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

Beyond the Ruins, the void surged like a tide.

Xuandu stepped out from the rift, his green robes fluttering slightly, his black hair flowing over his shoulders.

The crack closed silently behind him, as if it had never existed.

He didn't turn around.

Standing in the void at the edge of the Ruins, he sensed the gray-white aura within the Chaos Pearl that was slowly being reshaped.

The reconstruction of Blood Abyss's foundation is nearing completion.

Although Jin Qi interrupted him for a moment, that brief disturbance did not shake his foundation.

The dark red primordial crystals had all merged into the lingering will, and the gray-white figure was slowly solidifying.

Xuandu withdrew his senses and looked up into the distance.

That's the direction of the Xuanji Heavenly Domain, the direction of the Central Floating Continent.

He has been away from Xuanji Heavenly Domain for some time now. I wonder how Shenni is doing, and whether Taixu has returned to his branch sect to take charge.

It's even more uncertain whether the two newly accepted disciples from the Northern and Southern Borders will behave themselves.

Xuan Du took a slight step and stepped into the void.

The oppressive aura of the mid-stage Hunyuan Taiji naturally pushed aside the chaotic energy, and the surging air currents receded like a tide, making way for him.

After an unknown amount of time, the chaotic energy ahead suddenly cleared up.

The boundary wall of the Xuanji Heavenly Domain came into view.

That barrier, devoid of light and color, transparent as crystal, still stretches across the void. The boundary wall, reinforced by billions of powerful beings, remains as solid and imposing as ever.

Xuan Du raised his hand and pressed down gently.

As if sensing his presence, the boundary wall opened a portal on its own without the slightest resistance.

He stepped inside.

As far as the eye can see, there is still that vast and boundless void.

The chaotic energy flowed slowly, and floating continents were scattered like stars. Strange and grotesque chaotic creatures traveled between the floating continents.

Everything was exactly the same as when he left.

But Xuandu sensed the change.

The auras of those chaotic beings were more active than before, and their eyes held an unprecedented fervor.

The number of caves on the floating landmass was more than double that of before, densely packed like stars scattered across the sky.

And all of this converges on the central floating land.

Xuan Du's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't rush to the central floating continent.

Instead, he first glanced towards the southern border.

In the southern region, the branches and leaves of that towering divine tree still shroud billions of miles of void.

Emerald green light flowed endlessly in the chaotic energy, and the aura of that myriad wood domain was even more profound than before, as if it had taken deeper root.

Yet within that profound depth, there was not a trace of resistance, only a quiet waiting.

Xuandu withdrew his gaze and looked towards the northern border.

That floating continent, which had once occupied Cangxuan for hundreds of millions of years, remained empty, with only chaotic energy churning within.

However, within that surging, there was a subtle, intricate quality to it.

Those auras varied in strength, with the weaker ones being no more than the early stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, and the stronger ones being the Primordial Grand Luo realm.

Scattered here and there across the floating continent, they seem to be cultivating themselves, or perhaps waiting.

Xuandu sensed it for a moment and then understood.

Shenni's actions on the central floating land have clearly affected the northern and southern borders.

Those chaotic beings who originally depended on Cangxuan and Qingmu, although still observing, no longer refused to make contact with the branch sect of Jiejiao.

The time has come.

He withdrew his gaze and slowly walked towards the central floating land.

The closer you get to the central floating continent, the more caves there are, and the more popular they become.

In the originally desolate and empty void, streaks of light occasionally flashed by, some heading towards the central floating land, and some coming from the direction of the central floating land.

The auras within those flowing lights varied: some were the savagery of chaotic beasts, some were the aloofness of chaotic spiritual roots, and some were the elusiveness of rogue cultivators.

Without exception, they all stopped when they sensed Xuandu's profound and abyssal aura from afar.

Then he bowed in reverence in the void.

His eyes were filled with awe.

Xuan didn't stop.

He simply nodded slightly in response, and then continued toward the central floating island.

A moment later, the central floating land came into view.

The majestic stone palace still stands in the center of the floating continent, and the four large blood-gold characters on the stone palace glow faintly in the chaotic energy.

The teachings of Jie and Fen are divided.

Before the stone hall, the hundred-zhang-tall stone platform still hangs in mid-air.

However, Shen Ni was nowhere to be seen on the stone platform.

Xuan Du raised an eyebrow slightly.

