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

Lao Tzu.

The beginning of time.

Tongtian did not move.

He remained seated cross-legged on the stone steps, his gaze calmly watching the two figures descend.

As Lao Tzu landed, the celestial light receded.

He gazed at the towering peak, at the figure in black robes fluttering, sitting alone on the stone steps.

My heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"Third brother."

He spoke, his voice hoarse.

Tongtian did not answer.

She just watched him quietly.

Yuanshi stepped forward, and the Jade Purity Immortal Light flickered uncertainly:

"Third brother, as your elder brother..."

"No need to say anything more."

Tongtian interrupted him, his voice calm:

"I knew you would come."

"We also know why you have come."

Laozi and Yuanshi exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of bitterness in each other's eyes.

Lao Tzu took a deep breath and slowly stepped forward.

He sat down cross-legged beside Tongtian.

Yuanshi hesitated for a moment, then sat down on the other side.

The three immortals sat side by side on the stone steps.

Just like when they first arrived in Kunlun countless years ago.

silence.

a long time.

Lao Tzu slowly opened his mouth:

"Third brother."

"I did hesitate just now."

"But that doesn't mean I don't believe you."

"But..."

He paused, his gaze lowered slightly:

"It's fear."

"I'm afraid that if you really take action to break the shackles, the losses will be too great, and your cultivation will drop."

"I'm afraid that you'll damage your own foundation in order to save us."

"Afraid......"

"I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

Tongtian shuddered.

He looked at Laozi, at his elder brother who was always taciturn and rarely showed his emotions.

His aged face was now filled with heartache and self-reproach.

"Brother..."

Laozi raised his hand and pressed down on the back of Tongtian's hand:

"I know you are heartbroken."

"But you must know that I would rather be bound to death by the shackles of Heaven than see you suffer even the slightest harm."

"My hesitation just now wasn't because I didn't trust you."

"It's because I'm afraid you... will suffer."

Tongtian's eyes trembled slightly.

He looked toward the beginning of time.

Yuanshi took a deep breath and slowly said:

"Third brother, I have always been proud and never bow my head."

"But today, I bow my head."

"It's not because I'm afraid of you, it's because..."

He paused, his voice hoarse:

"It's because I was truly wrong."

"I shouldn't have spoken to you like that, I shouldn't have questioned you like that, I shouldn't have..."

"It will break your heart."

Tongtian looked at him, at his second brother who was always cold and never yielded.

His cold, stern face was now filled with regret.

"Second brother..."

Yuanshi shook his head:

"Third brother, I don't ask for your forgiveness."

"Just remember this: no matter what, you are my third brother, Yuan Shi."

"Always."

Tongtian remained silent.

a long time.

He suddenly laughed.

His smile was bittersweet, yet tinged with a hint of relief.

"Eldest brother, second brother."

Do you know why I have returned?

Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

Seeing the two of them like this, Tongtian lowered his eyes slightly, but the image of that figure in black robes flashed through his mind.

At the summit of Mount Buzhou, in the instant that wisp of chaotic light entered his brow, what he saw was far more than just the method of breaking down the shackles of the Heavenly Dao.

There is a future.

A fragmented yet undeniably real future.

The clouds and mist surged, and an aura of killing intent soared to the sky.

He saw himself standing in the Zhuxian Sword Formation, with four swords ringing out in unison, their sword intent soaring to the heavens.

However, those outside the formation were neither remnants of the Chaos Clan nor extraterrestrial demons.

It was Lao Tzu.

The beginning of time.

And those two figures from the West.

Jieyin and Zhunti.

The four of them joined forces, each wielding their own magical weapons, and pressed down on him with tremendous force.

He saw the Taiji diagram unfold in Laozi's hand, with the Yin and Yang energies circulating, sealing the Zhuxian Sword Gate tightly.

He saw Yuanshi holding the Pangu Banner, his chaotic sword energy crisscrossing, clashing fiercely with the light of the Immortal-Trapping Sword.

He saw the various magical weapons of Jieyin and Zhunti, including the Jieyin Divine Banner and the Demon-Subduing Pestle, locked in a fierce battle with the two swords, Luxian and Juexian.

