Cultivating the Primordial Dao in Seclusion, While the West Discussed Tongtian's Whereabouts Again

Within the Dragon Palace of the East Sea's secret vault, treasure light soared into the sky, while spiritual energy filled the air like mist, nearly condensing into a solid form.

Standing before this boundless ocean of resources, even Tongtian, with his Saintly composure, couldn't help feeling a slight stir in his heart. These resources were enough to nurture dozens of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, yet now they were all at his disposal. The Dragon Clan's "investment" was undeniably substantial.

But he didn't let it go to his head. He knew full well that all this depended on his demonstrating enough value and potential to make the Dragon Clan willing to follow him.

"Ao Guang, you've gone to great trouble." Tongtian's voice was calm, betraying little emotion. "These resources are indeed a timely help to me. I'll repay you in the future."

Ao Guang hurriedly bowed. "Sect Master, you're too kind! Since the Dragon Clan has made its choice, we'll naturally do everything in our power. We only hope that you'll recover your abilities soon and lead us to find a glimmer of hope!" He kept his posture low, but his tone was unwavering.

Tongtian nodded slightly and said no more. His gaze swept across the treasury as his divine sense spread out like a net, instantly taking stock of every resource's type, quantity, and quality.

"Wudang, Kui Niu," he instructed. "Guard this place. You may also take whatever you need according to your circumstances, and recover your injuries and cultivation as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Master!" Saint Mother Wudang and Kui Niu answered in unison, excitement and anticipation in their eyes. Such a treasure trove was an enormous opportunity for them as well.

Tongtian strode toward the deepest part of the treasury, where the spiritual energy was densest, nearly liquefied. With a wave of his hand, countless top-grade divine materials and immortal ores gleaming with colorful light flew over. They arranged themselves in a profound formation, swiftly forming a simple but highly effective Spirit Gathering Grand Formation.

As soon as the formation was complete, a rumble arose. The spiritual energy throughout the treasury surged toward its center like countless rivers flowing into the sea, finally forming a visible vortex. At its heart, the spiritual energy was so dense it seemed to melt together, like liquid jade.

Tongtian stepped into the formation's center and sat cross-legged.

He didn't immediately begin absorbing the energy. Instead, he first took out the Chaos Bead (fragment), which he had obtained from the Blood Sea and partially refined. The Misty Grey bead floated before his chest, slowly revolving as it radiated an ancient, vast aura.

Then, with a thought, a number of strangely shaped spirit herbs gleaming with chaotic light flew out from the treasury. They were the Chaos Spirit Plants he had casually gathered in that secret realm. These plants were remarkably effective at nourishing the Chaos Origin.

He arranged the Chaos Spirit Plants around the Chaos Bead and guided them with his own magic power, slowly refining them and channeling their purest chaotic essence, thread by thread, into the bead.

Hum!

Nourished by the offering, the Chaos Bead suddenly blazed with light and spun faster. The Misty Grey radiance on its surface grew deeper and more restrained, while the tiny Chaos Vortex within seemed to expand slightly, releasing ever purer Chaos Qi.

Only after completing this step did Tongtian begin his true seclusion.

He formed hand seals. The nascent Primordial Dao Fruit within his dantian emerged, manifested outside his Saint Body, and hovered above his head. The pigeon-egg-sized phantom of the Dao Fruit contained a swirling Chaos Vortex that radiated a powerful pull.

Rumble!!!

The entire Spirit Gathering Grand Formation was roused! Vast as an ocean, spiritual energy surged into the Primordial Dao Fruit like a river bursting its banks!

The sight was terrifying. For an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal to form even a single pillar of spiritual energy while cultivating in seclusion would be astonishing. Yet now, the energy pouring into Tongtian was a fearsome tide formed from the immense spiritual energy accumulated in the Dragon Palace's secret vault over countless epochs!

His body seemed like a bottomless pit, greedily devouring everything. The hideous cracks across his Saint Body began to writhe and heal at a visible speed, nourished by the boundless energy and the Chaos Origin.

His skin regained its luster. His shattered bones were reforged, becoming even sturdier, while his damaged meridians widened and strengthened, shimmering with chaotic light.

His aura began to rise, one level after another!

Early Stage Quasi-Saint, peak Early Stage, steadily advancing toward the Mid-Quasi-Saint stage!

This wasn't merely an accumulation of magic power, but another transformation of his Life Level! After discarding his Saint Position and falling to the very bottom, he was climbing back toward the summit on the foundation of the Primordial Dao!

