya, was no less.

He wanted to see with his own eyes what kind of Golden Core Chen Zi’ang had formed to obtain the recognition of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror.

“Disciple Zhu Shaoyuan pays respects to Patriarch.”

“Disciple Chen Zi’ang pays respects to Patriarch.”

Chen Beiwu followed his master into the hall and bowed according to sect etiquette.

The last time they met, he had only felt that the Patriarch’s aura was like an abyss and an ocean—utterly unfathomable.

But now, after forging the Yuanshi Golden Core, Chen Beiwu, at close range, could already “see” through the fluctuations of aura—streams of incomparably condensed Heavenly-Gang Five-Elements True Qi.

‘Unmatchable.’ Chen Beiwu instantly reached his conclusion.

Though his current combat strength surpassed that of ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, compared to an old True Monarch grand cultivator like the Patriarch, the gap remained vast.

If they truly fought, he likely would not even withstand a few moves.

‘It is not the Taiyi Golden Core!’

Zhu Wuya’s gaze settled upon Chen Beiwu, and faint ripples stirred within his heart.

The Taiyi Pill Forging Method of the Five Great Emperors of the Five Directions recorded: Taiyi was the fusion of the Qi of the Five Great Emperors, harmonizing the numbers of the Five Elements and corresponding to the order of the Five Directions. It was the orthodox path of the Profound Gate, the paradigm of the supreme Golden Core.

Yet the imperishable golden attribute surrounding Chen Zi’ang was more obscure and more ancient than the Taiyi golden attribute, as though it contained the principles of Heaven and Earth at their first opening. Its rank was extraordinarily high.

Even Zhu Wuya, a True Monarch at the Perfection Realm, felt a faint, indistinct pressure before that imperishable golden attribute.

There was no doubt—this was the phenomenon produced when the grade of one Golden Core far surpassed another.

At that moment, Zhu Wuya finally understood why the sect’s foundational Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror had suddenly stirred.

Chen Zi’ang, at the late stage of Golden Core, already possessed such condensed imperishable golden attribute. His affinity with and control over the spiritual mechanisms of Heaven and Earth were comparable even to a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

He himself was far inferior!

No wonder the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror had rejected him and instead chosen a Golden Core True Person.

‘???’

Zhu Shaoyuan kept his head lowered, somewhat surprised.

Based on his understanding of the Patriarch, after master and disciple completed their salute, the Patriarch’s next words should have been, ‘No need for ceremony.’

Yet three breaths of time had passed with them still bowed, and the Patriarch had not responded.

Chen Beiwu, however, remained composed, allowing the Patriarch’s scrutiny.

The sect had given him resources, imparted true methods, and protected his Dao path—from an inner sect disciple (quasi-sequence) to Dao Child, from a Qi Refining mortal cultivator to a Golden Core True Person… Chen Beiwu remembered all of it clearly in his heart.

Since the sect had not failed him, how could he fail the sect’s cultivation and trust? Why would he fear the Patriarch’s examination?

Zhu Wuya flicked his sleeve and gently raised Chen Beiwu up through invisible force, his expression mild as he said, “Dao Child, there is no need for such courtesy.”

Zhu Shaoyuan also rose in turn.

All present were his own people; there was no need to circle around the matter. He directly tested the waters: “Please forgive me, Patriarch.”

“Oh? You have nurtured an unparalleled prodigy for the sect—what crime could that be?”

Zhu Wuya looked at his great-grandson with a half-smile.

Zhu Shaoyuan stepped forward. “Reporting to Patriarch, the heavenly anomaly that descended upon the sect and the tremor of our foundation this time—its root lies in nothing else. It all stems from the Yuanshi True Qi condensed by my disciple Chen Zi’ang. I ask Patriarch for forgiveness.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuya’s expression remained unchanged, though inwardly he felt rather speechless.

On the surface, Zhu Shaoyuan was asking for punishment—but in truth, he was probing and seeking merit.

After all, the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror was the sect’s foundation, a matter of utmost gravity. His attitude at this moment would determine whether Chen Zi’ang could smoothly take charge of the sect in the future.

‘So be it!’ Zhu Wuya sighed inwardly.

One chosen by the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror was indeed worthy of trust.

Originally, he had intended to temper the Dao Child further. But since Zhu Shaoyuan had already mentioned the sect’s foundation to Chen Zi’ang, letting the Dao Child attempt it in advance was not unacceptable.

Thus, Zhu Wuya gave a light laugh and looked at Chen Beiwu. “The Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror is the supreme treasure that stabilizes the fortune of our sect. It has lain dormant for many years. Throughout the generations of the Mirror Moon Sect’s sages, countless brilliant and extraordinary figures failed to gain its recognition.”

“Dao Child, that you could stir the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror today is both Heaven’s will and fate.”

At this point, his tone shifted. “However, the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror is a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact. It contains a true spirit and possesses its own discernment. Whether it chooses a master depends solely on itself. Even I cannot interfere.”

