Hongjun's gaze sharpened.
Unless an external force had helped her.
An external force.
What kind of external force could help Houtu break free of the shackles imposed by a Half-step Heavenly Dao?
Earth Dao Perfection.
Earth Book Returns to Position.
The Earth Book...
At that thought, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression changed dramatically.
The Earth Book!
The only thing that could help Houtu break free of her shackles was the Earth Book returning to its proper place and the Earth Dao reaching perfection.
But the Earth Book had always been in Zhen Yuanzi's hands. It had accompanied the Ancestor of Earth Immortals for countless eons, and their minds had long since become one. It had become the foundation of his Dao path.
How could Zhen Yuanzi be willing to give it up?
Even if he were willing to give it up, how could Houtu return the Earth Book Origin to its proper place?
The Earth Book was a supreme treasure of the Earth Dao, containing the Great Earth Origin. After being separated from the Earth Dao for countless eons, it had long since become an entity unto itself.
Without an external force to refine it, forcing it back into place would only shatter the Earth Dao Foundation instead of completing it.
That external force...
Hongjun's gaze sharpened.
The Qiankun Cauldron.
Only a Dao Ancestor's Supreme Treasure like the Qiankun Cauldron possessed such unparalleled power to refine Heaven and Earth and fuse their origins!
But he had lent the Qiankun Cauldron to Xuandu.
After Mending the Heavens, Xuandu had returned it.
When he did, Hongjun had seen with his own eyes that the Qiankun Cauldron was completely unharmed. Chaos Energy flowed around it as usual, and there was nothing amiss.
Could it be...
Hongjun's mind stirred. His Spiritual Sense surged outward, sweeping