Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

Deep within the chaos lies the Purple Cloud Palace.

As Lu Chen stepped into the palace, he saw Hongjun Daozu sitting high on a cloud bed, his aura almost nonexistent—a sign that he was about to completely merge with the Heavenly Dao.

"They've arrived," Hongjun said, his voice ethereal.

Lu Chen cupped his hands in greeting: "The Dao Ancestor summons you. What is the matter?"

Hongjun looked at him, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes: "Lu Chen, you did very well."

Lu Chen was taken aback.

"During the Great Tribulation of Journey to the West, you intercepted the Buddhist sect at every turn, yet you did not harm the very foundation of the primordial world; you sheltered countless demons and opened the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, preserving a glimmer of hope for the primordial world; you enlightened Tang Sanzang, enabling him to truly awaken rather than blindly believe in Buddhism," Hongjun said slowly. "I have witnessed all of this."

Lu Chen bowed his head: "You flatter me, Dao Ancestor."

Hongjun raised his hand, and a beam of purple light flew out, transforming into a purple token that hovered in front of Lu Chen.

"This is the Purple Cloud Token. Holding it allows one to mobilize a portion of the Heavenly Dao's power in the primordial world," Hongjun said. "I am about to merge with the Dao and completely integrate into the Heavenly Dao. This Purple Cloud Palace needs someone to take charge."

Lu Chen was stunned: "What does the Dao Ancestor mean...?"

"I intend to pass the throne to you, so that you may take charge of the Heavenly Way and manage the primordial world."

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I appreciate the Dao Ancestor's kindness, but I am unwilling."

Hongjun's eyes flickered slightly: "Why?"

"Because the Heavenly Dao has its constraints," Lu Chen said frankly. "Throughout my life, I hate being manipulated the most. If one were to control the Heavenly Dao, it might seem glorious, but in reality, one would still be a puppet of the Heavenly Dao. What Lu Chen wants is freedom and unrestraint."

Hongjun looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"Very well, what a free and unrestrained spirit." He nodded. "In that case, I will not insist. But you must still accept the Purple Cloud Token."

Why?

"Because although you do not control the Heavenly Dao, someone is needed to check and balance it," Hongjun said. "After I merged with the Dao, the Heavenly Dao operates according to its own laws. But if one day the Heavenly Dao becomes unbalanced, or if someone attempts to use the Heavenly Dao to do evil, then someone needs to step forward."

He looked at Lu Chen and said seriously, "That person can only be you."

Lu Chen remained silent for a long time before reaching out to accept the Purple Cloud Token.

"Lu Chen, I obey."

Hongjun nodded, his figure gradually dissipating, turning into specks of purple light that merged into the void.

The last voice came:

"Lu Chen, take care. I hope we'll meet again."

In the Zixiao Palace, only Lu Chen remained.

He looked at the Purple Cloud Token in his hand, then at the empty cloud bed, and suddenly smiled.

"Farewell, Dao Ancestor."

He turned around and strode out of Zixiao Palace.

Chapter 132 Lord of Chaos, All Realms Pay Homage (Final Chapter, Eleventh Stop)

Deep within the chaos, a new training ground quietly took shape.

This dojo, centered on the Chaos Brick, integrates the power of the Thirty-Six Heavens, evolving into a vast and boundless chaotic world. At the center of this world, a magnificent palace stands, with three large characters inscribed on its plaque—the Ancestral Court of the Brick Cult.

Lu Chen sat high in the hall, his aura as vast as the sea, unfathomable.

Outside the palace, people from all over the world came to pay homage.

The rulers of the Sword Realm, the Pill Realm, the Talisman Realm… rulers of various worlds in the Chaos came to pay homage, offering generous gifts in hopes of forming an alliance.

All the demons of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons arrived at once, including the Bull Demon King, the Roc, the Green Lion, the White Elephant, the Red Boy, the White Bone Demon, and General Yin… They all knelt on the ground, shouting, “Congratulations to our Master on attaining the Dao of Chaos!”

Lu Chen raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to get up: "Please get up."

He looked at the world lords outside the hall and slowly spoke:

"From this day forward, in the chaos, all realms will coexist. The Brick Cult will be the leader of all realms, yet it will not interfere in the internal affairs of any realm. Anyone wishing to form an alliance with the Brick Cult may come here to trade, exchange ideas, and discuss the Dao. Anyone who dares to bully the weak or disrupt peace will be punished by the Brick Cult."

Upon hearing this, the lords of all realms bowed in submission: "We humbly obey the Lord's decree!"

Outside the hall, Sun Wukong led Tang Sanzang, Zhu Bajie, Sha Wujing, and Ao Lie in.

"Master!" Sun Wukong stepped forward, grinning, "Your dojo is far more magnificent than Mount Ling's!"

Xuanzang clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and said, "Master Lu, this humble monk has come to express my gratitude."

