This defied all reason.
Lin Dong burst into laughter. "Little friend Lingbao, have you forgotten?"
"Pingxin has long been a Saint within the Six Paths of Reincarnation!"
Tongtian was slightly taken aback and slowly nodded.
Yet inwardly, he remained unconvinced.
When had Pingxin ever become a Saint?
"Without leaving reincarnation, she is a Saint"—rather than a reward from the Heavenly Dao, it was more like a shackle.
Would this not trap Pingxin in reincarnation forever?
Though Tongtian was not a Saint and merely Hunyuan, he could not fathom the Heavenly Dao's intentions,
but he instinctively felt that something was wrong.
"Pingxin is indifferent to fame and gain. In her eyes, there is only the Six Paths of Reincarnation."
"Whether she possesses Primordial Violet Qi makes little difference to her."
"Thus, the great powers of the Primordial Era never learned of it."
Tongtian stared in astonishment. "But the temples of the Saints throughout the Primordial Era..."
Before he could finish, he realized he had misspoken!
Empress Pingxin's temples likely outnumbered those of any Saint!
Only Nuwa's temples could compare with them.
Heaven and Earth—her name shook the Primordial Era.
Saints stood far removed from mortals,
but reincarnation was a path every living being had to pass through.
In the hearts of mortals, who was closer to them was self-evident.
Saints competed for Merit and Luck,
but why would Pingxin need to fight for them?
So long as reincarnation endured, her Merit would never diminish.
Thus, all the Saints knew the importance of reincarnation, and none dared set their sights on it.
Otherwise, they would not only incur Pingxin's enmity, but also hand the other Saints an excuse based on Karma.
Whoever dared meddle with reincarnation would surely be besieged by all the Saints!
This was the confidence of Saint Pingxin!
Tongtian suddenly understood and said sincerely, "Pingxin's breadth of heart is beyond the reach of people like us."
Lin Dong deeply agreed.
Even if he had cultivated since the creation of Heaven and Earth, he knew he could never sacrifice himself to become reincarnation as Pingxin had.
He was a mortal, complete with all seven emotions and six desires,
and could not be so selfless.
This life was wonderful. He sought only to attain the Dao and pursue eternal freedom.
He had bestowed an opportunity upon Tongtian only because he himself had more than enough.
But that did not hinder his admiration for Pingxin.
Seeing Tongtian lost in thought, Lin Dong misunderstood and asked with a smile,
"Little friend Lingbao, do you envy Saint Pingxin?"
"The Shangqing Violet Qi belongs to Pingxin. That is the Karma of the Heavenly Dao; envy cannot win it."
Tongtian was about to explain, but Lin Dong's next words
left him dumbfounded and flushed with embarrassment.
"You need not envy Pingxin for obtaining violet qi. Everyone has their own opportunities."
"Forget it. Primordial Violet Qi is of no use to me,"
"so I shall give it to you and your disciples!"
With a point of his finger, nine dazzling strands of violet qi flew into the primordial spirits of Tongtian and his eight disciples.
Primordial Violet Qi!
A full nine strands!
Tongtian was utterly stunned, his mouth dry. "S-Senior... this..."
This was the opportunity to attain the Dao!
He had never seen so much violet qi!
Back when Hongjun had been at Zixiao Palace, he had only brought out seven strands!
Yet Lin Dong casually gave away nine!
Tongtian was too shocked for words.
Lin Dong said calmly,
"Little friend Lingbao, although you have gained violet qi, with your cultivation, attaining Sainthood will still require several epochs."
"To tell the truth, I have cultivated since the creation of Heaven and Earth, yet I am only a Primordial Golden Immortal even now."
"In the Primordial Era, I am merely a Quasi-Saint."
"As for becoming Hunyuan, I do not know how long I will have to wait."
He said solemnly,
"You have fate with me. I give you violet qi only so that when the great calamity arrives, you may preserve a sliver of vitality."
Tongtian bowed in sincere thanks.
But he truly did not dare agree with Lin Dong's assessment.
If Lin Dong was merely a Primordial Golden Immortal, then what was Dao Ancestor Hongjun? A Golden Immortal?
Then Tongtian himself was probably only a True Immortal.
But he would never argue with Lin Dong. That would only invite ridicule.
He was utterly convinced by Lin Dong's cultivation.
