Yuanshi Tianzun frowned deeply at his words. This Third Brother truly deserved a beating, actually making his good corpse come out to shoulder the trouble himself.
Big Brother was right. He really should be beaten.
The Grand Pure Saint said helplessly, "Where is Tongtian? What has he been doing lately that this merit has been coming in without end?"
"I don't know. He sealed my memories, so there is no way to know the root of the matter." Supreme Pure Treasure Celestial spoke earnestly, his eyes filled with sincerity.
There was no helping it. Second Brother's gaze was starting to look wrong. He was clearly about to hit someone.
"What? Where did he run off to? Why did he make you come out?" Yuanshi Tianzun could hardly believe his ears. It seemed Third Brother had known he had caused trouble long ago.
"Tell us everything you know." The Grand Pure Saint frowned. This Third Brother had really become capable, predicting their arrival in advance.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I truly don't know. Why don't you see the situation on Golden Ao Island for yourselves?" Supreme Pure Treasure Celestial opened the source of the Immortal Slaughtering Formation, signaling for his two elder brothers to look.
He put on a pitiful expression, making it difficult for the two opposite him to get angry.
Was he supposed to take the blame just because he was good?
When Tongtian came back, he would definitely agree to merge. There was no way to live like this.
The Grand Pure Saint immediately began observing without hesitation. The longer he watched, the worse his expression became, and the hand behind his back had already clenched into a fist.
Yuanshi Tianzun was immediately intrigued and looked as well. His eyes instantly widened as he blurted out:
"This is going to pierce the heavens! Tongtian truly lives up to his name!"
"Watch your words!" The Grand Pure Saint cast a spell to conceal the heavenly secrets and shot his younger brother a glare.
Supreme Pure Treasure Celestial hurriedly said, "Big Brothers! I truly don't know what is going on, and Tongtian has even blocked my investigation.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, could you use your supreme treasures, the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner, to suppress Golden Ao Island for me?
"I'm afraid this place won't remain hidden for long."
Yuanshi Tianzun: ...
Grand Pure Saint: ...
Zixiao Palace.
Hongjun slowly opened his eyes and reached out to pinch a strand of merit power between his fingers. A trace of confusion appeared in his eyes. This was Primordial World merit—the merit of enlightenment and instruction.
Merit was broadly divided into two kinds. One was Great Dao merit, granted to those who benefited the development of the Great Dao. It was issued by the Great Dao itself. For example, creating heaven and earth belonged to Great Dao merit.
The other was Primordial World merit, granted to those who benefited the development of the Primordial World. It was issued by the Primordial World.
The two had different effects. For example, comprehending laws was like courting a beauty.
Using Great Dao merit to assist one's comprehension of laws was like courting a beauty when she had already booked a room and was waiting for you.
Using Primordial World merit to assist one's comprehension of laws was like courting a beauty, but having to book the room yourself.
But the last time he had received this sort of merit was when he preached the Dao. He had not done anything of the sort recently, so why was merit appearing now?
He immediately summoned the Creation Jade Tablet, his fingers continuously moving as he began to deduce the truth.
After a moment, Hongjun was no longer quite so confused. This merit came from the Interception Sect, but as for exactly what had happened—
Golden Ao Island had been directly sealed by the Three Purities using supreme treasures, so even he could not calculate it. Instead, he deduced that the future Primordial World would flourish.
Even the Creation Jade Tablet emitted a ripple of anticipation.
"Could it be that there is no need to remove the blood essence Pangu left behind? What exactly is Golden Ao Island doing? Forget it. As long as the future is good, that is enough."
Mount Buzhou.
Li Er stared at Mount Buzhou for a long time, unable to calm himself. This had been formed from Pangu's body? Its incomparable power was beyond words, a miracle impossible to describe.
Was this Pangu's Heaven-and-Earth Dharma Form? It connected heaven and earth, and merely looking at it allowed one to feel its immense pressure.
In the future, this place would be shattered beyond recognition. How terrifying would that great battle have to be?
