Zhunti's eyes flashed as he glared fiercely at Tongtian. "Tongtian, you only mentioned the Three Saints of the Mystic Gate just now. Do you intend to stand idly by during this calamity?"
Zhunti was burning with rage!
He even disregarded his dignity and howled in grief and indignation!
He had been on the verge of persuading Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
Who would have thought Tongtian would suddenly interfere and completely ruin his plans!
Had Taishang or Yuanshi spoken up, Zhunti might have accepted it.
After all, those two were deeply shrewd and had never been easy to underestimate.
But what was Tongtian?
Everyone in the Primordial Era knew he was nothing more than a reckless fool!
Yet his scheme had been ruined by this very brute. It was truly infuriating!
Moreover, Karma between him and Tongtian had yet to be resolved!
How could Zhunti so easily swallow this insult?
Who could endure such humiliation?
The moment Zhunti said this, the Three Saints of the Mystic Gate all turned to look at Tongtian.
No matter how outrageous Tongtian's actions were, he was still a giant of the Mystic Gate.
They absolutely could not let Zhunti scheme against him so easily!
They shared Zhunti's thoughts: Wasn't Tongtian just a brute?
If he were not a brute, why would he destroy his own Saint position and disband the Interception Sect?
Yet Tongtian had done exactly that!
If he was not a brute, then who was?
Tongtian glanced sideways at Zhunti with an odd look in his eyes, as though he pitied him. He had learned that look from Senior Lin Dong, and it was called "care"!
"Zhunti, did you not hear the Dao Ancestor clearly?"
"His elder self has already made it clear that all Saints must participate."
"I have not been a Saint for many years, so naturally I need not involve myself!"
"Tsk, tsk. Free of office and unburdened—what a delight!"
Zhunti was left speechless by those words!
"You! You! You!" He was so furious that he could barely speak coherently!
Indeed, the Dao Ancestor had said that.
But who would truly take it seriously?
Even though Tongtian had abandoned his Saint position and disbanded the Interception Sect, the Saints still regarded him as a Saint!
Heavenly Dao had decreed that the Three Pure Ones were Saints of the Primordial Era!
Who could have expected Tongtian to understand his own position so clearly, seeing himself only as a carefree Hunyuan?
For some reason, the Saints even felt a little envious of Tongtian's freedom!
But asking them to abandon their Saint positions and dissolve their sects? Absolutely impossible!
Zhunti panted for a long while before finally calming down.
He laughed in extreme anger. "Tongtian, as a Dao Ancestor of the Mystic Gate, can you truly stay out of this?"
Tongtian shrugged lazily, not even bothering to respond.
Zhunti was enraged and truly wanted to bring out the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, reveal his Western Golden Body, and challenge Tongtian!
But when he thought of Tongtian's overwhelming power, he forcibly restrained himself. He simply could not defeat him!
Zhunti's eyes turned, and he immediately sought help from Hongjun. "Dao Ancestor, please uphold justice for us!"
Hongjun made the final decision. "Tongtian is a Dao Ancestor of the Mystic Gate and ought to participate. This is the decree of Heavenly Dao!"
Tongtian had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Who dared defy the decree of Heavenly Dao?
The great hall of Zixiao Palace fell into a strange silence.
For a long time, no one spoke.
Hongjun calmly announced, "This discussion shall end here for now. We will discuss it again another time."
The Saints all bowed to Hongjun and withdrew.
Hongjun's expression darkened like ink!
The Saints each returned to their own domains.
The news Dao Ancestor had revealed during the gathering at Zixiao Palace was far too shocking!
The Saints needed to consider it carefully and make proper plans before taking their next steps.
The Investiture of the Gods List required the appointment of three hundred and sixty-five principal gods and fourteen thousand eight hundred deputy gods!
That number was astronomical!
The very thought was enough to make one's heart tremble!
No one had any mind to contact other sects—except for the Two Sages of the West!
After returning to Biyou Palace, Tongtian solemnly warned his disciples, "The Immeasurable Calamity has arrived!"
The immortals of Biyou Palace were utterly stunned!
How had this killing calamity come so suddenly?
Was it not far too soon?
After Tongtian assigned them their previous task, the immortals had diligently investigated the killing intent and Karma throughout the Primordial Era.
Those who remained by Tongtian's side were all people of noble character.
