Above the East Sea, the Primordial Era stretched vast and boundless.
The Three Immortal Islands flickered in and out amid the clouds and mist, like a celestial paradise.
Sect Leader Tongtian stood in the air, his azure robe fluttering gently in the wind, a trace of solemnity between his brows.
Ever since the Witch-Demon Calamity had settled, he had always felt that the Heavenly Secret was obscure, as though an invisible shadow were quietly drawing near.
"Senior Brother often says we must act in accordance with Heaven, but where does this Heavenly Dao truly intend to lead the Primordial Era?"
Tongtian pondered silently, his thoughts surging like waves.
As the leader of the Interception Sect, he knew well that he had countless disciples. If calamity descended, they might not escape it.
Recently, his heart had often stirred with unease, as though some unseen call were drawing him onward.
He had come to the East Sea today to seek out that mysterious sensation, only to unexpectedly encounter Penglai Immortal Island!
"Since the creation of heaven and earth, great powers have often visited Yingzhou and Fangzhang, yet Penglai Immortal Island alone has remained unseen in its entirety?"
Tongtian gazed at the mist-shrouded island before him, his heart rising and falling, excitement mingling with a thread of unease.
At the same time, deep within Penglai Immortal Island.
Lin Dong frowned as he paced, lost in thought.
He had transmigrated into the Primordial Era and fortunately received the help of the Sign-in System.
After cultivating bitterly through countless eras, his cultivation had already reached the realm of a Primordial Golden Immortal.
Yet the Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Realm still seemed as distant as an insurmountable chasm.
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was approaching. With his current strength, how could he possibly remain untouched?
"The treasures bestowed by the system are so abundant, and the heavenly materials and earthly treasures are countless. Why has my cultivation progressed so slowly?"
Lin Dong stopped and stared into the distant sea of clouds, muttering to himself, "Could it be that cultivating alone in seclusion has deprived me of the chance to discuss the Dao with others?"
At that thought, he could not help but smile bitterly.
To avoid the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, he had set up the Immeasurable Great Array across Penglai Immortal Island, completely cutting it off from the outside world.
Though it preserved his life, it had also obstructed his path toward the Great Dao.
"Shutting myself away to cultivate is not a long-term path after all!"
Just as Lin Dong was worrying over this, he suddenly sensed someone entering from outside the island!
When he extended his divine sense, he discovered a cultivator whose cultivation was unfathomably deep!
Joy surged within Lin Dong. "Heaven truly favors me! I was just troubled over having no one to spar with, and now an expert has come to my door of his own accord!"
He concealed his aura and called out loudly, "Fellow Daoist, please come here for a meeting!"
Tongtian shuddered at the voice. His expression remained calm, but his heart churned like a raging sea!
Penglai Immortal Island actually had an owner?
No wonder no one had ever glimpsed its true appearance since the creation of heaven and earth!
Could that unseen summons have come from this great power rather than the island itself?
Even as a Sage, Tongtian remained full of curiosity toward the unknown.
But when facing such a mysterious and unfathomable existence, he could not help but feel some apprehension.
In the Primordial Era, strength reigned supreme!
No matter how exalted a Sage might be, when meeting a great power far beyond himself, submission was the wisest course!
In an instant, the scene before Tongtian changed.
A supreme existence appeared, runes circulating around his body, faint immortal music lingering in the air as he watched Tongtian with a smile.
Tongtian's mind shook. With only one glance, he felt Dao intent circulate in his mind as countless profound insights emerged!
Wondrous beyond words!
Could the person before him actually be the incarnation of the "Dao"?
Tongtian did not dare delay. He bowed deeply and said, "Lingbao, disciple of Hongjun, pays respects to Senior!"
Before such a majestic existence, what was a Sage's status worth mentioning?
He even had the feeling that, if this person wished it, he could strip him of his Sagehood in an instant!
Such power was terrifying!
How could Tongtian dare display the slightest arrogance?
