My classmates chose martial arts and fantasy, but I chose the prehistoric world.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, the Daoist aura was as vast as the sea.

In the 2700th year, Styx was surrounded by blood-red light that soared into the sky, and the twin swords of Yuan Tu and A Bi rang out in unison.

Blood-red light condensed between his brows, and a phantom figure, resembling him but with a ferocious face and chilling killing intent, appeared.

Evil Corpse!

"cut!"

The illusory image of the evil corpse merged with the Yuan Tu Sword, solidified, and transformed into a Taoist priest in a blood-red robe, wielding a sword and with crimson eyes, which disappeared into his brow.

The Styx River's aura surged, and a blood-sea phantom appeared behind it, accompanied by the roars of countless Blood God's children.

Quasi-Saint stage, achieved!

In the 2800th year, Lao Tzu rose again.

Above his head, amidst auspicious clouds, the benevolent corpse he had previously slain appeared, bearing a smile.

At the same time, another phantom, resembling him but with an indifferent expression and ruthless eyes, flew out from between his eyebrows.

Obsessive Corpse!

Laozi flipped his hand and took out a flat cane—it was a primordial imprint transformed from the innate spiritual treasure, the Wind and Fire Futon.

"Cut again!"

The illusory image of the obsessive corpse merged with the mark of the cane, solidified, and transformed into an old man in a gray robe holding a cane, with an indifferent expression. He nodded slightly to Laozi and disappeared into his brow.

Laozi's aura surged once more, with three flowers blooming simultaneously within the auspicious clouds, his Daoist charm becoming perfect and profound, surpassing all the early-stage Quasi-Saints present!

Mid-stage Quasi-Saint, achieved!

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, Daoist energy resonated.

Lao Tzu, the leader of the Three Pure Ones, actually severed two corpses before the end of the second lecture and stepped into the mid-stage of Quasi-Saint!

In an instant, countless gazes were cast upon him, filled with shock, awe, and complex emotions.

Is this the true essence of Pangu?

The year 2860.

Two more demon clan experts, who were originally at the mid-stage of the Great Luo realm, broke through and entered the late-stage of the Great Luo realm.

2910.

Several demons who were at the early stage of the Great Luo realm broke through one after another and entered the middle stage of the Great Luo realm.

The overall strength of the demon race has increased again!

As for Meng Chuan...

For three thousand years, he preached, always sitting with his eyes closed.

His aura progressed from initial calmness to later perfection, and finally... there was no further room for advancement.

The pinnacle of the Great Luo.

He could feel that his magical power had reached its peak, his blood and qi had reached their peak, his primordial spirit had reached its peak, and his physical body had reached its peak.

The seventh stage of the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique has already been completed...

The threshold to the eighth job advancement is right in front of us!

But I just can't get over it.

The Great Way of Power follows the path of proving one's path through laws, and it is the strongest law of power.

What is needed is the "power" to break through and unravel everything, rather than the "clarity" of severing attachments and getting closer to the Way of Heaven.

The Daoist Master's teachings on severing the three corpses were like scratching an itch through a boot to him.

It seems reasonable, but it's not the root of the problem.

What he needs is perhaps a fight to the death, a breakthrough that comes from facing death, a breaking and reshaping of his own limits...

Instead of relying on spiritual treasures, he severed the three corpses.

He has gained much from preaching the Tao for three thousand years, deepening his understanding of the Great Tao and clarifying his own path.

But his cultivation level... ultimately got stuck at that stage.

Between the peak of the Great Luo realm and the early stage of the Quasi-Saint realm, there is a thin, yet insurmountable, barrier.

He opened his eyes and looked up at the high platform.

The Dao Ancestor's figure blurred, and the Daoist chanting gradually faded away.

"Three thousand years have passed; this sermon shall now conclude."

The voice remained flat.

"The next lecture will be nine thousand years from now. At that time, we will discuss the Way of the Sages."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Dao Ancestor's figure slowly faded away.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, the Daoist aura gradually dissipated.

