Six Saints Emerge Together, the Primordial World Trembles

Lu Chen had just settled the Twelve Yuan Chen and was about to slip off to Buzhou Mountain to inspect the Witch Clan's "aftermath" when heaven and earth suddenly changed.

The change was no ordinary shift in the weather. The very "base tone" of the entire Primordial World had changed.

First, a stream of clear qi shot into the heavens from Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain!

The Dao rhythm within that clear qi—effortless, natural, and inherently aligned with the Dao—instantly spread to every corner of the Primordial World. In the hearts of every sentient being, a calm and detached voice rang out:

"I am Lao Tzu. Today, I establish the Human Religion to enlighten the Human Clan, using the Taiji Diagram to suppress its destiny."

"The Human Religion is established!"

As his words fell, the Heavenly Dao rumbled, and boundless Merit descended! The Three Flowers gathered above Lao Tzu's head, the Five Qi returned to their origin, and his aura became as unfathomable as an abyss, as vast as the sea. With a single step, he entered the Saint Realm! The phantom of the Taiji Diagram slowly unfolded behind him. Yin and yang evolved the birth and death of all things, and every Dao in the Primordial World bowed before it!

"Congratulations to Eldest Senior Brother on attaining sainthood!"

Primordial Heavenly Lord's voice followed closely behind.

Another stream of clear qi rose from Kunlun Mountain, this one even more noble and majestic, carrying a supreme will to expound heavenly principles and organize the laws:

"I am Yuanshi. Today, I establish the Explanation Religion to expound heavenly principles, using the Pangu Banner to suppress its destiny."

"The Explanation Religion is established!"

Merit descended once more! All-Heaven Auspicious Cloud appeared around Primordial Heavenly Lord, with jeweled pendants and hanging pearls. The phantom of the Pangu Banner swept across the eight directions, and wherever its sharp edge passed, all evil retreated!

"Congratulations to Second Senior Brother on attaining sainthood!"

Sect Master Tongtian's voice was as sharp as the cry of a sword!

A third stream of clear qi pierced the heavens. This one was the most unyielding and unruly, carrying the resolute will to Seize a Sliver of Life and shatter all shackles:

"I am Tongtian. Today, I establish the Interception Religion to Seize a Sliver of Life, using the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation to suppress its destiny."

"The Interception Religion is established!"

Merit poured down! Behind Sect Master Tongtian stood the phantoms of four Immortal-Slaying Swords, their sword intent soaring into the sky and murderous aura filling the land! Even the sword Dao laws of the entire Primordial World sang in celebration. Hundreds of millions of sword cultivators sensed it and knelt toward Kunlun Mountain!

The Three Pure Ones attained sainthood, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones!

But it was not over yet.

In the west, Mount Sumeru.

Two immense golden Dharma manifestations rose from the earth. One was compassionate and solemn; the other wise and enlightened.

"I am Jieyin, Amitabha. Today, I establish Buddhism to Save All Sentient Beings, using the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit to suppress its destiny."

"I am Zhunti, Patriarch Bodhi. Today, I establish Buddhism to enlighten all living beings, using the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree to suppress its destiny."

"Buddhism is established!"

Jieyin and Zhunti simultaneously made forty-eight great vows, each one stirring a resonance from the Heavenly Dao! Though the Merit was not as vast as that of the Three Pure Ones, it was still enough to stabilize their Saint Realm cultivation. There were even faint signs that they had surpassed the cultivation they possessed in their previous lives!

Five Saints emerged together!

Along with Nuwa, who had already attained sainthood, the six Saints of the Primordial World had returned to their places today!

The entire Primordial World completely erupted!

"Six Saints emerge together! The Heavenly Dao flourishes!"

"The might of Saints is vast as the sea!"

All living beings knelt in worship. Mountains and rivers resonated, rivers flowed backward, and sun and moon shone together! At this moment, the Primordial World seemed to have returned to the glorious age at the beginning of creation!

But only a very few knew how much scheming and undercurrent lay behind this grand feast of the "six Saints returning to their places."

For example, Lu Chen, who was squatting at the edge of a deserted island in the Eastern Sea with a foxtail grass stem in his mouth.

"Now this is lively." He narrowed his eyes at the heavenly phenomena. There was little surprise on his face; instead, he wore an expression of someone enjoying a show.

Because he knew that the return of the six Saints was only the beginning.

What came next was the true main event.

Sure enough, at the very peak of the six Saints' return, with heaven and earth rejoicing—

"Buzz!"

An extremely faint purple glow suddenly shot into the sky from some corner of the Primordial World!

