Empress Wa Palace.
Xiao Tian rushed over in a panic.
"Girl, what's going on?!"
" Xiao Tian, come quick!"
Nüwa's face was filled with joy. She grabbed Xiao Tian's arm with her slender hand and headed towards the figurine-making workshop.
By concealing his Rinnegan from others, Xiao Tian's Tensei Jōgan only revealed a chibi-style Xiao Tian figurine wreaking havoc in Nüwa's studio.
"Holy crap! What happened?! How did you bring it back to life?"
Xiao Tian was a little confused.
Nüwa suppressed a laugh and explained, "The thing is, ever since I created the Human Clan, I've planned to create a new race. However, I've never been able to break free from the Human Clan's model, so I'm very dissatisfied. Until recently, I had a sudden inspiration. Using powder ground from Chaos Stone, combined with the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and my holy blood, and after being baptized by my Great Dao of Creation for 99 years, it was born with sentience."
Xiao Tian said speechlessly, "But this living figurine is still humanoid, even if it's a bit chibi-style. And what am I supposed to do if this kid appears in the outside world? He won't use my name to do bad things, will he?"
" Xiao Tian, don't you think he's adorable?"
"Cute?"
Looking at the lively, bouncy chibi-style Xiao Tian figurine, Xiao Tian was exasperated. What good was this thing being cute? It was full of silliness and mischief, completely damaging his reputation.
"Cute," Xiao Tian said against his will.
Nüwa chuckled and called out to the living figurine.
" Xiao Xiaoxiao, come here quickly."
A thousand mythical beasts galloped through Xiao Tian's mind.
"Can't this kid talk?"
Nüwa kneaded the living figurine and explained, "Currently, it only has basic spirituality and can understand my meaning. It's very obedient, and I believe it will become like a normal living being in the future. Moreover, it has a good foundation, and it's not impossible for it to reach the Quasi-Sage in the future. Once it succeeds, I will have an army of figurines."
"Impressive!" Xiao Tian sighed, rubbing his forehead. "It's best not to let this kid out in the future, lest people suspect something between you and me."
Nüwa said irritably, "What nonsense are you talking about? Any normal person can see at a glance that this isn't a child at all. Only people with ulterior motives would think such things."
"Damn it!" Xiao Tian's lips twitched. How could those words have a hidden meaning?
Xiao Tian is innocent; he's completely pure.
"Sis, you let me do it, is this all?"
"Of course not." Nüwa crumpled the figurine in her hands, her expression turning serious. She said, "My attendant and your attendant have gone to the Primordial. I had my brother do some calculations for Lingzhuzi before. Lingzhuzi will face a life-or-death calamity, as well as a great opportunity. My brother subtly reminded me that Lingzhuzi will have a hard time escaping this Great Tribulation."
"That's why I've asked you to come and think of a solution."
Xiao Tian raised an eyebrow. Could it be that the Lingzhuzi of this world was destined to become a disciple of the Chan Sect's Taiyi Zhenren?
However, not necessarily! Great Tribulation is an irreversible trend in the grand scheme, but can be altered in the minor aspects. It is irreversible because the Deva Path is manipulating things in secret, unless one is more powerful than the Deva Path.
That's it?
Nüwa frowned upon hearing Xiao Tian's disdainful tone and said, "Isn't this serious? Great Tribulation!"
"Oh well, so what if it's Great Tribulation? Didn't Fuxi say there's still a great opportunity ahead? Let's just wait and see."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of. You see, with Lingzhuzi under my command, there's no problem with him becoming Quasi-Sage in the future. Since it's such a great opportunity, the variables involved are incredibly complex. Moreover, Lingzhuzi and your Xiao Li are from the same vine. My brother predicts that in this great Great Tribulation, the Fate of the seven brothers and sisters are drawing closer." Nüwa sighed.
Are the Fate the seven gourd brothers and sisters intertwined? Xiao Tian couldn't help but imagine the seven gourd brothers transforming into a single, gigantic gourd brother.
Wow, this is going to be interesting.
In the Northern Continent of Kuru, at the Heaven-Equaling Palace, Xiao Tian's Deva Path Body, Dugu Baitian, received an uninvited guest.
