Saints Annihilated!

Before the words faded, the figure swimming against the current had already burst through the final chaotic turbulence, revealing itself.

It was Houtu, who had transformed into the cycle of reincarnation and governed the Netherworld. But now, her appearance had drastically changed—she had become Empress Pingxin!

Yet at this moment, her face bore none of her usual compassion and serenity, only a chilling pallor that stirred the heart.

In her eyes, deep as the Underworld, were clearly reflected three strands of pure qi being slowly absorbed and imprinted by the Great Desolation Origin.

Also reflected was the towering, not-yet-fully-dispersed figure of Great God Pangu, along with the words echoing through time and space: "You three are my True Lineage."

Her gaze instantly dimmed, carrying a bone-deep helplessness and bitterness as she murmured to herself:

"I didn't expect... I was still one step too late."

This sigh contained the Witch Race's obsession and hope spanning Hundreds of Millions of Years, yet at the very source of the Opening of Heaven and Earth, they had fallen short by a single move, dissolving into nothing.

Empress Nuwa, who had witnessed the entire breathtaking scene from the side, felt her shock surge like towering waves.

Laozi's words were like the final key, completely unlocking her enlightenment!

So that was it!

Everything Laozi had done earlier—that seemingly mad, self-destructive act—its true goal had never been to cross the moment of Heaven and Earth's creation and return to Chaos!

What he was contending for were the four words: "Pangu's True Lineage"!

It was the name "Pangu's True Lineage," personally acknowledged and imprinted by Pangu Father God at the origin point of the Opening of Heaven and Earth, when the Ten Thousand Daos were first born—an indisputable title!

This recognition, this imprint, would exist eternally with the birth of the Great Desolation World, spanning past and future, becoming the unassailable foundation for the Three Pure Ones as "Pangu's True Lineage"!

Just now...

If Laozi had not chosen to seek death under Pangu's Axe, but instead, as Yuanshi and Tongtian had thought, tried to bypass the moment of Heaven and Earth's creation and return to the beginning of Chaos to seek the roots of the Chaos Demon Gods...

Then Houtu, arriving later, would likely have stood before Pangu, as an Ancestral Witch born from Pangu's essence blood, and requested the same "recognition"!

If Pangu had likewise said to Houtu, "You are my True Lineage"...

Then in the endless future, in the hearts of all beings in the Great Desolation World, the true "Pangu's True Lineage" would belong to the Witch Race!

The identity of the Three Pure Ones, born from Primordial Spirit, would be completely overshadowed!

This was a struggle destined from the very beginning of the Opening of Heaven and Earth, continuing into the endless future!

A struggle over "who is the true heir of Pangu," running through the River of Time!

And in this most critical battle at the source of time, the victor was Laozi, the Three Pure Ones!

This great enlightenment struck Empress Nuwa's Mind and Spirit, giving her an unprecedented understanding of "time" and "eternity."

Time was not a straight river!

It had countless tributaries, and among these, some formed a loop with the main current, like a circle where the end and beginning were linked, cause and effect intertwined!

The past determined the future, but a powerful future could also influence or even "lock in" the past!

The essence of Eternal Grand Unity, "One Attainment, Eternal Attainment," might be exactly this!

If one attained Eternal Grand Unity in the future, then in the endless past, there must be a decisive mark left by their existence!

At the same time, that eternal future fruit of the Dao would surely stabilize their existence in the past!

Past and future, anchoring each other, completing each other, forming an unbreakable closed loop!

"So that's it... So that's it!"

Empress Nuwa murmured to herself, her anxiety, worry, and scheming melting away like ice and snow.

Replacing them was an unprecedented lightness and relief.

Since the past and future were already "fixed" to some degree, then in the "present" at the midpoint of the Timeline, no matter what she did, it seemed she couldn't truly change that predetermined "result"?

Or rather, everything she did now was itself part of that fixed "result"?

So why worry?

Why be anxious?

Why bother scheming?

