After giving it some thought, Tongtian decided to personally make an appearance.
They had specifically come to deliver gifts, so he certainly could not turn them away at the door.
As for the Dragon Clan not appearing among the Three Clans, Tongtian was not surprised in the slightest.
The Dragon Clan had always been the strongest and most arrogant race.
Yet in Tongtian's eyes, the Dragon Clan was also the most foolish race. It was precisely because they were too arrogant that they had fallen to their present state.
And this was only the beginning. The Dragon Clan would only fare worse in the future.
Especially after the Investiture of the Gods and Journey to the West, dragons would be served as food upon the tables of those immortals.
They would even be ridden as mounts.
They had truly played a perfect hand into complete ruin.
Whoosh!
Tongtian transformed into a streak of light and descended directly at the foot of Kunlun Mountain.
At this moment, Laozi and Yuanshi could no longer hold themselves back.
Yuanshi said with an unpleasant expression, "The Tongtian you are looking for is our third brother."
"This is our eldest brother, Laozi of the Supreme Purity."
"I am second in line, Yuanshi of the Jade Purity!"
The moment those words were spoken, Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix were both dumbfounded.
Even the experts from their two clans who had accompanied them to deliver the gifts were utterly bewildered.
What was going on?!
Laozi and Yuanshi were actually Tongtian's eldest and second brothers?
But their cultivation was clearly lower than Tongtian's!
Shouldn't an elder brother be stronger than his younger brother?
"Are you two joking with us?"
Ink Qilin asked awkwardly.
No matter how he looked at them, Laozi and Yuanshi did not seem like Tongtian's elder brothers.
If the three brothers had been at the same realm, it would still have made sense.
But these two had cultivation levels clearly comparable to his and Colorful Phoenix's!
That was simply too hard to believe.
This questioning filled Laozi and Yuanshi with anger.
Damn it!
Did the two of them really not look like Tongtian's elder brothers?
Did this fellow have any eye for people at all?
He was an expert of the Three Clans, yet he was utterly short-sighted!
At that moment, Tongtian descended and noticed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.
However, he did not think much of it and smiled. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, what are you discussing?"
"Guests have come from afar. We should invite them up the mountain before continuing our conversation!"
No matter what, the Qilin Clan and Phoenix Clan had come to give him gifts.
It certainly would not do to leave them standing at the foot of the mountain.
If word got out, others might think the Three Pure Ones did not understand proper etiquette.
Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix were both stunned. They had heard how Tongtian addressed the two men.
In other words, the two had not been joking with them.
Were they really Tongtian's two elder brothers?
Seeing how ugly their expressions had become, Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix found themselves in a difficult position.
Had they turned a good deed into a bad one?
If so, they would be unable to explain themselves to their clans upon returning.
Laozi coughed lightly. "Third Brother, since they have come to see you."
"You should entertain them yourself."
"I still have many insights that I have yet to fully comprehend in seclusion, so I will return to my seclusion."
Having said that, Laozi left without the slightest hesitation.
He was not staying!
If he stayed any longer, he would only become more irritated.
Especially when he saw the incredulous looks on Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix's faces, he felt even more stifled.
What, did he, the dignified Laozi of the Supreme Purity, not have the qualifications to be an eldest brother?
Watching his elder brother leave, Yuanshi said gravely, "The same goes for me."
"Third Brother, take care of them yourself!"
With that, he too flicked his sleeve and departed.
Of the Three Pure Ones, he had always cared most about face. There was no way he wanted to remain under such circumstances.
Moreover, he did not want to see how these two would flatter Tongtian.
That would wound his pride far too deeply.
"Fellow Daoist, we truly did not know that these two were your elder brothers."
Ink Qilin said helplessly.
Tongtian smiled. "No matter. Those who do not know are not at fault."
"Since my two elder brothers have matters to attend to, I shall take the two of you to my Daoist sanctuary for a chat."
He understood why Laozi and Yuanshi had not stayed.
Their pride as elder brothers had simply been wounded.
But Tongtian could do nothing about that.
He could hardly force himself to lower his cultivation for their sake.
So it was best to let things take their natural course. They were not used to it now only because they had suffered too few blows.
Once they suffered enough setbacks in the future, they would naturally come to accept it.
Seeing that Tongtian had no intention of blaming them, Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix were relieved. They put away all the gifts and directly handed them to Tongtian, while instructing their clansmen to wait for them at the foot of the mountain.
"You two have truly put thought into this."
Tongtian naturally would not refuse gifts that had been brought to him.
Besides, if he had not stepped in last time and killed many Demon Clan experts, the Three Clans would surely have suffered devastating losses.
"Not at all. Fellow Daoist helped us at any cost."
"These gifts are merely our two clans' gratitude."
Ink Qilin said with a solemn expression.
Instead, he now felt fortunate that the Dragon Clan had made no move at all.
