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

Tongtian raised his eyes and looked towards the direction of Zixiao Palace.

Above the nine heavens, purple mist swirled, and the Purple Cloud Palace hung suspended in the chaos.

Xuan Du's words from earlier were now churning in his mind.

The Taiji diagram, the Pangu banner, and the Chaos Bell all originated from the Pangu axe and should rightfully belong to the Three Pure Ones.

Hongjun accepted the Taiji diagram and the banner, intending to bestow them upon Laozi and Yuanshi when he gave his sermon.

However, the Chaos Bell became Donghuang Taiyi's companion spiritual treasure.

Why?

Because Heaven desires the rise of the demon race, the conflict between the witches and demons, and the coming of a great calamity.

What about the next great eon?

The era of the Lich Kings has ended, the primordial order has been reshaped, and the Jie Sect has become the dominant force.

Will Heaven let the Jie Sect off the hook?

Tongtian's gaze gradually darkened.

If Heaven truly intends to cleanse, wouldn't the Jie Sect be the first to be affected?

Tongtian's expression grew increasingly somber as he pondered the matter.

He gazed at the golden vortex of fortune deep within Jin'ao Island, and at the Chaos Bell suspended in the center of the vortex.

The Chaos Bell has entered the Jie Sect and is suppressing the destiny of the world.

Can suppressing one's destiny allow one to escape a great calamity?

In the beginning, there was the Pangu Banner, which ensured the stability of the Chan religion.

The Bodhisattvas Jieyin and Zhunti possess the merit of the Golden Lotus, ensuring the long-lasting fortune of the Western Paradise.

If the conferment of gods is predetermined, will they be safe and sound?

No.

If Heaven intends to cleanse, no one can escape it.

The only difference is who will face more tribulations and who will face fewer.

Tongtian slowly closed his eyes.

He recalled what Xuandu had said earlier.

"Let the Jie Sect transcend the predetermined fate."

"To make the laws of Heaven unpredictable."

This kid probably thought of this a long time ago.

It all began with inviting the Black Tortoise into the sect, with seizing the Nuwa Divine Stone, with mending and supporting the sky, and with taking Huang Zhongli as his disciple.

Every step is laying the groundwork for today.

Every step was planned for the benefit of the Jie Sect.

The Chaos Bell suppressing destiny is only the first step.

There will certainly be more to come.

Tongtian opened his eyes, and within them, sword light flowed, while the chill gradually subsided.

He raised his eyes and looked towards the direction of Zixiao Palace once again.

I looked toward the gray figure hidden behind the purple aura.

There was no longer any reverence in his eyes, only a bottomless calm.

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor.

You merged with the Dao, took control of the primordial world, and set countless predetermined destinies.

The Lich King's Cataclysm, you acquiesced.

The Jie Sect has no treasure to suppress destiny, and you acquiesce.

The next great calamity will be the one that the Jie Sect faces, and I presume you have already tacitly agreed to it.

But you overlooked one person.

Xuandu.

You overlooked my disciple.

He spent a century attaining enlightenment, mending and supporting the heavens, collecting the Yellow Plum, and obtaining the Chaos Bell.

He followed the path of a superior Chaos Demon God and walked the path of Hunyuan Daluo.

He transcends the laws of nature and is not limited by the status of a sage.

He can deceive your senses, set up such a grand scheme, and keep the fortune of the Jie Sect as stable as Mount Tai.

What about you?

You were still in the Purple Cloud Palace, thinking that everything was under your control.

Beyond what can be controlled, variables have already begun to emerge.

Tongtian's lips slowly curled into a smile.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an undisguised mockery.

He withdrew his gaze and looked down into the depths of Jin'ao Island.

I looked toward the figure in green.

Xuan Du stood before the cave dwelling on Lingyun Peak, hands behind his back, also looking in this direction.

The master and his apprentice looked at each other across the distance.

Needless to say.

it is more than words.

......

On the shores of the East China Sea, the first rays of dawn break.

Waves crash against the shore, churning up thousands of piles of snow.

The Martial Arts Monument stands majestically on the coast, over a thousand feet high. Crimson-gold martial arts essence flows endlessly across its surface, burning the void like flames.

Beneath the Heavenly Stele, billions of human beings sat cross-legged.

They might close their eyes to meditate, practice martial arts, study inscriptions, or exchange ideas with each other.

