As Tian Dao spoke, he noticed Ye Ling and the peculiar creature had already mingled. He couldn't help but be startled, exclaiming, "Ye Ling, what are you doing?"
Ye Ling replied, "This little fellow seems easy to fool. Don't worry about me for now. Do you know its origin?"
Tian Dao said, "I investigated. This creature is called 'Chu,' the very first being born at the dawn of chaos!"
"Legend has it that before chaos began, there were five creation gods within the chaos. A war of unprecedented scale erupted between these five creation gods. 'Chu' was born from the collision of their powers, a being that existed before the Great Dao!"
"Five?" Ye Ling was slightly taken aback. "Weren't there only three creation gods?"
"Two were defeated and perished," Tian Dao added. "Legend says that after their deaths, the bodies of those two creation gods disintegrated, and their power exploded the chaos."
"One of the victorious creation gods used the blood of the defeated to nurture all things, giving birth to the world as it is today."
"Before chaos began... there was such a great war," Ye Ling murmured. He couldn't imagine what the battles of the creation gods were like before chaos, before the Great Dao was formed!
Ye Ling then asked, "However, even if 'Chu' was born at the beginning of chaos, why would it appear on Mount Shu?"
Tian Dao explained, "Perhaps there was an error when you were altering time. The ritual at the Red Dust Pavilion had already taken shape, and extraterrestrial forces were interfering with Earth, causing the Great Dao of time on Earth to become chaotic."
"Perhaps it was at that moment that 'Chu,' by some coincidence, fell into the river of time and drifted to our era."
"It doesn't matter how it got here anymore. This creature does not belong to this era and is incredibly dangerous. You must eliminate it quickly!"
"Otherwise, once this fellow grows, the surrounding broken rules will not only consume Earth, but the entire era in which our universe exists could collapse because of it!"
"That serious?"
Hearing Tian Dao's words, Ye Ling's brow furrowed slightly. He looked at the little fox in front of him, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
Initially, Ye Ling had intended to eliminate this peculiar creature. However, now that the creature could control its power and prevent the surrounding laws from collapsing, his killing intent had lessened.
Tian Dao continued, "If it were only like this, it would be manageable. 'Chu' can still be controlled."
"It doesn't belong to this era; it comes from before chaos. It's highly possible it inherited the power of the fallen creation gods. If that's the case, it's even more troublesome!"
"The three creation gods who opened the current universe have long since gone into seclusion, their whereabouts unknown. What if the fallen creation god revives through 'Chu'?"
Ye Ling countered, "Shouldn't the revival of a creation god be a good thing? The cosmic order is already tending towards collapse, and there are extraterrestrial powerhouses coveting the inheritor's power. With a supreme being presiding over the universe, the world can be stable."
Tian Dao exclaimed, "Ye Ling, are you an idiot?"
"The current universe was opened by the victorious creation gods. If the defeated creation god returns, do you think that creation god will protect the current universe or destroy it and start anew?"
"What you're saying makes a lot of sense..."
Ye Ling pondered for a moment. "If this little fellow truly carries the power of the defeated creation god, then its continued existence in this era is not a good thing."
Although Ye Ling felt that 'Chu' was somewhat innocent, and that it felt cruel to have to kill it after just gaining its favor, some things... their very existence represented error.
If 'Chu' threatened the entire universe, even if there was only a sliver of a possibility, Ye Ling would act without hesitation.
This was a matter of principle.
"Alright, how should this fellow be dealt with? You tell me, and I'll do it."
Hearing Ye Ling's response, Tian Dao couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. It had truly feared that Ye Ling would suddenly have a change of heart and insist on protecting 'Chu,' which would endanger the entire universe.
Tian Dao instructed, "Listen to me. 'Chu' is a creature born before the Great Dao was formed. It is not defined by rules and cannot be erased by conventional means. You must... Who is it?"
"Ye... save..."
Suddenly, Tian Dao let out a startled cry, and then fell completely silent.
"Tian Dao?"
With the sudden change, Ye Ling was stunned. He called out several times but received no response from Tian Dao.
A sense of foreboding suddenly arose in his heart. Ye Ling immediately took 'Chu' and teleported to the Immortal Realm, trying to sense what had happened!
"Tian Dao's origin is still here, but its consciousness has been erased?"
Ye Ling discovered that Tian Dao's origin still existed between heaven and earth, but the consciousness that controlled these powers had disappeared. His heart was immediately stirred by a tempestuous wave!
"Who did this?"
Ye Ling was utterly shocked. Who could erase Tian Dao's consciousness in an instant without him noticing?
Although Tian Dao's consciousness had been erased, as long as its origin remained, Tian Dao's consciousness would eventually recover.
But what made Ye Ling realize the gravity of the situation was that Tian Dao's consciousness being erased at this moment clearly indicated that someone did not want him to eliminate 'Chu'!
Before, Ye Ling had only considered 'Chu' a potential threat, a possibility that a fallen creation god might revive through it and endanger the entire universe.
However, from the current perspective, Ye Ling was almost 100% certain that 'Chu' would be the vessel for a creation god and endanger the universe!
But...
Ye Ling realized that 'Chu' needed to be eliminated, yet Earth's Tian Dao consciousness had been erased before it could tell him how to do so...
This matter had suddenly become exceptionally tricky.
Although Ye Ling could still return to the Eastern Xuan Continent to inquire with its Tian Dao, since Earth's Tian Dao had been deliberately erased, Ye Ling felt that if he returned to the Eastern Xuan Continent now, he would not only fail to get an answer but would also cause the Eastern Xuan Continent to suffer the same fate.
"What... are you thinking about?"
'Chu' tilted its head, looking at Ye Ling standing in the void. Its large eyes were filled with innocent confusion, making it look incredibly cute.
But Ye Ling, knowing the truth, could no longer find it cute seeing 'Chu' like this.
This was a flood beast capable of destroying the universe.
However, Ye Ling dared not let such a dangerous thing run around freely, so he could only keep it by his side.
Ye Ling sighed slightly and said to 'Chu', "We are friends now, right?"
'Chu' nodded, "Yes, you are my first friend."
Ye Ling smiled, "Since we are friends, we should naturally be inseparable. You will have to stay by my side from now on and never leave my sight, understand?"
'Chu' nodded, "Understood, friends should be inseparable."
Looking at 'Chu's innocent demeanor, Ye Ling could only force a smile. "Let's go, I'll take you... away from here."