Tongtian returned to Biyou Palace with the Eight Immortals, still dazed.
Duobao and the other eight direct disciples still felt as though they were dreaming.
They looked at one another, bewildered and unable to understand what had happened.
The only memories remaining in their primordial spirits were of following Tongtian into Penglai Immortal Island,
then, before seeing the island master's true appearance, being guided into enlightenment by the Great Dao Talisman.
When they awoke, they were already outside the immortal island.
Yet their cultivation had soared as swiftly as if they had used a Mystic Gate escape technique.
Before entering the island, they had merely been at the advanced or peak stage of Daluo,
still far from the pinnacle of Daluo and requiring long years of cultivation.
Yet in the blink of an eye,
they had all reached the peak of Quasi-Saint!
This was the peak of Quasi-Saint!
And it was not one person, but all eight of the Eight Immortals!
Duobao and the others suspected that they had somehow entered the Hunyuan Heluo Great Array,
cultivated within it for an epoch, and yet felt that only an instant had passed.
Otherwise, how could their cultivation have increased so drastically?
Upon realizing that their cultivation had advanced tremendously, the Eight Immortals felt not joy, but fear!
As direct descendants of the Mystic Gate, they deeply understood the importance of foundations.
With the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate as examples, no one dared greedily rush ahead.
They all held great ambitions and wished to follow their master in attaining Hunyuan,
so they cultivated cautiously, step by step, never acting impatiently.
Yet they had never expected to break through to the peak of Quasi-Saint in an instant!
This filled the Eight Immortals with terror!
However, after examining themselves carefully, they discovered that their Dao foundations were not merely stable, but flawless.
Even in dreams, such a realm would have been beyond reach.
The Great Dao laws they had comprehended fit them perfectly.
Not only that,
there was a divine weapon within each of their primordial spirits, one that had already been completely refined.
After verifying it through their primordial spirits, they found that it was astonishingly a Chaos Spirit Treasure!
There was also a strand of Primordial Violet Qi, quietly submitting beneath the Spirit Treasure.
As for the Merit within their bodies, they had completely overlooked it.
How could Merit from the Primordial Era compare with a Chaos Spirit Treasure and Primordial Violet Qi?
Violet qi was the opportunity of the Great Dao!
Only the Saints and Ancestor Hong Yun had obtained it.
As for Chaos Spirit Treasures, the Primordial Era only knew of four:
the Chaos Green Lotus nurtured by Pangu,
Jieyin's Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit,
Minghe's Karmic Fire Red Lotus,
and Luohu's World-Destroying Black Lotus, all formed from the lotus seeds of the Green Lotus.
There was also Pangu's Sky-Opening Axe, which had split into the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Chaos Bell.
And the Chaos Bead, which contained a primordial world and could conceal heavenly secrets.
Lastly, there was Hongjun's Jade Plate of Creation, which had aided him in attaining the Dao and transforming into the Heavenly Dao.
The Eight Immortals had never imagined that they would receive such an opportunity and obtain Chaos Spirit Treasures!
A heaven-defying fortune!
They felt as though they had fallen into a dream.
They could only assume that they had cultivated for an epoch on Penglai Immortal Island, immersed in cultivation until they forgot the passage of time.
Otherwise, refining Chaos Spirit Treasures would require endless years!
Back then, Eastern Emperor Taiyi had refined the Chaos Bell from before he took form,
yet even until his death, he had not completely refined it.
The Chaos Bell was only an Innate Supreme Treasure,
while the treasures in their primordial spirits were Chaos Spirit Treasures!
How could the difficulty be compared?
Furthermore, their cultivation had already reached the peak of Quasi-Saint!
How many Quasi-Saints were there in the Primordial Era?
Before this, not a single direct disciple of a Saint had broken through to Quasi-Saint!
Yet they had already begun preparing to become Hunyuan?
It was like a dream, like an illusion!
Duobao, Jinling, Wudang, Guiling, Zhao Gongming, and Sanxiao all began calculating and asking the heavens,
seeking to learn what year it was now.
"Only a hundred years have passed!"
"H-How is that possible?"
The expressions of the Eight Immortals grew increasingly strange.
This had completely overturned everything they knew!
Since when had cultivation become so easy?
If it truly were so easy, would the Primordial Era have only six Saints?
