Pangu's Fourth Pure One!

The instant the Profound Pure Immortal Light appeared, Xuan Heng naturally understood its properties.

Taiqing's Immortal Light was tranquil and non-contentious; Jade Pure Immortal Light upheld order and rectitude; Supreme Pure Immortal Light seized a thread of life.

His Profound Pure Immortal Light, however, did not govern slaughter or vie for sharpness. It purified tribulation qi, suppressed inner demons, protected one's origin, and screened out turbid currents. After he advanced to Zenith Heaven, it had naturally formed—the origin immortal light unique to him, Pangu's Fourth Pure One.

Just as Xuan Heng was sorting through his gains, the Three Pure Ones arrived beside his lotus pool.

Taiqing's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at the deep azure immortal light circling Xuan Heng.

Yuanshi's expression also grew more solemn. He could sense that this immortal light shared the same origin as his Jade Pure Immortal Light.

Tongtian laughed outright. "Now that Fourth Brother's Profound Pure Immortal Light has emerged, the title of Pangu's Fourth Pure One is truly confirmed."

For once, Yuanshi did not rebuke Tongtian, merely nodding.

"This light shares an origin with Taiqing, Jade Pure, and Supreme Pure, yet it carries an additional intent of purifying the world and embracing all. Xuan Heng, you have already walked your own path."

Taiqing looked at Xuan Heng and said softly, "From this day onward, Kunlun has more than Three Pure Ones."

Xuan Heng's heart trembled slightly. Then he rose and solemnly bowed to his three elder brothers.

"Xuan Heng thanks my three elder brothers for protecting my path."

Tongtian waved a hand.

"We're family. Wouldn't saying such things make us strangers?"

Yuanshi looked at Xuan Heng and said, "Attaining Zenith Heaven is only the beginning. After Purple Cloud Palace's second discourse, the great powers of the Primordial World will all attempt to sever their corpses. The years ahead will not remain peaceful for long."

"Mm, I understand everything Second Brother says." Xuan Heng nodded. A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal might still carry some weight in the era of Journey to the West, but in this age, where Daluo were as common as dogs, he still needed to keep his head down.

As he spoke, Xuan Heng's gaze fell upon the remnant root of the Innate Gourd Vine beside the lotus pool. More than four hundred years had passed. Nurtured by the Purifying White Lotus, that section of withered vine had not continued to decay. Deep within its roots, that wisp of life remained faint, but it had stabilized.

Taiqing also looked toward the remnant root of the gourd vine and asked, "How do you intend to handle this vine?"

Xuan Heng did not answer. Instead, he walked over to the gourd vine and began examining its condition.

Xuan Heng did not hide much, only saying, "Though this vine has lost its gourds, it is still the remnant body of an innate spiritual root, and it once took root in Mount Imperfection's earth veins. I wish to first use the Purifying White Lotus to preserve its last thread of life. Perhaps it may serve another purpose in the future."

"What use does a withered vine have?" Yuanshi asked.

Xuan Heng fell silent for a moment. "Perhaps it has something to do with creation?"

Hearing Xuan Heng's answer, Yuanshi did not press further.

"Creation? This withered vine can be connected to creation?" Tongtian looked curiously at the gourd vine upon hearing Xuan Heng's words.

"It is not certain yet, but the Purifying White Lotus gave me a sign. Perhaps this thing is fated with me."

Xuan Heng did not continue, directly changing the subject.

"Mm. In that case, let it continue to be nurtured in the lotus pool. This place already bears the aura of the Purifying White Lotus, so it will not be easily noticed by outsiders."

"All right."

Xuan Heng nodded. Then he raised a hand and drew over the lotus pool's pure light, sinking the remnant root of the gourd vine into the spiritual soil by the pool.

The instant the withered vine settled, that faint wisp of life finally stabilized.

Now that he had become a Daluo, some things had to be prepared in advance. This section of withered vine before him might be his first step in taking part in the great tide of events.

Years held no count in the Primordial World. In the blink of an eye, a thousand years passed, and Xuan Heng's Daluo cultivation had also stabilized.

Yet on this day, he directly ended his seclusion. The time for Purple Cloud Palace's third discourse had not yet arrived, and the great powers of the Primordial World were likely all digesting the method of severing the Three Corpses. There would not be much upheaval in the short term. To Xuan Heng, this period was instead a rare opportunity.