Before the "Dao," one's bearing was especially important.
To walk alongside the Dao was already a supreme opportunity!
Lin Dong pondered slightly. "Daoist Lingbao?"
He silently marveled that the Mystic Gate's Daoist titles were truly bold.
Taishang of the Human Sect bore the name Taiqing Taishang, his virtue shaking the Primordial Era.
Among Chan Jiao's Twelve Golden Immortals was True Lord Qingxu Daode, whose fame was renowned.
The Interception Sect's Shangqing Heavenly Venerate Lingbao was famed across the world for teaching without discrimination.
Chan Jiao also had Grand Master Lingbao, whose reputation spread far and wide.
And now, another Daoist Lingbao had appeared?
He did not suspect that the person before him was Shangqing Heavenly Venerate Lingbao.
In his eyes, this cultivator's cultivation was high, but far inferior to his own.
How could he possibly be an existence above a Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal?
Lin Dong did not care in the slightest and faced him calmly.
Yet that composure fell into Tongtian's eyes as bone-piercing coldness!
Sure enough, under the blessing of the Heavenly Dao, a Sage's status meant nothing before the "Dao"!
It was itself the rules. How could it submit to the Heavenly Dao?
Tongtian became even more cautious, afraid of committing any breach of etiquette.
With a casual wave from Lin Dong, a tea table appeared, host and guest seated on opposite sides.
The table was filled with immortal fruits and fine wine, a dazzling sight.
Lin Dong smiled. "I presumptuously invited you here because I have one matter to ask of you."
Yet Tongtian was stunned by the things on the table, too excited to speak!
Several kinds of immortal fruit sat on the table, three to five of each, arranged neatly.
He had not thought much of them at first, but when his divine sense swept over them, his eyes widened in shock!
Yellow Middle Plum!
Peaches of Immortality!
Ginseng Fruit!
Immortal Apricots!
The fruits of the ten great spiritual roots of the Primordial Era had actually gathered upon a single table!
Even more astonishingly, there were lotus seeds from the Chaos Green Lotus!
If they were cultivated with all one's effort, Great God Pangu's supreme treasure—the Chaos Green Lotus—could reappear!
How renowned was Jieyin's Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit?
Ancestor Minghe's Karmic Fire Red Lotus of the Netherworld Blood Sea and Demon Ancestor Luohu's Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus had both been formed from the divided Chaos Green Lotus!
And that was not all!
There was even a cup of Immortal Tea upon the table, with a small pile of tea leaves placed beside it.
The tea leaves were crystalline and translucent, containing the patterns of the Great Dao!
Tongtian's heart surged, and he nearly lost his composure!
Why was he so excited?
He recognized it as Enlightenment Tea, which was extraordinarily effective even for all the Sages of the Primordial Era!
The Master of Penglai Immortal Island truly was a supreme great power!
Even the things used to entertain guests were treasures of heaven and earth!
Perhaps only such a great power would be willing to receive guests in this manner!
Tongtian asked himself honestly and knew that he absolutely would not be willing!
Seeing Tongtian lost in a daze, Lin Dong called to him twice before finally startling him awake.
A mere table of immortal fruits and fine wine had actually left this most straightforward Sage of the Primordial Era absent-minded!
Tongtian suddenly came back to himself, hurriedly rose to his feet, and bowed in apology.
He had repeatedly reminded himself that he must never lose his composure before a great power!
Yet Lin Dong's treasures had still shaken him, causing him to lose his bearing!
Cultivators yearned for freedom and ease.
By rights, there was no need to be overly bound by etiquette.
Yet in the Primordial Era, profound cultivators placed great emphasis on propriety.
Why?
Because they stood too close to the Heavenly Dao!
The Heavenly Dao had rules. To gain a foothold in the Primordial Era, one had to follow Heaven's will and understand the great trends of heaven and earth!
Otherwise, how could one accomplish anything?
As one of the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao Realm, Tongtian understood this deeply.
