Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

Before the Purple Cloud Palace, chaotic energy surged ceaselessly. Xuanbao stood in the void, his robes fluttering in the disordered chaotic wind, yet the divine light in his eyes shone like an ancient, undying star, piercing through layers of mist.

"The Five Elements incarnations, manifest!"

With a thought from Xuanbao, five streams of light of different colors separated from his body. Red, yellow, blue, white, and black, the five colors intertwined in the chaos, transforming into five figures whose auras were of the same origin as Xuanbao's, yet each with its own unique characteristics.

"What are your orders, Venerable One?" the five avatars asked in unison, their voices echoing in the chaos.

Xuanbao's gaze swept over the five avatars, and he said in a deep voice, "The threat of the Chaos Demon God is imminent, and the Primordial World is in imminent danger. I need you to return to the Heavenly Court immediately, use the Qiankun Cauldron, and do your utmost to refine innate spiritual treasures—the more the better, and the faster the better."

"The primordial world is about to undergo an unprecedented transformation, and these spiritual treasures will be an important asset for the Heavenly Court in its fight against the Chaos Demon God."

As a clone, Xuanbao needs little explanation. As a person from a later generation, Xuanbao deeply understands one principle: when poor, one should strike precisely; when rich, one should unleash overwhelming firepower. The more innate spiritual roots one has, the faster one's strength will increase.

"Yes, sir!" The five avatars responded in unison, transforming into five streams of light that instantly pierced through the chaos and sped off toward the primordial world.

Watching his avatar depart, Xuanbao took a deep breath, his gaze hardening. He turned to look towards the Primordial World, and with a flicker, vanished from the spot.

……

Kunshan, Sanqing Hall

When Xuanbao reappeared before the Sanqing Hall, the hall doors opened silently. It seemed the Sanqing had anticipated his arrival.

Upon entering the hall, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, the three sages, sat upright on their cloud beds, their gazes all fixed on Xuanbao. Unlike usual, the expressions of the three sages were unusually solemn today.

"You come from Zixiao Palace." Laozi spoke slowly, his tone calm but carrying a sense of certainty.

Xuanbao bowed respectfully: "My three masters are wise. I have just returned from Zixiao Palace and have important matters to report."

"Sit down and talk," Yuanshi said, pointing to the prayer mat in the hall.

Xuanbao sat down as instructed, and without hesitation, recounted everything Hongjun had said in Zixiao Palace, as well as his own observations and feelings. He described everything from the strange sensations he felt when he entered Zixiao Palace, to Hongjun's almost inhuman state, to the secrets of the Chaos Demon God's resentment parasitizing the Heavenly Dao and the Chaos Demon God's possible resurgence, without missing a single word.

As Xuanbao narrated, the atmosphere inside the Sanqing Hall grew increasingly solemn. The flow of Daoist energy noticeably slowed, as if the entire hall was holding its breath in comprehension.

When Xuanbao mentioned that "Hongjun Daozu is being possessed," Tongtian Jiaozhu slammed his fist on the jade table beside him, causing the entire Sanqing Hall to tremble: "Damn it! Those remnants of the Chaos Demon Gods, how dare they!"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable frowned, the jade ruyi in his hand shimmering with clear light: "So that's how it is... No wonder since the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, the primordial world has been plagued by constant calamities and great tribulations. We thought it was just the natural order of the universe, but we never imagined there was such a dark force behind it all."

The sage Lao Tzu sat silently, but a rare ripple stirred deep within his usually placid eyes. After a long silence, he finally spoke: "What is your view on this matter?"

Xuanbao said solemnly, "This disciple believes that there are three crises in this matter. First, the Heavenly Dao has been corrupted, and the Great Tribulation may be accelerated, even evolving into the legendary 'Immeasurable Great Tribulation.' Second, if Dao Ancestor Hongjun is completely possessed, the authority of the Heavenly Dao will fall into the hands of the Chaos Demons, and the Primordial World will be in danger. Third, if those dormant top Chaos Demons take the opportunity to return, the Primordial World will face a situation of being attacked from both inside and outside."

"Is there anything else?" Lao Tzu gestured.

"The most urgent tasks, in my opinion, are several things we need to do first," Xuanbao said clearly. "First, we must immediately strengthen the Heavenly Court's defenses, restore order to all realms, and forge the Primordial World into an impregnable fortress. Second, we must accelerate the cultivation of high-end combat power, especially at the Quasi-Saint and Grand Luo levels. Third, we must investigate the possible passages and timing for the return of the Chaos Demon God. Fourth…"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his three masters: "Perhaps we need to consider, if necessary... stripping away or purifying the chaotic demonic will that parasitizes the Heavenly Dao."

Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones were all shocked.

"To remove the foreign elements from the Heavenly Dao..." Yuanshi pondered, "This is no easy task. The power of the Heavenly Dao is the sum of the world, and forcibly removing it may damage the very foundation of the Heavenly Dao, or even cause the collapse of the primordial world."

"That's why we need to find a way." A resolute glint flashed in Xuanbao's eyes. "This disciple believes it is necessary at this time, after all, such a Heavenly Dao is like a time bomb, which may explode at any moment."

