Summoning the Peak of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 2981 A Meeting Across the River of Time (Part 2)
Chapter 2978: A Meeting Across the River of Time (Part 2)
"System, oh system, where exactly is your limit?"

Ying Hao gazed at the starry sky outside the window, his heart churning with turmoil. After all, even powerful beings like Hongjun and Luo Hou could only become background figures created by the system...

A bold idea suddenly flashed into my mind.

"Wait, could it be that Hongjun and Luohou were forcibly banned by the system in this way because they were too overpowered?"

Ying Hao thought about it more and more and felt it was possible. After all, according to Zhu Rong's description, Hongjun and Luo Hou's style was completely different from other semi-divine beings.

While the other half-profound martial arts masters also possessed extraordinary strength, they were still in the 'cultivation of immortality' stage. However, these two had already 'become immortals,' and their every move exuded earth-shattering power, completely altering the terrain of Panwang Valley in a single battle.

Such excessive martial prowess, appearing in a world where martial arts are the primary focus, is something that not only ordinary people cannot withstand, but even the heavens and earth themselves would probably find difficult to bear.

Perhaps it was precisely because they had already touched upon, or even surpassed, the limits of this world that the system forcibly 'went offline'...

Ying Hao pondered to himself, and this explanation seemed to make sense.

"However, the most unfortunate ones are the twelve ancestral witches."

Although Ying Hao did not want Nanzhong to become powerful, he could not help but feel sorry for Dijiang and the others.

"Before they were fully grown and hadn't even developed their full potential, they all became ready-made power banks for Luo Hou. Except for a few people like Di Jiang, Zhu Rong, and Gong Gong, the rest had their blood essence drained..."

Upon realizing this, Ying Hao suddenly froze: "That's not right. The real Zhu Rong is clearly right in front of me, so who was that 'Zhu Rong' who was devoured by Rahu a hundred years ago?"

Ying Hao hurriedly sought confirmation from the concubine beside him, and after Zhu Rong's explanation, he learned that among the twelve tribes of the South, only the one with the purest bloodline in the current generation was qualified to inherit the ancestral title "Zhu Rong".

Although Zhu Rong was a woman, she had the purest bloodline in the Zhu Rong tribe in the present day, which is why she was able to inherit the name Zhu Rong.

"I see."

Ying Hao suddenly understood, thinking to himself, "It seems that of the twelve Ancestral Witches of the Hongjun era, apart from the four Grandmaster-level leaders such as Dijiang, the other eight, and perhaps even the other eleven besides Dijiang, may not be Ancestral Witches. There might only be one true Ancestral Witch, Dijiang."

The old doubts have been resolved, but new problems have arisen.

"Since Dao Ancestor Hongjun saved Dijiang, Zhurong, Gonggong, and Xuanming back then, are these four still alive now?"

Ying Hao continued to ask, since only the Ancestral Witches could have survived, so he had to figure it out, but this question stumped Zhu Rong.

Although Zhu Rong is the heir to the name Zhu Rong, he is still young. If he did not bear the name Zhu Rong, he might not even know the secrets of Hongjun and Luohou.

After the Rahu calamity, the twelve tribes with Chiyou's bloodline were almost completely wiped out, with only a handful of survivors. The number of tribes also decreased sharply from twelve to five, and to this day, only three remain.

"A hundred years ago, Zhu Rong and Gong Gong of that generation perished shortly after leaving behind their bloodline descendants. It is precisely because of this that Gong Gong and I of my clan were able to inherit the name of our ancestors."

As for whether Dijiang and Xuanming are still alive? This humble general does not know either. I have never seen these two people in my life, and no new names of Dijiang and Xuanming have appeared in the Southern Region.

This answer surprised Ying Hao quite a bit. After all, Zhu Rong was a princess of the Southern Kingdom, whose status was second only to Chi You. If even she didn't know, then the only person who probably knew was Chi You.

Ying Hao casually remarked, feigning nonchalance, "It seems your brother's bloodline isn't as pure as yours; otherwise, he should be the one to inherit the name of Zhu Rong."

Zhu Rong shook his head slightly and explained:
"Your Majesty may not know, but my brother and I are half-brothers. While the Zhu Rong bloodline in my brother's body is indeed not as pure as mine, he has also inherited the Di Jiang bloodline, as well as other bloodlines."

