Hongjun stood to the side, deep in thought again. At this moment, he also felt that Tongtian's reasoning made sense.
In just a few hundred years, Zhunti and Jieyin had already become entangled with Tongtian in several karmic disputes. If they were not fated, there was no way to explain it.
Could it be that this bastard Tongtian was better suited to the West? Or perhaps the Immortal Slaughtering Sword he possessed had some connection to the West, causing him to be fated with it?
"Please accept it, Senior Brother Tongtian. This matter was your junior brother's fault," Zhunti said respectfully, urgency appearing in his eyes. He had noticed Hongjun's thoughtful expression again.
His heart had risen to his throat.
A true man could bend and stretch. He directly admitted his mistake. Compared to the entire West, this innate Green Lotus Treasured Banner was truly not that important.
"There is still a divine sense imprint on this banner—and I have nothing to trade with you to settle this karma.
Master, this matter cannot be traded," Sect Master Tongtian said leisurely, a smile flashing through his eyes. He simply refused to take the banner.
Zhunti immediately withdrew his divine sense and said seriously, "Master, there is no need for a trade. This is karma between Senior Brother Tongtian and me.
Please judge it fairly, Master."
Sect Master Tongtian folded his arms, narrowing his eyes with a look of complete indifference.
After all, the other Saints had already arrived. He felt that he could still squeeze a little more resources out of this matter.
Then he could take those resources back and coax Li Er. After all, in Li Er's understanding, whenever he went out, it was to rob someone.
That was the tacit understanding between him and Li Er.
Just then,
Yuanshi Tianzun appeared, reached out to seize the innate Green Lotus Treasured Banner, and shoved it into Sect Master Tongtian's hands. "Third Brother, keep this.
This matter ends here."
Sect Master Tongtian curled his lip and put away the innate Green Lotus Treasured Banner, displeasure flashing through his eyes.
Zhunti finally breathed a sigh of relief. He respectfully bowed to Yuanshi Tianzun, then retreated behind his senior brother Jieyin. His face relaxed, as though standing behind his senior brother gave him incomparable security.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Yuanshi," Saint Jieyin said respectfully, helplessness flashing through his eyes.
Why did this troublesome junior brother provoke Tongtian again? Did he not know that their family fortune was nearly insufficient to pay compensation?
And this had happened on Yuanshi Tianzun's turf. If the Trading Market had not been about to open today,
Yuanshi Tianzun would probably have greeted them directly with the Pangu Banner.
"Greetings, Master."
Led by the Grand Pure Saint, everyone respectfully bowed to Hongjun, each of them carrying a trace of confusion in their eyes.
Hadn't he merged with the Heavenly Dao? Why had he come out again?
"Since the matter has been resolved, do as you please.
I came by appointment to witness the trade and ensure fairness and impartiality," Hongjun said calmly, his eyes continuing to observe the laws of this place.
Saint Zhunti, Saint Jieyin, and Nüwa all turned to look at Yuanshi Tianzun. They had not expected this senior brother's influence to be so great that he had truly invited Hongjun here.
The Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun exchanged a glance, surprise flashing through their eyes. Their master was studying the laws of this place?
Meanwhile, Sect Master Tongtian took advantage of everyone's daze and tried to slip away. If he did not run now and was caught by Junior Sister Nüwa, his waist would be done for.
"Master, I wish to conduct a trade with Senior Brother Tongtian. Please serve as a witness to ensure fairness."
Sect Master Tongtian, whose figure had already begun retreating, was pinned in place by Nüwa's words. An awkward smile appeared on his face.
"Very well.
The Heavenly Dao shall witness this matter," Hongjun said blandly. His gaze never left the laws of this place, and he did not even move.
"Senior Brother Tongtian."
"Ah, I'm here, Junior Sister Nüwa. Go ahead."
"Senior Brother Tongtian, are you willing to trade with me?"
"I am. What item does Junior Sister Nüwa wish to trade for? Your senior brother will do everything he can," Sect Master Tongtian said seriously, looking toward his two elder brothers and hoping they would step in to rescue him.
The Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun immediately imitated Hongjun, gazing into the void as though some captivating Great Dao lay there.
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, hastily copied the actions of the Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun, then pricked up their ears.
Hearing this, Nüwa showed a satisfied look in her eyes. She slowly walked up to Sect Master Tongtian and said gently, "I need to trade with Senior Brother Tongtian for Passion Pills."