The purple light was pale and obscure. Amid the overwhelming phenomena caused by the six Saints emerging together, it was almost negligible.

But the six Saints turned their heads almost simultaneously, their gazes blazing as they locked firmly onto the direction of that purple light!

That was the fluctuation of Primordial Violet Qi!

And it was... the final ownerless strand of Primordial Violet Qi!

"It's here, it's here." Lu Chen rubbed his hands excitedly. "The battle to seize the violet qi begins!"

Before he finished speaking, six Saint-level Divine Senses had already spread over the area like a net cast across heaven and earth, instantly locking onto the source of the violet qi—

Wuzhuang Temple, beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Hongyun was sitting cross-legged in meditation, refining the Merit the Witch Clan had received when Houtu transformed into the Reincarnation Cycle. His Dao foundation had been damaged, and his path to sainthood severed. In recent years, he had relied entirely on Zhen Yuanzi's Ginseng Fruits and Merit to nourish himself, barely managing to stabilize his realm.

At that moment, a faint stream of purple qi was slowly leaking from his dantian!

It was the "Pseudo-Primordial Violet Qi" bestowed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun long ago. After it had been contaminated by Luohu's Demonic Seed, the Dao Ancestor had cleansed the Demonic Seed, but the violet qi itself had already been ruined, leaving behind only a trace of Primordial aura.

Hongyun had kept this aura tightly suppressed all this time and never dared let it leak out.

But today, with six Saints emerging together, the Heavenly Dao trembling, and all Daos resonating, even that Corrupted Purple Qi had been stirred, allowing a trace of its aura to escape!

And that trace was enough.

"Hongyun... still has violet qi?!"

"No, that violet qi is ruined... but even ruined violet qi is still Primordial Violet Qi!"

"If its remaining Primordial Source can be refined, perhaps..."

The six Saints each had their own thoughts.

Lao Tzu's expression remained blank, yet a flicker passed through his eyes. The Human Religion had only just been established; if he acquired another foundation of violet qi, its destiny would become even more stable.

Disgust flashed through Yuanshi's eyes. How could someone as lacking in fortune as Hongyun deserve to touch violet qi?

Tongtian had no particular thoughts about it. He had little interest in violet qi and instead felt some sympathy for Hongyun's plight.

As for Jieyin and Zhunti... greed flashed through both their eyes at once!

They had just become Saints, and their foundations were the shallowest. They needed a supreme foundation like violet qi most of all to stabilize their realms! Moreover, they bore an old grudge against Hongyun over the matter of giving up seats in Purple Firmament Palace, so they felt no psychological burden whatsoever about taking it!

Nuwa, meanwhile, frowned slightly. She had no grievance against Hongyun, but the matter of violet qi was too important for her to simply stand by.

Within three breaths of the aura leaking out, the avatars of all six Saints descended upon Wuzhuang Temple at the same time!

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun." Lao Tzu spoke first. "This violet qi has already been ruined. It is useless to you and will only bring disaster. Better to hand it over to me for disposal. In exchange, I can grant you a great opportunity."

Hongyun's face turned deathly pale. Just as he was about to speak—

"Eldest Senior Brother is mistaken." Yuanshi calmly took over. "The violet qi was bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. Even if it has been ruined, it is not for outsiders to dispose of. Hongyun, hand over this qi, and I can guarantee Wuzhuang Temple's safety."

That was already a threat.

Tongtian snorted coldly and said nothing, but Immortal-Slaying Sword Intent had already enveloped the entire place, making his stance clear: if they wanted to seize it, they would have to ask his sword first.

Jieyin and Zhunti immediately began playing off each other:

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, back at Purple Firmament Palace, you gave your seats to the two of us. We have yet to repay that kindness. Why not entrust this violet qi to us? Once the Primordial Source has been refined, we will surely share it with you."

"Senior Brother is right. Our Buddhist school values karmic ties above all else. We certainly will not mistreat you, Fellow Daoist."

Their words sounded wonderful, but anyone who believed them was a fool.

Nuwa sighed. "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, this violet qi has become the source of disaster. Why not give it to me? I can plead with the Dao Ancestor and have him grant you an Innate Spiritual Treasure for protection."

Six Saints, six different attitudes, but the heart of the matter was the same: hand over the violet qi.

Hongyun trembled all over as he looked pleadingly toward Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi had already unfolded the Earth Book and shielded Wuzhuang Temple, but under the pressure of six Saints, even the Earth Book shook violently, ready to collapse at any moment.

