Truly Unwilling, Yet Powerless

Xuandu excitedly accepted the Yellow Zhong Li Plum, sincerely bowed in thanks, and left the Eight Sceneries Palace to head to a quiet chamber for refinement.

Meanwhile, Grand Pure One Laozi was using the Thousandfold Time Law to fully refine another rare treasure—the Primal Chaos Blood Spirit Marrow.

The vast blood and qi power was rapidly absorbed under his circulation.

Moments later, a shocking wave of power erupted from the Eight Sceneries Palace, shooting straight into the sky.

However, the Chaos Pearl floating in the air timely released a clear light, successfully blocking this powerful aura from leaking out.

Once everything settled, Grand Pure One Laozi opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, his entire body radiating an immensely formidable presence.

"This physical body's toughness rivals a Xiantian Supreme Treasure—quite impressive."

Grand Pure One Laozi nodded in satisfaction.

Although the defensive treasures in his possession were already among the strongest, having a powerful physical body of his own still brought him comfort.

Especially when an enemy exhausts their efforts to break through his artifacts, only to find that Grand Pure One Laozi's body is no less formidable than a Xiantian Supreme Treasure—the shock and despair they'd feel must be unimaginable.

Soon after, a powerful aura suddenly erupted within Daluo Heaven.

Grand Pure One Laozi looked up and saw that Xuandu had successfully broken through to the late-stage Quasi-Sage realm.

Grand Pure One Laozi smiled faintly, secretly pleased.

For Xuandu, refining a single Yellow Zhong Li Plum was no difficult task.

"Xuandu, take this talisman to Shouyang Mountain in the Primordial Wilderness to spread the teachings among humanity. Wait for a certain person along the way, and when the time is right, hand this talisman to him."

"Yes, Master!"

Grand Pure One Laozi handed the talisman containing the Grand Void God Sealing Art to Xuandu, ordering him to go to Shouyang Mountain to teach humanity.

Xuandu then departed.

Grand Pure One Laozi's gaze turned toward the Earthly Immortal Realm in the Primordial Wilderness, which was currently in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods.

His attention naturally focused on the Qin Empire in the west.

The person Xuandu was waiting for was none other than Ying Zheng.

Once Ying Zheng unified the world and became the Human Co-Lord, he could be taught the Grand Void God Sealing Art to lay the groundwork for establishing the Human Path.

Founding a Great Path was extremely difficult.

Even with extraordinary talent, not everything could be achieved.

In the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Nüwa failed to perceive the opportunity of the Human Path, only realizing it when her own path was cut off.

Now, establishing the Human Path was even harder.

Because the fortune of the Human Path had nearly dissipated, it needed to be gathered anew.

And to gather the fortune of the Human Path, humanity had to achieve true unification, merging the scattered and complex human fortune into one.

Then, the Human Emperor would ascend the throne, transforming human fortune into the fortune of the Human Path.

Finally, the fortune of the Human Path could coalesce into a dragon shape, even turning into an Auspicious Golden Dragon of Fortune for the Human Path.

Only then would humanity be qualified to establish the Human Path.

However, the Grand Pure One was different from Nüwa. As long as an opportunity arose, he had confidence in founding the Human Path.

The current opportunity for the Human Path was the Human Emperor.

Without the Human Emperor, everything was just empty talk.

Now, the Primordial Wilderness only had the Son of Heaven, no Human Emperor.

The emergence of a Human Emperor was extremely rare.

But the Grand Pure One already had a suitable candidate.

Ancestor Dragon Ying Zheng!

The First Emperor of the Ages!

Only he possessed the vision and boldness to revive the glory of the Human Emperor.

Moreover, the Grand Pure One had a method to reshape the Human Path—the Grand Void God Sealing Art.

But the Grand Pure One could not directly grant the Grand Void God Sealing Art to Ying Zheng.

Because the Grand Pure One's true body could not enter the Primordial Wilderness, and even his Good Corpse could not descend at will, lest it draw Hongjun's attention.

So the Grand Pure One placed the Grand Void God Sealing Art into a talisman and handed it to Xuandu.

He waited for the moment when Ying Zheng showed signs of unifying the world and becoming the Human Co-Lord to teach it.

This method, though cumbersome, followed the natural course of events, silent and unnoticed. Even if Hongjun detected it, he would not intervene.

If Grand Pure One Laozi were to directly contact Ying Zheng now, it would be tantamount to outright interference, and Hongjun would certainly step in.

This was, in truth, a contest between the Grand Pure One and Hongjun.

Beyond the Chaos of Heaven, within the Purple Cloud Palace.

Hongjun of the Heavenly Dao gazed with detached indifference, able to survey all beings of the Primordial Wilderness in a single thought.

He finally fixed his gaze upon Shouyang Mountain.

This was the ancestral land of the Human Race, but since the passing of the Human Emperor, it had waned from its former prosperity.

Yet Xuandu preached the Dao here, and the Human Race flourished once more.

