Li Yi Preached to the Primordial World First, Leaving Hongjun a Mere Substitute?
Listening to the explanations from those below him, the Eagle Nation Congress Speaker nodded slightly, the anger on his face slowly fading.
That was right!
Li Yi of Dragon Nation had merely gotten lucky, landing an Initial Identity with extraordinary Talent through a one-in-a-hundred-billion chance!
He might have beaten Serafino, but the Primordial World where he was undergoing his Trial could never compare to Eagle Nation's Heaven World!
Eagle Nation would still lead the National Fortune Rankings by a mile!
Having settled that in his mind, the Speaker looked at Li Yi's information on the screen, gave a cold snort, and nodded.
"Let those Dragon Nation people celebrate for a day!"
"Tomorrow, they'll learn that their damn Primordial World can't hold a candle to Heaven World!"
Someone below, seeing his expression soften, teased with a smile.
"Cherry Blossom Nation's Naruto World and Lion Nation's Wizard World both have terrifying Divine Artifacts. Dragon Nation might not even appear in the next rankings!"
"Whatever happens to the other nations, Eagle Nation should sweep the top three spots! We'll get three national fortune rewards!"
"Exactly! Just wait for tomorrow's Divine Artifact Rankings. That'll be a show..."
Years passed uncounted in the Primordial World. Li Yi slowly opened his eyes and raised a brow, understanding what had happened on Blue Star.
Of course, with his current strength, Dragon Nation would undoubtedly rank first in national fortune throughout the Trials to come, even if he made no special effort.
He would probably sweep the rankings himself!
Take the next day's Divine Artifact Rankings. Even a random Lower-grade Acquired Spirit Treasure from the Primordial World would be on par with a Creation Divine Artifact in another world!
He would take not just the top ten, but likely the entire top hundred.
That was fine too. Helping Dragon Nation on Blue Star win first place in the Trial would settle the Karma left by the body's former owner...
Li Yi shook his head, put the matter aside, and turned his attention to himself.
During his many years in seclusion, he had set aside some of his Heavenly Dao Merit to repair and refine his Spirit Treasures, then used the rest for cultivation.
The Heavenly Dao Merit from the Dao-Devil War had been immense. It had carried him from Mid-stage Quasi-Saint across two major stages to Peak Quasi-Saint.
With his supreme treasures, Formations, and other methods, even four other Peak Quasi-Saint Daoists working together would be no match for him.
For him now, nothing mattered except becoming a Sage.
In the Primordial World, there were generally three paths to Sagehood: Force-Proving Dao, Three Corpses Severing, and Merit Sainthood.
Force-Proving Dao was the hardest. But success would also bring the greatest strength.
If he were in the Chaos, Li Yi could take his time with Force-Proving Dao. But now he was competing with Hongjun for the Dao. If Hongjun became a Sage first, Li Yi would be in trouble...
After a moment's thought, Li Yi made his decision.
He would enter the world and compete with Hongjun for the position of Heavenly Dao Representative. As long as Hongjun was not the Heavenly Dao's sole representative, Li Yi would have time to grow under its protection.
As for how to claim Heavenly Dao Authority, Li Yi already had an answer.
He would preach to the Primordial World, especially to those destined to become Heavenly Dao Sages and Era Protagonists.
Once he formed deep Karmic ties with them, Heavenly Dao Authority would gradually shift toward him.
His mind made up, Li Yi did not hesitate.
He circulated all his Magic Power, and his voice, carrying Dao Resonance, swept across the entire Primordial World.
"I am Heaven-Earth Daoist! In three thousand years, I shall preach on Yingzhou Island in the East Sea!"
"All who are fated to hear me may come to Yingzhou Island in the East Sea..."
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, in Purple Cloud Palace.
Hongjun sat upon a Prayer Mat and slowly opened his eyes, frustration rising on his face.
More than ten Yuanhui had passed, yet he remained stuck at Peak Quasi-Saint, unable to become a Sage.
According to the Creation Jade Disc's deductions, if he had slain Luohou in the Dao-Devil War and claimed all the Fortune of Heaven and Earth, he could have used Heavenly Dao Authority to help himself become a Sage.
After becoming a Sage, he could have achieved Self-Union with the Dao and become the Heavenly Dao's "Proxy."
Everything had gone according to plan, until that final step went wrong!
Heaven-Earth Daoist, who should have died according to the deductions, had survived. He had taken three swords from the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation by himself, killed Luohou single-handedly, claimed Sixty Percent of Heavenly Dao Merit, and gained Heavenly Dao Authority!
The memory of that scene still made Hongjun grind his teeth, despite all his Dao Attainment!
"No! At this rate, I won't become a Sage even after another hundred Yuanhui..."
Having made up his mind, Hongjun summoned the Fragment of the Creation Jade Disc and began his deductions. A short while later, he opened his eyes, determination flashing in them.
"I had intended to preach to the Primordial World after achieving the Dao, forming deep Karmic ties with its future Sages."
"But now, the plan must change!"
"At Peak Quasi-Saint, I'm already capable of preaching to the Primordial World!"
With his decision made, Hongjun thought of Li Yi, and a cold smile crossed his face.
"Heaven-Earth Daoist is most likely still in seclusion!"
"By the time he emerges, I should have claimed all Heavenly Dao Authority..."
"I'll leave that Merit with him for now. Once I become a Sage, I'll settle accounts with him!"
Hongjun could tolerate a Heavenly Dao Merit Sage, but he could never tolerate a Chaos Demon God.
By becoming a Sage through the Three Corpses Severing Method in the Creation Jade Disc, he had given up the potential of a Chaos Demon God to surpass the Heavenly Dao. Naturally, he had no intention of tolerating Li Yi, a Chaos Demon God who might one day rival or even surpass it.
If the opportunity arose, he would kill Li Yi.
His mind made up, Hongjun did not hesitate. He was about to send his voice across the Primordial World when, in the next instant...
"I am Heaven-Earth Daoist! In three thousand years, I shall preach on Yingzhou Island in the East Sea!"
"All who are fated to hear me may come to Yingzhou Island in the East Sea..."
The powerful voice carried Quasi-Saint Magic Power. Even beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, Hongjun could sense the Dao Resonance within it.
Hongjun froze. Then fear flashed across his face.
"Heaven-Earth Daoist is going to preach? You must be joking!"
As the saying went, one did not share one's teachings lightly. Even among the Same Clan, beings of the Primordial World guarded their understanding of the Dao closely, let alone preached it to others!
Only because he could make deductions with the Creation Jade Disc did Hongjun know that preaching to the Primordial World would forge deep Karmic ties with future Heavenly Dao Sages, granting him greater Heavenly Dao Authority.
How, then, did Heaven-Earth Daoist know?
Or was this merely a coincidence? Had Heaven-Earth Daoist suddenly decided, out of sheer generosity, to preach to the Primordial World Beings?
Thoughts raced through Hongjun's mind, and bitter frustration showed on his face.
In a contest for the Dao, being first often made all the difference. Li Yi had announced his sermon first. Even if Hongjun followed immediately, he had lost that advantage. The beings of the Primordial World would always remember the first to do it!
Heaven-Earth Daoist had spoken first, leaving Hongjun to play the substitute?