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

Outside Jin'ao Island.

The chaotic sea surged like a tide, and three thousand streams of light rushed in from all directions.

Di Jun rushed to the front, his body ablaze with the True Fire of the Sun, scorching the chaotic energy that scattered and retreated.

He had only one thought in his mind.

When we arrive, we must be the first ones there.

But when he rushed to within a hundred miles of Jin'ao Island, his body suddenly froze.

In the void outside the island, a figure in black robes stood with his hands behind his back.

Reaching the heavens.

His gaze was calm as he watched the streaks of light rushing towards him, his sword intent contained within, like a blade hidden in a sheath.

No trace of oppressive aura emanated from him, yet his figure stood amidst the chaos like an insurmountable divine mountain.

Emperor Jun's momentum suddenly diminished, and he stopped a hundred miles away, not daring to take another step closer.

Behind them, streaks of light followed one after another.

Donghuang Taiyi, Nuwa, Fuxi, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi, Kunpeng, Jieyin, Zhunti, the Twelve Ancestral Witches...

There's also Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi.

Everyone stopped a hundred miles away, staring at the figure in black robes, their expressions varied.

There was ecstasy, trepidation, awe, and guilt.

More than anything, it is indescribably complex.

Reaching the heavens.

In the Zixiao Palace, which has stood for three thousand years, Tongtian sat with them, listening to the teachings.

At the summit of Mount Buzhou, Tongtian, forced to leave in a huff by them.

At this moment, however, they stood outside Jin'ao Island, blocking their way.

Di Jun took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent thoughts in his heart, and stepped forward:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian! We await..."

"No need to say anything more."

Tongtian raised his hand, interrupting him.

His gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Laozi and Yuanshi.

Take a breath.

Two breaths.

Three breaths.

Laozi trembled under his gaze, and his Daoist principles of non-action became slightly disordered.

"Third brother..."

Tongtian withdrew his gaze and looked at the crowd:

"As the elders said, when the Jie Sect was first established, it opened its gates wide."

"Those who are destined to come are welcome to join us."

"Regardless of background, origin, or past."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions relaxed.

Di Jun was overjoyed:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian! Then we will wait..."

"but."

Tongtian interrupted him again, his voice turning cold:

"Those who join my Jie Sect must abide by its rules."

Di Jun's smile froze:

"What are the rules?"

Tongtian slowly spoke:

"First, those who join my sect must swear an oath never to betray the Jie Sect."

"Secondly, those who enter my sect must respect the laws of my Jie Sect and abandon the shackles of the Heavenly Dao."

"Thirdly, those who wish to join my sect must..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Laozi and Yuanshi:

"Sever ties with the past."

Cut ties with the past.

The four words were uttered like a thunderclap!

Lao Tzu trembled violently, and the Daoist principle of non-action exploded!

The light of the Primordial Jade Purity Immortal flickered unpredictably, and his face was as pale as paper!

Di Jun, Nuwa, Fuxi, Hongyun, Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng, Jieyin, Zhunti, the Twelve Ancestral Witches...

Everyone's pupils constricted and their expressions changed drastically!

Sever ties with the past!

What is the past?

Their past with Tongtian.

They are forcing Tongtian to reveal his past.

They questioned Tongtian's past.

besides......

The brotherhood between Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi, and the endless years of Tongtian!

Lao Tzu staggered forward, his voice hoarse:

"Third brother! What do you mean by that?! Do you mean to...sever ties with us?!"

Tongtian gazed at him, his eyes calm as still water:

"Elder brother, it's not that I want to sever ties."

"It was you who cut it off long ago."

Lao Tzu paused in his speech.

Tongtian continued:

"When you interrogated me atop Mount Buzhou, did you ever consider that I was your third brother?"

"When I said that only I could find the solution, and that it would require expending my mental and spiritual energy, did you ever feel even a little bit of pity for me?"

"What you're thinking about are just the shackles on your own bodies."

"The only question is whether I can find liberation myself."

"As for whether my third brother will be injured, whether his cultivation level will drop, or whether his foundation will be damaged..."

He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold:

Have you thought about this?

Lao Tzu opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Because he knew that what Tongtian said was true.

He hadn't considered it atop Mount Buzhou.

He only thought, "My third brother has a solution, why doesn't he tell me?"

I just wondered if my third brother was trying to keep something from me.

All I could think about was what I should do.

As for whether the third brother will get hurt...

He hadn't thought about it.

I really never thought of that.

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

"Third brother! I know I was wrong! I only... I only..."

"Just what?"

Tongtian looked at him, his gaze still calm:

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

"Is it just about weighing the pros and cons?"

