At this moment, in Tongtian's eyes, the imposing and solemn gates of Zixiao Palace were no longer the entrance to a sacred place leading to the supreme Great Dao. They were the only way out of his cage, the only path to freedom and a new life!
He endured the agony of his Nascent Soul nearly being torn apart and the boundless pain of his Saint Body breaking apart. Then he frantically circulated the meager Quasi-Saint magic power left within him, turning it into a dim yet resolute streak of light that shot straight toward the palace gates!
Usually, the gates of Zixiao Palace operated under the Heavenly Dao Rules and could not be opened unless a Saint or the Dao Ancestor summoned someone. But at that moment, perhaps because Tongtian's self-stripping of his Saint Position had thrown the Heavenly Dao Rules into turmoil, or perhaps because the Mysterious System had secretly intervened, the immensely heavy gates, imbued with boundless Dao principles, silently opened a crack just as he reached them!
Beyond the crack surged turbulent, brilliantly colored Chaos Qi!
Tongtian didn't hesitate for a moment. His body suddenly shrank, and like a fish, he squeezed through the crack by the narrowest margin!
The instant he left Zixiao Palace, the enormous Heavenly Dao Eye behind him, formed from condensed Dao patterns, shifted its indifferent gaze slightly. There was no anger, no pursuit. It merely watched the escapee with cold detachment, then slowly faded away, as if it had never appeared.
Rumble!
The gates of Zixiao Palace slammed shut behind him, completely sealing off the inside from the outside.
But Tongtian had no time to look back. An even more terrifying pressure swept in from every direction!
"Pfft—"
The moment he entered the Chaos Sea, Tongtian was struck as if by countless primordial mountains at once. He spat out a mouthful of golden blood, and his body was swept uncontrollably toward the Chaos Depths.
Chaos Qi was the primal energy that had existed before Heaven and Earth were formed. It was violent and disorderly, capable of assimilating all things and wearing down every technique. Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal wouldn't dare enter Chaos lightly without a powerful treasure to protect him. Only a Quasi-Saint could withstand it to some extent, and even then, he had to proceed with great caution.
But Tongtian's cultivation had now plummeted to the Early Stage Quasi-Saint. His Saint Body was broken, his Nascent Soul dim, and he was in a weaker state than ever before!
Sizzle—sizzle—
The Chaos Flow around him was like billions of sharp files, ruthlessly gnawing at his body. His Daoist robe was instantly reduced to rags. The wounds that had split open across his body when he stripped himself of his Saint Position burst open again, and golden Saint Blood seeped out, only to be swiftly consumed and dissolved by the Chaos Qi.
The pain was so intense he nearly passed out.
I can't black out! I absolutely can't lose consciousness! Tongtian clenched his teeth until he bit through the tip of his tongue, forcing himself to stay awake with a willpower terrifying in its resolve.
If he lost consciousness in Chaos, there was only one possible outcome—he would be assimilated and disappear completely.
He struggled to muster what little Quasi-Saint magic power remained within him, forming a thin layer of protective immortal light around his body to fend off the Chaos Qi. But it was like trying to put out a cartload of burning wood with a cup of water. The immortal light dimmed at a visible rate and could shatter at any moment.
[Warning: Host is gravely injured. Energy is rapidly depleting. Protective immortal light is on the verge of collapse. Find a stable area or replenish energy as soon as possible.]
The System's prompt rang out coldly, laying bare his perilous situation.
Tongtian smiled bitterly to himself. A stable area? Where could he find one in this boundless Chaos? Replenishing his energy? That was even more far-fetched!
He was like a tiny boat on a storm-tossed sea, liable to capsize at any moment.
Severe pain and utter weakness kept assailing his consciousness. Images from the past surfaced once more, beyond his control.
It was after the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation. Dao Ancestor Hongjun had lectured on the Great Dao in Zixiao Palace. Among the three thousand guests, he and his elder brother, Laozi, and second brother, Yuanshi, had been granted seats on the six cushions at the very front because of their status as orthodox descendants of Pangu.
Back then, the Three Pure Ones had been brothers in harmony. They had listened to the Dao together, discussed the Way together, and traveled the Primordial World together. Laozi had been unattached to worldly affairs, yet generous. Yuanshi had valued lineage, but hadn't yet been so harsh. Tongtian, meanwhile, had been straightforward and the most lively of them all.
When had things started to change?
Was it after they founded their teachings and became Saints? After the Dao Ancestor distributed his treasures? Or after one dispute after another over their Dao Lineages and doctrines?
In the face of long years and competition for the Great Dao, brotherly affection seemed to grow ever more fragile.
