At the sight, Laozi and Yuanshi's expressions changed all the more drastically.
There was no doubt.
Their attempts to dissuade the Elder of Chaos had not changed his mind.
He even intended to forcibly tear open the space of Zixiao Palace and return straight to Chaos, right before Dao Ancestor Hongjun's eyes!
"Senior, please stay!"
Taiqing Laozi cried out urgently, planting his flat cane as he moved to stop him.
But the Elder of Chaos's figure had already dissolved completely into a chaos-colored streak of light that merged into the void.
The disparity in strength rendered Laozi's methods utterly useless before the Elder of Chaos.
Only a cold, indifferent remark remained, echoing for a long time through the empty Zixiao Palace.
"Hongjun, you had best look out for yourself."
Zixiao Palace fell deathly silent.
The Elder of Chaos's words, "You had best look out for yourself," still drifted through the empty hall like a curse. Every word was an invisible slap across Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi's and Taiqing Laozi's faces.
Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi's face, already swollen to the purple-red of pig liver from anger, now alternated between livid and pale, looking hideous beyond measure.
Even the immortal light of the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi around him grew wildly disordered. Clearly, his Dao Heart was in turmoil, already on the verge of losing control.
Taiqing Laozi gripped his flat cane tightly. Visible cracks now marred even the Dao rhythm of non-action that had remained unchanged through the ages.
A long time passed.
At last, Taiqing Laozi could no longer maintain his detachment. He raised his head and looked toward the figure seated highest above them, his weary eyes holding a trace of resentment he could barely conceal.
"Master."
His voice was somewhat dry, his eyes filled with profound incomprehension.
"Are we... simply