Sudden Realization!

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, last time we gained nothing from the opportunity and even got hurt. How about we call it quits here?"

Dijun stepped forward and spoke.

Though he didn't explicitly bow his head, the retreat in his words was clear to every Great Power present.

Clearly, he was starting to feel wary.

"Calling it quits isn't impossible—it just depends on whether you have the sincerity."

Tongtian chuckled lightly, his expression profound and meaningful.

He planned to return to his island for Closed Door Meditation to boost his strength, then Establish a Sect and take on disciples.

That would naturally require all kinds of precious resources.

But he didn't have much saved up, so he'd set his sights on them.

The Demon Race had vast territory and many people; the resources in their treasury, while not top-tier, were abundant in quantity.

As for Laozi and Yuanshi, he'd long had his eye on that Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda.

This time, he'd just go with the flow and seize the opportunity.

"Then, in Fellow Daoist's opinion, how should we make amends?"

As the saying went, when under someone else's roof, you had to lower your head.

Dijun not only feared the Tongtian before him but also dreaded the one he would become.

After all, he held the foundation for attaining sainthood.

Even if Attaining Dao Through Strength failed, switching to Slaying the Three Corpses would still lead to sainthood in time.

It was just a matter of sooner or later.

If he didn't settle this karmic debt now, it would only cause more trouble later!

Especially since the Demon Race was bound to clash with the Witch Race in the future.

If Tongtian sided with the Witch Race then, the consequences would be unthinkable!

"Half the resources of the Demon Race Treasury."

Tongtian held up one finger.

"What? No way!" Taiyi's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

That was too ruthless!

Though the Demon Race didn't control the entire Primordial Wilderness, they had countless members, scattered across mountains and rivers—accumulated bit by bit, their resources were immense!

"If you think it's too much, you can trade the Chaos Bell instead. I wouldn't mind."

Tongtian's smile faded, his tone calm.

Yet that very calm made Dijun's heart race.

He spoke up before Taiyi could, decisively agreeing.

"If Fellow Daoist trusts me, I'll send someone back to deliver the resources to your Dao Field."

Hiss!

At those words, a wave of sharp intakes of breath echoed through the void.

Half the resources of the Demon Race Treasury!

Given away just like that!

Such boldness—truly worthy of the Demon Race's leader!

The Great Powers sighed inwardly, their gazes unconsciously drifting to Tongtian, burning with a hint of fervor.

Their minds had already started pondering whether they should consider joining the Jie Sect.

"Big Brother..."

"Enough!" Seeing Taiyi about to speak again, Dijun shot him a glare, cutting him off.

Though he felt some reluctance, resources were ultimately dead things, while people were alive.

As long as he stayed alive, losing a few Treasures was no big deal.

If he really pushed the other party too far, the consequences would be disastrous.

Even with ten treasuries, what use would they be?

"Good." Seeing him so sensible, Tongtian nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to Laozi and Yuanshi.

"I wonder what compensation Third Brother wants?"

Laozi knew this couldn't be settled peacefully, so he cut straight to the point.

Yuanshi beside him had a dark expression, barely able to hide his fury.

But at his older brother's signal, he could only forcibly suppress the rage in his heart and remain silent.

"That Houtian Treasure of Merit of yours—the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda—I'm quite interested in it."

Tongtian said with a faint smile, revealing his true intention.

If demanding the Demon Race Treasury earlier was already an outrageous overreach, then this statement was nothing short of pushing his luck.

The assembled Great Powers exchanged glances, utterly stunned.

That was a divine treasure comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure!

Extremely rare across the entire Great Desolation Continent!

Its value far surpassed the Demon Race Treasury by more than a notch!

"Tongtian, you've gone too far!"

Unable to hold back any longer, Yuanshi roared, his aura erupting abruptly.

The Great Powers all retreated, afraid of being caught in the blast.

Smack!

A crisp, resounding slap exploded through the void.

In the next instant, Yuanshi was sent flying backward, a full million miles away.

By the time he steadied himself, his cheek was swollen high, flushed bright red.

Everyone was horrified, their eyes filled with shock.

He couldn't even withstand a single blow?

Was this the true strength of a Quasi-Saint?

"It seems you still don't understand the gap between a Quasi-Saint and a Daluo. If there's a next time, it won't be just a slap."

Tongtian's tone was icy, his gaze like frost as he swept a cold look over them.

Hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Clutching his swollen cheek, Yuanshi's eyes flashed with a mix of viciousness and humiliation.

This was a blatant slap in the face!

He would rather take a wound than be humiliated like this in front of everyone!

"Enough. I'll give you the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. I only hope you'll show some restraint in the future."

With a sigh, Laozi took out the pagoda and erased his own Spiritual Sense imprint.

Then, under the burning gazes of the crowd, he tossed the pagoda out.

He knew that if he didn't hand it over, Tongtian would eventually take it by force.

Not only would the treasure be lost, but he'd likely be injured as well.

Better to yield outright and preserve himself.

Now that he had fallen behind, rather than wasting time healing, it was wiser to focus on cultivation and step into the Saint realm as soon as possible.

