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

"I misunderstood."

Tongtian spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of self-mockery, but more so a sense of relief.

He stood up, walked down from the platform, and went to stand in front of Kong Xuan.

This former leader of the Jie Sect has now completely abandoned his airs as a master.

"A new order in the primordial world cannot be established without you."

Tongtian's eyes shone brightly as he gazed at the plaza outside the palace where ten thousand immortals stood solemnly, and further afield at the vast and boundless天地 (heaven and earth).

"What do you need me to do?"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly.

His master was ultimately a reasonable person who knew when to advance and retreat.

"The Jie Sect needs to be reorganized."

Kong Xuan's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable determination:

"The arrival of all the immortals is both a blessing and a burden."

"Although the great eon has passed, the disciples in the teachings are of varying quality, and their karma is entangled. If this is not sorted out, it will surely become a disaster in the future."

Tongtian remained silent.

He knew that what Kong Xuan said was true.

The Jie Sect is said to have ten thousand immortals, but only a handful have truly received the essence of the Shangqing Great Dao.

The rest are mostly creatures with fur and horns, born from eggs in wet environments, with shallow cultivation, weak will, and easily tainted by the aura of calamity.

During the Investiture of the Gods, if Kong Xuan hadn't appeared out of nowhere and forcibly reversed the battle, these disciples would probably have all been listed and their true spirits would have been annihilated.

How to organize it?

Tongtian asked in a deep voice.

"Establish three laws."

Kong Xuan raised his hand, and the chaotic light wheel in his palm swirled, evolving into three beams of clear light:

"The highest method teaches the Way, the middle method imparts skills, and the lowest method cultivates character."

"Those with a steadfast mind and a profound foundation in the Dao can enter the higher methods and receive the transmission of the Primordial Great Dao, becoming the true successor of the Jie Sect. In the future, they may be able to attain the Primordial Dao."

"Those of average aptitude but with a firm heart toward the Dao may enter the Central Dharma, be taught supernatural powers and techniques, guard a region, accumulate merit, and may have the opportunity to advance further in the future."

"Those with shallow roots and unsettled minds can enter the lower realm, be taught the methods of self-cultivation, be sent down the mountain to practice in the world, settle their karma, and return to the ordinary life."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the outside of the palace:

"Under the leadership of Duobao, Zhao Gongming, Sanxiao, and others, the sorting was completed within three days."

"After that, the Jie Sect only left behind three hundred true disciples, while the rest either entered the world or went into seclusion."

"From then on, the Jie Sect focused solely on the preservation of its lineage, not on vying for destiny."

Upon hearing this, Tongtian nodded slowly.

Although this method is strict, it is also for the long-term benefit of the Jie Sect.

During the Great Tribulation, the presence of countless immortals is a source of confidence, but if we do not streamline our practices after the Great Tribulation, it may become a burden.

"good."

Heaven responds to all:

"I will personally oversee this matter."

Kong Xuan nodded and said no more.

He turned and looked out at the horizon beyond the palace.

There, the nine brilliant holy lights still shone, and the aura of humanity was as strong as the midday sun.

But beneath this dazzling holy light, deep within the primordial land, undercurrents were subtly surging.

Remnants of the dragon race, descendants of the Qilin, former members of the Lich clan, remnants of the Chaos race...

These ancient forces, which have existed since the beginning of time, have been dormant for countless eons. Now that they sense the collapse of the Heavenly Dao, the establishment of the Three Paths, and the succession of sages, how could they be willing to continue to lie low?

"Next, it's time to meet up with some old friends."

Kong Xuan murmured to himself, his eyes filled with a chaotic energy that seemed to pierce through endless time and space, revealing the ancient and powerful beings hidden throughout the primordial world.

He took a step and his figure disappeared from Biyou Palace.

When it reappeared, it had reached the coast of the East China Sea.

Here, the blue waves stretch endlessly, and the sea and sky merge into one.

Seemingly peaceful and serene, the deep sea harbors one of the oldest races since the beginning of time.

Dragons!

Kong Xuan stood on the sea, hands behind his back, his black robe fluttering in the sea breeze.

He did not deliberately release his aura.

However, the Daoist aura of the late stage of Hunyuan Wuji Luo naturally spread out, enveloping the entire East Sea.

The seawater suddenly froze.

The waves subsided, and the spray froze.

Even the sea creatures swimming in the deep sea froze in place, trembling and afraid to move.

"Nine sons of the First Emperor, why haven't you shown yourself yet?"

