Thunderclap Explodes!

"Hiss... Is it really like this? The Intercepting Sect is actually this wealthy?"

"What are you yelling about? Getting greedy? Be careful Tongtian doesn't crush you into dust with a single finger!"

Above the Heavenly Court.

Dijun sat in the main seat, his brow furrowed, his gaze deep.

"What exactly is Tongtian up to?"

He had a hunch that this commotion was no accident, and that Tongtian was definitely behind it.

But the truth was hard to discern, and the less he could see through it, the more worried he became.

As he was contemplating, Kunpeng strode in, a smile on his face.

News of the formation's completion finally arrived, and Dijun's gloom lifted slightly.

Feeling reassured, he couldn't help but laugh heartily:

"Excellent, this matter is largely thanks to the Demon Master's full support.

Later, you may take my imperial decree and choose any spiritual artifact from the Heavenly Court's treasury as a reward."

"As for the invitations for the Heavenly Wedding Ceremony, it's time to start preparing."

"Let's set it for fifteen hundred years from now."

With the Grand Formation of the Stars as his backing, Dijun's expression was calm, and there was no longer any sense of urgency in his demeanor.

Even when facing the Saints, he was no longer as apprehensive as before.

Although Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Quasi-Saints were merely dust and ants in the eyes of Saints, not worth fearing, the true power of the Grand Formation of the Stars did not lie in the superposition of Golden Immortal battle power, but in its ability to draw upon the power of the 365 main stars and the 129,600 secondary stars, converging the might of the entire cosmos.

Its power was far beyond what ordinary numbers could achieve.

On Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi let out a cold snort, his tone full of mockery:

"That Tongtian fellow is always acting mysteriously, I don't know what he's up to."

"And Dijun, it's just a wedding, yet he dares to invite us to witness it, truly arrogant and presumptuous!"

After speaking, his face was full of pride and disdain.

If Laozi hadn't gently raised his hand to stop him, he would have almost insulted him on the spot.

A moment later, he turned to Laozi, who was sitting quietly beside him, and probed:

"Eldest Brother, now that we have both attained Hunyuan, why not announce it to the Primordial World and widely recruit disciples?"

Laozi, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, heard this and his eyes flickered. After a slight hesitation, he finally nodded in agreement:

"It's feasible.

How about we set it for two thousand years from now?"

"Good!" Yuanshi readily agreed, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He had already been unable to contain himself.

When he became a Saint back then, he had wanted to take the opportunity to establish his fame and display his might before countless beings, but unexpectedly, he was suppressed by Tongtian, losing all face and becoming a laughingstock.

Now that the time was ripe, how could he miss it again?

This time, he would not only rebuild his reputation, but also let the entire Primordial World know – Yuanshi was not an incompetent person!

As soon as the words fell, a voice imbued with the laws of the Heavenly Dao resounded through heaven and earth:

"I, Saint Yuanshi, along with Grand Pure Saint Laozi, will gather outside the Purple Heaven Palace in two thousand years to lecture for a thousand years."

"After the lecture, the disciple recruitment ceremony will commence. Those with fate are welcome to come and listen to my teachings and select talents to join."

This voice struck like thunder, instantly spreading to all four seas and eight directions.

Many cultivators frowned, feeling a sense of caution, but more beings were excited and could hardly contain their joy.

A Saint opening a lecture was a great opportunity!

Even if this Saint was far inferior to Tongtian, or even Nuwa, it didn't matter.

After all, most people were just looking for a chance to hear about the Great Dao.

As for truly becoming a disciple, everyone knew that only the Intercepting Sect under Tongtian was the right path!

In the Spirit Mountain in the west, Zhunti's brows were tightly furrowed, and he looked at his senior brother with a face full of confusion:

"Senior Brother, Tongtian's actions are strange enough, but why are the Heavenly Court and Kunlun also making frequent moves?"

"Especially Dijun, what is he planning with such a grand spectacle?"

