Hongjun was first taken aback, then revealed an expression that said Qing Xuanzi was indeed the clever one. He said:
"Sure enough, when they told me you had an idea, I knew you must have someone in mind as the mastermind.
"For the Star Demon God to hide within the starry sky is simplicity itself. Other than the Heavenly Dao, I doubt anyone could find him."
As soon as Hongjun finished speaking, Qing Xuanzi said, "Hehe, Master, perhaps not necessarily."
"Stop fooling around. If you have an idea, tell us." Hongjun stroked his white beard and laughingly scolded him.
"Though the starry sky appears to contain countless stars, only the 129,600 named stars can be used by them. If we refine those stars, he will have nowhere left to hide."
"You want to refine those stars?" Laozi understood and said with a smile.
"Then we'll fall into their trap, hehe."
"???" Laozi was utterly bewildered, his head full of question marks.
Hongjun understood, however. He abruptly said, "Their purpose is to hold you back."
Now, all the Sages understood. The Heavenly Dao's scheme had been intended to delay Qing Xuanzi.
Because if any one of them went to refine the stars, inexplicable obstacles would surely arise.
They were Sages of the primordial world. For the Heavenly Dao to make things difficult for them would be all too easy.
Thus, in the end, Qing Xuanzi would certainly still have to make the move.
That way, the Heavenly Dao's goal would be achieved. It only needed to hold Qing Xuanzi back for a hundred thousand years.
It would take Qing Xuanzi roughly a hundred thousand years to refine all those stars anyway.
By then, once Hongjun entered the Nirvana Stage, the Heavenly Dao would be able to act without restraint.
Yet Qing Xuanzi's words caught the Sages by surprise. "Hehe, then I'll refine them."
Hongjun's face darkened the moment he heard that. This brat just had to refuse to say everything at once.
Dragging things out like this—was his skin itching for a beating?
Seeing Hongjun's face turn as black as charcoal, Qing Xuanzi hurriedly said, "Master, please hold your anger. Let your disciple explain in detail."
"It's fine. Say whatever you like. We'll see whether I beat you up afterward."
Laozi held back until his face turned red. Qing Xuanzi actually dared to tease the Dao Ancestor.
This was a classic case of someone who had never suffered the cruelty of the world.
That was right. Ever since this kid had entered the world, he had cultivated smoothly all the way to the Mixed Origin Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.
He had probably become a little too full of himself.
Seeing that Hongjun was on the verge of exploding, Qing Xuanzi hurriedly spoke:
"Master, what I mean is, since the Heavenly Dao has made such calculations, why not turn its scheme against it?
"I have a divine ability called Myriad Dao Bodies. It is much like the Three Corpse Bodies, but the most important thing is—
"no one can distinguish the main body from the clones. They can even be switched at any time. It's extremely useful."
Hongjun's face was full of surprise. Such a divine ability existed?
He had never even heard of it. Qing Xuanzi's cultivation technique truly was extraordinary.
Laozi's eyes lit up even more. Good heavens, was this not practically the same as an immortal body?
Even better, if this move were used against an enemy, would that not make one invincible?
He certainly did not believe that Qing Xuanzi's claim that they could not be distinguished referred only to appearance and aura.
Surely even their cultivation and divine abilities could not be distinguished.
"Junior Brother, could you explain this divine ability to us?" Laozi asked directly.
After all, he could see that everyone present, including Hongjun, was extremely interested in it.
In truth, Hongjun was the most interested. He was facing the dangers of the Nirvana Stage.
He did not know whether this divine ability could reduce, or even negate, that risk.
If it could, it would be wonderful news for the Heavenly Dao.
Qing Xuanzi was utterly confused. Weren't they discussing the matter at hand?
How had everyone seemingly shifted their interest? After thinking it over carefully, Qing Xuanzi understood.
He immediately grew excited. Right! Damn it, how had he forgotten to solve the problem at its root?
As long as Hongjun could safely pass through the Nirvana Stage, everything else would be easy to handle.
In Qing Xuanzi's view, it would not even be a Nirvana Stage anymore.
"Master, to use this divine ability, one must be a Mixed Origin Great Luo Golden Immortal. Give me three days.
