Golden Ao Island.
Though separated by Sage restrictions and endless void,
Xuandu's voice, which he had not deliberately lowered, still rang clearly in the ears of every Interception Sect disciple!
Daoist Duobao shuddered, a horrified gleam bursting from his eyes as he stared fixedly at Xuandu's seemingly tiny figure beyond the island.
"He... he actually dared..."
Saint Mother Jinling covered her lips with a jade-like hand, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.
Zhao Gongming was first stunned, then suddenly slapped his thigh, his face erupting with wild joy and excitement!
"Well asked! Well asked indeed, Junior Brother Xuandu! Hahaha!"
He nearly threw back his head and howled at the heavens!
San Xiao looked at one another, each seeing immense shock in the others' eyes.
Bi Xiao's pretty face was flushed crimson with excitement as she murmured:
"The Dao Ancestor... the Dao Ancestor's origins..."
In the distant void, those two concealed Western Spiritual Senses also fluctuated violently at that moment!
Clearly, the two Sages, Zhunti and Jieyin, had also lost their composure over this earth-shattering question!
Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
What kind of existence was he?
The Great Wilderness's first Sage, the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao, the Source of Ten Thousand Daos, teacher of all Saints!
His origins...
Other beings might not know, but they Heavenly Dao Sages did.
After all, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had once been one of the Three Thousand Chaos Demon Gods.
And Dao Ancestor Hongjun's true form... was an earthworm!
Born in Chaos, hidden in the netherworld, he attained the Dao after the Dragon Han First Tribulation, wielded the Jade Disk of Fortune, achieved the supreme Sage position, and merged his body with the Heavenly Dao!
An earthworm...
By Primordial Heavenly Venerate's classification just now...
Was that not... one of the wet-born, egg-hatched kind?
Xuandu's question was no different from applying Primordial Heavenly Venerate's words to Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
You, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, despised those who were wet-born, egg-hatched, hairy, and horned, believing their innate foundations shallow and that they were unworthy of the Great Dao.
Then what of Hongjun, who was wet-born and egg-hatched, yet attained the supreme Dao Ancestor Position?
Did you still dare apply your theory to the Dao Ancestor?
Did you still dare speak of the wet-born, egg-hatched, hairy, and horned?
At that moment, heaven and earth fell silent.
It was as though every sound had been stripped away.
Only the strange stillness of the East Sea's waves, frozen beneath Saintly Might, remained.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's expression swiftly changed from initial shock to livid fury, then from livid fury to icy coldness!
He stared fixedly at Xuandu. Jade Purity Immortal Light circulated around him faster than ever before, causing even the surrounding Heavenly Dao Rules to wail!
Though a Sage's wrath had not fully erupted, this stretch of void already seemed to have become a realm of death!
"Young brat... how dare you... rashly discuss the Dao Ancestor!"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate practically ground out those words, one syllable at a time.
The aura around him surged unstably. Clearly, Xuandu's question had directly shaken the ideological foundation he had upheld for countless epochs, and had touched upon one of the Great Wilderness's greatest taboos!
To rashly discuss the Dao Ancestor's origins was the height of disrespect!
Yet Xuandu seemed to have anticipated this long ago.
Facing Yuanshi's furious gaze, one that nearly sought to crush him to dust, his expression remained calm as he bowed again.
"Second Martial Uncle, please quell your anger."
"This junior does not mean to rashly discuss the Dao Ancestor. I merely have doubts in my heart that I cannot leave unspoken."
"The Dao Ancestor once said that beneath the Great Dao, all beings possess a Glimmer of Hope."
"My Interception Sect's teachings are to seize this Glimmer of Hope: Teach Without Discrimination. Anyone with the heart to seek the Dao may hear its teachings."
"Second Martial Uncle founded the Chan Sect, following Heaven's mandate and selecting by innate foundations. That is simply a difference in Dao, with no distinction of superiority or inferiority."
"However, Second Martial Uncle's words just now seemed to judge status by innate foundations and rank worth by birth."
"This junior is dull-witted and only wishes to ask: if that is the case, then the Dao Ancestor..."
He did not continue.
But the meaning was already unmistakable.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face darkened as though water might drip from it.
Saintly Might surged around him, yet for the first time, he found it difficult to vent.
Refute him?
How could he refute this?
Could he deny the Dao Ancestor's origins?
That would be deceiving himself!