"Ah—that, this... Junior Sister Nüwa, how many do you need?" Sect Master Tongtian said somewhat incoherently, a trace of embarrassment coloring his face.
Especially since Nüwa's face was practically pressed against his.
"Senior Brother Tongtian, how many pills do you think will be effective?" Nüwa teased, shyness flashing in her eyes.
"Ah—Junior Sister Nüwa, you know the answer to that better than I do... Aren't you usually the one who takes the initiative—"
"Ten."
Sect Master Tongtian hurriedly handed over ten pills. He did not ask what she would offer in exchange at all. He only wanted to end this awkward situation as soon as possible.
Could he not see that even Hongjun had perked up his ears to listen to their conversation?
Not to mention the reactions of the other four. Everyone was watching the show.
Nüwa accepted the pills, touched the center of her brow with two fingers, pulled out an imprint, and instantly pressed it into Sect Master Tongtian's forehead.
This was—
A Human Dao imprint!
Zhunti and Jieyin were stunned, greed surfacing in their eyes.
Hongjun was shocked. He had no time to stop it at all.
The Grand Pure Saint took out the Taiji Diagram, while Yuanshi Tianzun also produced the Pangu Banner—
Rumble—
The Heavenly Dao bore witness!
The trade was complete!
A stream of Primordial World merit descended upon Nüwa and Sect Master Tongtian.
At that moment, Sect Master Tongtian's face was filled with disbelief, and his eyes held helpless amusement.
Honestly, he did not care much for this Human Dao imprint.
From Li Er and the cultivation methods Li Er practiced, Tongtian had already seen an opportunity to transcend. He did not care for something like this, which resembled external aid.
But he also understood why Nüwa had given it to him.
"Junior Sister, why go to such lengths?" Sect Master Tongtian said seriously, pain flashing through his eyes.
"Senior Brother, remember to come find me at Nüwa Palace," Nüwa said calmly, expectation flashing through her eyes.
She did not greet anyone else and directly tore through space to leave.
Sect Master Tongtian looked conflictedly toward Hongjun in the distance and asked bluntly, "Master, should I also go stay beyond the chaos?"
Hongjun: ...
"Third Brother, do not speak nonsense. The Primordial World was opened by Father God Pangu. This is your home.
Who would dare drive you away?" Yuanshi Tianzun said sternly, staring fixedly at Hongjun with the Pangu Banner clenched tightly in his hand.
There was no doubt that if Hongjun dared speak of driving Sect Master Tongtian away, he would immediately strike with the Pangu Banner and reduce this avatar to ashes.
The Grand Pure Saint narrowed his eyes. The Taiji Diagram began to rotate, and the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda had already appeared in his hand.
Seeing this, Sect Master Tongtian felt warmth rise in his heart. These were true elder brothers.
"The Heavenly Dao acknowledges the trade," Hongjun said calmly, his eyes profound.
He turned and headed into the distance, continuing to observe the laws of this place.
Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged a glance, seeing the disappointment in each other's eyes. They then bowed to the Grand Pure Saint and Yuanshi Tianzun before following Hongjun away.
They could not afford to provoke the Tongtian of the past, and they could afford to provoke the current Tongtian even less.
It was already one thing for him to have two elder brothers who doted on him. His own strength was also so powerful, and now he had received Nüwa's Human Dao imprint.
Most importantly, even the Heavenly Dao had acknowledged it, and Hongjun had not objected. That was the most terrifying part.
Once Tongtian comprehended the Human Dao imprint and summoned those seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi—
This Primordial World—
"Thank you, Big Brother, Second Brother—" Sect Master Tongtian said emotionally, gratitude flashing through his eyes.
"Go play somewhere else—"
Sect Master Tongtian: ...
Can't find the book by its title? Try searching for the author instead—it may have simply been renamed!
Mount Buzhou Secret Realm, small world.
The terror on Jade Cauldron True Man's face had yet to fade. Without another word, he found Zhao Gongming and said, "Senior Brother Zhao, lend me a few small worlds so I can temper my body."
Zhao Gongming frowned. His small worlds were only just enough for his primordial spirit to carry during training, though it was not as if he could not lend them out.
"Junior Brother Jade, what happened? Your Nine-Nine Mystic Art is nearly at minor completion. Your body is already excellent enough."
