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

Shouyang Mountain, Bajing Palace.

The purple aura that once filled the palace is now gone, and the entire palace is shrouded in silence and decay.

The fire in the alchemy furnace dimmed like a candle flickering in the wind, no longer absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and could no longer refine the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir with its purple aura.

Lao Tzu sat cross-legged on a futon in front of the stove, his face ashen.

The purple-purple light that once illuminated the heavens and commanded the worship of all beings around him was now as thin as mist, flickering and uncertain, and could be extinguished at any moment.

The backlash from the collapse of the Dao Fruit of the Human Cult Leader was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.

The Holy Realm has fallen from the peak of the fourth heaven to the early stage of the first heaven, but it can still slowly recover through secluded cultivation.

However, the damage to the foundation of the path and the spread of cracks in the sacred path are almost permanent wounds.

"cough......"

Another wisp of dark golden holy blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, but before it could drip, it turned into specks of ashes and scattered in the air.

Lao Tzu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze no longer holding the tranquility and inaction of the past, but only a bottomless weariness and regret.

He looked eastward, his gaze piercing through the layers of palaces, landing on the distant shores of the East China Sea, and on the lingering, magnificent aura above Jin'ao Island.

The surge of fortune just now was as vast as the sea of ​​stars and as pure as the rising sun. Even though he was hundreds of millions of miles away, it still made this saint who had fallen from the Saint Realm feel a chill in his heart.

"Xuan Du..."

Lao Tzu murmured the name.

A hundred years ago, that young man traveled thousands of miles and knelt outside Shouyang Mountain for ten years, wanting to become his disciple and seek the Dao.

Unfortunately, I couldn't seize the opportunity in the end.

Lao Tzu closed his eyes and pierced his palms with his fingertips.

"If only I had taken him in back then..."

Lao Tzu's voice was extremely dry.

If he had nodded and said yes then...

Xuandu was the chief disciple of the Human Sect, and a disciple personally taught by his father.

Establish martial arts, gather fortune, and prove the Primordial Chaos...

All this glory and honor will belong to the teachings of humanity, to the disciples of Lao Tzu!

The fortunes of the People's Church will surely soar, surpassing all other religions!

As the leader of the Human Sect, he will gain immeasurable merit for teaching the disciples of the Primordial Great Luo, and his Saint Realm will advance further, possibly even touching the ethereal Primordial Boundless Great Luo Realm!

But now...

Lao Tzu slowly lowered his head and looked at his palm.

There, the fragments of the Human Cult Leader's Dao Fruit shattered, like broken glass, reflected his current wretchedness and desolation.

Everything is already set in stone.

Xuandu is already the teacher of the human race, the vice leader of the Jie Sect, and has even attained the Great Luo of Hunyuan. He is already a mortal enemy of Xuandu.

The hatred of abolishing the religion and the resentment of severing the path will not be resolved until death.

"Oh......"

Lao Tzu suddenly chuckled softly, his laughter hoarse and filled with endless self-mockery.

At the Honghuang Billion-Yuan Conference, he boasted that he had calculated all the secrets of heaven, governed by non-interference, and watched the clouds roll and unroll.

But now it seems that he calculated everything, except for... people's hearts.

They overlooked the indomitable will of the human race, which had been suppressed for billions of years.

They underestimated Xuandu's resolute determination to shake the heavens and earth with his mortal body.

What he overlooked was that his own arrogance and disregard for others would eventually backfire on him.

"Never mind..."

Lao Tzu exhaled a long breath, suppressing the regret and resentment surging in his heart.

It's too late for regrets now.

The most urgent task is to stabilize the injury and repair the foundation.

Although the Humanist teachings were abolished, he was ultimately the embodiment of Pangu's primordial spirit, the head of the Three Pure Ones, and possessed the merits of creating the world.

As long as the holy position remains, there is still a glimmer of hope.

As for Xuandu, as for the Jie Sect...

"A great calamity is about to begin, and the secrets of heaven will be in chaos... Everything is still unknown."

......

Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

A mystical light swirled around, accompanied by thousands of auspicious clouds.

Deep within the palace, the Primordial Celestial Venerable sat cross-legged atop the Nine-Dragon Sandalwood Chariot, his body radiating a pure and celestial light like a waterfall, illuminating the entire palace in splendor.

His expression was calm, his eyes deep, as if the earth-shaking fluctuations of destiny from Jin'ao Island had not stirred the slightest ripple in his heart.

Only the slightly trembling jade ruyi in his sleeve betrayed his turbulent state of mind.

"The tide of fortune is as vast as the sea; the inevitable trend is set..."

Yuan Shi muttered to himself, each word chillingly cold.

He had just sensed the immense and pure aura of the aura from afar with his divine sense as a sage, which even startled him, a sage of the Chan sect.

"This child... must not be allowed to live."