"Fellow Daoist, my name is Bodhi."
The Deva Path Body, Dugu Baitian, sized up the Daoist Bodhi. In the mythology of his previous life on Earth, Bodhi was Sun Wukong's master, residing in the Mount Fangcun overseas, in the Slanting Moon and Three Stars Cave. He was a great being who shone as brightly Sun Moon and lived as long as heaven and earth.
There are many versions of Bodhi's identity. Some believe he is an ancestor whose status is no lower than that of the Three Pure Ones. Others analyze that he was one of the Three Corpses of Zhunti of the Western Sect before the start of the Journey to the West, since Sun Wukong was one of the main characters in the rise of the Western Sect and the journey to the Western Heaven to obtain the scriptures.
"Tsk tsk, this Bodhi isn't Zhunti's Three Corpses." Dugu Baitian secretly captured the scene using his super-advanced enhanced Rinnegan and Tensei Jōgan, which were hidden from others, and relayed it to Xiao Tian, the true body of the Hunyuan Great Firmament Golden Immortal.
Based on my analysis, I have reached the following conclusion!
"Fellow Daoist, what brings you to my land?"
Dugu Baitian wondered if this Daoist priest might be a secret arrangement by Hongjun to break away from the Deva Path. This Bodhi's cultivation was not low, at the Late-Stage Quasi-Sage.
When the Dao Ancestor Hongjun preached at the Purple Cloud Palace, he had three thousand disciples, many of whom were powerful figures. However, some of these powerful figures were hidden in various parts of the Primordial World and did not go to listen to the Dao Ancestor Hongjun's sermon.
Some secret realms are protected and shielded by the power of heaven and earth, so even the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nüwa, the Deva Path Sage, find it difficult to see how many Quasi-Sage and great powers there are in the Primordial.
Bodhi, without speaking or smiling, took out a piece of withered wood.
Dugu Baitian glanced at it and frowned. This thing was extraordinary; it was lightning-struck wood.
Lightning-struck wood is the essence of wood left behind when lightning strikes a tree, while the one in Bodhi's hand was left behind when the Chaos Destruction Divine Lightning struck the Ambrosial Arbor.
In the beginning of Primordial, there was the World Tree, the Heaven-Reaching Ambrosial Arbor. Some Chaos of the Innate Gods and Demons and demons invaded the Primordial, triggering a great war, intending to Destruction the world created by Pangu.
Bodhi revealed his identity as one of the three thousand Innate Gods and Demons of Chaos.
However, the current Daoist Bodhi has long since abandoned his origins Innate Gods and Demons, and has entered the realm as a being from the Primordial era.
"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this?"
Daoist Bodhi said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, why should we hide anything from each other? The Great Tribulation is approaching, why do you make such a high-profile appearance in the world?"
Dugu Baitian understood the meaning: Bodhi had come to persuade him to withdraw from the world and escape the Great Tribulation.
"Fellow Daoist, you evade your Great Tribulation, I'll live mine."
Bodhi frowned and said, "Fellow Daoist, do not underestimate the Great Tribulation. Although you have sealed Luohou and possess Tongtian abilities, the times have changed. The strength of the Sage is immense, and we should live in seclusion."
"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for further explanation; our philosophies differ."
"In that case, fellow Daoist, take care. I hope you will preserve this item. In times of crisis, it can be used to escape a calamity." Bodhi left the lightning-struck wood behind and departed from the Heaven-Equaling Palace.
Dugu Baitian was secretly pleased; Bodhi had truly played his cards well.
"They want to get entangled with me in karma, testing my strength and weakness."
Dugu Baitian put away the lightning-struck wood. It was a good thing, with some special arrangements made by Bodhi on it. It possessed a Great Spatial Translocation Divine Ability, which could move surrounding objects once triggered.
No sooner had Bodhi left than the voice of the Primordial Heavenly Dao resounded within the palace.
"You even accept such scum?" A faint, indistinct voice, neither male nor female, reached Dugu Baitian's ears.
"What, you're not happy about that? I'm going to take a bath, so get out of the way and don't peek."
