Zixiao Palace.
An unchanging silence shrouded this Heavenly Dao temple. Time seemed to have lost all meaning here. Only threads of Great Dao laws wove and flowed through the void, forming visible purple-gold runes that bathed the palace in solemn dignity.
Sect Master Tongtian slowly opened his eyes.
A familiar scene met his gaze—the purple-gold dome hung high above, engraved with three thousand Great Dao Runes; the smooth walls reflected his seated figure on the Cloud Bed; and the air brimmed with the purest innate spiritual energy, enough to advance a Grand Unity Golden Immortal's cultivation with every breath.
This was the secluded cultivation abode of Dao Ancestor Hongjun, the supreme being of the Primordial World. It was a sacred cultivation ground countless practitioners dreamed of reaching.
But to Tongtian, it was an exquisitely gilded cage.
"I've come back again."
A soft sigh echoed through the hall, its weariness and worldliness utterly at odds with the surroundings.
For a moment, Tongtian's gaze was clouded. Then it cleared. His heart, usually as still as an ancient well, now roiled with crashing waves.
He was Tongtian, the leader of the Interception Sect, a Heavenly Dao Saint, an existence impervious to all tribulations.
But he was also Qin Xiao, a soul from another world, a transmigrator who knew the "future."
Under Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Heavenly Dao restrictions, two sets of memories and two personalities had miraculously merged perfectly, becoming inseparable. He was at once Sect Master Tongtian, who had lived through countless ages, and Qin Xiao, who could not accept what had happened to Tongtian.
"The War of Investiture of the Gods."
The four words were like the most vicious curse in the world. Tongtian's heart clenched violently.
Scene after scene flashed through his mind without warning—on Golden Ao Island, immortals gathered to pay their respects. Before Biyou Palace, the assembled immortals bowed their heads. The Interception Sect flourished, boasting tens of thousands of immortals, and even the Saints kept their distance. Then the tribulation arrived.
Grand Pure Saint, Yuqing Yuanshi, and the Two Saints of the West joined forces. Four Saints broke the Immortal Execution Sword Formation.
His disciples were slaughtered, captured, or sent to the Investiture of the Gods, condemned to serve the Heavenly Court for all eternity.
Among the Seven Attendants, Wuyun Xian was lured to the West by Zhunti with the Six Roots Pure Bamboo; Qiushou Xian, Lingya Xian, and Jinguang Xian were taken as mounts by Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and Cihang, enduring endless humiliation; Chang'er Dingguang Xian betrayed the Interception Sect and fled West with the Six Souls Banner.
Zhao Gongming was cursed to death by Lu Ya using the Nail-Head Seven Arrows Book. The Three Sanxiao Empresses sought revenge for their brother and laid the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation, stripping the Twelve Golden Immortals of the three flowers atop their heads and the five qi within their chests. In the end, Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning personally struck them down. Qiongxiao and Bixiao's souls were scattered, while Yun Xiao was imprisoned beneath Kirin Cliff.
At last, in the Myriad Immortals Formation, the Interception Sect's disciples were nearly wiped out. Empress Shiji, Holy Mother Huoling, Luo Xuan, Lü Yue... familiar faces vanished one by one before his eyes.
Tongtian clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. His Saint's body trembled slightly.
The pain! A pain that pierced to the marrow! It was not physical, but a wrenching agony from the depths of his Nascent Soul.
Some of those disciples had followed him for countless ages. Some had been enlightened by his own hand. Others, though they were beasts and monsters born from fur, scales, feathers, or eggs, had received his teaching of seizing a sliver of Heavenly secrets and gained hope of achieving enlightenment and transcendence.
They revered him, loved him, and saw him as the most reliable refuge in the Primordial World.
Yet he had failed to protect them!
"Heh... What a fine 'Three Pure Ones as one'... What a fine 'orthodox lineage of the Mystic Gate'..."
Tongtian chuckled bitterly, his eyes full of scorn.
