After the myth

Chapter 1097 The First Universe
After understanding the meaning of the primordial spirit, the four domains locked the primordial spirit.

Even if the primordial spirit were in a complete physical state, it wouldn't fare well under these circumstances, let alone now that it's just the primordial spirit.

The primordial spirit clearly understood this principle as well. Sensing the growing killing intent, the primordial spirit spoke again:
"I can tell you the secrets of this universe, and I can also buy you time."

Otherwise, even if you cultivate in seclusion here, you will be discovered and killed within a hundred years at most.

"It won't even take a century; once you kill me, they'll all know there are outsiders here."

The primordial spirit clearly knew the purpose of Ding Huan and the other three's visit, and the conditions it offered hit the nail on the head.

For Ding Huan and his three companions, if they were ambushed while in seclusion, they would indeed have no chance of turning the tide.

Ye Xuan said calmly, "Oh, if that's the case, why didn't anyone come out to stop Ding Huan when he left last time?"

The primordial spirit chuckled: "That's because this side is under my responsibility, and I need the Great Dao Compass. So I didn't let anyone know that something happened on this side."

Also, Ding Huan left very suddenly. I didn't expect him to not go to the direction I indicated, but to leave abruptly.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be able to leave.

The four fell silent for a moment, each thinking about the same thing: if they hadn't discovered this primordial spirit, would they have been able to leave this universe?
Furthermore, if they are in seclusion, is it really as this primordial spirit said, that they will be suddenly plotted against and killed?

In the end, the four had to admit that what the primordial spirit said might be true.

After a while, Mo Wuji asked, "Introduce yourself, and why you are here. What exactly is this universe?"

The primordial spirit said calmly, "My name is Shen Dai. As for other issues, we will tell you after we reach an agreement."

Ding Huan sneered: "Shen Dai, explain why you want me to take your Dao Seal to the designated place? Can't you go there yourself?"

"Because I didn't know that Li Zhuojian was so insidious and that his strength far exceeded my expectations, causing me to lose my first physical body."

I have a second physical body, which is being refined in my Yuan Dao Pool. If my primordial spirit were to go there, I estimate that my enemy would discover it before I even get close.

Once he finds out I no longer have a physical body, he will immediately try to take over my territory and will never give me a chance to get close to my second body.

"You take my Dao Seal with you. Under my cover, you can approach my second physical body, and I can also revert to my original physical form."

Shen Dai's statement was half true and half false.

He was indeed going to merge with his second body, and his second body was indeed being condensed in his own Yuandao Pool.

The important point is that the primordial spirit state is impossible to transcend.

Not only him, but no one else's primordial spirit could approach this cosmic center.

"We can spare your life for now. Tell us everything you know, preferably in as much detail as possible."

Ding Huan made a decision: not to kill Shen Dai.

Not only him, but Ye Xuan, Mo Wuji and Lan Xiaobu also knew that if they could not improve their strength in the shortest amount of time, they would have no chance in the future.

Shen Dai's words are very likely true.

That means if they don't reach an agreement with Shen Dai, their only option is to leave this universe.

With their combined strength, they probably wouldn't even have the slightest chance in this place.

Shen Dai was not surprised; this was exactly what he had expected.

Anyone would agree.

After leaving the First Universe, as long as he locks this place tightly, no one can get in again.

If it were so easy for the First Universe to enter, they wouldn't have been able to control the entire vast universe to this day.

His only mistake was letting Li Zhuojian in before his injuries had fully healed.

His original intention was to have Li Zhuojian collect all the Great Dao Discs for him, because he desperately needed the Great Dao Discs and the Great Divination Technique.

To his surprise, Li Zhuojian's strength far exceeded his expectations. He was still recovering from his injuries and, due to carelessness, actually lost his physical body.

Although he killed Li Zhuojian, he is still in danger here after losing his physical body.

Those bastards won't listen to reason.

Fortunately, those bastards are probably too busy taking care of themselves right now.

He lost his physical body, and even his mind lost its previous agility.

So he went to great lengths to attract Ding Huan.

To his even greater surprise, Ding Huan's abilities were also quite remarkable. Moreover, Ding Huan's actions were beyond his expectations.

He watched helplessly as Ding Huan didn't follow his plan; instead, she came and left.

He left with unwavering resolve, and even the Chaos Iron Mother Mountain and the vast primordial universe's source laws couldn't hold him back for even a moment.

Things had come to this point, so he could only continue and wait for the next wave of people to enter the First Universe.

In the end, they were surrounded and attacked by Ding Huan and his three companions, and were completely unable to fight back.

By allowing Ding Huan and the other three to improve their strength here, he has essentially broken the oath of the First Universe.

He didn't care anymore; he was about to kick the bucket, so why would he care if the First Universe was being invaded by ants from the outside? Those bastards probably didn't care about him right now either.
"This actually has to start with the ten directions of the universe..."

