Heavenly Dao Merit Fire Sale! The Six Sage Candidates' High-Stakes Gamble!

Hongjun's words, like a thunderclap from the heavens, resounded deep within the primordial spirits of the six Quasi-Saint.

Choose!

This is perhaps the cruelest and most significant choice they have faced since the Primordial World.

On one side, there was the Primordial Violet Qi that had been "washed" by the Lin Shen.

It floats silently, its purple light warm and pure, without a trace of impurity, like a piece of Chaos jade waiting to be carved.

It no longer possessed that cold, oppressive aura that held sway over all living beings.

It represents freedom.

It represents infinite possibilities.

It represents a supreme holy path that no living being has ever set foot on, one that may truly lead to transcendence.

But it also represents mist and death.

Without the guidance of the Heavenly Dao Mark, where does this path lead? To the highest realm? Or to annihilation?

On the other side were five "original" strands of Primordial Violet Qi.

The majesty of Heaven remains unchanged, with the gray Shackles clearly visible within, exuding an aura of "orthodoxy" and "security."

That was the ticket to sainthood bestowed by Heaven.

Once you board the ship, you will become immortal and indestructible, a player in the game of heaven and earth.

The price is to wear the collar forever and become the most loyal employee of Heaven.

It's safe, but there are limits.

It's safe, but it's also a cage.

How to choose?

The six top-tier powerhouses, whose minds were already as hard as Chaos Divine Iron, now had their breaths become scalding hot.

Their eyes darted frantically to both sides, their gazes a mixture of greed, fear, struggle, and longing.

At the summit, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others fell completely silent.

They were well aware that the choices these six people made would directly determine the future landscape of the era of Sage.

"Teacher's move was truly brilliant," Tongtian exclaimed in the divine thought channel. "First, slap them, then give them a candy with a different flavor, and let them fight over it themselves."

"He's watching to see who among these Old Fellow has the toughest backbone, who dares to gamble everything," said Yuanshi Tianzun, his tone tinged with admiration.

"That purified purple aura was Xiaocan's doing, and it has the deepest karmic connection with Kunlun Mountain," Taiqing Laozi concluded definitively. "Whoever chooses it, this benevolent bond will be formed."

The three understood instantly.

This teacher did more than just take advantage of Heaven's will.

Furthermore, taking this opportunity, he quietly planted a crucial piece in the future Sage's vision for Kunlun Mountain and Lin Shen!

This tactic was truly flawless.

Just when the atmosphere reached its most tense point.

Surprisingly, the first to take action were Jieyin and Zhunti from the West.

The two looked at each other and saw the same resolute expression on each other's miserable faces.

Without the slightest hesitation, they bowed deeply to Hongjun.

"Reporting to the Dao Ancestor!" Jieyin, his voice hoarse yet firm, "My fellow disciple and I were born in the barren lands of the West. Our lifelong wish is only to glorify the West and Saving All Sentient Beings."

"Though the Shackles of sainthood are heavy, if they can bring about the great prosperity of the West, we two are willing to do so!" Zhunti closely behind, the Bodhi branch in his hand radiating a compassionate light.

"We two wish to choose the Heavenly Dao Saintly Position!"

Before they finished speaking, they had already walked towards the five Shackles, and each of them took one.

This choice surprised everyone slightly.

These two cunning and shrewd individuals, known for their shrewdness and calculation, would actually make such a "noble" choice?

But Hongjun and the Three Pure Ones instantly saw through their scheme.

Poverty.

Jieyin and Zhunti are too poor, and the West is too barren.

For them, transcendence and freedom are too abstract and unattainable.

What they need most right now is a tangible, absolute power! A power that will allow them to gain a foothold in the future era of Sage and seize resources!

Even if this power comes with shackles.

"Good."

Hongjun nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

The departure of Jieyin and Zhunti greatly increased the pressure on the remaining four.

The eyes of Minghe and Kunpeng flickered wildly.

They are born ruthless heroes, believing in power, but even more so in themselves.

The Shackles of fate are a rejection etched into their very bones.

But who can guarantee that the road to freedom will be traversed successfully?

If we fail, it will be utterly catastrophic!

Just as they were struggling with this internal conflict...

Someone no one expected made a move.

Qiankun Ancestor!

This Sloppy Old Daoist looked like a scoundrel, a swindler, Delia from beginning to end.

At that moment, he took an incredibly steady step.

He did not walk towards those "standard" purple wisps.

Instead, he walked straight to the purified Primordial Violet Qi that originally belonged to him.

In an instant, all eyes were on him!

What's that cunning old fox up to?

Does he truly possess such courage to choose that unknown path to freedom?!

However, what the Qiankun Ancestor did next almost made everyone's jaws drop to the ground.

He did not take the purple aura.

He simply stood before the purple aura, closed his eyes, and then...

I took a deep, deep breath!

That expression was more intoxicating and satisfied than a glutton who has been starving for millions of years finally smelling an unparalleled delicacy.

"It smells... it smells fucking good..."

He closed his eyes and murmured as if in a dream.

"This tastes even Old Daoist than the half roasted Roasted Sweet Potato I've been saving!"

"This purple aura, after being handled by that little child, is like... like it was carefully cooked by the ancestor of the culinary arts with the true fire of the Great Dao!"

"That pure, original fragrance, mixed with a hint of... milky scent?"

"Absolutely amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

His cryptic words left everyone bewildered.

The next moment, he suddenly opened his eyes!

In those cloudy old eyes, a fervent light suddenly shone, as if they had found their life's faith!

He slapped his thigh hard, his voice booming like thunder!

"Damn it!"

"What bullshit Shackles! What bullshit freedom!"

"Laozi anymore!"

"Just for the taste! Just for this unique texture!"

"I'm getting my hands on that purple Laozi today!"

The words had barely left his mouth.

He stretched out his dirty hand, which might have just been picking at his toes, and grabbed the pure, flawless Primordial Violet Qi, holding it tightly in his hand!

That action didn't resemble choosing a supreme path at all.

It's more like a beggar who hasn't eaten for eight hundred years, who manages to snatch the last, biggest, and most fragrant piece of braised pork knuckle in the market!

This moment.

The entire Kunlun Mountain fell into a deathly silence once again.

All the powerful beings, including Hongjun and the Three Pure Ones who sat high on their cloud platforms, had only one thought in their minds.

That old man... the reason he risked his life and fortune was actually...

It's because it smells nice?!

This is fucking too hasty!