The End of the Great Battle and Laozi's Question

The sword light transformed by Minghe rushed straight toward Yuanshi. Yuanshi hurriedly shook his body, and a banner appeared above his head.

This banner was not the kind formed by cultivation, but a rare treasure named the Myriad Heavens Qingyun Banner.

It was transformed from the righteous awe in Pangu's heart. It did not belong to the Inception and was not of later generations.

Within the banner, the Hongmeng world loomed faintly, and the sun, moon, and stars shone universally. Amidst the banner, five-colored rays of light illuminated the heavens, and the immortal music of the eight tones resounded through the universe.

Outside the banner, countless golden lamps, golden lotuses, tassel jewels, and hanging pearls fell from the banner all over the sky, cascading endlessly like water dripping from eaves, continuous and uninterrupted.

Once the Myriad Heavens Qingyun Banner was summoned: all evil was repelled, and ten thousand laws were untainted. It ignored attacks from any treasures or exotic weapons, and was immune to damage from all divine abilities and sorceries.

However, all the above was just talk. It was just like the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, which was famed for its matchless defense.

Wasn't it also broken by Minghe?

Now, this Myriad Heavens Qingyun Banner was the same. Shredded by Minghe's sword light, it was torn open right on the spot.

A flash of blood-red sword light later, Yuanshi only had time to lower his head and barely managed to avoid the fate of being beheaded.

However, though his head was not cut off, the crown upon it was sliced away. Instantly, Yuanshi looked utterly disheveled, his hair hanging loose.

Yuanshi could not help feeling both ashamed and annoyed, but seeing that Laozi had already stopped fighting, he could not help but let out a deep sigh at this moment.

He was also resigned to this.

After all, their strength was right there. The Three Pure Ones had joined forces, only to be counter-killed.

If they had not possessed supreme treasures to protect their bodies, they would most likely have met the same fate as Zhunti.

Losing an arm and having his hair scattered now was truly the greatest misfortune among fortunes.

After all, losing face was always better than losing one's life!

Losing one's life would merely be a vain sacrifice.

At this time, Minghe had successively cut off Laozi's arm and left Yuanshi with disheveled hair. With a flash of sword light, Minghe also reappeared in his true form, standing high in the air without making another move against Tongtian.

Tongtian heaved a sigh of relief, holding his sword and making a bow as a gesture of thanks to Minghe for sparing him from losing face in public as well.

However, matters had reached this point, and the face that ought to be lost had already been mostly lost.

All the sages made their move, yet not only could they not suppress the lone Minghe, but they even had a Zhunti killed instead.

Could a sage really be inferior to a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal?

Then what was everyone fighting for the Hongmeng Purple Qi for, and why become a sage? They might as all just go and become Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Of course, whether it was a sage or a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, neither was so easy to attain.

What everyone wanted to know most at this moment was precisely how Minghe had proven the Dao.

Was it Dao Proving Through Strength?

Or Dao Proving Through Severing Three Corpses?

"Fellow Daoist Minghe, this time, we admit defeat." Laozi exchanged a glance with the other sages, let out a sigh, and spoke to Minghe.

Following Laozi's concession, a huge uproar instantly stirred throughout the Primordial World.

After all, before this, no one had favored Minghe. Standing alone against all the sages, could there possibly be any chance of victory?

Yet miraculously, Minghe had won.

Moreover, he won so thoroughly that everyone was left speechless and thoroughly convinced.

This was true strength!

In the Primordial World, when all was said and done, it was still a place of the jungle law where the strong preyed on the weak, and it all came down to whose fists were bigger!

Whose strength was greater, whatever they said became the truth.

This truth remained eternal.

And it would never change.

Minghe's gaze swept across all the sages with a half-smile, and he asked Jieyin, "Is fellow Daoist not going to fight either?"

Jieyin shook his head.

Minghe felt somewhat unenthusiastic and said, "I was just getting a little excited and haven't even used my full strength yet. I thought you guys really wanted to fight me to the death."

