If Possible, Lend Them a Hand Along the Way

The name itself is terrifying.

Zhou Ming's smile faded slightly, and he calmly explained.

"The Saint-Smiting Pill, as the name suggests."

"Even Saint would perish if he consumed this elixir."

"What?"

Even with her calm and Houtu nature, Houtu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at this moment.

She looked at Zhou Ming in disbelief, as if trying to find a trace of a joke on his face.

"A single pill can bring down Saint?"

"This... this is impossible!"

"The Saint's Primordial Spirit resides in the Heavenly Dao, Hunyuan whole, indestructible through countless eons, immortal and indestructible."

This is Primordial Wilderness consensus! What could possibly damage its very foundation and cause its demise?

This completely overturned her understanding.

Zhou Ming's answer, however, was frighteningly calm.

Why is it impossible?

"Immortality is a gift from Heavenly Dao."

Heavenly Dao can bestow, it can also take back.

"Moreover, this elixir is no ordinary substance."

"That was prepared specifically for the Three Pure Ones by Hongjun, or rather, by the Heavenly Dao."

"After consuming this pill, you will no longer be in control of your own destiny."

"If they disobey, Heavenly Dao can activate the power of the elixir with just a thought."

"Let their sacred bodies crumble, their Primordial Spirit disintegrate, and they perish completely."

Pangu Hall, a deathly silence fell.

Houtu stood there dumbfounded, her heart filled with turbulent emotions.

"Then... then in the future, won't they be completely controlled by Hongjun, with their lives and deaths no longer in their own hands?"

Houtu's voice carried a complex emotion that was hard to describe, a mixture of shock and sympathy.

Zhou Ming nodded.

"Good."

"Whom can you blame for the path you chose?"

Houtu sighed softly, saying with some regret.

"Yes... if they hadn't chosen to become saints back then, perhaps they wouldn't have ended up in this situation."

Zhou Ming said calmly.

"The opportunity to become a saint is right before your eyes. In the Primordial Wilderness, how many people could refuse it?"

"Moreover, they had already severed their Three Corpses by then, and had no other way but to become saints through Merit and become Heavenly Dao Saint."

"After all, the path of Slaying Three Corpses cannot lead to the attainment of the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal."

"Without achieving sainthood, their Dao Path has come to an end."

"Even if they knew at the time that becoming a saint would subject them to the Heavenly Dao, they probably would still have chosen this path without hesitation."

"After all, below the level of Saint, all are but ants."

"They clearly distinguish between being a powerful ant and a chess player who is hampered by others."

Houtu, Houtu felt a mix of emotions.

Yes, without becoming a saint, one remains but an ant.

To escape their Fate as ants, they had no choice but to drink poison, even if it meant drinking poison to quench their thirst.

At this moment, Houtu seemed to have thought of something and suddenly looked up at Zhou Ming.

"Elder Brother, since you have a way to save Fellow Daoist Tongtian..."

"Then... could you also lend a hand to Fellow Daoist Taiqing and Fellow Daoist Primordial Lord?"

"After all, they are all descendants of the Father God."

"In any case, they are all manifestations of the Father God God's Primordial Spirit, Pangu Descendants."

"At that time, we'll have them exchange it for the Heaven-Opening Mark."

"In this way, Elder Brother will be able to collect all three marks."

In her view, the Three Pure Ones share the same origin, and if they could be saved together, that would naturally be the best outcome.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ming frowned, a rare occurrence for him.

He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"I'm not sure if it will work."

"Forcibly protecting Tongtian from the Heavenly Dao is already touching upon the core interests of the Heavenly Dao."

His expression turned serious.

"If I were to also retrieve Taiqing and Primordial Lord, how do you think the Heavenly Dao would react?"

"I'm not sure if Heavenly Dao's will go completely mad because of this and attack us at any cost."

"But..."

"We can give it a try then."

"Let's see what they choose then."

"If the opportunity arises and it's within our means, it wouldn't hurt to lend them a hand."

Golden Ao Island.

A sharp sword light descended from beyond the heavens and instantly appeared in front of the Jade Palace.

The sword light dissipated, revealing the figure of the Tongtian Sect Master.

"Duobao, come see me at once!"

The Daoist Duobao was in meditation, felt a chill and instantly appeared before the Tongtian Sect Master, bowing respectfully.

"Disciple greets Master!"

"Convey my Imperial Edict."

"Summon all Jie Sect Disciple, wherever they are, and return to Golden Ao Island immediately."

I have something important to announce.

Duobao felt a chill run down his spine.

He had never seen his master with such a serious expression.

Something terrible has happened.

"Yes, Master!"

Duobao dared not delay in the slightest and immediately bowed to accept the order.

In an instant, centered on Golden Ao Island, mysterious Imperial Edict pierced the void and flew towards the Cave Abode of every Jie Sect Disciple.

Why has Master summoned us back so urgently?

"I've never seen such a spectacle before. Could it be that some great upheaval has occurred in the Primordial Wilderness?"

"Whatever happens, with our master here, what do we have to fear!"

"Don't delay, set off immediately!"

Streams of light shot up from every corner of the Primordial Wilderness, like rivers flowing into the sea, all converging on Golden Ao Island.

The myriad immortals of the Interception Sect have returned by imperial decree!

Inside the main hall of the Jade Palace, the core disciples of the Interception Sect stood in great numbers.

His Direct Disciple Daoist Duobao, Saint Mother Jinling, Saint Mother Wudang, Saint Mother Guiling.

Among them were the Seven Attendant Immortals, Zhao Gongming, the eldest disciple of the outer sect, and the Three Maidens of Sanxiao of the Three Immortal Islands: Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao.

Everyone wore expressions of solemnity and confusion, waiting quietly.

They could all sense that the atmosphere today was unusual.

On the High Platform, the figure of the Tongtian Sect Master slowly emerged.

"Greetings, Master!"

May our revered master live a long and healthy life!

Upon seeing the Tongtian Sect Master appear, all the disciples bowed down in unison, their shouts as loud as mountains and as vast as the sea, Yunxiao.

Get up.

The Tongtian Sect Master spoke calmly.

"Thank you, Master!"

Looking at the reverent and trusting gazes in the eyes of his disciples below, the Tongtian Sect Master felt a mix of emotions.

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly.

The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every disciple.

"I have summoned you all back today because there is a matter of utmost importance concerning the life and death of our Interception Sect that I must inform you of."

These words caused an uproar in the room.

Life or death?

How is that possible!

Their Interception Sect is the Orthodox Daoist Sect, and their master is Saint, immortal and indestructible.

Who can threaten the very survival of the Interception Sect?

The Tongtian Sect Master ignored the commotion among his disciples; his voice clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Tribulation is about to begin."

These four simple words felt like an Primordial Divine Mountain, pressing heavily on the hearts of all the disciples.

The Square fell into a deathly silence.

Tribulation!

They were familiar with these two words.

The Dragon-Han Tribulation, the Immortal-Demon Tribulation —each one was a mountain of corpses and a sea of Sea of Blood, with countless Great Powers perishing in the face of the calamity.

Is a new Tribulation about to begin?