When Taiyi emerged from that stream of chaos, there were already few people left outside. Treasure Distribution Cliff stood alone in the chaos, the treasure light atop it having dimmed further, on the verge of vanishing completely.
He swept his gaze around but did not see Di Jun. Just as he was about to sense for him, a golden rainbow tore through the chaos in the distance and sped toward him—it was Di Jun.
"Second Brother." Di Jun stopped before him, a hint of delight on his face. "How did it go?"
Taiyi knew what he meant and nodded. "I got three little trinkets. They should be useful enough. What about you, Brother? Judging by your complexion, you gained quite a bit?"
Di Jun laughed heartily, the imperial aura of stars around him becoming even more solid. "The River Diagram and Luo Script resonated with a strand of Star Origin within the cliff, deepening my comprehension of the workings of the All-Encompassing Stars. After returning and entering seclusion, I may achieve a breakthrough."
As the two spoke, several more streaks of light flew out from the cliff top and scattered into the chaos. Taiyi saw Nuwa and Fuxi emerge together as well, heading in their direction.
"Fellow Daoists." Fuxi cupped his hands from afar with a smile. "It seems everyone gained considerably this time."
Nuwa stood at his side with a faint smile on her face. The Dao rhythm of Creative Vitality circulated around her, clearly showing that she too had gained benefits from Treasure Distribution Cliff.
The four gathered together and flew toward the Great Wilderness. Chaotic currents surged around them, causing their escape lights to flicker between brightness and dimness.
After flying for roughly a quarter of an hour, Nuwa, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke. "This time, the Dao Ancestor designated six Saint positions. The Three Pure Ones, myself, and the two from the West each received one."
Her voice was soft, as though she were speaking of something unrelated to herself. Yet the meaning behind her words was weighty.
Fuxi turned to glance at her but said nothing.
Di Jun frowned slightly and pondered. "The Saint positions have been set. This is the decree of the Heavenly Dao. It is merely..." He paused. "The Demon Race now wishes to establish the Heavenly Court and govern the Great Wilderness. Without a Saint overseeing it, its foundation will ultimately remain unstable."
That struck right at the heart of the matter.
Taiyi listened from the side, his thoughts crystal clear. Di Jun was worried—the Demon Race wanted to establish the Heavenly Court and rule all races, but the six Saints had already been decided, and not one of them was connected to the Demon Race. If conflict arose in the future, who would support them?
Nuwa was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Saints uphold the Dao on behalf of Heaven and guide all living beings. Though I have obtained a Saint position, I must still follow the Heavenly Dao and cannot show favoritism."
Her words were tactful, but their meaning was unmistakable—even after becoming a Saint, she could not openly favor the Demon Race.
The atmosphere immediately grew somewhat grave.
Chaotic currents howled past their ears. The four flew onward, and no one spoke again.
Taiyi looked at the rolling gray haze ahead, but other thoughts were turning in his mind.
Saint positions... the Heavenly Dao... transcendence...
He recalled Hongjun's words during the lecture, the densely packed threads he had seen through Causality Vision, and the fragmented messages conveyed by those three Karma Reversal fragments.
Suddenly, he spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it rang especially clearly within the silent chaos.
"Is a Saint position truly the only path to transcendence?"
The moment those words left his mouth, the other three were stunned.
Di Jun turned to him, surprise in his eyes. "Second Brother, why do you say that?"
Nuwa and Fuxi also looked over, their gazes filled with inquiry.
Taiyi wore a thoughtful expression, as though carefully choosing his words. He slowed his escape light and said slowly, "Dao Ancestor Hongjun merged himself with the Dao to complete the workings of Heaven. That is the path of Merging with Dao, different from becoming a Saint. The Three Pure Ones, Fellow Daoist Nuwa, and the two from the West received the positions of Heavenly Dao Saints. Their Primordial Spirits must be entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, allowing them to uphold the Dao on behalf of Heaven and guide all living beings."