"How wonderful that would have been!"

"If I killed all of you, slaying six sages in a row, it should make my Way of Slaughter progress a great deal."

All the sages felt their scalps tingle as they listened.

They did not doubt for a second that this was entirely what Minghe genuinely thought.

"May I ask fellow Daoist, did you prove the Dao through strength, or through severing three corps? Laozi asked once again at this moment.

Everyone looked at Minghe, their gazes filled with curiosity and a strong desire to learn.

Right at this moment, a system prompt sounded within Minghe's mind.

Ding! Detected that Laozi is inquiring about your method of proving the Dao, the host may make the following choices.

Choice One: Make the method of Dao Proving Through Laws public, and receive a reward of one Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Choice Two: Expose Hongjun's conspiracy, and tell everyone about the scams of Dao Proving Through Strength, Dao Proving Through Severing Three Corpses, and Dao Proving Through Merit, to receive a reward of one Innate Supreme Treasure.

Choice Three: Refuse to tell Laozi your method of proving the Dao, and receive a reward of the Su Se Yun Jie Flag.

Hearing the system prompt, Minghe could not help but feel a stir in his heart as he analyzed the three choices provided by the system.

The first choice was simply to tell how he had proven the Dao, which meant making the method of Dao Proving Through Laws public.

The second choice was a bit more ruthless; it meant smashing the table and publicly exposing Hongjun's various schemes and plots.

Minghe did not doubt for a moment that if this were truly spoken aloud, even Hongjun, who was currently merging with the Dao, would likely jump out immediately.

At that time, would he be a match for Hongjun?

Minghe pondered. Yang Mei had been able to defeat Hongjun in the past, but apart from practicing Dao Proving Through Laws, that fellow's past life was the Space Demon God after all.

Yang Mei's strength was far superior to his own.

Moreover, so much time had passed for Hongjun, and who knew what level Hongjun's strength had reached now.

If he were to challenge Hongjun, now was probably not the right time.

Thinking of this, Minghe already had his answer in mind; at least the second choice could not be chosen.

This was far too dangerous.

As for the first and third choices, should he really reveal the method of Dao Proving Through Laws or not?

Minghe thought for a moment, and his mind likewise reached a decision. Thus, Minghe silently chanted in his heart and said to the system, "System, I choose three."

Although spreading the method of Dao Proving Through Laws meant nothing more than simply opening his mouth to speak—

However—

Why should he?

What benefits was there in it for him?

Why should he tell others just because they asked?

Minghe did not wish to be a do-gooder; benefiting others while bringing no gain to himself—why would he do such a thing?

What was more, if he revealed this method of proving the Dao and allowed others to succeed in Dao Proving Through Laws as well—

In the future, these very people who proved the Dao through laws might turn around and deal with him instead.

Would not that be digging his own grave?

How could he do such an act of aiding the enemy?

Even if he were to pass on the method of Dao Proving Through Laws, it would have to be done selectively, imparted only to those who were helpful to him and willing to stand on his side.

As for all the sages, they had just been fighting a battle, so how could Minghe turn right around and tell them his method of proving the Dao?

Therefore, facing Laozi's inquiry, Minghe shook his head and asked with a puzzled expression, "Dao Proving Through Strength? Dao Proving Through Severing Three Corpses?"

"What are all these?"

"How come I've never heard of them?"

Seeing Minghe's bewildered look, all the sages could not help hesitating somewhat.

"Dao Proving Through Strength, Dao Proving Through Severing Three Corpses, and Dao Proving Through Merit—these are the three methods of proving the Dao imparted by Teacher when he lectured at Zixiao Palace. Since fellow Daoist proved the Dao as a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, could it be you used none of these three methods?"

Laozi asked, while fixing his gaze tightly on Minghe, somewhat finding it hard to believe.

Could it be that Minghe had neither proven the Dao through strength nor through severing three corpses, but had instead achieved it through some other means?

How could this be possible?