Such a magnificent Primordial World was going to be broken apart. What a pity! If Pangu knew this would happen, how heartbroken would he be? His creation would be destroyed.
But what could Li Er do? Without strength, faced with such a great calamity, he could only hide far away and watch.
Besides, was this Pangu the ultimate goal of all cultivators?
Was he also Li Er's goal? The ultimate goal of cultivation?
Or was it an existence beyond him?
Yes, an existence beyond him—opening a perfect world that belonged to himself!
Sect Master Tongtian sensed Li Er's aura constantly changing. An indescribable momentum, one that could break through everything, appeared before instantly withdrawing.
Li Er himself seemed to possess an air of having stepped beyond time and space. It was too strange.
Could Mount Buzhou allow one to comprehend something? Why could he, a dignified Heavenly Dao Saint, not see it?
"What? Have you seen enough?"
"Enough. Let's find somewhere to settle down." Li Er put away those distant thoughts and focused first on what was before him.
"Hehe, no need. I had a place to stay around here decades ago. We can go straight there."
"Impressive, Third Brother Pan!" Li Er exclaimed, inwardly wondering whether this fellow's range of robbery was really that vast.
"Of course! Look who I am! Let's go." Sect Master Tongtian spoke proudly and waved a hand to open a spatial passage.
The two stepped into the spatial passage. The mist within gradually dispersed, and in an instant, it felt as though they had entered a hidden paradise beyond the world.
Li Er's eyes lit up, filled with amazement and delight. This place was like the ideal realm he had long dreamed of.
In the distance, a clear river wound its way past, spiritual charm flowing across its surface. The babbling water sounded like a quiet melody.
Beyond the river, mountains rose and fell in endless succession like crouching giant dragons, radiating a majestic and mysterious aura.
Nearby, a lush, soft meadow came into view. The grass was verdant, every blade glistening with crystal-clear dew like scattered starlight.
Li Er took a deep breath and felt the spiritual energy here enveloping everything. Both body and mind immersed themselves in this patch of heaven and earth.
Behind him stood an ancient, simple house built against the mountain.
"Thank you, Third Brother Pan." Li Er spoke seriously. This had surely been a place Third Brother Pan had prepared for him.
Because he had said he wanted a place like this.
"You're welcome. By the way, what should we call this branch of the Interception Sect?" Sect Master Tongtian immediately changed the subject. He could not dwell on this place too long.
Otherwise, Li Er would realize that he had temporarily opened this small world himself.
Li Er pondered for a moment before slowly speaking. "Seize a thread of life from all things. Seize the good and evil of all things, perfecting one's own good and evil.
"Even all things can be seized, and all things lie within the Dao.
"The Dao: one yin and one yang is called the Dao. What follows it is goodness; what completes it is nature. The benevolent see it as benevolence, and the wise see it as wisdom.
"Seize the vitality of all things and forge one's own Dao.
"Let us call it Daoism. You will be the Daoism Leader, and I will be the Deputy Leader.
"Our Daoism will add one more line to the Interception Sect's motto of teaching without distinction: teach according to aptitude."
Sect Master Tongtian was stunned.
Li Er was perfecting the doctrines of his Interception Sect, especially the phrases "teach according to aptitude" and "all things can be seized."
At that moment, his cultivation surged at an incredible speed, rising without end. Dao principles he had previously been unable to comprehend now had their gates thrown open before him.
The more he contemplated those words, the more he felt them deeply. This was that thread of life! This was Dunyi! This was the opportunity that could allow one to achieve transcendence!
"What do you think? Is this name good?" Li Er looked at the somewhat dazed Pan Laosan and asked uneasily.
"Very good."
"Unfortunately, we don't have any supreme treasure to suppress the sect's fortune." Li Er said helplessly.
Still, he was somewhat puzzled. Didn't the novels say that founding a sect in the Primordial World would cause heavenly phenomena and grant merit or something?