Tongtian smiled at his eight disciples.
"Did I not say that I would bring you to meet a senior?"
"This senior's cultivation surpasses mine by ten thousand times."
"What I cannot accomplish is no more difficult to him than turning over his hand!"
The Eight Immortals suddenly came to their senses, their faces burning.
Earlier, they had even doubted this senior.
Now, the facts lay before them!
Cultivation, Chaos Spirit Treasures, Primordial Violet Qi, Golden Wheels of Merit—
every one of them displayed that senior's boundless might.
What inspired even greater awe was that, after receiving such immense opportunities,
they had not even seen the senior's true appearance!
That was the most astonishing part!
Tongtian instructed them,
"Your cultivation is still insufficient, so you lack the fate to see Senior Lin Dong's true appearance."
"But the senior thinks highly of you. Otherwise, he would not have bestowed such great opportunities upon you."
"Even I benefited from your good fortune and received a supreme treasure."
The Eight Immortals all bowed toward the void in thanks,
and endless reverence rose within them for Senior Lin Dong of Penglai Mountain.
Tongtian's expression turned solemn:
"Senior instructed me to warn you all not to rush your breakthroughs."
"Your Dao Hearts are not yet stable, and your opportunities have not arrived. Proving the Dao is nearly impossible."
"Under no circumstances are you to reveal your true cultivation before your fellow disciples at Biyou Palace."
"With the protection of a Chaos Spirit Treasure, concealing your cultivation is as easy as turning your hand."
"The Immeasurable Calamity is approaching. The more trump cards you hide, the greater your assurance!"
The Eight Immortals answered in unison.
At that moment, Tongtian's heart stirred. "Why have these two come?"
On Jin'ao Island in the East Sea, violet qi filled the air, and immortal music drifted melodiously.
When Saints traveled, heavenly phenomena naturally followed.
Tongtian led over two hundred disciples of Biyou Palace to respectfully welcome Taishang and Yuanshi.
The Three Pure Ones entered the main hall, and all disciples withdrew.
Taishang suddenly said, "Junior Brother Tongtian, your direct disciples are rather remarkable."
Yuanshi's face darkened. "The disciples under you far surpass my own disappointing lot."
Duobao and the other Eight Immortals had been ordered to conceal their cultivation.
With the Chaos Spirit Treasure, they could easily deceive anyone below the Saint Realm.
But Taishang and Yuanshi were Saints. How could they fail to see through them?
Yet even Saints only knew that the Eight Immortals had broken through to the Quasi-Saint Realm.
They had not noticed that they had already reached its peak, much less learned of the violet qi and spirit treasures.
Chaos Spirit Treasures and Primordial Violet Qi could naturally stabilize Merit and conceal heavenly secrets.
Though Taishang and Yuanshi did not know the full truth, what they had seen was enough to make them envious.
The Human Sect had only Xuandu. Though personally taught by Taishang, he had merely reached the peak of the Daluo Realm.
The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao had unsteady temperaments and were entangled in the calamity of slaughter.
To become Quasi-Saints, they first had to survive the tribulation!
The two Saints felt envy toward Tongtian's disciples.
They had never expected it.
The realm their own painstakingly cultivated disciples had failed to attain had already been reached by Tongtian's disciples!
Tongtian hurriedly waved his hand. "It is not my achievement. It is the Eight Immortals' own opportunity."
What he said was true.
In terms of teaching, he believed himself inferior to no one in the Primordial Era.
Even Hongjun could not compare to him.
But the Eight Immortals' present cultivation had not come from his instruction.
It was entirely Senior Lin Dong's achievement!
With a single gesture, Senior had created eight peak Quasi-Saints.
This was not a Saint's method of enlightenment!
Enlightenment came at the cost of potential, forcibly fixing one's cultivation.
Like when Hongjun had enlightened Haotian and Yaochi in the past.
He had exhausted their potential and permanently fixed them at the peak of the Quasi-Saint Realm.
From then on, they could never advance another inch.
But Duobao and the other Eight Immortals were different.
Lin Dong had not enlightened them directly. Instead, he had guided them into epiphany.
He had aided their cultivation with immeasurable Merit.
Tongtian had never used Merit so extravagantly!
This gave the Eight Immortals perfect foundations.
Though they were peak Quasi-Saints, their future paths remained unharmed.