On the surface, the War of Investiture of the Gods was a change of dynasties from Shang to Zhou. In truth, it was a struggle over the Mystic Gate's Auspicious Qi. The Western Teachings sought to spread east, while the Human Teachings and the Chan Sect took the opportunity to suppress the increasingly powerful Interception Sect.
Those two "dear elder brothers" of his—one watched indifferently, while the other personally joined the fray. Together with outsiders, they destroyed the Interception Sect's ten-thousand-year legacy!
Most laughable of all, Dao Ancestor Hongjun, their teacher, had finally appeared—not to uphold justice, but to force him to swallow the Saint-Slaying Pill and confine him to Zixiao Palace, all under the pretence of having him "reflect on his mistakes."
"The strong prey on the weak, and the victor makes the rules. Why dress it up in such grand words?" Tongtian lifted his head, his gaze seeming to pierce through the barriers of Zixiao Palace and see the Heavenly Dao turning in the unseen depths. "Heaven and Earth are impartial; they treat all things as straw dogs. Saints are impartial; they treat the people as straw dogs."
"In the Primordial World, strength is supreme!"
If he had possessed absolute strength, why would he have needed to fear the Investiture of the Gods? If he had possessed absolute strength, why would the Immortal Execution Sword Formation have feared four Saints? If he had possessed absolute strength, how could he have been trapped here?
Just as Tongtian's heart churned and his boundless resentment and fury threatened to break through the composure of a Saint—
[Ding! The host's intense resentment and will to defy Heaven have been detected. Binding conditions met.]
[Primordial Unity Transcendence System activating... 10%... 50%... 100%!]
[Binding successful! Greetings, host. This system is dedicated to helping you escape the Heavenly Dao's restraints, achieve the Primordial Dao, and ultimately transcend all things!]
A series of cold, clear mechanical chimes rang without warning from the deepest reaches of Tongtian's Nascent Soul.
Tongtian's pupils contracted. His Saint's awareness swept through every inch of his flesh and every part of his Nascent Soul, even reaching out to the Heavenly Dao laws beyond Zixiao Palace, yet he could not detect the source of the voice.
It seemed to exist in none of the past, present, or future, as though it stood beyond the bounds of the Primordial Heavenly Dao.
"Who dares spy on me?" Tongtian demanded, his Saintly Might spreading through the hall. But he immediately suppressed it. This was Zixiao Palace, under the Dao Ancestor's very nose. Any unusual fluctuation might draw attention.
[There is no need to speak aloud, host. You may communicate with this system through thought. This system transcends the ordinary and is beyond the Heavenly Dao's perception. You may communicate without concern.]
The mechanical voice sounded again, as if it understood Tongtian's misgivings.
"System? Primordial Unity Transcendence?" Tongtian thought, still wary. Even as a Saint, he could not begin to understand what this so-called "system" was.
[That is correct. This system detected the host's strong desire to defy Heaven and change his fate, and has bound itself to you. Do you know that your current Heavenly Dao Saint Position is, in truth, a shackle?]
"A shackle?" Tongtian frowned. A Saint's Nascent Soul was entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, making him impervious to all tribulations and one with Heaven. That was common knowledge throughout the Primordial World.
[Heavenly Dao Saints seem immortal, but their Nascent Souls are controlled by the Heavenly Dao. If the Heavenly Dao exists, the Saints exist; if the Heavenly Dao falls, the Saints fall. When the Immeasurable Tribulation arrives, the Heavenly Dao itself may be damaged or even destroyed, leaving the Saints as mere cannon fodder. Furthermore, Hongjun's union with the Dao has gradually made him the Heavenly Dao's master. A Saint Position is nothing but a chess piece he uses to control the Primordial World and maintain the Heavenly Dao's order.]
The system's words were cold and cruel, yet they were like a sharp blade, tearing aside the gilded veil draped over the "Saint Position."
Tongtian's heart shuddered. Some of this information had vaguely occurred to him, but never before had he seen it so clearly.
In the War of Investiture of the Gods, the Dao Ancestor had taken sides. Could it really be as the system said...