The light of blood and qi gathered into a sea, soaring into the sky and turning half the sky a crimson gold color.

This is the human race.

This is the culmination of Xuandu's century-long efforts.

The void rippled slightly.

A figure in green robes slowly materialized and landed atop the Heavenly Stele.

Xuan Du stood with his hands behind his back, his blue robe fluttering slightly, and his black hair flowing over his shoulders.

He lowered his eyes and looked down at the billions of humans below, at those faces that were either young or old, strong or weak, but without exception, their eyes were full of determination.

A slow smile crept onto his lips.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an undisguised sense of satisfaction.

He muttered to himself.

"Human race".

Below, someone looked up.

I saw the figure in blue standing atop the Heavenly Stele.

The man was stunned at first, then his whole body trembled violently, and he suddenly knelt down and kowtowed heavily:

"Master!"

The roar was deafening, waking countless people.

One after another, piece after piece, wave after wave.

Billions upon billions of humans knelt on the ground like a tidal wave, bowing their heads towards the figure in blue robes atop the Heavenly Stele:

"Greetings, Master!"

The sound shook the heavens, and the waves surged backward.

Xuan Du nodded slightly.

He raised his hand and pressed down gently.

The deafening roar subsided abruptly.

Billions of people held their breath, gazing up at that figure.

Xuan Du spoke slowly, his voice calm yet clearly reaching everyone's ears:

"After a hundred years of cultivation, you have all made progress."

"I am very pleased."

Below, countless people had tears in their eyes.

century.

A full century.

Since the Master began to teach, the human race has grown from ants barely surviving in the mouths of the demon race to the largest race in the prehistoric world.

Since the Master erected the monument, the human race has grown from an ordinary mortal with no cultivation methods to a race that produces many powerful individuals.

All of this is because of Master.

Xuan Du looked down at the familiar faces below, at the younger generation whose eyes were full of respect, but he knew better than anyone else what was going on.

Ultimately, the path of cultivation depends on one's aptitude.

The vast majority of the remaining people, even if they cultivate for thousands or tens of thousands of years, will only linger at the level of True Immortal or Mysterious Immortal.

It's not that they didn't try.

This is due to limitations in qualifications and background.

You can't force it.

Xuan Du withdrew his gaze and stopped thinking about it.

He raised his hand, and a purple light flowed between his brows.

The Chaos Pearl flew out from between his eyebrows and hovered in his palm, its chaotic light flowing endlessly.

Xuan Du's thoughts stirred slightly.

"Buzz!"

A chaotic light gate manifested from the bead and slowly expanded.

Three figures slowly stepped out from behind the gate of light.

Suiren's family.

Youchao clan.

Zhen Yishi.

The three landed atop the Heavenly Stele, standing beside Xuan Du. Their auras were as vast as the sea, and their crimson-gold martial arts essence flowed endlessly as if it were a tangible substance.

Peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

He is just one step away from becoming a Quasi-Saint.

Below, billions upon billions of people are once again in an uproar!

"The Third Ancestor!"

"It is the Third Patriarch!"

"The Third Patriarch has emerged from seclusion!"

The sound waves surged like a tide, shaking the East China Sea.

The three members of the Suiren clan lowered their eyes and looked down at the countless humans below, at those familiar faces, and at those younger generations whose eyes were full of reverence.

The three exchanged a glance, each seeing the emotion in the other's eyes.

century.

A full century.

They cultivate in the Chaos Pearl World, spending a hundred years outside and a hundred years inside.

They cultivated from True Immortal to the peak of Great Luo.

The human race has grown from a few million to hundreds of millions.

The changes are too great.

It was so big that they could hardly recognize it.

But that feeling of blood ties, that sincere devotion to humanity, has never changed.

The three of them withdrew their gaze, turned around, and looked at Xuandu.

They all bowed deeply.

"Master!"

Xuan Du nodded slightly.

He gazed at the three of them, his eyes calm and still.

"At the peak of the Great Luo realm, the foundation is already solid."

"The next step is to become a Quasi-Saint."

Upon hearing this, the three members of the Suiren clan were terrified.

Quasi-Saint!

That is the realm that countless cultivators dream of!

That is a supreme existence above the Great Luo and below the Saint!

Master said they could reach the level of Quasi-Saint?