"Hmph! I hope you don't just stick to being the 'Primordial maintainer' and stop making underhanded moves!"
"Oh ho, Deva Path, are you clearly trying to kill me with your words?" Dugu Baitian sneered, and began to undress inside the palace.
"Look, look, I'll let you look your fill! Time for a bath."
"Ding! You have angered the Primordial Heavenly Dao! You have gained 1 Primordial Heavenly Dao Achievement Points!"
"Ding! Do you wish to consume Primordial Heavenly Dao Achievement Points to exchange for Deva Path Will Experience Card?"
"Yes!"
Dugu Baitian's eyes lit up. This was a good thing. After this, he could stand tall and confidently confront the Primordial Heavenly Dao.
Golden Turtle Island, the location of the Sect Leader Tongtian temple of the Tongtian Sect Master.
Zhunti concealed his presence, keeping a close eye on the formation within Golden Turtle Island.
Suddenly, a person came off the island, Zhunti's eyes lit up.
"It's Tongtian's eldest disciple, Duobao. Interesting. This kid is highly regarded by Tongtian and is said to have quite a few spiritual treasures. If we could recruit him into our Western Sect, that would be wonderful."
Zhunti secretly followed Daoist Duobao.
Daoist Duobao was sent to Zhaoge to deliver gifts to King Zhou Di Xin.
Outside the palace, Duobao rained down from the sky.
At the same time, several beams of celestial light descended.
"Who is it? It's Duobao, Duobao of my Third Martial Uncle! He's so plump and juicy, what a waste of such fine material for his Daoist robe."
Duobao frowned, looked in the direction of the voice, and saw a middle-aged man dressed in black and yellow robes, with an air of otherworldly elegance.
He recognized the other person as True Lord Qingxu Daode, one of the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect and a disciple of his second senior brother, Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi Tianzun.
" Qingxu, are you looking for a beating?" Duobao wasn't intimidated at all, glaring at him with icy eyes.
Duobao is, after all, Tongtian's top disciple. He has obtained many magical treasures and has excellent talent. He is currently at the Early-Stage Quasi-Sage.
" Duobao, what do you want to do!" Guangchengzi's eyes were cold. As a Peak Great Luo Golden Immortal, although he did not have Duobao as Duobao, they were all of good quality.
"Hmph, King Zhou's birthday, I'll let you go today." Duobao said with a sneer.
" Duobao! You're far too arrogant!" Guangchengzi, unaware that Duobao had entered the Quasi-Sage realm, directly unleashed the Heaven-Flipping Seal to blast him away.
The Heaven-Flipping Seal is Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure bestowed by the Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi. Its power is considerable. Those struck on the head by the seal will suffer from either a severely imprisoned and confused primordial spirit, or, in severe cases, a cracked skull, a collapsed primordial spirit, and death.
"You're asking for it!"
Daoist Duobao was not afraid. He unleashed more than thirty Innate Spirit Treasure, each radiating a different color. Their terrifying pressure directly overwhelmed the five Great Luo Golden Immortal, pinning the Heaven-Flipping Seal firmly in mid-air.
"Quasi- Quasi-Sage!" Guangchengzi was shocked.
"Hmph!" Duobao thought smugly, his eyes filled with disdain as he glanced at Guangchengzi and the Human Path, saying, "If this weren't Zhaoge, I would definitely teach you a lesson."
"No, please continue, it's alright." A voice suddenly rang out, startling the five Great Luo Golden Immortal, Duobao, and even Zhunti, who was hiding in the shadows.
King Zhou Di Xin, has appeared out of nowhere!
Zhunti was shocked. "What the hell! King Zhou has actually become Quasi-Sage! When did he arrive? I was careless! I underestimated this fellow!"
When Duobao, Guangchengzi, and the others saw King Zhou appear, they all lowered their guard and greeted him amicably.
As the main characters of this Great Tribulation, they were all instructed by their masters to respect King Zhou.
"My esteemed immortals, please continue. I'm planning to renovate this plaza anyway; it would be good if you could take care of it," King Zhou said with a smile.
Duobao and Guangchengzi were speechless.