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

After a three-day journey, we arrived in Kunlun.

The Queen Mother of the West was already waiting at the Jade Pool. Upon seeing Lu Chen, she dismissed her attendants and immediately set up a soundproof barrier.

"Young friend, to make a long story short," the Queen Mother of the West said solemnly. "Your theft of the treasures from the Treasure Sharing Cliff has been traced back by the divine powers of Jieyin and Zhunti, who have found evidence of it—they found a trace of your aura on the third level of the Treasure Sharing Cliff, as well as a piece of... brick dust."

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat.

Brick fragments? Could they have fallen off when the black bricks struck the barrier?

"However, I have temporarily suppressed it for you," said the Queen Mother of the West. "In exchange, I need your help."

"Please speak, senior."

The Queen Mother of the West took out an ancient and simple illustrated book: "These are the last three missing pages of the 'Kunlun Mirror Refining Manual.' Although my Kunlun Mirror is already a Primordial Spiritual Treasure, if the manual can be completed, it can be upgraded to a Primordial Supreme Treasure, possessing the unparalleled power to glimpse the past and future and freeze time and space."

She looked at Lu Chen: "According to my deduction, these three pages of diagrams are hidden in the core restriction of the Treasure Distribution Cliff—since you were able to infiltrate the third level, perhaps you have a way to retrieve them."

Lu Chen smiled wryly: "Senior, I'm currently wanted by the demon race. Going to the Treasure Sharing Cliff would be like walking into a trap."

"Not so," said the Queen Mother of the West. "The restrictions on the Treasure Dividing Cliff will experience an 'absolute stillness period' every three hundred years due to the chaotic tides, lasting for three breaths. During these three breaths, all restrictions will be ineffective, and even the Dao Ancestor's divine sense will be isolated. The next stillness period will be in three months."

She took out a jade pendant: "This is a 'Space-Time Coordinated Symbol,' which can instantly teleport you to the core of the Treasure Sharing Cliff and back during the static period. However, it can only be used once, and only for three breaths—you must find and retrieve those three pages of the diagram within those three breaths."

Lu Chen took the jade pendant and fell into deep thought.

The risks are extremely high, but the rewards are also tempting—if one can help the Queen Mother of the West complete the Kunlun Mirror, it would be equivalent to gaining the favor of a powerful figure at the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm who possesses an innate treasure.

"Okay, I'll go." He finally nodded.

"Wise." The Queen Mother of the West smiled slightly. "For the next three months, you will stay in Kunlun Mountain. I will teach you some secret techniques of time and space, which will benefit you on this journey."

"Thank you, senior."

For the next three months, Lu Chen went into seclusion in the Kunlun Mountains.

As expected of the Queen Mother of the West, whose understanding of the Dao of Time and Space far surpasses that of ordinary people. Lu Chen learned the secret technique of "Eternity in an Instant" taught by her, which can accelerate his perception a hundredfold—one breath in the outside world is as if it were a hundred breaths in his perception, enough to do many things.

At the same time, he also gained a preliminary understanding of the "Power Piercing the Primordial Chaos" technique from the newly acquired fragment of Pangu's spine. This technique is specifically designed to break through barriers, and when combined with the black brick, its power is astonishing.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

On the eve of the static period, the Queen Mother of the West sent Lu Chen to the teleportation array at the summit of Kunlun Mountain.

"Young friend, remember this: three breaths, only three breaths. Regardless of success or failure, you must return."

"I understand."

Lu Chen gripped the jade pendant tightly and stepped into the formation.

At midnight, the jade pendant glowed, and spacetime was distorted.

When he opened his eyes again, he was standing in the core area of ​​the Treasure Sharing Cliff—there was only a stone platform here, and three items were floating on the platform:

On the left is a jade scroll (which contains the three missing pages of the diagram).

In the center is a chaotic-colored bead (with an ancient aura).

On the right is a... black brick?

Lu Chen was stunned.

That brick was almost identical to the black brick in his hand! Only larger, with a more ancient aura, and four Dao runes were engraved on its surface:

[Killed with a brick]

What the hell?!

But time didn't allow him to think it over.

In the first breath, he grabbed the jade slip.

In the second breath, he looked at the Chaos Pearl—instinct told him that this was something even more precious than the diagram! Gritting his teeth, he accepted it too!

With his third breath, he charged toward the black brick.

