Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression was as calm as still water, and a mysterious light flickered faintly in his deep, fathomless eyes.
As he gently gathered the priceless Primordial Violet Qi into his hand, the atmosphere around them seemed to freeze.
Yet he said nothing. He simply turned and silently faded from sight like an illusion, drifting toward the distant, mysterious Chaos Purple Cloud Palace.
Meanwhile, the Five Sages who had witnessed everything exchanged glances, their hearts tightening.
They knew they could not stay here long, so they wasted no time. One after another, they unleashed their divine abilities, transformed into streaks of light, and swiftly left Mount Tai Summit, each heading for their own place of cultivation.
Empress Nuwa moved with graceful poise, like an immortal descended into the mortal world. Taking light steps, she made her way toward the Human Dao Hall.
Along the way, the breeze brushed through her long, silken hair, adding to her otherworldly beauty.
The Three Ancestors and the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, meanwhile, wore solemn expressions. Carrying hopes and worries for the future, they hurried back to the Human Ancestral Land, where the Human Race had taken root, multiplied, and passed down its civilization.
As for Cangjie and Shaoyao, they stayed close behind Su Mu. The three set off together and eventually arrived at peaceful, serene Shouyang Mountain.
Su Mu entered his cave abode, gently closed the stone door, then slowly sat cross-legged on the stone bed.
He lowered his eyelids and sank into thought. One thought after another flashed through his mind. After the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors comes the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, right...? What upheavals will this tribulation bring to the world? And how can I seek a breakthrough and grow stronger amid this troubled age?
At that thought, Su Mu drew a deep breath and opened his eyes, a look of resolve flashing in them.
Forget it. I should go out for a walk and think as I go. After all, traveling ten thousand miles is better than reading ten thousand books. Su Mu furrowed his brow and murmured to himself.
He slowly rose, stretched his somewhat stiff limbs, then resolutely left Shouyang Mountain and set off across the boundless, mysterious Primordial Land.
Meanwhile, far away on Kunlun Mountain, Taiqing Laozi was filled with anger and resentment.
"I was the first disciple our teacher accepted, the dignified Senior Disciple Brother of the Daoist sect. Why am I constantly being held down by Nuwa? It's truly unbearable!" he grumbled to himself.
Primordial Lord was just as furious, and in his heart he blamed the failure of their operation on Sect Master Tongtian.
"Third Brother, how could the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation have been broken so easily?" Primordial Lord demanded of Sect Master Tongtian, his eyes wide and his face full of anger.
A helpless look appeared on Sect Master Tongtian's face. He hurriedly explained, "Second Brother, you were there and saw it with your own eyes! Nuwa had accumulated far too much merit."
"Her immense power was able to suppress the baleful energy. That's why the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was broken. You can't blame me for that!"
"Third Brother, do you understand how powerful the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation is? It takes four experts of equal strength working together to have any chance of breaking it! Yet Nuwa managed to break it all by herself. Could it be that those disciples of yours—those 'furred and horned, born of dampness and hatched from eggs'—dragged you down because they failed to focus on cultivating the formation?"
Primordial Lord looked down on him as he mocked Sect Master Tongtian.
At those words, Sect Master Tongtian's face flushed red with anger. He glared and shouted, "Second Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? What does this have to do with my disciples? And what do you mean, 'furred and horned, born of dampness and hatched from eggs'? How can you slander my disciples like that?"
Primordial Lord refused to let up. "Hmph, am I wrong? You know perfectly well what sort of disciples you've taken in. They only care about increasing their Magic Power and never bother cultivating virtue!"
Primordial Lord's words left Sect Master Tongtian speechless. Though furious, he was poor at arguing and couldn't think of a retort.
So he turned to Taiqing Laozi, looking to him for support. "Elder Brother, please judge who's right here!"
But Taiqing Laozi was in a foul mood and had no desire to get involved in this dispute between brothers. He ignored Sect Master Tongtian's plea and remained silent.
Seeing this, Primordial Lord quickly chimed in. "Third Brother, Elder Brother has already tacitly agreed. Do you still disagree?" As he spoke, he looked at Sect Master Tongtian smugly.
Taiqing Laozi looked bewildered. When did I agree to anything? Never mind. Do as you please. It's up to you! He merely shook his head and said nothing.
"You..." Sect Master Tongtian trembled with anger and pointed at Primordial Lord and Taiqing Laozi. He was just about to argue further when a piercing cry of anguish suddenly rang out.
"Teacher, please uphold justice for your disciple!" The voice was piteous and full of pain and grievance.
The Three Pure Ones looked toward the sound and saw a large group of people slowly approaching, surrounding a figure.
As they drew closer, everyone was stunned. The one walking in the middle was Taiyi Zhenren, and he now had an enormous pig's head. He looked both ridiculous and pitiful.
Primordial Lord's brows knitted tightly at the sight, and his expression darkened. "Taiyi, how did you end up looking like this?"
Taiyi Zhenren hurried over to Primordial Lord and dropped to his knees with a thud, wailing, "Teacher, Zhao Gongming and the others did this to me! I was out today when I was ambushed by their group."
"They were vicious and beat me into this state. Please, Teacher, get justice for me!" Taiyi Zhenren wept bitterly, looking utterly miserable.
"Nonsense! You were the one who insulted us first and ran your mouth. You were no match for us, and that would have been the end of it, but you even tried to bring in reinforcements to get revenge. In the end, you still weren't our match." Zhao Gongming glared at him and retorted righteously.
