The Primordial World

Faced with Li Er and Pangu's Will, the Heavenly Dao's Will merely watched them coldly. Today's scheme had utterly failed, and further struggle was useless.

Afterward, the Heavenly Dao suppressed the turmoil within its heart, attempting to face reality calmly.

Despite the Heavenly Dao's Will attempting to threaten Pangu's Will, claiming that even if Pangu's Will existed eternally, it would eventually fall into slumber like itself, and this Primordial World would inevitably fall under its control.

But Pangu's Will was unfazed by the Heavenly Dao's threat, sarcastically remarking that the Heavenly Dao only schemed behind others' backs and dared not confront it directly.

Finally, the Heavenly Dao's Will let out a cold snort and dissipated.

After this confrontation, the sole winner was Taishang Li Er!

Here, the Heavenly Dao's Will had retreated.

Pangu's Will was also nearing its limit; this battle had consumed him greatly.

Although as long as Pangu's spine remained, his imprint could last for eternity, he was, after all, only a wisp of will, not the true Pangu.

Facing the Heavenly Dao, if he were the true Pangu, with his strength at its peak, he could have shattered it with a single axe strike. Instead, he had to rely on Li Er's Pangu Imprint, consuming three axe strikes to break through the Heavenly Dao.

After a great battle, Pangu's Will had reached its limit.

Before returning to Buzhou Mountain, Pangu's Will asked Li Er if he had any questions. Whether it was Pangu's Dao, combat techniques, or the Law of Strength, he could impart them.

If Li Er didn't ask now, this wisp of will would soon fall into slumber.

Li Er smiled calmly, stating he didn't need Pangu's Dao imparted to him.

He emphasized that Pangu was Pangu, and he was himself. He would only walk his own path and would not follow Pangu's Dao, as it wasn't suitable for him.

Pangu's Will was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter, acknowledging that although Li Er originated from his Primordial Spirit, he was ultimately not him.

Compared to the other two Primordial Spirits, only Li Er had forged his own path.

Afterward, Pangu's Will transformed into specks of starlight and merged into Pangu's spine.

As long as Buzhou Mountain existed, his will would remain in the Primordial World, eternal and unfading.

Hongjun regained control of his body and looked at Li Er with shock.

He had personally witnessed Li Er's revival of Pangu's Will, a peerless existence comparable to the Dao itself.

Only Li Er could heavily injure the Heavenly Dao under three axe strikes, leaving it once again incomplete.

Hongjun couldn't help but wonder, "Is this Pangu's invincible stance?"

"Hongjun, it is truly gratifying that you have regained your freedom."

His mind returned! At this moment, Hongjun, free from the Heavenly Dao's Will, fully displayed the demeanor of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Though seemingly unchanged, he was fundamentally different from the Heavenly Dao Hongjun.

As the saying goes: Beneath the Heavenly Dao, there is Hongjun, but Hongjun is not the Heavenly Dao.

Clearly, at this moment, he was his true self.

Li Er sensed the change in Hongjun.

As Pangu's Will dissipated behind Buzhou Mountain, Li Er bowed to Hongjun, "Dao Ancestor, your brief freedom is truly worth congratulating."

Li Er's attitude toward the Heavenly Dao Hongjun and Dao Ancestor Hongjun was markedly different.

The current Hongjun was his benefactor in preaching the Dao, and someone towards whom he was willing to extend goodwill.

Hongjun nodded and smiled in response, "If the Heavenly Dao were not flawed, it would be difficult for me to have this freedom.

Speaking of which, I must also thank you."

To a certain extent, his ability to obtain this brief freedom today was indeed thanks to Li Er's efforts.

Although this confrontation had challenged the Heavenly Dao's authority, Li Er didn't seem to care.

Hongjun, however, was a person who clearly distinguished between kindness and enmity, "I will remember this favor today."

Li Er accepted graciously, "Dao Ancestor is too kind."

Although he was indifferent and detached, he wouldn't refuse benefits that came his way.

Hongjun's favor, while not karmic, was definitely beneficial to Li Er.

Today, with the Heavenly Dao's Will in slumber and Dao Ancestor Hongjun gaining brief freedom, he and Hongjun had, in a sense, each gotten what they needed, and both had obtained what they desired.