"Do you think this sword will work?" Sect Master Tongtian took out his Qingping Sword and handed it to Li Er.
"Not bad. We'll use it as the object suppressing our fortune for now. We can look for something else when the chance comes." Li Er glanced at it and spoke seriously. In truth, he did not want to dampen Pan Laosan's enthusiasm. After all, the man meant well.
During the future war between the Witches and the Demons, perhaps he could see whether he could pick up some leftovers—such as the Chaos Bell—to suppress their fortune.
"Fine. I'll be back soon."
"Mm!"
Sect Master Tongtian vanished in a flash. He was going to verify Daoism's doctrines. He could not verify them in the Primordial World; he had to verify them in the chaos!
At that moment, his cultivation was about to explode!
"Sigh, still so reckless. I should arrange our new home first." Li Er turned and walked toward the house, feeling deeply moved.
Cultivation changed one's life. This place was truly beautiful!
Deep within chaos.
Sect Master Tongtian concealed himself from the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny, cautiously passing Zixiao Palace as he continued deeper into chaos.
When he felt he had reached a suitable location, he stopped. He took out the Qingping Sword, his expression solemn, and began to recite:
"The Dao: one yin and one yang is called the Dao. What follows it is goodness; what completes it is nature.
"Seize a thread of life from all things. Seize the good and evil of all things, perfecting one's own good and evil.
"All things can be seized, and all things lie within the Dao.
"Seize the vitality of the Dao and forge one's own Dao.
"Therefore, today, I, Tongtian, establish Daoism.
"We uphold teaching without distinction and teaching according to aptitude. The Qingping Sword shall be the treasure that suppresses the sect.
"Great Dao, bear witness."
Rumble—
An invisible sound rang out, and chaos began to churn.
A special aura wrapped around the Qingping Sword, instantly elevating its origin and improving its quality.
"This? It can advance into a Chaos supreme treasure? Not good, Saints are coming.
"Li Er's famous words: play it safe and leave."
Sect Master Tongtian instantly concealed his aura and hid his figure. He circled deeper into chaos, then approached from the direction of the Primordial World like the other Saints, as though he had only just arrived.
"Oh, what a coincidence. Big Brother, Second Brother, you came to watch the excitement too?"
"Why did you come wandering around chaos?" Yuanshi Tianzun asked unhappily, understanding flashing through his eyes.
Good fellow. No wonder he had been so hard to find. He had come to hide in chaos.
"Sigh, I wanted to look for some treasures. There's a ticking time bomb at home now, and my heart is ice-cold." Sect Master Tongtian spoke pitifully, a hint of cunning flashing through his eyes.
At that moment, he had already received information from Supreme Pure Treasure Celestial. He had to act miserable.
"You—"
"We'll talk after we return. Let's see what happened in chaos." The Grand Pure Saint raised a hand to interrupt Yuanshi Tianzun, leading the two of them rushing inside.
The two shameless Westerners had already charged ahead, and Nüwa of the Demon Race was close behind them.
Behind them were the Demon Race's two emperors, Taiyi and Dijun, carrying a group of Demon Race Quasi-Sages with the Chaos Bell.
The twelve members of the Witch Race also appeared and charged into chaos. Led by Dijiang, the spatial ancestor witch, they overtook the Demon Race despite arriving later.
Some other Quasi-Sage experts appeared as well, all rushing into the depths of chaos.
Primordial World—near Kunlun Mountain.
Time passed as Li Er watched the graceful figure of thirty years, unable to help sighing over the Primordial World. There were truly so many beauties in this world.
At that moment, Li Er also could not help sighing that time in the Primordial World was truly worthless. It had already been thirty years since Third Brother Pan left.
He had said he would be back soon, yet he had been gone for thirty years. It was enough to make one say: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river.
If not for this immersive cultivation, how could one endure the passing of time? It was simply far too long.
With nothing to do today, he fished by the river.
"This is too hard. I'm giving up. Thirty years have passed, and this Golden Core has only grown to the size of a peanut."
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