“If Dao Child intends to obtain its recognition, you must enter the depths of the Eight Wastelands Water Mirror Subduing Dragon Formation, face the true spirit directly, and undergo its trial.”

“If you gain the true spirit’s recognition, you shall become the wielder of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror. If you fail…”

Zhu Wuya’s gaze fixed upon Chen Beiwu. “Do not lose heart. Even Divine Transformation True Venerables find it difficult to subdue such a supreme treasure.”

The moment the Patriarch’s words fell, Chen Beiwu stood stunned in place.

He had imagined heaven-reaching mystical treasures of boundless might, or fortune-origin artifacts that only Divine Transformation True Venerables could wield—but he had never imagined a legendary Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact.

What was the concept of a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact?

Ancient records within the Immortal Alliance stated: a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact could not be refined except by a Void-Refining Dao Venerable, nor controlled without the destined karmic convergence of union with the Dao. Its might was earth-shattering, far beyond merely moving mountains, filling seas, or destroying stars—it even touched upon the rules of the Great Dao and the hidden origins of Heaven and Earth.

Without exaggeration, even within the Immortal Alliance, a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact was a supreme treasure—enough to alarm Void-Refining Dao Venerables and trigger a catastrophic upheaval.

‘The sect’s foundation—the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror—is a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact?’

‘The Yuanshi Golden Core can actually resonate with a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact!’

At that thought, even with the Guarding-the-One Mirror Light cleansing dust and purifying thoughts, Chen Beiwu could not help but lose composure slightly.

Seeing the Dao Child’s reaction, Zhu Wuya was unsurprised. Instead, a trace of amusement appeared on his face.

To hear of a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact and remain unmoved—perhaps only the legendary immortals could do so. And Chen Zi’ang was merely a Golden Core True Person.

“How about it? Are you willing to give it a try?”

Hearing the Patriarch’s words, Chen Beiwu suddenly came back to his senses, and a trace of hesitation rose within his heart.

A Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact was indeed extraordinary—but his cultivation was only at the late stage of Golden Core. Could he truly grasp such an opportunity?

Moreover, he carried hidden secrets. If this chance were to expose the Nine-Breath Chaos within him, would that not bring more harm than benefit?

‘No!’

Chen Beiwu’s gaze sharpened, and the retreat in his heart vanished in an instant.

If a Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact were truly as formidable as recorded in ancient texts, then the moment he had entered the sect, the secrets upon him would likely already have been exposed. It would not have waited until today—until he formed the Yuanshi Golden Core—to draw the attention of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror.

Eliminating all impossible conjectures, only two answers remained.

Either the sect’s foundational Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror was incomplete, its power not whole.

Or the rank of the Nine-Breath Chaos stood among the very best even within Primordial Chaos Dao Artifacts—capable of deceiving even a true spirit comparable to a Void-Refining Dao Venerable.

Whichever possibility it was, both indicated that the probability of exposing the Nine-Breath Chaos was negligible. There was no need for excessive worry.

Thinking thus, Chen Beiwu took a deep breath, his eyes resolute.

Opportunity lay before him—escape would solve nothing.

“This disciple is willing to try. I ask Patriarch to grant it.”

Chen Beiwu raised his head and spoke with ringing firmness.

“Good, good, good.” Zhu Wuya nodded slightly.

Whether Chen Zi’ang could obtain the recognition of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror or not, this unwavering Dao heart alone was worthy of praise.

“Still your breath and focus your mind. I shall send you over.”

As his words fell, Zhu Wuya lightly tapped the void with his fingertip.

“Buzz!”

The space before Chen Beiwu fractured like shattered glass, revealing a dazzling spatial passage that gently conveyed him forward.

“Patriarch, do you think Zi’ang will succeed?”

Watching his disciple vanish, Zhu Shaoyuan pressed his lips together slightly and looked toward Zhu Wuya.

“Who knows?”

Zhu Wuya stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.

Matters of karmic destiny could neither be forced nor predicted.

What the true spirit of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror thought—how could he, a mere Nascent Soul True Monarch, fathom it?

At that thought, Zhu Wuya’s gaze deepened as he looked toward the depths of the Eight Wastelands Water Mirror Subduing Dragon Formation.

Yet one thing he was certain of: if the Dao Child could gain the favor and recognition of the Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact, he would not need to retrace the path of his predecessors. His probability of breaking through to Divine Transformation True Venerable in the future would increase by ten to twenty percent.

One must not underestimate that ten or twenty percent.

For a grand cultivator at the level of True Monarch like Zhu Wuya, even a one percent increase in breakthrough hope was worth staking one’s life for—let alone ten or twenty percent!

…

Time passed—perhaps an instant, perhaps a day.

When the spatial force enveloping him suddenly vanished, Chen Beiwu felt solid ground beneath his feet, and an indescribably pure Water-Attribute spiritual mechanism rushed toward him.

He opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by layer upon layer of transparent water mirrors.

These water mirrors varied in size and form, yet together they inverted Heaven and Earth, Sun and Moon, and the stars, forming a strange and ethereal world.

“Come!”

Hearing the call, Chen Beiwu’s gaze was involuntarily drawn toward the depths of the water-mirror world.

