Cultivation speed soared

After the outsiders left Kunlun Mountain, Laozi suggested that he and Yuanshi go see Tongtian together.

In truth, Laozi had his own calculations.

Outwardly, Laozi always claimed to govern through nonaction, but in truth, contending by not contending was the greatest contention under heaven.

What did governing through nonaction mean? It meant standing above all things.

To stand above all things naturally required tremendous strength.

Originally, Laozi had been supremely confident. After all, he possessed uniquely blessed talent.

But now, never mind standing above all things-he could not even handle his younger brother Tongtian.

As he watched the other grow stronger and stronger, he himself had embarked on the inferior path of severing the three corpses.

If this continued, would he ever have any hope of surpassing Tongtian? How could Laozi possibly accept that?

Thus, Laozi had already decided to sound Tongtian out during this visit and see whether he could uncover his cultivation method.

Yuanshi's thoughts, on the other hand, were relatively simple.

He merely thought that, since Tongtian was already so powerful, it was time for the Three Pure Ones to go out and show off.

Of course, his main aim was to regain face before Di Jun.

Inside the Dao Field, Xu Tong steadied his aura following his breakthrough.

Feeling the power within him, Xu Tong nodded in satisfaction.

"Excellent. With this Force Great Dao Seed, my cultivation really has become much faster."

"I originally thought I would need several hundred more years to break through."

"To think that comprehending the Force Great Dao Seed let me break through in such a short time."

"But this isn't the time to celebrate. I must make every moment count."

"That scheming old bastard Hongjun failed to harm me with the primordial violet qi this time. Who knows what trick he'll try next? Only by reaching the primordial Daluo Golden Immortal realm as quickly as possible will I have some power to protect myself."

As Xu Tong pondered this, a voice interrupted him.

"Third Brother, open the door! It's your elder brother. The two of us have come to see you."

Laozi's voice carried in from outside the Dao Field.

Hearing their voices, Xu Tong was somewhat surprised.

The two should have just obtained their primordial violet qi. Why had they come here instead of returning to comprehend it?

But after another moment's thought, Xu Tong understood.

His recent breakthrough to late Quasi-Sage must have alerted them.

Given Laozi's nature, he certainly would not give up until he got to the bottom of it.

And seeing Xu Tong surpass him, that little balancing scale in Laozi's heart had probably toppled completely and been replaced by a jar of sour jealousy.

"Third Brother, open the door!"

Their voices kept calling from outside the Dao Field.

Xu Tong had roughly guessed why they had come, so he decided not to keep them out.

With a wave of his hand, he opened the cave entrance, and Laozi and Yuanshi soon appeared before him.

Seeing Xu Tong again, both Laozi and Yuanshi were exceptionally warm.

"Third Brother, congratulations on advancing your cultivation another step."

"Third Brother, what realm have you reached now? Are you coming out of seclusion?"

Xu Tong smiled at their questions.

"By a stroke of luck, I've broken through to late Quasi-Sage."

They gasped!

Xu Tong spoke casually, but Laozi and Yuanshi sucked in a breath of cold air.

Their third brother's cultivation had actually reached such heights.

They had thought it would already be remarkable if Tongtian had reached mid-Quasi-Sage.

Yet they had still underestimated him.

Laozi gave Xu Tong a long, searching look.

"Third Brother, tell your elder brother the truth. Have you used up all your creation merit?"

At Laozi's words, Xu Tong shook his head without speaking.

Laozi did not quite believe him, but since the other man did not wish to say anything, there was no need to keep pressing.

Yuanshi did not think as deeply as Laozi.

Upon hearing that Xu Tong's cultivation had reached the astonishing level of late Quasi-Sage, Yuanshi's first thought was that he could finally regain face.

"Elder Brothers, enough about me. Didn't you both gain something from attending the lectures this time?"

The moment he saw them, Xu Tong had discerned their cultivation: early Quasi-Sage, the realm reached after severing one corpse.

Though they could not compare with Xu Tong, they were still among the foremost beings in the Primordial World.

At Xu Tong's words, an unusual glint flashed through Laozi's eyes.

Now he was certain that Tongtian had not become a Quasi-Sage through the Method of Severing the Three Corpses.

Tongtian did not possess that many spiritual treasures.

As for which of the two methods was stronger, he did not know.

Laozi had intended to ask what method Tongtian was cultivating.

But this was a personal secret. Moreover, he had already embarked on the path of severing the three corpses, so even if he learned the answer, he would not be able to cultivate it. He simply abandoned the idea.

Hearing Xu Tong's words, Yuanshi laughed heartily.

"Indeed. Eldest Brother and I are now early Quasi-Sages as well."

"Third Brother, with the three of us joining forces, we would have absolutely no equal in the Primordial World."

"Why not come out of seclusion so we can join forces and teach those two birdmen, Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, a lesson?"

Yuanshi tried to persuade him again.

At Yuanshi's words, Xu Tong inwardly rolled his eyes.

He had known their visit could mean nothing good.

Yuanshi was bent on regaining face from Di Jun, but that was a road to death. Why keep getting mixed up in it?

Before Xu Tong could speak, the system's voice rang out right on cue.

"Ding! Detected that Yuanshi and Laozi suffered defeat at Di Jun's hands and wish to regain face. They are inviting the host to take revenge. Please make your choice."

"Option one: agree to leave seclusion and act alone to subdue Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor. Reward: Great Dao-level divine ability, Nine Heaven-Opening Forms."

"Option two: agree to leave seclusion and join forces with the other two to subdue Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor. Reward: Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler."

"Option three: refuse to leave seclusion and continue cultivating. Reward: World Tree Sprout."

The system once again presented three options.

Looking at the rewards for the first two options, Xu Tong could not help cursing inwardly.

Damn system. It really is trying to get me killed.

He truly wanted both of those things.

A Great Dao-level divine ability needed no explanation. The Nine Heaven-Opening Forms were the divine ability wielded by Great God Pangu. At full mastery, they could split heaven and earth apart and recreate the universe.

The Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler was likewise a chaos-level supreme offensive treasure.

Since he had not gone to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the lectures, the Immortal Slaying Sword, that supreme treasure of slaughter, would probably never reach his hands.

He was sorely lacking an offensive magical treasure.

But choosing either of those options would put him on a road to death.

Hongjun was desperate for him to leave seclusion so he could immediately drag him into the great tribulation.

Xu Tong was certain that, if he dared show his face in the War of the Liches-

Hongjun had a hundred ways to turn both races' firepower upon him.

That man represented the Heavenly Dao itself.

Xu Tong could not flee these matters fast enough, yet the system was actually asking him to throw himself into them.

At that thought, Xu Tong immediately made his decision.

"System, I choose option three. I'll remain in seclusion."

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