He stood in the center of the formation, his sword intent surging, yet he could not move an inch.

It's not because the four of them are too strong when they work together.

It was because those two were the people he trusted most.

Brother.

Second brother.

He saw himself roaring and questioning, but all he received in response was silence and an even fiercer offensive.

He saw the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, the supreme sword formation he had forged with his life's blood and sweat, which was comparable to that of a saint, crumble inch by inch under the attack of the four.

He saw that Daoist Duobao, Holy Mother Jinling, Holy Mother Wudang, Holy Mother Guiling, and his disciples whom he regarded as his own children, were all sent to the Investiture of the Gods, their souls sealed in that list, never to be freed.

He saw Zhao Gongming, the Three Immortals of Sanxiao, the Ten Heavenly Kings, and his loyal disciples of the Jie Sect who had followed him for countless years, some of whom had been killed, some suppressed, and some whose lives had ended.

blood.

Blood was everywhere.

The blood of the disciples of the Jie Sect.

His blood.

And his heart, torn to pieces.

The image is shattered.

Tongtian opened his eyes.

In his eyes, the chaotic sword light flowed, reflecting the two people sitting beside him.

Lao Tzu.

The beginning of time.

Their faces were filled with regret and their eyes with heartache; their words were full of deep brotherly affection.

It can reach the heavens and know.

That was only at that moment.

Because at this moment, he has what they want.

The way to break free from the shackles of Heaven's will.

If this item is not available...

If they didn't have this, would they still be bowing their heads like this?

Tongtian's lips curled into a very faint smile.

The smile was bitter, carrying a chilling undertone.

He recalled all the moments the three of them had shared over the long years.

In every debate on the Dao, whenever his opinion differed from that of Yuanshi, Laozi would always side with Yuanshi.

It's not because he's right.

It's because Yuanshi was the second brother.

And Tongtian was the third brother.

It was the third brother who needed to be disciplined, taught, and corrected.

He recalled Yuanshi's proud gaze and his unyielding demeanor.

When they looked at him, their gaze always carried a hint of condescending scrutiny.

It was as if he, the third brother, always needed to be instructed, guided, and controlled.

He recalled Lao Tzu's face of non-action, and his seemingly fair but actually biased silence.

That silence is not neutrality.

It is the default.

It is indulgence.

It's like standing on the side of Yuanshi, watching him reach the heavens, his sharp edges gradually worn away.

Tongtian closed his eyes.

Those future images resurfaced in my mind.

Lao Tzu used the Tai Chi diagram in his hand to seal the Immortal Execution Sword Sect.

Yuanshi held the Pangu Banner and slashed at the light of the Immortal-Trapping Sword.

The guides and the celestial guardians, along with their respective treasures, entangled and annihilated the immortals.

He stood in the middle of the formation, isolated and helpless.

Those images were deeply ingrained in his soul by Kong Xuan.

It is true.

It is about to happen.

It was destined.

He could see the four people's eyes clearly.

It's not that we've been deceived or controlled.

She is conscious.

It was calm.

It was all planned.

They know what they are doing.

They knew what that meant.

They did it anyway.

Because in their hearts, he was all-powerful and was never indispensable.

Because in their eyes, the disciples of the Jie Sect were never exempt from sacrifice.

As long as it's for the "big picture" in their hearts, and for the "right path" they believe in.

Everything can be abandoned.

Everything can be sacrificed.

Including him.

Including his disciples.

Including the Jie Sect, which he regarded as his life.

Tongtian slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was calm, yet as deep as an abyss.

He looked at Lao Tzu.

He looked at his elder brother, who had been his companion since the beginning of time.

His aged face was now filled with heartache.

Was that heartache real?

maybe.

At least for now, it's true.

But what if one day he and Yuanshi disagree again?

If one day, Tongtian will no longer be the third brother who needs to be "protected," but an opponent who needs to be "checked and balanced."

Brother, would you still feel so sorry for him?

will not.

He will stand on Yuanshi's side.

as always.