Having acted discourteously before a senior who was nearly the "Dao," he was filled with terror and hurriedly apologized!
Before a great power, a breach of etiquette could be great or small. It all depended on a single thought from that person!
Tongtian had no right to decide. He could only wait quietly for judgment.
Lin Dong raised his hand slightly, and Tongtian involuntarily stood upright.
The Sage was horrified. "He truly is a supreme great power!"
After the Witch-Demon War, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had shattered the Twelve Capital Gods and Demons Great Array with a single finger, and a saying had spread throughout the Primordial Era.
"Above the Primordial Era, Sages reign supreme; beneath Sages, all are ants!"
Tongtian now did not dare agree with it!
As one of the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao Realm, he was second only to Hongjun.
Yet before this senior, he had no ability to resist at all!
A Sage of the Heavenly Dao Realm? Nothing but a joke!
If this senior wished it, he could suppress him in an instant!
That was Tongtian's intuition!
Lin Dong smiled calmly. "I am Lin Dong, Master of Penglai Immortal Island. I invited you here only because I need your help with one matter."
"I shall obey Senior's command!" Tongtian agreed directly without asking for the reason.
What a joke!
How could he dare refuse when such a great power gave an order?
Though the senior spoke gently, how could Tongtian truly dare decline?
If he genuinely defied him, he feared he would not be able to leave Penglai Immortal Island!
He firmly believed that if he angered Lin Dong, suppressing him for several eras would be no more than the lift of a hand!
Lin Dong nodded, quite satisfied with Tongtian's attitude.
He said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, do not worry. This matter is effortless for you."
"My cultivation has reached a bottleneck, and it is difficult for me to advance any further."
"As the saying goes, another's stone may polish one's jade."
"Thus, I invited you here to discuss the Great Dao together, hoping to gain some inspiration."
Tongtian was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed in thanks. "This disciple thanks Senior for your guidance!"
What an opportunity!
At the side of a great power like Lin Dong, who was nearly the "Dao," he could continuously comprehend the Great Dao!
The senior would personally impart the Dao to him. What immense fortune was this!
Tongtian was beyond excited. He had never expected to possess such blessed fortune!
Lin Dong clapped his hands lightly and began discussing the Dao.
The Sign-in System had gifted him a copy of the <Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Scripture>.
This scripture was plain and unadorned, yet it adapted to each person and suited Lin Dong best.
When he explained the Dao, he spoke of his own Dao.
True heart, true nature, walking the Great Dao alone!
As Lin Dong began speaking, countless phenomena appeared.
Rosy light stretched for thousands of miles, and auspicious qi streamed in countless strands.
Qi of Creation filled the air, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth.
Heavenly Dao Prophecies flowed, while Dao Runes faintly appeared.
After only a few sentences, Tongtian's expression shook violently as he entered sudden enlightenment!
He was a Sage of the Sixth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, yet he had entered meditation merely by listening to another explain the Dao!
Tongtian did not realize that his state had alarmed the supreme existence of the Primordial Era—the Heavenly Dao!
Though Sages were exalted, they were not at the peak of the Primordial Era.
Even Sages had to bow their heads to the Heavenly Dao.
The Heavenly Dao sensed Tongtian's breakthrough in an instant.
Following Tongtian's divine sense, it quietly descended upon Penglai Immortal Island.
The sound of the Great Dao intoxicated the Heavenly Dao, while Lin Dong's cultivation shocked it even more!
The Heavenly Dao did not dare neglect him. Suppressing its excitement, it transformed into a vague human figure and bowed to Lin Dong.
Lin Dong nodded in return, secretly observing that this person was Daoist Lingbao's elder.
His cultivation far surpassed Lingbao's and was only slightly inferior to Lin Dong's!
He was secretly astonished. "Daoist Lingbao has an extraordinary background!"
"In the Primordial Era, there are only a handful of forces with Primordial Golden Immortals!"