"No! Senior Brother Zhao, this body cannot withstand a Saint's strike. I need to intensify my training," Yu Ding said seriously, fear flashing through his eyes.
He had finally learned how terrifying Saints were. Through his avatar, one had located his true body and delivered that drop of Three Lights Divine Water directly onto him.
Hearing this, Zhao Gongming narrowed his eyes and said coldly, "Junior Brother Jade, have you forgotten our Daoism curriculum?
You actually dared provoke a Saint?"
Yu Ding showed a solemn expression and said, "Protector Black took me there—
Senior Brother Zhao, look at this before deciding what to do."
Yu Ding directly handed over a jade slip. It contained recordings of Zhao Gongming's embarrassing appearance while training, as well as descriptions of how to strike at his primordial spirit for a killing blow.
It also analyzed the mistakes in his cultivation methods.
Zhao Gongming swept the jade slip with his primordial spirit, and his expression changed. He summoned the Twenty-Four Heavens small worlds and said seriously, "Junior Brother Jade, take however many small worlds you need—"
He completely ignored the embarrassing images of himself, because Yu Ding had analyzed all of his weaknesses.
Yu Ding did not stand on ceremony. He directly strapped five small worlds to his back, raised a hand in salute, then turned and headed toward where Xuandu and Kong Xuan were fighting.
Because that place could capture and record even more exciting footage.
Zhao Gongming began pondering the information in the jade slip. The more he read, the more alarmed he became. He had originally thought Junior Brother Jade neglected proper work, spending all day wandering around with Protector Black and cackling strangely.
"Sure enough, every one of them is an old schemer—"
Outside the secret realm's small world—beside a certain river.
Black Dog wore floral shorts and continuously worked the lure rod in his hands. As he swayed, the gold chain around his neck swung with him. He pushed up the large sunglasses on his nose.
Li Er had specially customized these for him so he could clearly see the fish beneath the water.
After all, being able to see fish below did not count as cheating.
"Little Master, why don't we try somewhere farther away?" Black Dog could not help offering his suggestion. In his view, this river simply had no fish.
If they could not catch anything, that proved there were no fish here, even if he could see fish swimming beneath the water through his sunglasses.
Besides, Zhao Gongming being able to catch fish easily was Zhao Gongming's business.
Hearing this, Li Er's rod-reeling motion slowed. To be honest, he also wanted to go fishing farther away.
But once he thought of being at the Golden Core Stage, all interest vanished.
"Could it be an issue with our bait? Right, how is the Trading Market's layout coming along?" Li Er changed the subject, his eyes deep.
"Just average. I haven't gone inside to look. Big Master said there are Saints there, and they would notice that I am too unusual.
Little Master, let's go, let's go. I know of a pool three million li from here. Last time I went there to pee, I saw plenty of fish jumping about.
Let's go try it, all right?" Black Dog could not resist suggesting it again. He could not help it—he had truly become addicted to fishing.
He truly could not understand why they could not catch any fish.
Hearing this, how could Li Er hold back any longer? He considered himself a top-tier angler.
What sort of existence was an angler?
As long as there were fish, a hundred kilometers meant going that same day; three hundred kilometers meant arriving the next day.
As long as there were fish, neither mountains nor seas could stop them.
A mere three million li—let's do it!
"Go! Lead the way!" Li Er instantly packed up his rod, tackle box, fishing platform, bait, fish basket...
Black Dog instantly transformed to the size of a calf and said excitedly, "Little Master, ride me..."
Li Er: ...
Inside the secret realm's small world.
Sixth Crow had fallen asleep and slowly transformed into a tiny sun. Strands of source sacred fire burned across his body, while a strange flying dagger continuously circled him.
Using Sixth Crow's own sacred fire to continuously temper itself, the pair of eyebrowed eyes on the flying dagger grew ever brighter, revealing an indescribably lively quality.
His current state immediately drew the attention of his fellow disciples.
Everyone knew he was about to break through. The odds of success were merely a little low—only ninety-eight percent.
But judging by his condition, he seemed unable to suppress it any longer.
"Senior Brother Zhao, use your small worlds to help suppress his breakthrough," Wudang said seriously, worry flashing through her eyes.
Big Master and the others were not around right now, and Little Master had just been lured away by Black Dog to go fishing. What if something went wrong when he broke through?