"Elder Brother, Second Brother..." A complicated emotion flickered through Tongtian's eyes: nostalgia, heartache, and the coldness of betrayal.
The events of the War of Investiture of the Gods stabbed at his nerves once more. Outside the Immortal Execution Sword Formation, four Saints had gathered. Laozi had calmly joined Yuanshi in breaking the formation; Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning had shown no mercy, waving the Pangu Banner and unleashing Destruction Sword Qi; and the Two Saints of the West, faces full of compassion, had ostensibly come to guide others to salvation, but in truth had forcibly seized disciples and plundered their Auspicious Qi!
"Heh..." Tongtian let out a laugh that was impossible to read, full of desolation. "Brothers turn against each other, outsiders reap the rewards. Teacher, is this the Mystic Gate you wanted to see?"
Perhaps the System was right. Even Saints were nothing more than pawns of the Heavenly Dao. And pawns could be discarded at any moment.
Just as his thoughts roiled and his protective immortal light dimmed further, on the verge of vanishing completely—
Moo!!! A roar that sounded neither quite like an ox nor quite like a dragon, yet brimmed with urgency and grief, pierced through layers of Chaos and reached Tongtian's fading consciousness!
That voice... Tongtian jerked his head up. A startling light burst from his dim eyes. It was him! Moo!!! Another bellow came, clearer and more urgent than before! It sounded as if it were close by!
Then the Chaos Qi ahead was forcibly pushed aside by a tremendous force. A water-blue radiance cleaved through the Chaos like a beacon in the darkness and raced toward him!
Within that radiance was an exceptionally divine beast!
It resembled Kui Niu, but was even more majestic and imposing. Water-blue scales covered its body, glittering with the pure, powerful light of innate water spirits. Beneath its four hooves churned illusory waves instead of auspicious clouds, as if it were treading upon an invisible celestial river. A single horn atop its head was crystal-clear, gathering terrifying Law Power of water.
It was his mount, the companion who had followed him ever since he attained the Dao and stayed by his side through countless epochs—Kui Niu!
"Kui Niu!" Tongtian couldn't help calling out, his voice hoarse but tinged with delight.
He had never imagined that the first to come looking for him would be Kui Niu!
Kui Niu's enormous eyes were filled with humanlike urgency and worry, as well as boundless anguish at seeing Tongtian in such a wretched state. He rushed to Tongtian's side, and the gentle yet resilient water-blue immortal light radiating from his body immediately pushed back the violent Chaos Qi, creating a small, relatively stable area.
Tongtian instantly felt the pressure ease. The Power of Chaos that had been constantly gnawing at his body was temporarily held at bay.
Moo! Moo-moo! Kui Niu lowered his head and rubbed his massive head against Tongtian affectionately but anxiously, letting out a low whimper. Tears even welled in his eyes. He could feel how terribly weak his master's aura was and sense how close his Saint Body was to shattering. His heart twisted with pain.
"All right, old friend. I'm not dead yet." A surge of warmth rose in Tongtian's heart. He struggled to lift a hand and pat Kui Niu's moist nose, offering a reassuring smile.
At a time when everyone had turned against him and the whole world seemed to be his enemy, he still had a loyal companion who had braved danger to find him. That bond was far more precious than the illusory Saint Position!
He didn't hesitate any longer. Summoning his strength, he swung himself onto Kui Niu's broad back.
As soon as he settled down, a pure, gentle stream of Innate Water Spirit Power flowed from Kui Niu's body into his own, slowly nourishing his damaged meridians and depleted dantian. It was a mere drop in the bucket compared to his injuries, but it lifted his spirits slightly.
"Go, Kui Niu! Let's get out of here first! Back to the Primordial World!" Tongtian lay across Kui Niu's back and gave the order in a low voice.
Kui Niu was intelligent and immediately understood the situation. He gave a steady low bellow, then strode across the waves as the water-blue immortal light around him flared, shielding Tongtian on his back. He turned toward the Primordial World and prepared to charge off.
But right then—
"Boundless Heavenly Venerable!" A clear voice, tinged with a hint of aloofness, suddenly came from the Chaos ahead and to one side.
"Uncle-Master Tongtian, why the hurry? Your nephew Guangchengzi has come at the decree of the Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning of Jade Purity to escort you."
Before the words had faded, a clear, hazy immortal light parted the Chaos. A middle-aged Daoist wearing an Eight Trigrams purple silk robe and a Jade Pure lotus crown, his face ancient and his eyes deep, appeared before Kui Niu, blocking the way. In his hand was a radiant jade ruyi.
It was none other than Guangchengzi, the Head of the Chan Teachings' Twelve Golden Immortals and the most favored disciple of Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning!