"The Three Pure Ones wish to meddle in the mortal realm?" Hongjun's expression remained placid. "Utterly meaningless."

He shifted his gaze, landing on Guangchengzi, who walked across the Primordial Wilderness.

He detected nothing unusual about Guangchengzi; the Grand Pure One had likely merely bestowed an Ascension Pill upon him.

This left Hongjun somewhat exasperated.

The Grand Pure One's move was far too extravagant.

Even if the Ascension Pill contained his own hidden schemes, it was still an exceedingly precious elixir, rare even for those nearing sainthood.

For the Grand Pure One to directly give it to Yuanshi's disciple for breaking through to quasi-sainthood was nothing short of wasteful.

Yet Hongjun did not know that, to the Grand Pure One, such a pill was utterly insignificant.

He stared at Guangchengzi for a long while, his eyes cold and devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"A futile effort."

Hongjun finally shook his head, withdrew his gaze, and paid it no further heed.

He believed the Grand Pure One was merely having Guangchengzi test a new doctrine, mimicking the Western method of shedding one's shell like a cicada.

But in truth, Guangchengzi's actions across the Primordial Wilderness were nothing but a hollow facade.

The true essence of the Dao lay hidden within the Grand Pure One's heart!

Within the Taiqing Realm, in Daluo Heaven.

Inside the Eight Sceneries Palace.

Grand Pure One Laozi held the Celestial Compass, gazing at the movements of Hongjun of the Heavenly Dao, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.

No matter how Hongjun deduced, he could never fathom his true scheme.

"It is time to visit Nüwa."

The Grand Pure One looked toward Wa Huang Heaven.

Even if he could establish the Human Path on his own, Nüwa's position remained unique.

Thus, allying with Nüwa was crucial to his plan.

Grand Pure One Laozi stepped forward.

Beyond the Chaos.

In Grand Simplicity Heaven.

The Li Guang Plains.

The Wa Huang Palace.

This was the deepest recess of Chaos.

Nüwa now lived in seclusion, refraining from involving herself in the various sects, observing the Three Realms with cold detachment.

Her intent to withdraw from the world was clear, so Hongjun of the Heavenly Dao imposed few constraints on her.

In an instant.

The Grand Pure One's form materialized.

The supreme saintly Great Dao Law radiated outward, and the anomalies within Chaos trembled in fear, scattering in all directions.

The next moment.

Golden light blazed, and a phoenix's cry shook the Chaos.

The Mystic Fire Phoenix Jin Ning appeared, speaking respectfully:

"By the Lady's command, I welcome the Taiqing Saint to the Wa Huang Palace."

Grand Pure One Laozi nodded slightly.

Under Jin Ning's guidance, he stepped into the Wa Huang Palace.

Within the Wa Huang Palace.

A saint sat high above.

A stunning woman in a red dress slowly opened her eyes, her gaze calm, a smile playing on her lips.

"Greetings, Taiqing Senior Brother."

"Greetings, Nüwa Junior Sister."

Grand Pure One Laozi's expression remained serene, offering only a faint smile.

Nüwa fixed her gaze on the Grand Pure One, a flicker of strangeness passing through her eyes.

She found herself utterly unable to see through his cultivation realm!

This meant his strength far surpassed her own.

The discovery sent shock through Nüwa's heart.

Grand Pure One Laozi had indeed been the strongest among the six sages.

But that was a thing of the past.

Now that the Three Pure Ones had taken the Saintfall Pill, their Dao had been sealed.

How, then, had he broken through?

Thinking of his recent uncharacteristic behavior, Nüwa trembled slightly.

Was this still the same Grand Pure One who upheld quietude and non-action?

After a moment's deliberation, Nüwa spoke again.

"May I ask, Senior Brother Grand Pure One, what brings you here today?"

Grand Pure One Laozi turned his gaze to Nüwa and asked with a faint smile.

"I only wish to ask one thing—are you content now?"

Nüwa's heart stirred at this, though her face remained calm.

"Why would I not be content?"

The Grand Pure One's tone was gentle.

"Back when the Demon Race forged the Demon-Slaying Sword, countless humans were slaughtered, and you did not intervene."

"Later, during the Witch-Demon War, Fellow Daoist Fuxi fell, and you still did not step in."

"When the Deification era came, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors were trapped in Fire Cloud Cave, and you stood by and watched."

"Until today, the Human Race has lost its Human Emperor, its status has plummeted, and it has become a pawn—yet you hide in the chaos, bound by Hongjun's decree."

"Why are you content?" Nüwa's slender hand pressed down on the armrest of the Jade Throne, her expression growing colder.

"This is Heaven's will." Grand Pure One Laozi burst into loud laughter at her words.

"Then do you not resent this Heaven's will? Do you not hate Hongjun?" Nüwa's heart quivered, and her bare hand tightened involuntarily.

