Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

Hongjun Daozu nodded slightly.

A faint ripple flickered in those eyes that seemed to see through eternity.

"You can't afford to mess with them."

The six words had already been uttered, and now another sentence was added:

"Let alone you, even I, a humble Taoist priest, would have to think twice."

Jieyin trembled all over.

Zhunti's face turned deathly pale.

As they gazed at Hongjun, at this teacher of all spirits who had merged with the Dao, a monstrous wave of emotion surged within them.

Even the Dao Ancestor would have to consider this?

What exactly is it?

Seeing the two so terrified, Hongjun said calmly:

"Get up."

"Kneeling, what kind of behavior is that?"

Jieyin and Zhunti slowly rose, but dared not raise their heads. They stood with their heads bowed, like two children who had done something wrong, waiting for their teacher to scold them.

Hongjun looked at them, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

It was so complex yet so subtle, almost imperceptible.

But upon closer inspection, one can see a hint of guilt hidden within that complexity.

A trace of... guilt buried for countless years.

He spoke slowly:

"I am familiar with matters concerning the West."

"I know that Sun Wukong was rescued."

"That figure in black robes, this humble Taoist..."

He paused:

"I have a plan in mind."

Jieyin suddenly looked up:

"The Dao Ancestor! Who exactly is that person?!"

Hongjun looked at him, at that anxious face.

a long time.

He slowly uttered four words:

"Yang Mei Daoist."

Upon hearing those four words, Jieyin was stunned.

Zhunti was stunned.

Yangmei Daoist?

Who is that?

They lived for countless years, hearing about Pangu creating the world, Hongjun merging with the Dao, the Three Pure Ones establishing their religion, and Nuwa mending the sky.

But this was the first time I had ever heard of the name Yangmei Daoren.

The guide frowned deeply.

"Dao Ancestor, what is the background of this Yangmei Daoist?"

Hongjun's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked into the depths of chaos.

It was as if we had pierced through the endless void and were looking towards the distant past.

"You don't know what happened before the creation of the world."

"I didn't want to say it either."

"But now that he has entered the primordial world, you will inevitably run into him sooner or later."

"Knowing in advance is good for being prepared."

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing solemnity in each other's eyes.

Before the creation of the world?

How long ago must that have been?

Hongjun slowly spoke:

"In the beginning of time, in the chaos, there were three thousand demon gods."

"The great god Pangu wielded the axe that split the heavens and earth, slaying three thousand demons and gods before finally creating heaven and earth."

"Do you know which of those three thousand demon gods survived?"

The guide shook his head.

Zhunti shook his head.

Hongjun's gaze gradually hardened:

"Yang Mei Daoist is one of them."

"And he's... the strongest one."

The strongest one!

The six words exploded like thunder, causing both Jieyin and Zhunti to change color!

Three thousand demon gods!

The great god Pangu slew three thousand demon gods before creating heaven and earth!

Of those three thousand demon gods, someone actually survived?!

And the strongest one?!

Zhunti's voice was hoarse and trembling violently:

"Dao Ancestor... that Yang Mei Daoist, how high is his cultivation level?"

Hongjun looked at him:

"When Pangu separated heaven and earth, three thousand demons and gods besieged him."

"Master Yangmei has not yet made a move."

"He simply watched quietly from the depths of chaos."

"Watching Pangu slay all the demons and gods, watching Pangu die from exhaustion, watching the world slowly take shape."

Then he turned and left.

"It entered the depths of chaos and never reappeared."

The guide trembled all over:

"Hasn't he made a move?"

Why didn't he make a move?

Hongjun lowered his gaze slightly:

"Because he knew that Pangu creating the world was a predetermined destiny."

"The fall of the three thousand demon gods was also ordained by the will of Heaven."

"If he were to make a move, he would be defying the heavens."

Even he couldn't bear the immeasurable karmic consequences.

So he just watched.

