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

"Buzz!"

A dark red light suddenly surged.

Within that spiritual vein node, a very faint gray phantom was slowly pulled out.

The phantom had a blurred face, a distorted body, and was wrapped in a dense network of causal threads.

Every causal thread is connected to the root of that spiritual vein, and to that chaotic energy.

That was the remnant will left behind by the enemy.

That was a karmic connection that even Xuanji's billions of dollars could not sever.

Xuan Du stared at the gray phantom, his expression unchanged.

With a slight thought, the chaotic chains within the Chaos Pearl suddenly tightened.

"Click."

A very faint cracking sound.

The first causal thread on that gray phantom was severed.

Then the second one, and the third one.

The cracking sounds grew more frequent and faster.

It's like thousands of threads being cut off by the same pair of scissors.

The gray phantom trembled violently.

A silent roar echoed through the void, a roar filled with resentment and anger.

It was as if even the last vestige of that remaining will was resisting the fate of being stripped away.

But the chains of the Chaos Pearl were too strong.

Even the causal forces strong enough to reach the level of Hunyuan Taiji were broken inch by inch in front of these chains.

A moment later.

The last thread of cause and effect shattered.

The gray phantom transformed into a wisp of extremely faint smoke and slowly dissipated into the void.

The dark red light suddenly dimmed.

Within that spiritual vein node, the oppressive feeling that had been suppressed for billions of years instantly dissipated by more than half.

That old, hoarse voice rang out again, this time carrying a joy that the billionaire had never experienced before.

"The cause and effect are severed! Truly severed! I am free!!"

As soon as the sound faded, the dark red light rapidly contracted.

A figure, entirely gray and white, slowly materialized from the light and sat cross-legged in the void.

The figure was blurry and emaciated.

The lingering power of his lingering will surged like a tide, but the binding force of the spiritual vein node was no longer there.

He looked up at the figure in blue, his voice carrying a hint of complexity.

"You...you really did it."

Xuandu looked at him and put the Chaos Pearl back into his palm.

The forty-nine restrictions slowly returned to calm.

"I said I could do it. Now the cause and effect are severed, and your lingering thoughts have been separated from the spiritual veins."

"You can leave this place now."

The greyish-white figure remained silent, gazing at Xuandu.

In the depths of those blurry eyes, the light flickered uncertainly.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice much calmer.

"Are you really going to take me as your apprentice?"

"Aren't you afraid I'll turn my back on you?"

"Aren't you afraid I'll devour you and take over your body?"

Xuan Du looked at him, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

The smile was cold, yet it carried a knowing understanding that saw through everything.

"Although you are the remnant of Hunyuan Taiji, you are now like a rootless duckweed."

"If it really comes down to a fight, this junior might not necessarily lose."

"not to mention......"

He paused, his voice turning somber.

"If you were truly the kind of treacherous person who turns your back on others, you would have already launched a sneak attack when the chaotic chains severed cause and effect."

"You don't."

"This shows that although you are arrogant, you are also a person of principle."

"A person like this is worth taking on as a disciple."

The greyish-white figure stared at him, remaining silent for a long time.

Then, he let out a very soft sigh.

"At the billion-dollar party, you're the first person to say I'm principled."

"Fine."

"Now that the cause and effect have been severed, I am free, and I owe you my life."

"Becoming your disciple would not be an insult to me."

He slowly stood up, changing from a seated position in the void to a standing position.

Although the figure was blurry, the back was straight as a sword.

He bowed slightly, giving a full salute.

"Disciple Xueyuan greets Master."

As the four words fell, the void trembled slightly.

The moment that gray-white figure bowed, all the lingering power around it vanished.

The ferocity and arrogance of the billionaires seemed to vanish into tranquility at this moment.

Xuandu gazed at the bowing figure and remained silent for a moment.

Then he slowly began to speak.

Get up.

"From this day forward, you shall be my disciple, Xuandu."

"Follow me in my spiritual practice, follow me on my travels."

"Once I break through to the Primordial Taiji, I will rebuild your foundation."

"At that time, although you will no longer be the Blood Abyss of yesteryear, you will be able to live a new life with a new identity."

Xue Yuan straightened up and looked at the figure in green.

In the depths of those blurry eyes, the light flickered uncertainly.

He had finally waited for this day: a multi-million dollar event.

His voice was calm, yet carried a sense of relief.

"Disciple understands."

The lingering power of Blood Abyss has been completely subdued, no longer as turbulent and ferocious as before. Now it stands quietly in the void like a silent gray mist.

However, the invisible pressure emanating from him still made him a force to be reckoned with.

That was a remnant of the Primordial Taiji level. Even if only a wisp of remnant spirit remained, it was an existence that no ordinary peak cultivator of the Ninth Heaven could shake.

Xuan Du looked at him and spoke.

"Now that you have become my disciple, there is something I need to explain to you first."

Xue Yuan raised his eyes, his blurry eyes looking at Xuan Du, signaling him to continue.

Xuandu said, "I need to go out and see Xuanji's remnant soul later."

"He guarded the billion-dollar club in the core of the secret realm, guarding this spiritual vein and that karma, waiting for someone to sever the lingering resentment of his enemy for him."

"If he saw me take you out and accept you as my disciple, what do you think he would think?"

Blood Abyss remained silent for a moment, then let out a very soft sneer.

"He'll probably turn hostile on the spot."

Even if he's just a remnant soul, he'll risk his last wisp of Hunyuan Taiji energy to self-destruct, dragging both of us down with him.

"I know that old man's temper better than anyone else."

"He guarded the multi-million dollar club so that that lingering resentment wouldn't have a chance to turn things around."

"If he saw me standing alive in front of him, he would probably be even angrier than if he saw the spiritual vein being refined."

Xuan Du nodded.

"So you can't show up in front of him."

"At least, not now."

Xue Yuan gazed at him, a faint light flickering in his blurry eyes.

"What does Master mean?"

Xuan Du raised his hand, and the Chaos Pearl slowly rose from his palm.

On the pearl, forty-nine chaotic restrictions flowed endlessly, and that ancient and vast aura instantly enveloped the entire rift void.

"You enter the Chaos Pearl first."

"There is a separate world within the pearl, enough for your lingering regrets to rest and recuperate."

"I will release you after I have dealt with Xuanji's matter and left this place."

"At that time, whether I want to rebuild your foundation or have you cultivate and comprehend with me, it will be convenient to do so and will not cause any unnecessary trouble."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuan paused slightly.

He gazed at the Chaos Pearl, then at Xuan Du, the light in the depths of his blurry eyes flickering uncertainly.

After a moment, he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of complexity.

"Master is indeed cautious."

"Even that mysterious, remnant soul must be kept in the dark."

"Aren't you afraid that once I'm inside the Chaos Pearl, I'll wreak havoc within it?"

"Although the world inside the pearl is vast, the difference in our cultivation levels is undeniable."

"Although I am left with only a lingering resentment, if I really want to cause trouble, you may not be able to suppress me easily."

Xuan Du looked at him, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

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

"The Chaos Pearl is my natal treasure, and every inch of the void within the pearl is within my perception."

"If you really want to cause chaos, I can suppress you in an instant."

"Do you believe it or not?"

Blood Abyss fell silent.

He gazed at Xuan Du, at that young yet composed face, at those calm and resolute eyes.