A Reluctant Compromise
Immeasurable Calamity!
These four words weighed heavily on the hearts of all the Saint.
It was a fear that originated from the deepest part of Primordial Spirit, an uncontrollable fear.
The Immeasurable Calamity signify the end of the Primordial Wilderness and the return of heaven and earth to Chaos.
Even these high-ranking Heavenly Dao Saint, if they were caught in it, would have no chance of survival and would surely perish along with the Destruction of this world!
Nobody wants to see that happen.
For the first time, shock and bewilderment appeared on the usually calm and composed face of the Taiqing Saint.
The Yuanshi Tianzun trembled all over, not from fear, but from extreme anger and absurdity.
Why?
Why would the Dao Ancestor rather initiate Immeasurable Calamity than allow them to break free from the Heavenly Dao?
Tongtian can do it, why can't they?
They could also exchange it for the Heaven-Opening Mark!
At that moment, the two brothers truly experienced that profound sense of powerlessness.
It turns out that in this game, they didn't even have the right to speak.
They are Saint, the strongest beings in the Primordial Wilderness.
But here, before Zhou Ming and the Dao Ancestor, they were nothing more than... pawns that could be sacrificed at any time.
However, looking at the two people facing off, they felt an unprecedented sense of powerlessness.
On this shattered, Primordial Wilderness, these so-called Saint had absolutely no say.
The final outcome depends entirely on the game between those two.
Zhou Ming's brows furrowed slightly.
"Fellow Daoist, you are threatening me."
The face of Hongjun's Avatar was cold and devoid of any emotion.
You can understand it that way.
"One Tongtian is already the limit."
"This humble Daoist priest would never allow any Saint to escape the control of the Heavenly Dao again."
His gaze swept over Taiqing and Primordial Lord, and the chill in his words sent a shiver down the spines of the two Saint.
"They are the cornerstones of the Heavenly Dao Dao's operation, the foundation of the stability of the Primordial Wilderness."
"If you take them away, the balance of Heavenly Dao will be disrupted, and the Primordial Wilderness will be unstable. You cannot bear the consequences."
Hongjun's deep gaze finally landed on Zhou Ming, and the fear he held within it was no longer concealed.
What he was really worried about was that after the Three Pure Ones broke away from the Heavenly Dao, they would unite with the Wu Clan.
Zhou Ming alone has already hampered his actions and made it difficult for him to deal with the situation.
If we add the Three Pure Ones, who were transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, that power would be enough to completely shake his foundation with the Heavenly Dao!
This is something he absolutely cannot tolerate.
A hint of sarcasm appeared on Zhou Ming's face.
Despite Hongjun's righteous and awe-inspiring words, he was actually worried that the Three Pure Ones would become a threat to him if they broke away from the Heavenly Dao.
What if I absolutely have to do it this way?
A chilling look finally appeared on Hongjun's face.
"Then let Immeasurable Calamity begin."
"At that time, your Wu Clan, except for a few of you who have already Attain the Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortal, will be able to forcibly escape the Primordial Wilderness and enter the Chaos by relying on your own great power."
"All the remaining members of the Wu Clan will perish along with the Primordial Wilderness!"
Zhou Ming's smile widened, tinged with undisguised sarcasm.
"Fellow Daoist, you are underestimating my Wu Clan far too much."
"Even if the Immeasurable Calamity truly begins, my Wu Clan is confident that we can protect the majority of our people."
Hongjun's Avatar smiled, a smile filled with superior pity and certainty.
"Yeah?"
"Without Attain the Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortal, one cannot completely sever the Origin Essence connection between oneself and the Primordial World."
"Under Immeasurable Calamity, the Primordial Wilderness returned to nothingness, and all things ceased to exist. None of these beings connected to the Primordial Origin could escape."
Zhou Ming fell silent.
He knew that what Hongjun said was true.
This is precisely what he has always been most worried about.
This is the fundamental reason why he planned to open up the Pangu Realm and find a way out for the Wu Clan.
As long as they remain within the Primordial Wilderness, apart from the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, no living being can escape the reckoning of the Immeasurable Calamity.
Zhou Ming slowly raised his head and looked directly at Hongjun.