"Second brother, you have always been proud and never bow your head."

"Is your bowing of your head today because you truly know you were wrong, or because...?"

He paused:

"Do I have what you want?"

Yuanshi trembled violently!

His face was ashen, and he staggered backward, nearly collapsing into the chaos!

Tongtian stopped looking at him.

He then looked at the crowd:

"And you?"

"Have you come to seek refuge today because you sincerely desire the Way, or because...?"

"You want to use me to break the shackles of Heaven's will?"

Everyone fell silent.

No one dared to answer.

Because everyone knows the answer.

They came seeking liberation.

They did not come seeking the Way.

Tongtian laughed.

The smile was bittersweet, tinged with a hint of relief.

"My senior instructed me to open my doors wide and accept those who are destined to join me."

"I believe that those who are destined to be together are those who sincerely seek the Way."

"But you..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd:

"How many of them are truly devoted to the Way?"

No one answered.

Di Jun's face was deathly pale, and the True Fire of the Sun flickered erratically.

Nuwa lowered her eyes and remained silent, her delicate hands clenched tightly.

The fragments of the Bagua compass between Fuxi's fingers spun rapidly, yet no answers could be deduced.

The Old Ancestor Hongyun sat slumped in the chaos, tears streaming down his face.

Zhen Yuanzi's long sleeves hung down, and the illusory image of the Earth Script faded and lost its light.

The Kunpeng huddled at the edge of the crowd, shivering.

Jieyin and Zhunti supported each other, their faces as pale as paper.

The twelve ancestral witches stood frozen in place, their blood and qi churning like boiling water.

Everyone was speechless.

Tongtian looked at them and slowly said:

"Do you know the meaning of the two characters 'Jiejiao'?"

Everyone looked up at him.

The voice that reached the heavens was calm, yet every word was like thunder:

"Seize a glimmer of hope."

"This glimmer of hope is for those who truly need it."

"It is for those who have been abandoned by the Way of Heaven, yet still cherish the heart that yearns for the Way."

"It's for those who have nowhere else to turn, but still refuse to give up."

He paused, his gaze turning cold:

"These aren't for you..."

"Someone who only wants to use me to break free from my shackles."

The words fell.

Everyone's faces turned deathly pale!

Di Jun staggered forward, his voice hoarse:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian! We know we were wrong! We truly know we were wrong!"

"Please give me one more chance! Just one!"

Nuwa wept:

"Senior Brother Tongtian, I was forced into this situation that day..."

Fuxi clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, Fuxi swears an oath to the Heavenly Dao, vowing never to betray the Jie Sect!"

Hongyun knelt in the chaos, kowtowing repeatedly:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian! Hongyun is willing to serve you like a slave, just for a sliver of hope!"

Zhen Yuanzi bowed deeply:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, Zhen Yuanzi is willing to offer the entire foundation of Wuzhuang Temple as collateral, seeking only to join the Jie Sect!"

Jieyin and Zhunti prostrated themselves in reverence.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, have mercy! We are willing to serve the Jie Sect like dogs and horses for countless lifetimes!"

The Kunpeng huddled on the ground, trembling.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian... Kunpeng is willing to offer all his treasures, only asking... only asking..."

The twelve Ancestral Witches all knelt on one knee, Dijiang's voice hoarse:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian! We, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, swear by the essence of Pangu's blood that we will serve the Jie Sect for eternity!"

Laozi and Yuanshi exchanged a glance and stepped forward together.

Lao Tzu bowed deeply:

"Third brother! I know I was wrong! I swear on the spirit of Pangu that from this day forward, I will never doubt you again!"

Yuanshi knelt on the ground:

"Third brother! Your brother... your brother kneels before you!"

Everyone knelt down!

In the chaotic sea, a dark mass of people knelt down!

Only those who reach the heavens stand alone.

His black robes fluttered, his sword intent concealed.

He gazed at those faces, some aged, some sorrowful, some humble, and some desperate.

He looked at his two older brothers kneeling on the ground, who had been with him for countless years.

My heart was completely unmoved.

Because those images of the future still vividly appeared in his mind.

The Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation.

Lao Tzu held the Tai Chi diagram and sealed his sword gate.

Yuanshi held the Pangu Banner and slashed at the sword light.

The various Dharma protectors of the Bodhisattva Jieyin and Zhunti entangled his disciples.

There are also Di Jun, Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng...

Those who are kneeling on the ground, pleading desperately.

Those who are now filled with regret and remorse.

In the future, everyone is his enemy.

They were all accomplices in the suppression of the Jie Sect.

Tongtian closed his eyes.