Could he deny the Dao Ancestor's achievements?
That would be utterly rebellious!
Admit it?
Would that not be slapping his own face and completely overturning his theory of innate foundations?
For a moment, the Jade Purity Sage, who had always been sharp-tongued and commanded order, was rendered nearly speechless by a single question from Xuandu!
Sect Leader Tongtian looked at Yuanshi's ugly expression and felt incomparably delighted!
He laughed loudly. Sword Qi shot into the heavens around him, dispersing some of the oppressive Saintly Might.
"Hahaha! Excellent! Well said!"
His eyes shone as he looked at Xuandu, filled with admiration.
"Before the Great Dao, how can innate foundations matter?"
"The Dao Ancestor is proof enough!"
"Second Brother, what else do you have to say?"
Laozi stood to one side in silence.
He gave Xuandu a deep look, the calculating light in his eyes growing even stronger.
This boy not only possessed a Heaven-Defying Opportunity, but also such keen and sharp wits, along with astonishing courage.
In such a setting, he had actually used the Dao Ancestor as an example to strike directly at the core flaw in his second brother's beliefs.
Such intelligence and boldness were rare in the Great Wilderness.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's chest rose and fell slightly. He was clearly enraged to the extreme.
He stared at Xuandu, then looked toward the pleased Tongtian, and finally swept his gaze over the silent Laozi.
He knew that under Xuandu's heart-piercing question today, he had already fallen into a disadvantage.
If he continued to argue, he would only humiliate himself further.
"Hmph!"
He fiercely swept his sleeve, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light around him surged.
"Sharp tongue and twisted logic!"
"The Great Dao is profound. How can you rashly presume to fathom it?"
With that, he did not remain any longer.
His figure transformed into a brilliant streak of Jade Purity Immortal Light, instantly tearing through the void and vanishing.
He had actually left directly!
The Saintly Might faded, and the frozen East Sea waves began to surge once more.
Yet the shock hanging in the air lingered for a long time.
Golden Ao Island first fell silent.
Then, earth-shaking cheers erupted!
"Senior Brother Xuandu!"
"Well said!"
The countless Interception Sect disciples, whether Personal Disciples or Outer Disciples,
were all swept up in emotion. Their gazes toward the figure beyond the island were filled with admiration and fervor!
Senior Brother Xuandu had actually forced the Jade Purity Sage into speechlessness with his own words, making him leave in anger!
What an extraordinary feat!
Daoist Duobao let out a long breath and looked at Xuandu with completely changed eyes.
Saint Mother Jinling, Saint Mother Wudang, Saint Mother Guiling, and the others also wore complicated expressions, filled with amazement.
Zhao Gongming and San Xiao looked especially excited.
Kong Xuan stood in the distance, Five-Colored Radiance flowing in his eyes as he gazed at Xuandu and murmured softly:
"What a Xuandu... he actually dared use the Dao Ancestor as an example..."
His evaluation of this mysterious fellow disciple, who had brought him into the sect, rose boundlessly once more.
In the void beyond the island.
Sect Leader Tongtian snorted coldly in the direction Yuanshi had left, then turned to Xuandu, his face filled with undisguised praise.
"Excellent! Xuandu, today you have greatly vented This Master's anger, and the anger of my Interception Sect!"
The more he looked at Xuandu, the more satisfied he became.
This boy not only possessed heaven-defying talent, but his temperament and courage were also one in ten thousand!
Xuandu hurriedly bowed.
"This disciple merely argued according to reason and does not dare claim credit."
Laozi slowly spoke at that moment as well. His gaze fell upon Xuandu, and while his tone remained calm, it seemed to carry an indescribable deeper meaning.
"Disaster comes from the mouth, and fortune comes from the mouth as well."
"Take care of yourself."
With that, he gave Tongtian a slight nod, took one step forward, and his figure vanished as well.
The Saintly Might dissipated, and the East Sea flowed again.
Above Golden Ao Island, the rosy clouds gradually faded, and the immortal music had already ceased.
Only the tumult in the hearts of countless Interception Sect disciples remained, impossible to calm.
Countless burning gazes fixed upon Xuandu in the void beyond the island!
Before today, Xuandu's name among the Interception Sect's Myriad Immortals Come to Court had merely been a minor topic of conversation about a newly initiated disciple.
Born of the Human Race, he had drawn the Grand Pure Sage's attention and had been personally accepted by his master.