His expression was solemn, as if he was afraid of missing some major event.

He would have doubted if he had slept through the years, if not for confirming that he hadn't been in seclusion for too long.

Jieyin smiled calmly and comforted him:

"No need to worry.

Now that you and I have become Saints, we should naturally stand in an invincible position."

"No matter what schemes Dijun has, he ultimately cannot escape our grasp."

"The dignity of a Saint cannot be violated. If there is provocation, there will be retribution!"

He paused, then slowly said:

"As for Yuanshi's actions, I fear he intends to emulate the Intercepting Sect and establish his own orthodoxy."

"He intends to copy Tongtian's entire set of doctrines and systems, using it to gather destiny and strengthen his sect."

Zhunti felt a little relieved upon hearing this, and then his heart grew warm, his breathing quickening:

"If that's the case, why don't we take this opportunity to also announce to the Primordial World that our Western Sect is accepting disciples? How can we let him have all the glory!"

Thinking of this, a wave of heat surged within him.

When he had attained enlightenment, he had borrowed a large amount of merit from the Heavenly Dao. If he could not make the West prosperous, he would eventually be held accountable.

Now, as long as he followed suit and held a disciple-acceptance ceremony, even if only one percent of the beings came to join them, it would be an unprecedented opportunity for their Western Sect!

Jieyin gently shook his head, his expression still peaceful:

"Don't rush.

Let's first see how Yuanshi acts, and then we can make plans. It's not too late."

He didn't say too much, but Zhunti immediately understood the implication.

Let Yuanshi and Laozi go first and be the vanguard.

If Tongtian caused trouble midway, then they wouldn't announce the disciple acceptance; if everything went smoothly, they could take the opportunity to observe the reactions of the beings in the Primordial World.

He knew in his heart that he and his junior brother had already been registered in the Three Realms, and they were precisely the ones with bad reputations.

If they didn't take this opportunity to gauge the outside world's sentiment, and on the day of the formal disciple acceptance ceremony, there were few people in front of the sect, and it was deserted, it would truly be a loss of face.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, there is a mortal on the outer island who has been kneeling for a hundred years without moving."

In Biyou Palace, Qing Xuanzi respectfully reported, his tone unable to hide his reverence.

The reason he specifically mentioned this matter before bringing Kunpeng into the hall was that he was truly shocked by the person's persistence.

Although he came from an ordinary background, had ordinary roots, and his cultivation was even meager, this perseverance was truly admirable.

Out of a desire to cherish talent, he casually said this.

Tongtian paused slightly upon hearing this.

He already had an idea who the person outside the door was.

It was originally Laozi's future eldest disciple, Xuan Du. At that time, on a whim, he had a bit of a mischievous thought and let him kneel outside, thinking that if he truly became Laozi's disciple in the future, he would bring up this old matter to tease him.

As a result, later on, with many matters and a cluttered mind, he had forgotten about it.

If Qing Xuanzi hadn't mentioned it now, he probably would have kept putting it off.

After pondering for a moment, Tongtian said indifferently, "Since he has been able to persevere to this extent, it shows his extraordinary will. He will surely achieve something in the future."

"Go and bring him back to the sect. Let him start with sweeping and menial chores, and temper himself slowly."

"Also, bestow upon him a Bone-Changing Pill to help him undergo a complete transformation and change his aptitude."

Qing Xuanzi's heart trembled violently upon hearing this.

He had only mentioned it casually, and it had received such great attention from the Sect Master?

This person... is definitely not ordinary!

He dared not delay and quickly agreed. After exiting the hall, he hurried towards the outside of the island.

In his hand, besides a Bone-Changing Pill, he had also quietly prepared several bottles of Spiritual Medicine for Replenishing Vitality.

In the end, it was simply to take advantage of the fact that the other party was still weak and establish a good relationship early on.

