Outside Pangu Hall, Buzhou Mountain.
Six figures descended. Taiqing called out, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I am Taiqing. I have brought several fellow Daoists to pay you a visit."
Before long, the hall doors opened. Wu Ming walked out slowly, and when he saw the six people outside, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
"Rare guests, truly rare guests. Shouldn't all of you be cultivating in seclusion at your respective daoist grounds? What brings you to my Buzhou Mountain today?" Wu Ming asked, his voice calm.
After leading them into Pangu Hall, Wu Ming looked at them and said, "May I ask what brings all of you here today?"
The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti all turned their gazes toward Nuwa at the same time.
The meaning could not have been clearer: You suggested this. You're the one who should bring it up.
Feeling several gazes on her, Nuwa secretly grumbled inwardly: A bunch of grown men. You only know how to make a weak woman like me show her face.
Her expression remained unchanged as she met Wu Ming's gaze and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I won't beat around the bush."
"We came here today to ask you for guidance. How exactly should one comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"
Wu Ming let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "How to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi? How would I know?"
"I wasn't bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Qi by the Dao Ancestor."
"All of you possess the Hongmeng Purple Qi. When it comes to understanding this object, you are the ones with the greatest authority to speak. Why would you ask me instead?"
He spread his hands, wearing an expression that said, "You've come to the wrong person."
Nuwa's expression did not change as she continued, "Why must Fellow Daoist Wu Ming be so evasive?"
"If you say you know nothing about the Hongmeng Purple Qi, I absolutely refuse to believe you."
"Regarding what happened to Fellow Daoist Hong Yun back then, if you had not guided him, how could he have so readily given the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng and resolved that Karma?"
"Moreover, as far as I know, you mentioned this matter before the teacher at Zixiao Palace bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Qi."
"Fellow Daoist, you must have predicted the Hongmeng Purple Qi's recipients long ago, didn't you?"
Wu Ming's thoughts turned. As expected of Nuwa—her mind was truly sharp.
Wu Ming's expression remained calm, and he neither confirmed nor denied it. "What does it matter whether I know or not?"
The moment he said this, the six people in the hall were all shaken.
As expected!
He had known all along!
Nuwa continued, "We came here today hoping that you would be willing to offer us your guidance and tell us how to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi. For this, we... are willing to pay the appropriate price."
She emphasized the word "price," making their sincerity and determination clear.
When he heard the word "price," Wu Ming's heart stirred slightly.
He looked at Nuwa, then swept his gaze across the other five people before asking in feigned confusion, "I'm rather curious."
"Why are all of you so eager to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi?"
"Why are you even willing to pay a price just to learn how to comprehend it?"
"This is the foundation for becoming a Saint, and its mysteries are profound. Wouldn't it be better to comprehend it slowly and quietly await your opportunity?"
Wu Ming's words struck the heart of the matter.
As soon as he said this, Nuwa fell silent.
How could she explain it? Should she say that the Demon Clan was growing powerful, that her elder brother Fuxi was caught up in it, and that she was eager to become a Saint so she could protect herself and gain a voice? If she said that in front of the Witch Clan, wouldn't she lose face for no reason and give Wu Ming leverage over her?
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance. They, too, heard that something was off in Wu Ming's words.
Indeed. Why were the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa so anxious?
They had even brought the two of them along.
Earlier, they had been too excited about comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Qi together with the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa to think carefully. These four people—especially the Three Pure Ones—were incredibly proud. Why would they lower themselves and take the initiative to invite the two of them?
It had to be known that the Western duo were extremely unwelcome in the East.
The two of them also turned their probing gazes toward Nuwa in unison, clearly wanting to know the true reason behind all this.
The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat tense.
Seeing the difficulty on Nuwa's face, Sect Master Tongtian understood her concerns as well.
The relationship between the Demon Clan and the Witch Clan was extremely complicated.
Nuwa was a great power of the Demon Clan, so she naturally did not want Wu Ming to learn that the Demon Clan was deducing the Great Formation of the Stars—a matter of the utmost secrecy.
Tongtian, however, had no such scruples.
Thus, he said loudly, "To be frank, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, the Demon Clan's Di Jun is working with Fellow Daoist Nuwa's elder brother Fuxi to deduce an unparalleled killing formation known as the Great Formation of the Stars!"
"Once this formation is completed, it will be able to draw upon the power of the Zhou Tian Xing Dou. Its might will be boundless, enough to destroy heaven and earth!"
"At that time, the Demon Clan's strength will surely soar. The Primordial Wilderness may well be plunged completely into war."
"We have no choice but to urgently comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi and Attain Sainthood, hoping to gain some ability to protect ourselves during the catastrophe to come."
Tongtian revealed the reason in one breath, his voice carrying undisguised worry.
"What?!"
Jieyin and Zhunti cried out in shock, their expressions changing drastically.
"The Demon Clan... the Demon Clan is actually deducing such a terrifying formation?" Daoist Zhunti's voice trembled slightly.
The West was already barren. After finally obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Qi, they had been counting on it to turn their fortunes around. If the Primordial Wilderness descended into chaos, their meager foundation would probably be wiped out in an instant.
For a time, the sorrowful expressions on their faces deepened, and their hearts grew extremely anxious.
After hearing Tongtian, Wu Ming furrowed his brows slightly and muttered, "What's going on? They've already started deducing the Great Formation of the Stars?"
"That shouldn't be right. According to the original course of events, shouldn't this thing only be created after the First Witch-Demon War, once the Demon Clan suffered a loss and learned its lesson?"
"Could it be... because the Witch Clan is too powerful now, putting enormous pressure on them and causing them to start early?"
"Do you have to be so cowardly, Di Jun, Taiyi?"
Although his voice was soft, not one person present lacked sharp ears and eyes.
Every one of them heard him clearly.
The crowd was instantly shocked!
He even knew about the Great Formation of the Stars!
And what was this "First Witch-Demon War"?
Were the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan really going to erupt into an all-out war?
Just how many secrets unknown to them did this Wu Ming know?!
Sect Master Tongtian reacted the fastest. He suddenly turned toward Wu Ming. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! What did you just say? What Witch-Demon War?"
Wu Ming came back to his senses, his expression still calm and unruffled. "Nothing. I was merely expressing some emotion."
He swept his gaze over everyone, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"No wonder all of you are so anxious to Attain Sainthood."
"So you're afraid that once the Demon Clan grows powerful and obtains the Great Formation of the Stars, they'll come and seize the Hongmeng Purple Qi in your hands."
These words struck directly at everyone's sore spot.
Although no one said it aloud, more or less, they all harbored this concern.
The struggle for the Saint positions was truly brutal!
Wu Ming thought to himself: Since they're so anxious and have taken the initiative to come to me, this is a good opportunity.
Even if I don't tell them, they'll eventually figure it out. It's only a matter of time.
The overall course of the Heavenly Dao is already set. Nuwa will create humanity and become a Saint, the Three Pure Ones will establish sects and become Saints, and Jieyin and Zhunti will make Great Vows and become Saints. These are all fixed outcomes.
I might as well use this information gap to secure some tangible benefits for the Witch Clan.
With this thought, Wu Ming looked at them, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful arc.
With this thought, Wu Ming looked at them. "Fellow Daoist Nuwa just said that all of you were willing to pay a price in exchange for the method of comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Qi."
"Then may I ask... what kind of price are all of you willing to pay?"
As soon as he said this, the six future Saints in Pangu Hall fell silent.
What price would they have to pay to satisfy Wu Ming and obtain the crucial method to becoming Saints?
For a moment, each of them had their own thoughts.