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

Shouyang Mountain, Bajing Palace.

The Tai Chi symbol slowly rotates, and the Yin and Yang energies intertwine to create a profound and mysterious Taoist rhythm.

Lao Tzu sat upright on the futon, and suddenly opened his eyes.

A pair of calm, still eyes pierced through the void, landing in the direction of the immortal volcano to the south.

The raging eruption of magma and fire has been forcibly suppressed by the power of the two saints.

But that overwhelming aura of cause and effect was as dazzling as a torch in the dark night.

"The immortal volcano... collapsed?"

Lao Tzu frowned slightly, and the whisk in his hand moved automatically without any wind.

He calculated with his fingers, but the secrets of the great calamity were as chaotic as fog, and only scattered fragments could be glimpsed.

Yet the weight of cause and effect is crystal clear.

"Cundi... Jieyin..."

Lao Tzu muttered to himself, a look of confusion flashing in his eyes.

He knew the origins of the two Western Saints better than anyone.

Jieyin and Zhunti had the shallowest foundations. In order to become saints, they made forty-eight great vows to the Heavenly Dao.

This is tantamount to "borrowing" from the Heavenly Dao to become a saint.

For countless eons since then, the Western religion has been busy repaying its "debt to Heaven," and it is most taboo to be involved in karma.

Otherwise, the grand ambition will backfire, and even the status of a sage may be shaken.

"They're already trying to avoid karma, how could they possibly willingly get involved in the karma of the Dragon-Han Great Kalpa?"

Lao Tzu's gaze was deep as he looked toward the direction of the immortal volcano.

There, the twelve-petaled golden lotus of merit, which guides the way, intertwines with the blue lotus banner, resisting the overwhelming karmic consequences.

Cundi's saintly body has developed cracks. Although he was temporarily stabilized by the merits of the Amitabha Buddha, the appearance of being entangled in karma cannot be faked.

"unless......"

Laozi's heart stirred as he recalled the unfamiliar quasi-saint aura he had sensed earlier.

"Kong Xuan, towards Jinji Ridge..."

He once preached among humans and had a connection with the destiny of the Shang Dynasty.

As the commander-in-chief of Sanshan Pass, Kong Xuan was protected by the fortune of the Shang Dynasty, which Laozi naturally knew.

How could a mere Quasi-Saint allow a Saint to be in such a sorry state?

Would they even risk detonating an immortal volcano?

"A great calamity has brought about a change..."

Lao Tzu slowly closed his eyes, and the Tai Chi diagram around him gradually slowed down.

The Investiture of the Gods was a predetermined event by the Heavenly Dao, intended to fill the Investiture of the Gods list and complete the positions of the gods in the Heavenly Court.

The three religions jointly discussed the Investiture of the Gods, and since the Jie Sect had many disciples, they deserved to be included on the list.

This was originally a tacit understanding among all parties.

But now, Kong Xuan, who should have become a mount in the great calamity, has caused the Western saint to leave the scene ahead of time, and even become entangled in enormous karma.

This has gone beyond the original trajectory.

"Reaching for the heavens..."

Lao Tzu suddenly thought of his third junior brother, who had a fiery temper.

If Kong Xuanzhen truly possessed the ability to harm saints, then the Jie Sect would face an additional variable.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation cannot be broken by anyone other than the Four Sages.

The four saints were originally determined to be: himself, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

However, if Zhunti is entangled in karma, his strength will be greatly diminished...

......

Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

A radiant glow enveloped the mountains, cranes cried in unison, and auspicious clouds drifted in.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable sat high on a nine-dragon sandalwood chariot, his body surrounded by a pure and ethereal light.

He was also looking south at that moment, his brows furrowed.

"The immortal volcano collapsed, and Zhunti was entangled in karma..."

The voice of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was icy, tinged with disbelief.

He had always looked down on the two Western saints, believing that they had shallow foundations and became saints by borrowing money, and were not worthy of praise.

The invitation to the Western Sect to participate in the Investiture of the Gods was merely a last resort to break the Tongtian Zhuxian Sword Formation.

But now, Zhunti has actually suffered a major setback at the very beginning of the Great Tribulation?

"Kong Xuan..."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's divine sense swept across the direction of Golden Rooster Ridge.

Only a wisp of Kong Xuan's divine consciousness remained there; his true body had long since departed.

"Peak Quasi-Saint, Five-Colored Divine Light..."

