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

"Book from the ground..."

Houtu murmured softly, and the light in the depths of her chaotic eyes grew brighter and brighter:

"The Earth Book is a manifestation of the earth's essence, containing the most primal and core laws of the earth!"

"If this book can complete the authentic local history..."

She suddenly looked up, staring intently at Xuan Du:

"The tunnel can be completed perfectly!"

Xuan Du nodded slightly:

"Exactly."

"The Earth Book is a supreme treasure of the Earth Way, and it should be integrated with the Earth Way in order to achieve the perfection of the Earth Way."

"But after the creation of the world, the Earth Book fell into the hands of Zhen Yuanzi and became his companion spiritual treasure, which was separated from the Earthly Dao by billions of yuan."

"This is the root cause of the tunnel's perpetual incompleteness."

After listening, Houtu remained silent for a long time.

She gazed at Xuandu, at his calm yet profound eyes, at his young yet infinitely composed face, and her heart was in turmoil.

It turned out to be the case.

That's it!

She transformed into a being of reincarnation, awakened the Underworld, and took control of the Nine Netherworlds, believing that the Underworld had been awakened.

However, the underground passage remained incomplete, and she always thought it was because her cultivation was insufficient, because the Heavenly Dao was suppressing her, or because the Great Tribulation had not yet arrived.

But I never imagined that the root cause was actually in the Earth Book!

If the Earth Book is not integrated with the Earthly Way, how can the Earthly Way be complete?

How can one attain sainthood if one's path to enlightenment is incomplete?

"Zhen Yuanzi..."

Houtu murmured the name, her eyes filled with complex emotions:

"Does he know about this?"

Xuan Du shook his head:

"I don't know."

"Although Zhen Yuanzi is the ancestor of the Earth Immortals and has a deep connection with the Earth Dao, he is not a Saint of the Earth Dao after all and cannot perceive the origin of the Earth Dao."

"He only knew that the Earth Book was his innate spiritual treasure and the foundation of his cultivation, but he did not know that this book should have belonged to the Earth Path."

Houtu remained silent.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Xuandu's words.

The Earth Book and Zhen Yuanzi have been inseparable for hundreds of millions of yuan, and their minds and spirits have long been intertwined, becoming a part of his path.

If we want to remove the Earth Book from Zhen Yuanzi's possession and complete the underground passage...

Would Zhen Yuanzi agree?

Even if he were willing, what would happen to his path of cultivation, his cultivation level, and his foundation if he lost his innate spiritual treasure?

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice solemn:

"Zhen Yuanzi and I have a history, and I know his character."

"Although he was quiet and inactive, and did not get involved in disputes, the Book of Earth was ultimately his most precious treasure, and it was connected to his path of cultivation."

"If it is forcibly separated, his path will surely be damaged."

"How...why would he agree?"

Xuan Du smiled slightly upon hearing this.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of composure as if it had been anticipated all along.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"Since this disciple has brought up the matter, I naturally already have a plan."

Houtu's gaze narrowed slightly:

"Oh?"

Xuandu stood with his hands behind his back before the Reincarnation Seal, his gaze piercing through the netherworld and falling towards the distant Longevity Mountain.

"Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals, reigns alongside the world."

"He was quiet and inactive, neither competing nor vying for anything, living a carefree life beyond the primordial world, in the Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, under the ginseng fruit tree."

"Being able to be quiet and inactive does not mean that he has no desires."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"Zhen Yuanzi is trapped at the peak of Quasi-Saint level, and has already spent hundreds of millions of yuan."

Why?

"Because of the earth book."

"Although the Earth Book was his companion spiritual treasure and helped him in his cultivation, it also became his shackle."

"This book contains the essence of the earth, yet it is separate from the earth and cannot be integrated with it."

"Zhen Yuanzi's cultivation based on the Earth Book is like groping along an incomplete path."

"With a billion-dollar fortune, his ability to cultivate to the peak of Quasi-Saint is already his limit."

"Above that, the path to sainthood is hopeless."

Houtu's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this.

She naturally understood the meaning behind Xuandu's words.

Below the sage, all are ants.

Although Zhen Yuanzi was the ancestor of earth immortals, he lived in harmony with the world and was carefree and unrestrained.

But he was ultimately only a quasi-saint.

He is not a saint.

No matter how high his cultivation level, how strong his magical power, or how great his supernatural abilities, he is still no match for a sage.

