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

Shouyang Mountain.

The area was shrouded in mist and purple clouds.

The Bajing Palace stands atop the mountain, its gates tightly shut.

Above the door, innate Dao patterns flowed endlessly, connected to the energy veins of the entire Shouyang Mountain.

The billion-dollar meeting remained unshaken in the slightest.

Bai Shou sat cross-legged beside the palace gate.

His Taoist robe was grayish-white, and his face was calm.

His cultivation at the peak of Quasi-Saint level had reached perfection, but his foundation was as fragile as cotton.

That energy was chaotic and disordered.

That power was out of control.

With the accumulation of elixirs and the infusion of magical power, the source of the Heavenly Dao provides a boost.

His master gave him everything, but never gave him a foundation.

He was given power, but he was never taught how to control it.

He was given cultivation, but never the Dao.

Bai Shou closed his eyes, his body surrounded by surging purple and clear Dao light.

The light sometimes shone brightly, sometimes dimly, sometimes intensely.

He has long been used to it.

Tens of thousands of yuan were spent on this every day.

When his master went into seclusion, he guarded the gate.

When his master emerged from seclusion, he began to serve him.

He listened attentively as his master preached.

He received the empowerment from his master.

Don't ask why, don't ask when, don't ask if it's worth it.

Just existing.

Just stay and watch.

Just wait.

Waiting for that turning point that may never come.

"Buzz".

The void rippled slightly.

A golden ray of light sped in from afar.

The light was so swift, like a shooting star chasing the moon.

The intensity of that aura was like a volcanic eruption.

Bai Shou suddenly opened his eyes.

He sensed it.

That was the celestial light of Jade Purity.

That was the aura of the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

Moreover, that aura contained a trace that even a saint could not completely conceal...

panic.

Bai Shou's pupils contracted slightly.

Yuanshi Tianzun?

panic?

He lived for tens of thousands of years and never saw a saint panic.

Back then, the four saints of Zixiao Palace besieged Xuandu, but were instead trapped by the Zhuxian Sword Formation.

That was when Nuwa perished and her sacred body shattered.

Even in the Investiture of the Gods, saints had to be listed.

Yuanshi Tianzun never panicked.

But today, he panicked.

Why?

Bai Shou's mind raced, but his expression remained unchanged.

He simply stood up and stood beside the palace gate.

He bowed slightly, not daring to stop them.

Because he was aware of his own position.

He was a disciple of Lao Tzu.

But Lao Tzu never considered him a disciple.

It's just a tool.

Tools for maintaining appearances.

A tool for relaying messages.

Tools for guarding the gate.

Before a sage, he was nothing but an ant.

How could he dare to stop Yuanshi Tianzun from seeing his master?

"Uncle-Master."

Bai Shou bowed, his voice calm:

"Disciple Bai Shou greets Martial Uncle."

In the void, the golden light suddenly froze.

A figure slowly materialized.

His Taoist robe was golden, and his face was dignified.

His body was surrounded by surging, pure immortal light, but within that surge lay a trace of barely concealed urgency.

Yuanshi Tianzun.

He landed in front of the Eight Views Palace and looked down at Bai Shou.

His imposing face was completely expressionless.

But in those eyes, the light of Jade Purity Immortal flickered uncertainly.

"Is my elder brother here?"

Yuanshi spoke, his voice low and deep.

Bai Shou nodded:

"Reporting to Uncle-Master, Master is in seclusion in the palace."

"I will inform them immediately."

Yuanshi raised his hand:

"No need."

"I'll go in myself."

As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward.

The void rippled silently.

The golden figure vanished into the Eight Views Palace in an instant.

The palace gate trembled slightly, and the innate Dao patterns flickered erratically.

Then things returned to calm.

Bai Shou stood alone beside the palace gate, watching the disappearing figure.

His gaze was calm as still water.

But beneath that calm surface lay a subtle complexity.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable was in such a panic.

What exactly happened?

The Investiture of the Gods has been signed, and the Six Sages are all on the list.

The Five Emperors have not yet returned, and the Three Venerable Human Saints have not yet attained their positions.

The Chan sect's Guangchengzi and Yuding Zhenren destroyed Shaohao's merits.

The Western sect's Medicine Buddha and Maitreya have performed meritorious deeds in eliminating the evil of Emperor Ku.

The results of it?

Guang Chengzi and Yu Ding Zhenren were knocked down from their cultivation levels by Xuan Du.

The Pharmacist and Maitreya were knocked down by Taotie's palm.