He sensed the familiar aura deep within the stone hall and was sitting cross-legged inside.

His body was filled with a fierce aura that surged like a tide, but it was much more profound than before.

Shen Ni is currently in seclusion.

Xuan didn't disturb him, but simply landed on the stone platform and stood with his hands behind his back.

His gaze swept around, and the newly joined disciples on the floating continent sensed his presence and emerged from their caves.

Someone recognized him, their expression changed drastically, and they knelt down.

Although some people did not recognize him, they could sense the unfathomable pressure emanating from him and quickly bowed in respect.

"Master! You're back!"

A voice came from the direction of the stone hall, filled with surprise.

Taixu slowly stepped out of the stone hall, his gray robe hanging down, his sword intent flowing like water, more concentrated and restrained than before.

Xuandu looked at him and nodded slightly.

"They're back. Where's Shenni? Is he in seclusion?"

Taixu nodded, his sharp gaze sweeping into the depths of the stone hall.

"Shennie is breaking through, attempting to break through the bottleneck of the peak of the ninth level of the Hunyuan Daluo Heaven."

"He said that before his master left, he instructed him to take on many disciples. He dared not slack off and cultivated day and night during this period. In addition, the chaotic energy in the branch sect was so strong that he found an opportunity to break through."

Xuan Du nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Having cultivated for many years, Shen Ni has a profound foundation. Now, with the blessing of the fortune of the branch sect of Jiejiao, his breakthrough is indeed a natural outcome.

He didn't ask any further questions and turned his gaze to the void.

"Has anything changed since you came back?"

Taixu shook his head.

"All is well. The momentum of branching out and recruiting disciples has not diminished, and monks come to join us every day."

"Some are independent cultivators, while others have come from afar after hearing of the reputation of the Jie Sect."

"There are also a few Grandmaster level cultivators who, although they did not immediately become disciples, stayed on the floating continent, saying they wanted to see the true strength of the Jie Sect."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Du's eyes flickered slightly.

The existence of a Primordial Grand Luo is no longer considered weak in the Xuanji Heavenly Domain.

Their willingness to stay and observe indicates that the foundation of the Jiejiao branch sect is already attractive enough to them.

"What are the backgrounds of those Grandmaster-level experts?"

Taixu paused, then said in a deep voice:

"One of them is a Chaos Ancient Beast that attained enlightenment, with a cultivation level of the seventh level of the Hunyuan Daluo Realm. Its true form is a gray-scaled ancient python, which resides on the northwestern edge of the Heavenly Domain."

"One is a manifestation of the Chaos Spiritual Root, with a cultivation level of the sixth level of the Hunyuan Daluo Heaven. Its true form is a purple vine rooted in the earth veins, deeply embedded in the bottom layer of the void."

"There is another one whose origins are unknown. He is at the eighth level of the Hunyuan Daluo realm. He only said that he was a rogue cultivator and was unwilling to reveal his background, but his aura was extremely calm, unlike that of an ordinary rogue cultivator."

Xuan Du listened to the three men's descriptions, remained silent for a moment, and then a very faint smile appeared on his lips.

Chaotic ancient beasts, chaotic spiritual roots, and rogue cultivators of unknown origin.

These three backgrounds each have their own merits.

"The fact that they stayed to observe shows that they have something to do with it."

"Keep an eye on them; if they are willing to stay, take them under your wing."

"If you are unwilling, there is no need to force you."

Taixu nodded, a hint of gentleness appearing in his sharp gaze.

"Disciple understands."

Xuan Du stood with his hands behind his back on the stone platform, gazing at the vast emptiness in the distance, his thoughts slowly turning in his mind.

Although the trip to Guixu was quite fruitful, Jin Qi's betrayal remained fresh in his memory.

Most importantly, the mysterious giant instilled a sense of crisis in him.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke:

"Taixu, you stay here and oversee things. I need to go somewhere."

Taixu was slightly taken aback, his gaze shifting slightly.

"Where is Master going?"

Xuandu gazed into the distance, his eyes landing on the northwest direction of the Heavenly Domain.

"Let's go and meet those few Grandmasters of Primordial Chaos."

"Since they have stayed on the floating continent to observe, then I will go and see them myself."

"Let's see if they are truly seeking the truth, or if they have ulterior motives."

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

The figure in green disappeared into the chaotic energy in the northwest direction of the central floating continent.