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

Deep within the chaos, in an unnamed secret realm.

Thirty-six Sea-Stabilizing Pearls float like a galaxy, evolving into all phenomena of the heavens. The Chaos Brick floats and sinks in the center, its surface displaying chaotic patterns that intertwine with the illusory images of the heavens, constantly devouring, merging, and recombining. Each movement exudes a majestic Daoist aura, as if the heavens and earth were created.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged in the center, his seven orifices breathing in and out chaotic energy. The Great Dao of Power transformed into an invisible force field, pushing the fusion of the divine pearl and the brick body to its extreme.

"The heavens are the bones, chaos is the flesh, and the law of power is the soul... Unite!"

With a low shout, the thirty-six Sea-Stabilizing Pearls suddenly shrank, transforming into thirty-six dazzling starlight points, all of which disappeared into the Chaos Brick!

"Buzz—!"

The Chaos Brick trembled violently, its body expanding and deforming at a visible speed—no longer a simple brick shape, but transforming into a hazy, ever-changing nascent chaotic world! At the center of the world, a blurry giant phantom appeared and disappeared, as if supporting the sky and stomping on the earth, radiating the ultimate meaning of pure power!

"It's done! The Chaos Brick has been upgraded to a 'Chaotic World Brick'! It contains the power of the thirty-six heavens and worlds, evolving chaos and suppressing all laws!"

Lu Chen opened his eyes, his gaze filled with a chaotic energy that seemed to contain countless worlds, both created and destroyed. He reached out and summoned the chaotic world brick into his palm, as light as a feather yet as heavy as countless worlds.

"With this treasure in hand, I am already 70% confident in the arena battle." He felt the immense power within the brick, and his confidence soared.

Just then, outside the secret realm, chaos suddenly surged, and a detached, lofty voice, devoid of any emotion, pierced through the restrictions and resounded in Lu Chen's mind:

"Lu Chen, come to Zixiao Palace."

Hongjun Daozu!

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat. The Dao Ancestor had personally summoned him, and on the eve of the arena battle—what was the matter?

He dared not delay, putting away the Chaos World Brick, activating the Brick Escape Technique, and speeding towards the Purple Cloud Palace. Along the way, his mind raced, speculating on various possibilities—was it for the Chaos Demon Ape's origin? Was it for his conflict with Yuan Shi? Or… had he sensed some of his hidden schemes?

The gates of Zixiao Palace opened silently. The palace was empty except for the illusory image of the Dao Ancestor sitting high on a cloud bed. His aura was even more ethereal than before, almost merging with the entire chaos.

"Disciple Lu Chen greets the Dao Ancestor." Lu Chen bowed respectfully.

"Do you know why there must be a great calamity in the primordial world?" Hongjun did not let him get up, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Lu Chen's heart stirred, and he cautiously replied, "This disciple is dull-witted and only knows that the Great Tribulation is the cycle of Heaven's Way, in order to eliminate causal evil energy and restore the order of Heaven and Earth."

"Yes and no." Hongjun's illusory figure lowered his gaze, as if he could see through everything. "The Great Tribulation is a cleansing, and also a selection. It cleanses those burdened by karma and selects those who are qualified to step into a higher level."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold: "However, some people attempt to manipulate calamities, tamper with destiny, and seize fortune and luck that do not belong to them, even with the power of an ant. Do you know what crime this is?"

coming!

Lu Chen felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the Dao Ancestor was giving him a warning. From knocking out Hongyun to seize the Saintly position, to taking advantage of the chaos during the Lich War, to stealing the Investiture of the Gods and undermining the Western Paradise... the Dao Ancestor probably knew all about the "good deeds" he had done!

He took a deep breath, neither denying nor defending himself, but instead looked up and stared directly at the illusory figure of the Dao Ancestor:

"May I ask, Ancestor, what is destiny? Is it a predetermined path, or the path that all beings forge after struggling for survival? I admit that my actions have often been opportunistic, even unscrupulous. But what I seek is merely a sliver of hope—for myself and for those around me. If destiny dictates that we are destined to be mere pawns, manipulated by others, then I'd rather not accept this fate!"