"When the Immeasurable Calamity begins, can you possibly escape?"
"You have merged with the Heavenly Dao; if the Heavenly Dao ceases to exist, you too will cease to exist."
"Furthermore, do you think that the laws of Heavenly Dao itself would allow you to take such a suicidal action?"
Hongjun's Avatar let out a cold snort, his words carrying a resolute determination to perish together with his opponent.
"Your actions are severing my Dao Path enlightenment!"
"Since the Dao Path is severed, what harm is there in returning to the void along with this world?"
Zhou Ming fell silent again.
He could tell that Hongjun was truly anxious.
Moreover, he has now Dao Integration and to a certain extent represents the Dao of Heavenly Dao. Since he said this, it also means that the Heavenly Dao agrees with his actions.
It seems that the Three Pure Ones, especially Taiqing and Primordial Lord, are far more important to him than he imagined, and not just because of the Heaven-Opening Mark.
If he were to force him further, this Dao Ancestor, who had already gone mad, might really disregard everything and drag the entire Primordial Wilderness down with him.
Then, it would be a losing proposition.
The Wu Clan is not yet fully prepared.
The beginning of the Immeasurable Calamity is also a huge disaster for the Wu Clan.
That's enough.
Zhou Ming sighed inwardly, having already made his decision.
He thought for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"I can refuse to help them escape the Heavenly Dao."
As soon as the words were spoken, a fleeting look of barely concealed disappointment crossed the faces of Taiqing and Primordial Lord.
And Hongjun's tense face finally relaxed a little.
Zhou Ming's tone suddenly shifted at this moment.
"But!"
"You must not use that Saint-Smiting Pill to force them again."
"You must swear a solemn oath before the Great Dao here, promising never to use this pill or similar means to threaten or control the lives of these two."
"Furthermore, in front of us, destroy all the Saint-Smiting Pill!"
Hongjun looked intently at Zhou Ming, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of the deal.
He was naturally unwilling to give up using the Saint-Smiting Pill to control the Three Pure Ones.
But if we disagree, Zhou Ming, that madman, might really do anything to help Taiqing and Primordial Lord escape the Heavenly Dao.
At that time, not only will I gain nothing, but I will also completely lose the two most important pieces, the Three Pure Ones.
When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one.
As long as they remain in the Heavenly Dao Saint Position and within our control, there will always be plenty of opportunities in the future.
After a long while, Hongjun finally nodded slowly.
"Alright, I agree."
Having said that, he no longer hesitated and directly made a solemn vow to the Supreme Dao in the Netherworld.
"By the Great Dao above! I, Hongjun, swear today that I will never use the Saint-Smiting Pill Immortality or any similar external object to control the lives of Taiqing and Primordial Lord. If I break this oath, may my Dao Path collapse and I be forever condemned to eternal damnation!"
The oath was made, and the Great Dao responded.
Hongjun then opened his palm, and those pitch-black pills that even Saint trembled with fear reappeared.
Without the slightest hesitation, he flicked his finger, and those few Saint-Smiting Pill silently turned into dust in the void, completely dissipating.
After doing all this, Hongjun's Avatar looked at Zhou Ming again.
"Are you satisfied now?"
Seeing this scene, the hearts of the Taiqing Saint and the Yuanshi Tianzun Beginning finally settled down.
Although they have not been able to escape the Heavenly Dao, and may never have the chance to do so again in the future.
But at least, they are no longer threatened by the Saint-Smiting Pill, and their lives are no longer in danger.
This can be considered a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
The three people Jieyin to the side, Jieyin, Zhunti, Nuwa, also breathed a long sigh of relief.
Thank goodness.
Dao Ancestor and Zhou Ming managed to restrain themselves and did not actually unleash that Immeasurable Calamity that would destroy the world.
Otherwise, none of them would be alive today.
Just then, Zhou Ming's voice rang out calmly once again.
"Fellow Daoist."
He looked at Hongjun, and also at all the Saint present.
"The Investiture of the Gods has been shattered, and both the Clarify Sect and Interception Sect have Dao Lineage utter devastation and loss."
"This Tribulation should come to an end now."