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

Xuandu turned his head and looked at Zhen Yuanzi.

"It's alright."

He spoke, his voice calm:

"It's just to cover up the noise and avoid being disturbed."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi nodded slightly and did not ask any further questions.

He guessed that such a major undertaking as repairing the tunnels would surely attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao.

It was only natural for Xuandu to intervene and cover it up.

He said no more, but looked at the earthen-yellow pillar of light shooting into the sky, his eyes full of anticipation.

A beam of light pierced through the heavens and earth, soaring straight into the deepest hell.

That is the origin of the Earth Book, that is the foundation of the Earth, that is the treasure that accompanied his multi-million dollar fortune.

At this moment, we are returning to our origins.

The tunnel is being completed.

It is coming to fruition...

Xuan Du gazed at Zhen Yuanzi's expectant face, his eyes flickering slightly.

He didn't tell Zhen Yuanzi that even under the cover of the Chaos Pearl, he still dared not relax.

He didn't tell Zhen Yuanzi that if Dao Ancestor Hongjun really investigated, the Chaos Pearl might not be able to hide it.

He did not tell Zhen Yuanzi the weight of his emotions that he was carrying at that moment.

Because it is not needed.

Zhen Yuanzi only needs to wait.

Waiting for the completion of the earthly path, waiting for the attainment of sainthood, waiting for the return of the red clouds.

As for Xuan Du, he needs to be the one who plays the game, he needs to block the prying eyes, and he needs to buy time for the completion of the underground path...

Xuandu slowly withdrew his gaze and looked up at the heavens.

Looking towards the Purple Cloud Palace suspended in the chaos.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a profound understanding that saw through everything.

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi."

Xuan Du spoke, his voice calm:

"Do not leave Wuzhuang Temple before you have achieved perfect enlightenment."

"No matter what happens in the outside world, no matter what noise you sense, you must not go out."

Zhen Yuanzi was taken aback, then nodded emphatically:

"Rest assured, fellow Daoist, I understand."

Xuan Du nodded slightly.

He turned around and looked at the Qiankun Cauldron that was suspended in the void.

On the body of the cauldron, the radiant light of the Xuanhuang circulates endlessly, and the Dao source within the cauldron continues to boil, evolve, and return.

Xuandu spoke:

"What the Dao Ancestor borrowed should be returned after he mends the heavens."

Then he raised his hand and pointed.

The Qiankun Cauldron transformed into a stream of dark yellow light and fell into his palm.

The giant cauldron hovered in the palm of his hand, its dark yellow light flowing around it.

Zhen Yuanzi bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xuandu!"

"This kindness and virtue will be etched in Zhen Yuanzi's heart forever!"

Xuan Du smiled slightly and said no more.

He turned around and took a step forward.

"Buzz".

The void rippled silently.

The figure in green disappeared in an instant beneath the ginseng fruit tree.

Only Zhen Yuanzi remained standing under the tree, gazing at the earthen-yellow pillar of light soaring into the sky, at the Chaos Pearl suspended in the void, and at the gradually healing void.

He took a deep breath and sat cross-legged.

Close your eyes and wait.

......

Above the nine heavens, purple mist swirled.

Before the Purple Cloud Palace, chaotic energy flowed slowly.

Xuan Du materialized and landed in front of the palace gate.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robes fluttering slightly, his gaze calmly fixed on the tightly closed palace gate.

In the palm of his hand, the Qiankun Cauldron floated in the air, its radiant light flowing endlessly.

"The Dao Ancestor".

Xuan Du spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet clearly carried throughout the palace:

"Disciple Xuandu has come to return the Qiankun Cauldron."

As soon as the sound faded, the palace gates opened silently.

Beyond the door, there was only chaos, stretching to the horizon.

Only that gray figure stood with his hands behind his back in the chaos, his back to the palace gate.

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor.

Xuan Du's eyes flickered slightly as he stepped into the palace.

The palace gates slowly closed behind him.

He stood amidst the chaos, gazing at the gray figure with its back to him, and bowed slightly:

"Disciple Xuandu pays respects to the Dao Ancestor."

Hongjun slowly turned around.

Those eyes, indifferent through countless years, fell upon Xuan Du.

His gaze was devoid of sorrow or joy, anger or arrogance.

"How is the matter of mending the sky going?"

Hongjun spoke, his voice calm and undisturbed.

Xuandu said:

"Thanks to the great blessings of the Dao Ancestor, the patching of the heavens has been completed, the celestial scars have been healed, and the four poles are now stable."

