There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 264, Third Place

[There was once a patriarch named Li Qing, who rose from the brink of disaster. His innate wisdom allowed him to see the vast universe within the smallest speck of dust, dispelling illusions and confusion, and revealing the truth. He touched upon the profound mysteries of the universe, instantly comprehending the subtle truths of Bodhi and the methods of predestined connection. Thus, he opened a new chapter in the lineage and was revered by later generations as the Dharma Master, his incense burning eternally, ensuring the unbroken continuation of the Dharma lineage.]

The biography of Li Qing in that Daoyanlu is already quite rich in content, most of which has a source. The last one, "The Method of Continuing Destiny," was when Chen Qing first triggered the historical echo of the Taiyuan Immortal Emperor in the northern land of the Immortal Dynasty in his dream. He happened to wake up from the dream and used the setting between dream and wakefulness to help himself comprehend a method of temporarily carrying the imperial aura by projecting his own image.

"Unexpectedly, if everything goes smoothly, then this third patriarch will have to bear the fruit of the Demon Buddha's path!"

Through the Dao Yan Lu, a new patriarch is created to specifically carry the Dao fruit of demons and Buddhas. He operates according to the method of severing thoughts and reincarnating, which is equivalent to direct reincarnation!

"My physical body is stationed in the present world, firmly guarding my foundation; my dream body suppresses the past, restraining my main enemy; and the new ancestor is strategizing and vying for power, digesting the fruits of my Dao!"

However, along with the joy, doubts also arose.

"However, although the Dao Evolution Record is profound and unpredictable, whether it can simultaneously support two patriarchs is still unknown. In addition, 'Li Qing's' body is still present. If the new patriarch is born in a later era, will the intersection of time and space cause unpredictable conflicts? Furthermore, the 'Severing Thoughts and Possessing the Body' method, which carries the Dao Fruit, is extremely dangerous. The slightest mistake will lead to annihilation..."

He was about to carefully analyze the key points and weigh the pros and cons.

suddenly!

"Boom!"

His heart leaped into his throat, like a giant drumbeat!

Immediately afterwards, a violent tremor shook the Purple Mansion, and the wind and clouds surged!

It was the immense feedback from the dream of condensing a nascent soul in the hellish dreamscape, which transcended the vastness of time and space and finally arrived!

Although it was only one-tenth of the essence of the Nascent Soul, its status was higher than that of the Golden Core, and the power it contained was vast and overwhelming. After it rushed into Chen Qing's Purple Mansion, it immediately caused a violent change!
"Well!"

Chen Qing grunted. In the rush of the event, he was unable to fully contain the sudden power, causing his aura to leak out slightly!
In an instant, Chen Qing's robes moved without any wind, fluttering loudly!
The once clear sky suddenly changed color, and the spiritual energy from all directions was stirred up, converging towards the stone platform where he was, forming a huge vortex of spiritual energy!

At the center of the vortex, signs of wind and thunder were brewing, with a deep rumble that shook the very soul!
"what happened?!"

"A surge of spiritual energy! It's where Sect Leader Chen is in seclusion!"

"What did the Lord of Mingxia Mountain do then?"

This strange phenomenon immediately alarmed everyone in and around the Green Wood Spirit Kingdom.

A series of surprised and uncertain gazes were cast toward the center of the spiritual energy vortex.

Elder Mutengxin looked surprised: "He was about to go into seclusion after leaving Liangjie Mountain, which was only three hours ago. How could he have caused such a strange phenomenon? Could it be that he obtained a great opportunity in the mountain and is breaking through?"

Liu Shuang'er, standing protectively outside the stone platform, heard this and curled her lips into a smile. She glanced at the speaker and said matter-of-factly, "You're making a fuss over nothing! Chen Jun is a prodigy; how can ordinary people fathom his actions? A few unusual signs of cultivation are nothing to worry about."

She spoke lightly, but her heart was in turmoil. She thought to herself, "Chen Jun's actions this time are even greater than when he formed his core! He previously used the Nascent Soul external realm, which allowed him to quietly step into the Nascent Soul realm. Could he possibly condense another realm this time?"

On the other side, upon hearing her words and looking at Chen Qing's figure, which was faintly visible amidst the spiritual energy whirlwind, the crowd couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and reverence.

