Determining Life and Death!

After all, among the Saints, he was the strongest.

Everyone held their breath, eager to see how he would make his grand finale entrance.

The answer didn't keep them waiting long.

In just over ten breaths, the void rippled, and two figures appeared.

It was Tongtian and Nuwa, arriving together.

Hiss--!

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, gasps of cold air rose one after another.

Countless pairs of eyes widened, faces filled with shock, some even lost in a daze.

Even Yuanshi, Zhunti, and the others had stiff expressions, their eyes unable to hide a trace of jealousy.

Why?

It was because Tongtian's entrance was too simple, yet it shook people to their core.

A royal carriage forged from dozens of innate Spiritual Treasures, shimmering with light and exuding an imposing aura.

What was even more suffocating was that this magnificent carriage was personally carried by twenty late-stage Quasi-Saints, five on each side, front and back.

No sky-filling purple energy, no chanting of Buddhist scriptures, no need for any preamble.

They walked through the air, each step leaving an imprint, as stable as the Great Dao itself.

On the royal carriage, Tongtian reclined leisurely, yet an invisible pressure permeated the surroundings.

Though not adorned in imperial robes, the demeanor in his every gesture was like the embodiment of the Great Dao, each movement interpreting the true meaning of the laws.

Anyone who looked at him found their gaze unable to shift away once it landed.

Sensing everyone's reaction, Tongtian's lips curved slightly, his eyes casually sweeping across the hall.

Everyone immediately felt as if struck by lightning, their bodies stiffening.

Wherever his gaze passed, minds trembled, and they instinctively lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes.

His soft cough, when heard, sounded like thunderclaps from the nine heavens exploding across the sky.

Many cultivators swayed, almost falling to the ground, their faces instantly turning pale.

Impossible! How could he be this strong! How unfair is the Heavenly Dao! they roared inwardly.

Yuanshi's eyes were bloodshot, consumed by jealousy, his earlier smugness long gone.

How could... how is this possible!

Laozi's expression slightly tightened, a chill creeping into his heart.

He had once thought that after becoming a Saint, the gap between them had narrowed.

But only now did he truly realize how far away it still was.

He remained as calm as ever, yet clearly perceived--

That heart-pounding oppressive feeling was not deliberately released by Tongtian, but merely a sliver of aura he unintentionally exuded.

Just a sliver...

It was enough to make one feel as if they had fallen into an ice cave, their souls on the verge of shattering.

If he were to unleash his full power, what would that sight be like?

Damn it... just how strong has this guy become?

Zhunti gritted his teeth inwardly, a heart full of bitterness with nowhere to vent.

If he possessed such heaven-shattering abilities, why would he need to worry about the decline of the Western Teach?

A simple trip to the Eastern Lands could easily bring back dozens of disciples.

Not to mention that no one would dare to object.

Jieyin, who had similar thoughts, felt his brow furrow with even deeper worry.

He knew very well that ideals were like castles in the clouds, while reality was as hard as iron.

The surrounding cultivators finally recovered, but their hearts were tightly gripped by an indescribable sense of powerlessness.

Everyone's faces were pale, their features etched with fear.

Only now did they truly have a visceral understanding of Tongtian's unfathomable strength.

"Welcome, Saint Tongtian, greetings, Empress Nuwa. Your two excellencies, please take your seats."

Dijun's face was as calm as still water, but his heart was a maelstrom of churning waves.

He secretly rejoiced that he hadn't been disrespectful when he sent Kunpeng with the invitation, and had maintained a sufficiently low posture, giving them ample face.

Otherwise, whether this heavenly wedding could proceed smoothly would likely be a huge question mark.

"It's been tough on you."

Seeing Dijun voluntarily give up the main seat without saying a word, Tongtian didn't refuse.

Surrounded by the elders, he sat shoulder to shoulder with Nuwa, accepting it calmly.