Saint Mother Wudang and Kui Niu watched, their minds reeling with shock. They didn't dare disturb him. Instead, each found a place to draw in resources suited to them and began cultivating in earnest. Nourished by the Dragon Palace's precious medicines, Saint Mother Wudang's damaged Dao Foundation gradually recovered, and her cultivation advanced toward the late Heavenly Immortal stage. Kui Niu, meanwhile, swallowed large amounts of water-elemental essence. His bloodline seemed to grow purer, and his aura ever more substantial.

While Tongtian cultivated furiously within the Dragon Palace's secret vault, the outside world was stirring once again because of his earlier actions.

In the West, beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool at Spirit Mountain Holy Land, Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin sat facing one another, both looking grave.

"Senior Brother, Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra reported that there's nothing unusual at Golden Ao Island in the East Sea. That strange fluctuation earlier seems to have been caused by disturbances in the earth veins." Daoist Zhunti spoke slowly, but his brows remained furrowed. "Still, I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong. Tongtian discarded his Saint Position and fell into the mortal world, yet the Dao Ancestor made no response at all. The whole matter is strange."

Daoist Jieyin looked sorrowful and softly intoned a Buddha's name. "Amitabha. Fellow Daoist Tongtian has a fiery temperament. He is no one to accept a quiet life. His whereabouts are unknown, like a hidden dragon lurking in the depths. Trouble may yet arise. As for the Dragon Palace..."

"The Dragon Palace?" A glint flashed in Zhunti's eyes. "That old loach Ao Guang seems obedient, but he's slippery as an eel. A few days ago, a Heavenly Court inspector suddenly went to investigate and came back in disgrace. Rumor has it that he sensed Saintly Might at the Dragon Palace?"

Even as he spoke the words "Saintly Might," he found them difficult to believe, and his tone held a note of doubt.

"Saintly Might?" Daoist Jieyin raised his eyes and shook his head. "Tongtian's Saint Position has been abolished. How could there be Saintly Might? Could it be our junior sister Nuwa? Or perhaps our fellow Daoists, the Grand Supreme Elder and the Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning, are laying a false trail?"

"Either is possible," Zhunti mused. "But in any case, the Dragon Palace is surely hiding something. Tongtian's whereabouts may be connected to it. Even if it has nothing to do with him, we can't ignore the Dragon Palace's unusual movements. The Four Seas bear heavy Karma, yet are rich in resources—vital provisions for the rise of our Western Teachings. We can't afford to lose them."

Jieyin nodded. "Indeed. When it comes to Tongtian, we should believe it might be true rather than dismiss it. We should send someone to the East Sea to investigate thoroughly. Not just the Dragon Palace—the ruins of Golden Ao Island must also be searched again, even if we have to dig three feet into the ground!"

A flash of wisdom crossed Zhunti's eyes. "Ordinary disciples may not be up to the task, and we risk alerting our quarry. What if we sent Ksitigarbha? His cultivation has reached the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage, and he possesses great wisdom and perseverance. He is also well versed in matters of the netherworld, so he may be able to find some clues in the Land of Reincarnation. Publicly, we can say he's going to the East Sea to deliver the souls of the war dead and accumulate merit."

"Ksitigarbha... Excellent." Jieyin agreed. "Let Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha assist him covertly and keep an eye on developments. If he truly discovers Tongtian's whereabouts... If we can bring him into our Western Teachings, nothing could be better. If not..."

Jieyin said no more. He lowered his eyes and turned his prayer beads, a faint air of compassion and resolve radiating from him.

Zhunti smiled knowingly. "It shall be as you say."

Two decrees quietly issued forth from Spirit Mountain.

Meanwhile, inside Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain, Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning sat high upon his Cloud Bed, listening expressionlessly to White Crane Boy's report.

"According to the East Sea Star Lord's report to the Heavenly Court, the earlier anomaly has been investigated and confirmed to have been caused by shifting earth veins. There was nothing unusual. The three Bodhisattvas of the Western Teachings—Guanyin, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra—also investigated in secret, but found nothing. In addition, a Heavenly Court inspector went to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea a few days ago and returned in haste. The reason is unclear."

Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning spoke indifferently, his voice devoid of emotion. "The Westerners are certainly diligent. It seems Ao Guang has enjoyed peaceful days for too long."

He hadn't connected Tongtian with the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. In his eyes, Tongtian had discarded his Saint Position and become a useless wreck. Simply managing to stay alive was a stroke of luck. How could he have the ability to join forces with the Dragon Clan? And the Dragon Clan would never offend the Saints and the Heavenly Court for a fallen Saint.