The ancient legends of those peerless geniuses causing extraordinary phenomena in the heavens and earth during their cultivation have now become reality before their eyes.

On the stone platform, Chen Qing had already reacted. He immediately focused his mind, concealed his aura, and guided the nascent soul essence that was feeding back to him to merge with his own, forcibly suppressing the leaking energy.

A few breaths later, the huge vortex of spiritual energy slowly dissipated, the wind and thunder in the sky disappeared, and the valley returned to calm. Everything just now seemed to have been an illusion.

Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes, a chaotic aura flashing in his eyes, and his aura became increasingly profound and unfathomable.

He looked inward at himself, sensing the nascent soul figure within his Purple Mansion—a figure not cultivated by himself, yet intimately connected to him and perfectly integrated with the landscape of the Stele Forest—and understood:

"Although this nascent soul is only one-tenth the size of the one in my dream, and it was not formed by my own body, the feedback I received has made my soul essence, magical power foundation, and even my control over the external world far surpass the Golden Core realm. Perhaps I can now be called a pseudo-navel? However, this power comes from feedback, so I cannot use it all easily, lest my foundation become unstable and my energy leaks out, which may attract a heavenly tribulation."

His gaze shifted slightly as he looked towards the distant horizon. He felt the strange phenomenon gradually dissipate and the thin spiritual energy around him, and he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"The spiritual energy in the mortal world is indeed scarce, so the power of this heavenly tribulation should be limited. However, advancing to the next level will probably not be easy."

As he pondered this, Chen Qing waved his sleeve, and all the array flags and runes around the stone platform lost their luster and disappeared into his sleeve.

Then, he took a step forward, his aura flowing smoothly as he walked. Although there was no oppressive force, he possessed a dignified and imposing presence that caused those who had been watching from afar to withdraw their gazes.

"Chen Jun!" Liu Shuang'er was the first to greet him, her eyes full of concern and curiosity. "That commotion just now was quite loud. Are you alright?"

"I have gained some insights. I am grateful for your protection, fellow Daoist," Chen Qing replied with a smile.

"It's nothing," Liu Shuang'er smiled slightly. "You've helped me so much before, and I haven't even repaid you yet."

At this moment, Mu Qingling, having received the news, hurried over and bowed gracefully, saying in a clear voice, "Sect Leader Chen, my father instructed that if you emerge from seclusion, you must visit Qinghua Palace to express your gratitude. Furthermore, news has come from Nan Yan that the Fifth Prince has announced the withdrawal of troops; this matter should be settled." Chen Qing's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, only saying, "It's good that it's settled. I appreciate the invitation from King Mu. However, I have some reflections on my time in Liangjie Mountain, but this place is somewhat inconvenient. I need to find another place to cultivate quietly and consolidate my gains, so I'm afraid I won't be able to attend the banquet."

"Oh?" Mu Qingling's beautiful eyes flickered, and she asked, "What exactly did the sect leader encounter in the Two Realms Mountain that made you so eager to go into seclusion?"

Chen Qing's eyes flickered slightly, and after a moment's thought, he said, "The key to this is quite complex, involving some ancient secrets. I will explain it to Your Highness and the King when the time is right after I leave seclusion."

Seeing that he was tight-lipped, Mu Qingling didn't press the matter. She smiled and said, "In that case, Qingling will arrange a quiet courtyard for the sect leader, where no one will disturb you." She immediately summoned a servant and whispered a few instructions.

In the distance, Muteng Xin and the others, who had been watching, hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not come up.

Before long, Chen Qing was led to a secluded courtyard deep within the Spirit Kingdom, surrounded by towering ancient trees.

The courtyard is serene and filled with spiritual energy, making it an ideal place for quiet meditation.

After he led the monkey and the cat into the courtyard, he waved his hand and set up several layers of restrictions to isolate the inside from the outside.

Outside the courtyard, Liu Shuang'er's gaze was deep and unfathomable, while Mu Qingling beside her was even more astonished.

In the courtyard, after making some inquiries, Chen Qing found a place to sit down and took out the stone bead that sealed the ring from his pocket.

With a slight release of magical power, the surface of the stone bead shimmered, revealing the outline of the ancient ring inside.