As for why Tongtian suddenly changed his mind, it was actually because he suddenly thought--

With Xuan Du's tenacious disposition, if he joined Laozi's sect and spent his days brewing medicine and nourishing his body, becoming a "medicine shell" supported by external forces, wouldn't that be a waste of his talent?

Rather than keeping him to use his past to mock Laozi a few times in the future, it would be better to take him into the Intercepting Sect now.

When he grows up and specifically causes trouble for Daoism, that would be truly satisfying!

"Heh, I'm just soft-hearted."

He praised himself inwardly, and then Tongtian's gaze fell back on Kunpeng, who was nervously trembling in the hall.

This dignified Demon Master of the Heavenly Court was now trembling, sweat beading on his forehead.

He had already bowed respectfully twice, but Tongtian had not responded. Instead, his eyes drifted, as if deep in thought about something important.

The longer Kunpeng waited, the more anxious he became, fearing he had not been thorough enough and had displeased the Saint.

He dared not say another word – what if he was perceived as impatient, making matters worse?

He could only stand with his head bowed, cold sweat streaming down his face, feeling as if a needle were pricking his back.

It wasn't until Tongtian snapped back to attention that he looked at Kunpeng's current state and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"Speak, what important matter brings you here today?"

"Reporting to the Saint, the Heavenly Court will be holding a Heavenly Wedding Ceremony soon, and the Emperor specifically ordered me to deliver this invitation," Kunpeng replied hastily, not daring to wipe away his sweat.

Compared to Yuanshi and Zhunti, who had only sent a Quasi-Saint to deliver their messages, the Heavenly Court's attitude towards Tongtian was clearly much more respectful.

After all, this Saint had attained his Dao long ago, and his prestige far surpassed that of the others.

Coupled with his unfathomable combat power, how could Dijun and the others dare to offend him lightly?

And Kunpeng, as the Demon Master, held a position second only to Dijun and Taiyi. His personal delivery of the invitation showed their sincerity.

"This Seat will attend on time," Tongtian nodded slightly, then changed the subject, asking casually, "By the way, has your Grand Formation of the Stars been set up properly?"

It was merely a casual question, but to Kunpeng, it sounded like a thunderclap.

His body trembled violently, a look of horror flashing across his face. His pupils constricted sharply, as if his throat had been grasped.

The sudden chill pierced his bones like needles, making his spine stiffen.

His palms began to sweat unconsciously, and his fingertips grew cold.

Seeing Kunpeng's expression, Tongtian was first taken aback, then understood.

He sighed softly and said calmly, "Never mind, you may go."

Kunpeng, who had been hesitating whether to confess, immediately felt a wave of relief upon hearing this. He quickly bowed:

"This disciple takes his leave."

After turning and leaving the Three Immortal Islands, he immediately channeled all his magical power and rushed towards the Heavenly Court at the fastest speed.

In a moment, he stood before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Before Dijun could even ask, he revealed everything he had seen and heard on the Three Immortal Islands without reservation.

Before he finished speaking, Dijun and Taiyi's pupils contracted, and they both gasped in unison.

The shock on their faces was even more intense than Kunpeng's reaction just moments ago.

After a long silence, Dijun forcibly calmed himself and waved his hand, pretending to be relaxed.

"No need to worry, the formation was always intended to reveal its might at that time."

"Since he already knows, he's merely one less surprise."

Although they said this, the three couldn't hide the solemnity in their brows.

Their apprehension towards Tongtian deepened quietly.

Time flew by, and five hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Fuxi's voice echoed across the skies above the Three Immortal Islands:

"The time has come, the Intercepting Sect's Grand Competition officially begins."

With that, he waved his sleeve, and six arenas appeared out of thin air, arranged in order on the plaza--

They were for the Menial Disciples, Outer Disciples, Inner Disciples, True Inheritor Disciples, Core Disciples, and the Elder Exclusive Arena.

Though they seemed few in number, each arena was actually a small world of its own, capable of accommodating ten thousand people fighting simultaneously.