Chapter 508: The Primordial Realm
Little Ying’s delivery date was approaching.
While nurturing the fetus wasn’t too taxing on the cultivators’ bodies, not a single member of the Sang family dared to neglect the matter.
A week before the due date, Young Master Sang decided to put all his affairs on hold to focus on caring for Little Ying.
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In the Demon Cultivators’ plaza.
Under a willow tree, Young Master Sang sat cross-legged, next to him was Li Shanyan, looking bored in his Taoist robe like a lost child.
Time passed slowly, and Sang Che gradually opened his eyes, seemingly caught between chaos and clarity.
As he slowly raised his hand to perform a gesture, the surrounding scenery began to twist unexpectedly, as if trapped in a bizarre kaleidoscope.
Sang Che’s fingers danced as if he were fiddling with a thread.
With his movements, the surrounding scenery suddenly magnified and shrank in a strange manner. The appearance of passing employees morphed from old age to toddlerhood, then to vigorous youth in just a few breaths.
However, none of the employees in the Demon Cultivators’ realm noticed anything amiss, not even sparing a glance at Sang Che.
Finally, after everything returned to normal, Sang Che let out a breath of murky air, his eyes revealing a clear understanding.
“Timeless moments.”
“…Such fascinating Tao.”
“The one who’s truly amazing is the old man here,” Li Shanyan said while fiddling with a feather duster, lightly murmuring, “I’ve always heard you belittle your own talent and perception. Hearing it now is quite jarring.”
“This technique relies heavily on one’s realm and comprehension of the Dao. For you to completely integrate it in just a few months, you certainly can’t be considered ‘talentless.’”
Sang Che scratched his head, “I don’t know why, but it seems much easier to learn than when I was at the Water Moon Sect.”
Li Shanyan shot him a glare, assuming Sang Che was just trying to show off again.
“But since you’ve mastered this technique, you must have caught a glimpse of the scenery within the door, right?”
Sang Che didn’t reply.
Indeed, after learning the Timeless Moments, the feeling of holding a thread in his hand that could connect all things in the world utterly captivated him.
But what followed was a sense of shock.
Because when he held that thread, he also saw.
The countless threads connecting all things in the world that he could not grasp.
“This… is the Dao.”
Li Shanyan’s youthful voice took an elder’s tone: “Above the Great Vehicle, there exists an unimaginable view. It’s called the Primordial.”
“The Primordial is the beginning of all things, the original Qi. It is the supreme realm that allows one to see through endless fog and glimpse the cosmos’s original form.”
“I can see these threads and understand how to step into the Primordial Realm. I only need to grasp one thread a day, without rest, until I’ve exhausted all principles in the world, to behold the Primordial.”
“Unfortunately… in this realm.”
“Grasping even one thread is the limit.”
Sang Che fell silent.
“Those Primordial Deities,” Li Shanyan said with a tone that carried the weight of ages, “are fortunate beings who, from birth, have seen the Primordial. They don’t need to grasp threads; they can manipulate millions.”
“So, to the outside world, how powerful they truly are… nobody knows.”
“Fortunately,” Sang Che spoke up abruptly, with flickering lights in his eyes, “no matter how strong they are, it’s all in the outside world.”
“When they come to this realm, they too can only grasp one thread.”
“We’re not different.”
Li Shanyan’s smile grew wide.
“Is my young friend starting to feel a sense of confidence in dealing with them?”
“To say I’m confident would be too arrogant,” Sang Che shook his head, “but since we can both grasp this thread, there’s definitely a chance for competition.”
He gently raised his hand, seemingly lost in that otherworldly state of thread manipulation once more.
“At least, at the very moment I touch that thread.”
“I know I finally hold a card that brings me peace of mind.”
Li Shanyan quietly gazed at the side profile of Sang Che.
This young man’s eyes remained unchanged. Even when they first met, he was merely a small Foundation Establishment cultivator, yet still stood unflinching before Great Vehicles.
Always clear, always calm, always fearless.
For him, Great Vehicles, Primordial realms, Primordial Deities – there was no fundamental difference.
Just merely passing clouds.
“I’ve seen countless faces in my lifetime. It’s said that one’s existence in the mundane world, entangles them with karma and hard to detach.”
“Even the wisest sage is bound to have doubts and confusion, unable to move forward.”
“Yet, someone like you, with a heart like a clear mirror, without a trace of perplexity… this is the first time I’ve seen it.”
“Are you truly never confused or scared?” Li Shanyan continued to look at him.
Sang Che was silent for a long while before softly shaking his head.
“There’s nothing to fear.”
“I’m used to it.”
Li Shanyan stared into his eyes, then turned away, losing interest after a moment.
“Alright.”
Sang Che stood up and dusted off his clothes, smiling lightly: “I ought to go back and keep my wife company.”
“Speaking of which, your wife’s delivery date is approaching, right?”
“One week until the due date.”
“Then I need to ponder over what gift to prepare for the child.”
As he talked, Li Shanyan suddenly cleared his throat, feeling a bit shy: “Uh, my young friend, if you’re buying a gift for the child, you can’t be short on money, right?”
“I wonder if you could… advance some of this month’s salary?”
Sang Che turned his head and gave Li Shanyan a bone-chilling look, sending shivers down the latter’s spine.
“You want to advance your salary?”
“Y-yes.” Li Shanyan forced a smile, sweating profusely, “After all, it’s a gift for your child—”
“How many hours do you work a day now?”
“Uh, six hours…”
“Next week it’s going to ten.” Sang Che calmly turned away, “Go talk to the finance department for your money.”
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left, leaving behind a stunned Li Shanyan, who after a moment of shock, howled in anger without caring about his image in the plaza:
“Sang! You black-hearted… what’s wrong with you!?”
“Ten hours a day?! You might as well just kill me!”
“I should have rotted in my grave; how did I let this little brat trick me into this black-hearted workshop!”
“I curse your child to work double my hours! Their salary won’t even be one-tenth of mine!”
He cursed for a long while, gathering a crowd nearby before shaking his head and departing, only stopping his ranting after his voice went hoarse.
He knew well that this curse wouldn’t come true.
Sang Che’s child was destined to inherit billions. Spoiled by the vast harem of the Sang family, that child would be the last one on Earth to starve.
Some people are simply born to not struggle. Others, even if they reach the Great Vehicle, remain the same as humble cattle and horses.
Alas, what kind of world is this? Li Shanyan looked mournfully at the dim sky.