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

Nuwa turned pale and was speechless.

Hongjun looked at the crowd:

"Kong Xuan spoke of the shackles of Heaven's Way. Do you know what these shackles of Heaven's Way are?"

The crowd shook their heads.

Hongjun sneered:

"You don't know."

"You believe him simply because you know what he says."

"Knowing only that he transmitted the Dharma to Heaven, they went to seek Tongtian's help."

"Knowing that even the Heavenly Court wouldn't accept you, you've come to beg this poor Daoist."

"Have you... ever thought about this yourselves?"

"Have you ever verified this yourself?"

Have you ever asked yourself, with your own conscience, whom should you truly believe in?

Everyone fell silent.

Hongjun looked at them, at their bewildered and helpless faces.

A sudden wave of weariness washed over me.

These people were the three thousand Dao Seeds he had chosen.

These people are the pawns he will control.

But at this moment, these people knelt on the ground, pleading desperately, their eyes filled with fear, longing, and humility.

They lacked even a trace of the integrity of a Taoist practitioner.

There is not a trace of the steadfastness of a seeker of the Way.

Can such a person truly carry out his plans?

Hongjun closed his eyes.

a long time.

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at everyone:

Kong Xuan said, "The shackles of Heaven were set up by this humble Taoist."

"I will tell you today..."

He paused, then his voice, like the voice of the Great Dao, resounded throughout the chaos:

"Yes."

The single word was uttered like a thunderclap!

Everyone's expression changed drastically!

Hongjun continued:

"I have set these shackles for your own good."

"This shackle is called the Shackles of Heaven, but in reality, it is protected by Heaven."

"With these shackles on your bodies, you are connected to the Way of Heaven."

"Your future spiritual practice will be twice as effective with half the effort."

"His future ascension to sainthood will come naturally."

He gazed at the crowd, his eyes deep and unfathomable:

"But Kong Xuan slandered this shackle as my conspiracy."

"You believe him, but not this humble Taoist priest."

"You beg him, but not me."

"Now that he has turned his back on me, he has finally remembered me."

"Have you... ever considered why I, a humble Taoist priest, should help you?"

Everyone turned pale and remained silent.

Di Jun spoke with difficulty:

"Dao Ancestor...we know we were wrong! We beg you, Dao Ancestor, to give us another chance!"

Hongjun looked at him:

"Chance?"

"I gave you a chance."

"The opportunity to preach in the Zixiao Palace for three thousand years is here."

"But...did you even listen?"

Di Jun paused for a moment.

Hongjun looked at the crowd:

"Go back and think about it carefully."

"Think it through before you come back."

"If you still believe in Kong Xuan, then do not come to Zixiao Palace again."

"If you believe in this humble monk, then come with a sincere heart."

"At that time, I will answer your questions."

The words fell.

Hongjun turned around.

With a light sway of his purple robe, his figure disappeared into the depths of the purple aura.

The gates of Zixiao Palace slowly closed.

Outside the palace gates.

Three thousand Zixiao guests stood frozen in place.

His face was deathly pale, as if he had lost his parents.

Di Jun slumped to the ground, his eyes filled with despair.

Nuwa wept silently.

The fragments of the Bagua compass in Fuxi's hand fell to the ground, but he was completely unaware of it.

Hongyun Laozu was as limp as mud.

Zhen Yuanzi's long sleeves fell down, and the illusory image of the Earth Script completely dimmed.

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

Jieyin and Zhunti supported each other, their faces ashen.

The twelve ancestral witches stood frozen in place, and no one spoke for a long time.

Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi stood side by side.

Looking at the tightly closed palace gates, I felt a mix of emotions.

"Brother..."

When Yuanshi spoke, his voice was hoarse:

"What should we do?"

Lao Tzu did not answer.

He simply gazed at the palace gate, at the swirling purple mist.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"go back."

"go back?"

"Return to Kunlun."

"and then?"

Lao Tzu closed his eyes.

"Then... wait."

Yuan Shi was taken aback:

"What are you waiting for?"

Lao Tzu opened his eyes, his gaze complex:

"Wait three thousand years later."

"Wait for the second sermon."