[At its core, the War of Investiture of the Gods was the Heavenly Dao's way of using infighting within the Mystic Gate to reduce the number of cultivators and ease the Primordial World's strain, while also filling Heaven's offices and completing the Heavenly Dao's order. Your Interception Sect was the first to bear the brunt. The Two Saints of the West took advantage of the situation to seize Auspicious Qi. The Human Teachings and the Chan Sect were also part of the Heavenly Dao's calculations, whether they went along to protect themselves or actively entered the fray.]
"Chess pieces... So we were all chess pieces," Tongtian murmured. Understanding flashed in his eyes, along with an even deeper fury. Even as a Saint, he was still caught in the Heavenly Dao's—or Hongjun's—game.
[If you wish to truly control your own fate and protect those you care about, you must escape the Heavenly Dao Saint Position, prove the Dao through strength, and become a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal! The path is arduous, but it grants great freedom and ease. You will no longer be controlled by the Heavenly Dao and may even rise above it!]
"Prove the Dao through strength... become a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal..." Tongtian's gaze flickered.
Great God Pangu had used this very method to create the world, reaching a realm far beyond that of a Heavenly Dao Saint. Yet this method was unimaginably difficult. Since the creation of the world, no one had succeeded. Even Dao Ancestor Hongjun had become a Saint by using the Jade Disc of Creation to form and sever his Three Corpses, before ultimately joining with the Dao.
[Current host status detected: Heavenly Dao Saint (Saint Position cracked, cultivation sealed by 99.9%), confined to Zixiao Palace.]
[Initial mission issued: Discard your Saint Position and sever your karma with Zixiao Palace (Hongjun).]
[Mission rewards: Primordial Dao Seed Condensation Method (Basic); location clue for the Chaos Bead (fragment).]
[Warning: Discarding your Saint Position carries immense risk. Your cultivation may plummet, or you may even fall from Sainthood. However, this is a necessary prerequisite for setting foot upon the Path of Hunyuan. The system will provide minimal protection to ensure your true spirit remains intact.]
Tongtian fell silent.
Discard his Saint Position!
The idea was insane and audacious. Once he lost his Saint Position, he would no longer be a Heavenly Dao Saint, impervious to all tribulations, and his cultivation would surely plummet to rock bottom. At that point, let alone the other Saints—even an ordinary Quasi-Saint might threaten him.
Worse, he was in Zixiao Palace, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun's abode! To discard his Saint Position here would be no different from slapping the Dao Ancestor in the face. The consequences...
But if he did nothing, he would remain trapped here, a Saint in name only, helplessly watching his disciples dwindle and the Interception Sect's Dao Lineage perish. Worse, one day he might become a sacrifice to the Heavenly Dao...
Could he accept that?
No!
Qin Xiao's resentment and Sect Master Tongtian's fury merged perfectly in that moment, transforming into an overwhelming resolve.
"Heaven and Earth are impartial; they treat all things as straw dogs. Saints are impartial; they treat the people as straw dogs." Tongtian slowly rose to his feet. His aura began to grow unstable, and the Saintly Might he had suppressed for so long started to spread beyond his control.
"Since the Heavenly Dao is unjust, then I'll do without my Saint Position!"
"I want nothing to do with this shackling Saint Position!"
His voice began low, then rose higher and higher, finally turning into a thunderous roar that made all of Zixiao Palace tremble. Countless Great Dao Runes flickered in and out of existence!
"I, Tongtian, will discard my Saint Position and sever my karma today!"
Rumble!!!
Before the words had even faded, Tongtian unhesitatingly roused the Saint's Dao Fruit, already riddled with cracks within him, and detonated it through sheer force of will!
"Crack"—a sound like the shattering of the Great Dao Core at the origin of the Primordial World rang through the void!
It was no actual sound, but the wail of the Great Dao's laws, resounding directly in the deepest reaches of every mighty figure's Nascent Soul that could sense the Heavenly Dao!
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, at the Chaos Edge, Empress Nuwa abruptly opened her beautiful eyes and looked toward Zixiao Palace, her face filled with disbelief.
Inside Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning's hand paused. For the first time, a look of shock appeared on his impassive face.