Even when Jieyin and Zhunti personally intervened, they were suppressed by Taotie's two palm strikes.

Now, the four sages are bound by chains and suspended above the Di Ku tribe.

For example, four pieces of dried bacon.

This is the fate of Western religions.

This is the fate of the Chan Sect.

This is the consequence of being an enemy of the Jie Sect.

Yuanshi Tianzun finally couldn't sit still any longer.

He came to find his master.

Let's discuss countermeasures.

They came seeking a way out.

Bai Shou gently shook his head.

way out?

Where is there any way out?

The Jie Sect has more than a dozen Saint-level warriors.

The Six Sages of Humanity, the Three Sages of Earth, Tongtian and Xuandu of the Intercepting Sect, and the Four Ferocious Beasts.

Even if the Dao Ancestor Hongjun himself came, he might not be able to get away with it.

Let alone the Master?

Let alone the Primordial Beginning?

What about Chanjiao, Renjiao, and Xifangjiao?

Bai Shou withdrew his gaze and sat cross-legged.

Close your eyes and continue guarding the goal.

I'm not thinking about it anymore.

I won't look at it anymore.

I won't ask anymore.

He was just a gatekeeper.

The affairs between sages are none of his concern.

Inside the Eight Views Palace.

The purple clouds dimmed, and the ground was covered with green jade.

Lao Tzu sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his body surrounded by surging purple and clear Dao light.

His withered face showed neither sorrow nor joy.

But those eyes were slightly closed.

He seemed to be deep in thought.

It's as if they're waiting.

"Brother."

Yuan Shi stepped into the palace and stood beneath the cloud bed.

He bowed slightly, his voice low.

Lao Tzu opened his eyes.

Looking at him, at that face that was trying to remain calm but couldn't hide its urgency.

His gaze was calm as still water.

"Junior brother is here."

The four characters fell like the sound of a morning bell and evening drum.

Yuan Shi took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

"Brother, something's happened."

Lao Tzu nodded.

"I know."

"The four members of the Western Sect were suppressed by Taotie above the Di Ku tribe."

"The guide and the sage are suspended in the void, like dried meat."

"Medicine Master Maitreya collapsed to the ground, his breath rapidly fading."

"Western religion is finished."

Yuan Shi's expression changed slightly.

He looked at Lao Tzu, at that withered yet serene face.

An indescribable emotion welled up inside me.

My elder brother knows.

My elder brother knows all of this.

But why is my elder brother still so calm?

Why are you still able to sit still?

Why can he still meditate with his eyes closed in the Eight Views Palace?

"Brother!"

Yuanshi stepped forward, his voice turning deep:

"The four members of the Western Sect were suppressed, and my Chan Sect is not much better off."

"Guang Chengzi and Yu Ding Zhenren were knocked down from their cultivation levels by Xuan Du."

"From the peak of Quasi-Saint to the late stage of Quasi-Saint."

"Tens of thousands of yuan can be spent on arduous spiritual practice, only to vanish in an instant."

"This is Xuandu's method."

"This is the retribution of the Jie Sect."

"Brother, are you going to stand by and do nothing?"

Lao Tzu looked at him, his gaze remaining calm.

Beneath that calm surface lay a weariness born of a profound understanding of the world.

"Should we just sit idly by?"

"Junior brother, what do you think your master can do?"

Yuan Shi was taken aback.

Lao Tzu continued:

"Go fight? We can't win."

"Go talk? We can't reach an agreement."

"Go and beg? You can't get it by begging."

"Go and sue? Even if we sue Hongjun Daozu, we'll still be in the wrong."

"Because we were the ones who first sent people to ruin Shao Hao's merits and to ruin Emperor Ku's merits."

"We struck first, provoked first, and crossed the line first."

"It is only natural for Xuandu to take action and punish him."

"Even if the Dao Ancestor Hongjun himself came, he would have nothing to say."

"Junior brother, tell me, what can I do?"

After the words fell, Yuanshi was speechless.

Because he knew that what Lao Tzu said was true.

They made the first move.

They provoked us first.

They crossed the line first.

Xuandu's intervention to punish him is perfectly justified.

Even the Dao Ancestor Hongjun couldn't find fault with it.

But he was unwilling to accept it.

He is Yuanshi Tianzun.

He was the leader of the Chan Sect.

It is the authentic Pangu lineage.

How can we just stand by and watch our disciple be humiliated?

How can we just stand by and watch the Chan Sect be suppressed?

How can we just stand by and watch the Jie Sect become the only dominant force?