Hongjun Would Not Have Succeeded So Easily!

The greatest divide between the Chan Sect and the Interception Sect lay in the Chan Sect's disdain for the Interception Sect's origins.

But the fundamental conflict was the clash between the doctrinal ideals of the two Sages.

Seeing that Yuanshi seemed remorseful, Taiqing Laozi smiled. "It is a good thing that you can repent, Second Brother, but the greatest responsibility for this matter does not lie with us Three Pure Ones."

Yuanshi asked in surprise, "What do you mean, Big Brother?"

Taiqing Laozi said calmly, "Hongjun plotted against us Three Pure Ones for countless ages. Even if it was not your fault alone, even if we had realized it long ago, we might not have been able to change anything."

Yuanshi was shaken upon hearing this.

Though he had his suspicions, he had no conclusive evidence and did not dare be certain.

But why was his elder brother so certain?

Then, Taiqing Laozi told Yuanshi one by one of Hongjun's schemes in the Primordial Wilderness.

Yuanshi was utterly shocked. He had never imagined that the teacher he had always respected was actually the root of everything.

"How could Hongjun do such a thing?"

Yuanshi had always trusted Laozi's words, and he was now filled with incomparable fury.

But soon, he fell into despair.

"But we have already taken the Saintfall Pill. We have no power to resist."

"The matter has already been decided. What else can we do?"

"Who said there was no way?"

"What do you mean, Elder Brother?"

Taiqing Laozi calmly took out a Creation Source Pill.

"This pill can neutralize the Saintfall Pill."

"Take it."

Sensing the immense power within the pill, Yuanshi was greatly astonished.

Where had his elder brother obtained it?

Could he have refined it himself? If so, his elder brother's foundation was far too profound.

Knowing that his elder brother would not harm him, Yuanshi swallowed the Creation Source Pill without hesitation.

Very soon, the Saintfall Pill dissipated like snow beneath the spring sun.

Yuanshi was both shocked and delighted.

"Big Brother, did you refine this pill?"

"How did you achieve something so miraculous?"

Before Taiqing Laozi could speak, Yuanshi's expression suddenly changed.

"Oh no! Elder Brother, if Hongjun discovers that the Saintfall Pill has been neutralized, will that not draw his attention?"

Taiqing Laozi said blandly, "There is no need to worry. He will not notice."

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

After all, Taiqing Laozi possessed the Chaos Pearl. Its most basic function was to conceal heavenly secrets; even the Heavenly Dao could not peer through it.

Moreover, the Chaos Pearl contained many hidden functions, though Taiqing Laozi had yet to explore them in depth.

For now, it was better to resolve the matter at hand before gradually researching the rest.

Feeling the composure in Taiqing Laozi's words, Yuanshi was deeply shaken and trusted him even more.

"Elder Brother, what should we do next?"

Taiqing Laozi gazed toward the Purple Cloud Palace and asked with a smile.

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

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

Yuanshi fell silent for a moment before saying, "Elder Brother, Tongtian's resentment toward us runs deep. I fear he will not only hate Hongjun, but us as well."

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

Taiqing Laozi looked at him calmly.

"Bound by blood, the Three Pure Ones have always been one."

Yuanshi was shaken by those words, then said calmly, "Big Brother is right. I truly was obsessed with superficial appearances."

Every word from his elder brother made sense.

The three brothers were bound by blood. How could they become estranged over a momentary misunderstanding?

Even if I must personally apologize to Tongtian, I will not hesitate!

In the end, we are family, born from the same root and source.

For the always aloof Yuanshi, this was undoubtedly an enormous change.

Taiqing Laozi smiled slightly at this and continued.

"This matter is not without a turning point."

"Our third brother feels guilt in his heart. As long as we can gather the Interception Sect again, the misunderstandings between us will naturally dissolve."

Hope flashed through Yuanshi's eyes. This was indeed a feasible plan!

After thinking briefly, he said,

"Most of the Interception Sect has now entered the Heavenly Investiture of the Gods List or the Western Buddhist Sect. Sages may not involve themselves in the mortal world, so how can we rescue them?"

"But with our current strength, we will surely find a way to gradually accomplish our goal."

