Xuan Wazi Points Out the Way

The treasures on Treasure Distribution Cliff had their brilliance dimmed, each of the myriad spiritual treasures finding its owner... what a load of crap! That Xuan Wazi fellow had taken them all in one fell swoop.

The mighty figures of the Primordial Era left with empty hands and heavy hearts, their deep hatred for a certain name transforming into streaks of light as they returned to their respective abodes. Where the vast Treasure Distribution Cliff once stood, only empty chaotic energy streams remained, recounting the "catastrophe" that had just occurred.

Sect Master Tongtian and the protagonist, Xuan Wazi, walked side-by-side, leaving the place that had caused everyone so much distress. Tongtian's expression was somewhat complicated. The "ruthless man" beside him had directly emptied Treasure Distribution Cliff, and he himself had gained nothing. What troubled him even more were the Primordial Violet Qi and the path to sainthood.

Arriving in a secluded chaotic void, Tongtian suddenly stopped. He tidied his slightly disheveled robes from the previous scramble and performed a solemn Dao salute to the protagonist.

The protagonist, Xuan Wazi, who was happily inventorying the mountain of "spoils of war" within the Chaos Bead, was startled and dodged most of the gesture. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, fellow Daoist Tongtian, what are you doing? I can't accept such a grand gesture from you, it might shorten my lifespan."

Tongtian straightened up, his gaze intense, filled with sincerity and inquiry. "Fellow Daoist deserves this gift! In Zixiao Palace, if it weren't for your timely admonishment, revealing the hidden dangers of the Three Corpses, I might have unknowingly embarked on a wrong path. On Treasure Distribution Cliff, although your methods were... cough... fierce, you did allow us to see many faces. I will engrave these enlightenments and... hmm, the karma of these warnings, in my heart."

He paused, his tone carrying a trace of uncontrollable longing and confusion, and transmitted telepathically, "To be frank, fellow Daoist, I still have a question that has been lingering in my heart for a long time, and I hope you will not hesitate to impart your wisdom. Although Primordial Violet Qi is the foundation for becoming a saint, I am unwilling to follow the three methods mentioned by our teacher: merit and slaying the corpses, both of which are fraught with hidden dangers. I heard you mention 'Heaven-Opening Merit' before. I wonder... how can one invoke the Heaven-Opening Merit left by Father God Pangu to prove the Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and attain true freedom and detachment?"

Upon hearing this, the protagonist Xuan Wazi's playful smile softened. He stroked his chin, his gaze distant, as if piercing through the endless chaos to witness the magnificent scene of creation and the origin of the Three Pure Ones.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian," the protagonist began slowly, also transmitting telepathically, "I understand your thoughts. Hunyuan Grand Unity, transcending the Heavenly Dao, becoming one's own Dao, is indeed a supreme realm. However, the time has not yet come."

"The time has not yet come?" Tongtian frowned slightly.

"Indeed," the protagonist nodded, his expression unusually serious. "Heaven-Opening Merit is a gift from Father God Pangu, deeply hidden within the very core of your Three Pure Ones' Primordial Spirits. It is also the great karma and great fortune you carried from birth. It is not a static thing, but is closely related to your own Dao and the evolution of the Primordial Era. To forcibly invoke it would be like pulling up seedlings to help them grow; not only would it be difficult to achieve perfection, but it could also damage your foundation and even attract the focused attention of the Heavenly Dao, making the loss outweigh the gain."

He looked at Tongtian's thoughtful expression and continued, "You must wait for the Heavenly Dao to operate, for the great trend of the Primordial Era to reach a certain critical juncture, for your own Dao to resonate deeply with the Primordial Era, and for your understanding of the laws you wield to reach a certain level. At that time, the Heaven-Opening Merit will naturally respond and surge forth, a natural progression."

"Remember," the protagonist's tone grew heavier, "Merit can be a raft to help you cross the sea of suffering, but it cannot be the shore itself. By no means should you learn from... certain people who may appear in the future, and simply pile up merit to prove your Dao. You should use the invoked Heaven-Opening Merit as a supplement to cleanse your Primordial Spirit, understand yourself, and deeply comprehend the laws of the Way of the Sword that you wield. Emulate Father God Pangu and practice the Dao of Strength! Although it will be extremely difficult and fraught with peril, once successful, your future will be limitless, and you will be a truly free immortal, unbound by the Heavenly Dao!"

"Dao of Strength... laws of the Way of the Sword..." Tongtian murmured, the light in his eyes growing brighter. Invisible sword qi flowed spontaneously around him, tearing apart and repelling the surrounding chaotic energy. He seemed to see a clear and unobstructed grand avenue, though filled with thorns, leading directly to the supreme realm! This path was in line with his doctrine of seizing a sliver of opportunity!

Just then, within the protagonist's mind, a pale blue light screen, visible only to him, quietly appeared.

[Ding! Detected that the host has successfully provided in-depth guidance to Sect Master Tongtian on the path to Hunyuan (Dao of Strength), significantly altering the fate of a key plot character. Shenanigans Rating: Excellent!]

[Reward Issued: Cultivation increased, Early Stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal → Mid Stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal!]