"Let's go."

Tongtian caught the pagoda in one hand, not even glancing at the others, and turned to head toward the Great Desolation Continent.

He wouldn't go easy on them just because they handed over the pagoda.

When the Human Race later established their sect, it would all depend on his mood!

Fuxi clicked his tongue, finding it rather dull.

He'd wanted to test his current strength.

But everyone was too cowardly to make a move.

Nuwa's eyes flickered with infatuation as she quickly followed.

Watching the varied expressions of the Great Powers around them, Dijun, Taiyi, Laozi, and Yuanshi wore grim faces.

With a cold snort, the four of them flicked their sleeves and departed.

Three Immortal Islands.

Gazing at the dense, almost tangible spiritual energy of heaven and earth on the island, Fuxi and Nuwa couldn't help but marvel.

Entering Biyou Palace, Tongtian casually tossed them a Yellow Central Plum, then instructed:

"If there's nothing urgent, settle down on this island and help This Seat look after the Three Immortal Islands."

"This Seat needs to enter Closed Door Meditation for a while. When I emerge, I'll announce to the Great Desolation Continent that I'm formally Establishing a Sect and taking disciples."

Taking the Yellow Central Plum, the siblings nodded in agreement.

It was easy to foresee that, given Tongtian's current reputation, cultivators flocking to join the Jie Sect would be endless.

Imagining that scene, the two of them couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.

Inside the secret chamber.

Tongtian casually refined the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda into his body, then calmed his mind.

"System, open the attribute panel."

Host: Tongtian

Cultivation Method: Primordial Supreme Merit

Origin: Top-Tier Innate God and Devil

Cultivation Level: Early Quasi-Saint

Great Dao Laws: Array Dao (50%), Sword Dao (80%), Way of Deduction (30%), Way of Creation (40%), remaining 2,996 not yet comprehended.

Spiritual Treasures: Growth-type Supreme Treasure Sect Master's Seal, Innate Spiritual Treasure Sect Master's Edict, Innate Divine Weapon God-Slaying Spear, Innate Spiritual Object Creation Green Lotus, Postnatal Merit Spiritual Treasure Primordial Measure-Heaven Ruler, Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda...

"Still 2,996 laws to go. A long road ahead."

Staring at the densely packed law entries on the attribute panel, Tongtian couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.

Fortunately, the Primordial Supreme Merit he cultivated was unique—he only needed to fully comprehend one Great Dao to step into the Saintly realm.

If he had to wait until he mastered all Three Thousand Great Daos, who knew how many years that would take!

He gently shook his head, steadied his emotions, and prepared to attempt a breakthrough.

Deep within the Purple Heaven Palace.

East King Duke's face was as dark as water, his heart restless and anxious.

He had originally planned to complain to the Dao Ancestor after the sermon ended, giving Tongtian a taste of his own medicine.

But before he could even speak, the Dao Ancestor personally bestowed the Primordial Violet Qi.

That left him feeling terrible all over.

He had been officially appointed as the Chief of Male Immortals in the Primordial Wilderness, yet he hadn't received even a single wisp of Violet Qi.

Both indignant and afraid to speak out.

He feared angering Tongtian and facing retribution later.

After leaving the Purple Heaven Palace, he witnessed Dijun and Laozi being forced back, and he felt even more relieved that he hadn't rashly stepped forward.

Above the Sun Star.

"Big Brother, are we really going to give him all these resources?"

Watching chest after chest of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures being carried away, Taiyi's heart ached.

If these treasures were used to train their subordinates, they could forge a batch of experts ranging from Primordial Unity Golden Immortals to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.

Giving them away for nothing—who wouldn't feel the sting?

"It's just some resources. The Primordial Wilderness is full of these things."

"Don't forget, Laozi lost the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, a treasure equal in value to your Chaos Bell."

"You're not thinking of keeping these and trading your Chaos Bell instead, are you?"

Dijun waved his hand, putting on an air of indifference.

As for Taiyi, at the mention of "Chaos Bell," he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Unless his brain was full of water, no one would make such a losing deal!

Atop Kunlun Mountain.

"Big Brother, Tongtian is really becoming more and more unreasonable. He has no sense of martial honor!"

Yuanshi was furious, his heart full of indignation.

That was his elder brother's lifebound treasure, comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure.

Forced to hand it over like that—he was both outraged and couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy and jealousy.

And now, thinking of how Tongtian held countless spiritual treasures while they, as brothers, didn't even have a single weapon for severing corpses—truly pitiful.

"It's only temporarily in his hands. As long as we prove the Dao and become Saints first, I'll make him spit it all out with interest!"

At the memory of that humiliation, Laozi's gaze turned cold.

He would not let this matter rest.

But the time wasn't right yet; he could only endure.

Hearing this, Yuanshi was stunned at first, then suddenly understood.

"Elder Brother truly sees far ahead."

Within Mount Sumeru.

"Senior Brother, this time we owe Hongyun a huge debt."

Zhunti rubbed his throbbing forehead, his face full of worry.

These were two Saintly Positions' worth of karmic debt—an extremely heavy burden.