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

Chapter 280 Can we avoid being exposed?
really.

Just moments ago, as the painting approached him, Chen Qing had a suspicion, and Zhang San's appearance now confirmed it. However, he remained calm, glanced around, and then asked the two men before him, "What is the purpose of your actions? Why have you trapped me here?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San hurriedly bowed and explained, "Your Majesty misunderstands! This is not a technique to trap the enemy. This treasure is called the 'Myriad Images Silhouette Map,' which was one of the most precious treasures you left behind, but you don't remember it now! This map has a spirit and will only protect its master. It would never harm you in the slightest! We invited you here to prevent outsiders from spying on you and to facilitate our conversation with you. After all, your status is noble, and your wisdom is just beginning to manifest. If the news spreads too early, it may attract the covetousness of villains and ruin your plans."

Chen Qing raised an eyebrow, neither confirming nor denying: "Are you so certain that I am the person you are looking for?"

This time, it was Consort Li, the woman in palace attire, who spoke. Her voice was sweet and charming yet respectful: "There is no mistake, Your Majesty. In the world today, besides you, who else can reach the ninth level of the Golden Core realm in one step?" Her beautiful eyes swept over Chen Qing, observing the still-unsettled aura around him, and her tone became increasingly certain: "Moreover, if I am not mistaken, Your Majesty, you have probably already touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage, haven't you?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing felt a slight chill and his expression changed subtly.

Consort Li seemed to be most adept at reading people's expressions. Seeing his expression, she felt she had guessed correctly, and her eyes gleamed even brighter: "Just as I thought! Your Majesty's plans are flawless, and you had foreseen this day long ago! I just sensed the residual aura here and learned that those Buddhist monks mistook you for some reincarnation of the true Buddha... I suppose this must be another of your ingenious schemes, in order to use this identity to seize those Buddhist treasures, right?"

Zhang San also chimed in at the opportune moment: "Your Majesty's actions have always been far-sighted and beyond our comprehension. Every step you have taken in this reincarnation and cultivation has been deeply meaningful. Now that you have completed the Nine Revolutions of the Golden Elixir and have been blessed with Buddhist affinity, you must have already made arrangements for your future plans!"

Listening to the two of them talking back and forth, attributing his nine-stage Golden Core, suppression of his Nascent Soul, and even being mistaken by the Buddhist sect to the "Holy Emperor's" profound foresight and ingenious plan, Chen Qing was speechless for a moment.

However, he also realized that it was probably these trivial matters, coupled with his connection to the past era, that caused the two people in front of him to misunderstand him as the reincarnation of the Immortal Emperor, and thus reveal an important piece of information.

He paused slightly, then deliberately asked, "You all say I'm hiding my talents to obtain something from Buddhism? Do you perhaps know what I need?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang San and Consort Li exchanged a glance, and the latter cautiously said, "This was originally a secret; we were merely speculating..."

"Speak freely." Chen Qing narrowed his eyes. "I don't like stupid people."

Upon hearing this, Consort Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "It is said that this matter was orchestrated by His Majesty long ago, and it involves a Dao Fruit that can be used for transcendence!"

Seeing Chen Qing's expression change again, she quickly explained, "Your Majesty! We have no improper thoughts! What kind of thing is that Dao Fruit? It involves transcendence and the secrets of an era. The karmic consequences involved are too great for us to bear. It's just that the various departments you left behind have now grown strong, constantly gathering and summarizing information, allowing us to have a high-level perspective and observe the situation of the world. Only then could we deduce it..."

She spoke faster and faster, clearly trying to clarify things, and finally cautiously added, "Furthermore, we also have some information regarding the possible existence of Buddhist enlightenment, you see..."

But as Chen Qing listened, his eyes lit up!
"The Dao Fruit of Buddhism? If he is truly the reincarnation of Tai Jing, he would naturally know about the Dao Fruit of Buddhism and Demonism, and that the Dao Fruit could be stolen after the illusion of Buddhism and Demonism. Therefore, it is only natural that he would leave behind such arrangements! The key point is that he seems to have left behind a sizable organization, and it has already made some progress!"