"Wait for the Dao Ancestor... to give us an answer."

The words fell.

Lao Tzu turned around and disappeared into chaos.

Yuanshi followed closely behind.

Di Jun struggled to his feet, gazing in the direction the two had left, and gritted his teeth:

"Walk!"

Donghuang Taiyi struggled to his feet:

"Brother, where are we going?"

Di Jun gazed into the depths of chaos:

"Back to the Sun Star."

"wait."

"Wait three thousand years."

Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged a glance, then silently departed.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi walked side by side.

The Kunpeng curled up and disappeared into the chaos.

Jieyin and Zhunti, supporting each other, staggered away.

The twelve ancestral witches turned away silently.

Outside the Purple Cloud Palace.

Silence returned.

Only the chaotic currents continued to surge like a tide.

Inside the palace gate.

Hongjun sat cross-legged on the cloud platform, his gaze piercing through the palace walls and landing on the dissipating streams of light.

A very faint smile curved at the corner of his lips.

"Kong Xuan..."

He whispered, his voice so soft that only he could hear it:

"You think you can ruin my plans with just a few words?"

"Innocent."

"What these primordial beings seek has never been the truth."

"It's what they're willing to believe."

"You say the shackles of Heaven's will are a conspiracy."

"But they prefer to believe it's a blessing."

"Because of their protection, they feel at ease."

"The conspiracy terrified them."

People are always willing to believe in things that make them feel at ease.

Hongjun closed his eyes.

A purple aura slowly engulfed the figure in purple robes.

Zixiao Palace returned to silence.

Only a faint sound echoed deep within the palace:

"Three thousand years later... we'll see the outcome."

......

Jin'ao Island.

The main hall of the Jie Sect.

Tongtian sat cross-legged on a futon, his body radiating sword intent that resonated with the entire Golden Turtle Island.

It's been three thousand years.

Three thousand years have passed since the turmoil that occurred atop Mount Buzhou.

For three thousand years, he has been cultivating here in seclusion, consolidating his Dao foundation and honing his sword intent.

His cultivation at the peak of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm became increasingly solid.

But today, he suddenly opened his eyes.

His gaze pierced through the palace walls, looking into the depths of chaos.

There, a figure in purple robes was rushing towards them.

Lao Tzu.

Tongtian frowned slightly.

Three thousand years have passed, what brings you here, elder brother?

He stood up, took a step forward, and stood outside Jin'ao Island.

The chaotic sea surged, and Lao Tzu's figure fell a hundred feet away.

He gazed at Tongtian, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Third brother."

When Lao Tzu spoke, his voice was hoarse.

Tongtian nodded slightly:

Lao Tzu gazed at him, at that familiar yet unfamiliar face.

After three thousand years, my third brother has become even more profound.

Those eyes were calm as still water, yet they seemed to see through everything.

"Third brother."

Lao Tzu took a deep breath:

"I have come to tell you something important, brother."

Tongtian remained silent, simply gazing at him quietly.

Lao Tzu continued:

"The Zixiao Palace is about to begin its lecture."

Tongtian's eyes flickered slightly:

"A second sermon?"

Lao Tzu nodded:

"Exactly."

"The Dao Ancestor Hongjun sent a message to the prehistoric world, saying that three thousand years later, the Zixiao Palace would reopen and he would expound the Dharma of Quasi-Saints."

Tongtian remained silent.

The method of quasi-saints.

As the elder Kong Xuan said, that's a dead end.

The three corpses are the good thoughts, evil thoughts, and obsessions.

All three corpses were severed, and the foundation of one's Dao was completely destroyed.

His cultivation level seemed to have increased dramatically, but in reality, his path forward was cut off.

"Are you going?"

Tongtian spoke, his voice remaining calm.

Lao Tzu nodded:

"Of course I'll go."

"How could we miss the Daoist patriarch's sermon?"

Tongtian looked at him, at those eyes that still shone with longing.

A sudden wave of weariness washed over me.

It's been three thousand years.

The words spoken atop Mount Buzhou, the images captured, the prophecies of the future.

Lao Tzu... still doesn't believe?

Tongtian slowly spoke:

Do you still remember what I said to you atop Mount Buzhou?