Chapter 54: Taking on a Disciple Once More, Earth Reappears

Upon seeing the newcomer was Morningstar, the Daoist of Heaven and Earth felt a chill in his heart. In the past, Morningstar had suppressed the ferocious beast clan single-handedly, forcing the Divine Rebel to never lift his head again. His strength was truly overwhelming. The Daoist hurried forward and offered a deep bow, saying, “Heaven and Earth pays respects to my esteemed friend. Your bearing in those days left a deep impression on this old Daoist’s heart, never to be forgotten.”

“You are too courteous,” Morningstar replied with a slight bow. Seeing the Daoist before him, he knew that this man was fated to fall in the coming catastrophe, and sighed inwardly, but said nothing more.

“This is Yin-Yang, and this is Yangmei,” Hongjun continued with the introductions.

Everyone bowed in greeting. Morningstar glanced thoughtfully at Yangmei, his mind turning: “So this is the one who attained sainthood before Hongjun—Yangmei. No wonder he’s extraordinary. Yet, after becoming a saint, he can never return to the Primordial World.”

Yangmei, relying on his status as a Chaos God-Demon, had achieved sainthood in the chaos before Hongjun. However, he was abandoned by the Heavenly Dao—neither counted among the saints of Heaven nor those of the Great Dao. Even though his cultivation surpassed that of Hongjun, who achieved sainthood later, he could not return to the Primordial World, or the Heavenly Dao would surely punish him. It was a trade-off of sorts.

The group returned to the Grand Hall of Zixiao. Once everyone was seated, Hongjun turned to Morningstar and asked, “Is there a matter that brings you here, my friend?”

Morningstar shook his head calmly, “Nothing urgent. It’s just that Nuwa hasn’t seen her brother in many years, and she misses him. I’ve come to visit on her behalf.”

Hongjun was not convinced, but seeing Morningstar unwilling to speak his true purpose before the others, he let it be. He took two peaches of immortality from the tray offered by the attendants and shared them with the gathering.

Morningstar noticed the two attendants from the Jade Pool—both now at the early stage of Golden Immortal—realized they had consumed the Yellow Plum and smiled knowingly, saying nothing. Thereafter, he joined in the conversations about the Dao, occasionally sharing insights on cultivation, feeling quite at ease.

As the sages on Mount Yujing discussed the Dao, nearly a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. One day, while the assembly was deeply immersed in their discourse, Morningstar, who had been nodding off at the side, suddenly opened his eyes. He stood, bowed to the gathering, and said, “I have urgent matters to attend and cannot remain in your esteemed company. Please forgive my abrupt departure!” He then turned to Nuwa and her companion, “You may return to Fangzhang Island first. I will join you soon.”

With a subtle movement of his lips, he secretly sent instructions to the two women. They understood, realizing that the Chaos Pearl had been restored, and excitement flickered in their hearts. Suppressing their expressions, they nodded slightly.

Ignoring any reactions from the others, Morningstar’s figure flickered and vanished before their eyes. The two women did not hesitate, excused themselves, and departed with Niu Zhengwei, returning to Fangzhang Island. After all, Morningstar had secretly taught Fuxi the method of travelling, and over the past century, he had mastered it to a fair degree, so Nuwa no longer had concerns.

Among the great powers at Mount Yujing, the Ancestor Yin-Yang, narrow-minded by nature, was displeased by such discourtesy and bore it in mind. Hongjun and the others, however, could only smile wryly.

In the midst of chaos, a burly figure sat cross-legged—it was Pangu.

Suddenly, another figure appeared before him. Pangu rose hastily, knelt in the void, and respectfully said, “My respects, Father God!”

Morningstar nodded, gesturing for Pangu to rise, and asked, “Have you accomplished the task?”

Pangu respectfully presented a pitch-black pearl, emanating endless chaotic energy, and said, “I have not failed you. The Chaos Pearl is restored.”

After a moment’s silence, Morningstar suddenly said, “Pangu, would you be willing to accept me as your master?”

Such an abrupt turn left Pangu, saint though he was, momentarily stunned.