They had not detected any signs capable of triggering an Immeasurable Calamity!
Yet they had never expected the calamity to arrive so swiftly!
Tongtian said in a deep voice, "This calamity is no ordinary matter. Listen as I explain..."
He told his disciples everything that had happened at Zixiao Palace.
Tongtian had resolved to cultivate the broader perspective of these more than two hundred disciples.
Thus, he did not conceal even such secrets from them.
He was not worried about revealing Heavenly Secrets.
These matters did not truly count as Heavenly Secrets; it merely depended on whether the Saints were willing to make them public.
The names on the Investiture of the Gods List were the true Heavenly Secrets!
Tongtian would never reveal them lightly!
The immortals were dumbfounded and only came back to their senses after a long while.
Duobao sincerely praised, "Master's insight is truly piercing. Otherwise, we would have been in grave danger!"
The immortals all nodded!
That was indeed the case!
Thinking back, Tongtian had decisively expelled disciples burdened with grave sins, abandoned his Saint position, and disbanded the Interception Sect. He had truly seen everything clearly and planned ahead!
Who could have expected such a calamity to arrive only a thousand years later?
They still vividly remembered Tongtian's words: "If I do not do this, you will be the ones to perish!"
This was insight into the principles of Heaven and the seizure of a chance for survival!
Other than Tongtian, who could accomplish such a thing?
The more confused the immortals of Biyou Palace had been in the past, the more they revered him now!
Tongtian solemnly instructed, "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is about to begin. Do not leave Biyou Palace without permission, and complete your studies diligently!"
The immortals eagerly agreed!
Did that even need to be said?
Their master had taught them through both word and example. How could they dare disobey?
Tongtian continued, "I will visit that peerless great expert. If you diligently cultivate Merit and perform well, I will certainly take you to meet him!"
The immortals were filled with reverence!
This was already the second time Tongtian had mentioned that person!
They truly wanted to meet the great expert whom even their master admired!
Once Tongtian finished speaking, his figure suddenly vanished.
The immortals of Biyou Palace immediately began discussing the matter enthusiastically.
Tongtian once again set foot on Penglai Immortal Island.
He seemed to have returned to the days when he had first entered the realm of Grand Unity Golden Immortal and attended Dao Ancestor Hongjun's teachings at Zixiao Palace.
Countless questions filled his heart, and only Senior Lin Dong could answer them!
Tongtian paused briefly, then laughed at himself. "In Senior Lin Dong's eyes, I am merely a minor immortal who entered Daluo through a shortcut!"
At that thought, his mindset became even more proper!
When he met Lin Dong again, he respectfully bowed. "Senior, this disciple has doubts and seeks your guidance!"
Lin Dong looked at Tongtian with interest. He knew the Saints must have discussed the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.
It seemed they had failed to reach an agreement!
That was normal. The Saints followed different paths, so how could they easily come to a consensus?
Those who followed different paths could not make plans together. That was an eternal truth!
"Fellow Daoist Lingbao, ask whatever questions you have!"
Tongtian's voice trembled slightly. "Senior, if an Immeasurable Calamity is deliberately arranged by someone, is there anything improper about it?"
Oh?
Lin Dong looked at Tongtian approvingly. Fellow Daoist Lingbao truly possessed spiritual insight; he had simply failed to apply it to the proper path before!
Who would have thought that today, he would ask such a sharp question!
Lin Dong understood what Tongtian meant.
Although Hongjun was the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, he was not Heavenly Dao itself!
Now, for his own benefit, he had abused public authority for private ends and arranged two great calamities in succession!
Did that go against the will of Heavenly Dao?
Lin Dong shook his head. "I know the answer, but I cannot tell you at this moment."
Tongtian's face filled with disappointment. He instinctively felt that this matter concerned his own Dao path!
Unfortunately, Senior Lin Dong was unwilling to state it plainly.
Lin Dong explained, "This is not the most urgent matter."
What?
Tongtian looked at Lin Dong in confusion. Was this not urgent?
Hongjun had already arranged two great calamities in succession!
Did there need to be a third or fourth before it became important?
Surely not?
Lin Dong asked in return, "Fellow Daoist Lingbao, do you know why the protagonists of Heaven and Earth fell during the great calamities of past eras?"
Tongtian froze.
Why was Senior asking this?
Had this not already been explained?
