The battle in the East Sea had finally settled, Zifu Prefecture had vanished in smoke and dust, and Dong Wang Gong had self-detonated and perished.
As Zizhou Prefecture fell, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi recuperated on Sun Star, and the Primordial World once again entered a brief period of peace.
But the Demon Clan's illustrious ferocity and overwhelming power were like an invisible boulder pressing down on the hearts of all living beings in the Primordial World. They also prompted those future Sages who had obtained Primordial Violet Qi to tacitly quicken their pace.
Kunlun Mountain, Three Pure Ones Hall.
Lao Tzu, Primordial, and Tongtian sat facing one another.
The Three Pure Ones paid little attention to the Demon Clan's victory. Their entire minds were immersed in comprehending Primordial Violet Qi and cultivating Slaying Three Corpses.
Pure qi appeared above Lao Tzu's head, while the Taiji Diagram slowly rotated, Yin-Yang Two Energies flowing without pause.
It resonated with the strand of Primordial Violet Qi in his Sea of Consciousness. His aura grew increasingly deep and ethereal, and he had already faintly touched that layer of the Sage barrier, but he still could not grasp the method.
Lao Tzu's expression remained indifferent, but when his eyes opened and closed, there was already a hint of the embryonic form of Sage's Might, as though he looked down upon all things.
"Primordial Violet Qi is profound, and the Heavenly Dao can be anticipated. Once I have slain all three corpses, it will be the moment I become a Sage."
He was confident that with his Heaven Opening Merit and supreme treasures, the path of Slaying Three Corpses would not be a dead end for him.
Lao Tzu did not know that the moment he embarked upon the path of Slaying Three Corpses, his own Hunyuan Dao Path had already been severed, leaving him able to become only a puppet of the Heavenly Dao.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate was surrounded by Jade Clarity Immortal Light, while the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi radiated a chilling, inviolable majesty.
As he refined Primordial Violet Qi, he also deduced the secrets of heaven, planning how to use a Sage's will to order the Primordial World after becoming a Sage, eliminate those wet-born and egg-born creatures in his eyes, and establish an order that accorded with his wishes.
"The Sage positions have been determined. The Primordial World should honor the decree of my Pangu's True Lineage."
Primordial's arrogance swelled further because of the Primordial Violet Qi.
Sect Master Tongtian appeared even more aggressive. The Immortal Slaying Sword hovered behind him, its baleful aura strangely intertwining with the Dao Charm of Primordial Violet Qi.
What he pursued was proving the Dao through slaughter, using the sword in his hand to seize a thread of hope for all living beings.
"Teacher bestowed the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation upon me, and it perfectly suits my Dao! Once I become a Sage and deploy this formation, let me see who in the Primordial World can stop me!"
Though the Three Pure Ones shared the same origin, differences in their Dao ideals and personalities had quietly caused divergences in how they used Primordial Violet Qi and what they expected from their future Sage positions.
The brotherly bond between them seemed subtle and fragile before the Sage positions and their struggle over the Dao.
This was precisely the situation the Heavenly Dao wanted to see.
The West, Spiritual Mountain.
Jieyin and Zhunti faced the two strands of Primordial Violet Qi, their bitter expressions almost dripping with sorrow.
They had obtained the Violet Qi, but the vast fortune and merit required to become Sages were astronomical figures for the impoverished West.
"Martial Brother, must we really take that step?"
Zhunti's voice was hoarse.
"Make a Great Vow and borrow from the Heavenly Dao. That means advancing the future fortune of the West. Can the two of us bear such a heavy Karma?"
The Heavenly Dao was no philanthropist. If the merit owed to the Heavenly Dao could not be repaid, one would lightly fall from the Sage position, and at worst die with both body and Dao destroyed.
Jieyin let out a long sigh, his expression growing even more sorrowful.
"Martial Brother, do we have any other choice? The East is rich in talent and blessed by nature, and all the Western Saints are in the East. If the West has no Sage, it will never prosper! Even if we must toil for all eternity, we have no choice but to do it! This is all for the West, for our Dao Paths. This debt... must be shouldered!"
The two exchanged glances, their eyes filled with resolve and helplessness.
Their paths to Sainthood were destined to be paths of sacrifice and dedication, repaying the Heavenly Dao's loan through painstaking planning over endless ages.
The Primordial Violet Qi symbolizing the Sage position in their hands represented more than the identity and Dao Fruit of Heavenly Dao Sages. It was also a heavy responsibility and burden.