He immediately realized that if he could make good use of this misunderstanding, the resources he could mobilize and the intelligence he could obtain would far exceed his imagination!

But just as he was pondering the pros and cons, Zhang San and Li Fei exchanged a glance, both showing a solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, the past has long been obscured by dust. To help you achieve spiritual enlightenment and regain control of the world, please allow us to awaken your spirit!" Zhang San said, flipping his hand to take out an ancient-looking bronze box.

Awakening?

A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in Chen Qing's heart.

Consort Li then gently raised her hand, and a perfectly round pearl the size of a longan, containing starlight, appeared in her palm. The pearl had a warm and lustrous light and emitted a strange fluctuation that stirred the soul.

"Your Majesty, this is the Soul-Guiding Dream Essence, one of the most precious treasures you specially sought out to awaken your spirit back then." Consort Li smiled and pointed her finger, and the Star Essence Bead slowly flew towards Chen Qing. "As long as this thing touches your brow, it will resonate with you, attracting your past life's soul thoughts, dispelling the confusion of memories, and gradually allowing you to recover your past memories over the next few years!"

The radiant light of the Dream Essence Pearl flowed ever closer.

Chen Qing's gaze sharpened!
What past life of a Holy Emperor could he possibly recover? If this so-called "Soul-Guiding Dream Essence" fails to stimulate the corresponding memories and spiritual wisdom, he will be exposed in an instant! At that time, let alone using the other party's power to find the Demon Buddha's Dao Fruit, he himself will probably be in grave danger!
In a flash, he decisively retreated, his face showing vigilance, and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoists, I have only just met you two, and I cannot even discern the truth in your words. If you rashly use something that involves the very essence of the soul on me, I am afraid I cannot feel at ease!"

Seeing his reaction, Zhang San and Li Fei exchanged a glance, not surprised at all.

Zhang San stepped forward, his expression earnest, and reasoned with the emperor: "Your Majesty's concerns are understood by your subjects! But this object was indeed arranged by you personally back then, and there are absolutely no hidden dangers! Once the spirit is successfully awakened, the past will be restored, not only will your cultivation be quickly restored, but your former subordinates scattered in all directions will also come to your aid and reunite under Your Majesty's command! At that time, you can integrate your forces, set things right, and restore the glory of the Immortal Dynasty in no time! This is a great undertaking for the ages, and we beg Your Majesty to consider it carefully!"

Consort Li smiled charmingly and appealed to his emotions: "Yes, Your Majesty, although Zhang San has repeatedly assured us, many of your subordinates still have doubts about your reincarnation. If they cannot witness the awakening of your spirit, it will be difficult to win their hearts and minds and get them to fully support you. This step is crucial to stabilizing their hearts. For your sake, I apologize! Afterwards, you may kill me or punish me, I will have no complaints! I only hope that you can restore my former self!"

Without waiting for Chen Qing's response, she pointed her slender finger and activated the "Soul-Guiding Dream Essence" from a distance!
"Buzz!"

The Dream Essence Pearl shone brightly, and countless shimmering, dreamlike rays of light drifted out like smoke, instantly enveloping Chen Qing, Zhang San, and Li Fei!
"What a decisive person! Fine! Then I shouldn't hesitate either!" Chen Qing hadn't expected this woman to act so decisively. He steeled himself and no longer held back. He raised his hand and grabbed at the floating Dream Essence Pearl, intending to crush it on the spot! With his other hand, he formed a hand seal, and his aura exploded like a sword being drawn, slashing at the spatial barrier formed by the "Myriad Image Silhouette"!

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the strange space interwoven with black and white trembled violently, cracks appeared, and the outside world became faintly visible!
"Good brother!"

"Uncle Master!"

Zheng Qingtian, Mang Shoutuo, and the others, who had been closely watching the painting, saw Chen Qing appear and seem to be fighting with someone. They thought he had been ambushed, and their blood and energy surged. They were about to rush in!

Zhang San and Li Fei, who were enveloped in the fluorescent light, were initially dazed and seemed to be affected. However, when they saw that Chen Qing not only resisted but also violently broke the deadlock, they were both taken aback.

Zhang San looked alarmed and said, "Your Majesty! What's wrong...?"

