Primordial Era: The Three Senior Brothers of the Taiqing Clan

By evening, the sea around Penglai Island had returned to normal. The waters that had been churning and boiling from the aftershocks of the great battle had calmed down, and the golden-black cracks on the crests of the waves were no longer shimmering. Instead, fine, silvery fragments of moonlight spread out across the deep blue surface of the water.

Inside the main hall, the seven saints sat or stood, creating a solemn atmosphere.

Lao Tzu sits in the center, his whisk resting in his arm, his eyes, which seem to see through the three realms and nine netherworlds, half-closed, like an ancient well of unfathomable depth.

Yuanshi Tianzun sat to his left. The Pangu Banner had been put away and replaced by an open bamboo scroll, densely covered with ancient seal script that Chen Qing could not understand.

The Tongtian Sect Leader leaned against a pillar in the hall, arms crossed, with the Four Immortal Execution Swords casually stuck into the floor tiles beside him, their blades reflecting a cold, bluish light under the lamplight.

Nuwa sat on a futon by the window, playing with an ancient blue stone in her hand, her fingertips repeatedly tracing a hair-thin crack on the stone's surface.

Jieyin and Zhunti sat side by side in the farthest corner, each with a cup of tea in front of them. The tea had gone cold, but neither of them drank it.

"You all sensed the strength of that gray-robed elder," Chen Qing's voice broke the long silence in the hall. "He claims to be the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao's will in the Demon God Realm. But his final move, sending the Demon Lord into the Demon God Realm from hundreds of millions of miles away, the power of that..."

"Not inferior to the Dao Ancestor," Laozi continued, his voice calm and even, "perhaps even surpassing him."

The breaths of the people in the hall caught in their throats slightly. Lao Tzu rarely made such direct judgments; his words were always like cryptic remarks, leaving three parts room for interpretation and revealing seven parts of his true meaning.

This direct acknowledgment of the gray-robed elder's strength only heightened the tension in everyone's hearts.

"Even stronger?" The Tongtian Sect Leader raised an eyebrow, a sharp sword intent flashing in his eyes. "If that gray-robed elder is truly stronger than the Dao Ancestor at his peak, why doesn't he just launch a direct attack on the Primordial World instead of going through all this trouble with this talk of merging?"

"Because he cannot." Yuanshi Tianzun raised his head, his all-seeing eyes reflecting the ancient seal script on the bamboo slips. "The Heavenly Dao Will of the Demon God Realm, like the Heavenly Dao Will of the Primordial World, is subject to some kind of fundamental constraint."

They can influence, guide, and leverage existing forces, but they cannot directly interfere with the autonomous choices of beings in both realms. Otherwise, the will of Heaven itself would violate the laws governing the execution of Heaven.

Nuwa stopped stroking the bluestone, her gaze towards Yuanshi Tianzun carrying a hint of solemnity: "You mean, the reason the gray-robed elder needs our 'consent' is because he can't forcibly merge the Demon God Realm into the Primordial World?"

"Exactly," Yuanshi Tianzun continued, "Whether it is the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World or the Heavenly Dao of the Demon God Realm, their essence is a collection of rules."

Rules can punish violators and reward those who follow them, but rules themselves cannot initiate a disruptive change. Just as water flows downhill, it can choose different channels, but it cannot actively cleave a mountain in two.

Chen Qing understood what Yuanshi Tianzun meant. As the embodiment of the will of Heaven, the gray-robed old man's power, no matter how great, could only be exerted within the limits allowed by the rules.

Forcibly invading the primordial world is an act of war between beings from two realms. The will of Heaven can promote and support it, but it cannot directly overstep its bounds.

However, if the Primordial Realm "agrees" to the merger, it would be equivalent to actively modifying the boundary rules between the two realms, allowing the gray-robed elder to legitimately infiltrate the Heavenly Dao rules of the Demon God Realm into the Primordial Realm.

At that time, he will truly be able to "make a move".

"So those ten days were a time for us to prepare for war, but for him... " Chen Qing paused, "it was also a trap. He used the pretext of merger to force us to make a statement. If we agreed, he could legally invade."

If we don't agree, he can use that as a pretext to claim that the Primordial World has broken its promise, thus bypassing the constraints of the Heavenly Dao rules and forcibly taking action in the name of 'punishing those who break their promises.'

"Whether you agree or not, it's a dead end." The Tongtian Sect Leader sneered, his laughter filled with intense killing intent. "A clever scheme."