The instant his fingers touched the brick—

"Buzz!"

The brick flew up on its own and merged into the black brick in his hand!

The two bricks merged into one, and the black brick burst forth with an unprecedented dark light. The brick expanded to three feet in length, with runes flowing on its surface. Its weight increased tenfold, and its grade jumped directly from the level of a Primordial Spiritual Treasure to a Primordial Supreme Treasure!

At the same time, a message flooded into my mind:

【Chaos Brick (Primordial Treasure) - The brick used by Pangu to build the stove when he created the world. It contains the origin of the laws of power and can grow】

[Current Abilities: 1. One Brick Can Break All Laws (Ignores the vast majority of restrictions) 2. Brick Escape (Where the mind goes, the brick goes) 3. Brick Clone (Can split into up to nine pieces, each with 30% of the original's power)]

Lu Chen was overjoyed.

But then, the three breaths were up!

The jade pendant activated, forcibly teleporting him back to Kunlun Mountain.

He had just disappeared when the core restrictions on the Treasure Sharing Cliff were restored.

A phantom of Hongjun slowly emerged, gazing at the empty stone platform, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, he shook his head, and the illusory figure vanished.

---

Kunlun Mountain, Yaochi (Jade Pool).

Lu Chen stumbled out of the teleportation array, his body covered in cold sweat.

The Queen Mother of the West quickly stepped forward: "Young friend, did you succeed?"

Lu Chen took out the jade slip: "The diagram is here."

The Queen Mother of the West was overjoyed. She took the diagram, glanced at it, and put it away, saying, "Thank you very much, young friend! I will remember this kindness!"

She paused, then lowered her voice: "Furthermore, I just received news—Jieyin and Zhunti were engaged in a fierce battle with Kunpeng, Styx, and Taiyi in the West, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction. Jieyin was severely injured, Zhunti lost an arm, Kunpeng was taken away by Taiyi, and Styx fled back to the Blood Sea. But after the battle, they insisted that you stole the treasure and produced... that piece of brick as evidence."

Lu Chen's heart tightened.

"However, the Dao Ancestor has not expressed his opinion," the Queen Mother of the West said meaningfully. "It seems... he has tacitly approved?"

acquiescence?

Lu Chen was stunned.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun tacitly approved of him stealing treasure? How could that be?

unless……

"Unless the Dao Ancestor originally intended to use me to 'distribute' certain treasures?" he murmured.

The Queen Mother of the West remained noncommittal: "This matter is profound, beyond our comprehension. Young friend, it is best for you to continue to remain hidden for the time being. The demon race's warrant for your arrest has not yet been lifted, and Jieyin and Zhunti hate you to the bone. Although the prehistoric world is vast, it is still difficult to hide."

Lu Chen nodded: "This junior understands."

He was just about to take his leave and return to Wuzhuang Temple when suddenly a bluebird flew by in a hurry:

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Wuzhuang Temple has been attacked—the demon army has surrounded the mountain, and Taiyi himself has arrived and is breaking through the formation!"

What?!

Lu Chen and the Queen Mother of the West both changed color.

"Zhen Yuanzi and Fellow Daoist Hongyun..." the Queen Mother of the West said urgently.

Without saying a word, Lu Chen took out the newly acquired Chaos Brick.

"Brick Escape!"

With his mind locked onto Wuzhuang Temple, the Chaos Brick flashed with dark light and instantly disappeared with him.

The Queen Mother of the West was dumbfounded: "This speed... is even faster than the Kunlun Mirror?!"

She dared not delay and transformed into a streak of light to rush to Wuzhuang Temple.

Meanwhile, outside Wuzhuang Temple—

Ten thousand demons pressed in, their banners obscuring the sky.

Donghuang Taiyi hung high in the sky, and the Chaos Bell had already struck its first note.

The Earth Formation is in grave danger!

Lu Chen rushed back using his brick-escape technique, only to find that a corner of the Wuzhuang Temple's grand formation had been breached, Qingfeng and Mingyue were seriously injured, Zhenyuanzi's Earth Book was stained with blood, and Hongyun was fighting three great demon saints alone! Taiyi was about to strike the Chaos Bell a second time—if this strike were to be heard, Wuzhuang Temple would surely be destroyed!

At the critical moment, Lu Chen slammed the Chaos Brick into the Chaos Bell and shouted:

"Taiyi, your clock—is mine now!"