The moment Yuanshi Tianzun finished speaking, the entire main hall of the Palace of Supreme Purity fell into dead silence.
Laozi, Sect Master Tongtian, and Xuandu's gazes shifted back and forth between Li Yun and Yuanshi Tianzun.
"Uh..."
Li Yun opened his mouth, unsure how to answer for a moment.
Agree? Wouldn't that be betraying them? Betraying Laozi!
But if he refused, wouldn't that mean offending Yuanshi? Offending a Saint?
Yet between two evils, he had to choose the lesser one. Although offending Yuanshi Tianzun was certainly no good thing, he would never abandon his identity as a Human Teachings Disciple, much less betray Laozi, the foremost of the Three Pure Ones and the Six Saints.
With that thought, Li Yun bowed without hesitation. "Thank you for your kindness and esteem, Second Martial Uncle. But as a Human Teachings Disciple and my master's disciple, I have no intention of changing sects or leaving Human Teachings."
The moment those words were spoken, Li Yun clearly sensed Laozi's approval.
Xuandu, standing nearby, also let out a breath of relief.
Although he had long said that he would not leave Human Teachings, facing an invitation from a Saint still made Xuandu somewhat worried.
That was the status of a Direct Disciple. While the treatment within Human Teachings was roughly comparable, Yuanshi Tianzun's final promise—Chan Teachings Heir—was simply too tempting.
After all, while Li Yun's treatment in Human Teachings was no worse than that of a Direct Disciple, the position of heir could only belong to Xuandu. Li Yun could not possibly compete for it.
Especially since he possessed the potential of the Emperor's Path. In the future, he would inevitably need to become the master of a faction to fully develop it. In truth, Yuanshi Tianzun's promise carried immense value and significance.
"Alas..."
With a sigh, Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Li Yun unwillingly. "You truly will not reconsider?"
"I truly will not!"
Li Yun shook his head firmly. "I entered Human Teachings because Senior Brother Xuandu helped me, and because Master showed me mercy. Otherwise, there would be no Li Yun today."
"Besides, I have heard of your requirements for your disciples, Second Martial Uncle. Even if I joined Chan Teachings, I could at most become an Inner Disciple. Even with your approval, becoming a Direct Disciple would be the limit. I could never become Chan Teachings Heir."
Yuanshi Tianzun froze at those words. After giving Li Yun a puzzled look, he asked, "Hm? Why is that?"
It was not only him.
Sect Master Tongtian, standing nearby, also showed an interested expression.
Li Yun actually possessed such clear self-awareness. Even Saints like them found it unexpected and surprising.
"Enough."
At that moment, Laozi quietly spoke and interrupted their conversation.
Then, after giving Li Yun an approving glance, he said calmly, "My disciple comes from the Human Race, but he is not purely human. His body contains some Witch Clan bloodline. He was born a Human-Witch Hybrid."
What!
Witch Clan bloodline!
Human-Witch Hybrid!
Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian could no longer remain seated.
The Witch Clan.
Of course, they knew what that meant.
They understood even more clearly that the Twelve Ancestor Witches were their mortal enemies, and that they would fight to the death over the title of Pangu's Orthodox Lineage.
If the Witch Clan had not been one of the Primordial World's dominant powers, the Three Pure Ones would have wiped them out when they attained the Dao. What gave them the right to contend with the Three Brothers for Pangu's Orthodox Lineage, its title, and its fortune?
For that very reason, they held little favorability toward the Witch Clan. They had never expected Li Yun to be a Human-Witch Hybrid. This was simply...
"That is correct."
Li Yun nodded and did not hide it. "I am indeed a Human-Witch Hybrid. Although my Witch Clan bloodline is not especially strong, the physical strength and talent it grants me are real. For that reason, I cannot become the heir of any of the Human, Chan, and Jie Sects."
The Three Pure Ones fell silent at those words.
Though they did not wish to admit it, that was the truth.
The Three Pure Ones could never allow the heir of their sects to be associated with the Witch Clan. Even if it was merely a trace of bloodline and he did not truly belong to the Witch Clan, it made no difference.
"Alas..."
With a sigh, Yuanshi Tianzun finally gave up. "What a pity."
"However, setting aside my prejudice against the Witch Clan, your Human-Witch Hybrid bloodline does indeed give you innate advantages, particularly when cultivating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique."
"Most importantly, you, a hybrid, did not inherit the Witch Clan's Innate Turbid Qi. Nor has it polluted your primordial spirit. You have retained an absolutely pure primordial spirit. That truly surprises me!"
Sect Master Tongtian nodded from the side. "Indeed. In broader terms, your condition could be called Pangu bloodline."
"Though it is extremely thin, it is absolutely orthodox. In my view, it already surpasses the bloodline of those Witch Clan members by far."
"Big Brother, what do you think would happen if we separated a portion of our primordial spirit source and let him absorb it? What if Pangu Primordial Spirit Source and Pangu bloodline were combined?"
The moment he said this, Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun abruptly turned to look at Sect Master Tongtian.
Li Yun and Xuandu below them also raised their heads in shock to look at Sect Master Tongtian.
There was no other reason. His sudden idea truly opened up enormous room for imagination.
When the Three Pure Ones' primordial spirit sources merged, they became Pangu Primordial Spirit Source. Even if there were only a trace of it, it would be exceptionally compatible with the bloodline in Li Yun's body. Without the interference of Innate Turbid Qi, what would Li Yun become? How far would his potential and foundation rise?
"Third Brother, what an excellent suggestion."
Yuanshi Tianzun suddenly seemed to think of something, and a brilliant light flashed in his eyes. "If this truly succeeds, then Li Yun will possess both bloodline and primordial spirit. He may not compare to us or the Ancestor Witches, but he will certainly surpass the rest of the Witch Clan."
"If we acknowledge Li Yun as part of the Pangu Lineage, then with both bloodline and primordial spirit, might he have a chance to replace the Twelve Ancestor Witches? Perhaps even divide and seize the fortune of bloodline orthodoxy from the Twelve Ancestor Witches?"
As he spoke, Yuanshi Tianzun grew eager to act.
Sect Master Tongtian and Laozi beside him were also intrigued.
After all, if they achieved what Yuanshi Tianzun described, the Three Pure Ones would suffer no great loss, while the Witch Clan would receive a fatal blow. It would even be an enormous crisis for the Twelve Ancestor Witches.
Good grief!
They want me to contend for the orthodox Pangu bloodline?
If I upgrade the Great Witch Bloodline Trait to gold, then I really might have the confidence to contend for it.
Li Yun muttered inwardly, his breathing growing heavier.
Whether it was the Three Pure Ones or the Ancestor Witches, the foundation of their existence was Pangu Creation Luck and World-Opening Merit.
If he could seize the portion of Pangu Creation Luck held by the Twelve Ancestor Witches before the Witch-Demon Tribulation ended, then...
Before you continue