Free Web NovelChapter 519: Chapter 13: Returning to the Beginning of Ancient Times, Lu Nian One-Punches Primordial
The Candle Dragon wailed in agony.
It wasn’t a wail born from boiling oil, scorching flames, lightning strikes, shattered bones, or a ruptured heart. It had endured such pain for countless years and had long since learned to bear it in silence.
It wailed because all its previous efforts had come to nothing. It would be discovered by the Demon Ancestor and Taiyi, scrutinized by those two Dao Fruit Existences. Its hopes of attaining Daluo, achieving the Dao Fruit, and avenging its blood feud had all crumbled to dust!
"HAHAHAHA..."
The despairing Candle Dragon instantly recovered, coiling in the clouds and letting out a wretched laugh.
It raised its head, dazed, and stared at the two small children, murmuring:
"Such is the will of heaven... such is the will of heaven..."
The Candle Dragon lowered its head.
"You two little ones, just go... There is a great treasure within Taishan. If you can, take it with you. Don’t let the Demon Ancestor get it."
Utterly dejected, it silently endured the agony. A mocking expression suddenly appeared on its face as it glanced south.
"Demon Ancestor, Taiyi... I’m coming."
"Emperor Jun, I can’t avenge you anymore."
The Candle Dragon had clearly resolved to die. It planned to charge into the Demon Country, storm the Great Palace, and do everything in its power to ruin Taiyi’s plans!
From The Beginning of Ancient Times until now, it had suffered every single moment. It had endured countless years of subservience to Taiyi, serving its blood enemy. And in the end, all of it—everything—had come to nothing!
This Daluo... it seemed it would never be attained.
On Taishan, Zhuge Shang was utterly dumbfounded, and up in the clouds, Kunpeng Zi was just as bewildered.
Lu Nian tugged on Lu Xuan’s sleeve and whispered:
"Little brother, what’s going on? Did you drive this demon insane?"
But Lu Xuan’s eyes were downcast, and he didn’t answer, his eyebrows trembling slightly.
"That demon!"
He lifted his eyelids, his heart aching, but his tone was icy.
"You think you can just come and go as you please?"
As he spoke, Little Lu Xuan took a step forward. His body began to expand, and before Lu Nian’s stupefied gaze,
he grew, bit by bit, from a baby into a boy, from a boy into a young man, and from a young man into a mature adult.
"Little brother, you... you... you..." Lu Nian was incoherent.
"I’m your dad."
Lu Xuan gave a low chuckle, plucked the dumbfounded Lu Nian up, and set her on his shoulder. The Candle Dragon, its will to live gone, glanced over woodenly.
"Oh, so you’re the Supreme Profound Clarity... Take the great treasure and go. Just go..."
"Fiend, I may be able to leave, but you most certainly cannot."
A simple, ancient great banner had appeared in Lu Xuan’s hand at some point. Seizing the brief moment while he was still the [Cause of All Fruits], he unfurled the Great Banner, sweeping up the Candle Dragon, which, having resolved to die, had no will to resist.
"Do you wish to slay me? So be it."
The Candle Dragon was terrifyingly calm.
"Slay me, take my bones, refine my body, eat my flesh, drink my blood. You may then be able to obtain my authority."
It paused. Bound within the Heaven-Opening Banner, it said softly:
"You are an enemy of Taiyi. You are worthy of this bequest from me. Come."
Perched on Lu Xuan’s shoulder, Little Lu Nian’s mind was a chaotic mess, and she grew even more confused. ’Hey, what’s the deal with this Great Demon?’
’Hey, hey, hey, and what’s the deal with my little brother??’
She glanced to the side, staring blankly at the now middle-aged Lu Xuan and swallowed hard.
’Could it be... he’s really my dad?!’
Lu Xuan’s face was cold. He had already made a decision in his heart.
He said faintly:
"If I kill you, the four seasons will fall into disarray, day and night will be thrown into chaos, and Yin and Yang will lose their balance. You will remain suppressed in my banner, to be tormented day and night."
"Heh!" The Candle Dragon shook its head numbly. "As you wish... As you wish... As you wish..."
It sighed three times, then coiled up listlessly within the Heaven-Opening Banner, becoming completely still.
Everything fell silent.
Lu Xuan glanced to the side, his gaze fixed on someone nearby. He asked in a level voice:
"You are the son of Kunpeng?"
Kunpeng Zi was horrified. His pupils shrank, and he stared at the Great Banner, his heart trembling with fear.
’What is that thing?’
With a single unfurling, it had suppressed the Candle Dragon!
That was the Candle Dragon, an Existence who wielded the authority of heaven and earth! Though not a Daluo, it was a being that could contend with one!
And yet, before it could even display its power, it had been suppressed instantly??
He swallowed hard, performed a ritual bow, and said carefully:
"In response to the Profound Clarity Celestial Venerable, my father is indeed the North Netherworld Kunpeng. He was captured outside the realm by the Demon Ancestor, Taiyi, and the Buddha Mother. Left with no other choice, I had to..."
"Kunpeng was captured as well?"
Lu Xuan frowned, then gave a slight nod.
"I will rescue him. You can rest easy. Stay on Taishan for now and do not worry."
Kunpeng Zi hesitated for a moment, bowed again, and then offered a reminder:
"Profound Clarity Celestial Venerable, although I don’t know what madness possessed the Candle Dragon, what it said is true. There is a great treasure on Taishan that the Demon Ancestor wishes to take."
"Mm."
Though the son of an old acquaintance stood before him, Lu Xuan was in no mood to reminisce. Just now, he had tried to sever the suffering and the great Curse from the Candle Dragon, but he had failed.
A punishment inflicted by a Dao Fruit was not something he could sever.
If he didn’t know, it would be one thing. But now that he did, now that he understood why the Candle Dragon had suffered for so many endless Years,
how could he be at ease?
How could he?
Taking a deep breath, Lu Xuan no longer had the same mindset of taking things slowly and planning everything out at a leisurely pace.
He gave Kunpeng Zi a slight nod, and with the bewildered Little Lu Nian still on his shoulder, he took one last deep look at the Coffin and Casket on the summit before descending onto Taishan.
Zhuge Shang hurried over, his ancient, wizened face flushed with excitement. He made a trembling bow and stammered:
"You are... Lu Zi?"
"I am."
Sitting on Lu Xuan’s shoulder, Little Lu Nian shuddered, and a look of trepidation appeared on her small face.
’He really is Dad?!’
Recalling her previous words and actions, Lu Nian sucked in a cold breath, her face twisting in misery.
’This is just great. I just escaped Mom’s clutches only to fall into the tiger’s den!’
Lu Xuan was unaware of Lu Nian’s thoughts. He gazed at Zhuge Shang and frowned slightly.
"You do not seem to be a person of this era. Are you from Ancient Times?"