After a pause, Morningstar looked at him with a faint smile, “What, do you not wish it?”

Pangu immediately came to his senses, overjoyed, and knelt, exclaiming, “I am willing! Disciple Pangu greets Master!”

Every time Pangu called him Father God, Morningstar felt a pang of guilt, regardless of his exalted status.

Pangu! In theory, Pangu was indeed his descendant, as his current body had been remade from Morningstar’s own Dao aura. Yet, deep down, Morningstar still saw himself as the recent high school graduate from Earth. To have the legendary Pangu call him Father God was hard to accept.

Even though his Dao heart was nearing perfection, it did not mean he could forget his past. His parents would soon arrive; if they learned Morningstar had become Pangu’s ‘father,’ his stern father would likely beat him until flowers bloomed on his head. No matter how lofty his status, he would never dare retaliate—this was deeply ingrained in him.

After much deliberation, Morningstar decided to accept Pangu as his disciple. At least when his father arrived, it would not be difficult to explain.

“My identity is no secret to you. Now that you have formally acknowledged me as your master, I will ensure your immortality through countless calamities. However, before you, I took another disciple in another world—his name is Shi Hao, who can be considered your junior. You will meet him in due time. Now that you are my disciple, the ban forbidding you from entering the Primordial World is lifted. But remember, unless I permit it, you must not reveal that you are Pangu, nor interfere in the matters of the Primordial World. Remember this!”

Pangu was elated. He had long wished to revisit the world he created, but Morningstar’s prohibition had kept him away. Now, finally allowed to return, his joy was boundless. He bowed deeply, “Pangu thanks Master for your grace.”

“Rise. You may now travel to the Primordial World. If you wish to find me, go to Fangzhang Island in the Eastern Sea.” Taking the Chaos Pearl from Pangu, Morningstar casually imprinted the method of entering Fangzhang Island into Pangu’s soul.

Pangu stood, saluted Morningstar, and then disappeared into the chaos.

After Pangu departed, Morningstar wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, Nuwa and her companion appeared in the chaos, twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus floating above their heads, shielding them.

The two women were not surprised by their sudden arrival in chaos; Morningstar had already informed them, and they had prepared the White Lotus as instructed.

“Are you ready?” Morningstar asked in a deep voice.

Nuwa nodded, indicating her readiness. Yet at that moment, Little Demon hesitated, failing to respond, which piqued Morningstar’s curiosity. “Little Demon, is something troubling you?”

After a pause, Little Demon murmured, “Brother, you said the Earth is about to face a great calamity. Are we just to bring out those you mentioned, and leave the others to their fate? Shall we let them perish without intervention?” A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.

Morningstar was taken aback. Indeed, all these years he had only thought of rescuing his own family and friends from Earth. But what of the others? After all, it was his former self who had accelerated Earth’s evolution for selfish reasons. Should countless beings pay the price for his actions?

Yes, Earth would reappear, but it would never be the Earth as it was…

As Morningstar was mired in equal parts guilt and agitation, Nuwa suddenly asked, “Brother Morningstar, can the restored Chaos Pearl hold everyone on Earth?”

“It can, but things are complicated. Without reason, they would never believe what you say. If you forcibly intervene, disaster will follow.” Morningstar rubbed his aching brow. The people of Earth might be ordinary, but if pushed, they could destroy the planet themselves before the apocalypse arrived.

Though the two women possessed supreme power, they could not alter the laws of matter, and there was nothing they could do against nuclear weapons.

Seeing Morningstar troubled, Little Demon quickly said, “In that case, let’s proceed as originally planned.”

In the end, Morningstar decided to try—bring out as many as possible; the rest would have to accept their fate. If the numbers were too large, he could place them in the Realm of Sentiment; after all, the Chaos Pearl was only a small world.

Having made up his mind, Morningstar summoned the only primordial treasure he now possessed that could open the river of time and space—the Breaker Shuttle. The shuttle grew to ten thousand meters, tore through the chaotic mist, and ripped apart time and space, revealing before them the endless, ceaselessly flowing River of Time.