Chapter 49

After the calamity ended, it would be time to break through to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, right? Zhunti was more concerned about this disciple's cultivation. Lu Tian nodded. "My years of accumulation are sufficient. The time has come." A realm that had once seemed impossibly distant was now within reach.

Lu Tian sighed softly, then continued watching the battle with his two masters.

The powerful figures of the Witch and Demon Clans were locked in fierce combat, neither side able to gain the upper hand.

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, a sudden upheaval erupted beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven!

The Sun Star abruptly dimmed. Peerless experts were actually clashing upon it, causing the entire star to lose its radiance!

The master and disciples immediately turned their gazes.

A colossal giant supporting heaven and earth manifested the true form of a Great Witch. Galaxies swirled between his fingers as he struck the Sun Star with his palm!

An earthshaking force erupted from the Sun Star as well—

A nine-headed divine bird appeared in the sky, stabilizing the Sun Star, which was on the verge of shattering.

It glared furiously at a hidden place upon the star, then raised a hand and summoned a blood-red sword overflowing with baleful aura!

"Though the Witch Slaying Sword has yet to reach completion..."

"Slaying a mere Great Witch like you will be more than easy!"

"Since you ruined my tempering process, you will become this sword's first sacrifice!"

Gui Che roared and charged at Kuafu with his sword!

Kuafu did not evade. Relying on the strength of his true form, he charged straight at him.

Who would have thought that, with a flash of blood-red light—

The Great Witch's supposedly indestructible true form was split apart by a single slash!

Kuafu's eyes widened in fury as he roared and tried to seize the sword for a counterattack.

Gui Che took advantage of the opening and slashed repeatedly. The second strike had already gravely wounded him!

The Witch and Demon experts fighting below sensed the disturbance. Dijiang was about to rush to Kuafu's aid when the Eastern Emperor Bell shattered space-time and blocked his path.

As one side rose and the other fell, Kuafu, having lost the advantage of his physical body, still fought to the death without retreating.

Gui Che battled him for three years before finally using the Witch Slaying Sword to grind him away completely, body and soul both destroyed!

The Demon Clan had traded the lives of nine princes for the fall of one Great Witch from the Witch Clan.

The heavens trembled. The blood feud between the two clans could no longer be reconciled—

This war that had lasted through countless ages would finally reach its end!

The decisive battle between the Witch and Demon Clans had reached its boiling point. Victory or defeat might soon be decided.

Because of Kuafu's death, the Great Witches of the Witch Clan went mad, fighting the Demon Clan without regard for anything else.

The master and disciples continued observing in secret.

They had other plans amid the Witch-Demon War, merely waiting for the two clans' final battle to seize an opportunity for profit.

The Demon Clan's experts were ultimately forced into retreat. The battle temporarily subsided, though who knew how many Grand Unity Golden Immortals had fallen during it.

The flames of war had already spread throughout the Primordial World. There was no longer any possibility of stopping them.

With total war underway, no one could halt it!

That day, Lu Tian was chatting with his two masters.

Jieyin and Zhunti suddenly turned solemn.

The two exchanged glances and hesitated. "How could this be..."

Seeing their hesitation, Lu Tian knew that something must have happened.

The Witch-Demon War was in full swing. What else could be considered a "major matter"?

As he pondered this, he suddenly heard Jieyin say, "Disciple, come with us to Purple Heaven Palace."

"The Dao Ancestor has summoned the Six Sages for an audience and specifically ordered us to bring you along."

The Dao Ancestor? Hongjun?!

Lu Tian's mind shook violently, and countless thoughts surged through him.

Hongjun actually wanted to see him?!

He had long known that he would eventually enter the Dao Ancestor's sight, but he had not expected it to happen so soon!

He quickly reviewed everything he had done in the Primordial World:

Ever since Discussing the Dao at Kunlun, the Witch, Demon, and Human Clans, as well as All Sages, had all become entangled with him.

Fortunately, relying on his foreknowledge, he had acted with sufficient care and had not exposed any fatal flaw.

"Adapt to the situation." Zhunti's voice transmission interrupted his thoughts.

The three immediately flew beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven.

Lu Tian suppressed his distracting thoughts—if Hongjun truly intended to act against him, there would be no chance of survival anywhere in the Primordial World.

He might as well face it calmly and learn the Dao Ancestor's true intentions.

After all, the very name "Hongjun" represented the highest form of suppression in the Primordial World!

Purple Heaven Palace arrived in an instant.

"Jieyin and Zhunti pay respects to Master!"

