Primordial Era: If I remain in Longevity Mountain, I will steadily attain sainthood.

Chapter 76 Hongyun's Preparations

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi were both somewhat surprised. Zhen Yuanzi sighed, "Isn't there still a glimmer of hope?"

Houtu laughed, looked at the two of them, and shook her head, saying, "That's precisely why there's no hope."

"Fellow Daoists, if I'm not mistaken, in this great calamity, I'm afraid neither my Witch Clan nor the Demon Clan will emerge victorious?"

"Neither of our two clans has any chance of becoming the sole overlord of heaven and earth, and naturally, Brother Dijiang cannot attain enlightenment through this either."

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi were both moved, but for a moment they didn't know what to say.

Seeing the two of them like this, Houtu became even more certain of her thoughts and said, "Actually, although I do not have a primordial spirit and cannot deduce the secrets of heaven, I have some understanding of the future."

"Brother Hongyun."

Houtu then looked at Hongyun and said, "I only want to ask you, is it the human race that will succeed us, the protagonists of the witch and demon races?"

Upon hearing this, Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi could no longer conceal the shock in their eyes.

Zhen Yuanzi couldn't help but ask, "How did you know?"

But as soon as he said it, Zhen Yuanzi realized that Houtu's question was not directed at him, but at Hongyun.

This is clearly because of the human religion established by Hongyun, which clearly demonstrates Hongyun's high regard for the human race.

Hongyun nodded and said, "The human race is indeed the new protagonist, and the only protagonist."

"However, Fellow Daoist Houtu, you are still mistaken. In fact, 'human' does not only refer to the human race, but all living beings can be human. The human race is human, the demon race is human, the Asura race is human, and the witch race can also be human."

Houtu nodded and said, "Brother Dao's ideals are admirable, but I'm afraid such ideals are not easy to achieve."

Hongyun smiled and said, "If it's hard to achieve, then it's hard to achieve. For us saints to educate all living beings is a long process. And even if it can't be accomplished, it's not a big deal. But some things still need to be done by someone."

Houtu fell silent upon hearing this. After a long while, she looked at the two men and said, "My two fellow Daoists, if I were to sacrifice myself and be reborn into the cycle of reincarnation, could you please grant me a request?"

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi exchanged a glance and both said, "Fellow Daoist, please speak."

"I dare not ask for the protection of my brothers, but I beg you two brothers to protect my Wu clan from extinction!" Houtu said.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi both nodded and said, "We will do our best."

Houtu then said, "Then I'm relieved. Take care, my two fellow Daoists!"

But at that moment, Hongyun stopped her, saying, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, wait a moment. You've finished speaking; now it's time to listen to me, isn't it?"

Houtu paused, looking at Hongyun with a puzzled expression.

A glimmer of hope rose in Zhen Yuanzi's heart.

Hongyun said, "Fellow Daoist, you wish to sacrifice yourself to transcend reincarnation and benefit all sentient beings. How can I, Hongyun, stand idly by and watch such a noble cause unfold?"

"Moreover, I have received kindness from you in the past, and now is the time to repay it."

With that, Hongyun looked at Zhen Yuanzi and smiled, "Brother, do you dare to fight against all the saints with me?"

Zhen Yuanzi was startled, then laughed loudly, "What is there to be afraid of?"

Houtu also understood Hongyun's implied meaning and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Brother Hongyun, you..."

"Fellow Daoist."

Hongyun looked at Houtu and said, "In this world, besides Brother Zhenyuan, you are the only one who can be called my friend."

How could I bear to let you vanish into thin air, disappearing from the world forever?

"Therefore, I was prepared for this day long ago."

Hongyun revealed his plan: "The reason you perish when you transform into the Cycle of Reincarnation is because you lack a primordial spirit. But what if you had a primordial spirit?"

"If you possess a primordial spirit, this is actually your opportunity; you can seize this chance to attain the Primordial Chaos!"

"Among all the saints, I have the most merit. Therefore, I can take out half of my merit and use my supernatural powers to help you, my fellow Daoist, refine your primordial spirit. At that time, you will naturally be able to safely reincarnate without losing your life."

As she spoke, Hongyun pointed her finger, and immediately a very long incantation appeared in Houtu's mind.

This incantation is a method to have Houtu cooperate in refining the primordial spirit.

Houtu was initially overjoyed upon receiving the technique, but then she suddenly remembered something and said, "Brother Daoist attained enlightenment through merit. If you give me half of that merit, wouldn't my cultivation level be greatly reduced?"

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi couldn't help but look at Hongyun with some concern.

Hongyun laughed and said, "I have accumulated more merit than any saint. I am now equivalent to the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos realm. Even if I lose half of my merit, I will only fall from the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos realm to the early stage."

"He is still a sage, and with the help of the innate Five Elements Grand Array I recently acquired, and my brother by my side, what is there to fear even if all the sages arrive at once?"

Houtu was so moved upon hearing this that she was speechless.

Zhen Yuanzi took a deep breath and said, "I am foolish and rely entirely on you, Hongyun, to think things through. However, as long as we can ensure the safety of Fellow Daoist Houtu, this is all we can do for now."

Hongyun laughed magnanimously, "You don't need to overthink it. Merit is all fleeting to me. What does it matter if I lose half or all of it?"

"Merit and enlightenment are ultimately just illusions, and I don't value them."

"Alright, let's get started without further ado!"

Upon hearing this, Houtu and Zhenyuanzi quickly calmed down; at this moment, they could not afford to delay any longer.

Otherwise, if other sages notice, it might cause further trouble.

Immediately, Hongyun summoned the Creation Cauldron and said to Houtu, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, please enter this cauldron. By using this cauldron, you can shield the secrets of heaven and cast spells."

Houtu nodded and entered the Creation Cauldron first.

Hongyun then said to Zhenyuanzi, "My elder brother is protecting the Dharma outside."

Zhen Yuanzi nodded as well.

Hongyun then entered the Creation Cauldron.

Once inside the Creation Cauldron, Hongyun and Houtu sat facing each other within the cauldron's interior. Behind Hongyun, a massive golden wheel of merit suddenly appeared.

Under the illumination of this golden wheel of merit, Houtu couldn't help but feel her heart become extremely calm.

Hongyun said, "Fellow Daoist, get ready, I'm about to begin."

Houtu nodded.

Hongyun then formed a hand seal and began to unleash his supernatural power. The supernatural power that Hongyun was unleashing was none other than the Great Karma Technique.

As Hongyun unleashed this Great Cause and Effect Technique, countless dense threads of cause and effect appeared.

These countless threads of cause and effect, from who knows where, enveloped the two of them from all directions.

It's like a big cocoon.

Countless threads of cause and effect pierced through the golden wheel of merit behind Hongyun, and then connected to Houtu.

It seems that Houtu is the end point, everything points to Houtu, and returns to Houtu.

Hongyun chanted a series of strange incantations. After an unknown amount of time, suddenly, Hongyun shouted, pointed a finger at Houtu, and yelled, "All karma and cause of all beings return to Houtu! Turn around!"

"boom!"

Suddenly, countless threads of cause and effect surged toward Houtu, and along with them, the enormous golden wheel of merit behind Hongyun shone brightly in that instant, and almost half of the merit, along with the threads of cause and effect, surged toward Houtu.

Countless threads of cause and effect enveloped Houtu's entire body, forming a large cocoon.

But this large cocoon is a dazzling gold color, and at first glance, it looks like a giant golden egg.

(End of this chapter)