Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

There was a deathly silence during the Ullambana Festival.

Jieyin and Zhunti's faces changed from red to green, then from green to white, finally settling on an almost ferocious iron-blue. The saintly pressure leaked out uncontrollably, and the golden lotus platform of the entire Mount Ling began to tremble. The Buddhist disciples with slightly weaker cultivation had already knelt on the ground, trembling.

Laozi lowered his eyelids, as if in deep meditation. Yuanshi remained expressionless, but his fingers twitched almost imperceptibly within his sleeve. Nuwa's lips curled slightly, her gaze towards Lu Chen carrying a hint of approval—this junior has guts.

Styx and Kunpeng had already shrunk into a corner, wishing they could disappear on the spot. Back when they were plotting in the Blood Sea, who would have thought that Lu Chen would record it?!

"Lu Chen." Jieyin's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between clenched teeth, each word carrying a chilling killing intent, "Do you know what a sin it is to slander a saint?"

"Defamation?" Lu Chen looked innocent, shaking the recording stone in his hand. "The evidence is conclusive, how can it be called defamation? Or... shall we play it again so that all of you fellow cultivators can see it clearly?"

"Enough!" Zhunti slammed his hand on the table, causing his lotus platform to shatter. "Lu Chen! Do you really think that just because you've become a Hunyuan, you can be so presumptuous before a sage?!"

"I wouldn't dare." Lu Chen said he wouldn't dare, but he held the Chaos Brick even higher in his hand. "This junior just feels that some things need to be made clear. The fate of the human race was created by the Goddess Nuwa and determined by the Heavenly Dao. Anyone who wants to take a share has to ask the Goddess if she agrees, ask the Heavenly Dao if it agrees, and ask... the brick in my hand if it agrees."

His last words were spoken lightly, but the suppressing Daoist aura emanating from the Chaos Brick froze the air in the entire venue.

That was the overwhelming pressure of a supreme treasure, forged from the perfected Law of Power, the fusion of eight Ancestral Witch Laws, and the essence of Pangu's heart! Though not as powerful as a Saint's full strength, it was enough to terrify all the Quasi-Saints present!

The pupils constricted as the needle was guided to the point of being drawn ...

They could sense that Lu Chen's aura was now infinitely close to the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm! Coupled with that strange and unpredictable black brick, if they were to actually fight, even if they managed to win, they would inevitably pay a heavy price!

What's more, the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa were sitting right next to them...

Jieyin took a deep breath, suppressing his raging anger, and forced a smile that was more like a grimace: "Fellow Daoist Lu Chen is joking. The Buddhist sect's missionary work naturally follows the rules of Heaven. Today's Ullambana Festival is for the peace of the primordial world; why spoil the harmony?"

He gave in.

Everyone in the room could hear it.

A sage was publicly humiliated by a Grand Luo Immortal, and in the end, he had to take the initiative to ease the tension...

Since the beginning of time, nothing like this has ever happened!

Seeing that he had succeeded, Lu Chen put away the recording stone and grinned, "The sage is wise; I admire him. So, will the Ullambana Festival still be held?"

"Yes, of course we'll open," Jieyin said with a forced smile. "Please, everyone, have a seat."

The atmosphere remained tense, but at least on the surface, things had calmed down.

The ensuing Ullambana Festival became a mere formality. Jieyin and Zhunti managed to utter a few perfunctory words about "Buddhism's universal salvation of all beings," to which the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa gave brief responses, while the other guests felt extremely uncomfortable.

An hour later, the Ullambana Festival ended hastily.

The guests fled Lingshan as if they were escaping, fearing they would be caught in the ensuing storm.

Lu Chen and Zhen Yuanzi walked out of the Ling Mountain area side by side. They had just flown a million miles when a deafening roar came from behind them—the entire Ling Mountain was shrouded in Buddhist light, obviously because Jieyin and Zhunti had activated the mountain-protecting formation and sealed the mountain gate.

"They're really furious this time," Zhen Yuanzi shook his head.

"It's good that you're angry," Lu Chen sneered. "They'll never know how to behave unless you beat them until they feel the pain."