Lin Dong could not figure it out, so he stopped dwelling on it and focused on preaching the Dao.
He sensed his own cultivation rise slightly and was delighted!
Sure enough, discussing the Dao with others was beneficial!
As he preached, he observed Daoist Lingbao's methods.
His Dao was unconventional. By taking a single law to its utmost extreme, he had cleverly entered the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
In Lin Dong's eyes, Lingbao was merely a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!
But that did not lessen his enthusiasm for preaching.
Tongtian and the Heavenly Dao were both immersed in it.
Penglai Immortal Island was utterly silent as countless living beings listened reverently to Lin Dong's preaching.
Countless beings gained enlightenment and transformed into spirits because of it.
Lin Dong stopped preaching. The Heavenly Dao was the first to awaken, bowed again, and departed.
Only after a long while did Tongtian awaken.
To his shock, he had already reached the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm!
Of the twelve layers of the Heavenly Dao Realm, the Ninth Heaven was already among the pinnacle!
Tongtian was overjoyed and bowed to thank Lin Dong. "One session of your teachings has spared me the bitter cultivation of an era!"
Lin Dong said gently, "Judging from your cultivation method, Fellow Daoist, you belong to the Shangqing lineage. I advise you to leave the Interception Sect quickly, lest you suffer the calamity of its destruction!"
Tongtian was thunderstruck!
The Interception Sect would be destroyed?
How was that possible!
He was the master of the Interception Sect, the Sage of Biyou Palace!
If the Interception Sect were destroyed, his Luck would certainly be damaged!
When Sages fought, they fought over Luck and Merit!
How could he tolerate that?
If anyone else had said it, Tongtian would have scoffed.
He was a Heavenly Dao Sage. How could he possibly not know of such a major matter?
But these words had come from Senior Lin Dong!
A single session of this man's teachings had elevated him to the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, bringing him close to the "Dao"!
His words had to be true!
Before Tongtian could ask, Lin Dong continued, "These words are only spoken on Penglai Immortal Island. Once you leave the island, I will deny everything."
"The Sages of the Primordial Era possess immense Supernatural Powers. Leaking Heavenly Secrets is a grave sin!"
Tongtian was stunned.
There seemed to be something wrong with that statement?
He was a Sage—how could he dare call himself immensely powerful?
He vaguely felt that when Lin Dong mentioned "the Sages," he was specifically referring to him!
That was not sarcasm, was it?
Fortunately, he did not know Lin Dong's classification of realms.
If he knew that Lin Dong saw him as nothing more than a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, who knew what he would think!
Tongtian hurriedly asked, "Senior, why would the Interception Sect be destroyed?"
Lin Dong replied calmly, "The Interception Sect harbors filth and corruption, its Karma is deeply entangled, and it is being plotted against by the other Sages. How could Sage Tongtian alone hold it up?"
Tongtian stood there like a wooden statue!
Lin Dong was not mocking him. He truly did not recognize him as Tongtian!
In Lin Dong's eyes, was he unworthy of being called a Sage?
Tongtian felt a trace of indignation!
He was now at the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, arguably the foremost among all Sages!
Yet in this man's eyes, he was so insignificant?
He tested the waters. "Senior, how far are you from the realm of a Sage?"
Lin Dong answered casually, "I have only just become a Primordial Golden Immortal. Reaching the Hunyuan Heavenly Extreme Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm remains unimaginably distant."
Tongtian was shocked!
A Primordial Golden Immortal?
Then what did that make him? A Grand Unity Golden Immortal?
Lin Dong comforted him, "At least you have entered the Grand Unity realm, Fellow Daoist. Though you took a shortcut, you remain far from a true Grand Unity Golden Immortal."
"The Great Dao is boundless. Let us encourage one another!"
Tongtian was completely convinced!
In Lin Dong's eyes, none of the Sages of the Primordial Era deserved to be called Sages!
