"I came here for one thing, Hongjun, my friend. The Heavenly Dao is incomplete. How can it be made whole?"
Ancestor Yang Mei got straight to the point and stated the purpose of his visit.
"The Heavenly Dao is incomplete, but there is actually more to it. Listen, and I'll explain it to you, my friend!"
...(Ten thousand words omitted~)
"So Qiankun and Yin-Yang really weren't killed as part of your scheme?" Ancestor Yang Mei asked skeptically. After all, Hongjun was famous for his scheming.
"You saw what happened that day, didn't you? Luohu used the killing intent generated by the slaughter among the three clans and nearly proved the Dao and became a Saint through killing..."
"Moreover, he was protected by the God Slaying Spear and the Four Swords of Zhu Xian. The four of us nearly all perished before we finally brought him down."
Hongjun spoke slowly, as though those events were still unfolding before his eyes. It had truly been a brutal battle, one that had shattered heaven and earth and caused grievous losses. The entire western region had become their battlefield.
Luohu had wielded the God Slaying Spear, stood upon the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus, held the Zhu Xian Sword Diagram above his head, and had the Four Swords of Zhu Xian circling around him.
If the four of them had not fought to the death, trading injury for injury with Luohu...
"Yang Mei, do I really seem that sinister to you?" Hongjun helplessly shook his head. "I simply consider defeat before victory. I just think things through more thoroughly."
"And then, Hongjun?"
"After I became a Saint, I discovered that not only was the Heavenly Dao incomplete—the Human Dao and Earth Dao were incomplete too! And they were missing quite a lot!"
The moment Hongjun said this, it was like a thunderclap. Ancestor Yang Mei's expression turned solemn.
"So you chose to Combine with Dao, using yourself to complete the Heavenly Dao?"
"Yes, but that alone still wasn't enough. The Heavenly Dao was still short of being complete~" Hongjun let out a long sigh.
"And the Earth Dao and Human Dao were even more incomplete. The Primordial World still hasn't stabilized~"
"Then, Hongjun, I misunderstood you!"
Yang Mei bowed to Hongjun. This had been a question that had troubled him for a long time. Now that his confusion had been resolved and his thoughts were clear, there was no need for him to remain here.
"Aren't you afraid that I'm lying to you, Yang Mei?"
"Whether what you said is true or false, I can judge that for myself!" Yang Mei turned and prepared to leave.
"Wait, my friend!"
"What do you think about becoming a Saint of the Primordial World?"
"You want me to use myself to Combine with the Earth Dao or Human Dao? Hahahahaha, how interesting!"
"You know I don't like restraint. Once I Combine with the Dao, I'll be bound by it!"
With that, Yang Mei transformed into a streak of emerald light and vanished inside Zixiao Palace.
Looking at the empty Zixiao Palace, Hongjun raised his head toward the Chaos outside and muttered to himself:
"The three Daos of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are the foundation of the Primordial World, and they have an inseparable connection with Great God Pangu."
"Among them, the Heavenly Dao was formed from the spirit of Great God Pangu's essence, energy, and spirit. Thus, the Heavenly Dao is the foundation of the Primordial World's operation."
"Unfortunately, when the world was created, the three Daos had yet to reveal themselves. I, this old man, stabilized the foundation of the Primordial World by merging with the Heavenly Dao. When the Heavenly Dao is stable, the Primordial World is stable."
"Great God Pangu granted me the grace of enlightenment. It is only right that I take care of the Primordial World for him. Consider it repayment of our Karmic Connection."
"Sigh~"
Hongjun let out another long sigh. Then his figure concealed itself as he slowly searched for an opportunity to complete the Primordial World.
After returning to Kunlun Mountain, the Sanqing began secluded cultivation, starting to comprehend the Dao Hongjun had expounded.
Several years later, a wave of Killing Intent accompanied by a powerful aura swept up from beneath Kunlun Mountain.
"Moo~"
"Young Master, someone has come to challenge Kunlun Mountain!" The Old Ox, who was serving as Shi Yu's taster for medicinal pills, sensed the Killing Intent.
"Old Ox~"
"If even you can sense it, I noticed it long ago~"
Shi Yu patted the Old Ox's head.
