This Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane was different from the Earth Fetal Membrane that had transformed into Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book. It wasn't a defensive treasure, but an invisible, intangible force field, a hazy, cloudlike phenomenon.
Because of its cloudlike nature, powerful divine beings could pass through it freely, coming and going as they pleased. Yet they couldn't completely pierce or tear it apart.
That also prevented powerful divine beings who had lost control or their senses from tearing the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane open and letting Chaos Qi flood in to destroy the Primordial World.
After all, the importance of the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane was beyond question.
Besides protecting the Primordial World Earth from being eroded by Chaos Qi, it could also continuously transform Chaos Qi into pure Innate Spiritual Qi, benefiting all beings of the Primordial World.
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"
At the far edge of the sky outside the Primordial World, one powerful divine being after another arrived. They stared fixedly at the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane. Though they hesitated for a moment, in the end they couldn't resist the temptation of listening to Hongjun's Dao lecture.
At once, the powerful divine beings each used their own methods to approach the hazy Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane.
As stated earlier, the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane wasn't a solid barrier. It was a force field like clouds, of unknown thickness.
The deeper one went, the greater the pressure became, pressing in from every direction.
Even the pressure at the outermost edge was more than anyone below the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm could withstand.
Some Grand Unity Golden Immortals, blinded by ambition and with no clear understanding of their own strength, were crushed into bloody mist the moment they entered the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane. Their primordial spirits were then ground away by the force field, leaving them dead and their Dao destroyed.
For Grand Unity Golden Immortals to go listen to the Dao at Purple Heavens Palace was no different from courting death.
Never mind whether they could get through the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane. Even if they somehow made it through, without the strength of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they would be unable to take a single step in Chaos.
The environment of Chaos was nothing like the peaceful Primordial World.
Chaos Currents, Chaos Storms, Space-Time Turbulence, Chaos Gales, Demon God Evil Thoughts...
With even a little bad luck, a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could be swept away and perish without a powerful treasure to protect him!
Before even entering the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane, Grand Unity Golden Immortals had already perished one after another. The others who had yet to enter hesitated for a long while and, for the moment, no longer dared to venture in recklessly.
Among those Grand Unity Golden Immortals, however, was one rather unusual figure.
He was a frail monkey, barely four feet tall, with yellow fur all over his body. He had three ears on either side, six in total. He was none other than the Six-Eared Macaque, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos.
The Six-Eared Macaque was skilled at hearing sounds, discerning truth, knowing what came before and after, and understanding all things. Though he lacked the strength to enter Chaos and listen to the Dao, his eyes rolled, and he soon came up with a plan. He wasn't discouraged.
The Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane could stop Grand Unity Golden Immortals and some Grand Unity Golden Immortals, but it couldn't stop certain powerful divine beings with extraordinary origins and deep foundations.
"Boom!"
From within the Primordial World, a dazzling golden light tore through space and hurtled closer. Like a golden dragon, it surged forward with immense force, drawing the attention of the powerful divine beings.
When the golden light faded, it turned out to be Laozi and his younger brother Yuanshi, who had arrived using the divine ability Vertical Ground Golden Light.
Laozi wore black-and-white Daoist robes, his expression calm; Yuanshi wore a lotus crown, his expression imposing.
The brothers stood shoulder to shoulder before the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane. It resembled a hazy layer of amber separating the Primordial World from Chaos, Great Dao Runes flickering across its surface and casting different expressions on their faces.
Laozi stroked his beard and gazed at the hazy membrane, letting out a long sigh.
Yuanshi furrowed his brows and was the first to break the silence. "Eldest Brother, we two belong to the Pangu Orthodox Lineage and have received the Essence of Heaven Opening. We should naturally seize this opportunity. Tongtian ignored our advice, and Xuanyuan left the mountain without permission. Their blessings are shallow; there's no need to concern ourselves with them."
Laozi's gaze flickered. He shook his head, a trace of melancholy crossing his eyes. "Forget it. This opportunity to listen to the Dao at Purple Heavens Palace was never meant for them."
Yuanshi said no more. He only remarked that cultivation depended on one's own opportunities and destiny and could not be forced. Since Tongtian and Xuanyuan hadn't come, they would leave it at that.