The hall was silent, save for the silent flow of Daoist energy. The faces of the three sages, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian, were all grave. The idea of ​​stripping away the foreign elements from the Heavenly Dao was far too shocking, yet, faced with the threat of the Chaos Demon God's possible resurgence, it seemed to be an extreme option that had to be considered.

"This matter..." Yuanshi was about to speak when he suddenly frowned and looked out of the hall.

Almost simultaneously, Laozi and Tongtian also sensed something and turned their gazes in the same direction.

Xuanbao also sensed it—two holy powers were piercing through the protective array of Kunlun Mountain and rapidly approaching the Sanqing Hall. One was boundless and boundless in its creative vitality, carrying the compassion of mending the heavens and saving the world, as well as maternal majesty; the other was profound and deep in its cycle of reincarnation, containing the serenity and compassion of ruling the underworld and operating the six paths.

Nuwa and Houtu rushed over immediately upon receiving the notification.

The next instant, the hall was filled with a clear light, and two figures quietly appeared on a futon not far from Xuanbao, as if they were meant to be there.

On the left, Nuwa, still dressed in a simple, moon-white Daoist robe, her dark hair loosely tied back with a wooden hairpin, stood out. Her beautiful face, however, lacked its usual warm smile, replaced by a serene solemnity. Her eyes, opening and closing, seemed to hold a divine light of creation, as if she had contemplated countless possibilities in an instant, ultimately settling into a deep worry. She first gave a slight nod to the Three Pure Ones, then her gaze fell upon Xuanbao, her voice soft yet carrying an undeniable power: "Brother Xuanbao, is what you said in your message truly true?"

On the right, the Goddess Houtu, dressed in simple hempen robes and barefoot like a lotus, sat quietly, seemingly one with the entire earth and the cycle of reincarnation. Her face was compassionate, yet her eyes were clear and resolute. When she looked at Xuanbao, she held undisguised trust and concern: "Brother Xuanbao, tell me in detail. Those chaotic demons all want to seize Father God's primordial world!"

Facing the gazes of his two elder sisters, Xuanbao once again succinctly recounted what he had seen and heard in Zixiao Palace, as well as his own deductions.

As Xuanbao recounted his story, Nuwa and Houtu grew increasingly solemn. In particular, when they heard that "Hongjun Daozu is being possessed," the holy aura surrounding the two saints subtly fluctuated.

"No wonder..." Nuwa murmured, "No wonder every great calamity was fought so fiercely, with countless deaths and injuries among the myriad races of the primordial world."

The hall was deathly silent, with only the strained flow of the Dao's essence in the heavy air. The last trace of warmth on Nuwa's exquisite face vanished, replaced by a chilling aura of shock, anger, and deep worry. A wisp of primordial energy swirled at her fingertips, manifesting the cycle of birth and death of all things, but ultimately stalled and disintegrated at the point of "annihilation," as if foreshadowing an ominous future.

Nuwa's voice was soft, yet carried a chilling coldness, "The Great Calamity of the Primordial World. I only thought it was the insatiable greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt of living beings, their endless strife, which was their nature, and also a test of the Great Dao. But I never imagined that the Heavenly Dao itself would intervene, using the Great Calamity to cleanse and weaken the foundation of the Primordial World, ruining the primordial world created by the Father God! Truly... hateful! Deserving to die!"

For the first time, the gentle and boundless aura of creation surrounding her revealed a sharp and piercing edge. Countless illusory blue lotuses silently bloomed and vanished in the void within the hall, a manifestation of the wrath of a saint.

Houtu listened quietly, her simple linen dress fluttering even without wind. She slowly raised her eyes, and those eyes, which reflected the six realms of reincarnation and endless life and death, now clearly reflected Xuanbao's solemn face. Her voice was steady, yet as heavy as Mount Buzhou collapsing: "Our Father God created the heavens and earth, and his body transformed into all things. The primordial world is formed from our Father God's blood and sweat; it is our birthplace and our home. Those chaotic demons first obstructed the creation of the heavens, then harbored resentment, and now they want to return and seize our home... There is absolutely no room for negotiation on this matter."

She looked at the Three Pure Ones, then at Nuwa, and finally at Xuanbao, saying slowly and deliberately, "Brother Xuanbao, what you said about stripping or purifying things in the Heavenly Dao is extremely difficult, almost defying the heavens, but... perhaps, it is the only way to survive."

Tongtian clapped his hands, his eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Well said! Houtu is right! What kind of trash are those Chaos Demons? They were slaughtered by the Father God back then, and now they are just remnants of resentment. They dare to covet the Primordial World? They even want to seize the Heavenly Dao? They are just pretending to be something they're not!"

In my opinion, Xuanbao is absolutely right. We should find a way to strip away that filthy thing parasitizing the Heavenly Dao! What kind of bullshit calamity is this? We can't let it continue to recklessly harvest the primordial energy of the world like this!"