His tone sounded respectful, and he addressed Tongtian as Uncle-Master, yet he stood firmly in the way. His calm gaze swept over Tongtian, slumped atop Kui Niu's back, his aura weak and his Saint Body stained with blood. Deep in his eyes flickered a trace of surprise and scrutiny, too subtle to notice.
Tongtian's heart sank.
The worst had come to pass after all!
Elder Brother Yuanshi had indeed sensed the disturbance in Zixiao Palace immediately and sent one of his disciples to "investigate"!
Guangchengzi was a Quasi-Saint who had severed his Second Corpse, far stronger than Tongtian in his current weakened state. What was more, the jade ruyi in his hand shone with countless rays of light and auspicious colors. It was clearly a replica of the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, the proof of the Dao that Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning had possessed when he became a Saint!
Though it was only a replica, it contained the power of a Saint. Its might was far beyond that of an ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasure!
He meant trouble! Sensing the newcomer's hostility, Kui Niu immediately growled a warning. His four hooves shifted restlessly on the waves, while his water-blue immortal light grew denser and shielded Tongtian behind him.
Tongtian took a deep breath, suppressing the roiling blood and pain within him. Then he forced his back straight and looked coldly at Guangchengzi. "Guangchengzi? Come to escort me? Did Senior Brother Yuanshi send you to check whether I was dead?"
Though his voice was weak, it still carried the lingering authority of the Interception Sect's leader and a Heavenly Dao Saint.
Guangchengzi's expression didn't change. He gave a slight bow. "Uncle-Master, you jest. Master sensed the disturbance in Zixiao Palace and the Heavenly Dao's lament, and grew concerned for your safety. He therefore ordered me to come and check on you. Seeing you safe and sound, I'm relieved. It's just..." He changed tack, his gaze falling on Tongtian's broken Saint Body and diminished aura. His tone held a trace of "concern." "Uncle-Master seems gravely injured, and your cultivation has fallen so far. Why not return with me to Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain? Master surely has miraculous elixirs that can help you recover."
Return to Kunlun Mountain?
Tongtian sneered inwardly. Wouldn't going to Kunlun Mountain be like walking straight into a trap? Once there, whether he received treatment or was confined forever would be entirely up to Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning!
"No need." Tongtian coldly refused. "I know the state of my injuries. There's no need for Senior Brother Yuanshi to trouble himself. Go back and tell him that I appreciate his 'kindness.'"
At his words, Guangchengzi didn't move aside. Instead, he stepped forward, and the replica Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his hand gave off a hazy, clear light. Its aura faintly locked onto Tongtian and Kui Niu. "Uncle-Master is so gravely injured, and drifting alone through Chaos is extremely dangerous. If you encounter a Chaos Storm or some troublesome Chaos creature, you could meet with disaster. Let me escort you for a while. This is Master's decree as well, so please don't refuse."
His tone remained courteous, but his insistence was unmistakable!
He was determined to "invite" Tongtian back to Kunlun!
Kui Niu anxiously pawed at the ground, letting out a warning growl.
Tongtian's eyes turned utterly cold. He knew there was probably no peaceful way out of this. Having received the decree of Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning, Guangchengzi wouldn't let him leave easily.
Fight him head-on? He had no chance of winning! Even if Guangchengzi wouldn't dare kill a Saint—though Tongtian was no longer one—he was more than strong enough to seize him and take him back to Kunlun!
What should he do? Tongtian's mind raced, countless thoughts flashing through it. Force his way out? Kui Niu was an extraordinary Innate Divine Beast, but no match for Guangchengzi wielding a replica of a Saint's magic treasure. Provoke him with words? Guangchengzi was clearly determined to carry out the decree.
Just as Tongtian's thoughts spun and he searched for a way to escape, the cold prompt of the System sounded again from the depths of his Nascent Soul:
[Interception detected. Host's enemy: Guangchengzi (Mid-Quasi-Saint). Combat analysis: Host's chance of victory is below 0.01%.] [Based on the current environment and the Host's condition, the optimal solution is to use the Chaos Flow to create a brief disturbance, then break through toward the southeast. Chaos Qi is relatively sparse in that direction, and there are faint Spatial Fluctuations. A Temporary Rift may be present.] [Reminder: "Shangqing Divine Thunder" can be unleashed briefly to disrupt the target's Spiritual Sense. This will consume three drops of the Host's Origin Blood Essence.]
A glint flashed in Tongtian's eyes! The System's plan came at a price, but it was the only way out he had!
"Guangchengzi." Tongtian suddenly spoke, his voice much calmer, as if he had given up resisting. "Since you insist on escorting me, then I'll..."