With a sound of breaking wind, the remaining five Saints ended their observation and appeared.

"Congratulations, Dao Ancestor, on regaining your freedom!"

They rejoiced in Hongjun's brief freedom.

Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, the five Heavenly Dao Saints, all offered their congratulations to Hongjun.

Compared to Li Er's gains, while they felt some envy, they did not appear overly disappointed.

Because Li Er had thoroughly proven his strength in this battle, and the achievements and reputation he had earned through his power had earned their sincere respect.

Amidst the subsequent celebratory atmosphere, the Saints' gazes suddenly turned towards the Calamity Fortune Qi in the heavens and earth.

They realized that the current celestial phenomenon signaled the imminent arrival of the Calamity Fortune.

All eyes were focused on the converging Calamity Fortune Tree, as the dense Calamity Fortune condensed into fruit.

Yuanshi and the others couldn't help but be drawn to this rare opportunity, their eyes filled with fervor and anticipation.

After all, this carried more weight than the honor brought by merit; the power of Calamity Fortune was irresistible.

Their breaths nearly stopped as they stared intently at the Calamity Fortune Tree, which was nurturing fortune.

At this moment, an intensely competitive desire had already ignited within their hearts, for they knew that once this Calamity Fortune appeared, countless opportunities and chances would surely follow.

Though Saints exist, the Great Dao never ceases; what they steal is the contention for fortune.

The contest between the merit qi and Calamity Fortune qi, each with its own merits.

However, the magic of Calamity Fortune could not be matched by merit qi; its ability to enhance the fortune in one's hands was a clear testament.

After achieving sainthood, the need to transcend the Primordial World intensified their focus on fortune.

Fortune was not only a key to assisting their rise in overall momentum and the momentum of their Dao lineage, but it was also the most precious hard currency in the eyes of Saints.

For all beings in the Primordial World, the descent of a Great Tribulation meant endless slaughter and disaster.

However, the fair laws of heaven and earth dictated that a Great Tribulation would inevitably be accompanied by the appearance of Calamity Dao Fruits.

Currently, the Calamity Fortune Tree has just appeared, and although the time for the Calamity Dao Fruits to mature is not yet specified, it will not be too far off.

Regrettably, the Calamity Fortune Tree at this moment was shrouded in a hazy aura, preventing the All Saints from peering into its true condition.

The transparent shield isolated all prying eyes; it was the protection of the power of heavenly order, which even the All Saints could not breach.

Zhunti asked, "May I ask Dao Ancestor Hongjun, how many Calamity Dao Fruits are there on the Calamity Tree?"

He wanted to know if the Calamity Fortune was enough for the All Saints to divide.

And Hongjun, as the sole existence of the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, undoubtedly had the deepest understanding of Calamity Fortune.

Therefore, the All Saints inquired of Hongjun one after another.

Hongjun responded calmly, "Calamity Fortune has no fixed number; it depends on the qi of the Great Tribulation and the number of killing tribulations."

The All Saints understood upon hearing this and no longer pressed further.

In fact, Zhunti had wanted to ask Hongjun about the amount of fortune in heaven and earth during the previous Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, but he ultimately chose to remain silent.

Because any fool knew that Hongjun was the biggest winner in the last Great Tribulation, monopolizing all the Calamity Fortune, including the primordial demons and gods he had manipulated.

The Western lands had once been a battlefield for the Demonic Dao's struggle; this history was etched deeply in their memories.

The current Primordial World was at a new turning point.

As the All Saints awaited the maturation of the Calamity Dao Fruits, their gazes were sharp.

They knew deeply that this opportunity was the key to surpassing Li Er, especially after their previous battle, where they had already been left far behind by him.

And this Calamity Fortune was their chance to surpass Li Er.

Therefore, they dared not be negligent in the slightest.

However, just as the All Saints were waiting anxiously, the scene before them left them astonished.

The fortune of the Witch-Demon Calamity had been completely devoured by the Calamity Dao Fruit, and the void seemed to freeze as a result.

As the Dao Fruit matured and emerged, the Witch-Demon Calamity Fortune Dao Fruit on the Calamity Fortune Tree was revealed.

The mysterious Dao Fruit hung from the treetop, covered in Dao patterns, exuding majesty.