When Shen Dai began to speak, all four listened very carefully.

However, all four of them had climbed their way up from the bottom, and although they were listening to Shen Dai speak, this space was completely locked up by them.

It was utterly impossible for Shen Dai to escape. "The universe we inhabit is the first universe of the Ten Directions Universe..."

"Wait..." Ye Xuan interrupted Shen Dai.

"Shen Dai, you're saying that the Ten Directions Universe includes the universe we live in?"

Shen Dai replied, "Naturally, this universe is the first universe, while the ones outside are the second to tenth universes."

However, the rules of the first universe are indeed superior to those of the other nine universes. This is because the division of the vast universe into ten universes began with the first universe.

After the first universe emerged from the vast expanse, the other nine universes then evolved from it. Therefore, the laws governing the universe of the first universe are also known as the mother laws.

Although there are only nine universes outside, we are used to calling the outside world the ten-universe.

Ding Huan interrupted Shen Dai: "You know Li Zhuojian left a message saying 'Simple,' right? What did that mean?"

Shen Dai calmly said, "Of course I know. Li Zhuojian thought I had also perished, or even like him. He left behind a Daoist scroll before he died."

He believes that our universe is outside the ten universes, while the ten universes he came from are merely the universes that our universe uses to nurture life.

The beings of the ten directions of the universe fight each other for survival and for the sake of the Great Dao; we are merely here to watch the show, to observe their struggle. Therefore, he felt that the life forms of the ten directions of the universe were pitiful, including himself.

"What about the facts?"

"The facts are indeed as Li Zhuojian said. This first universe is outside the other nine universes, and we are indeed watching them fight from a high place."

However, the other nine universes are not nurtured by us. The rules of heaven and earth they cultivate have nothing to do with our own Great Dao.

Otherwise, even if Li Zhuojian had some extraordinary encounter, he couldn't have shattered my physical body and trapped me here for so many years.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan, Mo Wuji, Lan Xiaobu, and Ding Huan all fell silent.

They were really lucky to get here, because Shen Dai got greedy and lured Li Zhuojian here without telling the others.

Li Zhuojian's strength far exceeded Shen Dai's expectations, to the point that things spiraled out of control, eventually leading to the inclusion of the four of them.

If Shen Dai were to sacrifice himself at this moment and send out this message, the four of them would probably only be waiting to die.

The First Universe still holds the power to control the fate of the other nine universes, just as it did before.

Therefore, what Shen Dai said earlier was true.

They cannot touch Shen Dai; if something happens to Shen Dai, they will face their greatest crisis.

After a long while, Ye Xuan asked, "If you don't let Li Zhuojian enter the First Universe, will Li Zhuojian be able to find this place?"

“He has no chance. Without the consent of the people in the First Universe, no one outside the First Universe has a chance to enter here,” Shen Dai said with certainty.

Lan Xiaobu then asked, "How many people as strong as you are there in the First Universe?"

There are nine people in total.

Shen Dai was quite responsive to all questions.

Where does your strength rank among these nine people?

Upon hearing Ding Huan's words, Shen Dai fell silent.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, saying, "If this were my territory, I would rank seventh."

"This isn't your territory?"

"This is my universe, and nature is my territory, but this is not where my cave dwelling is located."

Upon hearing this, the four were forced to confront a harsh reality: their strength was far too weak here.

Shen Dai is definitely stronger than Ye Xuan.

Shen Dai was only ranked seventh in the first universe.

In other words, that's third to last.

Even if all four of them possessed Ye Xuan's level of strength, they still wouldn't be able to overwhelm those big shots from the First Universe.

Moreover, Ye Xuan's strength is not as good as Li Zhuojian's.

Li Zhuojian was killed by Shen Dai, which means that Ye Xuan probably can't even beat the last one here.

Ding Huan broke the silence: "Shen Dai, we can spare your life, but it's not enough for you to simply not reveal our arrival or lure others here."

We also have ways to trap you and prevent you from sending messages. You'll have to offer something else in exchange.

Ding Huan was just saying that; in fact, even Ye Xuan wasn't confident he could prevent Shen Dai from sending the message out.

At the same time, Ding Huan suspected that Shen Dai might be hiding a lot of information.

That means the First Universe might not be as Shen Dai said, where only he was in trouble.

The nine powerful beings in the First Universe, including Shen Dai, may have all encountered some trouble.

Otherwise, how could others not have noticed that Shen Dai had done such a big thing here?

The first universe must have a mechanism that prevents anyone from entering.

Shen Dai let people in, and no one questioned them yet, which was rather strange.

Having revealed so many secrets, Shen Dai already knew he couldn't get along with the others. Hearing Ding Huan's words, he simply said, "I can give you four hundred cosmic veins."

(End of this chapter)