Calamity of Tomorrow

Zhou Bai resolved to master the Twilight Taoist Skill, and once the cooldown period for his gemstone was over, he would take a stroll to the Evil Sect and snatch back his Primordial Dao Storage 05.

"Humph, when the time comes, I'll just leave my physical body here for Christina to control, and then I'll stir up some trouble at the Evil Sect using Gu Tianle's identity. That should divert the attention of the Plague Department away from me, right?"

Having made up his mind, Zhou Bai still managed to maintain a guise of a well-behaved child on the surface, promising Ying Hui that he wouldn't cause any trouble and expressing faith in their ability to handle things, before watching him leave.

Zhou Bai patted the head of Elsa, who had snuggled up to him: "Alright, alright, I'll take you to eat."

Meanwhile, Christina also burst into Zhou Bai's mind, meowing, "I want to cultivate with Primordial Dao Storage 04! My Daoization rate is at 37.7%, and I think I should be able to reach 40% in a few more days!"

Zhou Bai nodded, "Got it, I'll take Elsa out for a meal and then send you both to cultivate with the Primordial Dao Storage."

So, Zhou Bai took the somewhat clumsy and cheerful girl to the cafeteria. Just as he picked up a bowl of medicinal soup and several steamed buns made from exotic beast meat, his eyes narrowed at the sight of a familiar face nearby.

Zheng Wentian was eating his gruel soaked with people's rations, his face filled with bitterness: "I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be drinking porridge daily." Suddenly, he remembered Zhou Bai and Qian Wangsun: "I heard those two paupers used to eat plain rice every day. I wonder how they're doing now."

Just then, a large plate of food was placed in front of Zheng Wentian. Zhou Bai, with Elsa at his side, sat down opposite him and smiled, "Long time no see."

But Elsa gaped, grabbed a bun, and stuffed it into her mouth. After swallowing it in one gulp, she voiced her bliss and wore a face full of happiness: "So delightful!"

Zheng Wentian jumped in surprise and said to Zhou Bai, "I don't have any points left, I can't treat you."

Zhou Bai waved his hand, "Seeing you so down and out, would I still shake you down? Am I that kind of person?" As he spoke, he shoved some buns into Zheng Wentian's bowl: "Consider this my way of returning the favor."

Looking at the buns before him, Zheng Wentian hesitated, seemingly touched. After a moment of silence, he grabbed a bun and started eating, muttering, "Sorry, was I... really annoying in the past?"

Zhou Bai: "Really? I thought you were enthusiastic, generous, and bold... quite good, actually."

Zheng Wentian: "...Now that Zi Yang True Monarch has cut off my allowance, I've come to realize... how hard life is for people these days. I was too willful before."

Zhou Bai looked at Zheng Wentian with surprise, "Looks like you've been through a lot recently."

Zheng Wentian heaved a sigh and continued, "Keep it up, Zhou Bai. In this Daluo Heaven debate, you must beat them all."

Zhou Bai smiled, "Don't worry, the sword of the Human Emperor is as good as mine." But in his heart, he couldn't help thinking: 'I wonder how much laziness value the sword of the Human Emperor could fetch.'

Suddenly, he looked at the plate and sighed, "Elsa! Who told you to eat everything!"

Zhou Bai: "By the way, Old Zheng, I'm going to cultivate the Twilight Taoist Skill this afternoon. Why don't you join me?"

Zheng Wentian: "I'd rather not, I can't handle watching your kind of cultivation method; it's too much for my heart."

Zhou Bai: "Won't you come and witness a miracle? Today, I might just master the second of the five great Divine Skills."

Hearing Zhou Bai's words, Zheng Wentian felt a pang of envy nearly distorting his features, thinking: 'Damn it... but I can't help but want to watch. Is Zhou Bai really going to master the second of the five great Divine Skills? How does his brain even work?'

After breakfast, Zhou Bai sent Christina and Elsa to cultivate with the Primordial Dao Storage, then intented to find Jing Xiu and others to go cultivate the Twilight Taoist Skill with them.

However, after searching for some time, Zhou Bai remembered that today was a day off.