He hurriedly sought guidance. "What do you mean by the Interception Sect harboring filth and corruption? And how will the other Sages plot against it?"
Lin Dong was in high spirits and spoke freely. "When the other Sages accept disciples, they all select carefully. Only Sage Tongtian teaches without distinction."
"What is wrong with that?" Tongtian asked in confusion.
Lin Dong smiled. "Everything is wrong with that!"
"The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Interception Sect may appear powerful, but most are remnants of the Witch and Demon races, burdened with the sins of the previous rulers of heaven and earth!"
"Since the creation of heaven and earth, its rulers have changed repeatedly. Desolate Beasts, the Three Dragon-Han Clans, the Witch and Demon races—which of them met a good end?"
"The Desolate Beasts were nearly exterminated, while dragon liver and phoenix marrow became food on cultivators' tables!"
"Could the Witch and Demon races possibly be exceptions?"
Tongtian was speechless!
Lin Dong's words made perfect sense!
Though he had known this when accepting disciples, he had not cared.
His Dao was "Interception," leaving a sliver of hope for the remnants of the Witch and Demon races.
But he had not expected their numbers to become so great that their Karma would entangle him and drag down the Interception Sect!
In the Primordial Era, Karma carried tremendous weight!
When Karma accumulated, a killing calamity would arise to sever it!
Tongtian's emotions surged.
He had once taken pride in the merit of his teachings, believing even Hongjun could not compare!
Now, it seemed the Interception Sect was like oil poured onto a raging fire—one spark would consume it!
Lin Dong said faintly, "The sins of the Witch and Demon races are only one aspect."
"The Interception Sect's disciples are a mixed lot, and many are duplicitous!"
"Fellow Daoist Lingbao, to speak frankly, aside from Wuyun Xian and Jingu Xian, none of the remaining Attendant Immortals are trustworthy!"
"Yet those five are precisely the ones Tongtian trusts most!"
Tongtian was overwhelmed with shame!
So it was true!
He trusted Chang'er Dingguang Xian above all!
Could he actually be so two-faced?
Lin Dong continued, "Ten thousand years from now, the Sages will jointly plan the Investiture of the Gods. The three sects and four Sages will join forces to scheme against the Interception Sect. Fellow Daoist Lingbao, leave the sect quickly!"
Tongtian was horrified beyond measure!
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity? Three sects and four Sages joining forces?
Taishang, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti would actually join hands against him?
How could he believe it!
Yet how could he disbelieve Lin Dong's words?
He was a mighty being close to the "Dao"!
Tongtian returned to Biyou Palace, still shaken.
Had Lin Dong not warned him, the Interception Sect would have been doomed!
He calculated and found that the Interception Sect was indeed fated for destruction!
Not because of the Sages' schemes, but because of its Karma and sins!
He racked his brains for a way to break the deadlock.
The Witch and Demon disciples could be abandoned, but the remaining disciples must not be implicated!
He regretted not seeking more guidance from Lin Dong.
Fortunately, Lin Dong had said they were fated and invited him to visit Penglai Immortal Island often.
Tongtian wished to visit again, yet stopped himself.
A dignified Sage was only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal in Lin Dong's eyes!
And Lin Dong called himself a Primordial Golden Immortal, yet held the Sages in such respect!
What a misunderstanding!
Tongtian had no way to explain it.
Tell him that he was the Sage of the Interception Sect?
Lin Dong might strike him down with a single palm!
Tongtian suddenly understood. "The Interception Sect's way out lies here!"
He would no longer be a Sage!
He would disband the Interception Sect!
If the other Sages saw this, they would surely call him insane!
A Sage's great sect was the foundation of Merit and Luck!
Unless he gave up his Sagehood!
Tongtian summoned his disciples to Biyou Palace.
The immortals rejoiced, believing they would hear another sermon.
But Tongtian said, "Some of you have been under me for tens of thousands of years, while others have been here for thousands."
