Could He Have Another Way to Attain the Dao?

After Xu Tong's barrage of smooth talk, both Laozi and Yuanshi fell silent.

The two had sunk deep into thought.

Before this, they had been preoccupied with getting revenge on Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, without considering anything else.

Upon seeing Tongtian's cultivation improve, their first reaction had been to send him into the vanguard and recover the face they had lost.

It was not that they were unaware that provoking Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor would do them no good.

In fact, Laozi had calculated the matter with perfect clarity.

But precisely because he understood it so well, he had sought out Tongtian. His real intention had been to make Tongtian shoulder this karmic burden.

On one hand, as he had said, he genuinely wanted to vindicate the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Of course, beneath that lay another motive: recovering his own face.

But Laozi had another plan that he had not voiced.

Tongtian's cultivation had advanced far too quickly.

Moreover, after listening to the recent Dao lecture, Laozi had begun to harbor certain suspicions.

Tongtian might not have used Creation Merit to raise his cultivation at all. Instead, he might have comprehended another way to become a Sage.

Judging by his strength, Laozi felt that it was very likely the method of Prove Dao by Force.

All three of them had been born from Pangu's Primordial Spirit. Laozi himself was its strongest portion, and there was something Yuanshi did not know.

At his birth, Laozi had inherited a divine ability from Pangu: One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.

In other words, once Laozi became powerful enough, he could single-handedly bear the name of the Three Pure Ones.

Revealing such a thing would certainly wound their brotherly bond.

After all, I treated you as my brother, but you only regarded me as a stand-in. Who could stomach that?

And if he could inherit a divine ability like One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, then it hardly seemed strange that Tongtian might have inherited the method of Prove Dao by Force.

Thus, Laozi was exceptionally wary of Tongtian as well.

But after hearing Xu Tong's words, Laozi suddenly came to his senses.

That's right. Although I want revenge on those two birdmen, Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, I've already obtained Primordial Violet Qi. Sooner or later, I'll become a Sage. Why should I stoop to those two birdmen's level?

Yuanshi was inwardly jolted as well.

The two exchanged a glance, each seeing hesitation in the other's eyes.

Xu Tong watched them without rushing to speak.

If you two are hell-bent on dying, I'm willing to bury you.

At worst, I'll run away and hide in the chaos. Until I become a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, I won't show my face in the Primordial World again. You two can amuse yourselves in this great tribulation.

That was what Xu Tong thought.

Still, this was only his worst-case plan.

In truth, he had already seen through their personalities and was certain that neither would stake his future on revenge.

Sure enough, after weighing the advantages and disadvantages, the two made their decision.

Laozi nodded with a solemn expression and said, "Hmm. Third Brother's concerns are not without reason. The two of us did indeed fail to think this through."

Seeing that Laozi had spoken, Yuanshi hurried to chime in. "Exactly. Those two birdmen, Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, don't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as us."

"Consider how exalted our status is! Future Sages, the Pangu Orthodox Lineage-wouldn't quibbling with those two birdmen, the Eastern Emperor and Di Jun, demean us?"

"Precisely, precisely!"

The two hit it off at once.

Watching their performance, Xu Tong sneered inwardly.

Bullshit. Revenge shouldn't wait even a single night. You're just two spineless rats. The moment you decided the risk was too great, you started beating the retreat.

Xu Tong was certain that if they possessed a Sage's cultivation right now, they would not waste a single word. They would be itching to beat the Eastern Emperor and Di Jun to death on the spot.

Xu Tong held their behavior in contempt, but he let none of it show on his face.

Seeing that they had reached an agreement, Xu Tong nodded and prepared to see his guests out.

"Since you've made your decision, Brothers, why not return and begin comprehending the Primordial Violet Qi as soon as possible, so you can become Sages sooner?"

Hearing Xu Tong's words, the two nodded and no longer mentioned attacking the Eastern Emperor and Di Jun for revenge.

"Very well. In that case, we'll head back."

"I'll see you both out."

Xu Tong rose as well.

I'd better hurry up and send these two walking disasters away, he thought.

All they do is delay my cultivation. One day, I'm going to be the Great Dao's man.

Don't ask who the Great Dao is!!!

With nothing left to discuss, the two did not linger.

When they reached the entrance, Yuanshi waved a hand and left without even saying goodbye.

Xu Tong was already used to this.

Yuanshi had always been like that. When he needed something, he noticed you; when he did not, he could not even be bothered to speak to you.

Laozi, however, did not leave immediately.

Seeing Yuanshi leave without so much as a farewell, Laozi shook his head helplessly.

Then he turned to Xu Tong and said, seemingly somewhat displeased, "Third Brother, don't blame Yuanshi. That's how he's always been."

Xu Tong was a little surprised that Laozi had suddenly offered him an explanation, but he quickly caught on and waved a hand with a smile.

"What are you saying, Eldest Brother? There's no need for such formality among the three of us."

Xu Tong offered a casual courtesy, then silently added the rest.

After all, Yuanshi turned out this way because you indulged him.

Hearing Xu Tong's words, Laozi gave him a searching look. Only after confirming that Xu Tong was not angry did he nod.

"You're right, Third Brother. Red lotus, white lotus root, green lotus leaf-the Three Pure Ones have always been one family. There's no need for such formality among us brothers."

This time, Xu Tong did not answer.

Yet though Xu Tong said nothing, Laozi was not finished.

Looking at Xu Tong, he slowly asked, "Third Brother, can that path of yours truly work?"

Laozi's abrupt question seemed to come out of nowhere, but Xu Tong's heart tightened upon hearing it.

Then he quickly caught on.

You crafty old fox. So this is where you were lying in wait for me. You're trying to bluff an answer out of me.

Xu Tong was certain that Laozi had no idea what method he cultivated. Had he known, he would not have asked.

That question had sounded like a concerned inquiry, but it was actually Laozi's attempt to confirm his suspicions.

He already suspected that Xu Tong had chosen the method of Prove Dao by Force.

Whether Xu Tong nodded or shook his head, Laozi would obtain the answer he wanted.

But Xu Tong soon figured out what to do.

A wry smile appeared on Xu Tong's face, and he said, "Brother, I don't know whether this path will work either. There are countless paths of cultivation, and I wish to explore them one by one. But my life is finite. To explore the infinite with the finite-I cannot know what the outcome will be."

Trying to bluff me, old fox? Then I'll throw up a smokescreen.

Want to know what method I cultivate?

I want to cultivate every path. Go on, guess which one I'm cultivating.

Sure enough, upon hearing Xu Tong's words, Laozi's expression stiffened. He nearly passed out from sheer anger.