"Two Daoist brothers, please wait."
Just then, a stream of Western Sublime Ultimate Qi rose from below. The one who called out to them was the Queen Mother of the West, formed from the first wisp of pure yin qi in the Primordial World.
Seeing Laozi and Yuanshi together, both from Kunlun Mountain, she wished to form a good relationship with them.
So she told them that several Eons ago, at the Heavenly Pillar, Buzhou Mountain, she had sensed two streams of pure qi sharing the same origin as the one who had emerged when a treasure appeared.
Hearing this, Laozi remained silent.
"Thank you for the reminder, Daoist friend. My two useless younger brothers lack the blessings for this. There's no need to wait for them to come listen to the Dao. Why not travel with Eldest Brother and me?"
Yuanshi smiled and took the opportunity to invite her.
One was from East Kunlun, and the other from West Kunlun. They were neighbors, and the Queen Mother of the West had an extraordinary origin, so she was worth befriending.
"Then I thank you for your kindness, Daoist brother."
The Queen Mother of the West glanced at Laozi. Seeing that he didn't object, she joined the two Pure Ones.
Seeing this, Laozi said no more. He gathered his Grand Unity Magic Power, set his Grand Pure Qi in motion, and brought out the Houtian Merit Supreme Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda.
A foot-tall pagoda emerged from his primordial spirit. It had nine tiers, and its body radiated a halo of mysterious yellow light, while countless Innate Dao Patterns flowed across its surface.
"Boom!"
As magic power poured into it, twelve pillars of Mysterious Yellow Qi formed, and the light of merit fell like a curtain, shielding the three of them as they charged straight into the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane.
Pressure surged in from every direction, but the Houtian Merit Supreme Treasure, renowned for its defenses, remained utterly still.
"Let's go!"
Seeing Laozi and the other two pass through, the powerful divine beings who had grown wary after watching Grand Unity Golden Immortals die one after another set off again.
They brought out their treasures, used their divine abilities, and plunged into the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane.
Some succeeded; others failed.
Some knew when to give up and, judging themselves too weak, withdrew on their own.
Others couldn't accept it. They thought the Heavenly Dao was unfair. Why were their origins so shallow? Why did they have no treasures to protect them? Shouting, "My fate is mine to command, not Heaven's!" they charged into the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane, only to be crushed into pieces.
This cruel sight served as a warning to the others who came after them.
In the end, there were still some who feared nothing and valued their lives little, believing that only those who risked everything could survive. A few did indeed make it through by fighting with all their might.
But that was only the first challenge.
Afterward, those who entered Chaos without treasures to protect them were still torn to pieces by Chaos Qi.
And not every powerful divine being with a treasure could find Purple Heavens Palace.
Chaos was boundless and had no up, down, left, or right. It also concealed auras and cut off perception, making it difficult for those who ventured inside to tell where they were going. It was easy to lose their way.
Three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
Purple Heavens Palace stood amid Chaos Qi, unmoved no matter how violently the Chaos Qi surged against it.
Outside the palace gates, a region enveloped by Heavenly Dao Law completely blocked out Chaos Turbulent Flow, Chaos Gales, and Space-Time Storms. In the directionless expanse of Chaos, it was like a flat plain.
After three thousand years, the powerful divine beings gradually found Purple Heavens Palace.
Relying on their cultivation and powerful treasures, Laozi, Yuanshi, and the Queen Mother of the West stood at the front, closest to the palace gates.
Nuwa and Fuxi were right behind them. Not far away, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Dong Wang Gong, and Ziwei Star Lord faced off, their swords drawn, but they hadn't fought.
In a distant corner, Candle Dragon, transformed into an Innate Dao Body, wore a red robe and stood aloof, alone. The Dragon Race's Nine Sons of the Dragon hadn't come with him, because they were burdened by Calamity Qi. Despite countless years of recuperation, their injuries still hadn't healed.
At the very back, the burly Kuafu and Da Yi exchanged a glance and quietly walked toward Dong Wang Gong.
Beside Nuwa, Fuxi's gaze fell on Di Jun's set of Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the River Diagram and Luo Book.
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