Those protagonists of Heaven and Earth acted perversely, devastated living beings, and incurred the wrath of all cultivators, which was why they were brought down!
Oh?
Tongtian frowned, vaguely sensing something was wrong!
Would Senior ask such a simple question?
Absolutely not!
Tongtian quickly composed himself. In Senior Lin Dong's eyes, he was merely a minor cultivator who had entered Daluo through a shortcut!
Naturally, he had to humbly accept instruction!
"Senior, this disciple does not understand!"
If he did not understand, then he should admit it. Pretending to understand was self-deception and also contrary to the Great Dao!
Lin Dong became even more satisfied.
He even considered accepting him as a disciple!
However, Fellow Daoist Lingbao was a distinguished disciple of the Mystic Gate. Besides Hongjun, the Mystic Gate still had three Saints!
As a mere Primordial Golden Immortal, how could he dare compete with Saints for a disciple?
He could only abandon the thought!
Fortunately, he had not told Tongtian of this intention. Otherwise, Tongtian would likely have regretted it immensely!
Lin Dong said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Lingbao, the Desolate Beasts, the Three Dragon-Han Clans, and the two races of witches and demons may appear to have slaughtered the cultivators of the Primordial Era."
"But that was not actually the case!"
Tongtian was startled. "It was not?"
Lin Dong nodded. "No!"
"The Three Dragon-Han Clans slaughtered one another, and so did the two races of witches and demons."
"Slaughtering living beings? Was not the Immeasurable Calamity itself meant to settle Karma?"
Tongtian shuddered violently!
He suddenly remembered Demon Ancestor Luohu, who had gained immeasurable Merit through his grand vow of seven killings!
That vow had been to slaughter ninety-nine percent of all living beings in the Primordial Era!
Yet Heavenly Dao had actually acknowledged such a vow!
What sin was it for the Three Dragon-Han Clans to kill a few living beings?
Tongtian suddenly realized that Senior Lin Dong was about to reveal a terrifying secret!
Heavenly Dao was utterly impartial, yet utterly partial, treating all things equally.
Heavenly Dao was unkind, treating all things as straw dogs!
Yet was this not also Heavenly Dao's greatest benevolence?
Demon Ancestor Luohu had sworn to slaughter ninety-nine percent of all living beings, a monstrous crime against all races!
But in Heavenly Dao's eyes, Luohu was merely expounding his own Dao!
The Primordial Era encompassed the Three Thousand Great Daos and naturally possessed the capacity to contain them!
Existence was reasonable. Luohu walked his Dao, and Heavenly Dao gave him the opportunity to do so!
The more Tongtian thought about it, the colder his heart became!
He discovered that his understanding of Heavenly Dao had been entirely wrong!
Saints upheld the will of Heavenly Dao, regulated Yin-Yang, governed the universe, and enlightened all living beings!
But did that not contradict Heavenly Dao's acceptance of Luohu's actions?
This contradiction was anything but ordinary!
Something had to be wrong somewhere!
A chill rose in Tongtian's heart: where, exactly, was the mistake?
Why had the protagonists of every era ultimately fallen from the stage?
Tongtian had once believed slaughtering living beings to be a grave sin!
But Luohu's case made him realize that this was not the key!
Then what was?
Lin Dong asked with a smile, "Little Friend Lingbao, do you have a headache?"
Tongtian nodded without hesitation.
His head felt as though it were splitting apart!
He had thought that, as one of the Six Saints of Heavenly Dao, even after abolishing his own Saint position and disbanding the Interception Sect, he still held the secrets of the Primordial Era in his grasp!
Who would have thought that a few words from Lin Dong would turn all the secrets he had believed in into a joke!
Before the deeper secrets of the Primordial Era, Tongtian knew absolutely nothing!
How terrifying was that?
Tongtian looked at Lin Dong with pleading eyes. Only Senior could point him through this confusion!
Lin Dong said calmly, "I have already made the answer clear. Have you not realized it, little friend?"
Huh?
Tongtian froze.
When had Senior made it clear?
Why had he not noticed at all?
Tongtian furrowed his brow tightly.
Those capable of attaining sainthood were all people of great wisdom!
Tongtian considered himself no less intelligent than anyone else, but now, that did not seem to be the case!
He truly felt that his wisdom was insufficient!
This left him deeply unsettled!
