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

Lu Chen did not return to Wuzhuang Temple—although it was safe there, Zhen Yuanzi was, after all, the ancestor of earth immortals, and was too deeply involved with the Heavenly Dao. For Lu Chen, a Hunyuan who proved the Dao through force, going back would inevitably be awkward.

He didn't go to the depths of chaos either—although it was freer there—but he was worried about the gourd fragments in the Blood Sea and the last bit of murderous aura from the God-Slaying Spear, so he had to stay near the primordial wilderness.

After much deliberation, he returned to the depths of the ruins of Buzhou Mountain, to the interior of the pillar supporting the sky that he himself had crafted.

The pillar was 99,999 feet tall, and he had carved out a cave inside it. Although it was simple, it was safe because it was connected to the earth's veins and was blessed by his merits and the origin of Pangu. Even a saint would have to think twice before trying to force his way in.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged in the center of the cave and began to take stock of all the gains from this great calamity.

First pile: Treasures.

1. Chaos Bell (Genuine): Initially refined, 30% of the cracks in the bell body have been repaired, and its power has been restored to 70%. When fully activated, it can suppress spacetime and freeze all beings below the level of a saint.

2. Morning Bell (Companion Spiritual Treasure): Advances to the threshold of Innate Supreme Treasure. Due to the integration of Chaos Bell fragments, its spacetime power is greatly increased, and its power is doubled when combined with Chaos Bell.

3. Chaos Brick (Native Treasure): Upgraded to an innate treasure, it combines the "suppression" Daoist essence of the Chaos Bell and the "shattering" characteristics of the Heaven-Opening Axe. Even a saint would frown if he laid a brick on it.

4. God-Slaying Spear (Weapon of Destruction): It is 90% repaired, only needing the final touch of blood sea's malevolent energy to be fully restored. At that time, it may not be able to kill a Saint, but killing a Quasi-Saint will be as easy as cutting vegetables.

5. Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd (Imitation): Although it's just an imitation, it's still an innate spiritual treasure, capable of collecting souls and corrupting magic weapons. It's good to keep as a gift or as material.

The second pile: the original class.

1. The essence of Pangu's heart (largest portion): Thirty percent has been refined, and the remaining seventy percent is sealed in his dantian for slow absorption. This is the foundation for proving the Dao through force, sufficient for him to cultivate to the peak of the Hunyuan realm.

2. Eight drops of Ancestral Witch Blood Essence: Each corresponds to one of the eight laws: Ice, Wood, Metal, Time, Wind, Thunder, Lightning, and Poison. Comprehending these laws can enrich the "variations" of the Law of Power, making his attack methods more diverse.

3. Residue of the origin of water and fire: left behind by Gonggong and Zhurong when they collided with a mountain. Although it is only residue, the quantity is large enough to be used as a top-grade material for refining weapons and alchemy.

4. Five-colored stone fragments: leftovers from mending the sky, containing a trace of the merit of mending the sky, which has a miraculous effect when used to set up an array.

The third category: Merit-related items.

1. Rebuilding Earth Vein Merit: A massive amount, most of which has been absorbed, stabilizing my early-stage Primordial Chaos cultivation. The remaining portion is sealed away for future use.

2. Accelerating the cycle of reincarnation merits: Although not much, it was enough, and he used it to temper his physical body.

The fourth pile: miscellaneous spiritual materials.

1. Fragment of Buzhou Mountain: Over 300 jin (approximately 150 kg), containing the pressure of Pangu. Refining it into a magic weapon can increase its "suppression" attribute.

2. Star Essence Residue: Left behind by Di Jun and Tai Yi's self-destruction. Although violent, it can be used to cultivate star-related supernatural powers after purification.

3. Various fragments of the corpses of demon saints and ancestral witches: Although most of them are incomplete, their essence, blood, bones, and fur can be extracted to make them top-grade materials for refining weapons.

4. Several acquired spiritual treasures: ten "gifts" from Jieyin and Zhunti, and dozens of damaged ones picked up on the battlefield. Repair them, keep what works, and dismantle what doesn't for materials.

Fifth pile: Special category.

1. Reincarnation Decree: A gift from Lady Pingxin, granting free access to the underworld and the ability to mobilize a portion of the power of reincarnation. It can be a lifesaver in critical moments.

