After his wild joy, Xuandu quickly calmed down.
There was still one crucial issue to resolve.
The vast Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak pressure around him, as boundless as a sea of stars, receded like a tide and vanished in an instant.
He returned to the ordinary appearance of a Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivator, as though the terrifying pressure that had nearly left Kong Xuan unable to breathe had merely been an illusion.
Kong Xuan immediately felt the weight around him lift as that pressure abruptly disappeared.
He subconsciously took a deep breath, his gaze toward Xuandu filled with indescribably complicated emotions.
Confusion, along with deep curiosity.
His control over his power had already reached the point of wielding it at will and returning to simplicity.
"Since Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan has agreed, you and I are fellow disciples."
Xuandu wore a smile, his tone mild, as though he had not just used his might to suppress another.
"However, before we return to Golden Ao Island and meet our master, there is one matter I must make clear to you."
Kong Xuan's heart tightened. He gathered his thoughts and cupped his hands.
"Please speak."
His bearing had become far more humble. In the Great Wilderness, where strength was revered, Xuandu had earned his recognition through absolute power.
Xuandu swept his gaze over the surroundings and slowly said,
"For a time, it would be inconvenient for outsiders to know my cultivation realm."
"Even after returning to Golden Ao Island and meeting our master and fellow disciples, I ask that you conceal it for me. Simply treat me as a Heavenly Immortal cultivator."
As soon as these words were spoken, a trace of astonishment flashed through Kong Xuan's eyes.
Conceal his cultivation?
And conceal a cultivation level as shocking as Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak?
Could it even be hidden from their Sage Master?
Questions filled his heart, and he could not help asking,
"Why? With your abilities, why would you need to..."
Xuandu raised a hand and cut him off. His gaze was deep, carrying a meaningful implication.
"A tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind."
"The Witch-Demon Tribulation has not yet settled. Some trump cards are far more useful hidden in the shadows than displayed in the open."
He paused, looked at Kong Xuan, and spoke with a faint, imperceptible depth in his tone.
"Besides, revealing one's strength too early is no good thing."
"When the time is right, I have my own plans."
Recalling that terrifying pressure from moments ago, Kong Xuan assumed Xuandu simply did not wish to expose his strength.
He nodded and said solemnly,
"I understand."
"I, Kong Xuan, will keep this matter absolutely secret."
Hearing this, Xuandu nodded slightly.
That had indeed been his intention.
A tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind.
Revealing Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Peak cultivation too early would certainly earn him immediate prestige, but it would also draw countless scrutinizing eyes and suspicions.
What would Laozi think?
And how would Primordial Heavenly Venerate view it?
Not to mention the Western Two Sages, the Witch-Demon Two Clans...
Trouble would only come one after another.
It would be better to lie low for now.
Then, with the System's aid, he could absorb the roots of Myriad Immortals and break into the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm in one stroke!
At that point, strength would be his true foundation.
Golden Immortals of the Origin transcended Heavenly Dao and formed their own laws.
Even Sages would have to regard them highly.
His status within the Jie Sect would become completely different.
He would no longer need to tread carefully.
Instead, he would be able to stand on equal footing with chief direct disciples such as Duobao and Jin Ling, perhaps even receiving greater importance because of his Primordial Dao Fruit!
After all, aside from the Hunyuan Dao pursued by Ancestral Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Beginning Qilin during the Dragon-Han Tribulation, no living being had ever walked the Hunyuan path.
Only then could he truly do the things he wanted to do.
For example... protect the Human Race.
At that thought, a cold glint passed through the depths of Xuandu's eyes.
The Demon Clan slaughtering the Human Race to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword.
This was a tragedy destined to occur, a calamity the Human Race had to endure under the operation of Heavenly Dao.
In the original course of events, Taiqing Laozi established the Human Sect and became a Sage, yet he pursued Pure and Non-Action and was almost indifferent to the rise and fall of the Human Race.
Though Xuandu had been his sole disciple, he too had been influenced by him. He practiced Pure and Non-Action and had not interfered much in the affairs of the Human Race.
But now, he was no longer that Xuandu!
He came from later ages, and his soul bore the identity of a human along with the Seven Emotions and Six Desires.