"That's right, that's right! All three masters are in seclusion now. Hurry and go take a look!" Kui Ox hurriedly nodded.
Shi Yu transformed into a streak of light and flew out of the thatched courtyard. Revealing his true form as the Tai Xu Shui Yun He, he spread his wings and flew down Kunlun Mountain~
At the foot of Kunlun Mountain
"Brother Xing Tian, be careful. The pursuers from the demon race are catching up!" The speaker was Hou Yi, who fired several sharp arrows in succession from the bow in his hands.
Above the sky behind them, demonic clouds churned as several thousand demons appeared, letting out strange cries of "Aow~ aow~."
At the head was a man clad in black battle armor and wielding a long spear. He had a pair of wings on his back and a fierce glint in his eyes.
"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble on Kunlun Mountain!"
Shi Yu flapped his wings and flew toward the foot of the mountain, blocking the two sides as he shouted.
"Fellow Daoist, I am Gu Diao, a demon god of the demon race. These two are members of the witch race who have been enemies of my people for a long time. For the sake of our shared avian lineage, please step aside!"
"What if I don't?"
"Do not meddle in matters that do not concern you. These two have killed countless members of my demon race. Today, I will capture them and take them back."
Shi Yu said loudly, "Gu Diao, this is Kunlun Mountain, the Daoist sanctuary of the Sanqing. You may not run wild here. Do not bring your grudge here either."
Hearing this, Gu Diao sneered, completely disregarding Shi Yu's words. He slowly raised the long spear in his hand, and a vicious aura spread outward as the might of a late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal fully erupted.
"A demon god, huh~~"
"The Owl Bird I killed in the Great Marsh last time was only at the early stage. In just a few epochs, have the standards for demon gods already risen to the late stage?"
"Your demon race truly has talented people everywhere!"
Since there was nothing left to discuss, there was no need to keep talking. They would settle it with their hands.
Shi Yu transformed into his Innate Dao Body. With a turn of his wrist, the Cloud Void Water Fan appeared in his hand.
"You said the Great Marsh..."
"So it was you! You killed my brother Owl Bird!"
Upon hearing this, the killing intent in Gu Diao's eyes grew even stronger. Owl Bird had joined the demon race alongside him and had been granted the title of demon god by Tai Yi and Di Jun. They had shared life and death for ten thousand years and had long been as close as brothers.
Who could have expected that after his brother accepted the mission of going to the Great Marsh to bring the Unicorn Rhinoceros into the demon race, he would lose all contact?
"Today, I'll make you pay for his life with your blood!"
With that, he thrust out his spear, which tore through the air with a howling wind and shot straight toward Shi Yu.
Shi Yu lightly waved the Cloud Void Water Fan. A barrier of water vapor instantly appeared and blocked Gu Diao's attack.
Seeing this, Hou Yi drew his bow and nocked an arrow, taking aim at Gu Diao. The sharp arrow flew from his hand.
"Shi Yu, I'll lend you a hand!"
The arrow shot toward Gu Diao like a meteor. Gu Diao dodged to the side, but he did not expect Shi Yu to take the opportunity to close in. Shi Yu folded the fan and struck directly at Gu Diao's face.
Gu Diao retreated in a sorry state, while the demons behind him shouted and charged forward.
Just then, a majestic voice rang out from Kunlun Mountain:
"How dare you run wild at the foot of my Kunlun Mountain? Do you think there is no one here?"
An immortal light descended at the foot of the mountain. It was Shangqing Tongtian, who had emerged from seclusion. With a wave of his hand, a green sword light flew out from the thatched garden on the mountain and landed in his grasp.
He then swung the sword, and the demons charging forward turned into flying ash and scattered.
"I'll spare your life. Go back and tell those two mangy birds, Tai Yi and Di Jun, that this is Kunlun Mountain, not their Sun Star. Your demon race has no right to run wild here!"
Tongtian stood proudly with his sword on his back and looked at the severely wounded, barely living Gu Diao. If he had not held back to leave someone alive to deliver the message, Gu Diao would already have turned to ash alongside those demons.
Before you continue