If Tongtian had taught them himself, he could have achieved the same.
But it would have required several epochs.
Every epoch contained calamities of slaughter, great calamities, and countless variables.
Who could guarantee that the Eight Immortals would not perish?
With a single thought, Lin Dong had completely changed the Eight Immortals' paths.
Supreme fortune!
Tongtian did not dare claim credit.
Taishang and Yuanshi did not know the full story.
They merely thought Tongtian was being modest.
Yet that was not the reason for their visit.
So the matter was temporarily set aside.
Yuanshi said darkly:
"Junior Brother, you have taken a wrong step."
"You abolished your own Saint position and disbanded the Interception Sect. How could you do such a thing?"
"The Three Pure Ones are one body. Human Sect, Chan Jiao, and Interception Sect complement one another, forming a perfect cycle."
"By doing this, you have exposed a weakness for nothing!"
Taishang also disapproved. "Junior Brother Tongtian, your actions were inappropriate."
Tongtian smiled and shook his head.
He had long known this day would come.
He said calmly:
"You two Senior Brothers have only seen that I abolished my Saint position and disbanded the Interception Sect."
"But did you notice what I did before that?"
Taishang and Yuanshi were stunned. "What you did before that?"
"I expelled the inferior disciples and sinful disciples in batches." Tongtian was frank.
He concealed nothing from the two of them.
The Three Pure Ones shared the same origin, and their wisdom and combat strength were comparable.
Even if he did not tell them, they could have guessed.
Tongtian smiled at the two Saints.
"Senior Brother Yuanshi said that the three sects complement one another. That is correct."
"But the two of you had long held objections to my method of accepting disciples, had you not?"
"Those covered in fur and horned, born damp or from eggs, are unworthy of cultivating immortality. Was that not what the two of you said?"
"Surely Chan Jiao disciples would not casually slander me, their Martial Uncle?"
Yuanshi's face reddened with embarrassment.
He said in a deep voice, "Only I and Eldest Senior Brother may judge your actions."
"How could others speak recklessly? When I return, I will certainly punish them severely!"
Taishang agreed. "Precisely!"
Tongtian smiled and did not pursue the matter, continuing instead:
"My doctrine is interception: seeing through heaven and earth, seeking a sliver of vitality."
"Have either of you Senior Brothers considered why that is?"
Taishang and Yuanshi were astonished.
They had only assumed Tongtian had gone mad.
But he was clearly more lucid than ever!
Tongtian said leisurely:
"If I had not done this, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity would never have taken its present form!"
Taishang and Yuanshi's expressions changed.
Yuanshi asked with an ashen face, "Junior Brother, what do you mean by that?"
Taishang stared intently at Tongtian.
The pressure of the two Saints leaked out unconsciously.
Fortunately, only the Three Pure Ones were in the main hall.
No one else was disturbed.
Tongtian was now at the peak of the Twelfth Heaven of the Origin Realm.
He was only a thread away from the Dao Integration Realm.
He treated the gazes of the two Saints as nothing—after all, they were merely at the Seventh Heaven of the Heavenly Dao Realm!
He said indifferently:
"My Dao differs from yours."
"My Dao sees through heaven and earth and intercepts vitality."
"Therefore, I practice it in all things."
Yuanshi snorted coldly. "All Saints do the same. You are not unique. Speak plainly—what is this about?"
Yuanshi was not an impatient man.
He was renowned throughout the Primordial Era for his wisdom and calculations, with patience beyond compare.
A wise man plotted for eternity. How could he lack patience?
Yet the Investiture of the Gods Calamity had gone beyond expectations.
The three discussions at Zixiao Palace had each been more shocking than the last.
The situation was spiraling out of control. How could Yuanshi not grow anxious?
Tongtian was unaffected and continued at his own pace:
"My doctrine is interception: accepting all, teaching without discrimination."
"Ten Thousand Immortals gathered under my sect!"
"Yet the good and bad were mixed together, and there were even remnants of the Witch and Demon clans."
"If they were taught and their sins dispelled, it might still be acceptable."
"But they only accumulated more Karma. When the calamity came, not only would sinful disciples perish."
"Even virtuous disciples would find it difficult to escape!"
"When the nest is overturned, how can any egg remain intact?"