These words were extremely bold, bordering on provocative. But Lu Chen knew that in front of the Dao Ancestor, any sophistry would be futile; it was better to frankly state his true feelings.

The illusory figure of Hongjun remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a barely audible sigh:

"A glimmer of hope... Tongtian said the same thing back then."

He then changed the subject: "Do you know that your repeated attempts to defy the will of Heaven, though not damaging the very foundation of the primordial world, have already attracted the attention of certain beings deep within the chaos? The Great Dao of Power you cultivate, the Chaos Treasure you possess, and even your own existence have all become variables within variables."

Lu Chen was deeply shaken. An existence deep within the chaos? Did it refer to the remnants of those fallen chaotic demon gods? Or... something else?

"The emergence of the Chaos Demon Ape's origin is no accident," Hongjun continued. "This thing is deeply entangled with you in cause and effect. Obtaining it may allow you to ascend to the heavens in one step and touch the gate to proving the Dao through force; or it may... bring about annihilation and become a 'coordinate' for the descent of certain beings."

Lu Chen felt a chill run down his spine. It turned out that the Dao Ancestor's gathering of the Primordial Chaos beings and setting up the arena wasn't just about distributing treasures; the deeper purpose was a test—to see who was most deeply involved with the Chaos Demon God and who might become a hidden danger!

"Please enlighten me, Dao Ancestor, what should this disciple do?" Lu Chen asked respectfully. Since the Dao Ancestor had given instructions, there must be some arrangements.

"In the arena battle, you must go all out to seize the Demon Ape's essence." Hongjun's words were startling. "This item is destined to be yours, and there is no way to avoid it. However, after obtaining the treasure, you must immediately go to the Chaos Ruins and use the power of the Ruins to cleanse the causal relationship between the treasure and yourself, severing all potential connections with the Chaos Demon God. You must not return to the Primordial World within a hundred years."

Guixu? The place where all things end in chaos?

Lu Chen instantly understood. This was a test from the Dao Ancestor, and also a form of protection. Sending him to the Ruins of Return was both a way for him to digest the Demonic Ape's origin and attempt to prove his Dao through force, and also a way to temporarily isolate him, this "variable," from the prehistoric world to prevent uncontrollable disasters. At the same time, a hundred years was enough time for the Dao Ancestor and the Sages to deal with any subsequent ripples in the prehistoric world that might be caused by him.

"Disciple...accepts the order." Lu Chen had no choice. The Dao Ancestor's arrangement was already the best solution.

"This journey to the Ruins is fraught with peril, a near-death experience. However, if you can successfully sever the causal ties and refine the origin, upon your return, the Primordial World will surely grant you a place as a saint," Hongjun concluded, his illusory figure gradually fading away. "Go, and show no mercy on the arena. Beyond the Primordial World, there is another Primordial World."

As soon as he finished speaking, only Lu Chen remained in Zixiao Palace.

He stood there for a long time, digesting the vast amount of information in the Dao Ancestor's words.

The Chaos Demon Ape's origin is both an opportunity and a trap; the Dao Ancestor is both warning him and paving the way for him; beyond the primordial world, there is a wider world, and even more powerful beings...

"It seems I, the sixth one, am being groomed as a 'special forces' soldier by the Dao Ancestor." Lu Chen smiled wryly, then his eyes blazed with fighting spirit. "Return to the Void then! The Chaos Demonic Ape Origin, I'm determined to have it! The path of proving the Dao through force, I'm determined to walk it!"

He turned around and strode out of Zixiao Palace.

Three days later, at the Chaos Arena.

That will be the battlefield where he seizes the foundation for enlightenment.

Beyond the arena, in the chaos of the void, lies an even more brutal trial and rebirth.

The Dao Ancestor's questioning did not make him back down; instead, it made him see the road ahead clearly—a road full of thorns, but leading to supreme power and freedom!

A beam of light pierced through the chaos as Lu Chen sped towards the arena.

In this battle, he wanted to make all the saints and all the Hunyuan clearly see that he, Lu Chen, was not a pawn to be manipulated, but someone who could shake the chessboard!