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

Someone couldn't help but speak up:

"Senior Shen Ni, where did your master come from?"

"Why did he get into a fight with Aoki-senpai?"

"Is there some misunderstanding?"

Shen Ni did not answer.

He simply turned back and continued gazing into the depths of the southern border.

A faint light flickered deep within those blood-gold eyes.

He saw his master's figure weaving through the countless roots, each punch shattering countless roots.

He saw his master summon the Chaos Pearl to immobilize the net of roots.

He saw his master walking step by step toward the main body of the towering divine tree.

The steps were not fast, but as steady as a rock.

Although the roots of the green tree continued to grow and entwine, they could never cross the line in front of that chaotic light barrier.

Shen Ni's lips curled up slightly.

That was something he had never had even in a billion-dollar event.

That's trust.

He believed that his master would be able to subdue Aoki.

Just like how Master subdued Cangxuan.

Just as his master subdued him.

Shen Ni stood in the void, his body surging with a fierce aura, yet his blood-gold eyes were unusually devoid of any killing intent.

He just watched quietly.

And none of the chaotic beings behind him spoke at this moment.

All eyes were focused on the turbulent battlefield deep in the southern border, and on the figure in blue robes walking step by step toward the Heavenly Tree.

They didn't recognize the figure.

But they remembered that name.

The Intercepting Sect, Xuandu.

"Get out of the way."

Shen Ni's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

"Don't get in my way."

Upon hearing this, the chaotic beings felt as if they had been granted a pardon and retreated in all directions.

Although they were curious, they dared not actually approach the battlefield.

The aftershocks of the battle between two beings at the half-step Hunyuan Taiji level were enough to severely injure cultivators below the seventh level of Hunyuan Daluo on the spot.

It would be safer for them to stand back and observe.

Shen Ni stood still, his gaze still fixed on the depths of the southern border.

Shen Ni slowly withdrew his gaze and looked around.

As he swept his gaze over them, the chaotic beings all lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly.

He turned to look into the depths of the southern border, his voice low:

"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask."

"Just watch."

Upon hearing this, the chaotic beings fell silent, trembling with fear.

Indeed, it's fine for them to just stand here and watch the show, but if they were to ask something they shouldn't and anger Shenni, the consequences would be far beyond what they could bear.

But they didn't dare to leave.

A fight between two beings at the half-step Hunyuan Taiji level is something that might not happen even once in a billion-dollar event.

This kind of excitement is worth seeing, even if it means taking a risk.

From within the crowd, a burly, chaotic beast whispered:

"Just who exactly is Shen Ni's master?"

"I sensed that aura from afar just now. Although it was only for a moment, the aura was so powerful that it was no weaker than Senior Aoki's."

"And that bead he just summoned..."

"Chaos Pearl".

A gaunt-faced cultivator nearby chimed in:

"That's the Chaos Pearl."

"A primordial treasure that existed before Pangu created the world, rumored to have been lost deep within the chaos, its whereabouts unknown."

"I never expected it to be in the hands of Shen Ni's master."

The massive, strange beast gasped in shock.

"The Chaos Pearl?"

"That's something even Hunyuan Tai Chi would envy!"

The gaunt cultivator did not answer, but gazed into the depths of the southern border and whispered:

"This person was able to subdue Shen Ni, possessed the Chaos Pearl, and dared to venture alone into the Southern Territory to confront Qing Mu..."

"He's probably no ordinary person."

"The Primordial Intercepting Sect... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before."

He shook his head, not thinking about it deeply.

Because deep in the southern border, the battle had reached its most critical moment.

Xuandu walked step by step toward the main body of the towering divine tree.

The light curtain of the Chaos Pearl enveloped him, blocking all the roots that kept entangling him from getting more than ten feet away.

Although most of Qingmu's Myriad Trees Domain was fixed by the Chaos Pearl, the remaining roots were still growing wildly.

But they can't reach Xuandu.

They couldn't even get close.

The light barrier of the Chaos Pearl acted like an insurmountable chasm, isolating all roots from the outside.

Aoki's voice came from deep within the tree canopy, carrying a hint of suppressed anger.

"Who exactly are you?"

"I've never heard of the Jie Sect in the Primordial Era."

Why do you choose to be my enemy?

Xuan Du's steps never faltered, his voice remained calm:

"As I have said, I have come here to ask you to become my disciple."

"Not as enemies."

Aoki remained silent for a moment.

Then the aged voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of mockery:

"Would you like to become my disciple?"

"Is this how you ask people to become your apprentices?"

"He used the Chaos Pearl to stabilize my roots, then walked over step by step, saying he wanted to take me as his disciple?"

Do you think I would agree?

Xuandu stopped and stood before the main body of the towering divine tree.

He looked up at the tree canopy that blocked out the sky, and at the millions of leaves that shimmered with a chaotic hue.

"Fellow Daoist Qingmu, you have cultivated for hundreds of millions of yuan and established a foothold in the Southern Territory."

"Your roots spread across billions of miles of space, your branches and leaves cover the entire sky."

"You are truly invincible in your field."

"But have you ever thought about this?"

Aoki did not answer.

Xuandu continued:

"You've been stuck in your own little world for too long."

"So long that you've come to believe that this southern region is the entire world."

"So long that you thought that the late stage of the Half-Step Primordial Tai Chi was your limit."

"So long that you've forgotten why you chose to settle here in the first place."

He paused, his voice low but clear as metal striking the ground:

"You stay here because it's a safe and secure place?"

"Or is it because you're afraid to go out?"

Beneath the tree canopy, all was deathly still.

The millions of leaves stopped turning, and the lush green vegetation bent even lower.

In the void of the entire southern region, only the sound of the wind remained.

Xuandu gazed at the towering divine tree, without urging it on.

He was just waiting.

Let Aoki figure it out himself.

a long time.

The aged voice rang out again, but this time, there was no longer any anger or sarcasm in it.

There is only one kind of hoarse voice that can be settled by hundreds of millions of yuan.

"you……"

"you're right."

"I really haven't been out for a long time."

Xuan Du looked at him without saying anything more.

Aoki remained silent, the chaotic light above his canopy flickering uncertainly.

"I have taken root in this billion-dollar club, guarding this southern border and these spirit trees."

"I told myself, this is my way."

"But what you just said reminded me of..."

"I settled here back then in order to break through."

"But even if hundreds of millions of dollars are spent, I will still be stuck at the late stage of the half-step Hunyuan Taiji."

"The spiritual energy in the Southern Territory is becoming increasingly abundant, and the roots are growing denser, but my cultivation level... remains completely unchanged."

"You're right, I'm scared."

"I'm afraid of facing unknown risks once I venture out."

"I chose comfort, I chose to stay in the same place."

"Then, I forgot why I was there."

Xuan Du looked at him and finally spoke.

"So, do you want to go outside now?"