"I'll organize the cultivation technique and devise a workable Mixed Origin Method.
"Perhaps then all our problems will be resolved with ease.
"However, before that, you must give the Heaven Devouring Method to my senior brothers."
The Heaven Devouring Method? What was that? Laozi looked at Hongjun on the high platform with a puzzled expression.
Not only that, Yuanshi and Tongtian also looked at Hongjun with burning eyes.
Only Nüwa remained calm. Hehe, she had learned it long ago.
"As for the Star Demon God, Qing Xuanzi, you will make the decisions. If you need any help, ask directly."
Hongjun first settled the previous matter, then continued:
"I have already given the Heaven Devouring Method to Nüwa. Why do you think I alone have not given it to the three of you?"
Laozi understood in an instant and immediately looked at Yuanshi.
Among the three of them, only Yuanshi was a cause for concern. His Dao was to follow Heaven.
If a conflict arose, Yuanshi would very likely choose the Heavenly Dao.
Thus, Hongjun had simply not passed this method on to the three of them.
Laozi could even imagine that Hongjun, Nüwa, and Qing Xuanzi had other secret plans.
Plans they had never told them about.
Tongtian was slightly slower than Laozi, but after only a few minutes, he understood as well.
When Yuanshi saw both Laozi and Tongtian looking at him, he was bewildered.
What had he done? Why were they both looking at him?
And Tongtian, what was with that look of disdain on his face?
Yuanshi, whose mind was a complete mess, remained confused for a while before he reacted. Dao—his Dao.
His Dao was to follow Heaven. Heaven was supreme, and everything they had just discussed concerned the Heavenly Dao.
So the problem had to lie there.
Could following Heaven be wrong?
The moment Yuanshi's Dao Heart wavered, even his figure became somewhat unsteady.
The instant Hongjun saw this, he knew things were bad and hurriedly shouted:
"The Heavenly Dao is the Heavenly Dao. What you follow is the will of heaven and earth. If you do not awaken now, when will you?"
Hongjun's shout carried his cultivation, and Yuanshi was quickly awakened.
After steadying his Dao Heart, Yuanshi bowed and said, "Thank you, Teacher. This disciple is ashamed. I nearly strayed onto the wrong path."
"It is not too late. It is not too late to turn back after realizing you have lost your way."
Hongjun stroked his snowy-white beard and said with some satisfaction.
After all, these three had inherited Pangu's spirit.
At first, Hongjun had indeed harbored a thought: gathering Pangu's fortune.
That was why he had taken them as disciples. Later, he discovered that the three of them were the very foundation of the primordial world.
The human race had inherited Pangu's form, while the Witch Race had inherited Pangu's Dao.
The primordial world should originally have been their domain.
Unfortunately, the Heavenly Dao had produced an evil aberration. It wished to divide the Three Pure Ones, destroy the Demon Clan, and suppress the human race.
None of it was for the development of the primordial world. On the contrary, it was like a living being seeking advancement.
As though it intended to sacrifice everything in the primordial world.
By the time Hongjun discovered it and wished to set things right, it was already too late. The greater trend had been acknowledged by the Great Dao.
There was no longer any chance to reverse it.
Fortunately, Qing Xuanzi had appeared. Otherwise, the outcome would have been unimaginable.
Thinking of this, Hongjun looked at Qing Xuanzi with even greater satisfaction.
"Since that is the case, I shall impart the Heaven Devouring Method to you."
Three streams of spiritual light descended with Hongjun's words, flying into the brows of the Three Pure Ones and merging into their bodies.
"Thank you, Master, for granting us this method."
"Remember this: unless absolutely necessary, you must not use devouring to consume."
"Thank you, Master, for your instruction."
Seeing that matters were more or less settled, Qing Xuanzi said:
"Three days from now, we shall meet again at the Purple Cloud Palace. I will teach the Mixed Origin Method."
Three days later, Qing Xuanzi broke his word. He did not arrive at the Purple Cloud Palace on time.
Hongjun calculated with his fingers, then cried out, "This is bad! Qing Xuanzi has gone into the chaos. His life or death is unknown."
Before you continue