Three Little Ones Go Out

"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm so bored I'm about to grow moss! We've been born and manifested for so long, yet we've been stuck here the whole time, never gone anywhere. How about we go out and explore, take a trip or something?"

Tongtian's whole face was etched with sheer tedium, his eager gaze darting back and forth between Laozi and Yuanshi.

Yuanshi furrowed his brow slightly. In truth, he too felt a longing to roam the Primordial World, but he still held his patience and reasoned:

"Third Brother, the Primordial World as it stands now isn't a place where we can just run wild.

Even though the Three Pure Ones don't yet know of the Great Calamity's existence, just look at how the Three Clans are locked in such a fierce struggle out there—it's an absolute mess, impossible to untangle.

If we rush out now, we might get dragged into the conflict. It's far too dangerous. Better to wait and see."

"Second Brother, look—we've already reached the peak of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. In this Primordial World, that's hardly weak, is it?

What big trouble could come from just one little trip? Besides, if we keep sitting here dryly cultivating, trying to break through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, we might as well wait till the Year of the Monkey.

I can feel it—though the outside world is full of dangers, danger and opportunity always go hand in hand.

Maybe if we go out, we'll stumble upon some fortune and break through smoothly!"

Tongtian's eyes sparkled with anticipation, fixed intently on Yuanshi, his gaze brimming with longing.

Yuanshi looked at Tongtian's expectant expression and couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly.

Though his resolve wavered inside, he still didn't relent verbally, saying: "If Big Brother agrees, then I have no objections."

Laozi, standing by, wore a faint, odd smile, thinking to himself: Second Brother, you really are a full-blown Brother Complex and a tsundere. Hearing Third Brother's plea, your heart's probably doing cartwheels, yet you're still here playing the stoic.

Words like "Brother Complex" and "tsundere" were all things Xuanxiao had taught them during the years they'd spent together.

"Big Brother, make a call—what do you think?" Tongtian, having spent years with Yuanshi, knew from that remark that Yuanshi was already leaning toward agreement, so he quickly turned his hopeful gaze to Laozi.

Laozi's face showed a flicker of hesitation as he slowly spoke: "Tongtian, what you say makes sense. Without some fortune's aid, breaking through in a short time won't be easy. But the current situation in the Primordial World is far too perilous."

Seeing Laozi still wavering, Tongtian pressed his advantage and continued persuading:

"Big Brother, don't forget—Second Uncle said we have twelve more brothers! Twelve whole people! If we don't grow strong enough later, we'll end up trampled under their feet, maybe even forced to play the little brother to them. And if we don't measure up, Second Uncle will surely be disappointed in us!"

Hearing Tongtian's rapid-fire words, Yuanshi and Laozi, who had been hesitating, almost simultaneously blurted out without a second thought: "Let's go. Right now. Out to travel!"

They weren't particularly fixated on when they'd break through, but the thought of being overshadowed by the Twelve Ancestral Witches—that they couldn't stomach. Instantly swayed, they agreed to Tongtian's proposal.

"Just as I thought—Big Brother and Second Brother always act calm and composed on the surface, but deep down, they're desperate for Second Uncle's approval.

I only had to mention Second Uncle, and they caved right away.

Hmph, Second Uncle always used to say I was the least sharp of us three brothers, told me to listen more to my elders.

Looks like he was off the mark this time—clearly, I'm the smartest of the three!"

With that thought, Tongtian's face couldn't help but show a hint of smug pride.

Now that the decision was made, Laozi wasted no more time in indecision. He decisively waved his hand and said: "Let's go!"

Yuanshi and Tongtian nodded in acknowledgment at Laozi's command, then left the Daoist Temple together.

As luck would have it, at almost the same moment, the Twelve Ancestral Witches at the foot of Buzhou Mountain stepped out of Pangu Hall, advancing in a grand procession toward the Primordial World.

"These little ones have quite the rapport—so far apart, yet they make the same choice at the same time." Xuanxiao, who was discussing the Dao with Yang Mei, sensed the Three Pure Ones and the Twelve Ancestral Witches heading into the Primordial World simultaneously. He shook his head lightly, a helpless smile crossing his face.

Yang Mei noticed Xuanxiao's words trail off and, puzzled, slowly opened his eyes to look at Xuanxiao, asking with concern: "Fellow Daoist, is there some urgent matter requiring your attention?"

Xuanxiao shook his head gently and explained: "Nothing major. Just a few youngsters too restless to stay put, off to play in the Primordial World."

"Youngsters? The Three Pure Ones?" Yang Mei's eyes flickered with curiosity at Xuanxiao's words.

"Mm." Xuanxiao nodded slightly.

Given Yang Mei's current strength, knowing of the Three Pure Ones' existence was no difficult feat.

But the Twelve Ancestral Witches were shielded by Pangu Hall, making them relatively hidden, so Yang Mei only mentioned the Three Pure Ones, not the Ancestral Witches.

"The Primordial World's situation is turbulent and complex right now, and with their special identities, going out at this juncture is hardly a wise choice," Yang Mei said with a slight shake of his head.

"No matter. They have to grow up eventually. Going out to gain experience will do them good. And with my current abilities, I'm confident I can keep them safe in the Primordial World." Xuanxiao's expression was calm and composed, his tone brimming with confidence.

Hearing Xuanxiao's reply, Yang Mei didn't press further.

The two soon immersed themselves back in discussing the Dao, as if that brief interlude had never happened.

Meanwhile, the Three Pure Ones had already stepped out of their Daoist Temple.

Not far ahead lay a fierce battlefield where the Three Clans were locked in chaotic combat.

"These Three Clans, destroying the Primordial World so recklessly—it's utterly outrageous!" Yuanshi's brow was tightly knit, his eyes full of disgust as he stared at the three warring factions.

On the battlefield, the clamor of battle cries shook the heavens, blood flowed freely, and the lands and living beings of the Primordial World were cruelly ravaged in the melee.

"It's not that bad. This is a life-or-death struggle for them. In this cruel world, to snatch a thread of survival, they can't afford to care about much else.

We can't lay all the blame on them. Besides, this level of destruction isn't enough to harm the Primordial World's foundation."

Tongtian didn't feel much aversion to the Three Clans' behavior.

In his view, it was just the brutal reality of survival competition in the Primordial World.

"Tongtian, you need to understand—this Primordial World is the precious creation of Father God! For them to ravage it so wantonly—in my eyes, that's a grave disrespect to Father God!" Yuanshi's discontent flared even hotter at Tongtian's words, his emotions growing agitated.

"Second Brother, you're going too far! They're just struggling to survive—how can you pin that crime on them?" Tongtian shot back instinctively at Yuanshi's accusation.

In his view, the Three Clans fighting for survival was perfectly understandable.

Yuanshi was already furious at the Three Clans' actions, and hearing Tongtian not only disagree with him but openly contradict his elder brother made his anger flare up instantly.

"Tongtian!" Yuanshi raised his voice, his gaze sharp with severity.

"Enough, it's just a trivial matter—what's there to argue about? If you truly can't convince each other, then just fight it out! Whoever wins, their reasoning is right. And if you two still aren't satisfied, come fight me instead—whoever wins in the end, we'll all listen to them!" Just as Yuanshi was about to erupt, Laozi stepped in, waving a hand to cut him off.

Hearing Laozi's words, both Yuanshi and Tongtian immediately backed down, falling silent.

Each thought to themselves: "When did Eldest Brother start acting so much like Second Uncle? This approach is exactly the same."

Seeing the two calm down, Laozi sighed inwardly: "Second Uncle was right—reasoning with these two brothers doesn't work. Fists speak louder."