Although the surface was calm and undisturbed, the Calamity Fortune it stirred was enough to shock the All Saints.

As the All Saints' gazes fell upon the Dao Fruit, every one of them showed astonishment: "Only one?"

They could not accept this fact, firmly believing that this Great Tribulation must have numerous killing tribulations, so why did it only nurture one Dao Fruit?

If this were the case, wouldn't it mean that Li Er would monopolize the entire Calamity Fortune? After all, they had joined forces to fight Li Er before and knew well his formidable personal strength.

Now, after all their hard work in contention, Li Er would gain exclusive possession of the fortune, and the All Saints naturally felt unwilling.

At this moment, Li Er looked at Hongjun with a strange expression.

He seemed to understand that the favor Hongjun had mentioned earlier was to give him this opportunity to monopolize the Calamity Fortune.

As Hongjun, who had once monopolized the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, he had unique insights into how to gather the qi of a Great Tribulation.

Coupled with his position as the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao's will, no one could detect his covert manipulations.

Hongjun's actions stirred doubt in Li Er's heart: "Could it be that he doesn't just follow the Heavenly Dao but also seeks personal gain?"

His thoughts churned within.

Obviously, Hongjun was not foolish; the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity had revealed his shrewdness.

While his comrades fell into difficult situations, he sat comfortably alone.

Without some skill and strategy, how could he have laughed all the way to the end? Various motives existed within his heart.

But if he disregarded righteousness to reach this point, any carelessness would lead to defeat by Luohu.

Facing Dao Ancestor Hongjun's actions, Li Er had some guesses but dared not be certain.

After all, regarding unknown matters like Calamity Fortune, he could only hear about them but had never personally experienced them.

However, one thing was certain: Dao Ancestor Hongjun needed Li Er to leverage the Calamity Fortune to strengthen the Daoist Sect's influence and suppress the Western Sect's diversion of Daoist Sect Destiny.

Hongjun was even willing to abandon his freedom and his own will, seeking to explore realms beyond the Heavenly Dao and become its avatar.

When faced with the choice between freedom and the Heavenly Dao Will, who wouldn't want to regain control of their free will? This is akin to a saying online: what is the connection between the Heavenly Dao Hongjun, who opposes Li Er, and his true identity as Dao Ancestor? There is no causal karma, grudges, or conflict between the two; it is merely a game of chess between the pursuit of freedom and the exploration of the Heavenly Dao.

Why was Hongjun's support for Li Er so inconspicuous? The key lay in the Heavenly Dao's arrangement for the Five Saints to battle Li Er, which already signified Li Er's supremacy.

Even without support, Li Er could seize the Calamity Fortune.

What was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's true intention? Saints like Zhunti could not comprehend it, and only Li Er grasped a part of it.

Zhunti's meticulously planned Golden Crow Killing Tribulation ultimately revealed that the Calamity Fortune had nothing to do with Li Er, filling him with resentment.

Thus, Zhunti asked Hongjun why the Calamity Fortune only yielded one Dao Fruit.

Hongjun explained that although the Fortune Dao Fruit was related to the killing tribulation, the deeper meaning of its gestation after the heavens and earth sensed it was more important.

All the Saints were defeated by Laozi in the battle of Buzhou Mountain, and the heavens and earth regarded Laozi as the winner of the Great Tribulation, thus condensing the sole Dao Fruit.

In the eyes of the many Saints, Hongjun's words were like opening a window of wisdom.

While they each understood from different perspectives, one point was universally acknowledged—Li Er had emerged victorious in this struggle for Calamity Fortune.

Even the Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao could not match him.

Although they all understood that the Witch-Demon Calamity's fortune could only condense into one Dao Fruit, they still strove to seize it.

However, their inner resentment did not prevent them from acknowledging Li Er's victory.

Under the protection of the forces of heavenly order, no one could shake Li Er's position.

He was like wind breaking through the void, effortlessly breaching the boundaries of heavenly order and holding the sole Dao Fruit in his hand.

His palm felt a warmth, the manifestation of the Calamity Fortune.

Although the Five Saints of the Heavenly Dao were unwilling, they faced reality and understood that further entanglement was meaningless.

Li Er's strength and qualifications were sufficient to prove the legitimacy of his sole possession of the Calamity Fortune.