This is an immutable law, and no one can break it.

Is Zhen Yuanzi willing to accept this?

Houtu did not know.

But if she were in Zhen Yuanzi's position, she would be stuck at the peak of Quasi-Saint, watching helplessly as her juniors attained sainthood one by one, while she herself would never be able to take that step...

Are you willing to accept this?

Not reconciled.

"What do you mean, fellow Daoist?"

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of understanding:

"Should we get Zhen Yuanzi to voluntarily hand over the Earth Book to complete the tunnels?"

Xuan Du nodded:

"Exactly."

"When the Earth Book completes the Earthly Dao, and the Earthly Dao is perfected, nine Earthly Dao Saints can be born."

"At that time, Zhen Yuanzi, as the one who presented the Earth Book, will have performed immeasurable merit, and the Earth Dao will naturally repay him."

"He lost his innate spiritual treasure, but he can still attain the Dao and become a Saint of the Earthly Dao."

"One loss, one gain; what is lost is a priceless treasure, what is gained is a sacred position."

He paused, the smile on his lips deepening.

"Zhen Yuanzi is not unaware of this deal."

After listening, Houtu remained silent for a long time.

She gazed at Xuandu, at his eyes as calm as an ancient well, at his young yet infinitely composed face, and felt an indescribable surge of emotions within her.

Just how many steps has this person calculated?

From inviting the Xuan Turtle to join the sect to seizing Nuwa's divine stone.

From borrowing the Qiankun Cauldron to refine the five-colored stones, to mending the sky and supporting the heavens.

From demanding the Kongtong Seal to plotting for the Xuan Turtle's holy position.

Now, their attention is turned to Zhen Yuanzi, and to that book of earth.

Every step, every game, every piece.

All of them are interconnected and progressively build upon each other.

All of this was within his calculations.

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu."

Houtu spoke slowly, her voice tinged with bitterness:

"I suddenly feel a little fortunate."

Xuan Du's eyes flickered slightly:

"Thankful?"

Houtu nodded:

"I'm so glad that we formed a positive connection, rather than a negative one."

"To be an enemy of someone like you..."

She paused, not finishing her sentence.

The implication was clear.

Xuan Du smiled slightly upon hearing this:

"Your Majesty flatters me."

"This disciple only wants to do more for the Primordial World, for the Earthly Dao, and for the human race."

Houtu looked at him with a complex expression.

She knew, of course, that Xuandu's words were not humble, but sincere.

Although this person is shrewd and meticulous in his planning, he truly has the world and all living beings in his heart.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have risked his life to mend the sky.

Otherwise, he would not have sought the holy throne for the Xuan Turtle.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled thousands of miles to the underworld to find a place for the witch clan's children to cultivate.

This person is selfish, calculating, and cunning.

But he also has a broad mind, a sense of responsibility, and compassion.

"good."

Houtu nodded slowly:

"In that case, I will await your good news, fellow Daoist."

"Once Zhen Yuanzi presents the Book of Earth to complete the Dao of Earth, I will make arrangements for him to become a sage of the Dao of Earth."

Xuan Du bowed slightly:

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He straightened up, gazing into the depths of the netherworld, towards the six flowing portals:

"As for the matter of the Black Tortoise..."

Houtu raised her hand to interrupt him:

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist."

"When the Dao of Earth is perfected, I will surely be the reincarnation of the Black Tortoise and retain the status of a Saint of Earth."

Xuan Du nodded:

"With Your Majesty's words, this disciple is relieved."

He paused, then looked up into the distance, towards the distant Longevity Mountain:

"This disciple will now go to Longevity Mountain to seek out Zhen Yuanzi for a chat."

Houtu nodded slightly:

"good."

"I await good news in the underworld."

Xuan Du bowed respectfully, turned around, and took a step forward.

"Buzz".

The void rippled silently.

The figure in green vanished in an instant before the Reincarnation Seal.

Houtu stood alone on the Samsara Seal, gazing at the vanished figure and the gradually healing void, remaining silent for a long time.

a long time.

She spoke slowly, her voice barely audible:

"Fellow Taoist Xuandu..."

"I'll see how far you can go."

The sound faded, scattered with the wind.

The light of reincarnation flows and circulates, and the six realms of existence endlessly revolve.

The River of Oblivion still flows on, and the Road to the Underworld still stretches endlessly.

Countless true spirits line up, waiting to enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn.

......