"I drove the Calamity onward, causing the Primordial World to grow turbulent and shatter step by step, while the Heavenly Dao, for some unknown reason, set off the Immeasurable Calamity."
Hongjun spoke in a deep voice.
Although the events of the future had yet to occur, it was not as though he had never heard of them through the Gate of Taboo.
Even if everything said within the Gate of Taboo was a pack of lies, with truth and falsehood mixed together, Hongjun could still judge what he would do in the future.
Longhan buried the Three Tribes, Wu-Yao brought about the destruction of the Witch Clan, Investiture of the Gods imprisoned the Three Pure Ones, and the Journey to the West restrained the two Western Sages... Whether or not the Gate of Taboo existed, he would definitely do all of that.
Adding in his intention to refine the Heavenly Dao, even the slightest mistake could truly cause something to go wrong, sending the Primordial World toward its end?
So the mastermind behind everything was actually me?
The Heavenly Dao might have a problem, but it seemed that he himself was... the biggest mastermind?
Hongjun opened and closed his mouth, completely numb.
Oh no, I've become the clown!
He had remained vigilant against one threat after another, only to discover that the one he should have been most wary of was himself!
"It isn't that simple."
"Whether it's you or the Heavenly Dao, at most, you can only push the Primordial World toward the Immeasurable Calamity in the end. That alone cannot connect countless destroyed Primordial Worlds and gather them within this Gate of Taboo."
"There is still a necessary medium and factor missing."
"Besides, what exactly does the Gate of Taboo signify? Is it merely a medium of connection? Or is it the Gate of Taboo itself that brought these Primordial Worlds together?"
"Furthermore, what do these Primordial Worlds represent? Are they different timelines of this Primordial World, or do they represent different Primordial World planes?"
Tang Xuan spoke slowly.
Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao fell into deep thought upon hearing this.
Especially Hongjun.
That was right. After countless Ages, he appeared to have grasped a great deal of information about the Gate of Taboo, but what about the truth? In fact, he had grasped nothing at all.
It was still unknown whether the Heavenly Dao and the Hongjuns of the other Primordial Worlds were truly the masterminds behind everything.
"How did the Gate of Taboo find you?"
Tang Xuan turned to Hongjun and asked.
"Senior, I don't know either. One day during the Chaos Era, a gate suddenly appeared within my true spirit. I have no idea how it appeared or what its origins are."
Hongjun shook his head.
Tang Xuan understood. His eyes narrowed slightly as countless thoughts and ideas flashed through his mind.
The appearance of the Gate of Taboo definitely wasn't random or accidental. It was inevitable. However, Tang Xuan did not yet know what the condition was.
Could it be based on destiny? Or on one's importance to the Primordial World? Perhaps anyone important to the Primordial World, or anyone involved in tremendous karma, would possess a Gate of Taboo?
There was too little information, and Tang Xuan could not make a judgment.
Besides, he had never seen anything similar in the Primordial Era genre novels he had read in his previous life. He had nothing to use as a reference.
"Summon the Gate of Taboo."
Tang Xuan gestured.
"Yes, Senior."
Hongjun had no objections. Even the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao turned its gaze over, clearly very interested in—or perhaps taking the Gate of Taboo very seriously.
"Buzz!"
With a thought from Hongjun, the light around them rapidly dimmed. In the unseen depths, some taboo existence, some indescribable great terror, began to gather and take shape.
The incarnation of the Heavenly Dao raised its head slightly. It had originally intended to mobilize the laws of the Great Dao to disperse the darkness, only to discover that it could not do so.
"Senior, this darkness represents Nirvana, the end, and destruction. It cannot be removed or dispersed. What exists within this Gate of Taboo truly is countless destroyed worlds."
The incarnation of the Heavenly Dao spoke.
Tang Xuan nodded slightly and looked up.
In the endless darkness, an ancient, mysterious, and eerie portal—or rather, a black doorframe—was vaguely outlined.
With just one glance, countless whispers and strange voices seemed to appear in his mind, as though they were tempting living beings toward depravity and corruption, filled with unparalleled evil.
Tang Xuan understood. No wonder Hongjun had said that the Gate of Taboo was a great terror filled with ominousness. With an appearance like this, anyone who saw it would know that it was definitely no good thing.
"Hongjun, how dare you deceive us?"
"Hongjun, you will know what comes next... Gah, who is this person?"
"I have never seen him."
"I have never heard of him either."
"You are a heretic."
"You are an anomaly."
"You do not belong to the Primordial World."
"Heh heh heh, your appearance will surely plunge the Primordial World into eternal calamity."
Whisper after whisper emerged from the Gate of Taboo. The clamorous voices seemed to come from countless living beings gathered within it. In the blur, countless clawing figures could be seen, as though they were about to charge out of the Gate of Taboo.
As for the seductive voices from within the Gate of Taboo, whether it was Tang Xuan, Hongjun, or even the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, all of them merely watched in silence with indifferent expressions.
Gradually, the voices within the Gate of Taboo grew quieter. In the end, they abruptly stopped, and not a sound remained.
"Don't you like calling out? Then keep calling. We're listening."
Tang Xuan gestured.
Trying to sow discord?
Do you really think anyone will pay attention to you?
"Senior, I have deduced that these living beings indeed possess auras similar to Hongjun's."
"It seems they truly originated from other Primordial Worlds, and there are multiple Hongjuns."
"If we want to learn more information, they need to keep speaking so that I can make judgments and deductions from their words."
The incarnation of the Heavenly Dao spoke.
"..."
The Gate of Taboo.
"%%...&￥#@."
The Gate of Taboo.
"The end is coming. Nirvana will arrive. After the Immeasurable Calamity, we will wait for you within the Gate of Taboo."
A resentful voice came from within the Gate of Taboo. Countless living beings could vaguely be seen retreating to either side as a figure slowly stepped forward. Although its features were blurry, the dense taboo and eeriness surrounding it could still be felt.
"Boom!!!"
As the figure spoke, the entire Gate of Taboo seemed to tremble. The endless darkness within it churned, and countless shattered, destroyed, distorted, and eerie world phantoms flickered in and out of sight.
He was...
"Hong! Jun!"
Hongjun's expression grew solemn as he spoke one word at a time.
That was right—Hongjun!
Even though he could not see the figure's features clearly, he could confirm that it was absolutely himself.
A Hongjun from a different Primordial World!
"Buzz!"
A profound aura churned, and the Gate of Taboo vanished without a sound. The world returned to brightness.
"Looks like you're quite powerful in the other Primordial Worlds."
Tang Xuan said with a chuckle.
As expected of the renowned big boss behind the scenes of the Primordial World. He truly was formidable. That dark version of Hongjun just now had been more than imposing.
"..."
Hongjun.
"There's no need to dwell too much on the Gate of Taboo. Hongjun, go back and cultivate. Once your realm has stabilized, come to me. I will grant you an opportunity."
Tang Xuan spoke unhurriedly.
"Thank you, Senior."
Hongjun's eyes lit up, and he immediately expressed his gratitude.
The depths of Chaos.
In a region where time and space were in disorder, Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire could vaguely be seen evolving and taking shape. A small world was hidden there.
A black-clad youth sat cross-legged at the center of this dark minor world, seemingly cultivating.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, the youth abruptly opened his eyes.
Before you continue