"Just lie back and relax!" Empress Nuwa even couldn't help but let out a light laugh, pure and carefree, carrying a worldly detachment.

The creations she had once been so anxious to protect, even willing to defy fate to change, now felt like a heavy burden lifted from her heart.

Death was a destined path.

Life was also a destined gift.

Since it was all fated, why not follow one's heart and do whatever felt comfortable?

Forcing things would only invite more trouble.

Houtu knew nothing of the upheaval in Empress Nuwa's heart.

Watching the Three Pure Ones' pure qi fully merge into the Great Desolation Origin, feeling the stability of Pangu's imprint, the helplessness on her pale face gradually turned into a resolute calm.

She turned to Empress Nuwa, this Saint who had also witnessed the secrets of Heaven and Earth's creation, and spoke with a voice that seemed to pierce through time and space.

"Daoist Nuwa, since you have witnessed everything with your own eyes, you must understand the cause and effect. Though I arrived too late, the will of the Witch Race is not to be lightly insulted."

She paused, her gaze falling on Pangu's back, once again immersed in the great undertaking of Opening of Heaven and Earth. Resolutely, she declared, "This One departs!"

Before her words faded, Houtu transformed into a stream of profound yellow light, bearing the Power of Reincarnation, and charged unflinchingly toward Pangu!

Just as she was about to fly into the range of the Sky-Opening Axe's intent—enough to reduce even a saint to ashes—she seemed to recall something. Without turning her head, her voice rang out clearly to Nuwa:

"Nuwa, were I you, I too would walk beneath the Father God's axe."

These words, like a pebble tossed into a still lake, stirred new ripples in the heart of Nuwa, who had just resolved to "lie low."

She had originally planned to follow the River of Time back to the future, to continue watching over the Human Race she had created and fulfill her duties as a saint.

But Houtu's words, along with the principles of the "time loop" and "past and future locking each other in place" she had just realized, collided and merged in her mind in an instant.

Watch over?

Or not?

If the past and future were already fixed, then whether she chose now to return and watch over the Human Race, or chose to do something else, it was all already part of that unchangeable trajectory?

Then, why not try another possibility?

Why had Houtu specifically reminded her?

To walk beneath the Father God's axe... besides vying for titles like the Three Pure Ones, or expressing one's will like Houtu, was there another... opportunity she had yet to realize?

"How intriguing!" A glint of almost mischievous light, never seen before, flashed in Nuwa's eyes.

The "responsibility" she had just set aside now seemed like freely wielded "paint."

Since everything was within the loop, why not make this experience of hers a little more "brilliant"?

"Sister Houtu! Wait for me!"

Nuwa called out with a clear shout, a relaxed smile of sudden enlightenment spreading across her face.

The Divine Light of Creation shimmered around her, and she too transformed into a vibrant stream of life.

Following Houtu's path, she charged without hesitation into the axe-light of the Opening of Heaven and Earth!

Seeing that Nuwa had entered Pangu's attack range, leaving no chance to retreat, Houtu finally spoke slowly: "Sister Nuwa, when you awaken in the future, the Human Race will bring you a surprise."

Sun Star. Lu Jun looked helplessly at Tai Yi.

"Uncle, since you don't know what happened during the Opening of Heaven and Earth either, how can you be so certain that the 'One Attainment, Eternal Attainment' cultivation method is viable?"

Right now, he felt that Tai Yi might be leading him astray.

Sure, you've told me so much today, and even the concept of 'One Attainment, Eternal Attainment' is quite similar to the cultivation methods I know.

But!

This cultivation method is far too difficult.

There's simply no way to practice it.

Even saints can't cross the moment of Pangu's Opening of Heaven and Earth—how could I possibly manage?

Tai Yi's expression remained calm, unruffled by Lu Jun's doubt.

"Then... are you content to cultivate like this for the rest of your life, never even surpassing your Imperial Father or me?"

Lu Jun: "..."

The way you put it...