After a brief silence, the palace was filled with countless exhales, sighs, and whispers.

The three thousand guests rose one after another, their auras all showing a significant improvement.

Many eyes, intentionally or unintentionally, swept over Meng Chuan.

Surprise, doubt, curiosity, schadenfreude, and a touch of regret.

"Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan...it seems you haven't broken through to the next realm yet?"

"After three thousand years of preaching, Laozi severed two of his corpses to reach the mid-stage of Quasi-Saint, while Yuanshi, Tongtian, Taiyi, and Styx all severed their corpses to reach the early-stage of Quasi-Saint... yet he is still only at the peak of the Great Luo realm?"

"Although he reached the pinnacle of the Great Luo realm, he ultimately failed to reach the Quasi-Saint realm. A single step makes all the difference."

"I've heard he cultivates the Law of Power, following the path of proving his Dao through the Laws, without severing his Three Corpses. Could it be... that this path is blocked?"

"The path to enlightenment through the Law of Power is the one that Pangu, the great god, once walked. It is a path to heaven. But... it is difficult. Only those with great perseverance, great opportunity, and great fortune can succeed. Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan, with your extraordinary talent, may be able to succeed, but it will take time."

"It's a pity that Taiyi has now reached the Quasi-Saint level, and his strength has greatly increased. Although he once seriously injured Taiyi, that was before Taiyi severed his corpse. Now that Taiyi has broken through and rebuilt himself, and successfully severed his corpse, if we were to fight again... I'm afraid Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan would not be a match for him."

"It's not just Taiyi... Nowadays, the Three Pure Ones and Styx are all Quasi-Saints, and they may not be weaker than him. The two Westerners, Nuwa and Fuxi, etc. are also at the peak of the Great Luo, and they can sever their corpses at any time."

"Although Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan is strong, his cultivation has stagnated. If this continues... he may fall behind others."

Amidst the murmurs and whispers, Taiyi stood up.

He looked at Meng Chuan, his eyes cold, a sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Meng Chuan, you've listened to the Dao for three thousand years, yet you haven't made an inch of progress? What a pity, what a pity."

He strode forward, the Chaos Bell swirling gently in his palm, naturally radiating the pressure of an early Quasi-Saint. Although not deliberately targeted, it already made many Great Luo Immortals around him gasp for breath.

"I must thank you. If it weren't for that shot you fired three thousand years ago, which severely injured me and forced me to break free and regain my understanding of good and evil, I wouldn't have been able to sever the corpse so easily this time."

"I will remember this."

He stared at Meng Chuan, emphasizing each word: "One day, I will repay you a hundredfold!"

He naturally wanted to ambush and kill Meng Chuan outside Zixiao Palace to avenge his previous humiliation, but remembering that Dijiang had said he would pick up Meng Chuan and take him to the Wu tribe after the second lecture, he temporarily abandoned the idea.

Meng Chuan replied calmly, "I'll be waiting anytime."

The four words were uttered without joy or sorrow.

Taiyi narrowed his eyes, snorted coldly, said no more, turned around and joined Dijun and the others, then transformed into a stream of light and left.

The demons followed closely behind.

Before leaving, Di Jun gave Meng Chuan a deep look, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes, but it ultimately turned cold.

Yuan Shi walked past Meng Chuan, paused slightly, glanced at him, and made no attempt to hide the arrogance in his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan, take care of yourself."

He said something indifferently, then turned and left.

Meng Chuan raised an eyebrow. Did Yuan Shi think he was capable again?

Tongtian walked over, patted Meng Chuan on the shoulder, and transmitted his voice, "Fellow Daoist, don't worry. The Great Dao of Power is inherently difficult. But once you break through, it will be earth-shattering! I believe in you."

Having said that, he also left with Lao Tzu.

Jieyin and Zhunti stepped forward and bowed with their palms together.

