Reaching an Agreement

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun, would you mind showing yourself?" Ao Changsheng asked with a smile.

The sound was very soft, but it resounded in every corner of Ao Changsheng's vast dojo.

After a while.

Across this vast expanse of land, wisps of white energy slowly gathered, forming a hazy figure before Ao Changsheng.

Who else could it be but Hongjun?

This scene... is almost exactly the same as the last time Ao Changsheng tried to infiltrate the Heavenly Dao and was discovered by Hongjun.

Last time, Ao Changsheng wanted to infiltrate the Heavenly Dao and explore the Primordial World, but this time, Hongjun infiltrated his Daoist temple, wanting to integrate into the Heavenly Dao of this temple.

However, when Ao Changsheng looked at the illusory image of Hongjun in front of him, he showed no anger at the invasion of his Daoist temple. Instead, his smile widened.

Looking at the phantom of Hongjun, Ao Changsheng's smile widened.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng!" Hongjun's illusory figure bowed and greeted.

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun, you are not at the Purple Firmament Palace comprehending the Heavenly Dao, how come you have time to come to my Daoist temple?" Ao Changsheng said.

"This time, my divine sense followed my disciple and entered the Daoist temple without your permission. It was my fault, and I accept the punishment!" Hongjun said decisively.

"Fellow Daoist is joking. I am opening the gates of my Daoist temple to welcome your disciples, and also to welcome you as well," Ao Changsheng said, shaking his head slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Changsheng, what exactly do you mean?" Hongjun stared at Ao Changsheng for a moment before asking in a deep voice.

"What do you think of my Daoist temple, fellow Daoist?" Ao Changsheng did not answer Hongjun, but instead asked with a smile, pointing to the temple.

"Unparalleled in the world, unique in the Primordial World!" Hongjun said softly.

Although Hongjun failed in his attempt to integrate into the Heavenly Dao of this Daoist field, he still witnessed many of the mysteries of Ao Changsheng's Daoist field.

Among them, the most straightforward is... the innate Innate Spiritual Qi Primordial World and is virtually inexhaustible.

Even someone as shrewd as Hongjun couldn't help but feel a little envious upon seeing such a scene.

Innate Spiritual Qi is absolutely the most suitable Spiritual Qi for cultivation, even for Dao-Merging Sage and Hunyuan Daluo Immortals.

Although it has less energy compared to the Qi of Chaos, it is incredibly peaceful and can be easily refined into Law Power.

Unlike the Qi of Chaos, which is violent and requires some effort to refine into magical power and improve one's cultivation, it does not require any effort to refine into Law Power.

Of course, for Heavenly Dao Sage, Innate Spiritual Qi is not particularly precious. With the help of the Power of the Heavenly Dao in the Primordial World, one can have as much Innate Spiritual Qi as one desires.

But...

At the Sage Realm, the amount of Innate Spiritual Qi consumed during cultivation is absolutely enormous.

Over time, the Innate Spiritual Qi absorbed and exhaled becomes a burden even for the vast Primordial World.

It will absolutely have a huge impact on the cultivation and survival of countless cultivators and living beings, and may even affect the growth of the Primordial World.

Even the Heavenly Dao Sage, who are said to have endured countless eons without being worn down and to remain untainted by karma, are not immune to its influence.

However, the karma of the Primordial World is not something one can easily be tainted by.

In the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao Sage exist to protect the Primordial World and help it develop better.

If Sage are a burden to the Primordial World, becoming a cancer to Primordial World, then they have no reason to exist.

Even Hongjun shared the same thought.

He would never allow a Sage to use the Primordial World Innate Spiritual Qi to cultivate, thus dragging down the Primordial World.

Even in his daily cultivation, he refines the Qi of Chaos himself, rather than absorbing Innate Spiritual Qi.

As if sensing Hongjun's envy, Ao Changsheng's smile deepened, and he raised a finger, pointing into the distance.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Hongjun, what do you think of this Spirit Root of mine?"

If it were anyone else, Ao Changsheng's finger gesture would be utterly inexplicable.

But Hongjun had just tried to merge with the Heavenly Dao of this world, and although he failed... he had almost seen the entire landscape of this vast world.

The Spirit Root in that direction...

Hongjun recalled the unbelievable scene he had witnessed, paused, and gave Ao Changsheng a deep look before speaking.

"Even I, this old Daoist, have never heard of that Spirit Root before. I believe that even in the vast Chaos, you cannot find a second Spirit Root as wondrous as that."

Ao Changsheng smiled softly, and with a thought, the surrounding environment instantly changed.

Looking at the sapling in front of him, which was less than a meter tall, Ao Changsheng reached out and gently stroked the only blue flower bud on the sapling that was about to bloom.

Sensing the rich Great Dao of Water within, Ao Changsheng murmured, "Nothing is absolute. There should still be one or two plants in the Chaos."

"Changsheng Daoist Changsheng, aren't you afraid that displaying this Spirit Root to me like this will arouse my greed and lead me to seize this treasure?" Hongjun said in a deep voice from the side.

"Can you?" Ao Changsheng glanced at Hongjun and asked in return.

"To be honest, I almost couldn't resist," Hongjun said, looking at the seemingly ordinary sapling in front of him with a hint of melancholy.

"A little bit off, but that's a huge difference!"

Ao Changsheng's expression turned serious as he stared intently at the illusory image of Hongjun before him and said, "Fellow Daoist Hongjun, let's cooperate!"

"Cooperate!?"

Hongjun looked at Ao Changsheng without saying a word, quietly waiting for what was to come.

"This Tree of the Great Dao, which I cultivate, is nourished by the Great Dao itself, and from this nourishment, it bears Spirit Root that corresponds to the Dao Fruit of the Great Dao."