"Honored Saints..." Zhen Yuanzi gritted his teeth. "The violet qi is already ruined. Why must you press us so relentlessly?"

"Ruined or not, it is still violet qi." Yuanshi replied indifferently. "Zhen Yuanzi, are you going to make enemies of all six Saints over a strand of ruined violet qi?"

The tension reached its peak.

Just as they were about to make a move—

"Ahem, pardon the interruption."

A lazy voice suddenly rang out from the entrance of Wuzhuang Temple.

Lu Chen strolled in with the Chaos Brick resting on his shoulder, acting as though he could not see the six Saint avatars. He walked straight to Hongyun and pulled out a jade bottle.

"Senior Hongyun, I brought you the Nine Revolutions Pure Heart Pill you requested." He grinned. "Oh? So many guests? The Saints are here too? What a coincidence."

The six Saints: "..."

Where had this guy come from?!

Lao Tzu frowned. "Lu Chen, the Saints are discussing matters here. Withdraw."

"Oh, right, right." Lu Chen nodded submissively and turned to leave, only to suddenly look back. "By the way, Senior Hongyun, shouldn't you deal with that 'ruined violet qi' in your dantian? If you keep delaying, I'm afraid it'll explode."

He pointed at the jade bottle. "This Nine Revolutions Pure Heart Pill, paired with the Purple Qi Purification Method I developed myself, should be able to completely purify that ruined violet qi and extract a trace of pure Primordial Source. It may not be much, but it should be enough to repair your Dao foundation."

The instant those words fell, the expressions of all six Saints changed!

Lu Chen could purify ruined violet qi?!

"Youngster, do not spout nonsense!" Jieyin shouted. "How could ruined violet qi be something you can purify?"

"Whether I can or not, why not try and see?" Lu Chen shrugged and looked at Hongyun. "Senior, do you trust me?"

Hongyun looked into Lu Chen's clear eyes—entirely fake—then looked at the six Saints eyeing him like tigers. He gritted his teeth.

"I trust you!"

"Then excuse me." Lu Chen raised his hand and lightly tapped Hongyun's dantian with the Chaos Brick.

Within the brick, that complete strand of Primordial Violet Qi trembled faintly, releasing a trace of pure Primordial Dao rhythm.

At the same time, the jade bottle exploded, and the Nine Revolutions Pure Heart Pill transformed into a clear stream that flowed into Hongyun's body.

The two forces attacked from within and without. That strand of Corrupted Purple Qi struggled violently before finally letting out a soft "Pop!" and transforming into a clump of pure Primordial Source that floated above Hongyun's palm.

It was only a thread as fine as a hair, but it was undeniably pure Primordial Source!

The eyes of the six Saints went wide!

"Senior, absorb it quickly!" Lu Chen urged.

Hongyun did not hesitate. He swallowed that thread of source in one gulp!

"Boom!"

His aura surged explosively. His Dao foundation repaired itself at a visible rate, and his cultivation instantly recovered to the Mid-Stage Quasi-Saint realm. Moreover, his foundation became even more stable than before!

"It worked!" Lu Chen clapped his hands.

The six Saints looked terrible.

The violet qi... was gone.

Hongyun had absorbed it himself.

They were Saints. They could hardly dig out Hongyun's dantian, could they?

"Good. Very good." Yuanshi gave Lu Chen a deep look before his avatar dispersed.

The other Saints left one after another as well.

Jieyin and Zhunti were the last to leave. They shot Lu Chen cold, sinister glares but said nothing.

Wuzhuang Temple returned to tranquility.

"Little friend, thank you!" Hongyun was so moved that tears filled his eyes.

"You're too kind, Senior." Lu Chen waved it off, though inwardly he muttered, This deal was worth it. I traded ruined violet qi for a favor from Hongyun and made the six Saints swallow their grievances.

More importantly—

When he had struck Hongyun's dantian with the Chaos Brick, he had secretly retained the tiniest bit of Primordial Source.

It was so little it could be ignored, but it was enough for him to comprehend violet qi.

"With six Saints out at once, the Primordial World is going to descend into chaos." He left with the brick over his shoulder, humming a little tune.

Meanwhile, deep within Chaos, in Purple Firmament Palace.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun watched the scene in the water mirror and shook his head with a laugh.

"This boy... he even dares intercept what belongs to Saints."

"But let it descend into chaos. The more chaotic, the better."

"The great tribulation should enter its climax as well."

With a light sweep of his whisk, the water mirror dispersed.

The stage of the Primordial World had already been set.

All that remained was for the protagonists to take the stage and begin the show.