Yuanshi frowned, the jade ruyi in his hand shimmering with clear light, manifesting auspicious clouds and golden lamps, attempting to deduce a certain possibility. In the end, he shook his head slightly and sighed, "Difficult, difficult, difficult. The Heavenly Dao is the general principle governing the operation of the primordial world, the source of all laws. Its core laws are already inextricably intertwined with the resentment of that demon god, you are in me, and I am in you. Forcibly separating them is like cutting open one's heart with a sharp blade. If one is not careful, the Heavenly Dao will collapse, the laws will be reversed, and the primordial world will return to chaos. At that time, not to mention resisting external enemies, our own Dao fruits, and even the countless beings of the primordial world, will all perish with us."

He looked at Xuanbao, his gaze stern yet deeply probing: "Xuanbao, are you aware of the dangers involved? Do you have a safe plan? This is definitely not something you can do with mere bravado."

Laozi, who had been sitting in meditation, slowly opened his eyes. Those eyes, which seemed to reflect the entire cycle of birth and death in the primordial world, looked at Xuanbao and then swept over the saints present. He gently tapped his flat cane, emitting a deep and distant Daoist sound, suppressing the slightly restless holy aura in the hall.

"The resentment of the Chaos Gods parasitizes the Heavenly Dao. This is the greatest 'tumor' and the greatest 'variable' since the beginning of time." Lao Tzu's voice was calm and still, yet every word carried immense weight. "Stripping away and purifying is the inevitable choice, but the timing, method, and cost must be carefully considered and acted upon only after thorough planning."

His gaze fell upon Xuanbao: "Xuanbao, since you have raised this idea and have recently advanced to the Hunyuan realm, you may have unique insights into the Great Dao. In your opinion, how should we proceed? You must know that although we are saints, our primordial spirits are entrusted to the void of the Heavenly Dao, indestructible through countless eons. However, if the Heavenly Dao is damaged, and the Primordial World ceases to exist, we will be like trees without roots or water without a source, and even our saintly positions will be shaken. This matter concerns all living beings in the Primordial World, and the very survival of the Primordial World."

The pressure once again converged on Xuanbao. The gazes of the five sages, like five chaotic divine mountains bearing the origin of the Great Dao, pressed down heavily, awaiting his answer. This was not a test, but a genuine inquiry concerning survival.

Xuanbao took a deep breath, showing no sign of panic despite the sage's gaze. Having achieved Hunyuan and perfected his own Great Dao, he now possessed the confidence and vision to converse as an equal with the sages, and even to guide their direction. He pondered for a moment, organizing his thoughts, and slowly began to speak:

"Masters, elder sisters. As your second master said, the process of stripping away and purifying the Heavenly Dao is indeed extremely dangerous, with the consequences of pulling one hair affecting the whole. However, as our eldest master said, it is the only option. To sit idly by and watch it continue to erode the Heavenly Dao, give rise to the Great Calamity, and ultimately bring back the Chaos Demon God is tantamount to waiting for our own demise."

His eyes were clear as he continued, "In my opinion, this matter cannot be accomplished overnight; it requires a phased approach, a multi-pronged strategy, and a gradual process."

"Tell me about it!" x5

Xuanbao's gaze swept over the five sages present, and he slowly said, "Masters, sisters, do you still remember the Primordial Purple Qi that Dao Ancestor Hongjun bestowed upon you on the Treasure Distribution Cliff?"

"Primordial Purple Qi?" Tongtian frowned. "Weren't those Primordial Purple Chess pieces a result of passive manipulation?"

Everyone looked at Xuanbao with puzzled expressions.

"The Primordial Purple Qi has indeed been tampered with, but it can also be said to be the authority of the Heavenly Dao. Although we cannot use it, others can."

Xuanbao's words successfully confused everyone, but before anyone could ask, a passageway instantly formed inside the Sanqing Hall, and a person slowly walked out.

"Why did you call me here?"

boom--!!!

After a brief silence came shock and disbelief, almost like a volcanic eruption!

Even with the saintly minds of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, they almost lost their Daoist resolve at this moment!

"This...this is?!" Yuanshi's pupils shrank sharply, and the jade ruyi in his hand made a soft "snap," its clear light momentarily disordered. He stared intently at the figure that looked exactly like Xuanbao, but whose aura was completely different. In particular, he felt the Heavenly Dao pressure emanating from the other party, which was very similar to that of Hongjun. Even with his knowledge, he felt a wave of dizziness.

"The Heavenly Dao?! The complete authority of the Earthly Dao?! And... the aura of Xuanbao?!" Tongtian exclaimed in shock. The illusory images of the Four Swords of Zhuxian behind him rang out, almost materializing. He looked at Xuanbao's true form, then at the figure from the Underworld, his eyes wide with disbelief. "This...this...boy, this is your clone?! When did this happen? No, how is this possible?! How can a clone bear the authority of the Heavenly Dao of the Underworld?!"

For the first time, Nuwa's exquisite face showed near-complacent shock. She covered her mouth with her jade hand, and the Dao of Creation fluctuated violently around her: "Brother Xuanbao...you...when did you...become the Heavenly Dao of the Underworld?!"

Only Houtu remained calm, looking at everyone present with an amused expression.