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

Upon hearing this, Laozi and the other three's expressions changed drastically.

How could they possibly get close to a battle of that magnitude?

Hongjun and Yangmei are both at the peak of the Nine Heavens.

The aftershocks from the collision between the Jade Disc of Creation and the Hollow Willow could easily obliterate them.

go with?

That's suicide.

Not going?

With Xuandu blocking their escape route, how can they save face?

Lao Tzu's face was ashen.

He stared intently at Xuan Du, at that young yet infinitely composed face.

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

Yuan Shi could no longer hold back.

He took a sudden step forward, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light around him burst forth!

"Xuandu!"

"You've gone too far!"

The Primordial One roared, his voice hoarse like a vengeful ghost:

"In a battle of that level, even a saint would be doomed if they got close!"

"By blocking our escape route, you're trying to force us to our deaths!"

Xuan Du looked at him, his gaze calm as still water.

Beneath that calm surface lies a profound understanding that sees through everything.

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you are mistaken."

He spoke slowly, his voice low, yet each word clear:

"The four are Heavenly Saints, direct descendants of the Dao Ancestor."

"The Dao Ancestor is in trouble, and the four of you should go to his aid."

"These are the words of the four of them just now."

"This disciple is merely fulfilling the loyalty of the four of you."

"Where does the claim of forcing someone to commit suicide come from?"

Yuanshi paused in his speech.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but no sound came out.

Xuan Du is right.

Just now, they used moral blackmail against Tongtian, speaking with such righteous indignation.

Now, Xuandu is using the same methods against him.

What can they say?

Is that just talk?

Are you saying they never intended to go?

Isn't that slapping yourself in the face?

Yuan Shi's face turned ashen.

He stared intently at Xuan Du, at those eyes as calm as an ancient well.

His hands, clenched tightly within his sleeves, made a cracking sound.

But beneath that anger lay a profound sense of powerlessness.

It is despair.

It's the frustration of having to accept defeat.

The guide chanted the Buddha's name in a low, sorrowful voice:

"Amitabha……"

"Benefactor Xuandu, please show mercy when you can."

"While we may have had selfish motives just now, it wasn't to that extent..."

Xuan Du raised his hand to interrupt him.

"Fellow Daoist, please receive guidance."

He spoke, his voice calm:

"Should we be lenient when we can?"

"Why didn't you say that when you set up this trap to kill me?"

The guiding words paused for a moment.

Zhunti's face turned deathly pale.

Lao Tzu lowered his head, not daring to look at him.

Xuan Du gazed at them, his eyes calm as still water.

Beneath that calm surface lay an undisguised sarcasm.

"Four fellow Daoists."

"When you plotted against the Tongtian Sect Leader, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"When you forced my master to his death, did you ever imagine that you yourselves would one day suffer the same fate?"

"Cause and effect are cyclical, and retribution is inevitable."

"This statement is a profound truth of your Western religion."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions turned completely somber.

retribution.

This is retribution.

They schemed against the heavens, but now they have been outsmarted by Xuandu.

They forced people to their deaths, and now they themselves are caught in a dilemma.

The guide slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, the depths of those eyes that had once held so much pity for the billionaires were now a bottomless abyss of despair.

"Donor of Xuandu."

He spoke, his voice hoarse:

"What do you want in return for letting us pass?"

Xuan Du looked at him and smiled slightly.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a sense of complete control.

"Let them pass?"

He gently shook his head:

"Fellow Daoist Jieyin is joking."

"I only wish to fulfill your loyalty."

"What do you mean by 'allowing them to pass'?"

He paused, his gaze deepening slightly:

"If the four of you do not wish to go, please just say so."

"This disciple will take back the Chaos Light Wall."

"We will never force anyone to do anything against their will."

Laozi and his companions were shocked upon hearing this.

Just say it?

What did you say?

To say they are afraid of death?

Are you saying that what they just said was all a lie?

They say they only know how to scheme against others, but they themselves don't dare to risk their lives?

What face do they have left?

Where is their saintly dignity then?

How will they establish themselves in the prehistoric world in the future?

Lao Tzu's face was ashen.

He gazed at Xuan Du, at that young yet infinitely composed face.

My heart is filled with despair.

This person is ruthless.

Force them to admit defeat.

They were forced to admit that they were afraid of death.

They were forced to say "I dare not go" out loud.

Once they've said that, from now on, they'll have no dignity left in front of Xuandu.

Before Tongtian, they had no confidence whatsoever.

They had no say whatsoever in the face of the Jie Sect.

But if I don't say it...

The chaotic light wall blocked their retreat, leaving them no choice but to move forward.

To go forward is to die.

No matter how you look at it, you're going to lose.

No matter which option you choose, it's a trap.

Yuan Shi gritted his teeth.

He turned around abruptly and looked at Tongtian.

"Junior Brother Tongtian!"

He spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Are you just going to stand by and watch your disciple humiliate us like this?"

"We are, after all, sages of the Heavenly Dao, and of the same lineage as you!"

"How can you be so disregardful of the bonds between fellow disciples?"

Tongtian stood with his hands behind his back, looking at him calmly.

There was no sorrow or joy, no anger or power in that gaze.

It was just calm.

But beneath that calm lay an undisguised sarcasm.

"The bond between fellow disciples?"

Tongtian spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"Has Senior Brother Yuanshi suddenly remembered the bond between fellow disciples?"

"When you set up the trap and joined forces to kill my disciple, why didn't you think about the bonds between fellow disciples?"

"Back in Zixiao Palace, when you forced my disciple to hand over the Creation Stone, why didn't you think of our camaraderie as fellow disciples?"

"Now that you're trapped, you're suddenly thinking about your camaraderie with your fellow disciples?"

He paused, a slow smile creeping onto his lips:

"Senior Brother Yuanshi, you really know how to pick your timing for this fellow discipleship."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi's face turned ashen.

He stared intently at Tongtian, at those mocking eyes.

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

Tongtian is right.

When they besieged and killed Xuandu, did they ever think about their camaraderie as fellow disciples?

When they forced Xuandu to hand over the Creation Stone, did they ever consider the bond between fellow disciples?

When they plotted against the Jie Sect, did they ever consider the bonds of camaraderie among fellow disciples?

Now that he's trapped, he's suddenly thinking about the bonds of brotherhood?

Isn't that ridiculous?

Yuan Shi slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, there was a bottomless grayness in them.

He turned and looked at Xuandu.

"Xuan Du".

He spoke, his voice hoarse:

"Tell me, what do you want in return for letting us pass?"

Xuan Du stared at him, at his ashen face, at his eyes filled with resentment and despair.

The smile on his lips deepened even further.

"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm:

"As I have said, I am only fulfilling your loyalty."

"If the four of you do not wish to go, please just say so."

"Why should the disciple allow passage?"

He paused, his gaze deepening slightly:

"The four of you only need to say one sentence: 'We are afraid of death and dare not go.'"

"Disciple will immediately withdraw the Chaos Light Wall."

"I will absolutely not make things difficult for you."

Upon hearing this, Laozi and his companions were terrified!

He admitted in person that he was afraid of death!

He admitted defeat in person!

He had to admit defeat himself!

That's worse than killing them!

Yuanshi gritted his teeth and stared intently at Xuandu.

In those eyes, there was anger, resentment, and humiliation.

But more than anything, there was despair.

Say or don't say?

I'd lose face if I said that.

I won't say anything; I'm trapped here.

No matter which option you choose, you'll lose.

No matter which option you choose, it's a trap.