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

Looking towards the beginning of heaven.

He looked at his second brother, who was usually arrogant but now looked full of regret.

Was that regret real?

maybe.

At least for now, it's true.

Tongtian withdrew his gaze.

He looked down at the surging sea of ​​clouds below the mountain, and at the temple where he and his two elder brothers had lived for countless years.

Suddenly I found it all quite ridiculous.

It's utterly ridiculous.

"Brother."

He spoke, his voice calm.

Lao Tzu was slightly taken aback:

"Third brother?"

Tongtian didn't look at him, but continued to gaze down the mountain:

"You just said that you would rather be bound to death by the shackles of Heaven than see me suffer the slightest harm."

Is that the truth?

Lao Tzu's philosophy of non-action paused slightly:

"Of course it's true!"

Tongtian laughed.

He laughed heartily.

The laughter echoed across the summit of Kunlun Mountain, shaking the sea of ​​clouds, dispersing the celestial mist, and leaving Laozi and Yuanshi staring at each other in bewilderment.

"Third brother?"

Lao Tzu frowned slightly, and as the Daoist principles of non-action flowed through him, he softly called out.

Tongtian did not respond.

He was still smiling.

He laughed so hard he was doubled over, his black robes trembled, and the last trace of warmth in his eyes turned completely cold.

He recalled countless years ago.

When they first arrived in Kunlun, they were ignorant and relied on each other for survival.

At that time, he felt that there was no one better than his two older brothers in the world.

He recalled his first enlightenment.

Having mastered the basics of swordsmanship, he excitedly went to share his success with his two elder brothers.

The elder brother nodded slightly and said, "It's acceptable."

The second brother gave it a cold look and said, "It still needs polishing."

At that time, he felt that his two older brothers were doing it for his own good, because they were afraid that he would become arrogant and complacent.

He recalled their first argument.

He debated with Yuanshi, each holding their own opinion and refusing to yield.

Lao Tzu sat upright to one side, without saying a word.

After the two of them argued until their faces were red, Laozi slowly spoke up and said, "Second brother is right."

At that time, he felt that his elder brother was fair and impartial.

Looking back now, that fairness was always biased.

He thought about it countless times.

Every single time.

As long as he disagrees with Yuanshi, Laozi will definitely stand on Yuanshi's side.

Every single time.

If he becomes too outspoken, I will definitely speak out to suppress him.

But he never thought of anything else.

Because they are the elder brothers.

She was the closest person to him in this world.

But now.

Now he finally understands.

Those heartaches, those concerns, those seemingly selfless sacrifices.

There are always conditions.

The condition was that he had to obey.

We must comply.

He had to be the third brother who always needed to be disciplined, taught, and corrected.

If he dares to have his own ideas, dares to walk his own path, and dares to go against their "overall situation".

That means being disobedient.

That means they need to be taught a lesson.

That is something that can be discarded.

Tongtian had laughed enough.

He slowly suppressed his smile and looked calmly at Lao Tzu.

Looking at the elder brother who had just said, "I would rather be bound to death by the shackles of Heaven than see you suffer even the slightest harm."

"Brother."

He spoke, his voice as calm as still water:

Say what you just said again.

Lao Tzu was slightly taken aback.

As the Daoist energy of non-action flowed, he gazed at Tongtian, at those calm, almost unfamiliar eyes.

A sense of unease suddenly welled up in my heart.

"Third brother, what I just said..."

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

Tongtian nodded.

"Alright then."

He slowly rose, his black robe billowing and his black hair falling down.

His gaze remained fixed on Lao Tzu:

"If I were to find a way to break the shackles of Heaven, I would need to pay the price of half of your cultivation."

"Are you willing?"

Lao Tzu was jolted.

The Daoist aura of non-action fluctuated violently, and a trace of hesitation, difficult to conceal, flashed across his aged face.

"this."

Tongtian laughed.