"Little friend, have you ever considered why Hongjun was so determined to bring about the Rise of the West?" Lin Dong asked with interest.
Tongtian answered without thinking, "Within the Primordial Era, Karma carries tremendous weight. Even Saints cannot escape it!"
"Hongjun owes Karma to the West and must repay it, which is why he arranged two great calamities!"
Lin Dong immediately followed up, "Then what sort of Karma does Hongjun owe the West?"
Hm?
Tongtian was suddenly stunned!
That was right!
Hongjun owing Karma to the West was beyond doubt!
But what Karma was it, exactly?
Tongtian muttered to himself, "Slaughtering the living beings of the Western Demon Sect? No!"
Luohu had intended to slaughter ninety-nine percent of all living beings, yet Heavenly Dao had raised no objection!
How could Hongjun incur Karma merely by killing a few Demon Sect disciples?
Impossible!
Luohu walked his Dao. Was Hongjun not also walking his own Dao?
If not that, then only one possibility remained!
A flash of insight tore through Tongtian's Sea of Consciousness, and his thoughts abruptly cleared!
He enunciated each word in a grave voice, "Destroying the Primordial Era!"
Lin Dong nodded. "Exactly. Destroying the Primordial Era!"
He said with a smile, "Even after Hongjun attained the Dao, he could not escape this Karma. How could the protagonists of every era be exceptions?"
Tongtian shook his head forcefully. "They could not!"
In the Primordial Era, Saints stood supreme. Beneath Saints, all were ants!
The status of Saints was unparalleled!
Yet Hongjun was no ordinary Saint!
He was the first Saint of the Primordial Era, the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao. Even he could not escape this Karma!
Much less those who were not Saints!
Tongtian suddenly understood. "Senior, the protagonists of every era committed boundless sins by destroying the Primordial Era!"
"That is why they were cast down from their positions as protagonists!"
Lin Dong clapped his hands in praise. "Congratulations, little friend. You have finally caught on!"
He explained carefully, "The Desolate Beasts possessed muddled intelligence. Though gifted by nature, they had no intention of causing destruction!"
"Thus, they provoked the wrath of cultivators and were besieged until they perished!"
"During the Dragon-Han Calamity, the three clans slaughtered one another, affecting the Primordial Era. Thus, they were suppressed by cultivators and ultimately withdrew from the world!"
"In the Dao-Devil War, Hongjun and Luohu turned the West into a chaotic mire that has yet to recover. Even as a Saint, he still had to repay the Karma of heaven and earth!"
"During the Witch-Demon Calamity, even the heavens were shattered. What else needed to be said?"
"If they did not perish, who would?"
Tongtian nodded repeatedly!
With Lin Dong's guidance, he had truly understood the great Karma of the Primordial Era!
Lin Dong continued, "Heavenly Dao and the Primordial Era are two sides of the same whole. The Primordial Era is like Heavenly Dao's dwelling, while we are merely guests!"
"If guests destroy the dwelling, how could the owner not be angered?"
"In Heavenly Dao's eyes, it does not matter what kind of guests occupy the dwelling. But whoever dares destroy it becomes Heavenly Dao's mortal enemy!"
Tongtian sucked in a cold breath!
He could not help asking, "What if the dwelling is so severely damaged that it can no longer be inhabited?"
Lin Dong replied leisurely, "That would be the Age of Dharma Decline!"
"At that time, the owner will destroy the dwelling and build a new one!"
"That is the Immeasurable Eon!"
"The Primordial Era returns to chaos, and the Saints obey Heavenly Dao's command to reopen the world!"
Tongtian completely agreed!
This matched the knowledge he had received from Heavenly Dao!
The only difference was that Heavenly Dao would not reveal the deeper Karma!
Lin Dong stared at Tongtian, his gaze making his skin crawl!
Tongtian examined himself but could find nothing wrong!
He carefully asked, "Senior, what wrong have I done?"
Lin Dong gave him that familiar gaze of "concern"!
"Since you know the greatest Karma of the Primordial Era, why do you not know that the crisis of the Saints has already arrived?"
"As a disciple of the Mystic Gate, you are still sitting calmly on your meditation cushion?"
"Should I praise you for being broad-minded, or lament that you are rotten wood beyond carving?"
What?
Lin Dong's words left Tongtian utterly dumbfounded!
Then his expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly bowed to the ground. "Senior, I have an urgent matter to attend to. I will take my leave!"