Otherwise, with the Dragon Clan's wealth, the heavenly treasures they brought out would certainly have been better and more numerous than theirs.
Of course, most dragons were hoarders. Getting them to take out their treasured possessions was fundamentally impossible.
Furthermore, there was bad blood between the Dragon Clan and Tongtian.
Those arrogant fellows were not the sort to bow their heads.
Even though Tongtian had helped them, it would be the same.
"Then I shall accept without further ceremony."
"Please."
Tongtian agreed with a smile and immediately invited the two into his Daoist sanctuary.
There were four Daoist sanctuaries atop Kunlun Mountain.
The place where the three brothers often gathered to cultivate and discuss the Dao was the Three Pure Ones Hall.
Besides that, each had his own cultivation sanctuary: the Supreme Purity Hall, Jade Purity Hall, and Shangqing Hall.
Once they arrived at the Shangqing Hall, Ink Qilin and Colorful Phoenix both sighed inwardly.
Kunlun Mountain truly deserved to be called the ancestor of all mountains. It was indeed a supreme blessed land and cave-heaven!
Only a place like this was qualified to serve as the Daoist sanctuary of the Three Pure Ones.
"Besides delivering gifts this time."
"There is actually another matter we wish to ask Fellow Daoist about."
The three casually discussed the current state of the Primordial World.
Then Ink Qilin took the initiative to bring up the topic.
Though Ink Qilin had gotten ahead of her, Colorful Phoenix was not anxious. She solemnly echoed, "My Phoenix Clan also wishes to seek Fellow Daoist's guidance."
Tongtian was not surprised, but he still said, "I am merely a Grand Luo Golden Immortal."
"You two praise me far too highly."
Ink Qilin smiled flatteringly. "Fellow Daoist, please do not decline so modestly."
"When Senior Hongjun appeared last time, it was obvious at a glance that he must have a close relationship with you."
"My Qilin Clan sincerely wishes to acknowledge you as a friend, and we sincerely beg you to point us toward a path forward."
Colorful Phoenix also said gravely, "Indeed!"
"My Phoenix Clan feels the same way."
"As long as Fellow Daoist is willing to offer some guidance, my Phoenix Clan is also willing to become your ally."
Tongtian's expression remained calm. Just as he had guessed.
Otherwise, he was merely a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, not even a Primordial Golden Immortal. There was no need for the two clans to treat him with such courtesy.
But with Hongjun standing behind him, things were entirely different.
None of the Three Clans now possessed a Primordial Golden Immortal expert.
Having lost their clan leaders, they no longer knew how to proceed down the path ahead.
And they did not know any of the other Primordial Golden Immortals in the Primordial World, so they could only start with Tongtian.
"Besides those heavenly treasures just now, I also have Blood Bodhi unique to the Qilin Clan."
"Fellow Daoist, please be sure to accept it!"
After saying this with a solemn expression, Ink Qilin directly took out a multicolored treasure box and opened it.
Inside was a deep-red innate spiritual fruit.
A flicker of surprise flashed through Tongtian's eyes. He had not expected the Qilin Clan to be so generous.
Though the Blood Bodhi was merely an innate spiritual fruit, only the Qilin Clan could produce it.
The Qilin Clan was one of the rare auspicious races of the Primordial World, so every qilin possessed profound fortune and a long lifespan.
This Blood Bodhi was condensed from the essence blood of the Qilin Clan.
It was exceedingly precious and rare!
Especially after the war of the Three Clans ended, not many qilin had survived.
One could imagine how much more precious the Blood Bodhi would become in the future.
At this moment, Colorful Phoenix also took out a treasure box. Under Ink Qilin's dumbfounded gaze, she opened it with a proud expression.
Inside was none other than the innate spiritual fruit, Phoenix Fruit.
Like Blood Bodhi, this Phoenix Fruit was also a precious innate spiritual fruit unique to the Phoenix Clan!
Its effects and rarity were in no way inferior to Blood Bodhi.
"This is the Phoenix Fruit of my Phoenix Clan. It contains great mysteries."
"I hope Fellow Daoist will accept it!"
Colorful Phoenix offered the treasure box to Tongtian and spoke sincerely.
Tongtian was also somewhat surprised by the two clans' lavish offering. Even at the height of the Three Clans' prosperity, such special spiritual fruits had been extremely precious.
Not to mention that the Three Clans were no longer at their peak. Such special spiritual fruits would likely become increasingly scarce in the future.
It could be said that the two clans were truly full of sincerity!
With that in mind, Tongtian did not stand on ceremony and directly put away the two treasure boxes.
After pondering for a moment, he said, "Very well!"
"Since you two have been so direct, I will not conceal anything from you."
"The war of the Three Clans has completely ended, and the Three Clans have declined within the Primordial World."
"In this battle, your three clans suffered grievous casualties. It can be said that fewer than one in ten survived."