At Eight Sceneries Palace on Shouyang Mountain, Grand Supreme Elder Laozi raised his eyes slightly. A fleeting ripple passed through them before they once again became as still as an ancient well. He gently shook his head.
In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Daoist Jieyin's sorrowful expression grew even more troubled. Daoist Zhunti was first shocked, then his eyes gleamed as he began plotting something.
Deep in the cycle of reincarnation in the Nine Netherworld Underworld, Empress Pingxin sensed something and let out a soft sigh.
The Heavenly Court, the Blood Sea, Wuzhuang Temple... At the abodes of mighty figures throughout the Primordial World, one after another was shaken by this sudden wail of the Great Dao. They all turned their gazes toward Zixiao Palace, deep in the Chaos!
And at that moment, Zixiao Palace was already in chaos!
Endless fragments of Great Dao laws surged from Tongtian's body—the sight of a Saint's Dao Fruit shattering. His aura plunged like a river bursting its banks!
Middle Saint, Early Saint, Quasi-Saint Peak, late stage, middle stage...
With each realm he fell, his face grew paler, and a crack appeared in his Saint's body. Golden Saint's blood seeped out, speckling his purple Daoist robe.
Unimaginable agony surged from the depths of his Nascent Soul, a thousand times worse than being cut to pieces! It was the backlash of a destroyed foundation, his Dao Path nearly severed!
Yet Tongtian's eyes shone brighter than ever, full of the joy and resolve of one who had broken free of his shackles!
"Pfft!" He suddenly spat out a mouthful of golden Saint's blood. Broken law runes glimmered within it, and when it struck the ground, it corroded the floor of Zixiao Palace, eating small pits into the stone.
His cultivation finally fell to the Early Stage Quasi-Saint before he managed to steady it. His aura was weak to the extreme, like a candle guttering in the wind.
Yet just as his Dao Foundation was about to collapse completely and his true spirit was on the verge of dispersing, an unfathomable power descended from the unseen depths and protected his last remnant of essence.
[System protection mechanism activated.]
[Congratulations, host. Initial mission complete: Discard your Saint Position.]
[Mission rewards issued: Primordial Dao Seed Condensation Method (Basic) transmitted to the host's Nascent Soul. Location clue for the Chaos Bead (fragment): Netherworld Blood Sea, beside the cycle of reincarnation.]
Tongtian gasped weakly. He felt more "empty" and "weak" than ever before, but at the same time, his true spirit felt "light" and "free," liberated from all restraints.
He knew he had made the right bet! This mysterious system truly possessed power beyond the Heavenly Dao!
Just then—
Deep within Zixiao Palace, an immense, cold, supreme will slowly awakened, like a dragon that had slept for countless ages opening its eyes.
The pressure inside the entire palace suddenly increased a millionfold!
A huge, indistinct face formed from endless Dao Runes slowly gathered in the void before Tongtian.
Its features were blurred and impossible to make out. Only its eyes were clear: emotionless and detached, like the Heavenly Dao hanging high above, looking down upon Tongtian, small as an ant.
There was no anger and no reproach, only absolute coldness and indifference.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun! (Or perhaps the Heavenly Dao's incarnation.)
Tongtian forced his frail body to hold upright and raised his head with difficulty, meeting the indifferent eyes of the Heavenly Dao without fear.
Their gazes met.
One was weak yet resolute; the other vast and cold.
In the void, it seemed as though invisible sparks were flying.
Tongtian knew the real trial had only just begun. He had to leave Zixiao Palace. Otherwise, once the Dao Ancestor fully awoke, he would surely be suppressed again—or even erased completely!
Escape!
He had to flee Zixiao Palace at once!
Relying on his last reserves of strength and the faint protection provided by the system, Tongtian abruptly turned and transformed into a dim streak of light, struggling toward the gates of Zixiao Palace!
Behind him, the enormous Heavenly Dao Eye continued to watch coldly. It made no move, yet the pressure it exerted was boundless.
The road through the Chaos to the Primordial World was filled with unknown dangers.
Before you continue