Hongjun wouldn't succeed so easily!

The greatest rift between Chan and Jie lies in the Chan Sect's disdain for the Jie Sect's origins.

But the fundamental divide is the clash of daoist principles between the two saints.

Seeing that Yuanshi seemed to show signs of remorse, Grand Pure One Laozi smiled and said, "Second Brother, it is good that you can repent, but the greatest responsibility for this matter does not lie with us Three Pure Ones."

Yuanshi asked in surprise, "Elder Brother, what do you mean by that?"

Grand Pure One Laozi said calmly, "Hongjun schemed against us Three Pure Ones for ten thousand ages. Even if it were not your fault alone, even if we had long realized the truth, it might not have changed anything."

Yuanshi's heart trembled upon hearing this.

He had suspected as much, but without solid evidence, he dared not be certain.

Yet why was his elder brother's words so assured?

Then, Grand Pure One Laozi recounted Hongjun's machinations in the Primordial Wilderness to Yuanshi one by one.

Yuanshi was utterly shocked, never imagining that the teacher he had always revered was the root of all evil.

"How could Hongjun do this?"

Yuanshi, who always trusted Laozi's words, now felt a surge of fury.

But soon, he fell into despair.

"Yet we have already taken the Saintfall Pill, powerless to resist."

"The matter is already settled—what can be done?"

"Who says there is no way?"

"Elder Brother, what do you mean?"

Grand Pure One Laozi calmly produced the Creation Source Pill.

"This pill can neutralize the Saintfall Pill."

"Take it."

Sensing the pill's immense power, Yuanshi was greatly astonished.

Where had his elder brother obtained it?

Had he refined it himself? If so, his elder brother's foundation was far too deep.

Knowing that his elder brother would never harm him, Yuanshi unhesitatingly consumed the Creation Source Pill.

Soon, the Saintfall Pill dissipated like spring snow melting.

Yuanshi was both shocked and delighted.

"Elder Brother, did you refine this pill?"

"How was such a miraculous feat achieved?"

Before Grand Pure One Laozi could speak, Yuanshi's expression suddenly changed.

"No good! Elder Brother, if the Saintfall Pill is neutralized, won't it alert Hongjun?"

Grand Pure One Laozi said indifferently, "No need to worry—he won't detect it."

Even if the Creation Source Pill could not perfectly eliminate the Saintfall Pill, even if Hongjun sensed something, he would have no way of knowing exactly what happened.

After all, Grand Pure One Laozi possessed the Chaos Pearl, whose most basic function was to obscure the heavenly secrets, beyond even the scrutiny of the Heavenly Dao.

Moreover, the Chaos Pearl hid many other secret functions, though Grand Pure One Laozi had yet to explore them deeply.

For now, it was best to resolve the matter at hand before slowly studying the rest.

Feeling the calm confidence in Grand Pure One Laozi's words, Yuanshi was inwardly shaken and grew even more convinced of his elder brother.

"Elder Brother, what should we do next?"

Grand Pure One Laozi gazed at Purple Cloud Palace and asked with a smile.

"The first priority is to get Tongtian out of Purple Cloud Palace."

"Otherwise, how can we speak of the Three Pure Ones?"

Yuanshi was silent for a moment, then said, "Elder Brother, the rift between Tongtian and us runs deep. I fear he not only resents Hongjun but also holds a grudge against us."

Yuanshi knew well that his own act of bullying the weaker and killing the Three Heavens Maidens had forged a deep enmity with Tongtian.

Grand Pure One Laozi looked at him calmly.

"Bonds of blood—the Three Pure Ones are always one."

Yuanshi's heart trembled at these words, then he said quietly, "Elder Brother speaks truly. I was indeed fixated on appearances."

His elder brother's words were all reasonable.

The three brothers were bound by blood—how could a momentary misunderstanding create a rift?

Even if I must go to Tongtian and apologize, I would do it without hesitation!

In the end, we are of the same root and the same family.

For the always aloof Yuanshi, this was undoubtedly a monumental shift.

Grand Pure One Laozi smiled faintly and continued:

"This matter is not without a turning point."

"Our third brother carries guilt in his heart. As long as we can reclaim the Jie Sect, the misunderstandings between us will naturally dissolve."

Yuanshi's eyes flickered with hope at these words—this was indeed a feasible plan!

