Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

"Did you see that?"

The voice rang out again, laced with sarcasm:

"This is humanity... weak, lowly, like ants."

"You saved their lives, passed down your martial arts, and devoted a century of your life to them... but what was the result?"

"A hundred years from now, they will still be slaughtered by the demon race, trampled by the witch race, and regarded as food by all the races of the primordial world!"

"Is such a people... worth protecting with your life?"

Each question pierced the depths of the Daoist heart.

Xuandu remained silent.

The scene before my eyes changed again.

This time, it's... the future.

After the Great Calamity, the Lich and Demon races were both severely weakened, and the human race was destined to rise and become the protagonist of the primordial world.

But the human race... did not appreciate the kindness of this ancestor of martial arts.

Instead, due to the inheritance of martial arts, internal strife continued, with numerous factions and endless wars.

Even worse, in their struggle for the true meaning of martial arts, they toppled his statue, defaced the Martial Arts Heavenly Stele, and completely forgot about him, the teacher of the human race!

"Did you see that?"

The voice grew increasingly mocking:

"This is the human heart... greed, selfishness, ingratitude."

"You gave them everything, but they... abandoned you in the blink of an eye."

"Is such a group... worth it?"

The scene changed again.

This time, it's... the Tongtian Cult Leader.

Inside Biyou Palace, Tongtian sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, his face pale, his breath weak, and his sword intent shattering inch by inch.

The four swords of Zhuxian were broken, and the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation was torn apart.

Of the ten thousand immortals of the Jie Sect, some died, some scattered, and some betrayed.

"Xuan Du..."

Tongtian raised his eyes, his gaze filled with disappointment:

"For you, your master defied all the sages, defied the Heavenly Dao, and even resorted to the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation... but what was the result?"

"The Jie Sect flourished because of you, and it also perished because of you."

"If you had known this would happen... would you still have joined the Jie Sect in the first place?"

Each question was like a thousand arrows piercing my heart.

Xuan Du Dao Heart... trembled slightly.

The tribulation of inner demons targets obsessions and destroys the Dao heart.

Everything he did was for the human race, for the Jie Sect, and for... the resentment and obsession in his heart.

If humanity is worthless, if the Jie Sect perishes because of him... then what is the point of his hundred years of cultivation and planning?

"Give up."

The voice softened, becoming seductive:

"Martial arts may be powerful, but in the end, they are against the will of Heaven."

"If you give up now, the Great Way may grant you a glimmer of hope, allowing you to return to an ordinary life and live a peaceful existence."

"Why risk your life for these worthless groups and sects?"

The sound, as delicate as silk threads, seeped into every corner of the Dao heart.

Xuan Du slowly lowered his head.

Look at your own hands.

A century of cultivation, a century of war, a century of unyielding spirit.

Is all of this... really worth it?

He was silent for a long time.

finally.

He slowly raised his eyes.

His eyes swirled with a chaotic light, reflecting the horrific scene before him, yet he remained unmoved.

"worth."

He spoke softly, his voice calm:

"Though the human race is weak, it possesses an indomitable spirit."

"Although the Jie Sect is in danger, it still has the bond of camaraderie among its members."

"I established martial arts and passed it on to the human race, not so that they would be grateful, nor so that they would remember me."

"Just so that I can have a clear conscience."

The words fell.

"boom!"

Deep within his Dao heart, the primordial rune of the martial arts law suddenly shone brightly!

The chaotic martial will erupted like a volcano, ruthlessly shattering all illusions and crushing all inner demons!

The scene before my eyes crumbled inch by inch.

The demon army, the tragic state of the human race, future betrayal, the master's disappointment... all vanished like bubbles.

All that remains is a clear and pure Dao heart, and that increasingly brilliant and perfect martial arts rune!

"Is my conscience clear...?"

The voice paused slightly, then turned into a long sigh:

"Never mind..."

The tribulation of inner demons... Break through!

......

"puff!"

Xuan Du swayed slightly, and a trickle of purplish-gold blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Although the tribulation of inner demons was broken, the Dao heart was shaken, ultimately damaging the source.

But his gaze remained calm as he slowly wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at the increasingly violent chaotic thunderclouds.

The seventh tribulation has passed.

Only two more tribulations remain...

The eighth tribulation... the tribulation of cause and effect.

The Ninth Tribulation... The Judgment of the Great Dao.

"cause and effect......"

Xuandu muttered to himself.

He cultivated himself for a hundred years, accumulating countless karmic connections.

With the human race, with the Jie Sect, with the demon race, with the witch race, with all the saints... even with the Heavenly Dao and the Great Dao.

These causes and effects are usually hidden and not apparent.

But at this moment... they will all become vessels of calamity and punishment, transforming into destructive lightning!

"Buzz..."

Deep within the thunderclouds, the chains of law intertwined once more.

This time, it is no longer a single law, nor is it an invisible inner demon.