"Watching those demons and gods, born of the same chaos as him, fall one by one."

Then, he left alone.

Jieyin remained silent.

Zhunti remained silent.

They gazed at Hongjun, at this teacher of all spirits who had merged with the Dao.

Suddenly I realized something.

The Taoist patriarch's use of "cannot be offended" was such a nonchalant remark.

That was a chaotic demon god from the same era as Pangu!

That's someone who watched three thousand demon gods perish, yet still lives to this day!

That's... an existence even more ancient than Hongjun Daozu!

The guide took a deep breath:

"Dao Ancestor, what is the purpose of Yang Mei Daoist's visit to the Primordial World?"

Why save Sun Wukong?

Hongjun shook his head:

"I don't know."

His actions have always been difficult to predict.

"When Pangu separated heaven and earth, he didn't intervene."

"For countless ages, he remained hidden in the chaos, never setting foot in the primordial wilderness."

"Now they've suddenly appeared and even saved that monkey..."

There must be a deeper meaning.

Zhunti said urgently:

"Dao Ancestor, how should we deal with this?"

"We can't just stand by and watch him take Sun Wukong away and destroy the Buddhist sect's three-thousand-year-old plan, can we?"

Hongjun looked at him.

His gaze was calm as still water.

But beneath that calm surface lay a faint trace of... guilt.

"I have my own plans for this matter."

He slowly got up.

With a light rustle of his grey robe, he stood in the void.

Looking at Jieyin and Zhunti:

"You all go back first."

"Tell the Buddha to wait patiently."

"I will personally handle the matter of Sun Wukong."

The guide was taken aback:

"Is the Dao Ancestor going to take action personally?"

Hongjun shook his head:

"It's not about taking action."

"We're going to have a talk."

"Although he is not within the Heavenly Dao, there must be a reason for his entry into the Primordial World."

"As the representative of Heaven's will, I must get to the bottom of this."

Zhunti said urgently:

"Where will the Dao Ancestor go to find him?"

Hongjun gazed into the depths of chaos:

"If he wants to hide, no one can find him."

"But since he rescued the monkey, he must have deliberately left traces."

"That is... waiting for me to go find him."

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Are we waiting for the Dao Ancestor to come find him?

What exactly does that Yangmei Taoist want to do?

Hongjun waved his hand:

"Go."

"I accept this offer."

"That's pretty much it..."

He paused, his gaze lowered slightly:

"Return the karma to you Westerners."

Jieyin was startled.

Western concept of cause and effect?

The Dao Ancestor was referring to... the time when Rahu self-destructed the Western spiritual veins?

That was something from countless years ago.

The Dao Ancestor actually still remembers?

He bowed deeply:

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!"

Zhunti also bowed deeply:

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!"

Hongjun nodded slightly:

"Go."

The two turned around.

He strode away.

Outside the Purple Cloud Palace.

Chaos surged.

Jieyin and Zhunti stood amidst the chaos, gazing at the ancient Taoist palace.

He remained silent for a long time.

a long time.

Zhunti opened his mouth, his voice hoarse:

"Senior brother, what about the cause and effect that the Dao Ancestor spoke of..."

The guide raised his hand to stop him:

"Do not discuss it."

"The Dao Ancestor has his own plans."

Zhunti nodded:

"Then...shall we go back and wait?"

The guide gazed into the depths of chaos, into the endless void:

"wait."

"Since the Dao Ancestor has agreed, then we can wait patiently."

"It's better for him to help than for us to run into walls everywhere."

Zhunti smiled wryly:

"But that Yangmei Daoist was a being from the same era as Pangu."

"Can the Dao Ancestor... reach an agreement?"

Receiving silence.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"have no idea."

"But now, what else can we do besides believe in the Dao Ancestor?"

Zhunti remained silent.

The two exchanged a glance.

His whole body was surrounded by a radiant aura.

They transformed into two streaks of light and sped off towards Mount Ling.