Entering the Innate Great Formation

"Daoist Friend Hongjun, why haven't you left yet? Could it be you still wish to investigate Pangu's memorial tablet?

If so, then investigate to your heart's content—Poor Daoist will not keep you company.

I wish you good fortune, hahaha~."

With that, paying no heed to how Old Ancestor Hongjun might react, he transformed into a streak of light and sped toward the foot of Buzhou Mountain.

To dispel Hongjun's suspicions, he had spoken those words, lest that Old Thief Hongjun tail him.

That final wish of good fortune was nothing less than a thorn driven into Hongjun's heart.

What did "good fortune" mean if not a curse upon Hongjun?

It meant: may you, Hongjun, when you investigate Pangu's memorial tablet, have the Will of Pangu leap out and split you with an axe.

If they wouldn't investigate the tablet, then you, Hongjun, shouldn't even think of doing so either.

Did you, Hongjun, dare to take that risk?

Old Ancestor Wuxing departed with a great laugh, leaving only Old Thief Hongjun standing there, his expression twisted in hesitation.

He understood the meaning behind Old Ancestor Wuxing's final words—on the surface a blessing, but in truth harboring ill intent.

Hongjun had originally intended to stay behind and secretly investigate Pangu's memorial tablet on his own.

But now, with that one sentence from Old Ancestor Wuxing, he found himself wavering, no longer daring to probe.

"Ah~, forget it. I'll head down the mountain first. This Pangu memorial tablet—I'll skip it.

I need to return and heal my wounds quickly. Attaining the Dao as soon as possible is the real priority. Before true strength, all other matters are insignificant.

The final struggle with that scoundrel Luohu is imminent; I must not invite unnecessary trouble."

After a moment of inner conflict, Hongjun let out a long sigh. He lacked the courage to investigate Pangu's memorial tablet.

Transforming into a streak of light, Hongjun left the summit of Buzhou Mountain.

Yet, intentionally or not, he set off in the same direction Old Ancestor Wuxing had taken.

"What's going on? Why does my heart feel such an immense sense of crisis? As if a great calamity is about to befall me."

On Buzhou Mountain, Taiqing concealed his presence and slowly made his way down.

But at that moment, a tremendous sense of crisis surged within him. In his Primordial Spirit, the three World-Opening Supreme Treasures trembled in warning.

"A great calamity? Since I emerged into the world, I've never encountered any being capable of posing a fatal threat to me.

If there is one who could threaten my life, it would be the Fire Qilin of the Qilin Clan.

But the Qilin Clan is now deeply mired in a Tribulation. The Fire Qilin must guard their ancestral lands; there's no way he would come to Buzhou Mountain to find me."

Taiqing reviewed his memories and found nothing that could threaten him.

Nor had he heard of any deadly danger zones on Buzhou Mountain.

Aside from the most perilous pressure of Pangu, there was nothing dangerous.

And that pressure of Pangu was even kind to him, helping to strengthen his Physical Body.

"Regardless, I must leave first. The warning grows ever more intense."

Taiqing accelerated, simultaneously manipulating the Taiji Diagram to conceal his presence and the Chaos Bell to erase all traces.

"What's happening? Why can't I sense the presence of that Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Ant?"

Old Ancestor Wuxing descended the mountain at full speed, heading toward the spot where he had previously seen Taiqing.

But after searching that area thoroughly, he found nothing. When he attempted a deduction, all traces of Taiqing had vanished.

"That Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal being is indeed problematic—able to evade This Seat's calculations.

He likely obtained a supreme treasure from the Will of Pangu.

Using that treasure, he erased his information and concealed himself from deduction."

Old Ancestor Wuxing sneered, then deployed the Five Elements Law to scour heaven and earth.

He would use the Five Elements Law to penetrate the five elements of the world and track down Taiqing's figure.

Meanwhile, far behind Old Ancestor Wuxing, Old Thief Hongjun lurked furtively in the shadows.

Seeing Old Ancestor Wuxing searching and then deploying the Five Elements Law to scan the world, he revealed an expression of "just as I thought."