Her face shifted slightly as she looked toward the heavens, only to find Grand Simplicity Heaven utterly undisturbed. She breathed a faint sigh of relief.

"Grand Pure One, how dare you speak recklessly of the Heavenly Dao?" Nüwa said with a hint of anger.

She had never expected Grand Pure One Laozi to show such contempt for the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun!

At this moment, Nüwa even regretted meeting him.

If not for the fact that he had once spread the Dao across the Primordial Wilderness, benefiting humanity, sparking a sliver of curiosity and goodwill in her, she would never have bothered with other sages.

But now...

The Grand Pure One looked straight at Nüwa, his tone still calm, yet it struck her heart like a thunderbolt.

"The Human Race was created by you, yet it has endured endless suffering; Fuxi was your elder brother, yet he walked a path of hardship; the Human Path followed your will, yet it was ultimately severed."

"Now, only Sage Nüwa remains, dwelling alone in the chaos, solitary, with the Great Dao beyond reach."

"Junior Sister, are you truly willing to accept this?"

The moment his words fell.

Nüwa shattered the Jade Throne's armrest with her bare hand.

Grand Simplicity Heaven erupted with an overwhelmingly terrifying aura, shaking the entire chaos.

Even her mount, Jin Ning, trembled in terror.

Only Grand Pure One Laozi stood with his hands behind his back, calm as still water.

Within Wa Huang Palace, Nüwa's expression had completely changed.

"Fellow Daoist Grand Pure One, you..."

The Grand Pure One smiled faintly.

"Junior Sister, reflect on your true heart."

Nüwa sank into deep thought.

In those days, she had created humanity with great merit and attained sagehood, becoming the Human Race's Holy Mother, her heart brimming with joy.

Yet Hongjun, citing that Heavenly Dao sages must not interfere in the Primordial Wilderness, forbade her from protecting humanity.

Later, when the Demon Race slaughtered her disciples, Nüwa could not stop it; when Fuxi died, she could not save him; when the Human Emperor was imprisoned, she was powerless.

Now, as humanity was reduced to pawns, she could do nothing!

It was not that she was unwilling to act—it was that she truly could not.

All of this stemmed from Hongjun!

Even at the most critical moments, Hongjun had isolated her beyond the heavens, forcing her to watch helplessly as her elder brother and the Human Race suffered.

And Hongjun's refrain was always: "Such is Heaven's will."

Ridiculous! What Heaven's will?

Recalling the past, Nüwa's heart churned with resentment.

During the Investiture of the Gods, she had calculated and recalculated countless times.

On the surface, she appeared to remain neutral, but in truth, she was deeply affected.

It wasn't until the Zhou Son of Heaven rose and the status of the Human Emperor vanished that she realized her own path had been severed.

Only then did she understand that the Investiture had been a monumental scheme from the start—one that not only ensnared the Three Teachings but also implicated her and Houtu.

Now her Great Dao was shattered, for the Human Path no longer existed.

Thus, Nüwa, disheartened and despondent, retreated into seclusion within the chaos.

Resentful, yes, but powerless.

Such was Heaven's will!

How could a Heavenly Dao Sage defy it?

After a long silence, Nüwa calmed her mind and murmured to herself: "In the end, it's impossible to go against Heaven's will."

Hongjun had become the Heavenly Dao; everything was already fated.

Seeing Nüwa's reaction, Grand Pure One Laozi smiled faintly.

"Who says Heaven's decree cannot be defied?" Nüwa's heart trembled at these words, and she stared at Laozi in shock.

"Elder Brother, what do you mean by that?" Nüwa sensed something amiss. Laozi had questioned the Heavenly Dao multiple times, yet the Dao showed no reaction—was it unaware, or unwilling to respond?

Either way, it proved that Laozi's current power was extraordinary!

Otherwise, how could he have known that her Great Dao was tied to the Human Path?

Nüwa had only realized this after countless deductions following the severance of her path.

That severance was her greatest sorrow.

Laozi did not explain, only smiled and said: "I have a method involving a disciple, but it requires us to join forces. Are you willing, Junior Sister Nüwa?"

Nüwa's gaze settled on Laozi's face. After a moment, she parted her lips and spoke with firm resolve: "I swear by the Great Dao—I am willing!"

A fierce unwillingness surged within Nüwa. Since Laozi had a method involving a disciple, she would ally with him.

Laozi nodded with a smile, his gaze turning toward the Earthly Immortal Realm of the Primordial Wilderness.

On the Eastern Divine Continent, atop Flower Fruit Mountain, lay the Five-Colored Spirit Stone.

Nüwa looked there as well, sensing a resonance in her heart, perceiving the karmic ties.

That was a divine stone left behind when she mended the heavens, now imbued with the essence of heaven and earth, on the verge of taking form!

"The method involving a disciple lies here."

"What kind of method is this?"

This being was the key to the next great kalpa.

"The protagonist of the kalpa?"

"Precisely."

Nüwa was stunned.