Lin Dong smiled as he watched Little Friend Lingbao hurry away.
"Little Friend Lingbao holds no ordinary status in the Mystic Gate!"
"Among the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao are True Lord Qingxu Daode and Grand Master Lingbao, both beloved disciples of the Saint of Jade Void Palace!"
"This Daoist Lingbao must surely share a deep connection with Shangqing Heavenly Venerate Lingbao!"
"Otherwise, why would Heavenly Venerate Lingbao place such importance on his words?"
He muttered to himself, "The true Primordial Era really is different from the Primordial Era novels I read before transmigrating!"
"Who said Heavenly Venerate Lingbao did not listen to others?"
"See? Did he not follow my advice?"
"To abolish his own Saint position and disband the Interception Sect... Even I might not have been so decisive!"
No matter what, Heavenly Venerate Lingbao's actions had truly seized a thread of survival, worthy of admiration!
A smile appeared on Lin Dong's face. "Exchanging insights with cultivators of the Primordial Era really is immensely beneficial!"
"Though the Wind-Catching Shadow-Seeking Technique provides comprehensive information, it ultimately cannot compare to the firsthand account of those involved!"
"I wonder where my intervention will lead the Primordial Era. I truly look forward to it!"
He glanced at the Immeasurable Great Array shrouding Penglai Immortal Island, and his smile deepened!
"Without this array, I truly would not dare act so freely!"
The island-protecting array of Penglai Immortal Island was extraordinary, a supreme formation bestowed by the Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Sign-in System!
It could withstand three full-force strikes from a Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal and could even block the probing of their divine sense!
A Hunyuan Infinite Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal was also known as a Great Dao Saint!
Like an impenetrable wall, the Immeasurable Great Array isolated the inside from the outside, allowing Lin Dong to cultivate in peace!
Thus, even though Lin Dong was merely a Primordial Golden Immortal, he dared interfere in the arrangements of the Primordial Era!
With this great array, he could sit securely upon his lofty platform and watch the storms of the Primordial Era with a smile!
He looked forward even more to the future of this Primordial Era world in which he existed!
Cold sweat streamed down Tongtian's back!
He secretly cursed himself for being foolish!
Senior Lin Dong had already made it so clear, yet he had failed to understand a thing!
Senior had needed to point it out repeatedly before he finally grasped the mystery within!
They said those who attained the Dao possessed great wisdom, so why had it utterly failed in his case?
Tongtian blamed himself deeply!
Yet upon further thought, it was not entirely his fault!
Which cultivator in the Primordial Era would dare ponder such a matter deeply?
Who would dare speculate about Hongjun, the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao?
Who was greatest in the Primordial Era?
Not the Saints, but Hongjun, the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, and Heavenly Dao itself!
The Saints and cultivators alike could barely manage to follow Heavenly Dao. How would they dare delve into its intent?
Anyone harboring such thoughts would be considered heretical and rebellious!
But what was the Dao of the Primordial Era? Heavenly Dao!
Betray Heavenly Dao? Heh!
After great difficulty, Tongtian calmed himself and summoned the disciples of Biyou Palace, solemnly declaring, "From this day forth, Biyou Palace shall issue a prohibition!"
The gathered immortals were astonished!
A prohibition?
This was the most severe kind of decree!
Those who violated it would face dire consequences!
Tongtian said sternly, "We cultivators comprehend the Dao and cultivate truth, wielding supreme Supernatural Powers!"
"A True Immortal can already burn rivers and boil seas; moving mountains and shifting peaks is nothing extraordinary!"
"All of you are Daluo, and your Supernatural Powers surpass that by ten thousandfold!"
"Remember this first prohibition: the Primordial Era must not be damaged!"
"When fighting others, you must restrain your power and not harm the Primordial Era in the slightest!"
"Otherwise, the Immortal Dao will be beyond your reach!"
The immortals exchanged glances. Their master had actually issued such a decree?
Was he trying to restrict their Supernatural Powers?
Tongtian grew even sterner. "Though the heavenly laws of the Primordial Era are numerous, no crime is graver than damaging the Primordial Era!"
"Those who commit this crime will, at best, lose all their cultivation; at worst, have their souls scattered!"
The immortals turned solemn!