"The auspicious hour has arrived, please, Heavenly Emperor and Empress, perform the grand ceremony of marriage!"

Kunpeng, serving as the officiant, boomed, his voice echoing through the palace.

Dijun and Bai Ze emerged at the sound, standing in the center of the grand hall.

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

"Second bow to the Dao Ancestor!"

"Conjugal bow to each other!"

"The ceremony is complete!"

Boom--!

As the final word fell, the Heavenly Dao sensed the forging of the marital bond and immediately responded.

In an instant, the void for millions of miles around trembled, Countless brilliant rays of light converged from the nine heavens, Myriad merits transformed into auspicious clouds, slowly taking shape in the firmament.

Discussions immediately erupted in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a clamor rising.

"Heaven-sent merits? Good heavens!"

"With so many merits, and Dijun's current cultivation at the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, he might be able to step into the Primordial realm with this!"

"Hiss... That's terrifying! With that step, the Primordial World will have another supreme existence!"

"To be honest, I'm envious."

"..."

Just as everyone was marveling, The Golden Lotus of Merit above Dijun and Bai Ze's heads had already condensed, It then split into two, flying towards each of them respectively.

As the golden light entered their bodies, Dijun's aura first slightly stagnated, then surged violently.

However, the merits required for a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal were as vast as the ocean; this amount was merely a drop in the bucket.

The merits rapidly depleted, yet his cultivation level remained stuck at the final hurdle.

As his expression shifted slightly, Bai Ze beside him, without hesitation, Raised her hand and sent the portion of merits flowing towards her entirely into Dijun's body.

Instantly, the entire scene fell silent, everyone's jaws agape.

His aura, which had been gradually receding, surged again like a volcanic eruption, shooting straight into the heavens!

"Break for me!!"

Sensing that he was only a hair's breadth away from crossing the threshold, Dijun roared, Activating his cultivation technique, he frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a radius of tens of millions of miles, determined to break through in one go!

Pop--

A soft sound, as if a certain barrier within his body shattered in response.

Expressions of joy simultaneously appeared on the faces of Dijun, Bai Ze, Taiyi, and others.

Immediately after, a suffocating pressure erupted from Dijun, Instantly blanketing an area of tens of millions of miles.

Countless beings were forced to prostrate themselves by this imposing aura, unable to move.

His old subordinates, who had followed him for many years, saw this and were moved to tears, shouting in unison:

"Congratulations, Heavenly Emperor!"

"Congratulations, Heavenly Emperor!"

Their roars shook the heavens and earth, echoing through the sky.

The winds and clouds changed color, the world trembled.

Just as universal rejoicing filled the air, Tongtian, who had been watching coldly, suddenly spoke indifferently:

"You are celebrating a little too soon."

Everyone froze, exchanging glances, looking at him with puzzled expressions.

Hadn't he just broken through?

With such a terrifying aura, could it not be the Primordial realm?

Seeing everyone's thoughts, Tongtian's lips curved slightly as he raised his hand and pointed at Dijun.

At this moment, Dijun's face had long since turned from ecstatic to stunned.

"This is the realm of a Sub-Saint, only half a step away from a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal."

"But this half step is as vast as the horizon, as difficult as climbing to heaven."

Sub-Saint?

The moment this term was uttered, the entire audience was even more bewildered.

What is a Sub-Saint? They had never heard of it!

Seeing that Yuanshi, Zhunti, and the other four Saints also cast doubtful glances, Tongtian chuckled and slowly explained.

"The so-called Sub-Saint is a level between a Quasi-Saint and a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal."

"In terms of true combat power, a Sub-Saint even surpasses the peak of a Quasi-Saint."

"But when facing a true Saint, they are merely the slightly stronger ones among ants."

"This is not a realm he fabricated out of thin air."

"In fact, in the original timeline, the 'Three Sovereigns' among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were precisely at this level."

