Tongtian gazed at Xuandu, his eyes gradually darkening.
"What are you trying to say?"
Xuandu said:
"This disciple has deduced the events of that year."
"The Pangu Axe shattered, and the three treasures emerged, each scattering away."
"The Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner fell into the hands of Dao Ancestor Hongjun."
"But the Chaos Bell..."
He paused, his voice turning grave:
"...was forcibly assigned by Heavenly Dao to become Eastern Emperor Taiyi's Companion Spiritual Treasure."
Tongtian's gaze sharpened at those words.
"Heavenly Dao forcibly assigned it?"
Xuandu nodded.
"Yes."
"The three treasures shared the same origin. All were transformed from the Pangu Axe and should have belonged to the Three Pure Ones."
"But when the Chaos Bell came into being, Heavenly Dao intervened and forcibly changed its predetermined fate."
"It stripped the bell away from the Three Pure Ones and bound it to Eastern Emperor Taiyi instead."
"It became his Companion Spiritual Treasure."
Tongtian fell silent.
He looked at Xuandu, at those tranquil yet unfathomable eyes, as thoughts raced through his mind.
Heavenly Dao had forcibly altered predetermined fate.
Why?
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was merely an Innate Deity. Though he possessed the bearing of an emperor, what merit or ability did he have to make Heavenly Dao alter fate for him?
Unless...
Tongtian's pupils contracted slightly.
A possibility suddenly occurred to him.
"You mean..."
He spoke, his voice low:
"Heavenly Dao did it deliberately?"
Xuandu nodded.
"That is precisely what this disciple means."
"Why did Heavenly Dao make the Chaos Bell Eastern Emperor Taiyi's Companion Spiritual Treasure?"
"Because it wanted the Demon Clan to rise."
"Only when the Demon Clan rose could it contend with the Witch Clan."
"Only when the Witch Clan and Demon Clan fought could the tribulation be unleashed."
"Only when the tribulation descended could it