Intercept Hongjun, Rescue Tongtian

The Treasure Seeking Mouse and Duobao Himself

In a treasure land of the Primordial World, spiritual energy converged as if some treasure was about to emerge.

Suddenly, a little mouse appeared there, its body faintly radiating a soft glow.

This was a treasure-seeking mouse, capable of using its talent to find scattered treasures across the Primordial World.

But just as it was about to seize the treasure, a large hand suddenly reached out and grabbed it.

"Squeak!" Though the treasure-seeking mouse had not yet taken human form, it already possessed intelligence and some cultivation.

"A mere little mouse, yet able to cultivate—truly an anomaly!" Tongtian said, surprised.

But a mouse was still a mouse; its cultivation method was incomplete, merely the most basic absorption of heaven and earth's spiritual energy.

"Never mind. Meeting today counts as fate, and since I have taken your treasure, I shall pass on some cultivation methods to you." Tongtian pointed a finger at the little mouse's brow.

The little mouse squeaked joyfully and bowed to Tongtian, following him wherever he went.

"How amusing. You've decided to latch onto me."

Just then, a powerful pressure suddenly descended. Tongtian's expression changed, and he immediately summoned the Qingping Sword.

A colossal dragon appeared before Tongtian—it was the Ancestral Dragon.

By his status, the Ancestral Dragon would not deign to act against a mere Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

But Tongtian was blessed with deep fortune, and the Ancestral Dragon had sent assassins after him time and again, only for them to be driven back.

Even when he dispatched an Early Golden Immortal of the Origin, he failed to kill Tongtian. Forced to act personally, the Ancestral Dragon came to avenge his son.

"No wonder you've escaped the Dragon Clan so many times—your fortune runs deep. But today, your time is up." The Ancestral Dragon stared coldly at Tongtian.

A Late Golden Immortal of the Origin against a Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal—the gap in power was immense.

Though the Qingping Sword was formidable, it was far inferior to the Ancestral Dragon Pearl.

Legend held that the Ancestral Dragon Pearl was the closest thing to an Innate Supreme Treasure, and in some sense, it already possessed the might of one.

"Ancestral Dragon!" Tongtian's face was bitter. Even as the Pangu Orthodox, capable of cross-grade challenges, the Ancestral Dragon was a being of such stature that even the Three Pure Ones combined would not be enough.

"Little mouse, you should leave quickly, lest you be implicated." Tongtian tried to shoo the treasure-seeking mouse away.

But the little mouse refused to go, clinging tightly to Tongtian.

Far away in the Immortality Volcano, Li Xinghe suddenly felt a surge of intuition—clearly, something major was unfolding in the Primordial World.

When he divined the cause, a strange smile crossed his face, and he stepped out, vanishing from the Immortality Volcano.

"The Ancestral Dragon is hunting Tongtian. It seems Hongjun will step in to save one of the Three Pure Ones, born of Pangu's Primordial Spirit. That's no small amount of Merit." Li Xinghe had no intention of letting Hongjun claim such a boon.

By now, the Ancestral Dragon had lost patience. In his eyes, Tongtian and the little mouse were no different.

"That sword seems to be a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. The Dragon Clan could use some top-grade artifacts." The Ancestral Dragon's massive claw reached out.

Tongtian activated the Qingping Sword with all his might, but the Ancestral Dragon's body was so powerful that he clashed directly with the sword using his bare claw.

If only Tongtian were stronger—had he become a Saint, a single sword qi from the Qingping Sword could have annihilated the Ancestral Dragon.

A thunderous boom rang out as the Qingping Sword was sent flying. Tongtian was severely wounded—the heir of the Pangu Orthodox couldn't even withstand a single blow from the Ancestral Dragon.

"Lucky—you took one hit. Let's see what you use to resist this time." The Ancestral Dragon struck again.

By then, Hongjun had received the Guidance of the Heavenly Dao and arrived nearby, but facing the peak Ancestral Dragon, he hesitated.

The Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation was in its final stage, and the Ancestral Dragon at this moment was at his most terrifying. No Primordial being could match him.

According to the original course of the Primordial World, the three races would eventually fight to the death, with the Ancestral Dragon, Yuan Feng, and the Beginning Qilin all perishing together. Even Hongjun at this point was no match for the Ancestral Dragon.