After a moment's thought, he said:

"Most of the Jie Sect now lies on the Heavenly Investiture of the Gods List or within the Western Buddhist Sect. Sages cannot set foot in the mortal realm—how do we rescue them?"

"But with our current strength, we can always find ways to achieve our goals step by step."

Though Yuanshi had once been restrained by the Saintfall Pill, he now had enough confidence to face the future.

Even if they could not contend with Hongjun, Heavenly Dao Sages were ultimately indestructible—that was their leverage.

Yet Grand Pure One Laozi shook his head, rejecting this notion.

"Time is pressing; we cannot afford to scheme slowly."

"The next Journey to the West Calamity will be the critical moment when the West promotes the spread of Buddhism eastward and expands their grand ambitions."

"By then, the Buddhist sect's influence will blanket the entire Primordial Land. The West's momentum will be set in stone, and even if Tongtian returns, he won't be able to reverse it."

Yuanshi's vigilance was roused.

"The Journey to the West Calamity involves the spread of Buddhism eastward?!"

"The West has such a far-reaching scheme?!"

Grand Pure One Laozi's tone was gentle but laden with meaning.

"This concerns more than just the West."

Yuanshi naturally grasped the implication—the shadow of Hongjun loomed faintly.

This instantly made him feel the peril on all sides.

His brow was heavy with worry.

"How should we handle this?"

"Should we suppress the Buddhist sect first?"

"No, the strength of the Two Sages of the West is not to be underestimated. If Hongjun catches wind of it, we'll only end up in a worse position."

"We might lose every opportunity."

Yuanshi proposed a plan but quickly dismissed it.

For a moment, he was mired in deep distress.

Then Grand Pure One Laozi smiled calmly.

"Why target the sages to weaken the Buddhist sect?"

"Simply disrupt the spread of Buddhism eastward. Not only can we curb the West's rising calamity, but we can also rescue the disciples of the Jie Sect."

"Thus, the calamity itself is the perfect opportunity—chaos makes scheming easier."

"Once Tongtian returns, we Three Pure Ones will unite as Pangu's Legacy, and we will surely overturn the Heavenly Dao and achieve a reversal."

Yuanshi listened, his eyes gleaming.

"Elder brother's plan is excellent!"

Yuanshi pondered for a moment, joy rising in his heart.

His trust in Laozi grew even firmer.

Clearly, the Grand Pure One's understanding of the calamities far surpassed Yuanshi's.

Even the deadly Saintfall Pill had been effortlessly neutralized, earning Yuanshi's deep admiration.

He was certain his elder brother already held the cards to contend with Hongjun.

Otherwise, how could he be so confident?

Grand Pure One Laozi also sensed Yuanshi's absolute submission to him.

He sighed inwardly.

If he had come here before the Investiture of the Gods, the situation might have been far better.

Perhaps he could have directly orchestrated the union of the Three Pure Ones, even striking at Hongjun to overturn the Investiture Calamity's course.

After all, though Yuanshi was arrogant, looking down even on sages, the only one he truly deferred to was his elder brother, Laozi.

The rift among the Three Pure Ones—Dao Ancestor Hongjun bore no small blame, Yuanshi and Tongtian were the direct causes, but Laozi was the key catalyst.

If Laozi had not stubbornly adhered to his so-called Way of Non-Action, coldly watching his two younger brothers fight, and had instead fairly mediated the conflict between Yuanshi and Tongtian, reining them both in, the Three Pure Ones would never have reached this point.

Hongjun would not have succeeded so easily!

But the past could not be undone. Starting now to lay plans for a reversal was not impossible.

Grand Pure One Laozi knew that Yuanshi had already submitted.

Now Yuanshi obeyed his every word, no less loyal than Eastern Emperor Taiyi had once been to Demon Emperor Dijun.

Next, he had to deal with Tongtian.

But before letting Tongtian leave the Purple Cloud Palace, Grand Pure One Laozi still needed to make some arrangements.

"Second brother, I am going to preach to the world. You focus on cultivation first and await my news."

Grand Pure One Laozi planned to spread the Primordial Dao-Forging Method across the Primordial World, raising the strength of Primordial World Beings and thereby elevating the overall level of the Primordial World, while also enhancing his own power!

His own strength was the key guarantee for realizing his plan!

Moreover, this would be an unexpected gift for Hongjun!

Getting Tongtian to leave the Purple Cloud Palace and achieve the Unity of Three Teachings was no easy task.