With that thought, Xuan Heng left his cave dwelling and sought out the Three Pure Ones.

"Fourth Brother has emerged from seclusion. Your foundation is quite stable." Tongtian smiled when he saw Xuan Heng arrive.

"Mm. Nothing went wrong during this seclusion, and my Daluo cultivation is now completely stabilized. However, I came to see my three elder brothers this time to bid farewell. I wish to travel the Primordial World."

Xuan Heng nodded, then stated the purpose of his visit to the Three Pure Ones.

"Mm. After reaching Daluo, it is indeed time to go out and see the world of this Primordial World." Taiqing did not ask much upon hearing Xuan Heng's words.

"You may go, but do not rashly interfere in the conflicts of the great clans. The momentum of the witch and demon races is growing ever stronger. Once you are drawn into their struggle, it will bring no small amount of karma." Yuanshi did not say much either, only offering this reminder.

Xuan Heng nodded. "Rest assured, Second Brother. I am only going out to take a look."

Tongtian, meanwhile, smiled and handed him a sword talisman.

"If you meet someone unreasonable, first declare Kunlun's name. If declaring it still does not work, beat him up. If you cannot beat him, use this sword talisman."

Yuanshi glanced at Tongtian.

"Are you sending him out to travel, or to stir up trouble?"

Tongtian replied with perfect justification, "I am making sure he does not get bullied."

Xuan Heng accepted the sword talisman, warmth rising in his heart.

"Rest assured, Third Brother. I will try not to use it."

Tongtian waved his hand. "Use it when you should. Do not learn from Eldest Brother and bottle everything up."

Taiqing ignored him.

After bowing once more, Xuan Heng directly departed from Kunlun.

This was his first time truly traveling the Primordial World alone. After becoming a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, the world looked entirely different to him; mountains, rivers, and earth veins were no longer merely mountains, rivers, and earth veins.

He could discern traces of where spiritual energies flourished, where tribulation qi had accumulated, and where the fortune of great races lingered.

Xuan Heng followed the earth veins outside Mount Imperfection, stopping and starting along the way. He came across quite a few small Witch Clan tribes.

The Witch Clan did not cultivate the Primordial Spirit, but their fleshly bodies were formidable. As they traveled through mountains and forests, their blood and qi blazed like furnaces. Within many great mountains and rivers, Witch Clan members hunted ferocious beasts and offered sacrifices to the Ancestral Witches.

Xuan Heng did not linger for long. He continued south, and after walking for an unknown length of time, he stopped before a most peculiar valley.

This valley was strange. The surrounding vegetation was lush, and its spiritual qi was not particularly thin, yet not a blade of grass grew within the valley.

Only upon approaching did Xuan Heng discover that the soil inside the valley was blood-red. Gusts of chilling wind swept through it, carrying faint, intermittent cries.

Xuan Heng frowned slightly and raised a hand. Profound Pure Immortal Light flowed from his fingertips. As the deep azure clear light fell into the valley, the dark red qi upon the ground immediately began to churn.

Wisps of remnant souls emerged from beneath the earth—Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan alike. Yet even more numerous were ordinary living beings whose forms had already become incomplete.

Xuan Heng's heart sank. These were remnant souls left behind by the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity. So much time had passed, yet they still lingered between heaven and earth, with nowhere to go.

Xuan Heng entered the valley. The deeper he went, the heavier the weeping at his ears became.

Those remnant souls were entangled by the Sha Qi of the calamity. They could neither reincarnate nor completely disperse, and could only wander the place of their deaths again and again.

Xuan Heng suddenly realized something.

At this time in the Primordial World, the Ancestral Witch Houtu had yet to transform herself into reincarnation. There was no Netherworld in the current Primordial World where these remnant souls could reincarnate.

Thinking of this, Xuan Heng sighed. Profound Pure Immortal Light surged from his fingertips once more, covering the entire valley in an instant. Wherever the clear light passed, tribulation qi was gradually washed away, and the remnant souls grew much quieter.

Half a day later, the cries within the valley had finally softened considerably under Xuan Heng's purification.

But just then, a series of footsteps suddenly came from the valley entrance.