"Today, I have something to announce!"
The Ten Thousand Immortals bowed and quietly awaited his decree.
Tongtian said coldly, "Chang'er Dingguang Xian, Lingya Xian, Qiushou Xian, Jinguang Xian, Piluxian, step forward!"
The five immortals did not understand, but hurried forward.
Tongtian said in an icy voice, "You have followed me the longest, yet you are duplicitous and beneath contempt!"
"For the sake of our former master-disciple bond, I will expel you from the Interception Sect. Go make your own living in the Primordial Era!"
The five immortals paled, wanting to defend themselves but finding no words!
The Ten Thousand Immortals erupted in uproar!
These five immortals were Tongtian's closest attendants!
They were actually being expelled?
Tongtian did not stop. He called out the names of more than six thousand people!
Duobao, Jinling, and the other personal disciples, as well as Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao, and the other outer disciples, were all terrified!
Tongtian roared, "Your sins are grave, and you have only survived by relying on the Interception Sect's protection!"
"From today onward, you are expelled from the Interception Sect. Find your own paths!"
With a wave of his hand, more than six thousand people vanished in an instant!
Tongtian swept his gaze over those remaining and said solemnly, "Cultivators must place virtue first. No matter how towering one's cultivation, without Merit, one will end like the Desolate Beasts and the Witch and Demon races, reduced to ashes!"
The immortals all answered in unison!
Tongtian rose to his feet, raised the Qingping Sword, and swore, "I, Shangqing Heavenly Venerate Lingbao, possess no Merit and am unworthy of the Sagehood. Today, I abolish my own Sagehood!"
He took out the Primordial Violet Qi!
This was the foundation for attaining the Dao!
One's primordial spirit was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, thereby achieving Sagehood!
Now that the violet qi appeared, his primordial spirit was stripped from the Heavenly Dao!
Tongtian waved his hand, and the violet qi dispersed!
The immortals were dumbstruck!
Tongtian continued, "Since I am ashamed of this Sagehood, I am unworthy of leading the Interception Sect!"
"From today onward, the Interception Sect is disbanded!"
The immortals fell to their knees and cried sorrowfully, "Master!"
Tongtian shouted, "Do not cry! Though the Interception Sect is disbanded, I will still accept disciples!"
"But you must not associate with those disciples expelled in the past!"
The immortals shuddered, faintly sensing that something was wrong!
Tongtian's two oaths were acknowledged by the Heavenly Dao!
The celestial phenomena of the Primordial Era changed drastically. The Golden Crow vanished, the Jade Rabbit rose, thunder rumbled, and the wind howled!
The temple of Sage Tongtian collapsed overnight!
Hongjun flew into a rage. "Tongtian, what are you doing?!"
On Penglai Immortal Island, Lin Dong was startled from his enlightenment.
Day and night reversed, and the thunder carried a hint of helplessness!
He seized the wind to investigate and exclaimed, "Tongtian has abolished his Sagehood and disbanded the Interception Sect!"
Order was crucial!
First relinquish the Sage position, then dissolve the Interception Sect—this was procedural justice!
Heavenly Dao would have no opening to exploit!
Lin Dong marveled at Tongtian's decisiveness!
Better yet, Tongtian had first expelled every disciple burdened with sin!
He retained only a little over two hundred elite disciples!
Compared to the Ten Thousand Immortals, what a staggering difference!
Yet Lin Dong applauded Tongtian!
This move was nothing short of brilliant!
"This Tongtian is completely different from the one I knew!"
Lin Dong had read countless Primordial Era novels and knew the dispositions of the various Sages.
Tongtian had a fine reputation, yet he had been schemed against during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity!
Now, he had settled Karma in advance, relinquished his Sage position, and dissolved the Interception Sect!
It was a textbook move!
After layer upon layer of selection, he had retained only those of profound virtue!
Even without being a Sage, his lineage would endure!
Lin Dong wondered, "Why does this line of thought match exactly what I told Daoist Lingbao?"