"Fellow Daoist, you have a profound foundation; you will surely achieve great things in the future." Jieyin's face was filled with distress.

"Fellow Daoist and the Ancestral Witch Houtu share a deep and admirable bond. If you need any assistance, you are welcome to come to the West." Zhunti smiled broadly, but his gaze kept glancing at Meng Chuan's sleeve.

Meng Chuan returned the greeting calmly.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun walked over.

"Fellow Daoist..." Hongyun hesitated, his eyes filled with worry.

"I'm fine." Meng Chuan shook his head, his expression calm. "We have different paths. They can slaughter their corpses, I will cultivate my own. The difference in speed is not a concern."

Zhen Yuanzi stroked his beard and nodded: "Fellow Daoist, your mind is clear and your Dao heart is firm. I admire you. However... in the primordial world today, Quasi-Saints are gradually emerging, so you must be careful."

"I understand," Meng Chuan nodded.

Houtu stood beside Meng Chuan without saying a word.

Only after the crowd had gradually dispersed did she speak softly, "Let's go."

"Um."

The two walked out of Zixiao Palace side by side.

Outside the palace, chaos reigned, yet the air currents remained unchanged.

But on the way back, the atmosphere was completely different from when they came.

When he arrived, most of the people's eyes were on Meng Chuan, filled with awe, fear, and curiosity.

Upon their return, those gazes held a newfound scrutiny, comparison, and even a hint of... alienation.

In this vast and ancient land, strength reigns supreme.

Three thousand years ago, Meng Chuan single-handedly severely injured Taiyi, intimidating all the heroes. His strength was unparalleled in the Great Luo, naturally earning him respect.

But now, after listening to the Dao for three thousand years, Laozi has entered the mid-stage of Quasi-Saint, and Yuanshi, Tongtian, Taiyi, and Styx have all entered the early stage of Quasi-Saint. Many others are at the peak of Daluo, and they can also sever their corpses at any time.

He is being overtaken and even surpassed by those who were once inferior to him.

Although he was also at the peak of the Great Luo realm, he ultimately... failed to reach the Quasi-Saint realm!

A single step is an insurmountable chasm in the eyes of the most powerful beings in the primordial world.

Just as the two were about to step into the depths of chaos—

The chaos ahead suddenly exploded!

A figure, brimming with blood and energy, and fiercely domineering, tore through the chaos and descended!

It was none other than Dijiang, the head of the twelve ancestral witches of the witch clan!

"Girl! Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan!"

Di Jiang's voice was like muffled thunder. He took a step in front of the two of them, glanced at Hou Tu, and seeing that she was calm and unharmed, the worry in his eyes disappeared. He then looked at Meng Chuan.

"Having heard from this sermon, that scrawny bird Taiyi has become a quasi-saint after severing his own corpse?"

He asked in a gruff voice, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

Meng Chuan nodded: "Yes."

Dijiang stared at Meng Chuan for a moment, then suddenly grinned and patted Meng Chuan's shoulder forcefully.

"It's alright! The path of severing the three corpses is merely a shortcut! What you cultivate is the method of the Father God proving the Dao through force, which is extremely difficult, but once you break through, it will surely shake the primordial world!"

"So what if I severed two corpses and became a mid-stage Quasi-Saint? In terms of true combat strength, I'm no weaker than him!"

He paused, then said solemnly, "That day at the palace gate, I said that after the second lecture at Zixiao Palace, I would personally come to fetch you and Houtu back to the Wu Clan. The Wu Clan will surely repay you handsomely!"

Meng Chuan cupped his hands in greeting: "You flatter me, Dijiang Zuwu."

"Hey, what's with the name 'Ancestral Witch'?"

Dijiang waved his hand and said magnanimously, "You avenged my sister, severely injured Taiyi, and gained my sister's approval. You are now a friend of the Wu Clan! From now on, you can call me Big Brother!"

"Let's go! Come home with our eldest brother!"