He broke off midway and slapped Kui Niu hard!
Kui Niu, already in perfect accord with him, burst into action!
Roooar!!! With a deafening roar, the single horn atop Kui Niu's head erupted in a dazzling blue divine light. A mighty bolt of thunder, brimming with terrifying power of Kui Water, roared toward Guangchengzi like a water dragon.
It was Kui Niu's innate divine ability—Kui Water Divine Thunder!
At the same time, Tongtian's face turned pale. He forced out three drops of Origin Blood Essence infused with a faint trace of Saintly Dao aura and spat them out!
The moment they left his body, the drops of blood ignited, turning into three slender yet razor-sharp streaks of purple lightning!
Shangqing Divine Thunder! Though its power was nowhere near a fraction of what it had been at Tongtian's peak, it contained the purest aura of the Shangqing Immortal Method and a trace of the Saintly Dao's remaining Law Fragments!
Kui Water Divine Thunder attacked head-on, while Shangqing Divine Thunder disrupted his Spiritual Sense!
Guangchengzi clearly hadn't expected Tongtian to suddenly strike, much less fight as if his life depended on it! The three streaks of purple lightning in particular, though not powerful, made his Nascent Soul shudder. It was almost as if he were facing the sensation of Master Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning casting Jade Pure Divine Thunder!
Daring not to be careless, he immediately activated the replica Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his hand. Its clear light flared, forming a curtain of light before him. At the same time, he retreated slightly, preparing to withstand the attack first.
Rumble!!!
Kui Water Divine Thunder slammed into the curtain of clear light, unleashing a deafening boom. The violent energy sent the surrounding Chaos Qi into even greater turmoil!
And at the instant the energy exploded, Chaos surged, and his Spiritual Sense was briefly disrupted by Shangqing Divine Thunder—
"Go!" Tongtian slapped Kui Niu again!
Kui Niu understood at once. He planted his four hooves and drew the water-blue immortal light around his body tight, shielding Tongtian as he transformed into a streak of blue light and shot off at incredible speed—not toward the Primordial World, but straight toward the southeast, where the Chaos Qi was relatively thin, just as the System had indicated!
"Don't run!" Guangchengzi easily neutralized the attack and immediately noticed Tongtian fleeing. His expression darkened as he shouted and swung the jade ruyi in his hand. A beam of clear immortal light, like a silken ribbon, shot across Chaos after Kui Niu!
Feeling the fierce attack behind him, Tongtian's pupils contracted. If it hit, Kui Niu would surely be gravely injured!
At this critical moment—humm! The Chaos space ahead twisted violently, distorted by the earlier energy blast and its inherent instability. A fine Spatial Rift flashed into existence and vanished!
"Now!" Tongtian suddenly knew what to do and directed Kui Niu!
Kui Niu let out a roar and didn't slow down. Instead, he accelerated sharply and charged headfirst into the rift just before it vanished!
Swish! The blue streak of light instantly disappeared into the rift.
Boom! Guangchengzi's beam of immortal light missed and churned through that stretch of Chaos, but his target was gone.
Guangchengzi flashed over to where the rift had vanished, his expression turning grim. He carefully sensed his surroundings, but all he found was the Chaos Flow churning in confusion and the space gradually settling. Not a trace of Tongtian's aura remained.
"Passing through a Spatial Rift? Hmph, Uncle-Master Tongtian, you're certainly decisive! You even dared risk being torn apart by Spatial Turbulence..." Guangchengzi's eyes flickered. After a moment of thought, he said, "Your cultivation has fallen so badly, yet you still managed to escape me. I must report this to Master at once!"
He didn't linger. Turning, he transformed into a streak of clear light and sped toward Kunlun Mountain in the Primordial World.
Meanwhile, inside a bizarre, shifting Temporary Channel filled with Spatial Turbulence, Kui Niu struggled to spread his immortal light, protecting Tongtian on his back as they pressed onward.
Tongtian's face was as pale as paper. Forcing out three drops of Origin Blood Essence had worsened his injuries, leaving his aura even weaker.
But as he gazed at the unknown path ahead, his eyes were unusually bright.
He had escaped!
Though the road ahead was uncertain and fraught with peril, he had still fought for a chance to survive—relying on himself (and the System) to escape the schemes and interception of a Saint!
"Golden Ao Island..." He lay across Kui Niu's back and murmured, a trace of nostalgia and resolve flashing through his eyes.
That was his Dao Field, the foundation of the Interception Sect, and the only place he could think of where he might find temporary shelter.
Even though it had long since become a ruin.
Before you continue