He paused and looked at the three of them. "This path is viable, and it is stable. Those who obtain Saint positions share the lifespan of the Heavenly Dao. So long as the tribulation does not end, they will not perish. It truly is a great road leading to Heaven."
"But this path also comes at a price." Taiyi's voice deepened. "Once one's Primordial Spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, one becomes bound to it. As the Heavenly Dao operates, Saints must follow it as well. Should the Heavenly Dao change, Saints too will be constrained."
He recalled the Saint-position Karma Threads he had seen through Causality Vision—thick and solid, yet also... binding.
"More importantly," Taiyi continued, "Saint positions are limited. The Heavenly Dao needs only six Saints to stand guard. One more will not do, and one fewer is impossible. Now that all six seats have been filled, if those who come later wish to take this path, I fear..."
He did not finish, but everyone understood what he meant.
Di Jun's brow furrowed even more deeply. Fuxi, meanwhile, looked thoughtful, his fingers quietly calculating something within his sleeve.
Nuwa was silent for a moment before asking, "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, are you saying... that besides becoming a Saint, there are other paths to transcendence?"
Taiyi nodded, then shook his head. "I cannot say for certain. I only feel that the Great Dao is fifty, Heaven evolves forty-nine, and one escapes. That escaped 'one' may be the sliver of life left for all beings. Saint positions are the clear path, the road drawn by the Heavenly Dao. Follow it, and one can reach the end. But beyond this clear path, might there be others? Perhaps rugged, perhaps perilous, but... still paths nonetheless."
His words were half genuine insight and half probing.
They were genuine because he truly believed becoming a Saint was not the only way out—at least, not for him. He had bound himself to the forbidden system and embarked on a path of disrupting causality. He was destined to be unable to follow the road laid out by the Heavenly Dao step by step.
The probing was to see how these future giants would react. Especially Fuxi—he was a master of deduction, exceedingly sensitive to heavenly secrets and fate.
Sure enough, Fuxi spoke. His voice was steady and carried a unique rhythm. "Fellow Daoist Taiyi's words are quite profound. When Dao Ancestor Hongjun lectured, he once said, 'There are three thousand Great Daos, and each can prove Primordial Chaos.' A Saint position is the safest of them, but not necessarily the only one."
He paused, his fingers continuing their calculations as his brow faintly creased. "It is merely... that the other paths are too obscure. I tried to deduce them, but saw only a patch of chaos, countless diverging roads, with fortune and calamity impossible to predict."
"Then that is exactly right," Taiyi replied. "If it is the escaped 'one,' if it is a variable beyond the Heavenly Dao, how could it possibly be easily deduced?"
He looked at Di Jun. "Brother, the Demon Race seeks to establish the Heavenly Court and take the path of ruling the Great Wilderness and building order. That path bears similarities to the Saints' method of upholding the Dao on behalf of Heaven, yet it is also different. Saints rely on the Heavenly Dao. If the Demon Race truly wishes to establish itself, perhaps... it must carve out its own path."
Light flickered in Di Jun's eyes. He was clearly considering the matter seriously.
Nuwa, however, sighed softly. "Its own path... how could that be easy? Only after obtaining a Saint position did I understand the weight of this road. The Heavenly Dao grants authority, yet it also imposes shackles. Even Saints are not truly free."
She spoke frankly. Having gained a Saint position, she understood its limitations all the more clearly.
Taiyi understood that Nuwa was speaking from the heart. He nodded. "That is why I say a Saint position is both a clear path and a shackle. Obtain one, and you become bound to the Heavenly Dao. Prosper together, suffer together. If the Heavenly Dao changes in the future..."
He did not continue, but the implication made all three shudder inwardly.
The Heavenly Dao changing?
Those words were too bold, and too... ominous.
At that moment, the chaotic currents suddenly began to churn violently, as though stirred by something invisible. The escape lights of all four swayed, forcing them to channel their mana to stabilize themselves.