"And the Dao Fruit that is produced is not only useful to cultivators, but the world can also absorb Dao Fruit," Ao Changsheng said calmly.

As soon as Ao Changsheng finished speaking, a glint of light flashed in Hongjun's eyes.

If, as Hongjun said, he was able to restrain his greed and refrain from attacking the Tree of the Great Dao, then...

At that moment, the thought of killing and seizing the treasure truly welled up in Hongjun's heart.

Ignoring Hongjun's reaction, Ao Changsheng's calm voice continued.

"Although I do not know how powerful the Great God Pangu was back then, there is no doubt that the Great God Pangu's Great Dao of Force was not one of creating worlds."

"Of the Three Thousand Great Dao in the Primordial World today, if not all, but most of them, should originate from the three thousand Chaos Demon God slain by the Great God Pangu."

"However, although the Dao of these three thousand Chaos Demon God has been integrated into the Primordial World, they ultimately originated from different Chaos Demon God."

"When they merged into the Primordial World, there were inevitably many Great Dao that canceled each other out, overlapped, or became incomplete. This resulted in the Primordial World's Three Thousand Great Dao being... incomplete!"

Ao Changsheng glanced at Hongjun in front of him and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Hongjun, there's no need to hide this fact."

"Last time in the Heavenly Dao Origin Space, although I was quickly discovered by you, fellow Daoist, I still managed to see quite a few things, just like... this time, fellow Daoist."

After listening to Ao Changsheng's words for a few moments, Hongjun forcibly suppressed the greed in his heart and said in a dry voice, "Fellow Daoist Changsheng, how do you wish to cooperate?"

Ao Changsheng did not rush to discuss cooperation, but calmly looked at Hongjun's unusually calm expression and said.

"This Tree of the Great Dao was a seed I obtained, which took root, sprouted, and grew by nourishing it with my own essence, energy, and spirit. If I were to die, or even if I were to have a single thought..."

"Then this Tree of the Great Dao will lose all its divine power."

Upon hearing Ao Changsheng's words, the greed in Hongjun's eyes gradually subsided and was suppressed. He did not know whether what Ao Changsheng was saying was true or false.

Although people at their level rarely tell lies.

But since it involved a precious treasure, he couldn't be sure.

"Changsheng Daoist Changsheng, let's get straight to how we plan to cooperate!" Hongjun said in a deep voice.

"Hunt down Chaos Demon God, and use Chaos Demon God as nourishment to cultivate your Dao Fruit!"

"Among them, the Great Dao Dao Fruit of the Three Thousand Great Dao of the Primordial World that are perfected or not exist shall belong to me, while the Great Dao Dao Fruit of the Three Thousand Great Dao of the Primordial World that are incomplete shall belong to you, fellow Daoist."

Ao Changsheng's tone was calm, without the slightest hint of murderous intent.

But before Hongjun, it seemed as if a crimson rain of blood had appeared, with endless demons wailing and struggling.

Hongjun had regained his usual calm and collected demeanor. He gave Ao Changsheng a deep look and said in a deep voice, "This humble Daoist... agrees!"

"However, not now!" Hongjun said.

"I understand!" Ao Changsheng nodded.

Even if Hongjun wanted to cooperate at this time, Ao Changsheng probably wouldn't agree.

He has not yet attained the Hunyuan, so even if it were for the sake of the Great Dao Dao Fruit, it would be impossible for him to choose to leave the Primordial World and step into the Chaos to hunt down the Chaos Demon God.

"Fellow Daoist, just carry out the original plan with peace of mind. I can wait for a mere few Immeasurable Tribulation!" Ao Changsheng said.

"Then I will trouble Fellow Changsheng!" Hongjun bowed to Ao Changsheng, gave Ao Changsheng a deep look, and then vanished into thin air.

As Hongjun departed, Ao Changsheng's smile vanished, his gaze turned deep, and he stared at the Tree of the Great Dao for a long time without speaking.

Although the collaboration was undoubtedly a win-win situation.

But how could he possibly be willing to let others see such Spirit Root as the Tree of the Great Dao, let alone share it with them?

But...

Just like the last time he broke into the Heavenly Dao Origin Space, although Hongjun discovered him, he didn't immediately see through his abilities.

He did the same thing this time.

Although he had previously said that he was inviting Hongjun in, he was actually caught off guard by Hongjun's sudden attack.

He failed to stop Hongjun from investigating his Daoist temple in time, which resulted in the Tree of the Great Dao being exposed to Hongjun.

If Ao Changsheng hadn't been unsure whether to stop Hongjun's thoughts from relaying the message back to Hongjun himself...

He will surely strike swiftly and decisively, obliterating this wisp of Hongjun's will.

Staring at the Tree of the Great Dao in front of him, Ao Changsheng didn't make any other move for a long time.

Although Hongjun discovered the Tree of the Great Dao the moment he stepped into his Daoist temple, that was Hongjun.

Even if it were any other Heavenly Dao Sage, including Laozi, Nüwa, and Jieyin —three Sages who had severed their Three Corpses —joined forces to investigate, there would be absolutely no possibility of this happening.

Ao Changsheng also believed that Hongjun would never tell anyone else about the Tree of the Great Dao.

Especially the Six Saints!

As long as Hongjun still wants the Six Sages to become Heavenly Dao Sage, he will absolutely not allow them to know any information about the Tree of the Great Dao in Ao Changsheng's hands.

Heaven Beyond Heaven.

The Purple Firmament Palace amidst Chaos.

Hongjun opened his eyes and accepted the information from that wisp of thought; the calm stillness in his eyes was instantly shattered.

Instead, an indescribable excitement overwhelmed him, causing even Hongjun, with his strong will, to tremble uncontrollably.

"There's hope! There's finally hope!"

"A realm beyond Hunyuan!"