"As expected, that Wuxing fellow is dishonest. He clearly found something and wants to keep it all for himself. What a beautiful dream.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. This Seat will play the oriole today."

Using a fragment of the Jade of Creation to mask his aura, Hongjun stealthily followed Old Ancestor Wuxing.

"Found you! Let's see where you flee this time!"

Old Ancestor Wuxing, after scouring heaven and earth with the Five Elements Law, finally caught a trace of Taiqing.

He immediately transformed into a streak of light and flew in Taiqing's direction.

At the same time, Taiqing's soul nearly fled his body. Alarm bells rang wildly in his heart, and his spirit trembled.

The three World-Opening Supreme Treasures vibrated intensely, warning him.

"The crisis is drawing closer and closer! Could it be...

Wait, the Five Elements Law!

No! It's that bastard Old Ancestor Wuxing!"

Taiqing sensed the probing of the Five Elements Law around him, instantly startled, his hairs standing on end as he leaped to his feet.

Feeling the Five Elements Law's investigation, how could he not understand? The crisis in his heart came from none other than Old Ancestor Wuxing.

"I must leave quickly! If I don't go now, today will likely be the day I fall and my path ends."

Taiqing no longer concealed any information; he transformed into a streak of light and fled madly.

He paid no heed to any Innate Spiritual Roots or Lingbao he encountered along the way, simply accelerating recklessly without a care.

"Little thief, don't run!"

Old Ancestor Wuxing's Dao voice transmitted into Taiqing's Primordial Spirit, but Taiqing not only failed to slow down—he fled even faster.

At this moment, Old Ancestor Wuxing was still an unknown distance away, merely using the Five Elements Law to send his Dao voice.

If he hesitated even slightly, Old Ancestor Wuxing would likely catch up.

Old Ancestor Wuxing was no benevolent soul; once caught by him, there would be no chance of survival.

Even if he managed to escape with his life, his Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Chaos Bell would most likely be seized.

"Daoist Friend Wuxing, what have you discovered? Why not share it with me, Hongjun?"

Hongjun's voice sounded from behind.

Using a fragment of the Jade of Creation, Hongjun could barely wield the Five Elements Law.

"This little friend, I am Old Ancestor Hongjun. This Seat can protect you. How about you tell This Seat what you know?"

With the Jade of Creation fragment, following the traces of Old Ancestor Wuxing's Law, Hongjun transmitted his voice to Taiqing.

Though he could send a message, he could not deduce further.

Thus, Hongjun did not know that the little friend he addressed was one of the Sanqing he had sought before.

"Old Thief Hongjun, why is this bastard chasing me too?!"

Taiqing did not reply, urging his supreme treasure to accelerate wildly.

Falling into Old Thief Hongjun's hands would be worse than falling into Old Ancestor Wuxing's.

Seeing Taiqing ignore him, Hongjun silently regretted that he could not easily seize the supreme treasure from that Ant.

"Little friend, do not be afraid. This Seat is Old Ancestor Wuxing, merely wishing to ask you a few things."

Old Ancestor Wuxing, seeing Hongjun's act, also put on a kind and benevolent expression, speaking with a gentle tone.

Taiqing paid no attention, only speeding up.

Just then, Taiqing sensed a strange fluctuation ahead.

"It's an Innate Great Formation! I knew I was the protagonist—chased by a strong opponent, and now I encounter an Innate Great Formation.

I'll enter and take shelter for now."

Ahead of Taiqing, an Innate Great Formation emitted a peculiar fluctuation. Without hesitation, Taiqing charged into it.

As Taiqing rushed inside, the Innate Great Formation faded into the void and vanished.

Old Ancestor Wuxing, pursuing from behind, instantly lost all trace of Taiqing's Five Elements information and was dumbfounded.

"How is this possible? How could a mere Ant at the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm escape This Seat's Five Elements Law search?"

Old Ancestor Wuxing quickly chased along the trail Taiqing had left, arriving at the spot where he had last disappeared.

Old Ancestor Wuxing did not sense any trace of the Innate Great Formation.