Kong Xuan spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it resounded like thunder throughout every corner of the East China Sea.

"BOOM!!!"

A deep, rumbling sound came from the depths of the sea.

Immediately afterwards, nine enormous black shadows slowly rose from the bottom of the deep sea!

Each of the dark shadows was tens of thousands of feet long and had a different shape.

It may resemble a giant tortoise, carrying a stone tablet on its back; or a fierce tiger, with wings sprouting from its ribs; or a jackal, with eyes gleaming with ferocity; or a dragon-fish, with menacing scales...

They are none other than the nine sons of the First Emperor!

Qiuniu, Yazi, Chaofeng, Pulao, Suanni, Baxia, Bian, Fuxi, Chiwen!

Although the nine sons are not true dragons, they all inherited part of the bloodline of the ancestral dragon and are extremely powerful. After the Dragon-Han Great Calamity, they hid in the four seas, ruling over the remaining dragon race, and have been lying dormant ever since.

At this moment, nine enormous figures burst forth from the sea, hovering above the surface and surrounding Kong Xuan in the center.

In their eyes, there was a flicker of vigilance, apprehension, and a barely perceptible hint of...fear.

The terrifying Daoist aura that had enveloped the East China Sea just now made them truly feel the breath of death.

That is an absolute power that transcends everything!

"Senior Kong Xuan."

The leading ox slowly opened its mouth and respectfully said:

"What brings you here today, senior?"

Kong Xuan's expression remained unchanged as his gaze swept over the nine sons:

"During the Dragon-Han Great Calamity, all three races suffered losses, their karma intertwined; this was their destiny."

"Today, the selfish desires of Heaven have been extinguished, the karma of the Dragon and Han has been exhausted, and the Phoenix Clan has been freed from its predicament and revived."

He paused, his voice calm:

"I'm here to give you a choice."

"Surrender, or die."

The nine children exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with struggle.

Surrender?

How proud the dragon race is!

Even in the disastrous defeat of the Dragon-Han Calamity, even in the fall of the Ancestral Dragon, they never bowed down to any being.

But the one before them was no longer someone they could contend with.

Late stage of Hunyuan Wuji Luo!

Such a level of power, let alone their nine sons, even if the Ancestral Dragon were to be resurrected, would be nothing more than ants before Kong Xuan.

"My dragon race...is willing to submit."

After a long while, Qiuniu slowly lowered his head, his voice hoarse, filled with endless humiliation.

Behind him, the other eight sons also bowed their heads.

Unwilling, yet helpless.

In the primordial world, strength reigns supreme.

In the face of absolute power, so-called pride and dignity... are nothing but a joke.

"good."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly, not intending to exterminate them all.

He raised his hand, and a chaotic light wheel swirled in his palm, evolving into a profound Dao pattern.

"This is the Chaos Dragon Pattern, containing a trace of the true dragon's origin."

"If you refine it, you can purify your bloodline and improve your cultivation."

"From this day forward, the dragon race shall be settled in the four seas, in charge of controlling clouds and rain and regulating water veins, enjoying the fortune of humanity, and subject to the control of the Heavenly Court."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Chaos Dragon Pattern flew out, splitting into nine and disappearing into the brows of the nine sons.

The nine sons trembled violently!

They felt a pure and vast true dragon essence, far beyond their comprehension, surge into their bodies, frantically washing away impurities in their blood and raising their cultivation level!

But only a few breaths.

Qiuniu's aura surged, and he even faintly touched the threshold of the Hunyuan Daluo!

The other eight disciples also made great progress in their cultivation, comparable to the peak of Quasi-Saint!

"this......"

The nine sons were both surprised and delighted.

They never expected that surrendering would not only not cause them any harm, but would instead bring them such a tremendous opportunity!

"Thank you...senpai!"

Qiuniu took a deep breath and bowed solemnly to Kong Xuan.

This bow was given willingly.

Kong Xuan accepted it calmly, said no more, turned around and took a step, disappearing into the East China Sea.

Next.

The Abyss of the Northern Sea, the Palace of the Demon Master.

The Kunpeng Ancestor stood atop the ten-thousand-foot-high ice, his expression extremely solemn as he gazed at the figure in black robes who had suddenly appeared before the palace.

As the former Imperial Tutor of the Demon Court and a survivor of the Lich War, his strength had already reached the peak of Quasi-Saint, and he had even touched the threshold of the Primordial Chaos.

But when facing Kong Xuan, he couldn't even muster the slightest thought of resistance.

That Daoist aura that transcends everything made his very soul tremble.