Consort Li's eyes showed suspicion as she stared intently at Chen Qing, muttering, "Such a strong reaction, could it be..."

Before she could finish speaking, something unexpected happened!

Perhaps stimulated by the power of the "Soul-Guiding Dream Essence," the half-dormant Demon Buddha Dao Fruit deep within Chen Qing's Purple Mansion suddenly trembled! Immediately afterward, the Qingqiu Mystic Flame spontaneously stirred, and the three already formed projections of his other self also resonated with it!
"Buzzing—"

Rays of light burst forth from his body!
Golden light, blue flames, starlight, Buddhist aura... all sorts of strange phenomena intertwined and enveloped his entire being!
"Uh!"

Chen Qing groaned, his mind exploding with a deafening roar!
Countless fragments of memory surged forth like a flood bursting its banks!

Among them are his personal experiences of the arduous journey of "Chen Xu", the strategic maneuvering of "Li Qing", and his various insights into the present world... but more often, they are unfamiliar and chaotic scenes!

He seemed to see the golden, radiant Mount Ling crumbling, and hear thousands of Buddhas weeping and chanting sutras; in the blink of an eye, he found himself in a paradise, filled with demonic energy, and the shadowy fox of Qingqiu howling at the moon... Many scenes blended together, transforming into a colorful artistic conception!
Even more, the lingering charm of Taiyuan manifested from the depths of the soul, and the figures of those past acquaintances walked out step by step. Although they were blurry, their aura gradually rose, and finally they turned into several messy fragments of the past, merging into that colorful mass!
These numerous fragments of illusion flicker and intertwine, bizarre and unpredictable, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion, gradually forming an ever-changing and absurd dream!

In the deepest part of that dream, all the chaotic scenes converged toward a certain core. Finally, the outline of an ancient pot gradually became clear, suspended in the void, exuding an aura that suppressed the dream!
"Such charm and status! It can only be found in His Majesty's divine soul!" Upon seeing this, Consort Li first breathed a sigh of relief, then her eyes flashed with cunning and decisiveness. She flipped her hand and took out another object, which was a seemingly ordinary cloth bag. She opened her mouth and sucked in the direction where Chen Qing was!
"Within this past glory lies the imperial destiny of the Celestial Dynasty. As long as I bring it back and worship it on the altar to activate it, resonating with the destiny of the Celestial Dynasty, no one else will have any doubts! My achievement of finding the Holy Emperor and bringing him back will be unshakable!"

"Whoosh whoosh—"

A few strands of light emanating from Chen Qing were suddenly captured by the cloth bag and disappeared into it!
Chen Qingling still had a sliver of clarity left in his mind. Seeing Li Fei's actions, he knew something was wrong and was about to stop her, but the next moment!
"call--"

A gentle breeze blew by, and the scene before his eyes suddenly blurred. Boundless white mist spread from the depths of the void, filling his vision!

"Um?!"

Chen Qing was instantly startled!
He was all too familiar with this feeling!
"Waking up prematurely?! Could it be that the Soul-Guiding Dream Essence involves the mysteries of time and the soul, and its power level is extremely high, actually triggering my fundamental connection with the Dao Evolution Record, causing this dream to end prematurely! That makes sense, since Daoist Taijing already possesses the divine power of time, the things he left behind are related to the dream of time, which also makes sense, but waking up at this time is not necessarily a good thing..."

Suddenly, a thought struck him.

"No, this time I have opened up a new life. Although my time in the dream was short, I have experienced a lot. Now I will leave a trace of my Dao and go outside the dream to gather information with the help of various forces. This may be twice as effective. From these complicated matters, I can find the path to the Dao Fruit of the Demon Buddha!"

With this thought in mind, Chen Qing no longer hesitated, leaving behind a series of marks before withdrawing his will.

However, at this final moment, he couldn't help but glance at Zhang San and the woman opposite him.

"These two's channels are truly invaluable. It would be a real pity if they were exposed now. I wonder if I could leave behind a bit of my obsession and use that strange realm to get through this..."

So, at the last moment, he left behind a lingering obsession—

"Try not to give anything away, and ideally, to mislead the two of them so we can use them later!"

(End of this chapter)