A cold glint flashed in Yuanshi's eyes, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his sleeve suddenly shone brightly, with the Jade Purity Dao Patterns flowing wildly, evolving into endless celestial trajectories.

The Lich Wars have not yet ended, the secrets of heaven remain in chaos, and cause and effect are entangled in a complex web.

If we rashly attack Xuandu at this moment, it may not only trigger Tongtian's Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, but also disrupt the course of the Great Tribulation and bring disaster upon ourselves.

Not worth the candle.

"When the Lich War is at its fiercest, and the celestial secrets are most chaotic..."

Yuanshi's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he looked towards Mount Buzhou, towards the Demon Court hidden beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The twelve ancestral witches of the witch clan, and Emperor Jun Taiyi of the demon clan.

These two sides are the main protagonists of the great calamity, and the pawns destined to perish by the Heavenly Dao.

Xuan Du is merely a variable in the game, an unexpected disruptor who intrudes into the game.

Even the strongest variable is still just a variable.

As long as the calamity is pushed to proceed along its predetermined trajectory, with the help of the lich, or even... the hands of the saints, it is not impossible to completely eliminate this variable!

"Nuwa's sacred position has fallen, her Dao foundation has been damaged, and she harbors deep hatred for Xuandu..."

"Jieyin and Zhunti have long coveted the destiny of the East; how could they sit idly by and watch the Jie Sect grow stronger?"

"As for my eldest brother..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Yuan Shi's mouth.

The Humanist Cult was abolished, the Holy Realm plummeted, and the Path of Cultivation was almost severed... How could such hatred be quelled by seclusion and arduous cultivation?

Yuanshi believed that Laozi would definitely take action!

The Three Pure Ones joined forces, and then brought in the two Western Saints and Nuwa...

The five saints appeared together and attacked Xuandu before Tongtian could react!

Even if Xuandu's fortune is at its peak, can it withstand the combined might of all the saints and the overwhelming force of the Great Calamity?

"Soon..."

Yuanshi slowly closed his eyes, and his body was filled with surging, pure immortal light.

"The final battle between the Lich King and the Lich King is about to begin; the aura of impending doom has already started to rise..."

"Xuan Du, let me see if you, a Primordial Grand Luo, can withstand this... the greatest calamity since the beginning of time!"

Inside the Jade Void Palace, the celestial light suddenly receded.

The aura of the Primordial Celestial Venerable completely subsided, with only a sharp killing intent lingering deep within his slowly closing eyes.

......

In the west, Mount Sumeru.

Jieyin and Zhunti stood side by side by the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, their faces showing even more intense suffering.

As he softly chanted the Buddha's name, a deep glint of calculation flashed beneath the compassion in his eyes:

"Xuan Du is powerful and its fortune is overwhelming, which has become a major concern for all the sages."

"Yuanshi will surely eliminate Xuandu during the calamity."

Upon hearing this, Zhunti's eyes lit up:

"Senior brother, are you saying that we should use the power of the Great Calamity, and the hands of the sages, to eliminate Xuandu?"

"When Xuandu falls, his immense fortune will dissipate, and the world will surely react, perhaps triggering the descent of heavenly merit..."

He became more and more excited as he spoke:

"If we can seize this opportunity to capture a portion of their fortune, or even use secret methods to guide it, perhaps we can further advance the fortune of our Western Sect!"

Jieyin nodded slightly:

Indeed.

"With Xuandu dead, the fortunes of the Jie Sect will be severely damaged, and Tongtian alone will not be able to support it."

"At that time, the Eastern Xuanmen will be in turmoil, and the Three Pure Ones will turn against each other. This will be a golden opportunity for our Western Sect to expand eastward and gather abundant fortune!"

Zhunti clapped his hands and laughed:

"Good! Great good!"

"Then let us cooperate with Yuanshi to secretly instigate the Great Calamity, ensuring that Xuandu... is utterly destroyed in it!"

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the undisguised greed and murderous intent in each other's eyes.

The West is barren and lacks vitality.

They practiced asceticism to build a multi-million dollar society, founded the Western religion, and established eight hundred side sects, all for the purpose of gathering fortune and attaining sainthood.

The East is rich in natural resources and talented people. The Three Pure Ones established their religion, and Nuwa created humankind. All of them enjoy boundless good fortune, which makes the West feel suffocated.

Now, the opportunity has arrived.

Xuandu, this anomaly, this variable that stirs up the winds and clouds of the primordial world, is precisely a sharp blade that can tear apart the pattern of the Eastern Xuanmen!

If used properly, it might just be possible to snatch chestnuts from the fire and allow our Western religion to truly rise!

"but......"

The guide abruptly changed the subject, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes:

"Xuan Du is no easy opponent; with the blessing of fortune, he may possess unpredictable abilities."