"Unfortunately, even with their heaven-defying cultivation, when facing Saints, they could only obediently retreat to Huoyun Cave."

"Nominally, they were said to be guarding the Human Race's destiny and maintaining the orthodox lineage of heaven and earth."

"In reality, it was just a euphemism for imprisonment, akin to house arrest, without freedom."

"However, with the Intercepting Sect's current power and its awe-inspiring presence in the Primordial World, there's no need to fear such tactics."

"If they truly push him too far, Sect Master Tongtian would not mind letting certain individuals personally experience what it means to defy heavenly might."

Hearing this, many people secretly gasped.

Although the surrounding crowd did not fully understand the deeper meaning, they could feel the oppressive aura washing over them.

When they looked at Tongtian again, a hint of admiration and reverence had quietly crept into their gazes.

This scene fell into Yuanshi's eyes, and his eyelids twitched violently several times.

His heart felt extremely stifled, and rage surged within him, but he could only suppress it forcefully.

After all, his strength was evident. No matter how unwilling he was, he could only grit his teeth and endure.

He dared not utter a single word of dissatisfaction, fearing he might bring disaster upon himself.

On the high platform, Dijun's face changed several times, shifting between pale and ashen.

After a long while, he managed to suppress the resentment in his heart and reined in his aura.

He then turned to the various guests who had come to offer congratulations, responding humbly and putting on a show of amiability.

The banquet officially began, and a hundred years passed like flowing water.

Just as everyone was flushed with wine and preparing to take their leave, Dijun suddenly stood up and announced loudly, "Please, everyone, stay!"

The crowd stopped in their tracks, their gazes all turning towards him.

He paused briefly, organized his thoughts, and then slowly began:

"Years ago, on a whim one night, I chanced upon an inspiration and created a formation called the Grand Formation of the Stars."

"Today, with all the Saints gathered, I wonder if I could ask a few Saints for their guidance? I hope you will not hesitate to impart your wisdom."

As soon as his voice fell, the entire venue fell silent.

Immediately after, buzzing discussions erupted from all directions.

"Hiss—He dares to ask Saints for their appraisal? Could this formation truly contend with Saints?"

"Unbelievable! Where did Dijun get the confidence to say such a thing? Isn't he afraid of being instantly annihilated if he says one wrong word?"

"Perhaps he's become arrogant after breaking through to Sub-Saint and doesn't understand how terrifying Saints truly are."

"I'm more worried that the Saints might be displeased and, with a wave of their hand, turn him back into his original form."

"Judging by his words, does this formation rival the Twelve Capital Celestial Evil Slaying Formation? Tsk tsk, this show is probably about to begin."

Those cultivators who had not yet reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm were all excited, chattering amongst themselves.

As for the truly top-tier Grand Unity Golden Immortals and Quasi-Saint powerhouses, they remained silent.

The laymen watched the spectacle, while the insiders saw the substance.

They might not have fully grasped the profound mysteries, but one thing was certain—

Dijun would never speak so rashly on such an occasion.

Especially in front of so many supreme powerhouses and Saints, if he had no absolute confidence, how would he dare to be so ostentatious?

Since he dared to bring it up, he must have a trump card.

That formation must be extraordinarily terrifying, giving him the confidence to challenge Saints.

Otherwise, it's simply seeking death, with no other outcome!

"Brother, what do you think?"

A flicker of interest crossed Zhunti's eyes as he subtly transmitted his thoughts to Jieyin beside him.

Dijun's choice to utter these words at this moment clearly held deeper meaning and could not be underestimated.

However, he remained uncertain about Jieyin's stance.

In his view, no matter how powerful a formation was, it was ultimately an inanimate object.

What kind of beings were Saints? They could decide life and death with a mere wave of their hand.

Even if you could unleash an attack comparable to a Saint's, how many times could you repeat it?

If a Saint refused to engage in a direct confrontation, they could simply evade your attack, and what could you do then?

"Let's observe the situation first."