He could not stand by and watch the Myriad Human Race be slaughtered and forged into swords without feeling anything!
He had to fight!
For this weak yet tenacious Human Race, he would fight for that glimmer of hope!
What was more...
Xuandu's thoughts raced as a bold plan gradually took shape in his mind.
Though the Human Race was weak now, how enormous was its population?
It could be called the greatest in the Great Wilderness!
If he could bring a large number of humans into the Jie Sect, even if they were merely the most ordinary outer disciples, or even registered disciples...
With the Total Sum System, what kind of terrifying cultivation and root feedback would that bring?
It was simply unimaginable!
By then, not only the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm—even the elusive Daluo Golden Immortal Realm might not be beyond his reach!
Together with the cultivation of the Jie Sect Disciples already present, he could steadily break through to the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm.
Of course, Xuandu knew that it was absolutely impossible to have Sect Leader Tongtian personally accept the Myriad Human Race.
Though the Jie Sect taught without discrimination, it was not a sect that accepted disciples indiscriminately.
Moreover, the roots of the Human Race were generally shallow and could not catch a Sage's eye.
But...
A sharp gleam flashed in Xuandu's eyes.
If Sect Leader Tongtian would not take them, he could!
Once his status and cultivation were sufficient, he could, as a Jie Sect follower, widely accept disciples and bring the Human Race into the Jie Sect system openly and legitimately!
The disciples he accepted would naturally count as Jie Sect Disciples and would certainly be included in the System's total sum!
This way, he could protect the Human Race while using its immense population base to wildly raise his strength.
Two gains with one move!
At that thought, Xuandu felt his heart open wide, and the road ahead seemed bright.
The Hunyuan realm and the Human Race's chance of survival both rested upon this.
He looked at Kong Xuan. Seeing that the other had agreed to keep the matter secret, the last trace of concern in his heart dissipated.
"Then I shall have to trouble Fellow Daoist Kong Xuan."
Xuandu cupped his hands, his tone becoming a little more sincere.
Kong Xuan hurriedly returned the gesture.
"It is my duty."
Though proud, he was not incapable of recognizing kindness.
The strength and potential Xuandu had displayed had earned his basic respect, especially now that they belonged to the same sect.
"Time is of the essence. Let us return to Golden Ao Island at once, meet our master, and complete your initiation ceremony."
Xuandu said.
Only once Kong Xuan formally joined the Jie Sect would his System Mission be considered complete, allowing the Root Sum Feedback to unlock.
Kong Xuan naturally had no objection.
He had cultivated in this place for a long time, and he also wished to witness the grand spectacle of Myriad Immortals Come to Court in the Jie Sect. Even more, he hoped to receive a Sage's Guidance and perfect his Great Dao of Five Elements.
The two did not delay further.
Xuandu still looked like an ordinary Heavenly Immortal, his aura calm.
Kong Xuan also concealed his aura and followed behind Xuandu.
With a sweep of his sleeve robe, Xuandu did not use his full power. He merely traveled at an ordinary Golden Immortal's speed, taking Kong Xuan as he turned into a streak of light and headed toward Golden Ao Island in the East Sea.
It was also a good opportunity to converse with Kong Xuan.
Along the way, Xuandu casually asked about the sights of Undying Volcano and old affairs of the Phoenix Clan, while secretly gathering information about the current state of the Great Wilderness, especially the movements of the Witch-Demon Two Clans.
Although Kong Xuan had lived in the south for a long time, as the Phoenix Clan Crown Prince, he naturally had his own channels of information.
At the very least, he knew more than Xuandu did.
He mentioned that the Demon Clan had been making frequent moves lately and seemed to be gathering on a large scale. Their objective was unknown, but an ominous aura was already faintly spreading in the direction of Buzhou Mountain.
The Witch Clan still occupied the land, while the auras of the Twelve Ancestral Witches gathered together, faintly confronting the Heavenly Court.
The storm was approaching.
Xuandu listened silently, understanding at once.
The signs of the Witch-Demon Final Battle had already begun to brew.
There was not much time left for the Human Race, nor for him.
He had to raise his strength as quickly as possible!
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