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

Hongjun stared intently at Yang Mei, at those deep, star-like eyes, and at that lean yet infinitely majestic face.

An unbelievable sense of horror surged within me.

Peak of the Ninth Heaven!

Peak of the Ninth Heaven of the Primordial Golden Immortal!

That was the same realm as his peak ninth level Heavenly Saint!

But they took two completely different paths.

He, Hongjun, merged with the Dao, following the path of a sage, cultivating by borrowing the power of the Heavenly Dao.

Although he reached the peak of the Ninth Heaven, his path forward was blocked.

He is as powerful as the Way of Heaven.

If the Way of Heaven does not increase, he cannot go any further.

This is the constraint of the path of the sage.

But Yang Mei is different.

Yang Mei follows the path of Hunyuan, transcending the Heavenly Dao and being unrestrained.

Although both are at the peak of the Ninth Heaven, Yang Mei's future is still vast.

Hunyuan Taiji Luo Jinxian.

That legendary realm, Yang Mei might be able to reach as well.

Hongjun, however, is trapped in his current realm, forever unable to advance an inch.

Hongjun's expression remained unchanged.

But deep within those eyes, which had been indifferent for countless years, the gloom grew ever stronger.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and slowly spoke:

"Yang Mei".

"You've got a good opportunity."

"Billions of yuan gathered in the chaos, and you actually cultivated to the peak of the Ninth Heaven."

Yang Mei smiled slightly upon hearing this.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a serene tranquility, as if untouched by worldly strife.

"Opportunity?"

"It's just a matter of barely surviving."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Hongjun:

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun, our acquaintance is worth billions of dollars."

"In the past, during the battle between the Dao and the Demon, Yin and Yang perished, and Heaven and Earth fell."

"I was severely injured and fled into chaos."

"At that time, I thought, if my cultivation is sufficient, why would I need to flee?"

"If my cultivation is sufficient, why should I watch them perish?"

"If my cultivation is sufficient, why would I need to let you enjoy the Heavenly Dao alone?"

His voice was calm, but every word struck Hongjun's heart like a hammer:

"Therefore, in the midst of chaos, I cultivated for hundreds of millions of yuan."

"Unconcerned with worldly affairs, uninvolved in cause and effect."

"So that one day when I return, I can stand on equal footing with you."

"Even higher."

Upon hearing this, Hongjun's expression changed slightly.

He gazed at Yang Mei, at those deep yet composed eyes, at that lean yet resolute face.

A sudden, indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

That was fear.

It is a fear that has been suppressed to the extreme.

Yang Mei's cultivation level has reached the same level as his.

Yang Mei's future is much brighter than his.

If they really start fighting...

The outcome is unpredictable.

But Hongjun is still Hongjun.

He suppressed the surging apprehension in his heart, his gaze gradually turning cold:

"Yang Mei, now that you've returned, you should know this."

"The primordial wilderness is my territory."

"The Way of Heaven is my reliance."

"Although you have cultivated to the peak of the Ninth Heaven, if we were to fight within the Primordial World, with the power of the Heavenly Dao bestowed upon me, you might not be my match."

He paused, his voice turning deep:

"You must act secretly when it comes to matters of the underground, and dare not do so openly."

"Isn't it precisely because of this fear?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the chaos suddenly fell silent.

Yang Mei looked at him, at those gloomy yet calculating eyes.

Suddenly he laughed.

The smile was faint, yet it carried an indescribable meaning.

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun."

"You certainly know how to think."

"I have already said that I did not do the things that happened underground."

Believe it or not.

He paused, his gaze deepening slightly:

"As for what we should be wary of..."

"I, Yang Mei, act without any restraint."

"If I really did it, I would do it openly and honestly; why would I need to do it in secret?"

"But you..."

He looked directly at Hongjun, speaking slowly and deliberately:

"I was kept in the dark, but they took their anger out on me."

"Is this the magnanimity you, Hongjun?"