Lao Tzu finally opened his eyes fully, his gaze gleaming with a warm, jade-like light, like the first ripples of spring water after the first snow melts: "Chen Qing, you just said that the Demon Lord gave you a signal at the last moment."

Chen Qing nodded and told the saints everything about the details of the two blinks and the last two silent lip movements.

"Why would the Demon Lord help you?" Jieyin spoke, his voice usually gentle and compassionate, but now carrying a rare hint of caution. "He led the Demon God Realm's army to invade the Primordial World three times, slaughtering countless disciples. Why would such a long-standing enemy warn you on the eve of his sealing?"

That's indeed a good question. Chen Qing was also thinking about it. He had clearly felt the Demon Lord's killing intent towards him for the past three years; it was a deep-seated, irreconcilable hostility.

But in that battle, everything started to go wrong from the fleeting sense of relief in the black-robed man's eyes. That relief didn't seem feigned; it was an exhaustion that welled up from the depths of his eyes, as if he could finally unload a tremendous burden—it couldn't be faked.

"He doesn't want to fight anymore." Chen Qing said something that seemed to come out of nowhere, but everyone in the hall understood what he meant.

The Demon Lord didn't want to fight anymore. All the details of that battle, the precise and restrained fighting style, the pause when he didn't take advantage of Chen Qing's fusion with Pangu's Dao Foundation, and the "finally here" look in his eyes when the axe light hovered—all pointed to the same conclusion.

The Demon Lord never intended to win that battle from the beginning; in other words, he was always waiting to lose.

"He's using you as a tool," Lao Tzu's voice remained steady, but with a hint of a sigh, "to free himself from some kind of cage."

Chen Qing recalled the Demon Lord's last look before he was dragged into the sky by the gray-robed old man; it was a look that was almost pleading.

It wasn't the Demon Lord begging him to save his life, but rather the Demon Lord begging him not to fall into the gray-robed old man's trap.

The nemesis who had been frantically invading the prehistoric world for three years sent a message at the last moment that he wanted to die.

"If the Demon Lord was a pawn of the gray-robed elder, then that pawn has ultimately turned against him." Chen Qing clenched the Return to Nothingness mark in his palm. "This at least proves one thing: the gray-robed elder is not invincible; even his most capable subordinates are searching for a way to get rid of him."

Lao Tzu nodded, a barely perceptible hint of approval finally appearing on his usually impassive face: "Good."

Yuanshi Tianzun: "Ten days is neither a short nor a long period. There are three urgent matters. First, contact the Dao Ancestor to confirm the current status of the Guixu Seal and whether he can escape within ten days."

Secondly, investigate the inner workings of the Demon God Realm to uncover the true identity of the gray-robed elder and the exact location where the Demon Lord is sealed. Thirdly—"

He looked at Chen Qing, a deep light in his eyes: "Prepare to use that axe again."

Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly. He had personally experienced the power of the Heaven-Opening Axe's strike; it was indeed capable of countering the gray-robed elder's strength.

However, the price of that axe strike was extremely heavy. The burden on the body from fusing three supreme treasures at the same time far exceeded that of any single innate supreme treasure, not to mention the depletion on Pangu's Dao foundation.

It took him an entire day to recover from the shock that ran deep in his bones. If he were to use it again within ten days, he would need to go a step further in merging with the Pangu Dao Foundation.

"The last layer of thin ice." Chen Qing murmured to himself. The Pangu Dao Foundation within his body was like a perfectly round jade ball. Ninety-five percent of the surface layer had melted and seeped into his blood vessels and meridians, leaving only the core layer of ice as thin as a cicada's wing.

The ice shell appeared fragile, yet it was so stubborn that it left people helpless, as if it were not a layer of ice, but a mental barrier etched deep within the foundation of one's Dao.

Nuwa suddenly stood up. She walked to the window, pushed open the window frame carved with cloud patterns, and the silvery fragments of moonlight on the sea surface rushed in with the evening breeze, staining her plain white robe with a light silver hue.

She gazed at the horizon where the sea met the sky, where a thin, gray line, barely visible, stretched across the starry sky.

"You say," Nuwa's voice was very soft, almost like a soliloquy, "that the gray-robed old man spoke of about 'merging,' merging the Demon God Realm into the Primordial World, and placing it under the jurisdiction of the Primordial Heavenly Dao. What if what he said is true?"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Jieyin and Zhunti raised their heads simultaneously, a complex light flashing in their eyes. Tongtian Jiaozhu released his hand from the sword hilt, looking at Nuwa's back, his stubborn and arrogant brows twitching slightly.