"Your Excellency, would you be willing to have a talk?" Chen Qing probed into the object with his divine sense and asked.

"Hmph!" A cold, venomous, and disdainful thought emanated from the ring. "Junior, no matter how eloquent you are, you won't get a single word out of me! You stole the Buddha's fruit and disrupted the Venerable One's plan for revival; you're already courting death! You're facing imminent disaster without even realizing it. How laughable, how pathetic!"

Chen Qing's expression remained unchanged. His divine sense, sharp as a needle, pierced the stone bead once more, attempting to probe for fragments of its memory or find a flaw. However, the remaining will was extremely stubborn, its core as solid as an iron plate, uttering nothing but malicious curses and mockery.

After a brief stalemate, the thought suddenly shifted, and the tone softened: "Young man, since you can suppress the Buddha Fruit and the artifact I inhabit, you do have some skill. If you are willing to release me, I can guide you on the true path to transcendence! The secrets of the Buddha Fruit, the source of the Two Realms Mountain, and even the secrets of the ancient, vanished eras, I can share them all with you! At that time, let alone the Nascent Soul stage, even the realm of longevity and immortality, coexisting with heaven and earth, will not be out of reach!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing gently shook his head: "It's a pity that old men are no longer in fashion."

Without giving the remnant soul a chance to speak again, he tightened his fingers and formed a hand seal, causing layers of sealing light to once again envelop the stone bead, suppressing and storing it away.

"Om-"

"you……"

The thought only had time to utter a single word before it was isolated and suppressed by the suddenly intensified sealing power.

The stone bead, with its understated luster, lay in Chen Qing's palm, appearing as if it were an ordinary, stubborn rock.

"I originally intended to gather some information before constructing the third patriarch, but it seems I'll have to do it slowly at the later time."

After retrieving the stone bead, Chen Qing sat cross-legged, calmed his mind, and began to conceive of the third patriarch.

"First, we need to verify whether the Daoyanlu can open a new chapter while 'Li Qing' is still alive. This matter is fundamental and must be done first."

"Secondly, in the first two attempts, we were trapped in a prison, struggling to survive in the Xuan Prison. The starting point was too low, and we spent too much time and energy trying to break free. This time, we must choose a higher starting point, preferably by directly entering a sect, thus avoiding tedious steps."

"Furthermore, the mission of this new patriarch is to find and control the other half of the Dao Fruit before the Demon Buddha is fully revived. His life story needs to revolve around this goal, and he should be given corresponding characteristics and opportunities."

"Then, there's the time frame. We must clearly define the time range to prevent any deviations from the plan."

……

As ideas began to emerge, Chen Qing's thoughts gradually became clear. His gaze swept over the golden-eyed monkey that was quietly waiting to the side, and he had already made up his mind.

"Come here." He beckoned to the little monkey.

With a "squeak," the little monkey nimbly darted in front of Chen Qing, its big, bright golden eyes opening wide as it bowed in a manner behaving like a human.

Chen Qing smiled slightly, gently stroked the downy hair on its head, and said slowly, "Since we have nothing to do, why don't I tell you a story?"

Beside them, the little black cat also became interested, came closer, and listened intently, but after a few words, its cat face changed.

"It is said that a long, long time ago, probably at the end of the Immortal Dynasty, there was a brilliant and talented patriarch in the Hidden Star Sect. He was brought back to the mountains by a wandering elder of the sect when he was young. Because of his extraordinary talent, clear Dao heart, innate comprehension, and innate Dao seed, he was skilled in both literature and martial arts... Hiss!"

Chen Qing, who had intended to add dozens more prefixes, suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, followed by a feeling of mental exhaustion. He immediately realized something, stopped speaking, and thought to himself, "It seems there are limits to adding configurations. Too many might lead to unpleasant consequences! Hmm, so, if the start is too comfortable, could there be some hidden dangers? Oh well, that's about enough for now..."

As he pondered, he suddenly remembered something he had been thinking about, so he changed the subject: "This patriarch was particularly adept at discerning cause and effect and analyzing destiny. He had a peculiar destiny from a young age. It is said that when he was born, the room was filled with golden light, and as soon as he was born, he pointed one finger to the sky and one finger to the ground..."

(End of this chapter)