He was naturally aware of Kong Xuan's supernatural powers; his five-colored divine light could sweep away anything within the five elements, making him virtually invincible below the level of a sage.

But that's about it.

Even in the eyes of a sage, they are still ants.

"But this ant caused Zhunti to be tainted by karma after breaking the branch..."

A cold glint flashed in Yuanshi Tianzun's eyes as he raised his hand and swept it across the void.

A water mirror appeared, revealing scattered scenes of the immortal volcano before it collapsed.

The scene was blurry, and the heavenly secrets of the great calamity interfered. All that could be seen was the chaotic divine light sweeping across, the branches of the Seven Treasures Tree breaking, and then the volcano collapsing.

"That light... was not the Five-Colored Divine Light."

The gaze of the Primordial Celestial Venerable was like lightning.

The five-colored divine light is clearly distinguished by five colors: blue, yellow, red, black, and white, corresponding to the five elements.

But the light in the picture was a chaotic color, carrying an aura that even he found unfamiliar.

"The aura of the Great Dao..."

The Primordial Celestial Venerable was startled.

As a direct descendant of Pangu and one of the Three Pure Ones, he was no stranger to the aura of the Great Dao.

Before the creation of heaven and earth, in the chaos, three thousand demon gods held sway over the laws of the Great Dao.

That chaotic divine light contained the power of the Great Dao!

"Did Kong Xuan obtain a great opportunity?"

The Heavenly Venerable of Primordial Beginning's face darkened.

The Investiture of the Gods was the opportunity for the rise of the Chan Sect and the decline of the Jie Sect.

But now, unexpected changes have occurred.

If Kong Xuanzhen possessed the divine powers of the Great Dao, even capable of harming a sage, then the Battle of Golden Rooster Ridge...

"Guang Chengzi and the others..."

Yuanshi Tianzun thought of his disciples.

Although the Twelve Golden Immortals possessed considerable cultivation, they were likely in grave danger facing Kong Xuan, who was capable of injuring a Saint.

"We must plan ahead."

Without further hesitation, Yuanshi Tianzun flicked his finger, and a Jade Purity Immortal Talisman shot through the air, heading straight for Sishui Pass.

The celestial talisman contains the decree of a sage:

"Something has happened at Jinji Ridge. You should postpone your advance."

As soon as the celestial talisman was produced, the Primordial Celestial Venerable seemed to remember something and flicked his finger again.

The second celestial talisman flew towards the Western Paradise.

That's for the guide.

Although he looks down on Western religions, Zhunti is now entangled in karma, and Jieyin must be in a terrible predicament.

Doing a favor now will make it easier to ask for help later when breaking the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

......

An immortal volcano, a vast expanse of ruins.

The guiding sage used a blue lotus-colored banner to create a sky-covering barrier, firmly imprisoning the gushing lava.

A twelve-petaled golden lotus of merit hung above Zhunti's head, showering down golden light of merit, barely protecting his holy body from collapsing.

But the chains of cause and effect still entangled Zhunti, like a malignant tumor clinging to his bones.

"Senior brother... I was too presumptuous this time."

Zhunti's face was pale, his holy body was covered with golden marks, and his aura was weak.

He felt the overwhelming karma accumulating within him, and his heart was filled with remorse.

I originally intended to convert a peak Quasi-Saint to enlightenment, adding a powerful figure to the Western Sect.

Who would have thought that his attempt to steal a chicken would backfire, with all the branches of the Seven Treasures Tree broken off, and he also incurring the karmic consequences of the Dragon Han Great Tribulation.

Jieyin remained expressionless, but the heaviness in his eyes was undeniable.

"Could Kong Xuan's supernatural powers truly harm your sacred body?"

He asked again, still finding it unbelievable.

Zhunti nodded with a wry smile:

"His divine light... was no longer the five-colored divine light, but a chaotic color, containing the power of the Great Dao."

"I used the Seven Treasures Tree to resist, but its branches were instantly snapped off and absorbed into the divine light."

"What's even more terrifying is that... he can actually manipulate the brushed-away branches to attack the core of the immortal volcano."

Upon hearing this, Jieyin's pupils contracted slightly.

"Manipulating a sage's magical artifact?"

"Even a broken branch is beyond the control of a quasi-saint."

Zhunti sighed:

"That's why I said that this child's supernatural powers have already surpassed the level of a quasi-saint."

