Nüwa fell silent again.
After Lingbao Tianzun finished speaking, he vanished without a trace. Even she, a Saint, had failed to notice how he disappeared, as if he had never been there in the first place.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Tongtian."
"Greetings, Junior Sister Nüwa. What brings you here?" Sect Master Tongtian's Merit Golden Body asked in confusion. He seemed to have no cause and effect with this junior sister whom Hongjun feared.
Previously, he had discussed the Saints of the Primordial World with Li Er and asked him to evaluate them.
As for Junior Sister Nüwa before him, Li Er's evaluation had been: absolutely untouchable, someone who had to be avoided.
Reason: the absolute king of scavenging bargains.
Li Er had even explained what scavenging bargains meant, saying that they needed to learn it from Nüwa.
Nüwa frowned, somewhat displeased. "Senior Brother Tongtian, are you really that busy?"
Hearing this, Sect Master Tongtian's Merit Golden Body froze for a moment before showing a trace of apology. "Junior Sister Nüwa, wait a moment. This is merely a wisp of my primordial spirit. I'll notify my true body immediately."
Bang—
Nüwa: ...
Taiyi: ...
Dijun could only say, leave it to me!! Merit Golden Bodies weren't meant to be used like this. Another one shattered!!
Did your family wholesale Merit Golden Bodies or something?
Dijun's eyes had turned red. This was far too wasteful!
A hidden realm somewhere on Mount Buzhou.
Sect Master Tongtian slowly opened his eyes, a trace of confusion appearing in them. What had happened on Golden Turtle Island that Lingbao had sent three consecutive urgent orders?
Three orders would have been one thing, but even the avatar he had left there had sent back a message.
Sect Master Tongtian glanced over the situation within the hidden realm and found nothing unusual. He muttered to himself, "Since Eldest and Second Brother aren't forcing me to stay, it wouldn't hurt to go back and take a look.
In any case, I've already fully mastered the Red Lotus Karmic Fire and the Flames of Chaos. Once I return, I can have Lingbao learn the Red Lotus Karmic Fire as well, giving him another means of withstanding attacks.
Without the position of a Saint in the future, there will be no need to worry about karmic sin weighing upon us."
After that, he stepped out of the hidden realm and tore through the air.
Outside the hidden realm.
Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun exchanged a glance, delight appearing in their eyes. Their third brother had finally left.
"Big Brother, shall we go in and take a look now?" Yuanshi Tianzun asked curiously, anticipation flashing through his eyes.
"Still no. Look, there's a mark at the entrance to the hidden realm. The moment we touch it, the hidden realm will disappear.
And Third Brother will be back soon." Grand Pure Saint spoke seriously, his expression more solemn than ever. The Taiji Diagram flickered in his eyes as he continuously deduced possibilities.
In truth, he was no less curious about this hidden realm than Yuanshi Tianzun. From the two cultivation methods he had obtained through constant comprehension, as well as his observations of the hidden realm's entrance,
he could clearly sense that this person's caution exceeded all reason and imagination.
"Keep waiting? What if this person never comes out?" Yuanshi Tianzun said gloomily, impatience flashing through his eyes.
Just then,
Black Dog crawled out of the hidden realm. His nose kept twitching, his ears swaying as he searched, looking completely like he was conducting an investigation.
Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun were instantly frightened into silence, doing their utmost to hide themselves.
Black Dog searched for a full hour before standing upright. He rubbed his chin with his front paws, confusion appearing in his eyes as he muttered to himself.
"Something's not right. Why do I feel like someone nearby is watching us, yet I can't find them?
Am I overthinking things?
Or did I get too excited while beating people up just now and start imagining things?"
Mm—woof! Woof!
Black Dog suddenly barked several times at his surroundings. A special ripple swept across the entire area, and his eyes turned golden-red as he kept scanning every direction along with his barking.
He searched for another full hour.
"Looks like I was overthinking it." Black Dog spoke seriously, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.
He turned and vanished.
Yuanshi Tianzun's expression darkened. This Black Dog was truly a dog. If they had not prepared beforehand for that bark just now, he definitely would have discovered them.
