One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones

Xu Tong wore a somewhat playful expression.

Just moments earlier, he had sensed Hongjun attempting to divine his circumstances.

Xu Tong knew that Hongjun certainly would not let the matter rest so easily this time.

After all, its implications were far too great.

Thus, Xu Tong took the nine heavens breathing soil out of the Chaos Bead.

He did this mainly to prevent Hongjun from discovering the Chaos Bead if he drew upon the power of the Heavenly Dao. That would spell trouble.

Having another trump card was always a good thing.

And events unfolded exactly as Xu Tong had expected.

No sooner had he taken out the nine heavens breathing soil than Hongjun's probing swept over him.

Although the two were not face-to-face, each could sense the other.

Once Hongjun confirmed that what Xu Tong held was precisely what Nuwa needed,

the power of the Heavenly Dao at his disposal was exhausted, and he severed the connection.

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun's expression was grim.

Nuwa, Laozi, and the others noticed his expression and were deeply puzzled.

What could possibly make the Dao Ancestor lose his composure like this?

"Master, how has the matter turned out?"

Laozi asked tentatively.

Hearing Laozi's voice, Hongjun came back to his senses and resumed his earlier aloof expression.

"I now understand the situation. The item Nuwa needs to become a Sage is in someone else's hands. I will go there personally."

"You need only wait here."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"We obey."

They bowed to him once more. When they raised their heads again, Hongjun had already vanished.

Kunlun Mountain, Xu Tong's cultivation grounds.

Xu Tong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly changed expression.

A figure abruptly appeared before the entrance to his cultivation grounds. It was none other than Hongjun.

Xu Tong's heart jolted.

Hongjun actually came in person. Sure enough, this matter stirred him into action.

What should I do? Should I let him inside?

What if he enters and attacks me regardless of the consequences?

It was not that Xu Tong suffered from persecution delusions.

The main issue was that Hongjun was ruthless as well.

Xu Tong had already obstructed his plans, forcing him to come in person.

Hongjun might truly harden his heart and erase him outright to prevent him from causing further trouble down the road.

Yet while Xu Tong pondered this, Hongjun's voice came from outside the cultivation grounds.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I am Hongjun. I have come today to ask a favor. Might you show yourself so we can meet?"

Hongjun had introduced himself humbly and addressed Xu Tong as a fellow Daoist.

No matter how Xu Tong listened to it, something felt wrong.

He was not the only one. Even Hongjun wore an oddly peculiar expression when he said "Fellow Daoist Tongtian."

This man should clearly have been his disciple, yet now they were addressing each other as equals.

At that thought, Hongjun's irritation toward Xu Tong deepened.

Meanwhile, Xu Tong kept turning the matter over in his mind.

Should I meet him? If I do, Hongjun will almost certainly discover my cultivation.

But if I refuse, there seems to be no way to resolve this.

If I drag things out too long, I might anger Hongjun and even incur the Heavenly Dao's displeasure.

No matter what happens today, this nine heavens breathing soil has to end up in Hongjun's hands.

If only I had three corpses right now.

Xu Tong felt a helpless pang of envy.

Although Proving the Dao by Severing Three Corpses was not as powerful as his own method, Prove Dao by Force,

it provided three additional avatars. Even if they died, they could be refined anew with a little time.

Just as Xu Tong was agonizing over this, a familiar synthesized mechanical voice sounded in his ears.

"Ding! Dao Ancestor Hongjun has been detected outside the host's cultivation grounds, seeking an audience with the host. Will the host leave seclusion to greet him? Please make your choice."

"Option one: Leave seclusion immediately, reveal your cultivation, and hand over the nine heavens breathing soil. Reward: Chaos Cauldron."

"Option two: Leave seclusion immediately, send Hongjun away, and retain the nine heavens breathing soil. Reward: Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler."

"Option three: Refuse to leave seclusion. Reward: Divine ability, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones."

Looking at the three options before him, Xu Tong could not help feeling a few black lines forming across his forehead.

The choice the system offered this time was simple. There was no need to hesitate.

The first and second options could be discarded outright.

Leave seclusion immediately and hand over the nine heavens breathing soil?

Once Hongjun learned of his cultivation, would he not jot his name down in his little blacklist?

He probably would not even survive this tribulation then.

As for the second option, it was an even nastier trap.

If the first option merely offended Hongjun, the second would offend both Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao.

Who could withstand that?

The nine heavens breathing soil was tied to several other Sages' attainment of the Dao.

He could use it to threaten Hongjun and make him concede a few conditions, but he absolutely could not refuse to let it go.

Otherwise, it would be no different from a death warrant-an oversized, enhanced one at that.

Xu Tong was no fool. Why pass up an advantage and insist on getting himself tangled in trouble? Would that not be asking for a beating?

Thus, the only remaining choice was option three.

Still, there was good news too.

The reward for option three was the divine ability One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.

Even though he had not severed his corpses, with One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, he could send an avatar to meet Hongjun.

That way, he would not have to worry about exposing his cultivation or about Hongjun killing him.

It would kill two birds with one stone.

At that thought, Xu Tong hesitated no longer.

"System, I choose option three."

"Ding! The host has made his choice. Reward: Top-tier divine ability, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, at full mastery."

In an instant, the divine ability One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones appeared in Xu Tong's mind, already cultivated to full mastery.

Sure enough, anything produced by the system was guaranteed to be top quality.

As Xu Tong formed a Hand Seal, three figures instantly materialized beside him.

The three wore almost identical clothing, but their auras differed noticeably.

Two of them actually resembled Laozi and Yuanshi somewhat.

As for their cultivation, Xu Tong kept all three at the peak Quasi-Sage level.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist."

They cupped their hands in salute.

Xu Tong nodded.

"There is no need for such courtesy. We are all one and the same. Hongjun is now outside the cultivation grounds, and this visit will likely bring trouble. Which fellow Daoist is willing to go?"

"I am willing to meet that Old Ancestor Hongjun."

As the words fell, a Daoist stepped forward. His build closely resembled Xu Tong's, and his aura was the most similar as well.

Xu Tong looked him over and understood whom he represented: his own counterpart among the Three Pure Ones.

That worked well enough. It would save Hongjun from spotting further flaws.

"In that case, sorry for the trouble, fellow Daoist."

"I shall go."

As he spoke, Xu Tong also used the Chaos Bead to lay down a Barrier around the area, preventing Hongjun from probing it and discovering anything unusual.

The avatar, meanwhile, left the cultivation grounds directly to meet Hongjun.

Outside the cultivation grounds, Hongjun stared at the entrance, his gaze sharp.

This wretch. If he still refuses to appear even with me here in person, he cannot blame me for what happens next.

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