At that moment, Sect Master Tongtian turned to Zhao Gongming and asked in confusion, "Gongming, what exactly happened? What did they say?"
Zhao Gongming hurriedly cupped his hands and explained to Sect Master Tongtian, "Teacher, here's what happened. Taiyi didn't know his place and kept provoking us, insulting us as 'furred and horned, born of dampness and hatched from eggs.' It was outrageous, so we taught him a lesson."
Bixiao quickly added from the side, "Teacher, this isn't the first time they've acted so arrogantly. They've mocked and ridiculed us many times before."
At this, Primordial Lord snorted coldly and glared at Tongtian. "Hmph, Tongtian, just look at your disciples. They spend all day cultivating Magic Power and pay no attention to virtue. They have no regard for their fellow disciples, and they beat Taiyi into this state. It's simply outrageous!"
Sect Master Tongtian was furious too, and immediately retorted, "Second Brother, you can't put it that way. Your disciple simply wasn't skilled enough and lacked the strength, so he ended up like this."
For a moment, Primordial Lord was left speechless by Sect Master Tongtian's retort, unable to come up with a response.
After a moment, he turned to Taiqing Laozi and complained, "Elder Brother, just look at him. Tongtian has grown more and more insolent. He doesn't even respect me, his Second Brother. It's outrageous. I can't even say a few words to him now."
"Third Brother, you should tell your disciples to show some restraint. They shouldn't spend every day fighting. Such behavior is quite inappropriate," Taiqing Laozi said gravely.
At those words, Sect Master Tongtian flew into a rage and glared at him. "Elder Brother, what kind of thing is that to say? Second Brother was clearly in the wrong first. Why are you blaming me?"
Sect Master Tongtian thought bitterly of all that had happened before. Whenever he and Primordial Lord disagreed, Elder Brother Taiqing Laozi always blamed him without hearing him out, while protecting Primordial Lord at every turn. This unfair treatment had happened time and time again, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
"Elder Brother, how can you be so unfair? Why do you always take Second Brother's side? Am I really so worthless in your eyes? Am I even your real younger brother?"
Sect Master Tongtian could no longer hold back his anger. He roared at Taiqing Laozi, "Since you all think my disciples are inferior to yours, fine! I'll take my disciples and leave. From now on, we'll each go our own way!"
Before the words had even faded, Sect Master Tongtian swept his sleeve and turned away, storming off from Kunlun Mountain with the many disciples of the Interception Sect.
Taiqing Laozi watched Sect Master Tongtian's imposing figure recede into the distance until he vanished at the edge of the sky, then sighed softly.
Then he said slowly, "Second Brother, I'm leaving too. From now on, you can take charge of Kunlun Mountain."
With that, he lightly swept his sleeve. His figure transformed into a streak of light and vanished in an instant, leaving only a breeze drifting across the peak of Kunlun Mountain.
"Elder Brother, how could even you do this to me? Hmph..." Primordial Lord muttered indignantly as he watched Taiqing Laozi leave.
Then, his face dark with anger and resentment, he turned and stormed toward Jade Void Palace.
As he walked, Primordial Lord wondered to himself why his two elder brothers had both left him, and why they were always at odds with him.
At that thought, he quickened his pace, eager to return to his palace and enter seclusion at once, so he could improve his cultivation as soon as possible and make everyone look at him in a new light.
Meanwhile, Sect Master Tongtian led his many disciples on a search for a new Training Ground.
They crossed mountains, passed through forests, and forded rivers, enduring countless hardships and dangers along the way. Yet Sect Master Tongtian never wavered.
He believed that as long as they persevered, they would surely find an ideal Training Ground, blessed with wondrous natural beauty and suited to cultivation.
Su Mu was wandering through the vast and mysterious Primordial World, immersed in the grandeur of this ancient land.
Suddenly, a group of figures appeared not far ahead. On closer inspection, it turned out to be Sect Master Tongtian and his people.
Su Mu couldn't help wondering, Huh? Why are Sect Master Tongtian and the others here? What brings them this way? Could it be that the legendary Three Pure Ones have split up?
Full of questions, Su Mu kept his eyes fixed on Tongtian and the others, his gaze brimming with curiosity.
After collecting himself, Su Mu hurried over, respectfully cupped his hands toward Sect Master Tongtian, and called out, "Greetings, Saint Tongtian!"
Sect Master Tongtian also turned his gaze to Su Mu. His expression was somewhat complicated, as though he were struggling with something inside.
Not long ago, Sect Master Tongtian had been forced to attack the Human Race. Though he hadn't done so willingly, it had happened all the same.
Sect Master Tongtian managed a smile and asked kindly, "Nephew Su Mu, where are you headed?"
Su Mu bowed slightly and replied, "Saint Tongtian, I'm just traveling around, hoping to experience the wonders of the Primordial World. May I ask where you're headed?"
Hearing Su Mu's question, Sect Master Tongtian didn't hide anything and told him plainly.
Su Mu thought to himself, It looks like I was right. The Three Pure Ones really have split up.
At that, Su Mu offered, "Saint Tongtian, in my opinion, you might want to explore the vast ocean. You could find something unexpected there."
A glimmer flashed in Sect Master Tongtian's eyes. He then warmly invited Su Mu, "Oh? Nephew Su Mu, you make a good point. In that case, why don't you come along with us? We can look out for one another."
Su Mu nodded without hesitation. "All right! I'll be counting on you, Saint Tongtian." And so, the group set out together toward the sea.
Before you continue