Only after the currents calmed did Fuxi slowly say, "The operation of the Heavenly Dao has its own fixed order. Yet Fellow Daoist Taiyi's words are indeed worthy of deep thought. The path of cultivation is ultimately a path against Heaven. Following the Heavenly Dao allows one to walk steadily; going against Heaven may perhaps... allow one to climb higher."
He looked at Taiyi, his gaze profound. "Fellow Daoist, you seem to have considerable insight into this?"
Taiyi's heart tightened, but he revealed a wry smile. "Insight would be too much to claim. I merely had some wild thoughts after listening to the Dao. With my meager cultivation, I have not even touched the threshold of a Quasi-Saint. How would I dare discuss the path of transcendence?"
His words were humble, yet reasonable. For a Grand Unity Golden Immortal to discuss Saint positions and transcendence truly did seem somewhat presumptuous.
Di Jun patted his shoulder and laughed. "For Second Brother to have such thoughts is already rare. The road of cultivation is long. We need only walk it one step at a time. For the Demon Race to establish the Heavenly Court, the most urgent task now is to strengthen our foundation and expand our power."
Those words brought the topic back around.
Nuwa nodded. "Fellow Daoist Di Jun is right. Establishing the Heavenly Court is a major undertaking and must be planned carefully over time. Though I have obtained a Saint position, I will also do my best to help with the establishment of the Heavenly Court."
This was effectively a promise—though she could not openly show favoritism, she would certainly lend aid in secret.
Taiyi inwardly relaxed. That discussion of the Dao had seemed casual, but every sentence had been carefully considered. He had needed to display some "depth of thought" to draw attention, yet not go too far and expose his own abnormality.
Now, it seemed the result was quite good.
Fuxi had become interested in his "insights," but had not yet begun to investigate deeply. Di Jun had taken his words to heart, though his attention remained more focused on establishing the Heavenly Court. As for Nuwa... this future Saint seemed deeply moved by his words about the "shackles of Saint positions."
That was enough.
Their escape lights continued forward, the chaotic currents gradually receding behind them. Ahead, they could already see the outline of the Great Wilderness—a boundless expanse, stars glittering and earth stretching endlessly onward.
"We are almost there," Di Jun said.
The four fell silent again, each occupied with their own thoughts.
Taiyi looked at the world drawing ever nearer, but his mind had already turned elsewhere.
The charred wood from Treasure Distribution Cliff lay quietly in his sleeve. The Qi of Tribulation and Destiny deep within his Primordial Spirit seemed to have grown more active. And there was that Sea-Calming Pearl, the great net formed by twenty-four pearls...
These were all "variables."
They were all "accidents" beyond the Heavenly Dao's script.
And he was gradually gathering these "accidents," weaving a net that belonged to him alone.
Saint positions? The Heavenly Dao? Transcendence?
There was still a long road ahead.
Their escape lights pierced through the final barrier of chaos, and their vision suddenly opened up. The familiar spiritual energy of the Great Wilderness rushed toward them, carrying the brilliance of stars, the heaviness of the earth, and... the clamor of countless living beings.
They had returned.
Taiyi took a deep breath and tightened his grip on the Sea-Calming Pearl and charred wood within his sleeve.
As for how to walk the road ahead, he already had a rough idea.
But one had to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time.
For now, the most important thing was to digest the gains from this lecture, consolidate his cultivation, and then... see how the grand drama of the Demon Race establishing the Heavenly Court would unfold.
As for those more far-reaching plans, those thoughts about "transcendence," those calculations in his struggle against the Heavenly Dao...
They could wait until the future.
His escape light cut through the sky, speeding toward the Sun Star.
Behind them, the chaos where Zixiao Palace stood gradually vanished into the endless void.
And ahead, the sky of the Great Wilderness was only just beginning to brighten.
Before you continue