"Big Brother~"
"Shh~ Don't speak. Black Dog is still here," Grand Pure Saint hurriedly transmitted, interest appearing in his eyes.
This Black Dog had some skill. He had actually hidden himself in the void. If the Supreme Emotionless Scripture had not allowed him to sense a ripple of emotion, he definitely would not have noticed Black Dog's presence.
More importantly, he found Black Dog's aura somewhat familiar, similar to the aura of Duobao Cliff. He was a being capable of bearing a certain amount of fortune.
He was more than qualified to serve as a sect-protecting divine beast. No wonder Zhunti had wanted to capture Black Dog back then.
Yuanshi Tianzun was rendered speechless.
Three hours later.
Black Dog emerged from the void with a grave expression, his eyes icy. He was certain that he had not sensed incorrectly. Someone was definitely watching them.
It was just that this person's methods were exceptionally brilliant, allowing them to evade his search.
"No, I can't be wrong. We need to move immediately. We'll leave as soon as the Master returns."
Black Dog then turned and vanished again, and even the traces and entrance of the hidden realm disappeared with him.
Yuanshi Tianzun: ...
Supreme Sage: ...
"Big Brother, do you think they might have already moved away?"
Golden Turtle Island—Biyou Palace.
Sect Master Tongtian strolled in from outside. In truth, he had returned some time ago. He had first used the defensive formation where his Merit Golden Body was stationed to inspect the area and discovered that his elder brothers were not there. Only then did he enter Biyou Palace.
"Junior Sister Nüwa, regarding that minor matter between me and those two, I'll let it go for your sake." Sect Master Tongtian spoke indifferently, vigilance flashing through his eyes.
Would Nüwa really come here over such a trivial matter?
Absolutely impossible!
Li Er's words still echoed in his ears. Nüwa was an extremely dangerous person. It was best to avoid contact with her whenever possible, lest she set her sights on him.
Nüwa frowned deeply. What did Senior Brother Tongtian mean? Why did he seem afraid of her?
Could it be that she looked frightening?
"Then thank you, Senior Brother. However, the two of them wish to speak with you alone. Would that be convenient?"
Nüwa conveyed Dijun and Taiyi's request, completing her task.
"A minor matter, a minor matter. Then I'll trouble Junior Sister to wait a moment and have some tea first."
After speaking, Sect Master Tongtian gestured for Dijun and Taiyi to follow him. Since they were going to talk, they might as well talk properly. After all, Golden Crow Sixth truly was in his hands.
Very soon,
Sect Master Tongtian brought the two to a side hall. With a wave of his hand, he activated a formation to prevent eavesdropping and said indifferently, "Say whatever you need to say."
"Sect Master Tongtian, this is the gift for my nephew's apprenticeship."
Sect Master Tongtian: ???
"It is his fortune to be able to enter your sect, Sect Master." Taiyi continued, sincerity filling his eyes.
Sect Master Tongtian looked at the Chaos Bell floating before him and fell silent.
Was this apprenticeship gift a little too...
"Make yourselves clear. This is not something so easily accepted. You intend to use it to exchange for my protection.
What a calculation." Sect Master Tongtian said coldly, dissatisfaction flashing through his eyes.
"Sect Master Tongtian, we truly wish for your protection, but that is unrealistic.
We only wish for you to protect a portion of the Demon Race, so that our Golden Crow lineage will not be completely extinguished.
The two of us led the Demon Race to defeat the Heavenly Court created by Hongjun and establish the Demon Court. We had already planted the seeds of disaster.
We disrupted the Heavenly Dao's arrangements. In the end, we will have to repay it..." Dijun said seriously, sincerity filling his eyes and a sigh in his tone.
Surprise appeared on Sect Master Tongtian's face. Dijun actually possessed such awareness and could foresee what would happen in the future.
From his conversations with Li Er and his deductions according to the Heavenly Dao, the Demon Race would ultimately lose as well. Sect Master Tongtian also knew who stood behind it all.
