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

Seeing that Xuandu's expression remained unchanged, Zhen Yuanzi continued:

"Fellow Daoist Xuandu, I know that you invite people to join your sect for the prosperity of the Jie Sect, for all living beings in the prehistoric world, and for the inheritance of martial arts."

"I also know that those who join the Jie Sect are blessed with good fortune and their cultivation goes smoothly."

"But I am different."

He slowly closed the book in his palm, and the earthen-yellow halo gradually faded away:

"I am protected by the Earth Book, connected by the earth's veins, and protected by a great array."

"No need for good fortune or the protection of the Jie Sect."

"not to mention......"

He paused, his eyes dimming slightly.

"Do you still remember what happened with Hongyun, fellow Daoist?"

Xuan Du's eyes flickered slightly.

Red clouds.

The kindest man in the primordial world, a close friend of Zhen Yuanzi. He listened to the Dao at Zixiao Palace and gave up his holy position in exchange for a wisp of primordial purple energy.

But that wisp of primordial purple energy became his death warrant.

The demon race is besieging them, the West is eyeing them covetously, and various forces are watching them with predatory intent.

In the end, Hongyun perished, and her last wisp of true spirit was protected by Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi slowly closed his eyes:

"Back then, when Hongyun obtained the Primordial Purple Qi, I advised him not to leave my Wuzhuang Temple."

He wouldn't listen.

"And the result?"

He opened his eyes, and a trace of undisguised sorrow flashed deep within those clear, watery eyes:

"The result was that hundreds of millions of dollars, which were used for spiritual practice, vanished in an instant."

"I watched him fall, but I was powerless to stop it."

"Although I have the Earth Book protecting me, it is only within the formation."

He gazed at Xuandu, his voice calm, yet every word pierced the heart:

"Since then, I have no longer been involved in any disputes or entangled in any cause and effect."

"Outside Wuzhuang Temple, a catastrophe rages, but it has nothing to do with me."

"Within the Wuzhuang Temple, I find carefree ease; this is my way."

"Join the Jie Sect?"

He shook his head slightly.

"Although the Jie Sect is powerful, it is ultimately a great sect in the vast eons."

"Although the Sage Tongtian is protective of his own, he can protect his disciples, his destiny, and the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Jie Sect, but he cannot protect... any individual."

"Back then, Hongyun also had close friends and people who would protect her."

"But what was the result?"

After the sound faded, a deathly silence fell beneath the ginseng fruit tree.

The branches and leaves swayed gently, as if sighing for the red clouds.

Xuan Du stood under the tree, his green robes fluttering slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on Zhen Yuanzi.

He saw it.

I saw the endless sorrow hidden deep within those clear eyes.

Seeing the loneliness etched on that gaunt face, I realized that even billions of dollars can be lonely.

Beneath that figure in the green robe, one could see... fear.

Yes, fear.

Zhen Yuanzi appears carefree, fearless, and protected by the Earth Book, making him seem untouchable.

But his heart was already riddled with holes because of the fall of the Red Cloud.

He fears.

I fear that one day I will end up like Hongyun.

So he hid in Longevity Mountain, in the Earth Book Formation, and under the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Avoid disputes, avoid getting involved in cause and effect, and avoid causing trouble.

Only in this way can one survive in the primordial world.

Only in this way can one enjoy a life of luxury worth hundreds of millions.

Xuan Du spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"I am naturally aware of the matter concerning Hongyun."

"Back then, when Zixiao Palace gave up its seat, the primordial purple aura enveloped him, which was an extraordinary opportunity."

"But too much opportunity can turn into disaster."

"He couldn't bear it, and he perished."

Zhen Yuanzi nodded:

"Exactly."

"Therefore, I dare not take any opportunity, nor join any major religion."

"Although the Jie Sect's fortune is strong, the stronger the fortune, the heavier the karma and the deeper the calamity."

"I...can't bear it."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du suddenly smiled.

The laughter was soft, yet it carried a profound understanding that saw through everything.

Zhen Yuanzi frowned slightly:

"Why are you laughing, fellow Daoist?"

Xuan Du shook his head:

"I am not laughing at you, fellow Daoist, but at the very concept of cause and effect, which is truly profound."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Zhen Yuanzi:

"Does fellow Daoist believe that by not joining the Jie Sect and avoiding karmic ties, one can escape the great calamity?"

Zhen Yuanzi was taken aback.