Tongtian's voice was icy. "The Desolate Beasts ravaged the Primordial Era and were despised by Heavenly Dao, which was why the Three Dragon-Han Clans destroyed them!"
"The Three Dragon-Han Clans abused their Supernatural Powers and provoked Heavenly Dao's wrath, so the Immortal Alliance forced them into retreat!"
"The Witch and Demon races fought without restraint and destroyed the Primordial Era. Heavenly Dao would not tolerate them, and both races perished!"
"These are all protagonists of heaven and earth, yet even they are like this. How much more so us immortals!"
The immortals all gasped sharply.
So that was it!
They had never imagined that the sin of damaging the Primordial Era could be so grave!
As Tongtian had said, even True Immortals could move mountains and fill seas!
For Daluo like them, it was even less of a challenge!
Yet they had never expected that such displays of Supernatural Powers would constitute the greatest Karma in the Primordial Era!
The immortals cried out in unison, "We shall obey Master's decree!"
Tongtian added flatly, "During the Dao-Devil War, the Dao Ancestor devastated the west. Though he is the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, he is still repaying that Karma to this day!"
"Search your hearts and ask yourselves: how should you conduct yourselves?"
What?
Even the Dao Ancestor had been punished for this?
Despite being the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, he was still repaying the Karma of the Primordial Era?
The immortals' expressions changed drastically!
Such a thing had actually happened?
It was truly terrifying!
Duobao hurriedly stepped forward and assured Tongtian, "Rest assured, Master. This disciple will strictly supervise my junior brothers and sisters. We will never commit such a grave mistake!"
His face had gone deathly pale!
As Tongtian's chief disciple and one of the Mystic Gate's foremost great powers—
Duobao knew the details of the disciples of the Three Pure Ones well!
He knew even more clearly that those remaining by Tongtian's side were all the Interception Sect's carefully selected elite!
There was no need to elaborate on the destructive power of these cultivators!
The Chan Jiao had only around twenty Grand Unity Golden Immortals!
The Interception Sect, however, had more than two hundred!
If these Grand Unity Golden Immortals truly damaged the Primordial Era, once the Karma became entangled, who could possibly come to a good end?
The immortals said in unison, "We shall obey Master's decree!"
Only then did Tongtian breathe a sigh of relief!
Honestly, he had truly been afraid!
He had abolished his own saintly status and disbanded the Interception Sect solely to secure a sliver of survival for himself and his true disciples!
If they carelessly stepped into this pitfall, all their previous efforts would be wasted!
If not for Senior Lin Dong's reminder, who could have imagined that the Primordial Era world was so important?
Tongtian had rushed back at once in order to warn his disciples!
Just as he relaxed, Hongjun's voice suddenly rang out. "All Saints, proceed to Zixiao Palace at once to deliberate!"
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens of the Primordial Era, the Saints gathered once more at Zixiao Palace!
The Saints of the Heavenly Dao Realm all wore ugly expressions!
The Investiture of the Gods Calamity had come without warning and caught them entirely unprepared!
The Saints had sternly ordered their disciples that, before the calamity began, they absolutely must not become entangled in Karma!
Otherwise, even Saints would find it difficult to save them!
Too little time had passed since their last deliberation!
The Saints had yet to devise a plan. When they gathered at Zixiao Palace, every one of them wore the same eternally unchanging poker face as Hongjun!
Hongjun paid them no heed. His indifferent voice echoed throughout the surroundings. "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is the great trend of Heavenly Dao. It cannot be stopped!"
"You are Saints of Heavenly Dao and bear the Authority of the Heavenly Dao. You must advance this matter!"
"As for the procedures of the Investiture of the Gods war, discuss them among yourselves!"
Having spoken, he closed his eyes and contemplated the Dao!
The Saints looked at one another, their faces darkening further!
Together, they imitated Hongjun and closed their eyes to contemplate the Dao!
Tongtian watched coldly from the side!
The Saints were like ostriches. Faced with the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, they turned a blind eye!
If Hongjun did not speak, they would absolutely not make a sound!
As for patience, they had plenty of it!
Zixiao Palace fell into an eerie stillness!
An awkward stillness!
Yet the Saints did not feel awkward in the slightest!
The Saints were exceptionally tense; only Tongtian remained composed!
He secretly rejoiced. Fortunately, Senior Lin Dong guided me. Otherwise, would I not be just like them?
His mind relaxed!