"The creatures of the primordial world are saved."

Hongjun nodded slightly:

"good."

He paused, his gaze falling on the colossal, dark yellow cauldron in Xuan Du's palm:

"Is the Qiankun Cauldron intact?"

Xuan Du nodded:

"Rest assured, Dao Ancestor, the Qiankun Cauldron is intact."

He raised his hand, and the Qiankun Cauldron slowly flew out, hovering in front of Hongjun.

Hongjun raised his hand, his sleeves fluttering slightly.

The Qiankun Cauldron transformed into a stream of dark yellow light and disappeared into his sleeve.

"good."

Hongjun spoke again, his voice still calm.

But those indifferent eyes still remained fixed on Xuan Du.

That gaze was as deep as the starry sea, as if it could pierce through everything in Xuandu.

Xuan Du's expression remained unchanged, and he calmly met Xuan Du's gaze.

He knew in his heart that Hongjun was watching him.

I'm looking at his cultivation level, his aura, and his... weaknesses.

The act of mending the sky is a meritorious deed of immeasurable virtue.

After mending the sky, he went to the underworld and then to Longevity Mountain.

Will Hongjun be able to sense it?

meeting.

It will definitely be there.

But what was it that he sensed?

It's an illusion concealed by the Chaos Pearl.

It was a maze meticulously set up by Xuandu.

It was an illusion that everything at Wanshou Mountain was as usual, the Earth Book was still in Zhen Yuanzi's hands, and the underground passage was still incomplete.

Xuan Du's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

He simply stood quietly in the chaos, letting Hongjun's gaze sweep over him.

a long time.

Hongjun slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Xuan Du".

He spoke, his voice still calm:

"You did a great job mending the sky."

"Heaven has shown its compassion and will remember your merit."

Xuan Du bowed slightly:

"Thank you for your praise, Dao Ancestor."

"I only did what I was supposed to do."

Hongjun gazed at him, his eyes slightly darkening.

"Why don't you refine the merit of mending the heavens within you?"

He suddenly spoke, voicing the question that had been lingering in his mind.

Xuan Du's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

He knew that Hongjun would ask.

The merit of mending the heavens is immeasurable. Any cultivator who obtains it will immediately refine and absorb it in order to break through in their cultivation.

But he didn't.

He suppressed the merits in his Purple Palace, without disturbing them in the slightest.

It would be strange if Hongjun didn't ask.

Xuan Du bowed slightly, his voice calm:

"I have other plans regarding the merit of mending the heavens."

As the six words fell, silence descended upon the Purple Cloud Palace.

As Hongjun Daozu gazed at him, a faint ripple flickered in the depths of his eyes, which had been indifferent for countless years.

The fluctuation was very faint, so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

But Xuan could sense it.

His expression remained unchanged; he simply stood quietly in the chaos, letting that gaze fall upon him.

He offered no explanation.

No explanation is needed.

He attained the Dao of Hunyuan Daluo Jinxian, taking the path of transcending the Heavenly Dao. How could Hongjun not know this?

If you already know this, and yet you still ask, then you must have ulterior motives.

What's the point?

Are they after his statement about "not refining the merits of the Heavenly Dao"? Or are they after a flaw in his future path of cultivation?

Xuan Du's mind raced, but his face remained impassive.

He simply stood there quietly, his gaze calmly meeting Hongjun's.

a long time.

Hongjun slowly withdrew his gaze.

"Go."

The two words fell without sorrow or joy, without anger or power.

It was as if that glance just now was nothing more than a casual look.

It seemed that the deeper meaning behind those words was just Xuan Du overthinking things.

Ke Xuan knew all of this.

No.

Hongjun is looking at him.

I'm testing him.

They were waiting for him to reveal a weakness.

But he doesn't.

Xuan Du bowed slightly, completing the bow completely:

"This disciple takes his leave."

He turned around and took a step forward.

Her green robe fluttered slightly, and her black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

The figure slowly disappeared into the chaos.

The gates of Zixiao Palace slowly closed behind him.

"Buzz".

The chaotic air currents rippled gently, as if nothing had happened.

Hongjun stood with his hands behind his back in the palace, gazing at the disappearing figure, his eyes still indifferent.

Yet, deep within that indifference, a faint...complexity flickered.

"Primordial Grand Luo..."

He murmured softly, his voice barely audible:

"That's quite audacious."

The sound faded, returning to nothingness.

Zixiao Palace has returned to its deathly silence.

……