My brother is the first person in history to possess the bloodlines of multiple ancestral witches. It is precisely because of this that he was able to inherit the supreme name of 'Chi You' and become the universally recognized King of the Southern Barbarians among the various tribes of the South.”

"So that's it."

Ying Hao understood. After some indirect questioning, although he learned a lot of ancient secrets from Zhu Rong, he still didn't know if Di Jiang was still alive, which cast a shadow over his heart.

"If Dijiang were still alive... even if his bloodline power was drained by Rahu back then, after more than a hundred years of arduous cultivation, he would probably have reached the 'half-profound' realm by now!"

Ying Hao originally planned to unify the Central Plains and then bring Nanzhong into his territory, since it was Yunnan, a strategic location that had to be captured.

However, conquering a Southern Kingdom protected by a half-profound expert is a completely different matter from conquering a Southern Kingdom without such protection.

Ying Hao's strategic deployment naturally had to be adjusted accordingly.

"This is really difficult. We not only have to deal with the open and hidden attacks right now, but we also have to be wary of the legacy of events from a hundred years ago."

Ying Hao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. After all, the system hadn't given him any information about the people implanted a hundred years ago. Yet, at the very moment he was on his way to unification, these forces deeply connected to ancient figures were bound to jump out one after another and stir up trouble.

"It seems we can only rely on the combined wisdom of the various schools of thought to weave a vast intelligence network that gathers secrets from ancient and modern times."

Ying Hao's gaze was deep as he muttered to himself, "Only by understanding the past, knowing oneself and one's enemy, can one counter each move and proceed step by step... I just hope that nothing unexpected happens at this final juncture of unification."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden change occurred!
The space inside Ying Hao's study suddenly and violently distorted without warning.

The flickering candlelight on the table was suddenly stretched and swayed, instantly transforming into a strange and eerie blue flame.

The landscape painting hanging on the wall is like water with ripples when a pebble is thrown in, and the silk seems about to tear at any moment.

A vast, overwhelming, and terrifying pressure that penetrated straight to the soul descended with a roar, like an invisible mountain of billions of tons crashing down, even the flow of time seemed to freeze at this moment!
"What's going on?"

Ying Hao's pupils contracted sharply, and his gaze swept over Zhu Rong beside him. He saw that she was also pale, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion and horror, clearly also caught in this incomprehensible situation.

"What's going on?"

Ying Hao looked at Zhu Rong beside him, who also looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what had happened.

【System, what's going on?】 Ying Hao cried out in his heart. The system, which usually responded to him every time, was like a stone sinking into the sea this time, with no response at all.

Even Ying Hao, who was used to seeing big scenes, was suddenly enveloped by this irresistible and incomprehensible power. Even his connection with the system was forcibly severed, which shocked him and also made him feel a long-lost sense of fear.

"Little baby, look up."

Hongjun's voice came through the rift in space and time, grand and ethereal, carrying a weariness that transcended life and death, and ultimate majesty, resounding directly in the minds of the two.

At the other end of the river of time, Hongjun stared intently at Ying Hao on the opposite side of the river of time.

However, as the chosen one, Ying Hao, from Hongjun's perspective, is enveloped by layers of chaotic mist and surging fortune.

Even though Hongjun was now almost the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, his all-seeing gaze still could not penetrate this barrier of destiny. He could only see a blurry outline, and the face was completely hidden in the chaos.

Ying Hao and Zhu Rong, who were more than a hundred years in the future, looked up immediately after hearing Hongjun's words, but what they saw was not the familiar rooftop.

A vast and boundless river, flowing with starlight and fragments of destiny, stretches across the "sky".

On the other side of the long river, a translucent old man, exuding profound Taoist charm, was quietly watching them with a kind expression.

Instead, it was a vast and magnificent river, and a translucent, kind old man was watching them from the other side of the river.

Upon seeing the other party, Zhu Rong immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Dao Ancestor Hongjun?"

Because they were saved by Hongjun, the surviving Dijiang and others were grateful for his kindness. So after he merged with the Dao, they left behind a portrait of Hongjun and had the people of the tribe worship it. That is why Zhurong was able to recognize Hongjun.

"What? He's Hongjun?"

Ying Hao was completely dumbfounded, and asked in disbelief, "Hasn't he already achieved Dao?"

"Yes."