Lu Chen helped him up: "Holy Monk, there's no need for such formalities. You are now the Grand Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty, spreading Buddhism and saving all sentient beings. What you are doing is far more meaningful than what I am doing."

Xuanzang shook his head: "I owe my current status entirely to the guidance of the Master. I will never forget this kindness and virtue."

Pigsy sidled up and chuckled, "Leader Lu, I, Old Pig, would also like to join the Brick Cult, is that alright?"

Lu Chen laughed: "You're willing to part with the wife from Gao Village?"

Pigsy scratched his head: "Well... let me think about it some more."

Everyone laughed.

At the end of chaos, on the edge of the void.

Lu Chen stood alone, gazing at the boundless void.

Behind him, Sun Wukong, Xuanzang, Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, the Bull Demon King, Dapeng... countless old friends stood quietly, silently seeing him off.

"Master, are you really leaving?" Sun Wukong's eyes reddened.

Lu Chen turned around and looked at the monkey he had personally trained, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

"Monkey, you've grown up. Now you are the Victorious Fighting Buddha. Although your true form has replaced your clone, Buddhism recognizes you, not that puppet. You have your own path to walk."

Sun Wukong opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

Xuanzang stepped forward, clasped his hands in prayer, and asked, "Master Lu, when will you return?"

Lu Chen shook his head: "I don't know. Maybe a thousand years, maybe ten thousand years, maybe... I'll never go back."

Everyone fell silent.

Zhen Yuanzi stepped forward and handed over a jade box: "Young friend, these are the seeds of the Ginseng Fruit Tree, nine in total. You might find them useful if you create a new world in the chaos."

Lu Chen accepted it and carefully put it away: "Thank you, fellow Daoist."

Hongyun stepped forward and handed over a gourd: "Brother Lu, this is a small gourd that I reforged from fragments of the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd. It contains a wisp of Primordial Purple Qi. If you don't mind, take it with you for self-defense."

Lu Chen accepted it and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, this gift of yours is quite generous."

Hongyun smiled too: "It can't compare to Brother Lu's life-saving grace."

Lu Chen looked at everyone, his gaze finally settling on Sun Wukong.

"monkey."

"Master!"

Lu Chen raised his hand and touched Sun Wukong's brow. A wisp of chaotic energy entered, and Sun Wukong felt a jolt in his soul, his mind filled with countless profound techniques and insights.

"This is all that I have learned in my life, and I will pass it all on to you. From now on, you will be in charge of the Brick Teachings."

Sun Wukong was stunned, then knelt down and kowtowed heavily: "Master! This disciple... this disciple is unworthy of such a position..."

Lu Chen helped him up and smiled, "You can do it. I believe in you."

He turned around and took one last look at this familiar world—the primordial wilderness, the chaos, the myriad realms, and all those familiar faces.

"Until we meet again, everyone."

One step out, and you return to nothingness.

The crowd stood still for a long time.

After an unknown amount of time, Sun Wukong suddenly grinned and shouted loudly towards the void:

"Master! I, Old Sun, will miss you!"

From the void, a soft laugh seemed to echo.

Sun Wukong turned around, shouldered his golden cudgel, and strode toward the ancestral temple of the Brick Cult.

"Let's go! Back to the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons! From today onwards, I, Old Sun, am the leader of the Brick Sect!"

Pigsy quickly followed, "Brother Monkey! Wait for me! I want to join the sect too!"

Xuanzang watched the figure gradually disappear into the distance, then clasped his hands together and chanted Buddhist prayers.

"Amitabha. May Master Lu rest in peace."

Deep within the chaos, Lu Chen wandered aimlessly.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, an ancient and simple hall suddenly appeared in front of us, radiating eternal light.

The palace doors were open, as if waiting for him.

Lu Chen smiled slightly and stepped inside.

Behind the door lies endless void and the gazes of countless Eternals.

"Welcome, the 9999th Eternal."

Lu Chen turned around and glanced at the way he had come—there lay his disciples, his old friends, and his world.

He smiled, turned around, and stepped into eternity.

End of the book

---

【postscript】

After countless eons of the primordial era...

Someone asked Sun Wukong, the Victorious Fighting Buddha: "Just who was that Master Lu back then?"

Sun Wukong thought for a moment, then grinned and said, "My master... he's a real scoundrel. He specializes in ambushing people, stealing treasures, and swindling gods and Buddhas. But the luckiest thing that happened to me in my life was meeting this scoundrel."

Then he asked, "Where is he now?"

Sun Wukong gazed into the depths of chaos, a profound look flashing in his eyes.

"I don't know. But I do know that no matter where he is, that brick will always be there."

Deep within the chaos, a dusty gray brick floats silently, as if guarding something.

On the brick, a few lines of small characters are faintly engraved:

"One brick can break through all laws, and a sudden blow can prove the Great Way."

A guest in the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, a free spirit amidst chaos.

The brick trembled slightly, then transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the endless void.

Their whereabouts are unknown.

(End of the article)