Laozi was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Master, why do you say this? Your disciple is terrified."
Hongjun snorted coldly, "Don't think I don't know about the pills in your Tushita Palace. The special pills you refined seem to have the intention of defying the Qiankun."
Laozi raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. "Master, I am only studying Pill Dao and want to break through the shackles of cultivation. I have absolutely no rebellious intentions."
Hongjun closed his eyes and said after a moment, "Enough. Just remember, the balance of heaven and earth should not be easily broken. I will not pursue this matter further."
Laozi breathed a slight sigh of relief after hearing this.
Just as I relaxed, I heard Hongjun speak again, "Since you have no rebellious intentions, then hand over the true spirit that you have hidden for so many years to your master."
Laozi staggered after hearing this, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
Only Yuanshi knew about this matter. It would be absolutely impossible for Yuanshi to have leaked it. But if Yuanshi didn't say anything, how could Hongjun know?
Hongjun saw that Laozi silent and simply closed his eyes to wait quietly.
After a long while, Laozi stammered as he looked at Hongjun: "Master, I don't know if you are referring to the true spirit of the Eastern Duke."
Hongjun opened his eyes indifferently and looked at Laozi: "Otherwise, who else do you think there is?"
Upon hearing this, Laozi had no choice but to hand over the true spirit of the Eastern Duke to Hongjun.
Hongjun looked at the true spirit before him, reached out and beckoned, and the true spirit was already in his hand.
"Go ahead!" Hongjun said indifferently to Laozi.
Laozi respectfully responded and turned to leave slowly.
After Laozi walked away, Hongjun gently opened his palm, looked at the true spirit in his palm, and a complex expression appeared in his eyes.
In fact, how could Hongjun not know the hidden story behind this?
Back then, Eastern Duke was forced to self-destruct by Dijun and Taiyi.
Hongjun secretly used his methods to preserve a trace of Eastern Duke's true spirit. Even if Laozi did it discreetly, how could Hongjun, as a sage, not know?
Laozi Yuanshi, the Primordial One, seemingly obtained the true spirit of the Eastern Duke by chance, but in fact, there was a plan in the dark.
Whether Laozi Tzu had selfish motives or not is no secret in the eyes of a sage.
Hongjun's move was simply to completely control Laozi and make him work for him.
Laozi, on the other hand, was filled with doubt and worry.
Although he did not know what Hongjun was planning, it was no coincidence that Hongjun had always known about such an important matter but had never mentioned it.
As Laozi left Purple Cloud Palace, he saw Haotian coming towards him.
"Haotian greets Senior Brother!"
"Junior brother, there's no need for such formalities. May I ask what brings you to see our teacher?"
Haotian was slightly taken aback. This was unlike Laozi's non-action-oriented personality. Laozi was clearly acting out of character today.
Haotian had an idea and made up a story. "Senior brother, the teacher summoned me here to give him some instructions, Haotian I won't say any more to you. I can't keep the teacher waiting!"
Upon hearing this, Laozi became even more suspicious. Hongjun had just taken away the true spirit of the Eastern Duke, and then immediately summoned Haotian. This was too coincidental and too strange.
After Laozi returned to the Tushita Palace, he immediately summoned Xuan Du and instructed him to keep a close eye on Haotian's movements.
What Laozi didn't know was that Haotian's arrival was just a coincidence, not a summons from Hongjun. As the saying goes, concern leads to confusion, and at this moment, Laozi's mind was already in turmoil.
When Haotian saw Hongjun, the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor vanished.
Upon arriving before Hongjun, they saw the true spirit of the Eastern Duke floating in the air.
Haotian's eyes darted around, and he walked up to Hongjun, immediately kneeling down. "Teacher, Haotian greets Teacher!"
"Get up," Hongjun said expressionlessly, his gaze as calm as a bottomless pool.
Haotian slowly stood up, lowering his head and not daring to look directly at Hongjun.
"Master, I have been dealing with many questions in managing the affairs of Heavenly Court recently. Heavenly Court is short of manpower, so I have come to ask you for advice."
Hongjun snorted lightly, "Don't try to fob me off with that excuse. How could I not know what you're thinking?"
Haotian was startled, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Having been Hongjun's attendant for many years, how could he not know that Hongjun's personality was unpredictable?
He had just stood up when he quickly knelt down again. "Master is wise. Haotian came here with a question in mind. It was only when he saw the true spirit of the Eastern Duke that he had such thoughts. Please forgive me, Master."
A strange light flashed in Hongjun's eyes. "The affairs of the Eastern Duke are none of your concern. You only need to manage the Heavenly Court and not have any improper thoughts."
"Yes, Master. This disciple knows his mistake, but the Heavenly Court has no one to use. I beg Master to mediate between the Three Teachings and ask them to send more people to Haotian."
Hongjun remained silent for a moment, then said, "I understand. I will handle it myself. You may leave now."
Haotian acknowledged and respectfully withdrew.
After leaving Purple Cloud Palace, Haotian secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The mind of a sage is hard to fathom; without becoming a sage, one is ultimately just an ant. Even when Zhunti and Jieyin the Mystic Sect, Hongjun was never so stern.
At this time, in the Tushita Palace, Xuan Du already secretly begun to send people to monitor Haotian's every move.
At this moment, in the Human Ancestral Land far away on the East Sea Coast, the Three Ancestors of Humanity watched the original three thousand Innate Human Race practicing the great formation and nodded repeatedly.
"Brother, once the formation is complete, I believe our human race can also contribute to the Dao Venerable!"
Suiren Shi smiled and nodded repeatedly, "Although this formation cannot deal with absolute powerhouses, it is suitable for large-scale killing. It is perfect for following the Dao Venerable to expand the territory."
Meanwhile, in the Fengyan Tribe of the human race, a strange beast was feeding a pregnant woman on the Xishui Riverbank.
This beast combines the head of a lion, the antlers of a deer, the eyes of a tiger, the body of a deer, the scales of a dragon, and the tail of an ox into one, making it a genuine Qilin. Judging from its magical power fluctuations, it is Water Qilin from the Qilin Clan.
Since the Dragon Han Calamity, the Qilin Clan has not appeared without auspicious omens.
After delivering food each time, this Qilin would stay near the thatched hut.
Previously, because Hua Xu was pregnant out of wedlock, she was driven out of the tribe and thus settled on the Xishui Riverbank.
Now that the Qilin is bringing food, everyone spreads the news. The chief of the Fengyan Tribe convenes the elders to discuss and prepare to bring Hua Xu back to the tribe.
"I had long heard that a divine beast lived in the Xishui River, but I never expected it to be a Qilin. Wherever the Qilin goes, auspicious omens will surely appear."
"Since the Qilin brought food to Hua Xu, it is clear that the child in Hua Xu's womb must have an auspicious aura and is definitely not a demon. I'm afraid that Hua Xu is carrying a great sage of our human race."
Upon hearing this, everyone was greatly surprised, for it was not uncommon for sages to have emerged among the human race.
The birth of each sage usually leads their tribe to greater prosperity.
Now that a great sage has been born into their Fengyan tribe, their Fengyan Tribe is sure to prosper.
After discussing it, the group decided to bring Hua Xu back to the tribe and find someone to take care of her.
Meanwhile, in the Western Land, within the magic array set up by Zhunti, Buddhist light flickered faintly.
Zhunti was overjoyed. "Senior brother, a great sage will be born among the human race. We need to prepare in advance!"
Jieyin looked at Zhunti with a smile, "Junior Brother's wisdom is indeed unparalleled in the Three Realms. If this plan succeeds, our Western Paradise will surely prosper."