2. The Twelve Zodiacs, the Fire-Burning Department, and the Underworld Ghosts: While these three forces aren't technically "items," they are still significant assets to him. All twelve Zodiacs have broken through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, the Fire-Burning Department's three thousand members are all Golden Immortals, and the Underworld Ghosts possess Heavenly Immortal cultivation. Together, they constitute a considerable force.

After the inventory was completed, Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction.

In this great calamity, he is truly the biggest winner.

but……

"Not enough." A glint flashed in his eyes. "While proving the Dao through force is powerful, it is ultimately only at the early stage of the Primordial Chaos realm. To truly achieve freedom, one must at least reach the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm, or even... touch the Dao realm."

The waters of the primordial world are too deep.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun, having merged with the Dao, seems to be indifferent to affairs, but Lu Chen could sense that he was the true master. Although the Six Sages were powerful, they were merely "pawns" in front of Dao Ancestor.

"And there's the depths of chaos..." He recalled the scene he saw in the core area of ​​the Treasure Sharing Cliff, the remains of those chaotic demon gods, and those unknown chaotic worlds. "The primordial world was just the beginning; chaos is the stage."

"But before heading to the Chaos Wave, we must first take care of the matters of the Primordial World."

He looked toward the corner of the cave—there were two jade bottles there, containing the remnant souls of Emperor Jun and Taiyi.

"I must keep my promise to Taiyi." He pondered. "Although the demon race has been defeated, they cannot be wiped out. We must find a way out for them..."

"And then there's the Wu tribe." He thought of the surviving ancestral witches and great witches. "Gonggong and Zhurong crashing into the mountain, though driven by inner demons, can be considered a form of 'atonement.' What will become of the remaining Wu tribe?"

"As for the human race..." He recalled Nuwa's entrustment, "The human race should prosper, but how should it prosper, and who decides? The Three Pure Ones want to establish their own religion to compete for fortune, the West wants to spread its religion and undermine its members, and even the senior Zhen Yuanzi wants a share of the pie..."

The more I think about it, the more things I realize.

Lu Chen rubbed his temples.

"Forget it, I'll go into seclusion for a hundred years to consolidate my cultivation. These things... I'll deal with them when I come out of seclusion."

He put away all the treasures, leaving only the essence of Pangu's heart and eight drops of the blood essence of the Ancestral Witch, and began his seclusion.

As the laws of power operated, Pangu's origin merged into his limbs and bones, and the fragments of laws in the blood essence of the Ancestral Witch were peeled off, analyzed, and fused one by one.

His aura began to rise slowly.

Early stage of Primordial Chaos... Peak of Early Stage of Primordial Chaos... Mid-stage of Primordial Chaos!

It only took thirty years.

For the remaining seventy years, he began to comprehend the eight Ancestral Witch Laws, attempting to integrate them into the system of the Laws of Power.

The "freezing" of the Law of Ice, the "growth" of the Law of Wood, the "sharpness" of the Law of Metal, the "flow" of the Law of Time, the "swiftness" of the Law of Wind, the "violence" of the Law of Thunder, the "penetration" of the Law of Lightning, the "erosion" of the Law of Poison...

Each law adds a new dimension and a new possibility to his Law of Force.

After ninety years of seclusion, he successfully integrated all eight laws.

The Law of Force is no longer simply "force," but a "complex law" that includes properties such as freezing, growth, sharpness, time, speed, violence, penetration, and erosion.

Although each characteristic is only superficial, when combined, their power is multiplied many times over!

"That's about it." Lu Chen opened his eyes, and nine colors flashed in them—the original color of the Law of Power, plus the colors of the eight Ancestral Witch Laws.

He stood up and stretched his limbs.

Peak of the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos Realm!

He's only one step away from the late stage of Hunyuan!

"It's time to emerge from seclusion." He looked outside the cave. "The hundred-year period is approaching, and it's time to make a trip to the Blood Sea."

But just as he was about to break through the barrier and emerge, a voice transmission suddenly came from outside the cave.

It was Zhen Yuanzi's voice, tinged with anxiety:

"Young friend Lu Chen, come to Wuzhuang Temple immediately! Fellow Daoist Hongyun... something has happened!"

Lu Chen's expression changed.

Senior Hongyun?

Wasn't he recuperating at Wuzhuang Temple? What could possibly have happened to him?

He activated his brick-escape technique and vanished from the cave in an instant.

The century-long seclusion has ended ahead of schedule.