"Grand-disciple Lu Tian pays respects to Grandmaster!"

A detached voice came from beyond the palace gates. "Enter."

Haotian and Jade Pond opened the palace gates and stepped aside to let the three enter.

Lu Tian followed his masters into Purple Heaven Palace and looked up to see Hongjun seated high upon the Cloud Platform.

The Dao Ancestor's bearing was indeed extraordinary.

With merely a fleeting glance, Lu Tian felt his soul tremble, nearly losing himself to the Dao Charm circulating around Hongjun.

A light cough rang out like a morning bell and evening drum.

Lu Tian instantly regained his senses. He lowered his head and stood silently behind his masters, as still as a pine.

Jieyin and Zhunti had only just sat down cross-legged when Nuwa drifted in gracefully.

Not long after, the Three Pure Ones arrived together. When their gazes swept over the figure behind Jieyin and Zhunti, all their pupils contracted slightly.

Several probing gazes pressed against Lu Tian's back like needles.

Lu Tian watched his nose, and his nose watched his heart. Within Purple Heaven Palace, he did not dare overstep in the slightest.

Since everyone had arrived, he would simply calm his mind and listen to the Dao.

Hongjun lightly flicked his wide sleeve, then suddenly smiled at the two from the west. "In this Witch-Demon War, the two of you have rendered considerable merit."

Nuwa's gaze abruptly shifted, shooting toward Jieyin and Zhunti like lightning.

"Master overpraises us. This disciple does not dare accept such praise."

Wrinkles piled around Jieyin's smiling face. Such commendation was truly rare.

"Especially your grand-disciple..."

For the first time, the Dao Ancestor's gaze fell upon Lu Tian. The young man hurriedly raised his head, revealing precisely the right amount of apprehension.

"Grandmaster overpraises this disciple..."

"Why be so modest?" Hongjun lightly tapped the Cloud Platform with his fingers. "To see through the secret of the Demon Clan's Witch Slaying Sword and possess the courage to reveal it—such boldness is beyond ordinary people."

The expressions in the eyes of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa changed instantly.

The scene of Gui Che wielding his sword to slay a Great Witch was still vivid in their minds. Without that vicious sword, the outcome might not yet have been decided.

So it had been Fellow Daoist Lu who had brought this information to the Witch Clan.

A smile lingered on Nuwa's lips, yet her eyes seemed tempered with icy frost.

The hairs on the back of Lu Tian's neck stood on end, as though a venomous serpent's tongue had licked down his spine.

The Three Pure Ones' gazes blazed as their astonishment deepened.

The Demon Clan had concealed this secret flawlessly, and even they had failed to notice it. Yet this minor disciple from the west possessed such ability?

Lu Tian stood behind his masters with a smile on his lips.

He too was filled with doubt.

Hongjun had deliberately mentioned this matter and even called out his name. He had most likely noticed Lu Tian's frequent movements lately and intended to warn him.

Having the other four Sages set their sights on him was definitely not a good thing...

If he wanted to continue acting in secret under the names of his two masters in the future, it would likely not be so easy!

However...

After the Witch-Demon War ended would come the Investiture of the Gods.

Perhaps he no longer needed to secretly pull small tricks?

"I summoned you here this time over no major matter."

"I will temporarily be unable to monitor the Primordial World. You must stabilize its situation for me and prevent the Witch-Demon War from exceeding a controllable range."

"As Saints of the Heavenly Dao, you should understand the gravity of this."

Hongjun's words carried deeper meaning.

All Six Sages in the hall revealed thoughtful expressions.

"This disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master."

"We will certainly follow Master's instructions and control the course of the calamity."

The Six Sages answered in succession.

Yet each harbored their own thoughts.

Especially the Three Pure Ones.

The way they looked at Lu Tian was rather subtle.

Lu Tian felt as though he were sitting on needles, but his thoughts instead became more active.

Hongjun had no time to monitor the Primordial World?

What sort of major matter could make him withdraw at such a crucial moment in the calamity, to the point where he had no mind to concern himself with its progress?

Could it be Merging with the Dao?

Had he reached the critical juncture of Merging with the Dao?

Lu Tian secretly speculated.

Aside from a matter as significant as Merging with the Dao, he truly could not think of anything else that Hongjun would value so highly.

If that was truly the case, Western Teachings might be able to seek another great opportunity through the Witch-Demon War!

Lu Tian was still considering how to gain more benefits from the Witch-Demon War.

Then he heard Hongjun finish his instructions and directly wave them away.