"You mean," Tongtian spoke, his voice deep, "that the gray-robed elder wanted to merge because the Heavenly Dao of the Demon God Realm was on the verge of collapse?"

Nuwa turned around, and the moonlight fell on her profile, making her compassionate and resolute face look like the oldest jade: "Why does the seal of Guixu exist? Because the other side of Guixu is utter nothingness."

Chaos, the Realm of Demons and Gods, and the Primordial World—these three share a common origin, each with its own boundaries. But what if the Heavenly Dao of the Realm of Demons and Gods has already begun to collapse? What if the gray-robed elder's desire to merge them wasn't for invasion, but rather to find a way for the billions of beings in the Realm of Demons and Gods to survive?

This question was like a boulder thrown into a deep pool, creating silent ripples in the hall. Everyone fell silent, even Lao Tzu frowned slightly.

Nuwa's speculation was not without reason. The gray-robed old man claimed to be the embodiment of the will of Heaven, whose primary responsibility was to maintain the operation of this world and the survival of its inhabitants.

If the Heavenly Dao of a realm is collapsing, it is logically perfectly reasonable for the will of that Heavenly Dao to seek "merger" with other realms in order to continue its vitality.

"Even so," Chen Qing finally spoke, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty, "his method of merging was wrong. He used coercion as a means, lies as a guise, and the Demon Lord as a pawn to test and deplete the Primordial World."

Even if he stands on the so-called "righteous" ground, he has already chosen to use violence and deception to achieve his goals. We cannot trust such a person.

He stood up, walked to the window, and stood beside Nuwa. The two looked at the gray line in the distance, which resembled a faint scar at the horizon, reminding everyone that a storm was still raging there.

Then, he slowly turned around to face the seven sages, his tone low but with an undeniable certainty: "Within ten days, I will do everything in my power to completely fuse the foundation of Pangu into my own body."

At this point, two cold yet intense flames ignited in his eyes, a look that only comes with unwavering determination. He then added, "But before that, I need someone to go to the Demon God Realm for me."

The hall fell silent instantly. Laozi raised his half-closed eyelids, his gaze as calm as a still, deep well, and asked only one word: "Who?"

"Uncle Tongtian." Chen Qing blurted out without hesitation, and then explained, "In terms of cultivation, temperament, and the domineering and unrestrained nature of the path he cultivates, Uncle Tongtian is most similar to that Demon Lord."

This trip isn't about fighting, but about finding out the true reason behind the Demon Lord's actions. Some questions can only be answered by asking him, my uncle.

Before he could finish speaking, Tongtian laughed loudly and strode out: "Alright! I'll go." He was decisive and efficient, without the slightest hesitation, as if this trip to the Demon God Realm was just an ordinary journey.

Chen Qing nodded, took out an ancient-looking small cauldron from his sleeve—the Qiankun Cauldron—and solemnly handed it to Tongtian, lowering his voice to say, "Uncle-Master, this treasure can conceal heavenly secrets and obscure all calculations. Our whereabouts must not be revealed on this trip, otherwise…"

He paused, not finishing his sentence, but everyone present understood the implication—once exposed, Tongtian would face an overwhelming siege from the Demon God Realm, and the Primordial World would completely lose its advantage.

Chen Qing had his own reasons for not handing the Chaos Bell over to Tongtian. That treasure was related to his ultimate trump card. If things really came to the worst, without the Chaos Bell, he wouldn't be able to summon the Heaven-Opening Axe. At that point, even his last-ditch effort would be gone. He dared not, and could not, take that risk.

Lao Tzu silently stepped forward and handed over the exquisite pagoda in his hand. The pagoda shimmered with a golden light. He patted Tongtian on the shoulder and simply said, "Take care."

Yuanshi Tianzun said nothing more. He flipped his palm, and a Pure White Lotus slowly bloomed. The lotus petals were as clear as glass, exuding the pure and holy aura unique to newly promoted innate treasures.

He handed the white lotus to Tongtian, his gaze deep and thoughtful. The three brothers exchanged a glance, their unspoken words flowing freely between them.

After all, they are brothers from the same source. They may have disputes or grudges in ordinary times, but when it comes to such a critical moment of life and death, the affection etched in their bones still supports each other heavily.

Tongtian carefully put away the three treasures, turned around and strode out of the hall, his robes fluttering in the wind, without looking back.

It vanished into the horizon in an instant, heading into the chaos.