Then Houtu appeared, disrupting the entire situation in one fell swoop.
Not only did the Two Sages of the West return empty-handed, but the Green Lotus Precious Banner in the hands of the Daoist Jieyin also developed cracks, and the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit lost its former Guang Hui.
Repairing these two Innate Supreme Treasure is by no means a task that can be accomplished overnight.
Upon hearing this, the Daoist Jieyin lowered his head, gazing at the magical treasure in his hand, his expression somber. "Perhaps, we should truly dedicate all our efforts to revitalizing the West."
Zhunti nodded Zhunti, then closed his eyes and sat quietly.
Deep in his consciousness, he repeatedly compared the aura fluctuations of the Ruthless Great Emperor and the Empress Houtu.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, a flicker of fear and shock crossing them.
"I understand now why the Sect Master Tongtian severed his own Dao Fruit and relinquished his Heavenly Dao Sainthood."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jieyin frowned, not understanding what he meant.
"The aura emanating from Houtu is exactly the same as that of the Ruthless Great Emperor, the Heavenly Emperor Ye, and the Desolate Heavenly Emperor."
"This means that she has reached a level equivalent to Saint by using methods from Foreign Domain, and her combat strength far surpasses that of any Heavenly Dao Sage we know!"
Jieyin's pupils Jieyin slightly, and the same shock appeared on his face.
If true, the real reason why the Sect Master Tongtian committed suicide back then is now obvious.
Based on this, it can be inferred that Tongtian's current strength is probably already unfathomable.
"This matter still needs verification; we cannot draw conclusions hastily."
Jieyin a deep breath. "Elder brother, the most important thing right now is still to revitalize our Western Way."
"Good."
In the midst of chaos, the Eight Views Palace floated silently.
The turmoil had subsided, Grand Pure Laozi remained seated, showing no intention whatsoever of setting foot in the Primordial World.
Inside the hall, Grand Supreme Elder gazed at the calm, unmoved figure and finally spoke, "That is your own brother, yet you remain completely unmoved?"
"Could it be that the entire ending was already within your calculations?"
After Grand Supreme Elder asked his question, Grand Pure Laozi nodded slightly. He looked towards the Primordial World and said softly, "You see, even though I wasn't there in person, the matter has already been settled."
"That's because the Ruthless Great Emperor has already reached the same realm."
Grand Supreme Elder asked calmly, "If the Ruthless Great Emperor had not reached this This Realm, how would things have ended?"
"If you insist on going forward, the Two Sages of the West have probably already taken the Primordial Violet Qi, the Four Swords of Zhu Xian, and the Primordial Chaos Whisk."
"No need to worry."
Grand Pure Laozi raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and then said, "That storyteller Su Yang is no ordinary person. His origins are shrouded in mystery, and he is involved in countless secrets."
"These secrets are buried deep beneath the surface of time, and it's difficult to uncover the full picture in a short time. To glimpse their core truth, we must wait for the right opportunity."
"But have you considered that since the Sect Master Tongtian has chosen to walk with Su Yang, how could Su Yang let him face the storm alone?"
Upon hearing this, Grand Supreme Elder frowned slightly, unable to grasp its deeper meaning for a moment.
Grand Pure Laozi gazed into the Deep Chaos and murmured to himself, "The shadows of the Desolate Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Emperor Ye are the strongest shackles. As long as I don't show myself, who can say for sure whether they will intervene?"
"But if I show myself and they still remain hidden, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?"
As soon as he said this, Grand Supreme Elder seemed to understand something.
He nodded silently, bowed respectfully to Grand Pure Laozi, then turned and left, his figure disappearing outside the Eight Views Palace.
Watching that departing figure, Grand Pure Laozi slowly closed his eyes, his voice drifting out like the wind. "Please convey this Tian Yi: In the Primordial World, even if one offends the All the Sages, it will only be a passing storm."
"But if he offends that storyteller Su Yang, his Honored Position as the Great Heavenly Venerate Venerable of the Three Realms will likely be unstable."