Yuanshi protested, "Why must you abolish your Saint position and disband the Interception Sect?"
"Purging the Interception Sect would not simply..."
His words caught in his throat.
Tongtian looked at him mockingly.
Taishang fell silent.
Saints were embodiments of the Dao.
Every word and action of theirs was the Dao.
When Tongtian founded the Interception Sect, he had to accept disciples broadly.
That was his Dao.
The Interception Sect was the vitality of its disciples.
If he did not accept them, he would violate his own Dao.
Yuanshi's words were asking Tongtian to deny his own Dao.
That would inevitably shatter his Dao Heart and cause his cultivation to plummet!
Yuanshi apologized deeply. "Junior Brother, I spoke in haste. Please forgive me."
Tongtian waved his hand and continued:
"If I had not abolished my Saint position and disbanded the Interception Sect."
"Do you two Senior Brothers know what the Investiture of the Gods Calamity would have looked like?"
Taishang and Yuanshi did not think much of it.
Yuanshi said, "At most, it would be the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate against the Two Sages of the West."
Tongtian smiled and shook his head.
"No!"
"If the Interception Sect had not disbanded, then during the discussions at Zixiao Palace."
"Burdened by Karma and vast in numbers, the Interception Sect would certainly have become the target of all!"
"At that time, for the sake of their own Dao."
"What brotherhood or fellowship would there be?"
"They would likely seek to destroy my Interception Sect!"
Taishang and Yuanshi were greatly shocked.
They wanted to refute him.
Yet a voice arose from the depths of their primordial spirits:
This was the most likely outcome!
Tongtian laughed at himself.
"The Interception Sect has sinful disciples and is destined for destruction."
"Even the Dao Ancestor cannot stop it."
"Just imagine, Senior Brothers,"
"Ten Thousand Immortals of the Interception Sect came to pay homage, with over ten thousand immortals."
"The Human Sect had only one immortal, Chan Jiao had over twenty, and the Western Teachings had a little over a hundred."
"In this situation, what would you choose?"
"Besides, if the sages did not intervene, the disciples of the three sects and five sages combined,"
"Would still be no match for the Interception Sect."
"What would you do?"
Taishang and Yuanshi exchanged glances, their faces dark.
Tongtian's words questioned the heart.
What else could they do?
They would have to join forces with the other three sages to wipe out the Interception Sect!
The Interception Sect had many disciples, heavy sins, and deep Karma.
There was no second path!
As Tongtian explained the Karma, Taishang and Yuanshi were shaken.
Drawn by the shifting aura, the two sages suddenly comprehended the Heavenly Secret.
They were horrified: everything Tongtian had said was true!
If Tongtian had not made a prompt decision,
The sages would inevitably have risen together to destroy the Interception Sect,
Leaving it no chance whatsoever to rise again!
This was the great tide of the Heavenly Dao!
Tongtian had expelled his unworthy disciples, abolished his own sagehood, and disbanded the Interception Sect.
That required immense resolve and courage.
Behind it lay the full manifestation of his Dao:
To see through Heaven and Earth, and seize a thread of life!
Abolishing his sagehood and disbanding the Interception Sect was precisely that thread of life!
Taishang and Yuanshi felt relieved.
The Heavenly Secret just now had shocked the two sages.
If it truly came to that point, the bond between the Three Pure Ones would be utterly destroyed.
Anyone in their place would have done the same.
Those who took part in destroying the Interception Sect could never be forgiven.
Fortunately, Tongtian's actions had prevented the Three Pure Ones from killing one another,
And spared them the calamity of their bond being shattered.
Yuanshi was moved. "Junior Brother, this move is brilliant."
"As far as I know, most of the disciples you exiled were taken in by the Western Teachings."
"The Two Sages of the West refuse no one!"
Taishang said calmly, "This was originally a conflict between East and West."
Tongtian shook his head. "Not necessarily!"
Taishang and Yuanshi did not understand.
In their eyes, Tongtian's move had been brilliant.
The complementary balance among the three sects had been broken, and the two sages had once resented Tongtian.
Yet Tongtian had explained the reason,
And the two sages were relieved, sighing at his wisdom.
The Over Nine Thousand Disciples of the Interception Sect bore immense Karma and sin.
Tongtian exiled them, casting away the Karma,
And the Western Teachings took it all on.
Before you continue