The Six Sages Visit

Outside Buzhou Mountain, before Pangu Hall.

Six figures descended. Taiqing spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I am Taiqing, here with several fellow daoists to call upon you."

Before long, the hall doors opened. Wu Ming walked out slowly. Seeing the six people outside, a flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.

"Rare guests, truly rare guests. You fellow daoists, not cultivating quietly in your own dojos—what brings you to my Buzhou Mountain today?" Wu Ming said, his voice flat.

After ushering everyone into Pangu Hall, Wu Ming looked at them and said, "I wonder, what matter brings you esteemed ones here today?"

The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti all turned their gazes toward Nuwa in unison.

The meaning was obvious: you proposed this, so you speak.

Feeling the stares, Nuwa grumbled inwardly: a bunch of grown men, always making me, a weak woman, do the talking.

Her expression unchanged, she met Wu Ming's gaze and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I won't beat around the bush."

"We have come presumptuously today to ask you for guidance—how exactly should one comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"

Wu Ming let out a light laugh and shook his head. "How to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi? How would I know?"

"I wasn't granted the Hongmeng Purple Qi by the Dao Ancestor."

"All of you bear the Hongmeng Purple Qi. When it comes to understanding this thing, you are the ones with the most authority to speak. Why ask me instead?"

He spread his hands, wearing an expression that said, "You've got the wrong person."

Nuwa's face remained calm as she continued, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, why be so evasive?"

"If you claimed to know nothing of the Hongmeng Purple Qi, I would never believe it."

"Take the matter of Fellow Daoist Hongyun back then—if not for your guidance, would he have so easily yielded the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng and resolved that karmic debt?"

"Moreover, as far as I know, you mentioned this matter before the Dao Ancestor bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Qi at Zixiao Palace."

"Fellow Daoist, you must have foreseen the ownership of the Hongmeng Purple Qi long ago, hadn't you?"

Wu Ming's thoughts churned. This Nuwa was indeed sharp-witted.

His face betraying nothing, he replied noncommittally: "What if I did know? What if I didn't?"

At these words, the six in the hall were all shaken.

So it was true!

He had known all along!

Nuwa pressed on: "We have come today hoping you would generously share the method to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi. For this, we... are willing to pay a fitting price."

She stressed the word "price," making their sincerity and resolve clear.

Hearing "price," Wu Ming's heart stirred.

He looked at Nuwa, then swept his gaze over the other five, feigning confusion: "I am a bit curious."

"Why are you all so eager to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"

"To the point of paying a price just to learn the method?"

"This is the foundation for Attaining Sainthood, profoundly mysterious. Wouldn't it be better to comprehend it slowly and wait for the Opportunity?"

Wu Ming's words struck the heart of the matter.

At this, Nuwa fell silent.

How could she explain? That the Demon Race was growing powerful, that her brother Fuxi was entangled in it, and she was desperate to become a saint to protect herself and gain leverage? Saying that in front of the Witch Clan would only weaken her stance and let Wu Ming manipulate her.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, sensing something off in Wu Ming's words.

Indeed, why were the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa so urgent?

To the point of dragging them, the two brothers, into it.

They had been too excited about joining the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa in comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Qi to think deeply—why would these four, especially the arrogant Three Pure Ones, lower themselves to invite them?

After all, the two from The West were quite unwelcome in the East.

They both turned probing looks toward Nuwa, clearly wanting to know the real reason behind this.

The atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

Sect Master Tongtian saw Nuwa's troubled expression and understood her concerns.

The Demon Race, the Witch Clan—the relations between them were complicated.

Nuwa was a great power of the Demon Race, so naturally she didn't want Wu Ming to know that the Demon Race was deducing the Great Formation of the Stars, a matter of utmost secrecy.

He, Tongtian, had no such scruples.

So he spoke up: "To be honest with Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Di Jun of the Demon Race is collaborating with Nuwa's brother Fuxi to deduce a peerless killing formation called the Great Formation of the Stars!"

"Once this formation is complete, it can draw upon the power of all the stars in the heavens, its might infinite, enough to destroy heaven and earth!"

"At that time, the Demon Race's strength will skyrocket, and the Primordial Wilderness will likely fall into utter chaos."

"We too are forced by circumstance, eager to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi and Attain Sainthood, so that we may have some means to protect ourselves in the coming calamity."

Tongtian laid out the reason in one breath, his tone laced with undisguised worry.

"What?!"

Jieyin and Zhunti both cried out in shock, their faces drastically changing.

"The Demon Race... the Demon Race is actually deducing such a terrifying formation?" Daoist Zhunti's voice trembled slightly.

The West was already barren; they had barely obtained the Hongmeng Purple Qi and were counting on it to turn their fortunes around. If the Primordial Wilderness fell into chaos, their meager assets would likely be annihilated in an instant.

For a moment, the two wore even deeper expressions of worry, their hearts burning with anxiety.

After hearing Tongtian's words, Wu Ming furrowed his brows slightly and muttered under his breath: "What's going on? They're starting to deduce the Great Formation of the Stars now?"

"That shouldn't be right. According to the original course of events, wasn't this thing supposed to be developed only after the First Witch-Demon War, when the Demon Race suffered losses and learned their lesson?"

"Could it be... that the current Witch Clan is too powerful, putting them under immense pressure, so they advanced the timeline?"

"Are they really that cowardly, Di Jun, Taiyi?"

Though his voice was soft, everyone present had sharp ears and keen eyes.

They all heard it clearly.

The crowd was instantly shocked!

He even knew about the Great Formation of the Stars!

And what was this "First Witch-Demon War"?

Was a full-scale war between the Witch Clan and the Demon Race really about to break out?

Just how many more secrets did this Wu Ming know that they didn't?!

Sect Master Tongtian reacted the fastest. He turned sharply to Wu Ming: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! What did you just say? What Witch-Demon War?"

Wu Ming snapped back to reality, his face still calm and unruffled: "Nothing. I was just expressing some thoughts."

He swept his gaze across the crowd, a knowing smile appearing on his face.

"No wonder you all are so anxious to Attain Sainthood."

"So it's because you fear that once the Demon Race grows strong and obtains the Great Formation of the Stars, they'll come to seize the Hongmeng Purple Qi in your hands."

These words struck directly at everyone's sore spot.

Though none of them said it aloud, they all harbored such concerns to some degree.

The struggle for Saint positions was utterly brutal!

Wu Ming thought to himself: Since they're so desperate and have come to me willingly, this is a good opportunity.

After all, even if I didn't tell them, they'd figure it out eventually—it's just a matter of time.

The Heavenly Dao's general trend is set: Nuwa creates humans and becomes a Sage, the Three Pure Ones establish their teachings and become Sages, Jieyin and Zhunti make great vows and become Sages—these are all fixed outcomes.

Why not seize this chance to use this information gap to secure some tangible benefits for the Witch Clan?

With this in mind, Wu Ming looked at the crowd, a meaningful curve tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Then he addressed them: "Just now, Fellow Daoist Nuwa said that you all are willing to pay a price to exchange for the method of comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Qi from me."

"So then, I wonder... what kind of price are you willing to pay?"

At these words, within Pangu Hall, the six future Sages fell into instant silence.

What price would they have to pay to satisfy Wu Ming and obtain the key method to becoming a Sage?

For a moment, each harbored their own thoughts.