Zhu Rong's voice was filled with shock and confusion as he said, "The ancient texts clearly record that Dao Ancestor Hongjun merged with the Dao to prevent Demon Ancestor Rahu from destroying the world, thus invoking heavenly punishment to slay the demon, and ultimately became a part of the Heavenly Dao. How is it possible? How could he possibly manifest in his true form again?"

It is common knowledge that Hongjun merged with the Dao, but since the Dao Ancestor has already merged with the Dao, who is this old man who looks exactly like the Dao Ancestor in their eyes?

Zhu Rong was completely bewildered.

Upon hearing the title "Dao Ancestor," Hongjun's aged face revealed a faint sneer as he murmured to himself, "Dao Ancestor? After my death, the Daoist sect actually calls me that? I have merely fulfilled my duty; I am unworthy of the title Dao Ancestor."

"You are truly the Dao Ancestor Hongjun?"

Zhu Rong's voice trembled.

"Indeed, I am indeed Hongjun, but not some Dao Ancestor. I am merely a person who cultivates the Dao and seeks enlightenment."

Hongjun's voice was calm, yet it contained an indescribable sense of vicissitude.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Rong had no further hesitation! Overwhelmed with emotion, she knelt down without hesitation, her voice filled with heartfelt reverence and gratitude: "Descendant of the Zhu Rong tribe, the current inheritor of the name 'Zhu Rong,' I kowtow to the Dao Ancestor Hongjun."

"If it weren't for the Dao Ancestor's selfless rescue back then, preserving the bloodlines of several patriarchs, how could I be here today? This kindness and virtue, Zhu Rong will forever remember!"

"Zhurong? So you're a descendant of that Zhurong brat."

"Unexpectedly, Zhu Rong, a hundred years later, has an even purer bloodline than his ancestor a hundred years ago. Good, very good."

Hongjun's gaze fell upon Zhurong. Unlike Ying Hao, whom he couldn't see through, he knew everything about Zhurong with just one glance, but he still couldn't see a single thing about Ying Hao. A hint of realization and a sense of the passage of time lingered in his eyes.

Hongjun and Zhurong chatted and laughed, but Yinghao was suffering greatly.

Seeing Hongjun looking at him again, Ying Hao suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked with feigned composure, "Didn't you merge with the Dao and become a part of the Heavenly Dao a hundred years ago? Why can you still manifest a hundred years later?"

On the other side of the river of time and space, Hongjun's semi-transparent figure appeared increasingly illusory, as if it might merge into the flowing light and shadow at any moment.

On Hongjun's aged yet kind face, a hint of almost transparent, weary smile appeared. His voice grew increasingly ethereal, carrying a sense of time's passage and depth.

“What you say is true, young friend. After the battle in the south, I was indeed going to return to the Heavenly Dao and restore the universe, but due to some accidents, I regained some consciousness and struggled against the will of the Heavenly Dao for many years.”

Upon hearing this, Ying Hao immediately realized what was happening and exclaimed in shock, his eyes widening, "So, you're the Dao Ancestor from a hundred years ago?"

"That's right. The one speaking to you now is not Hongjun who lives a hundred years in the future, but Hongjun whose consciousness from a hundred years ago is about to dissipate into the world."

At this point, Hongjun's gaze seemed to pierce through a hundred years of dust, carrying a trace of attachment to the mortal world and a sense of relief, as he continued, "My consciousness has become increasingly weak, and I should have passed away with the wind."

However, before my complete annihilation, my heart is concerned with the future destiny of the Divine Land. Therefore, I am willing to burn this last vestige of my will as fuel to forcefully open the river of time and space, and travel upstream, wishing to meet with that one who will inherit the destiny of the future…

Hongjun's explanation, instead of dispelling Ying Hao's fear, was like a bucket of ice water poured over him from head to toe, chilling him to the bone.

Ying Hao was not afraid of the Heavenly Dao, because the Heavenly Dao is impartial, ruthless, and operates according to its own rules, and will not take out its anger on others because of personal grudges.

But the one before us is Hongjun who still retains "self-awareness," the Hongjun Daoist who has joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and deep affection between master and disciple.

This left Ying Hao no choice but to be afraid, after all, Hongjun's most beloved and valued disciple, Taiqing Daoren, died under his meticulous planning and ruthless siege.

If it were the Heavenly Dao Hongjun, he would naturally not hold a grudge against Taiqing for his death, but Hongjun, who still has self-awareness, might not be so.