Instead, countless fine lines of cause and effect extended from the void, disappeared into the thunderclouds, and transformed into bolts of chaotic color, yet exuding different auras... causal lightning!

Each bolt of lightning represents a cause and effect.

The karma between him and the human race transformed into crimson-gold lightning, his blood and energy surging, his will like a tidal wave.

The cause and effect with the Jie Sect transformed into azure lightning, its sword intent sharp and resonating with all the immortals.

The karma with the demon race transformed into dark golden lightning, burned by the true fire of the sun, and caused the stars in the sky to revolve.

The cause and effect with the Wu Clan transformed into blood-red lightning, its power shaking the heavens, and the phantom of Pangu appeared and disappeared.

The cause and effect with all the saints transformed into various colors of thunder, Jade Purity Immortal Light, Supreme Purity Purple Qi, Creation Glow, Buddhist Golden Light... intertwining and rotating.

Even... the cause and effect with the Heavenly Dao and the Great Dao are all manifested within it, transforming into the most terrifying and profound chaotic thunder!

The calamity of cause and effect triggers the karma of a lifetime, transforming into tribulation lightning to settle accounts one by one!

If you can overcome this obstacle, the cause and effect will be resolved, and your heart will be enlightened.

If one cannot overcome this... the karmic backlash will lead to death, the dissipation of one's spiritual path, and the annihilation of one's true spirit!

"They're here."

Xuan Du's gaze sharpened, and the martial arts runes around his body shimmered with light, naturally rising with the primordial Daoist aura.

He no longer waited passively.

Instead... they actively faced the challenge!

"Martial Arts... Open!"

The four words were uttered, and the sound shook the heavens!

Xuan Du took a step forward, his figure soaring into the sky, and crashed into the causal thundercloud!

He intends to use his true martial arts form to confront the causal thunder and settle all karmic ties!

"Is he insane?!"

Yuanshi Tianzun cried out in a low voice:

"A karmic calamity, impossible to avoid, yet he actively confronts it?"

Lao Tzu's pupils also suddenly contracted:

"This kid... he's really courting death!"

Nuwa's eyes shone brightly, and the Creation Stone in her hand shimmered with light:

"Using one's own body as a furnace, and calamity as fire, to refine cause and effect... What a magnificent spirit!"

The Tongtian Sect Leader slowly clenched his fists within his sleeves, his eyes flashing with sword intent:

"Xuan Du...you must succeed!"

......

Within the causal thunderclouds.

Xuan Du's figure was like a shooting star, crashing fiercely into the thousands of thunderbolts!

"boom!!!"

The first bolt of lightning struck.

Crimson gold, the karma of humanity!

Amidst the thunder, countless human figures manifested, their blood and qi resonating, their will surging like a tide, transforming into a vast and boundless torrent of humanity, which fiercely struck Xuan Du!

Xuan Du swayed slightly, but instead of retreating or dodging, he enhanced his martial arts true body with defensive divine powers!

Blood and qi surged, muscles and bones resonated, and martial arts runes shone brightly, actually devouring and refining that bolt of lightning!

"The karma of humanity... comes to an end!"

Xuan Du gave a low shout, his eyes shining even brighter.

The second bolt of lightning struck.

Cyan, the cause and effect of the Jie Sect!

Amidst the thunder, the phantom of the Tongtian Sect Master appeared, the Qingping Sword fell, the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation rotated, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian hovered in the air, carrying the will and killing intent of the ten thousand immortals of the Jie Sect, fiercely slashing towards Xuandu!

Xuandu raised his hand and pointed his fingers like a sword.

A chaotic sword light shot out from his fingertips and fiercely slashed at the lightning!

"The karma of the Jie Sect... is now resolved!"

The third, the fourth, the fifth...

The karma of the dark gold demon race, the karma of the blood-red witch race, the karma of the Jade Purity Chan Sect, the karma of the Taiqing Human Sect, the karma of the Creator Nuwa, the karma of the Western Buddhist sect...

One after another, bolts of causal lightning, each carrying a different aura and power, struck down!

Xuan Du's figure weaved through the thunderclouds, his martial arts true body withstanding the attacks, the chaotic sword light striking, and the primordial Dao essence refining his power...

With each bolt of lightning he survived, he ended a karmic cycle.

With each bolt of lightning he refined, his martial arts runes became more perfect, and his primordial Daoist essence became more refined.

The karmic tribulations, for him... became nourishment for tempering himself and perfecting his martial arts!

"This child... truly defies the heavens!"

Yuanshi Tianzun's face was ashen, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

He saw it clearly.

Xuandu not only withstood the calamity of cause and effect, but also used the calamity to refine his Dao, settle his karmic debts, and temper himself!

At this rate... the eighth tribulation won't be a problem for him at all!

"Only... one last hurdle remains."

Laozi's gaze darkened as he stared intently at the increasingly dazzling figure in blue robes deep within the thunderclouds:

"The Ninth Tribulation... The Judgment of the Great Dao."

"He is doomed in this calamity!"

......