Tongtian surveyed the Saints and Hongjun with a detached bearing!
The several conversations he had had before Lin Dong had enabled him to think from a higher perspective!
A question suddenly occurred to him. Why does Hongjun want the Saints to deliberate together?
This question seemed laughable!
Hongjun was the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, regulating Yin-Yang!
He paid no heed to ordinary disputes in the Primordial Era, concerned only with the great trend of Heavenly Dao!
On the surface, it seemed perfectly reasonable!
But the underlying logic did not hold!
By that logic, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity was the great trend of Heavenly Dao, so Hongjun should have presided over it!
He should have determined the procedures of the Investiture of the Gods, perhaps even personally filled out the Investiture of the Gods List!
Yet Hongjun refused to do so!
He handed the Investiture of the Gods List to the Saints and had them deliberate together!
In doing so, it seemed as though the Saints of the Heavenly Dao Realm were determining the great trend!
That did not match his identity as the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao!
Tongtian grasped the key point. Though his expression remained unchanged, his mind was in deep thought!
Why, exactly, was this?
Why did the Dao Ancestor have the Saints deliberate over the Investiture of the Gods?
Who would be willing to send their own disciples onto the Investiture of the Gods List?
Even if they wrote their names down, how could they do so willingly?
If Hongjun were the one writing it, all disputes would vanish!
Why would he not do that?
Hongjun was the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, utterly impartial and just!
Since he did not do so, could it be that he was not afraid the Saints would cause trouble?
Tongtian frowned slightly!
A flash of insight suddenly illuminated his Sea of Consciousness!
His expression changed slightly as he cried out inwardly, Could it be that the Dao Ancestor did this deliberately?
Stormy waves rose in his Sea of Consciousness!
A chill rose from the depths of his heart!
The Dao Ancestor was deliberately creating conflict!
He wanted the Saints to clash with one another!
Otherwise, he would not have made such a choice!
But what benefit could this bring him?
Tongtian did not understand!
Would the Saints fight while Hongjun sat above them and acted as judge?
That was far too low-level!
It completely did not suit Hongjun's status!
To put it bluntly!
Even if the Saints of the Heavenly Dao Realm joined forces, could they overthrow Hongjun?
Impossible!
Leaving aside that Hongjun was the Incarnation of Heavenly Dao, his Peak Dao Integration Realm cultivation alone could crush the Saints!
The Saints had no possibility whatsoever of resisting!
Then why?
Tongtian could not figure it out no matter how hard he thought!
He had an intuition that if he solved this mystery, he would uncover a great secret of the Primordial Era!
Yet no matter how he pondered it, he could not guess Hongjun's intention!
After thinking for a long while, he could not help mocking himself. I am truly foolish! Looking at Hongjun from the Saints' perspective, I will always be separated by a veil of mist!
"If I change perspectives, perhaps I can glimpse the Dao Ancestor's true intentions!"
Once the thought arose, he acted on it!
Tongtian immediately placed himself in Hongjun's position!
Combining the information he had gathered, he slowly deduced, "The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was arranged by 'me' to repay Heavenly Dao's Merit!"
"To repay the Karma of the Primordial Era, the Western Teachings must rise!"
"Yet the Mystic Gate is powerful, while the west is weak!"
"Under ordinary circumstances, the Mystic Gate will certainly prevent the west from advancing eastward!"
"In that case, the west will never have a chance to rise!"
"This is inevitable!"
If the west wished to spread its teachings, the Mystic Gate was an obstacle it could not bypass!
The Chan Jiao and the Human Sect guarded the Primordial Era, blocking the west's path eastward!
The Western Teachings could not advance even a single step!
Even the Two Sages of the West could do nothing about it!
Though they were two Saints—
Pangu's Three Pure Ones were three brothers!
Whether in Dao attainment or status within the Mystic Gate, the Two Sages of the West could not compare!
For the west to rise, its faith had to flourish!
The finest place for faith in the Primordial Era was the Human Race—the protagonists of heaven and earth!
How could the tiny patch of land that was Mount Sumeru satisfy the Western Teachings?
Spreading their teachings eastward was the Western Teachings' only path to rise!
Only by weakening the Mystic Gate could the Western Teachings proceed without obstruction!
Tongtian's divine sense spun rapidly. The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
"But how can the Mystic Gate be weakened?"
Before you continue