There lay a faint yet all-encompassing radiance.

His intuition told him—that radiance was the true body of the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror.

“Step!”

“Step!”

“Step!”

Activating his Yuanshi True Qi, Chen Beiwu slowly advanced toward the source of light.

But after only three steps, the pitch-black mirror beneath his feet—within which Sun, Moon, and stars revolved—began to ripple.

“Crack!”

The next instant, as the sound of shattering echoed, an invisible Dao’s Rhythm burst forth.

Chen Beiwu halted. Within his flesh, sinews, bones, organs, True Qi—even his Spirit Platform and sea of consciousness—waves of intense numbness and pain surged.

“Hiss.”

He inhaled sharply, forcibly suppressing the discomfort, and stepped forward another three paces.

“Crack! Crack!”

This time, the shattering sound grew clearer. Countless fine fissures appeared across his skin, beads of blood seeping out, as though his physical body might collapse at any moment.

“Buzz!”

At the critical juncture, the Yuanshi Golden Core within his dantian’s Qi Sea began to hum and rotate. His body, on the verge of collapse, instantly restored itself—without a trace of impurity or blood—indeed, even strengthened slightly.

Yet compared to the enhancement of his physique, what surprised Chen Beiwu more was that as the Yuanshi Golden Core continued to revolve, the imperishable golden attribute within his Qi Sea became ever purer.

‘Interesting.’ Chen Beiwu raised a brow.

Three steps, one crack; one crack, one tempering.

He had not expected that the Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror possessed the wondrous effect of tempering the body, removing flaws, and enhancing the Golden Core.

Realizing this, Chen Beiwu hesitated no longer. Activating his Yuanshi True Qi once more, he strode forward boldly.

“Crack!” “Crack!” “Crack!”

Pain was pain—but feeling tangible benefits, he endured it with a strange joy.

Soon, as time flowed on, a full day passed.

Chen Beiwu gradually adapted to the agony brought by the “mirror shattering.” His steps grew steadier, his pace faster. His cultivation was on the verge of breaking through late-stage Golden Core and entering the peak of Golden Core at any moment.

Yet the path of the Mirror Abyss also had its end.

Seeing the ancient stone stele that suddenly appeared ahead, Chen Beiwu paused and extended his divine sense toward it.

[Tracing the origin of root and bone, innate endowment by Heaven. Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth—Five-Element Heavenly Root. Root-bone evaluation: Legendary-Grade.]

[Dao foundation flawless, Golden Core suspended in illumination. Containing the Taiyi Golden Core of the Five Great Emperors, yet opening another path. Core formed as Yuanshi, harboring the secrets of Heaven and Earth. Dao foundation evaluation: Immortal-Grade.]

[Cultivation method mastering myriad tribulations, Five Elements deriving Dao, absorbing Innate One Qi, Primordial Unity as one, evolving the beginning and end of all things and all tribulations. Cultivation method evaluation: Immortal-Grade.]

[Spirit Platform divine sense, clear as a mirror. Enduring nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine mirror shatterings without confusion or delusion, firmly guarding the original heart. Temperament evaluation: Legendary-Grade.]

[Spirit reflected in the Mirror Abyss, thought illuminating myriad laws. On the path of the Mirror Abyss, comprehending the meaning of the arising and cessation of water mirrors, reverse-refining the spirit, illuminating the true self, tempering the three flowers of essence, Qi, and spirit. Comprehension evaluation: Quasi-Immortal-Grade.]

[Mirror Abyss trial passed. Five-Origin evaluation: Quasi-Immortal-Grade. Identity: Heir of the Taiyi Dao Lineage. Granted Dao Artifact resonance.]

As the final two words completed their transformation, the stone stele exploded with a thunderous crash. Enlightenment dawned in Chen Beiwu’s heart, and he instinctively relaxed his mind.

“Buzz!”

In an instant, Heaven and Earth transformed.

Chen Beiwu’s breath halted, his soul trembled, even his thoughts froze entirely.

There was no other reason—before him stood a mirror.

A mirror beyond all description in this world, enough to drive every cultivator into madness.

It existed since time immemorial, floating quietly ahead, as though it had witnessed the rise and fall of worlds, the ascension and demise of cultivation giants, emitting an indescribable aura.

This was the foundation of the Mirror Moon Sect—the Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact Tianyi Northern Abyss Mirror!

Before such a supreme treasure, the Yuanshi Golden Core within Chen Beiwu’s Qi Sea began to tremble violently.

This trembling was not fear, but the instinctive yearning and reverence of a cultivator’s Golden Core toward the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

At the very moment his mind quaked—

“Boom!”

An aura from antiquity surged forth.

Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted. Within the mirror’s surface, two points of light suddenly ignited, forming a pair of majestic dragon eyes vast as stars.

Primordial Chaos Dao Artifacts possessed true spirits—so recorded in the Immortal Alliance’s ancient texts.

Without question, the owner of those dragon eyes was the true spirit of the Primordial Chaos Dao Artifact.

Tianyi True Dragon!