"To eliminate it, a meticulous plan is needed; one must not act rashly."

Zhunti nodded:

"Don't worry, senior brother. There are endless variables during the great calamity. We only need to secretly push things along, and the Lich and Demon races, and even... all the saints, will take the lead for us."

......

Thirty-three heavens away, Nuwa Palace.

The colorful glow of the sunset had long since faded, and the palace was deathly silent.

Nuwa collapsed onto her cloud bed, her robes tattered, her face as pale as paper, and the purple-gold holy blood at the corner of her mouth dried into scabs, yet it was still a shocking sight.

The divine light that once nourished all things and created all beings around her was now as thin as smoke, as if it might be completely extinguished at any moment.

The Holy Mother's Dao Fruit shattered, her Holy Realm plummeted to the early stage of the First Heaven, her foundation was damaged, and her path to enlightenment was nearly severed...

This blow was devastating for her.

What broke her heart even more was Fuxi's betrayal.

She plotted for her elder brother for countless years, even breaking ties with Xuandu and using the Creation Stone, but all she got in return was Fuxi's words, "The Jie Sect is the destiny of our time."

At that moment, she seemed to hear the sound of her sacred heart shattering.

"Xuan Du... Fu Xi..."

Nuwa slowly opened her eyes, her gaze no longer filled with the clear compassion of the past, but with a bottomless abyss of resentment and madness.

hatred!

An overwhelming hatred!

She hated Xuandu for stripping her of her position as Holy Mother and severing the foundation of her cultivation!

They hate that Fuxi betrayed his blood ties and joined the ranks of his enemy!

He regretted even more that he hadn't protected the human race and had chosen the wrong side.

"How did things come to this... such a state?!"

Nuwa gritted her teeth and growled, her voice hoarse like a vengeful ghost.

She slowly raised her hand, and the crimson-gold Creation Stone reappeared in her palm.

The stone body was covered with cracks and its luster was dim. The human figures that had appeared within it had long since vanished, leaving only an empty, lifeless silence.

The position of the Holy Mother has been abolished, and the human race has lost all its fortune.

This precious companion artifact, due to damage to its origin, has lost more than one-tenth of its power.

"But... I haven't lost yet!"

Nuwa's eyes suddenly turned fierce with resentment, and she stared intently eastward, towards Jin'ao Island.

"Xuan Du, you have ruined my path to immortality and severed my foundation for sainthood... This feud will never end!"

......

Jin'ao Island, Biyou Palace.

The Tongtian Sect Leader stood alone atop the palace, his blue robes fluttering in the wind, his gaze like lightning sweeping across the four directions of the heavens.

The subtle and overt fluctuations of divine thought from the saints just now did not escape his perception.

The primordial murderous intent, the Western schemes, Nuwa's resentment, Lao Tzu's silence...

Everything was within his expectations.

"Everyone's getting restless..."

Tongtian's lips slowly curled into a cold smile.

A great calamity is about to begin, and undercurrents are surging.

Each of the saints harbored ulterior motives, all desiring to use the calamity to create trouble and seek personal gain.

Xuandu, his most outstanding disciple of the Jie Sect, and the martial arts ancestor who attained the Primordial Chaos realm in a century, has become the biggest variable and the biggest... target in the eyes of all the saints.

"pity......"

Tongtian slowly raised his hand, and the illusory image of the Qingping Sword silently appeared in his palm.

The sword's blade gleamed with a clear light, reflecting the unwavering resolve in his eyes:

"My disciple, Tongtian, is not someone you can simply move as you please!"

The sound was not loud, but quietly echoed throughout the entire Jin'ao Island.

All the immortals on the island felt a sense of connection.

On Duobao Peak, the Daoist Duobao, who was refining martial arts runes, slowly opened his eyes, and a flash of chaotic martial arts light disappeared from his eyes.

He looked towards Biyou Palace and slowly clenched his fist:

"This disciple...will certainly not fail Master's expectations!"

At this moment, all the disciples of the Jie Sect, including those from Jin'ao Peak, Sanxian Island, and Luofu Cave, felt something and looked towards Biyou Palace.

There was no longer a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Only perseverance.

An unprecedented determination.

The martial arts have been passed down, and a new path has been opened.

The beginning of the Jie Sect's transcendence begins today!

So what if it's a great calamity?

What if all the saints join forces?

With my ten thousand immortals, what fear is there of a battle?!

"Buzz..."

Deep within Biyou Palace, the four swords of Zhuxian hummed simultaneously.

The sword intent soared into the sky, tearing through the clouds and casting a chilling light over the entire East China Sea.

Tongtian stood alone at the center of the sword intent, his gaze piercing through the endless void, falling towards the dark heights, towards the unknowable land beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

There, the Purple Cloud Palace stands suspended.

What he was most worried about was the attitude of Hongjun Daozu.