Then it dawned on him. "Daoist Lingbao must be Tongtian's beloved disciple!"
"Otherwise, how could every word of mine have reached Tongtian?"
"Tongtian actually accepted it all!"
Lin Dong thought to himself, Daoist Lingbao is worth befriending deeply!
Within Zixiao Palace, Hongjun rose to his feet in shock!
"What is Tongtian doing?!"
The Sage position was something the great powers of the Primordial Era dreamed of!
He had nearly been killed by Luohu over the Sage position!
For the Sage position, the Two Sages of the West had not hesitated to scheme against Hong Yun!
And Tongtian had been destined from birth to attain the Dao!
Yet he had relinquished his Sage position himself!
Hongjun was enraged and wanted to eliminate this rebellious disciple!
But Tongtian was a disciple ordained by fate, and Heavenly Dao would not permit his replacement!
Hongjun felt utterly humiliated!
He had staged a grand spectacle for the six Sage positions!
Yet Tongtian had cast his aside!
He feared that Heavenly Dao would hold him accountable and drag him down with it!
Yet strangely, Heavenly Dao showed no reaction at all!
The Sage position was a cornerstone of Heavenly Dao. How could it be discarded so casually?
Hongjun did not understand, but he breathed a sigh of relief.
Heavenly Dao wished to punish Tongtian, yet it did not dare!
This was not Tongtian's own idea!
It was the plan of that supreme being on Penglai Immortal Island!
Heavenly Dao had once listened to Lin Dong's teachings through Tongtian and benefited greatly!
Lin Dong's greatness far surpassed Heavenly Dao!
Punishing Tongtian might provoke Lin Dong's fury!
Heavenly Dao did not dare take that risk!
The fact that Lin Dong had not expelled Heavenly Dao meant there was still an opportunity!
Heavenly Dao would absolutely not punish Hongjun!
Hongjun did not know the truth, but he still intended to make a move!
The boundless Primordial Era and the vast chaos intertwined, forming a limitless, wondrous spectacle.
Zixiao Palace stood proudly where the Primordial Era met chaos, grand and majestic, radiating endless Dao resonance.
Only those favored by destiny could glimpse its true form; only those whose Dao Hearts had penetrated the mysteries could set foot here.
This was the supreme hall where the Sages and Hunyuan great powers of the Primordial Era discussed Heavenly Dao!
Tongtian gazed at the Sages before him, a trace of mockery in his voice. "Fellow Daoists, why must you drag an idle man like me into a meeting of Sages?"
He paused, smiling without quite smiling. "I abandoned my Sage position long ago. I am no longer one of your lot!"
"Hmph!" Six cold snorts rang out at once, making the void tremble faintly.
The Sages' gazes converged on Tongtian—some pitying, some puzzled, some concealing wild delight. Each harbored their own thoughts.
Taishang and Yuanshi were seething with fury, dearly wishing to wield the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner and have a satisfying battle with Tongtian!
The Three Pure Ones were Pangu's orthodox lineage, favored by Heavenly Dao and unmatched in Luck. Few in the Primordial Era could rival them.
Since ancient calamities, whether the Desolate Beasts opening heaven, the Dragon-Han struggle for supremacy, the clash of Dao and Demon, or the conflict between the witches and demons, none had ever shaken the Three Pure Ones in the slightest.
Their Luck was profound, unparalleled throughout the Primordial Era!
The Human Sect, Chan Jiao, and Interception Sect were one body, their Luck interconnected, practically the overlords of the Primordial Era.
Yet Tongtian had destroyed his own Sage position and dissolved the Interception Sect, forcibly tearing apart the Great Fortune of the Three Pure Ones' unity!
Taishang and Yuanshi had suffered grievously because of this. How could they possibly suppress the fury in their hearts?
Sages valued Merit and Luck above all else; they were the foundation of further cultivation.