He had to plan meticulously and lay out a comprehensive strategy; one misstep could jeopardize the entire situation.

After all, this was tantamount to contending with Heavenly Dao Hongjun, like playing a game of chess against the Heavenly Dao itself.

Yuanshi was greatly surprised to hear this.

Preach to the world? Why? He could not grasp his elder brother's intent at all, deeply realizing the insurmountable gap between sages.

He could not understand Laozi's thoughts or fathom his power, but that did not shake his support for his elder brother.

"Elder brother, we sages should not meddle in the mortal world right now. Should I send my disciples to the Primordial World?" Yuanshi asked after some thought.

The Primordial World had split into the Earthly Immortal Realm, and the Chan Sect had moved to the Jade Clarity Realm, with its disciples relocating as well.

Though Hongjun had not forbidden Chan Sect disciples from entering the Primordial World, there was no room for the Chan Sect to operate there anymore, so Guangchengzi, Yun Zhongzi, and the others focused on quiet cultivation.

Grand Pure One Laozi shook his head slightly. "The Chan Sect's influence is still insufficient."

Yuanshi looked a bit embarrassed. "Then what should be done?"

Laozi's gaze turned to the Thirty-Three Heavens, and he smiled. "The Heavenly Court."

Yuanshi's eyes lit up with sudden understanding.

Laozi's Good Corpse resided in the Heavenly Court. Could this be a backup plan left by his elder brother?

Yuanshi saw Grand Pure One Laozi's calm demeanor and felt a jolt in his heart.

Had his elder brother detected the hidden danger before the end of the Investiture of the Gods and made arrangements in advance?

Then he set the plan during the Journey to the West Calamity, trying to overturn everything!

Such a scheme was far too profound and terrifying!

Grand Pure One Laozi was unaware of Yuanshi's train of thought or his shock.

He directly left the Jade Void Palace and returned to the Eight Sceneries Palace.

The Primordial World.

The Earthly Immortal Realm.

The Thirty-Third Heaven.

The Heaven of Detachment, Tushita Palace.

Supreme Lord Laozi, who was refining pills, seemed to wake from a dream.

"A sage's dharma that points straight to the Primordial?"

"To be preached to the world?"

Supreme Lord Laozi gently shook his head and stopped pondering.

The Three Corpses and the Original Body were one.

He had no need to worry too much.

But since the sages were confined beyond the heavens, Supreme Lord Laozi had not contacted his Original Body in a long time.

Now he sensed a change in his Original Body, and this change affected him as well!

Yet this change brought a smile to Supreme Lord Laozi's face.

"Act without action."

"Not contending is the greatest contention."

Supreme Lord Laozi flicked his whisk, then sent the Gold and Silver Servants to the Hall of Celestial Supremacy.

This matter—Haotian could never refuse.

The Hall of Celestial Supremacy.

At this moment, Haotian was drinking and enjoying himself with Venus, the Great White, and others, utterly at ease.

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty, known throughout the world."

"Worthy of comparison to the sages of old!"

Venus, the Great White, and the rest raised their cups in flattery.

"Haha, my esteemed ministers flatter me too much; the sages still deserve some respect." Haotian laughed, but his expression brimmed with pride.

Now, he was the true sovereign of the Three Realms.

The Investiture of the Gods was complete; sages could no longer set foot in the Primordial World, and no sage's legacy could surpass the Heavenly Court.

Haotian held supreme authority over the Three Realms, his status unmatched.

Once merely a servant boy in the Purple Cloud Palace, insignificant before the three thousand guests of the Purple Cloud, he now sat on the throne of the Celestial Emperor. Who could defy him?

To him, this was an eternal achievement, immortal through the ages.

The Gold and Silver Servants reported: "Celestial Emperor, the Supreme Lord Laozi invites you to the Tushita Palace."

Haotian paused briefly, setting down his cup.

Venus, the Great White, and the others tactfully withdrew: "Your Majesty, we shall take our leave and return another day to pay our respects."

"Go ahead." Haotian nodded.

Even as the lord of the Three Realms, he dared not take the Good Corpse of a sage like Supreme Lord Laozi lightly.

Moreover, the Western lands also had sage avatars; if conflict arose with the West, he would still need Supreme Lord Laozi's aid.

Before long.

Haotian arrived at the Tushita Palace.