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

Tongtian gazed at them, his eyes as deep and unfathomable as an abyss:

"Don't go to Zixiao Palace empty-handed."

The guide was taken aback:

"What is the sage's intention?"

Tongtian slowly said:

"Although the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao with his body, he was not tainted by karma."

"But you must have a reason for requesting an audience."

"The rescue of Sun Wukong, though a calamity for Buddhism, is also related to the predetermined fate of Heaven."

"Then tell me everything about the cause and effect of this matter, the methods of that person, and the figure in black robes."

"If the Dao Ancestor wishes to see me, he will open the palace gates himself."

"If you are unwilling..."

He paused:

"Then kneel outside the door until you are willing to see me."

Kneel until you are willing to see him.

As soon as the six words were uttered, both Jieyin and Zhunti changed color.

kneel?

Kneeling outside the Zixiao Palace?

Kneeling before the Taoist patriarch?

How lowly that is?

What a humiliation that was!

But if we don't kneel, what else can we do?

The guide took a deep breath:

"Thank you for your guidance, sage."

"We've got it."

Tongtian nodded slightly:

"Go."

The two turned around.

His whole body was surrounded by a radiant aura.

They transformed into two streaks of light, bursting out of Jin'ao Island and heading deeper into the chaos, towards the direction of Zixiao Palace.

They sped away.

On the island.

In front of the hut.

Tongtian remained seated cross-legged on the futon.

Gazing at the two receding beams of Buddha's light.

His gaze was calm and unwavering.

But beneath that calm surface lay a subtle complexity.

He picked up his wine glass.

He drank it all in one gulp.

The wine tasted bitter as it went down my throat.

He stared at the empty glass and muttered to himself:

"The Dao Ancestor..."

"Who exactly is that person?"

"You even managed to keep it from me?"

The sound was so soft that only the speaker could hear it.

Chaos churned outside the island.

no respond.

Deep within chaos.

Endless void.

There are no sun, moon, or stars here, no mountains or rivers, no flowing spiritual energy, and no signs of life.

There was only a hazy, gray chaos.

It surged and churned endlessly.

Boundless.

Two beams of Buddhist light rushed towards them.

To guide or lead.

Zhunti.

The two stood amidst the chaos, gazing ahead.

There, an ancient Taoist palace floats silently.

Zixiao Palace.

The Taoist temple was small, and even somewhat simple.

The base is made of bluestone, and the beams are made of purple wood. There is no decoration or luster to it.

Yet this very Taoist palace exudes an indescribable majesty.

That is the power of Heaven.

That is the sacred ground of the Master of All Spirits.

That is the most sacred existence in the hearts of all living beings in the primordial world.

Jieyin and Zhunti stood amidst the chaos, gazing at the Dao Palace.

His expression was solemn, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zhunti's voice was hoarse:

"Senior brother, are we... really going in?"

The guide did not reply.

He simply stared at the Taoist temple, at its tightly closed gates.

His eyes were filled with complex emotions.

a long time.

He took a deep breath:

"Since we're already here..."

"We can't go back empty-handed."

Zhunti smiled wryly:

"But what if the Dao Ancestor doesn't appear?"

"Are we really... kneeling here?"

Receiving silence.

Kneel here?

Kneeling in this chaos?

Kneeling in this endless void?

How long would you have to kneel like that?

a year?

ten years?

century?

Or... a thousand years?

he does not know.

But he knew a little.

If you don't kneel, you'll have nothing.

If we kneel down, there might still be a glimmer of hope.

He spoke slowly:

"kneel."

"Kneel until the Dao Ancestor is willing to see you."

Zhunti's face turned deathly pale.

But he didn't say anything more.

He just nodded silently.

The two exchanged a glance.

They stepped forward together.

They stopped a hundred feet outside the Purple Cloud Palace.

Hands clasped together.

He bowed deeply.

"Western Guides and Bodhisattvas, please pay homage to the Dao Ancestor!"

The voice was respectful, echoing through the chaos.

The surging chaos seemed to pause slightly.