Taishang and Yuanshi's losses were far more than mere flesh wounds!
Meanwhile, the Two Sages of the West, Jieyin and Zhunti, were overjoyed and barely able to contain their excitement.
The Three Pure Ones' alliance had been like an iron wall stretching across the east. The Interception Sect dominated the seas, while Chan Jiao and the Human Sect ruled the land, completely blocking the Western Teachings' path of spreading their doctrine.
If the Two Sages of the West wished to spread their teachings, they could only tread carefully and shamelessly accept one or two disciples. So long as the Three Pure Ones turned a blind eye, that would be enough.
But to spread their doctrine on a grand scale? That was simply a fool's dream!
Now that Tongtian had relinquished his Sage position, it was like an opportunity bestowed by heaven. The Two Sages of the West secretly praised this move to the heavens.
The Three Pure Ones' alliance had been broken. In the future, the Western Teachings could spread their doctrine throughout the Interception Sect's former territory without obstruction!
The clouds had parted and the mist dispersed. All they had to do was wait for the flowers to bloom; the great rise of the Western Teachings was already in sight!
Nuwa Saint alone stood apart, her thoughts entirely different from those of the other Sages.
She simply found Tongtian's abandonment of his Sage position utterly baffling.
The Sage position was the supreme attainment coveted by countless cultivators. Since Tongtian had already obtained it, why would he cast it aside so easily?
Could some unknown secret be hidden within?
As a Sage of the Primordial Era, Nuwa upheld Heavenly Dao's will and knew well that Sages were the foundation by which Heavenly Dao maintained the Primordial Era.
If everyone acted as willfully as Tongtian, would not the order of Heavenly Dao fall into chaos?
She merely sought to discuss the matter as it stood, without mixing in personal motives.
Still, aside from an aberration like Tongtian, which other Sage would commit such a heretical act?
Hongjun stared coldly at Tongtian, his gaze sharp as blades.
He had once feared that Heavenly Dao would punish him for Tongtian's actions and had remained anxious for a long while.
Now that he had confirmed Heavenly Dao would not pursue the matter, he was instead furious beyond measure!
As the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, where was his dignity?
Tongtian's act had to be severely punished!
Hongjun's voice was icy, without a trace of emotion. "Tongtian, why did you relinquish your Sage position and dissolve the Interception Sect?"
"Give an explanation at once, or you will surely be punished!"
All the Sages shouted in unison, "Agreed!"
The gazes of the six Sages descended upon Tongtian like mountains pressing down from above, carrying endless Sage might.
Had Tongtian not listened to teachings under Senior Lin Dong and raised his cultivation to the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, he would likely have humiliated himself beneath such pressure long ago!
Sages and Hunyuan were ultimately different.
Sages were bolstered by the Authority of the Heavenly Dao and far surpassed Hunyuan at the same realm.
Nuwa was at the Seventh Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, her gaze like a rainbow; Taishang and Yuanshi were at the Sixth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, their gazes like swords; Jieyin and Zhunti were at the Fourth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm, their gazes like blazing torches; and Hongjun's gaze from the Dao Integration Realm was incomparably fierce!
An ordinary great power would likely have been crushed to dust by such a display.
Fortunately, Tongtian had received Senior Lin Dong's instruction. His cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, rising three minor realms in full to reach the Ninth Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm!
The pressure of the five Sages' gazes had no effect on him whatsoever.
Only Hongjun's gaze from the Dao Integration Realm brought him a slight sense of pressure.
But compared to Senior Lin Dong's unfathomable might, Hongjun's pressure was something Tongtian could still handle calmly.
He smiled faintly, his tone puzzled. "Fellow Daoists, I have already made myself perfectly clear."
"This poor Daoist has no mind to cultivate virtue and cannot bear the responsibility of the Sage position, so I resigned from it!"
Hongjun's eyes widened, his tone grim. "Stop spouting such empty nonsense!"
"Tell the truth!"
Before you continue