"If he hadn't used cause and effect to his advantage, I could have easily suppressed him."

"But he was too cunning... He deliberately lured me into making a move, using the karma from the Undying Volcano to backfire."

Receiving silence.

He looked toward the center of the ruins, where the erupting crater had been temporarily sealed.

But the subterranean fire is still churning deep inside, and could erupt again at any moment.

Suppressing the immortal volcano requires the continuous consumption of the saint's great power.

The karmic burdens on Zhunti's body require merit to resolve.

Western religions are already poor, and merit is even more scarce.

Jieyin, deep in thought, suddenly looked up towards the east.

A Jade Purity Immortal Talisman pierced through the air and hovered in front of him.

The guide's divine sense swept over the area, and his expression grew even more somber.

"Yuanshi already knew about this matter."

Zhunti gritted his teeth:

"He's definitely watching with amusement!"

The guide shook his head:

"Although Yuanshi was arrogant, he was not stupid."

"If Kong Xuan can harm you, he can harm other sages."

"During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, such a variable occurred, and he was even more anxious than we were."

Before he finished speaking, another celestial talisman flew in from the direction of Shouyang Mountain.

The guide received the object, scanned it with his divine sense, and his expression softened slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Laozi is willing to lend you the Taiji Diagram temporarily to help you suppress karma for three months."

Zhunti was taken aback:

"Would he lend me the Tai Chi diagram?"

The Tai Chi diagram is a supreme innate treasure, capable of stabilizing earth, water, fire, and wind, and has a remarkable effect in suppressing cause and effect.

The guide nodded:

"What I seek is nothing more than for the Investiture of the Gods to proceed according to its original course."

"Kong Xuan has become a variable, and his willingness to lend a helping hand is for the sake of the greater good."

Zhunti was silent for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Senior brother, do you think that Kong Xuan... might have already defected to Tongtian?"

A glint of light flashed in Jieyin's eyes:

"Are you saying that Tongtian knew Kong Xuan possessed such supernatural powers all along, and deliberately hid him at Jinji Ridge, waiting for us to fall into his trap?"

Zhunti nodded:

"Otherwise, how do you explain why he revealed his abilities precisely at the crucial moment of the great calamity?"

"And the direction he fled was... Jin'ao Island."

Guided into deep thought.

If that's true, then the Tongtian Sect Leader wasn't fighting alone.

Kong Xuan possesses the ability to injure even saints, coupled with the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation...

"The Four Saints breaking the formation may be about to change."

The guide spoke slowly, his voice heavy.

Upon hearing this, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhunti's eyes:

"In that case, we must not let him live!"

"This child must be converted, or... killed!"

The guide shook his head:

"Now you are entangled in karma, and your strength has been greatly diminished."

"I need the help of the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus to suppress it, so I cannot use my full strength."

"Moreover, the Shang Dynasty was at the height of its fortune, and Kong Xuan was protected by this fortune. His forceful action backfired badly."

Zhunti said urgently:

"Are we just going to let him grow up like this?"

Jieyin raised his eyes, looked towards the direction of Kunlun Mountain, and suddenly smiled:

"Why should we take action?"

"Yuanshi is even more anxious than we are."

"His disciples from the Chan Sect were about to attack Jinji Ridge, and Kong Xuan blocked their way, so he was the first to bear the brunt."

"We... just need to sit back and wait and see."

Zhunti was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly realized.

Yes, the Primordial Celestial Venerable values ​​dough the most.

If Guang Chengzi and the other twelve Golden Immortals were to fall into Kong Xuan's hands at Golden Rooster Ridge, Yuanshi would surely be furious.

At that time, a sage will surely intervene.

"Then we..."

Jieyin said calmly:

"First, use the Tai Chi diagram to suppress the cause and effect, and recover as soon as possible."

"I'm going to Jin'ao Island."

Zhunti was startled:

"Senior brother wants to see Tongtian?"

The guide nodded:

"To test the waters."

"If Tong Tianzhen and Kong Xuan join forces... we need to make plans as soon as possible."

Having said that, Jieyin took a step forward, and the twelve-petaled golden lotus took hold of him, disappearing into the void.

Zhunti gazed in the direction his senior brother had left, then looked at the chains of karma binding him, a flash of hatred in his eyes.

"Kong Xuan..."

"I swear I will not be a saint if I do not avenge this!"