But within the Zixiao Palace, all remained silent.

The palace gates were tightly shut.

There was no response whatsoever.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance.

He slowly knelt down.

"Thump."

Knees touched the ground.

The two knelt in the chaos, their foreheads touching the ground.

Not moving at all.

Chaos surged, and gray mist swirled.

Time slips away, little by little.

One hour.

Two hours.

one day.

Two days.

Three days.

The gates of Zixiao Palace remained tightly shut.

Jieyin knelt on the ground, forehead touching the ground, his face calm.

But beneath that calm surface lay a barely concealed unease.

Will the Dao Ancestor meet him?

Zhunti knelt to one side, his whole body trembling slightly.

That was fear.

That was reverence.

That was the trembling that came from the bottom of one's heart when facing the will of Heaven.

Three more days passed.

There has still been no response.

Zhunti's voice was hoarse as he whispered:

"Senior brother, does the Dao Ancestor... not want to see us?"

The guide did not look up.

"I don't know."

Zhunti said urgently:

"How much longer are we going to kneel?"

Receiving silence.

a long time.

He spoke slowly:

"Kneel until you die."

Upon uttering the three words, Zhunti shuddered.

Kneel until you die?

He looked at his senior brother, at that compassionate and solemn face.

An indescribable sense of sorrow welled up in my heart.

But he didn't say anything more.

She simply lowered her head silently.

Keep kneeling.

Keep waiting.

Three more days passed.

suddenly.

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace.

An aged voice slowly drifted out:

"Come in."

As the two words were uttered, Jieyin and Zhunti raised their heads simultaneously.

His face was filled with ecstasy.

The Dao Ancestor... I wish to meet you!

The two stood up.

He bowed deeply.

He strode forward.

The gates of Zixiao Palace slowly opened.

Inside the door.

A state of chaos.

There were no prayer cushions, no incense burners, and no other furnishings.

There was only one figure.

He sat cross-legged in the void.

His white hair hung down, his face was old, and he wore a simple gray robe.

But those eyes were surprisingly bright.

It was so bright that it seemed to contain the entire world.

It was so bright that people dared not look directly at it.

Hongjun, the Dao Ancestor.

Jieyin and Zhunti walked into the hall and bowed deeply:

"Western Guide and Cundi pay homage to the Dao Ancestor!"

Hongjun slightly raised his eyes.

His gaze fell on the two of them.

Calm as still water.

There was no disturbance.

Get up.

His voice was aged, yet it carried a detached calmness that seemed to see through everything.

Jieyin and Zhunti stood up, heads bowed.

I dare not look up.

I dared not utter a sound.

Hongjun looked at them and slowly said:

"You two have come here because of Sun Wukong?"

Jieyin was startled.

The Dao Ancestor... already knew?

He took a deep breath:

"Reporting back to the Dao Ancestor, that is correct."

"Sun Wukong was rescued, but we couldn't detect any trace of that person."

"The secrets of heaven are obscured, and even sages cannot deduce them."

"Therefore, I have come to seek guidance from the Daoist Ancestor."

Hongjun's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this.

Even the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.

"That person..."

"You want to know who he is?"

The guide nodded frantically:

"We beg the Daoist Ancestor for guidance!"

Hongjun looked at him.

Looking at that pleading face.

a long time.

He slowly opened his mouth:

"That person..."

"You can't afford to mess with them."

As soon as the six words were uttered, both Jieyin and Zhunti changed color.

Can't be bothered?

They are the ancestors of the West!

The Master of Buddhism!

Below even the Sage, above all Buddhas!

Even Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi would have to give them some face!

But the Dao Ancestor said... "We can't afford to offend him?"

Zhunti's voice was hoarse:

"Dao Ancestor, who exactly is that person?"

"Why...can't we afford to offend them?"

Hongjun's gaze narrowed slightly:

"He comes from chaos."

"Not within the Heavenly Way."

"Even I, a humble Taoist priest, cannot discern his origins."

Jieyin was startled:

"Even the Dao Ancestor couldn't see through it?"