Though unusual, that was all.
Especially after Chang Er Ding Guang Xian had placed him in a desolate, remote area, many disciples had thought even less of him.
How much promise could a fellow disciple scorned even by the Seven Attendant Immortals have?
But the astonishing phenomenon just now—Chaos Qi piercing the heavens and the Great Dao Celebration—had already left all disciples uncertain and alarmed.
And immediately after that, Xuandu had actually remained neither servile nor overbearing beneath the Jade Purity Sage's might.
He had even used the Dao Ancestor's origins as an example, and with one heart-piercing question, forced Primordial Heavenly Venerate into speechlessness and made him leave in anger!
Such courage! Such wit! Such integrity!
In an instant, he won over the countless immortals on the island!
"Senior Brother Xuandu!"
No one knew who shouted first.
The next moment, a tidal roar surged from Golden Ao Island into the sky!
"Senior Brother Xuandu!"
"Well said!"
The waves of voices gathered, shaking the heavens.
Daoist Duobao watched this scene, a sharp light flickering in his eyes as he slowly applauded.
Saint Mother Jinling nodded slightly. For the first time, genuine recognition for this junior brother appeared in her beautiful eyes.
A faint smile also flashed across Saint Mother Wudang's cool face.
Zhao Gongming laughed heartily, his voice booming like a great bell.
"Good boy! You've really got skill! If anyone dares say again that all Interception Sect disciples are wet-born and egg-hatched, use these words to shut him up!"
Bi Xiao excitedly tugged at Qiong Xiao and Yun Xiao's sleeves.
"Sisters! Did you see Martial Uncle Yuanshi's expression? Junior Brother Xuandu was incredible!"
Yun Xiao nodded gently, her eyes bright and clear.
"Those words... truly were immensely satisfying."
Saint Mother Guiling blinked, full of curiosity.
"This Junior Brother Xuandu is truly quite interesting."
Even the ever-arrogant Kong Xuan now looked at Xuandu with a measure of genuine regard.
This boy's growth in strength was not only strange; his wits and courage also far surpassed his peers.
Xuandu stood in the void, feeling the surging recognition and fervor below him, and his heart stirred slightly as well.
Though his actions had indeed involved some cleverness, he had also intended to use this opportunity to establish his authority.
If he wanted to gain a foothold in the Interception Sect and carry out the plans in his heart, hiding his cultivation and relying on a Sage's favor would not be enough.
One also needed sufficient prestige to win the trust of his fellow disciples!
Today, borrowing Primordial Heavenly Venerate's authority, he had thoroughly established his standing in the hearts of the Jie Sect Myriad Immortals!
Sect Leader Tongtian took in everything happening on the island, and his heart brimmed with delight.
He looked at Xuandu, growing more satisfied the longer he watched.
Sect Leader Tongtian did not speak to Xuandu immediately.
His eyes, which contained endless Sword Intent and Dao Principles, suddenly turned toward A Certain Place in the Void.
Where his gaze fell, it was as though two invisible heavenly swords had abruptly left their sheaths, cleaving apart the heavens!
"Hmph!"
That cold snort boomed like thunder from the Ninth Heaven, yet was incomparably condensed.
There were no mana fluctuations capable of destroying heaven and earth, nor any Saintly Might spilling forth to sweep across the eight directions.
Yet at the very instant that cold snort rang out—
Deep within the distant void, the two strands of Spiritual Sense that had been cautiously spying on this place were struck at once!
"Pfft!"
In the west, atop Mount Sumeru Peak.
Beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, Sage Jieyin and Sage Zhunti, who had been observing the battle from afar with their Spiritual Sense, both trembled slightly.
Their faces turned pale, and a thread of pale golden saint's blood simultaneously spilled from the corners of their mouths!
The scene before their eyes instantly shattered.
The Spiritual Sense they had maintained outside Golden Ao Island in the East Sea had been utterly annihilated by an incomparably sharp Sword Intent!
Not the slightest trace remained!
"Tongtian... how overbearing!"
Sage Zhunti's expression darkened, and a flash of shock and anger passed through his eyes.
Daoist Jieyin looked even more sorrowful. He softly chanted a Buddhist invocation, but deep in his eyes lay utter gravity.
"Tongtian's sword Dao surpasses even what it was before. The affairs of the Three Pure Ones are not something we can easily interfere in. For now, we should wait and see."
The two Sages exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's wariness.
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