Most likely, that old loach Ao Guang had hidden away some treasure again, been discovered by the Heavenly Court, and used some trick to get out of trouble.

"Pay it no mind." Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning closed his eyes. "The Great Tribulation is approaching, and the Heavenly Dao has its own course. Mere ants can't stir up any waves."

"Yes." White Crane Boy withdrew respectfully.

Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, deep within the Chaos Depths, stood Wa Imperial Palace.

Empress Nuwa sat quietly before the Map of Mountains and Rivers. The scene within the map shifted and changed, and showed the East Sea. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she calculated with her fingers, but the secrets of heaven remained a chaotic blur.

"Discarding his Saint Position, Chaos Qi, the Dragon Palace..." she murmured to herself, a hint of curiosity and scrutiny flashing in her beautiful eyes. "Senior Brother Tongtian, what exactly are you planning? This path is one of near-certain death..."

She pondered for a moment, then gently waved her sleeve, and the scene in the map vanished.

"Never mind. I'll wait and see."

At Eight Sceneries Palace on Shouyang Mountain, Grand Supreme Elder Laozi remained as calm and detached as ever, as if the world's turmoil had nothing to do with him. Only when he heard his attendant mention words like "East Sea" and "Saintly Might" did an imperceptible glimmer flicker through the depths of his tranquil eyes, then vanish. It was as though he hadn't heard a thing.

Meanwhile, deep within the Reincarnation Disk in the Nine Netherworld Underworld, Lady Pingxin (Houtu) seemed to sense something. Her gaze pierced through endless space, looking toward the East Sea, then toward the Blood Sea. At last, a faint sigh faded into the Wind of Reincarnation.

Because of Tongtian, the various powers had different thoughts, and undercurrents quietly stirred.

For now, none of this had anything to do with Tongtian.

Within the Dragon Palace's secret vault, the passage of time seemed to lose all meaning.

No one knew how long had passed before the terrifying tide of spiritual energy finally began to subside.

At the center of the Spirit Gathering Grand Formation, Tongtian slowly opened his eyes.

Two beams of solid Chaos Divine Light shot from his eyes, extending more than a foot before finally fading.

He lightly clenched his fist, feeling the surging, roaring Chaos Magic Power within him—over ten times purer and more abundant than before—as well as his Saint Body, now almost completely healed and even stronger than it had been. At last, the corner of his mouth curved in satisfaction.

The phantom of the Primordial Dao Fruit had grown much more substantial. The Chaos Vortex within it was stable and powerful, continuously breathing in and out Chaos Qi on its own.

Mid-Quasi-Saint!

With the Dragon Palace's immense resources, he had not only fully repaired the damage to his Saint Body, but had also broken through to the Mid-Quasi-Saint stage in one fell swoop! His strength had undergone a qualitative leap!

Though he was still nowhere near his peak, he was no longer the man he had been! If he faced the Blood God Son's clone now, he was at least fifty percent certain he could defeat it! Even against someone like Guangchengzi, he wouldn't be intimidated in the slightest!

He looked toward the others. Saint Mother Wudang and Kui Niu had also gained enormously. Wudang had fully recovered from her injuries, and her cultivation had even advanced to the Early Stage Golden Immortal level! Kui Niu's aura was likewise immense, and he seemed only one step away from becoming a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

"Master! You've emerged from seclusion!" Saint Mother Wudang cried joyfully, sensing the unfathomable aura surrounding Tongtian.

Tongtian rose and stretched his limbs. Thunderclaps sounded throughout his body.

"It's time to leave." He turned to Ao Guang. "I'll remember the kindness you've shown me. For now, the Dragon Clan should lie low and wait for the right moment. Don't reveal your connection to me without good reason."

Ao Guang replied respectfully, "I understand! Rest assured, Sect Master. The Dragon Clan knows what to do."

Tongtian nodded and stored most of the remaining resources in the treasury inside the temporary space opened by the system. This made Ao Guang secretly marvel once again. Then Tongtian took Wudang and Kui Niu and, escorted in secret by Ao Guang, quietly left the Dragon Palace of the East Sea and returned to the ruins of Golden Ao Island.

Returning to the old place, he saw it with different eyes.

Tongtian stood atop the ruins and gazed toward the Great Desolation Continent, his eyes profound.

The resources were ready, his injuries healed, and his cultivation advanced.

It was time to truly gather the remnants of the Interception Sect and make his first move in the Primordial World!

His first target would be the true spirits of his three disciples, Sanxiao, who had suffered the most on the Investiture of the Gods!

The Western Teachings had already turned their attention toward him. His counterattack was about to begin.