If the Spiritual Veins of the West had not been shattered and were as prosperous as those of the East, why would the two brothers have to cast aside even their dignity to scrounge for benefits everywhere? They were Great Powers; how could they not care about their reputations?
It was simply that in Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes, making the West prosper was more important than their reputations.
This was also why the West would later have its opportunity to prosper.
Longevity Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple.
Unlike the confidence, vigilance, and resolve of the others above, Ancestor Hong Yun was practically carefree to the point of being heedless.
That strand of Primordial Violet Qi revolved within his Primordial Spirit, yet Hong Yun remained unable to comprehend it.
Watching Hong Yun, who looked utterly unconcerned as he happily ate a Ginseng Fruit in each hand, Zhenyuanzi was practically frantic with worry.
"Hong Yun, are you still unable to comprehend your Primordial Violet Qi?"
"Yes. Perhaps the time still isn't right. Recently, I've always felt restless in the Dao Field. I want to go out and travel for a while."
Hong Yun sighed as well. Though he was carefree, that was the Sage position they were talking about. How could he not be anxious?
Upon hearing this, Zhenyuanzi was deeply worried.
"You are already the target of everyone. Only by staying firmly within Wuzhuang Temple and relying on my Earth Book and the Innate Wutu Grand Formation can you perhaps preserve your safety for now. Remember, you absolutely must not go out!"
At his words, Hong Yun's face turned ashen. Of course he knew the current situation, and Zhenyuanzi was right. Of the six people who had obtained Primordial Violet Qi, he alone was not a disciple of the Dao Ancestor.
Those Great Powers who coveted the opportunity to become Sages would certainly have their eyes fixed on him.
If not for the protection of his old friend Zhenyuanzi's Earth Book, they likely would have been unable to restrain themselves long ago.
He had lived a carefree life of leisure all his life and had never imagined being dragged into the center of such a terrifying whirlpool. But if he were truly asked to give up the Sage position in his grasp, he would be unwilling as well. After all, this was a Sage position—beneath a Sage, everyone was an ant.
Northern Nether Demon Master Palace, Blood Sea Nether Hall, Sun Star.
Just as Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun had expected, Kunpeng, Minghe, and Di Jun and Tai Yi were all watching Wuzhuang Temple closely.
Among them, Kunpeng's killing intent was the strongest.
In the secret chamber where Kunpeng was secluded, demonic qi filled the air. He repeatedly deduced how to break through the defenses of Longevity Mountain and how to seize back the foundation of Sainthood that rightfully belonged to him from that damned Hong Yun.
"Hong Yun! If you had not given up your seat, how could I have lost my meditation mat and missed the Violet Qi? For this Karma, this Ancestor will make you repay me with the destruction of your body and spirit!"
His patience was gradually worn away by jealousy and resentment.
One bullied the weak and avoided the strong. He did not dare seek Jieyin and Zhunti to avenge the grudge over the stolen seat. After all, the two were not weak, and Hongjun Dao Ancestor had accepted them as Registered Disciples.
Even if they were merely Registered Disciples, they were still the Dao Ancestor's Registered Disciples. To touch them would be to slap the Dao Ancestor in the face.
If he dared to slap the face of the first—and currently only—Sage in the Primordial World, Kunpeng could start looking for an auspicious burial site in advance.
Although Hongjun Dao Ancestor had already merged with the Heavenly Dao and would not appear unless something major happened, who would dare test him?
Try it, and you'd die!
Ancestor Minghe sat deep within the Blood Sea. The two swords, Yuantu and Abi, hummed, while four hundred eighty million Blood God Son clones stirred restlessly.
"Primordial Violet Qi—obtaining it can make one a Sage. Hong Yun, this item should be fated to belong to me."
Aside from Nuwa, who had learned of the conspiracy behind Primordial Violet Qi through Qingxuan's thoughts and was deeply wary of this foundation of the Dao, everyone else coveted Primordial Violet Qi intensely.
The undercurrents of the Primordial World began to flow because of Primordial Violet Qi.
Confidence, ambition, vigilance, resolve, fear, and greed—various emotions intertwined in the hearts of the several future Sages and those who coveted their opportunities.
The baleful aura of the Calamity silently spread, like a net gradually tightening.
Its first target was Ancestor Hong Yun.
A bloody storm targeting the Sage position was already brewing.
It only awaited the right moment before erupting with a thunderous crash.
The Heavenly Dao, seated high above the Nine Heavens, watched all this with indifference.
The gears of fate were slowly turning along their predetermined path.
They pushed everyone toward that unknown and perilous future.
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