The smile was so faint that it was almost imperceptible.

But within that smile lay a chilling coldness.

"My elder brother hesitated."

Lao Tzu's expression changed slightly:

"Third brother, it's not that I'm hesitating, it's just..."

"Just what?"

Tongtian interrupted him:

"Is it just a matter of weighing the pros and cons? Is it just a matter of considering the gains and losses?"

"Elder brother, didn't you just say that you would rather be bound to death by the shackles of Heaven than see me suffer even the slightest harm?"

"What, you're hesitating now that you have half your cultivation level?"

Lao Tzu paused in his speech.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Tongtian stopped looking at him.

Then he turned to look at the Primordial Beginning.

"Second brother."

The light of the Primordial Jade Purity Immortal flickered, and a hint of unease flashed across his usually cold and stern face.

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

"Second brother, there's no need to say more."

Tongtian raised his hand, interrupting him:

"I'll only ask you one question."

"If my method is to break free from the shackles of Heaven, it is to withstand a single strike from my Qingping Sword."

"Are you willing?"

Yuan Shi's expression changed drastically.

Jade Purity Immortal Light surged, and the aura around him surged like a tide:

"Third brother! What do you mean by this?!"

"Your cultivation has increased dramatically, which is extraordinary. You are now facing a life-or-death situation with a nine-out-of-ten chance of survival."

"Nine times out of ten, one chance at life."

Tongtian picked up the conversation, a mocking smile playing on his lips:

"It's not a certain death."

"My second brother has always been proud and fearless."

"What, you're afraid now that you've taken one of my sword strikes?"

The words of the Primordial Beginning paused.

He gazed at Tongtian, at those calm, almost indifferent eyes.

Suddenly, he realized that he couldn't understand his third brother anymore.

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

They suddenly realized that something seemed wrong.

Tongtian did not press the matter further.

He just watched them quietly.

Looking at those two familiar faces, I could see the undisguised panic and guilt.

The last glimmer of hope in my heart was completely extinguished.

"Eldest brother, second brother."

He spoke, his voice calm:

"Do you know?"

"Just now at the summit of Mount Buzhou, when the senior passed on that wisp of chaotic light to me, I saw some things."

Lao Tzu frowned:

"What is it?"

Tongtian did not answer.

He simply stared at them, at their two faces now filled with confusion.

He said slowly:

"I see the future."

"future?"

The light of the Primordial Jade Purity Immortal flickers unpredictably.

"What future?"

Tongtian's lips curled into a very faint smile:

"I witnessed the Investiture of the Gods."

"I witnessed the great calamity."

"I saw the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation."

"I saw it."

He paused, his gaze fixed directly on Laozi and Yuanshi:

"My elder brother holds the Taiji Diagram and seals off my Sword Sect."

"My second brother wielded the Pangu Banner and slashed at my sword light."

Laozi's expression changed drastically!

The Daoist principle of non-action exploded violently, and disbelief filled the aged face:

"Third brother! What did you say?!"

Yuanshi staggered, his Jade Purity Immortal Light flickering like a candle in the wind.

"Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Tongtian offered no explanation.

He just watched them quietly.

Looking at the incredulous shock on those two faces.

Was that shock real?

maybe.

At least for now, it's true.

But he knew that future was real.

Because that image was something Kong Xuan had etched into the depths of his soul.

It is true.

It is about to happen.

It was destined.

"Third brother!"

Laozi stepped forward and grabbed Tongtian's arm:

"That future is fake! Our senior must have made a mistake! How could we...?"

"What could be?"

Tongtian interrupted him, his gaze calm:

Why would they attack me?

"Brother, ask yourself this."

"If that day ever comes, if I truly go against the 'big picture' that you two believe in."

"Which side will you stand on?"

Lao Tzu paused in his speech.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Because he knows the answer.

He knew that if that day ever came, he would stand on Yuanshi's side.

As it has been throughout countless ages, every single time.