[Additional Tip: 'Not Being Human' Points +888. The host's understanding of the 'Not Being Human' path deepens, and he can now guide the general trend invisibly. The system is very pleased!]

A powerful, vast, and purer force than ever before surged into the protagonist's limbs, bones, and Primordial Spirit. The bottleneck of the Early Stage Hunyuan Golden Immortal was easily broken like thin paper. His comprehension of the fragments of the Great Dao of Strength became clearer, and the resonance between his Dao rhythm and the chaos became more harmonious. The magical power that had been slightly depleted from forcefully collecting Treasure Distribution Cliff was not only instantly replenished but also increased severalfold! He felt that if he were to face Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's Chaos Bell again, even without relying on the absolute defense of the Chaos Bead, he could contend with it head-on without being at a disadvantage.

Tongtian seemed to sense something and looked at the protagonist with surprise. He felt that the other's aura had become even more profound and heavy in an instant, like an abyss or a mountain, unfathomable. His heart filled with awe and admiration, and he found the protagonist's background and methods increasingly mysterious.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for dispelling my confusion!" Tongtian bowed again, this time with genuine sincerity, gratitude, and determination. "Tongtian now knows the path forward!"

"You're welcome, you're welcome," the protagonist chuckled, feeling the surging power within him and the system's generous rewards, his mood greatly improved. "Fellow Daoist, go back and contemplate well, refine your spiritual treasures, hone your Way of the Sword, and patiently await the opportune moment. I also need to return to my abode to digest this harvest." He patted the Chaos Bead at his waist meaningfully.

The two clasped hands and parted, each transforming into a beam of light and departing.

However, as the protagonist leisurely made his way back to his own abode in the chaos, contemplating how to deal with the pile of spiritual treasures and Treasure Distribution Cliff, a different scene unfolded within the supreme and now empty Zixiao Palace.

Above the cloud bed where Dao Ancestor Hongjun had disappeared, a blurry silhouette, slightly merged with the aura of the Heavenly Dao, slowly materialized. Although not his true form, it carried Hongjun's will and infinite majesty.

Before this silhouette, the void rippled, revealing a scene of the protagonist and Tongtian communicating in the chaos, followed by the protagonist's aura inexplicably surging. Although the Chaos Bead interfered, preventing them from hearing the specific conversation, Tongtian's sudden enlightenment and soaring sword qi, as well as the protagonist's abrupt increase in cultivation, were clearly visible.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, as if originating from the Heavenly Dao itself, caused the space within Zixiao Palace to slightly congeal.

"Well done, you Great Dao Anomaly! Xuan Wazi!" Hongjun's indifferent but extremely enraged Dao voice emanated from the silhouette. "First, you usurped the prime seat and disrupted the luck of the seating arrangement; then, you spoke wildly in the palace, shaking the foundation of the immortal Dao; and now, you are instigating Tongtian, severing his path to Heavenly Dao sainthood, and leading him down the wrong path of the Dao of Strength... You have repeatedly undermined the luck of my Xuanmen and distorted the predetermined fate of the Heavenly Dao!"

His gaze was icy, piercing through the endless void, firmly locking onto the figure leisurely fleeing. His killing intent was almost irrepressible.

"If it weren't for the Heavenly Dao's clarity, this scoundrel carrying the Chaos Bead, concealing his heavenly secrets, and being a Great Dao Anomaly that triggers unknown variables, directly killing him might provoke a strong backlash from the Great Dao, causing severe turbulence to the origin of the Primordial Era, which would hinder my plan for Dao integration... Otherwise, I would have personally taken action long ago, reducing you to ashes, and casting your true spirit into the endless Abyss of Nothingness, never to be reborn!"

Around Hongjun's silhouette, Heavenly Dao laws coiled and roared like countless cold chains, calculating.

"However... an anomaly is still an anomaly. You cannot escape the grand game of the Primordial Heaven and Earth. Under the Heavenly Dao, the general trend remains unchanged, but minor trends can be altered. Since you have entered this game, let us play a good game of chess. Let's see if you, this variable, can stir up real waves in this Primordial chess game, and whether you can bear the price of playing against the Heavenly Dao..."

"We'll see."

The voice gradually faded, and the silhouette in Zixiao Palace slowly dissipated, returning to silence. Only the supreme Heavenly Dao, influenced by Hongjun's will, began to silently adjust the future trajectory, laying down invisible nets.

Meanwhile, the protagonist Xuan Wazi, having long since left the vicinity of Zixiao Palace and pondering whether to refine Treasure Distribution Cliff into a super brick, inexplicably sneezed several times.

"Hiss... Strange, can Hunyuan Golden Immortals catch a cold?" He rubbed his nose, looking around suspiciously. The chaos was empty, with no anomalies. "It must be that old schemer Hongjun cursing me behind my back! Forget it, I won't bother with him. I'll go back and have some fun first! Heh heh, I've made a killing this time!"

Carrying his full harvest and the joy of advancement, the protagonist's figure disappeared into the depths of the chaos, preparing to return to his "Carefree Residence" to meticulously inventory his spoils and consolidate his cultivation.