Xuan Du continued:

"Under the great calamity, none of the primordial beings can escape."

"In the final battle between the Lich King and the Demon King, both armies self-destructed, Mount Buzhou collapsed, and the sky and earth caved in."

"Those fallen beings, which one of them didn't want to hide? Which one of them didn't want to live?"

"But can they escape?"

His voice was calm, yet every word was like a hammer blow:

"There's no escaping it."

"The great calamity is like a tidal wave, sweeping across the vast wilderness. Those who obey prosper, those who resist perish, and those who hide...die."

Zhen Yuanzi's expression changed slightly.

He gazed at Xuan Du, at those calm, ancient eyes, at that young yet infinitely composed face, and a sudden, indescribable unease welled up within him.

How could he not know what Xuandu said?

In the face of imminent catastrophe, no one can escape.

He was hiding in Longevity Mountain, within the Earth Book Formation, and under the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

But when the great calamity truly arrives, will the Earth Book Formation truly be able to protect him?

he does not know.

He dared not think.

Xuan Du looked at him and saw his expression change, and the smile on his lips deepened.

He slowly raised his hand.

A chaotic light quietly appeared in the palm of his hand.

The light was initially very faint, but in just a moment it became as intense as the sun!

Amidst the light, a colossal, dark yellow cauldron slowly materialized.

The cauldron is dark yellow, with three legs and two handles. On its body, chaotic energy flows, the illusory images of the sun, moon and stars rotate, and the patterns of mountains and rivers are clearly visible!

Heaven and Earth Cauldron!

The Supreme Treasure of the Dao Ancestor!

Zhen Yuanzi's pupils suddenly contracted!

He stared intently at the colossal Xuanhuang cauldron suspended in Xuandu's palm, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror!

"The Qiankun Cauldron...?"

His voice was hoarse, each word seemingly squeezed out from between his teeth:

"How did the Dao Ancestor's supreme treasure end up in your hands?!"

Xuan Du smiled slightly:

"Borrowed by the Dao Ancestor."

"When I mended the sky, I used this cauldron to refine the Creation Stone, creating the Five-Colored Divine Stone to mend the celestial wounds."

"After mending the heavens, I have not yet returned to the Dao Ancestor."

He paused, his gaze falling on Zhen Yuanzi:

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, do you know why I took out this cauldron?"

Zhen Yuanzi stared intently at him without saying a word.

But deep within those clear eyes, a hint of barely concealed...fear flashed.

Upon seeing this, Xuan Du's smile deepened.

He spoke slowly, his voice calm, yet as powerful as a thunderclap:

"Because I need to borrow the Qiankun Cauldron..."

"To refine the Earth Book for fellow Daoists."

"Buzz!"

The Earth Book suddenly trembled!

The earthy yellow halo swirled wildly, and the patterns on the mountains and rivers pulsed violently, as if sensing something!

Zhen Yuanzi's face turned deathly pale!

He suddenly raised his hand, trying to retract the Earth Book!

But the next moment.

Xuandu raised his hand and pointed.

The Qiankun Cauldron shone with a magnificent, radiant light!

Where the light passed, the void froze, and the laws of nature stood still!

The trembling figure of the Earth Book suddenly stopped!

Zhen Yuanzi's pupils suddenly contracted!

He stared intently at Xuan Du, at those eyes as calm as an ancient well, at that young face that exuded endless composure.

His lips moved, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Xuan Du looked at him, his voice calm:

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi."

"You protect the billion-dollar association with the Earth Book and preserve yourself by connecting with the earth's veins."

"But do you know the true origin of the Book of Earth?"

Zhen Yuanzi remained silent.

He just stared intently at Xuandu, at the Qiankun Cauldron suspended in the void, and at the frozen Earth Book.

Xuan Du continued:

"The Earth Book is a supreme treasure of the Earth."

"At the beginning of the creation of heaven and earth, the great god Pangu transformed into the primordial chaos. Heaven became pure, earth became turbid, and humanity became spiritual."

"The original source of the earth, transformed into a scroll, is the Earth Book."

"This book should have been integrated with the local culture to achieve its perfection."

"But after the creation of the world, the Book of Earth fell into your hands and became your companion spiritual treasure, which will be separated from the Earthly Dao by billions of yuan."

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

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"If the path to enlightenment is not perfect, there is no path to sainthood."

"You are stuck at the peak of the Quasi-Saint level, unable to take that step."

"That's the root of the problem."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi trembled violently!