Or perhaps, since the calamity had yet to arise, they were unaffected and could see certain things clearly.
"Why not choose her? She is clearly more suitable than I am." Sect Master Tongtian spoke indifferently, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes though his tone remained cold.
"The first thing that happens after becoming a Saint is being driven beyond the chaos..." Taiyi did not finish his sentence, helplessness flashing through his eyes.
Sect Master Tongtian fell silent for a while. Faced with the temptation of the Chaos Bell, it was difficult to refuse. He said seriously, "I accept this cause and effect.
In the future, I can act for you once and save you.
Also, would you like to see Golden Crow Sixth?"
Dijun said seriously, "Then we'll trouble Sect Master Tongtian with teaching Sixth. Also, do not act for us in the future.
Because by then, it won't be worth it..."
Sect Master Tongtian put away the Chaos Bell and handed them a jade slip. It contained the basic version of formation stacking, along with a bottle of enhanced Explosion Pills.
"Study the formations within. They can improve your Zhou Tian Star Array. This bottle of Nine Revolution Golden Pills can temporarily restore your strength."
"Thank you, Saint."
Very soon.
The three of them emerged.
When Nüwa saw Dijun and Taiyi, joy was clearly visible on her face. It seemed the matter had been resolved.
"Junior Sister Nüwa, sorry to have kept you waiting. Thank you for making the trip. Take these pills as everyday snacks..."
Taiyi: ...
Dijun's eyes instantly turned red. More than a thousand bottles of pills as snacks? Judging from their auras, they were clearly beings at the level of Nine Revolution Golden Pills.
Nüwa was stunned as well.
Why was Senior Brother Tongtian so generous? Had he emptied out his eldest brother's home?
No wonder Lingbao Tianzun had asked whether she had seen Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun. So this was the extravagance...
"I cannot accept a reward without merit... I..."
Sect Master Tongtian directly added several hundred more bottles, then opened one and took out a Passion Pill. He said seriously, "Junior Sister, these are pills I refined.
They can stir one's emotions and are suitable for comprehending the corpses of good and evil.
However, you can only take one at a time. Taking too many makes the medicinal power somewhat... difficult to control."
Nüwa looked at the pill. It was perfectly integrated, flowing with a unique divine charm. It was clearly a top-grade pill.
"Then thank you, Senior Brother. Senior Brother Tongtian, come visit my Nüwa Palace when you have time." Nüwa accepted the pills without ceremony, clearly knowing that he wished to settle today's cause and effect. It seemed the matter between them was significant.
"When I have time, I will definitely visit." Sect Master Tongtian replied politely, muttering inwardly, I will never have time.
"Sect Master Tongtian, regarding these pills..." Dijun asked cautiously, expectation flashing through his eyes.
"You want some too? That is possible, but you'll need to provide the materials. Forget it, I'll give you some to try first. Later, you can bring resources to the Interception Sect to exchange for them." Sect Master Tongtian raised his hand and tossed several hundred bottles to the two, containing every type of pill.
He was being generous, after all. One had to scatter bait before catching fish.
On second thought, Sect Master Tongtian figured that constantly fleecing his eldest and second brothers was not a solution. Wouldn't it be better to have the Demon Race gather materials for him?
After all, the Interception Sect's disciples were currently too weak. Traveling through the Primordial World made it easy for them to die.
"Thank you, Sect Master Tongtian."
Afterward, they exchanged a few pleasantries, and Nüwa left with Dijun and Taiyi.
Sect Master Tongtian observed the Interception Sect for a while and found that everything was operating normally. He replenished the Contribution Hall with pills and updated the Scripture Repository with several cultivation methods.
"Lingbao, come out. What use is hiding from me?
I have comprehended a divine ability. Do you want to learn it?" Sect Master Tongtian asked in confusion, a smile flashing through his eyes.
Lingbao Tianzun, hidden somewhere on Golden Turtle Island, curled his lips in disdain. "Only dogs would learn..."
"The Red Lotus Karmic Fire and the Flames of Chaos. Do you want to learn them?"
"Learn. I must learn!"
Before you continue