"No. That flying dagger of his is too dangerous. I feel like I would be cut to death if I went up there," Zhao Gongming said helplessly, caution flashing through his eyes.
From Yu Ding, he had learned that his primordial spirit had a weakness. His primordial spirit was indeed as strong as his body, but because it was too strong, it was instead not ideal.
The primordial spirit represented yin, while the body represented yang. Right now, his body could not match the strength of his primordial spirit. That was his weakness.
If the two could merge into one, becoming a unified whole...
And Sixth Crow's flying dagger specifically targeted primordial spirits. With his primordial spirit's current strength, he would be seriously injured if he took that dagger head-on.
"I'll brush away his flying dagger for you. Then you can make your move and have the small worlds suppress him," Kong Xuan said calmly, innate Five Elements divine abilities flowing through his eyes.
"This junior brother should be allowed to break through when he needs to. I fear that if he keeps holding back, extremes will turn into destruction. His body is so extremely yang that he needs to break through and give rise to extreme yin.
A hundred percent certainty is not a good thing for him. The sliver of vitality taught by the Interception Sect will reveal itself through him," Xuandu said seriously, stepping forward to block everyone and prevent them from acting.
"Senior Brothers, why don't you protect him through his tribulation?" Chen Qingjiu said quietly. Now that he cultivated the Saber Codex, with a saber heart like the heart of Heaven, he possessed a terrifying intuition.
"Fine. We'll grab our gear and make some preparations, then take him through the tribulation. Even if a Saint appears, we can fight him fifty-fifty," Taiyi True Man said seriously, confidence flashing in his eyes.
"Senior Brother, if all of us go, won't our combined aura be too strong and cause the heavenly tribulation to mutate?" Yellow Dragon True Man asked uncertainly, worry flashing through his eyes.
After cultivating in Daoism for this period of time, he felt that he could fight ten of his former selves. He no longer resented his master for not giving him any magical treasures.
Because he understood Yuanshi Tianzun's original intention. His master wanted him to strengthen his body, and his body had already surpassed any magical treasure.
The issue he raised was also a real one. Every senior brother and sister here was suppressing the aura of their breakthrough. Once the heavenly tribulation arrived and stirred their energy, if they could not suppress it, things would go badly.
Not everyone was like Protector Black and Kong Xuan, capable of perfectly controlling their own aura and turning the heavenly tribulation into energy for their advancement.
"Kong Xuan, Junior Brother Zhao, Wudang, and I will go protect his Dao," Xuandu said seriously.
"Pah... What gives you the right to give orders? I'm Daoism's senior disciple."
"Junior Brother Zhao, come with me." Kong Xuan spat at Xuandu. The Innate Five Elements Divine Light behind him swept over Old Wu Liu, and he took him straight through the void.
"Egg Kong...!! I'm the senior disciple of the Three Teachings!!!" Xuandu roared and immediately chased after them.
Zhao Gongming lowered his head and muttered, "This is Daoism, the Daoist Sect, the Daoist School..."
A canyon on Mount Buzhou.
Storm clouds instantly blanketed the area. In the void, a small sun was burning, with a peculiar flying dagger circling around it.
Soon,
Heavenly Immortal Lightning Tribulation—
It instantly struck toward the small sun, but the descending tribulation lightning was immediately devoured by the flying dagger.
As expected, the lightning tribulation came dozens of times in succession.
The small sun gradually transformed into a tiny humanoid figure, while the flying dagger became even more mysterious. The eyelashes on its blade were snow-white, tinged with a trace of lightning power.
Wings emerged from the flying dagger, etched with one inscrutable lightning tribulation pattern after another.
As expected, the Eye of the Heavenly Dao appeared.
At that moment, the Eye of the Heavenly Dao carried a hint of anger, seemingly harboring a trace of killing intent toward the living being undergoing tribulation.
"Treasure, please turn around."
Whoosh—
Before the Eye of the Heavenly Dao could even see who was undergoing tribulation below, it was sliced into powder by that peculiar flying dagger.
Even the storm clouds in the sky were all slashed into nothingness.
Kong Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, his face filled with shock as though he had witnessed something terrifying.
Xuandu unconsciously gripped his sword sheath tightly. That astonishing slash had frightened him senseless.
Zhao Gongming unconsciously swallowed. He finally understood just how pathetically weak his primordial spirit still was.
"Awesome! Um—let's get out of here—"
Before you continue