As the echoes faded, the gates of the Eight Views Palace quietly closed. Having heard the instructions, Grand Supreme Elder said no more and quietly withdrew.
"There is falsehood among truth, and truth lies within falsehood."
Grand Pure Laozi took a deep breath and whispered, "If you think that the Desolate Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Emperor Ye are still alive, then they seem to still exist; if you believe that they are gone, you cannot completely deny their existence."
"Ha, that Su Yang has indeed mastered a game of chess that is difficult to predict."
Heavenly Court, Jade Emperor Palace.
This is the Jade Emperor's abode, and also the only place where he can unload his burdens and reveal his true self.
He stepped into the palace, his gaze sweeping over the mountain of documents piled on the desk, and sighed softly.
"When will I, Haotian, finally break free from these layers of constraints?"
The Jade Emperor murmured, "The five saints— the Two Sages of the West, Grand Pure Laozi (the Supreme Three Pure Ones ), Primordial Lord of Heaven), Empress Nuwa always resided high above me."
"When will I, Haotian, finally be able to truly take control of my own destiny?"
The Jade Emperor murmured softly, a bitter smile flickering across his brow, " The Co-Lord of the Three Realms, the supreme being of all gods, his name resounds throughout the universe. The laughable thing is, beneath all these layers of glory, I am nothing more than a puppet obeying orders."
Every step I take, every word I speak, is part of someone else's calculations.
Qingshan City, an ordinary inn stands quietly.
The Sect Master Tongtian is still in seclusion, which has lasted for three days.
This is not surprising. He was not born to walk this path, nor was he like the Ruthless Great Emperor who had already reached the pinnacle, nor was he like the Empress Houtu who never entered the Saint Realm but started cultivating the Sacrifice Path again. He cut off his own path and took a different route, challenging the extreme of the Sacrifice Path with his crippled body.
Such spiritual practice takes a long time, which is only natural.
There was one more person in the inn than usual.
The old man, dressed in a plain robe and exuding a calm demeanor, was none other than Zhen Zhenyuanzi, the master of Wuzhuang Temple and the Ancestor of Earthly Immortals.
In the previous battle, he witnessed firsthand the Ruthless Great Emperor, the Footprint Emperor, and the Corpse Immortal Emperor dominating the heavens and earth, and finally understood just how strong Su Yang's subordinates were.
But he harbored neither strife nor envy.
Su Yang had been kind to him, and he had sworn to follow him. From then on, his heart remained steadfast and unwavering.
Conflict? Power? He never even considered them.
Since joining the journey, the opportunities he has gained have far exceeded his expectations. He knows that even greater fortunes are yet to come, but the time is not yet ripe.
"I have an old acquaintance I suddenly want to see. Would you like to come with me?" Su Yang asked softly, his eyes flickering slightly.
Zhenyuanzi smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and replied, "How could Zhenyuanzi dare disobey Your Excellency's wishes? May I ask where our destination is?"
"To the east, there is a mountain called Five Finger Mountain."
Su Yang's lips curled slightly, as if he were deep in thought.
Before he could finish speaking, the Ruthless Great Emperor and the Empress Houtu had already quietly appeared beside him.
The Ruthless Great Emperor remained silent, standing quietly behind Su Yang, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings, following him like a shadow.
Empress Houtu appeared slightly grave and said in a low voice, "I will go with her. Five Finger Mountain is the linchpin of the Western layout, and it retains the Saint. If it is discovered, things may change."
"Alright."
Su Yang chuckled lightly, his tone relaxed, "Then let's treat it as a long journey. But the inn can't be empty; the Sect Master Tongtian is still in seclusion inside and can't leave even for a moment."
As soon as she finished speaking, Empress Nuwa stretched lazily, raising an eyebrow slightly. "Good little brother, do you perhaps want your older sister to stay here and look after this little inn for you?"
"Thank you for your trouble, sister." Su Yang bowed slightly, a smile on her lips, her movements respectful yet affectionate.
"That's enough."