"More powerful races will surely emerge in the Primordial World in the future and completely replace your current status."
"So if the Qilin Clan and Phoenix Clan still intend to contend for supremacy in the Primordial World, I fear I will be unable to help you."
This was also a direct explanation to the two of them. He could naturally guide them regarding the road ahead.
But if they still wanted to dominate the Primordial World, he truly could not help.
"You jest, Fellow Daoist."
"We understand the Three Clans' current situation better than you do."
"Besides, after this incident, how could we possibly still harbor such thoughts!"
Ink Qilin said with a bitter smile.
Colorful Phoenix also nodded, then let out a soft sigh.
Who could have imagined that the once-glorious Three Clans would one day decline like the setting sun?
From the moment the Three Clan Leaders dissolved into heaven and earth, they had known that the era belonging to the Three Clans had completely ended.
"During the war of the Three Clans, all three of our clans committed immense slaughter and incurred endless karmic sin."
"This is what worries us most."
"If there is no solution, then before long, the Three Clans will not merely decline."
Ink Qilin let out a long sigh and voiced his thoughts.
The Three Clans were already in decline, yet the endless karmic debts and consequences they bore had not diminished in the slightest.
That was the problem they most wanted to solve.
Otherwise, before long, the Three Clans would likely be completely wiped out and become part of history.
One's hands were softened by gifts received, and one's words by food eaten.
The other party had made their situation sound so pitiful partly to move Tongtian.
However, since Tongtian had accepted their gifts, he would naturally lend them a hand.
After pondering for a moment, he had already thought of a way to help the two clans change their current situation.
"This matter is not difficult. The Phoenix Clan's sacred ground is originally at Undying Volcano, and only your Phoenix Clan possesses the talent to guard it."
"As long as you strictly watch over Undying Volcano and prevent it from erupting and spreading lava across the Primordial World."
"That would be a good deed beneficial to the Primordial World, enough for your Phoenix Clan to gain an endless stream of Heavenly Dao Merit."
"You could then use that Heavenly Dao Merit to cleanse the karmic debts upon your Phoenix Clan."
"In time, one day you will be able to completely wash away the Phoenix Clan's karma. That will be the day the Phoenix Clan recovers!"
Tongtian said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Colorful Phoenix was overjoyed. Guarding Undying Volcano was truly no difficult task for the Phoenix Clan.
She simply had not expected that this could also earn them a constant stream of Heavenly Dao Merit.
If that was truly the case, then the Phoenix Clan would no longer need to worry about karmic debts.
As long as Heavenly Dao Merit continued to come in, the Phoenix Clan's situation would surely improve more and more through increasing income and reducing expenditure.
"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist!"
"Once I return, I will discuss this matter with the other Phoenix Clan experts!"
"We will certainly keep a firm watch over the hidden danger of Undying Volcano."
Colorful Phoenix said with utmost seriousness.
In truth, after the war between the Three Clans ended, the Phoenix Clan had already ceded all its excess territory.
Now, the Phoenix Clan's experts were all gathered around Undying Volcano.
As long as all their experts were assembled at Undying Volcano, they would certainly be able to prevent the lava within it from erupting!
Seeing Tongtian settle the Phoenix Clan's future with just a few words.
Ink Qilin immediately grew anxious.
There was no other reason—the Qilin Clan did not possess the Phoenix Clan's unique advantage!
How were they supposed to earn Heavenly Dao Merit?
And it had to be a constant stream of it.
"Fellow Daoist, what should our Qilin Clan do?"
Tongtian said seriously, "That is simple as well!"
"The Qilin Clan's original territory lies in the Central Continent. The Central Continent of the Primordial World is of paramount importance!"
"Therefore, you only need to guard the central lands and have your clansmen take the form of auspicious omens as they travel throughout the region."
"Then you will be able to obtain considerable benefits."
Ink Qilin immediately understood Tongtian's meaning.
Simply put, the Qilin Clan needed to display more auspicious signs and perform more good deeds.
Together with the merit of guarding the central lands, they could likewise obtain plenty of Heavenly Dao Merit.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
"Once I return, I will arrange for my clansmen to guard all parts of the Central Continent."
Ink Qilin said with an extremely solemn expression. This concerned the future of his clan, so there could naturally be no carelessness whatsoever.
Tongtian nodded slightly, then recalled something else.
If he remembered correctly, once the Witch Race developed, its members would also spread throughout the Central Continent.
Moreover, one of the protagonists of the next Great Tribulation of the Worlds would be the Witch Race.
If the Qilin Clan and the Witch Race came into conflict, the Qilin Clan would definitely suffer greatly.
Having accepted so many benefits from them, Tongtian thought about it and decided to offer a warning.
"There is another special race in the Central Continent known as the Witch Race."
"If possible, your Qilin Clan should try not to clash with the Witch Race."
"Otherwise, your situation will become even worse."
Before you continue