A thousand years passed in Kunlun Mountain.
Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones faced one another, their expressions varied.
The Hongmeng Purple Qi remained unchanged, suspended within each person's Primordial Spirit, utterly motionless and profound beyond comprehension.
Nuwa spoke first, her voice carrying an indescribable weariness. "A thousand years have passed. Can this Hongmeng Purple Qi truly be comprehended?"
Taiqing opened his eyes. Even those placid, unfathomable eyes now held ripples.
He shook his head. "I haven't the slightest clue."
Yuanshi snorted coldly, the aura around him somewhat unstable. "How could something bestowed by our teacher be false? We simply lack the necessary affinity and haven't managed to glimpse even a fraction of its secrets!"
Despite his words, the irritation in his tone was impossible to conceal.
Tongtian looked equally frustrated and scratched at his hair.
"What the hell is this thing?"
"It's right there. You can sense that it's extraordinary, but you just can't touch it or reach it! It's driving me crazy!"
Taiqing slowly exhaled a breath of Turbid Qi, his brows tightly furrowed.
"The path we cultivate seems to have no direct connection with this Hongmeng Purple Qi."
"It resembles a key, but we don't know which door it is meant to unlock."
Nuwa looked at the three senior brothers, and the suspicion in her heart grew heavier.
"Could it be... that this Hongmeng Purple Qi truly cannot be comprehended through our own efforts?"
She bit her lower lip. A thought had lingered in her mind for a long time, and she finally voiced it.
"Three senior brothers, I have an idea, though I don't know whether I should say it."
Taiqing said, "Speak freely, junior sister."
Yuanshi and Tongtian also turned to her.
"Besides the four of us, there are also the two Daoist friends from the West, Jieyin and Zhunti. They too obtained Hongmeng Purple Qi and are our teacher's Nominal Disciples."
Nuwa paused to observe the Three Pure Ones' reactions.
"I was thinking, since the four of us have achieved nothing even by working together, why don't we..."
"Invite those two to come and comprehend it with us?"
"Perhaps this Hongmeng Purple Qi requires the combined strength of all six of us before we can find that slender glimmer of hope!"
After she finished speaking, Taiqing's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but he did not immediately respond.
Yuanshi's expression darkened at once, his eyes filled with undisguised disdain.
"Junior sister! Stop talking nonsense!" His voice suddenly rose, carrying anger.
"Hmph! Those two from the West only obtained their Saint positions by wailing and lamenting in Zixiao Palace, putting on a pitiful display and throwing tantrums until they happened to win our teacher's sympathy!"
"How were their actions any different from those of shameless scoundrels? They completely disgraced all of us guests of Zixiao Palace!"
"You want me to comprehend the Great Dao together with such shameless creatures? What an utter humiliation! I refuse to associate with them!"
The more Yuanshi spoke, the more agitated he became. His chest heaved, clearly harboring deep resentment toward the two.
Tongtian also knitted his brows and curled his lips. "Those two fellows really are... not exactly respectable. All that crying and sobbing—what kind of behavior is that?"
Although his reaction was not as intense as Yuanshi's, he was clearly unwilling as well.
Seeing this, Nuwa sighed inwardly.
How could she not know that these three senior brothers, especially Yuanshi, had always looked down on the two from the West?
She sighed and revealed a weighty piece of news.
"Three senior brothers, do you know about the Demon Clan's current situation?"
Taiqing looked at her. "The Demon Clan? Di Jun and Taiyi unified the Demon Clan, and their Destiny/Fortune is flourishing. Naturally, we know about that."
"That's not all." Nuwa's expression grew solemn. "As far as I know, Di Jun and my elder brother are working together to deduce an unparalleled formation known as the Great Formation of the Stars."
"This formation draws upon the power of the stars throughout the heavens. Once deployed, its might will be boundless—enough to destroy heaven and earth."
"Think about it, three senior brothers. The Demon Clan is already powerful. If they obtain such a killing formation as well, to what extent will their strength expand?"
"The Primordial Wilderness is likely to descend into complete chaos!"
"When that happens, if we still haven't Attained Sainthood, under this overwhelming calamity, even protecting ourselves may become an extravagant hope!"
Nuwa's words were like thunder exploding across flat ground, causing the Three Pure Ones' expressions to change dramatically.
Taiqing's perpetually narrowed eyes snapped open, a flash of light vanishing from them in an instant.