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

Even if they could not contend against Hongjun, Heavenly Dao Sages were ultimately indestructible. That was their support.

However, Taiqing Laozi shook his head and rejected the idea.

"Time is pressing. We cannot afford to plan slowly."

"The next Journey to the West Calamity will be the crucial moment for the West to promote Buddhist Dharma Eastward Transmission and greatly expand its ambitions."

"By then, the Buddhist Sect's influence will cover the entire Primordial Land. The West's rise will become inevitable, and even if Tongtian returns, he will be powerless to reverse it."

Yuanshi could not help becoming wary upon hearing this.

"The Journey to the West Calamity is actually connected to Buddhist Dharma Eastward Transmission?!"

"The West has such far-reaching plans?!"

Taiqing Laozi's tone was gentle, yet deeply meaningful.

"This is not merely a matter concerning the West."

Yuanshi naturally understood the meaning behind those words. Hongjun's shadow vaguely emerged.

This instantly made him feel surrounded by danger.

His brows were filled with worry.

"How should we respond to this?"

"Why not suppress the Buddhist Sect first?"

"No. The Two Sages of the West are not to be underestimated. If Hongjun notices, it will only put us in a more difficult position."

"I fear we would lose every opportunity."

Yuanshi swiftly rejected his own suggestion.

For a moment, he fell into deep distress.

At that moment, Taiqing Laozi smiled faintly.

"Why deal with Sages in order to weaken the Buddhist Sect?"

"We need only disrupt Buddhist Dharma Eastward Transmission. Not only can we curb the calamity of the West's prosperity, we can also rescue the disciples of the Interception Sect."

"Thus, the calamity is precisely the best opportunity, and a chaotic age is more easily manipulated."

"When Tongtian returns and our Three Pure Ones become one, as Pangu's Legacy, we will certainly be able to overturn the Heavenly Dao and achieve a reversal."

Light flickered in Yuanshi's eyes after hearing this.

"Elder Brother's plan is excellent!"

Yuanshi pondered for a moment, joy filling his heart.

His trust in Laozi also grew even firmer.

Clearly, Taiqing understood the Calamity far better than Yuanshi did.

The fact that he could so easily neutralize even the deadly Saintfall Pill made Yuanshi admire him all the more.

He was certain that his elder brother already possessed the means to contend against Hongjun.

Otherwise, how could he be so confident?

Taiqing Laozi also sensed Yuanshi's absolute obedience toward him.

He sighed softly within.

If he had arrived here before the Deification, the situation might have been far better than it was now.

Perhaps he could have directly brought about the Unity of Three Teachings, or even attacked Hongjun and reversed the course of the Deification Calamity.

After all, although Yuanshi was arrogant and looked down even on Sages, the only person he truly trusted was his elder brother Laozi.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun could not escape blame for the Three Pure Ones' split. Yuanshi and Tongtian were the direct causes, while Laozi had been the crucial force behind it.

If Laozi had not always adhered to the so-called Dao of inaction, coldly watching his two younger brothers fight, and if he had fairly resolved the conflict between Yuanshi and Tongtian while properly restraining both brothers, the Three Pure Ones would never have reached their current state.

Hongjun would not have succeeded so easily!

However, the past could no longer be undone. It was not too late to begin laying plans for a reversal from this moment onward.

Taiqing Laozi knew that Yuanshi had already submitted.

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

The next issue to resolve was Tongtian.

But before allowing Tongtian to leave the Purple Cloud Palace, Taiqing Laozi still needed to make some arrangements.

"Second Brother, I am going to Preach to the World. Cultivate in peace for now and wait for my news."

Taiqing Laozi planned to spread the Primordial Dao-Forging Method throughout the Primordial Wilderness, raising the strength of the Primordial World Beings and thereby elevating the overall level of the Primordial Wilderness, while also increasing his own power!

His own strength was the crucial guarantee for carrying out his plans!

Moreover, this would be an unexpected gift for Hongjun!

Getting Tongtian out of the Purple Cloud Palace and achieving the goal of the Unity of Three Teachings would be far from easy.

Everything had to be carefully planned and comprehensively arranged. The slightest mistake could affect the entire situation.