After all, alternating work and rest, the way of the scholar and the warrior, humans aren't machines, they can't possibly work or cultivate ceaselessly day and night.

Even in this era when humanity faces peril, people still need some time off and entertainment.

For instance, at the Dao School of the East, they generally get one day off every six days.

Zhou Bai found Lu Wanzhen in the practice room of the special training class building. After making an appointment to meet with the great elder in the afternoon, he asked about Jing Xiu and Xia Li's whereabouts.

...

Zhou Bai jumped onto the wall of the welfare home and saw that in the direction of the classroom, Jing Xiu was teaching orphans there, imparting basic Daoist cultivation, hygiene, and health knowledge.

Looking at the familiar faces within the orphanage, Zhou Bai remembered this was the place where his friend Pei had always supported with supplies and often came to help. The children here had all lost their parents on the battlefield.

"Does Jing Xiu come here often? Could it be that after Pei left, she's been coming here all the time?"

Seeing Jing Xiu's earnest teaching demeanor in the classroom, Zhou Bai didn't disturb her and closed his eyes to cultivate quietly, waiting for the class to end.

"Zhou Bai?" Jing Xiu looked at Zhou Bai surprisingly, "What brings you here?"

The two of them sat on the wall, swinging their legs and watching the children play in the yard.

Zhou Bai smiled and said, "I came to find you."

"Find me?" Jing Xiu tilted her head, puzzled, "What for?"

"Let's meet up this afternoon at the Elder's place," Zhou Bai smiled, "And watch me learn one of the Divine Skills."

"Eh?" Jing Xiu exclaimed in surprise, "Zhou Bai, you're going to learn another one of the Divine Skills?"

"Yeah, I've tentatively chosen the Time Rebirth Technique," Zhou Bai said, "Jing Xiu, you should come and watch."

"Sure," Jing Xiu slapped Zhou Bai's shoulder, excitedly exclaiming, "Zhou Bai! Good luck, our Dao School is counting on you to steal the show."

Then, with a bit of worry in her voice, she asked, "I heard there are a lot of geniuses participating in the Daluo Heaven forum this time, won't it be very dangerous?"

"Don't worry," Zhou Bai chuckled, "They're all like little brothers to me. If you can find a betting booth, just bet on me to win, I guarantee a windfall. By the way, how are your parents? Are they still in good health?"

"They're quite well, ever since the news of your sword driving back the Heavenly Demon spread, everyone has been working with more vigor. But, is it true there were hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Demons?"

"Of course, it's true. You know me; I always like to speak the truth. Let me tell you about the situation back then..."

Jing Xiu's wisdom -10

"Damn! It's become a habit..."

"What's wrong, Zhou Bai?"

"Jing Xiu, listen, you're a girl and need to learn to be cautious, not to trust others so easily. Remember this, the more handsome the man, the more likely he is to deceive..."

...

Inside a secret chamber in Nanshan City,

A palm-sized statue, seemingly consisting entirely of countless heads, floated in mid-air.

Sun Jingping, the Saint Heir of the Evil Sect, stood aside, his Primordial Spirit power sweeping over the statue in mid-air. His mind sifted through various documents, comparing and verifying them against the statue, and surprise gradually appeared in his eyes.

"Could this be... the Primitive Dao Collection?"

"It's a pity I can't tell which volume it is."

Sun Jingping recalled the secret records of the Evil Sect: 'Shortly after being crafted by the earliest reformers of cultivation, the Primitive Dao Collection was ordered to be collected by the Celestial Court. There should be no copies left in the human world. Could this be a hidden one?'

Sun Jingping then speculated about the intentions of the Celestial Court: "The Celestial Court collected the Primitive Dao Collection for one of two reasons. First, it's too dangerous and could cause massive distortions.

The second, it hides a power that could threaten gods and immortals.

And these two reasons could be one and the same; that the Primitive Dao Collection hides a distortion strong enough to threaten the gods."

Looking at the Primitive Dao Collection before him, Sun Jingping thought of various possibilities: "Let's not report this to the Celestial Court for now. Let me see..."

His Primordial Spirit power gradually spread onto the statue, enveloping it entirely.

"... what secrets this Primitive Dao Collection really holds."