"Very well. That is all I summoned you here for."

"As for the specific arrangements, discuss them among yourselves."

Upon hearing this, the Six Sages hurriedly bowed and took their leave, departing Purple Heaven Palace one after another.

Lu Tian followed his masters out of the main hall.

Though Hongjun had not said much this time, he had revealed quite a bit of crucial information.

Since he had already relinquished control over the Witch-Demon Calamity and left it for the Saints to handle themselves, it was time for each of them to display their abilities.

Lu Tian extended his Divine Sense into his personal space and gazed at that strand of violet qi.

This item...

Was the sacred object bestowed by the system when he arrived at Purple Heaven Palace.

If this item appeared in the world, it would certainly cause an enormous uproar and shake the entire Primordial World!

It might even trigger a heaven-shaking war no less devastating than the Witch-Demon War!

That strand of violet qi was precisely what every Quasi-Saint expert dreamed of—Primordial Violet Qi!

It would not be wrong to regard it as a Saint position.

The Six Sages of the Primordial World had all achieved sainthood through merit.

At the heart of attaining sainthood through merit lay Primordial Violet Qi—one had to use the violet qi to connect with the Heavenly Dao, then gather immeasurable merit in order to imprint one's True Spirit upon the Heavenly Dao and ascend to the Saint position!

In other words, Primordial Violet Qi was an indispensable item for becoming a Saint of the Heavenly Dao.

However...

Whom should he give it to?

Lu Tian had long since found his path to enlightenment. His foundation as a Chaos Demon God, the Chaos Pearl, and the Virtual-Real World could all help him emulate Pangu in opening heaven and earth, attaining Enlightenment through Strength and directly reaching the Mixed Yuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

This was the superior choice.

In comparison, attaining sainthood through merit was inferior.

Although attaining the Dao and becoming a Saint was already an immense opportunity...

There were ultimately still distinctions between higher and lower paths.

To Lu Tian, this Primordial Violet Qi had instead become something dispensable.

Just as he pondered, he suddenly sensed a drastic change around him—

Jieyin, who had been walking alongside the other Sages while chatting and laughing, abruptly stopped.

No, all Six Sages stopped at once!

Before Lu Tian could recover, the sky suddenly split apart with a thunderous roar!

A scene even more horrifying than the previous clash of Sage's Might appeared: a huge hole had opened in the vault of the Thirty-Third Heaven, and the cracks continued spreading wildly!

The waters of the Heavenly River poured down like a waterfall, sweeping across everything below!

In the blink of an eye, the scene before him changed completely.

When he focused again, he was already standing at the foot of a towering mountain.

Buzhou Mountain!

Lu Tian's heart jolted, and he immediately understood—

This was the calamity of Gonggong striking Buzhou Mountain in fury!

Without hesitation, he broke free from Jieyin's protection, flashed to Zhunti's side, and transmitted his voice:

"Master, hurry to the North Sea!"

Time was urgent, leaving no room for explanation.

He had planned for this day for a long time.

Zhunti's eyes flickered, but he did not ask further.

With only a strand of Divine Sense sent to Jieyin, Zhunti tore through the air with Lu Tian and headed straight for the North Sea.

The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa all turned to look.

"Fellow Daoist, your outstanding disciple seems to be about to do something astonishing again." Dao De Tianzun spoke calmly, yet he split off an incarnation and followed after them.

Just as Jieyin was about to stop them, Yuanshi Tianzun's aura descended, deep and still as an abyss, firm as a towering mountain.

Jieyin's expression changed several times before he finally smiled and shook his head. "My unworthy disciple is unruly. Please forgive the spectacle."

The effect of Hongjun naming him that day was now fully apparent.

The Three Pure Ones no longer dared regard Lu Tian as an ordinary junior. They had already placed him in a crucial position on the chessboard.

This child truly possessed extraordinary fortune.

"I wondered what had happened. So it was those boorish men of the Witch Clan fighting here—they actually broke Buzhou Mountain!"

Nuwa suddenly spoke, drawing the other four's attention.

"Now that Buzhou Mountain has collapsed, the Thirty-Third Heaven has shattered completely. Fellow Daoists, why not first find a way to mend the breach in the heavens?"

"If this is delayed any longer, the calamity facing all living beings may become impossible to predict!"

"That makes sense! Fellow Daoists, do not be distracted. Repairing the heavens is the most urgent matter, and it is boundless merit!" Jieyin hurriedly echoed.

He only needed to hold the Three Pure Ones in place and let Zhunti leave with Lu Tian.