After all, this meant contending against Heavenly Dao Hongjun, like playing a game against the Heavenly Dao itself.

Yuanshi was greatly surprised upon hearing this.

Preach to the World? Why? He could not understand his elder brother's intentions at all, and deeply felt the insurmountable gap between Sages.

He could not comprehend Laozi's thoughts, nor did he understand his strength, but this did not affect his support for his elder brother.

"Elder Brother, it is currently unsuitable for us Sages to enter the mortal world. Should I send disciples of my sect into the Primordial Wilderness?" Yuanshi asked after some thought.

The Primordial Wilderness had already divided into the Earthly Immortal Realm. The Chan Sect had moved to the Jade Clarity Realm, and its disciples had migrated along with it.

Though Hongjun had not forbidden Chan Sect disciples from entering the Primordial Wilderness, there was no longer room for the Chan Sect to flourish there. Guangchengzi, Yun Zhongzi, and the others thus focused mainly on secluded cultivation.

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

Yuanshi looked somewhat embarrassed. "Then what should we do?"

Laozi turned his gaze toward the Thirty-Three Heavens and answered with a smile, "The Heavenly Court."

Yuanshi's eyes lit up as realization dawned on him.

Laozi's Good Corpse existed within the Heavenly Court. Could this be the backup plan his elder brother had left behind?

Seeing Taiqing Laozi's calm appearance, Yuanshi's heart suddenly trembled.

Had his elder brother discovered the hidden danger before the end of the Deification and made preparations in advance?

Then, had he set the plan during the Journey to the West Calamity in an attempt to reverse everything?

Such a scheme was simply too profound and terrifying!

Taiqing Laozi did not know of Yuanshi's thoughts and shock.

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

Primordial Wilderness.

Earthly Immortal Realm.

Thirty-Third Heaven.

Heaven of Detachment, Tushita Palace.

Supreme Lord Laozi, who had been refining pills, seemed to awaken from a dream.

"A Sage's Dao method that points directly to Primordial Chaos?"

"Does he intend to preach it to the world?"

Supreme Lord Laozi shook his head gently and thought no more of it.

The Three Corpses and the main body were one.

He had no need to worry excessively.

It was only because the Sages had been confined Beyond Heaven that Supreme Lord Laozi had not contacted his true body for a long time.

Yet now, he sensed the changes in his true body, and those changes affected him as well!

However, these changes brought a smile to Supreme Lord Laozi's face.

"Act without action, and nothing remains undone."

"Not contending is the greatest contention."

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

Haotian would never refuse this matter.

Hall of Celestial Supremacy.

At this moment, Haotian was drinking and making merry with Venus, the Great White, and the others, thoroughly at ease.

"Your Majesty is wise and mighty; the whole world knows it."

"You are a match for the Saints of old!"

Venus, the Great White, and the others raised their cups one after another, showering him with praise.

"Haha, you flatter me, my dear ministers. The Saints still deserve a measure of respect." Haotian laughed heartily, though his expression was brimming with high spirits.

He was now the undisputed ruler of the Three Realms.

Deification was complete, and the Saints were forbidden from setting foot in the Primordial Wilderness. No Saintly lineage could stand above the Heavenly Court any longer.

Haotian held the great authority of the Three Realms in his grasp, his status supreme beyond compare.

He had once been nothing more than a servant of Purple Cloud Palace, without standing before the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud.

Now that he had ascended the imperial throne, who would dare defy him?

To him, this was undoubtedly an achievement that would endure for eternity, immortal through the ages.

Gold and Silver Servants came to report, "Heavenly Emperor, Lord Lao invites you to Tushita Palace."

Haotian paused briefly and set down his wine cup.

Venus, the Great White, and the others tactfully took their leave. "Your Majesty, we shall withdraw for now and return another day to offer our congratulations."

"Go." Haotian nodded.

Even as the ruler of the Three Realms, he did not dare lower his guard before a Saint's Good Corpse such as Supreme Lord Laozi.

Moreover, West also possessed Saintly incarnations. Should conflict arise with West, he would still need Supreme Lord Laozi's assistance.

Not long afterward.

Haotian arrived at Tushita Palace.