Just then, a figure stepped before the Ancestral Dragon—it was Li Xinghe.

"Ancestral Dragon, bullying the weak is beneath your dignity!" Li Xinghe slapped out as well, meeting the Ancestral Dragon head-on.

The Ancestral Dragon's expression shifted. Someone could match him in physical strength alone—even Yuan Feng and the Beginning Qilin fell short.

"It's you!" The Ancestral Dragon naturally recognized Li Xinghe. It was he who had enlightened the Ancestral Dragon, made him swear a Heavenly Dao oath, and led the Scaled Lineage against the Fierce Beast Tribulation.

Hidden in the shadows, Hongjun's face darkened. Such a fine opportunity, snatched away by Li Xinghe halfway.

With Li Xinghe stepping forward, Hongjun dared not reveal himself. Back during the Creation Tribulation, it was Li Xinghe who had told Pangu to split him vertically.

This man held the Chaos Pearl—a complete Chaos Supreme Treasure—not to be taken lightly.

"Withdraw. I don't wish to fight. This man is born of Pangu's Primordial Spirit—you cannot kill him." Li Xinghe stated directly.

It wasn't that he feared the Ancestral Dragon, but with Hongjun lurking in the shadows, he didn't want to expose his trump cards.

The Ancestral Dragon was currently a Late Golden Immortal of the Origin, a minor realm above Li Xinghe. But if it came to a real fight, Li Xinghe could beat him to a pulp.

However, that would require using his supreme treasure and personally entering the fray, inevitably incurring karma. After all, the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation was ultimately the affair of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Races.

The Ancestral Dragon was stunned. He understood what Li Xinghe meant—if it were true, killing Tongtian would immediately invite Heavenly Dao retribution.

Even more, he was shocked by Li Xinghe's strength. Their clash seemed an equal match, but only he knew he was at a disadvantage.

Facing this mysterious figure who dared to represent Pangu in enfeoffing him, the Ancestral Dragon felt deeply uncertain.

"The Fierce Beast Tribulation—you enlightened me, and I owe you a kindness. Today, I'll give you face and settle that karma." The Ancestral Dragon snorted coldly and departed.

Li Xinghe gave a faint smile. The Ancestral Dragon was still putting on airs—clearly afraid he'd beat him into a pulp, yet still blathering on about settling karma. As if karma were so easily settled.

"Many thanks for the life-saving grace, Senior." Behind him, Tongtian bowed with deep respect.

Though he had the protection of the Heavenly Dao, the Heavenly Dao had not yet fully awakened. Whether it could truly shield him was uncertain.

If no one intervened, Tongtian would most likely be killed, and then the Heavenly Dao would settle the account, erasing the Ancestral Dragon. As for that sliver of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, it would have to reincarnate and take form once more—and when it did, Tongtian might no longer be the same person.

Li Xinghe didn't speak. Instead, he glanced toward where Hongjun was hiding.

Hongjun turned and fled on the spot. That man was too terrifying—he had concealed his aura with fragments of the Jade Plate of Creation, yet he'd still been discovered.

Li Xinghe had no intention of troubling Hongjun. After all, he had just snatched another opportunity from him. A stream of Merit descended from the heavens, washing over him with immense comfort.

"No need to thank me. See? I got something out of it too." Li Xinghe glanced at the Treasure Seeking Mouse beside him.

Could this be Tongtian's senior disciple, Duobao Daoist, from a later age? He hadn't expected the original form to be this adorable.

"And there is also the grace of your previous teaching, Senior. Tongtian never had the chance to express his gratitude." Tongtian was a man who clearly distinguished favor from grievance—which was precisely why he had ended up at odds with Laozi and Yuanshi.

A Saint ought to have the mindset of a Saint. Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things as straw dogs. A Saint is ruthless, treating Primordial Beings as straw dogs.

Yet after Tongtian became a Saint, he always sought to carve out a thread of life for all living beings. That was what led to the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, and ultimately forced him to swallow the Saint-Slaying Pill.

"This was your opportunity. Laozi and Yuanshi lacked the insight for it. Since we've met again today, it means you and I share a bond. I'll pass the remaining two forms to you as well."

Tongtian's face lit up with surprise. He hadn't realized that the artistic conception he had comprehended was merely one move out of three.