Upon hearing this, Hongjun's expression darkened.

He stared intently at Yang Mei, at those deep yet frank, frank yet mocking eyes.

Thoughts raced through my mind.

Yang Mei is right.

If he really did it, given his personality, why would he need to do it in secret?

He raised his eyebrows; he was never one to hide his true intentions.

Back when the Four Sages joined forces to break the Immortal Execution, even though he was seriously injured, he still fought Luo Hou to the bitter end.

If it weren't for Hongjun's design, would Yang Mei have fallen into chaos?

If it wasn't Yang Mei, then who could it be?

Who could possess such abilities?

Who could escape his senses?

Who can refine the Earth Book to complete the underground passage?

Hongjun's mind raced, but the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

He suddenly remembered someone.

Someone he had never taken seriously.

Xuandu.

But as soon as the thought crossed his mind, he suppressed it.

impossible.

Absolutely not.

Xuan Du had only cultivated for a few hundred years, yet he had already attained the Dao of Hunyuan and broken through the third level of the Heavenly Realm. In his eyes, he was nothing more than an ant.

How can ants deceive the will of Heaven?

How can ants refine the Book of Earth?

How could ants orchestrate such a grand scheme?

impossible.

Absolutely not.

That leaves only Yang Mei.

Only Yang Mei has this ability.

Only Yang Mei had this motive.

Only Yang Mei dared to do such a big thing right under his nose.

Hongjun raised his eyes and looked at Yang Mei.

Deep within those indifferent eyes now lay a chilling coldness.

"Yang Mei".

He spoke slowly, his voice as cold as ancient ice:

"You don't need to pretend anymore."

"No one but you can do this kind of thing properly."

"Today, we will settle the karmic debts of that year."

The words fell.

Hongjun's aura suddenly erupted!

The power of Heaven is bestowed upon me!

The pressure was so strong, so vast, so domineering that it instantly enveloped the chaos spanning billions of miles!

The chaotic energy surged wildly, yet it crumbled inch by inch under that oppressive force!

The laws of the void trembled violently, yet were completely thrown into chaos under that oppressive force!

This is the peak of the ninth level of the Heavenly Dao Saint!

This is the supreme power that comes from merging with the Heavenly Dao and wielding control over the primordial world!

Yang Mei looked at him, at the wildly surging aura.

His complexion remained unchanged.

He simply shook his head slightly.

"Hongjun, oh Hongjun."

He murmured softly, a hint of pity in his voice:

"The billions will pass, but you'll remain the same."

"Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."

"But you forgot."

He raised his eyes and looked directly at Hongjun:

"I, Yang Mei, am not someone who can be easily manipulated."

The words fell.

Yang Mei's aura also erupted with a thunderous roar!

A Primordial Golden Immortal!

Peak of the Ninth Heaven!

The pressure was so strong that it collided with Hongjun's Heavenly Dao pressure in an instant!

"boom!!!"

The two powerful forces collided, shattering the chaos!

Billions of miles of empty space were annihilated, inch by inch!

This is a clash between the peaks of the Nine Heavens!

This is the clash between the path of the sage and the path of primordial chaos!

Hongjun's gaze sharpened.

He raised his hand.

Within his palm, the power of the Heavenly Dao condensed into a pillar of light, which blasted straight toward Yang Mei!

Where the beam of light passed, the void did not shatter, but was completely annihilated!

The law is not disorder, but complete dissipation!

All conditioned phenomena vanished into nothingness within that pillar of light!

Yang Mei stared at the pillar of light, her expression unchanged.

He simply raised his hand.

A light swipe.

"Buzz!"

The void suddenly twisted!

The beam of light struck Yang Mei a hundred feet in front of him, but suddenly stopped!

It's not stagnation, it's distortion.

Space has been distorted!

Before the beam of light, an invisible spatial barrier suddenly appeared!

That barrier was transparent and colorless, yet it was indestructible!

The power of Heaven struck it, but there was no sound left!