"Junior sister Nuwa, is this truly the case?"
His voice was no longer calm and carried a hint of urgency.
The disdain on Yuanshi's face disappeared completely, replaced by deep apprehension and shock.
Although he was proud, he knew how terrifying the power of the stars throughout the heavens was.
Nuwa nodded solemnly. "Absolutely true. My elder brother sent word about it before, saying that everything was progressing quite smoothly."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so anxious as to disturb you three senior brothers and discuss how to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi."
Taiqing remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. "Your concerns are not unfounded."
He looked at Yuanshi and Tongtian. "The greater situation comes first."
It was only four words, but they clearly conveyed his attitude.
Yuanshi's chest rose and fell once. In the end, he still gave a heavy snort through his nose.
"Very well! For the sake of the Great Dao, I'll hold my nose and accept it!"
"But let me make this clear first: if those two fellows dare to play any more tricks, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
Tongtian also sighed. "Fine, fine. Having more allies is always good. Though those two allies aren't exactly likable."
Seeing the Three Pure Ones relent, Nuwa felt somewhat reassured.
"Then there's no time to lose. Let us depart at once for Mount Sumeru in the West."
Taiqing nodded. "Good."
The four figures did not linger. They left Kunlun Mountain directly and flew toward the West.
Mount Sumeru.
Unlike the immortal mountains and blessed lands of the East, this place still carried a hint of ruin and desolation. However, its spiritual energy was much denser than before, clearly showing that Jieyin and Zhunti had put considerable effort into it over the years.
Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti were sitting opposite each other, both frowning miserably.
"Senior brother, what exactly is this Hongmeng Purple Qi?" Zhunti sighed repeatedly. "Our teacher didn't bestow it on us just so we could stare at it, did he?"
Daoist Jieyin looked even more bitter. "Junior brother, don't be impatient. This is the foundation for becoming a Saint, profound and difficult to fathom. It is only natural that our talents are insufficient and we cannot comprehend it."
Though he said this, the anxiety in his heart was no less than Zhunti's.
The West was barren. They had finally obtained this tremendous opportunity, and if they failed to seize it, they truly would have nowhere even to cry.
At that moment, the two figures opened their eyes simultaneously and looked toward the mountain outside.
"We have guests. I'm only afraid... they may not have come with good intentions," Zhunti muttered.
Before long, four figures appeared outside the Mount Sumeru Daoist sanctuary.
They were none other than the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.
Jieyin and Zhunti hurriedly rose to welcome them.
"Oh my, what rare guests! I had no idea the Three Pure Ones and Daoist friend Nuwa would honor us with your presence. Forgive us for failing to welcome you!" Zhunti spoke first, overflowing with enthusiasm.
Daoist Jieyin also saluted with clasped hands. "Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Taiqing gave a slight nod. "Sorry to trouble you two, fellow Daoists."
Yuanshi merely nodded coldly, not even bothering to say another word.
Tongtian, however, clasped his fists. "Daoist friend Jieyin, Daoist friend Zhunti."
Nuwa stepped forward and briefly explained the entire situation, including how the four of them had jointly attempted to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi for a thousand years without success, as well as their speculation that it might require all six of them to gather before it could be comprehended.
Naturally, she did not mention the Demon Clan's Great Formation of the Stars. That was meant to pressure the Three Pure Ones; there was no need to let these two from the West know the details as well.
After hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes immediately lit up.
The two brothers had been unable to gain even the slightest clue from comprehending it on their own and had been worrying themselves sick.
Now, Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones—four great figures—had actually taken the initiative to come to their door and propose comprehending it together. This was practically a pie falling from the heavens!
Zhunti excitedly rubbed his hands together. "Senior Sister Nuwa, are you serious? You... you're really willing to let the two of us join you in comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"
He sounded as if he feared they might regret it.
Jieyin also looked expectantly at Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones, the bitterness on his face fading somewhat.
"If we can comprehend it together with the four fellow Daoists, it will be our great fortune. Naturally, we accept with delight. We could ask for nothing better!"
Nuwa nodded. "Excellent."
Although Yuanshi still wore a stiff expression, he no longer objected.
Tongtian rubbed his fists and palms together. "Good! Six people! Let's see whether we can finally figure out this Hongmeng Purple Qi!"
Taiqing spoke. "Since that is settled, there is no time to lose."
"Let us comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi together here."
"Let us see whether the strength of six people can bring about a breakthrough."