"But you've also completely offended two sages," Zhen Yuanzi said worriedly. "They don't dare to do it openly, but their underhanded tactics..."

"Bring it on." Lu Chen said nonchalantly, "I'll meet force with force and water with water. I'm now in the late stage of Hunyuan realm, and I have three supreme treasures in my hands. They won't be able to trick me so easily."

The two returned to Wuzhuang Temple.

As soon as he sat down, Lu Chen's expression suddenly changed, and he abruptly looked up at the sky.

From the heavens above, boundless golden light of merit cascaded down like a waterfall, vast and boundless, heading straight for him!

"This is..." Zhen Yuanzi exclaimed in astonishment.

"The merit of the Nine Cauldrons Suppressing the Nine Provinces has arrived." Lu Chen grinned.

He originally expected to receive 30% of the merit, but the merit that descended at this moment far exceeded his expectations—a full 50%!

Upon closer reflection, I understood.

He spearheaded the forging of the Nine Cauldrons, he inscribed the array patterns, and he left the back door... Although Yu was the executor, the true "technical core" was entirely in his hands. Heaven is impartial, distributing according to contribution; giving him 50% merit is perfectly reasonable.

As the merit entered his body, Lu Chen's aura began to surge!

Late stage of Hunyuan... Peak of late stage of Hunyuan... Peak of Hunyuan!

It only took three breaths!

With five-tenths of his virtue, plus the foundation he had accumulated before, he broke through to the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm in one fell swoop!

He's just one step away from becoming a saint!

But this final step is an insurmountable barrier.

The transition from Primordial Chaos to Sagehood is not merely an accumulation of power, but a leap in the level of life. It requires Primordial Purple Qi, or... proving the Dao through force to achieve perfection.

Lu Chen followed the path of proving himself through force, but the essence of Pangu's heart was only enough for him to cultivate to the peak of Hunyuan. If he wanted to advance further, he needed a much larger source of origin to support him.

"It seems I'll have to go to the depths of chaos to find an opportunity," Lu Chen thought to himself, feeling the vast, star-like power within his body.

But he didn't rush off.

Because the merit-consecration ceremony has not yet ended.

Besides the improvement in his cultivation, the merit also brought another benefit—his natal treasure, the "Chaos Brick," began to transform!

The cracks on the surface of the bricks completely disappeared, replaced by dense patterns of the Great Dao. The Law of Power, the Eight Ancestral Witch Laws, and even a trace of the Daoist rhythm of Pangu's creation of the world all flowed and merged on the bricks.

The color of the bricks gradually changed from jet black to a chaotic color—sometimes grayish-white, sometimes multicolored, sometimes transparent, as if encompassing everything.

"Buzz—!"

The bricks trembled, and the spirit of the artifact awoke.

A childish voice echoed in Lu Chen's mind: "Master... I think... I've become stronger?"

It was the voice of Lu Zhuan (the spirit of the black brick), but it was much clearer and more lively than before.

"It's more than just getting stronger," Lu Chen laughed. "You should now be considered a 'Chaotic Treasure'."

A Chaos Treasure! Second only to a Primordial Treasure! Moreover, because it is his natal magic weapon and is connected to his mind, its power is no less than that of an ordinary Primordial Treasure!

"Thank you, Master!" Lu Zhuan cheered.

The merit-consecration ceremony lasted for three days and three nights.

Three days later, Lu Chen opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with nine-colored light, as if the creation of the world was happening within them.

He has reached the peak of Hunyuan.

Zhen Yuanzi, who was protecting him from the side, sensed Lu Chen's aura and couldn't help but sigh, "Young friend, the speed of your progress... I have lived for countless eons and have never seen anything like it."

"It was just luck," Lu Chen said modestly, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.

The peak of the Primordial Chaos realm!

Looking across the entire prehistoric world, apart from the Dao Ancestor and the Six Sages, he was among the very top group!

Moreover, he proved his Dao through force, making him stronger than others of the same level. Now, even if he faced either Jieyin or Zhunti, he was confident he could fight them head-on without defeat!

"What are your plans for the future?" Zhen Yuanzi asked.

"First, consolidate my cultivation," Lu Chen thought for a moment, "Then... I'll go explore the depths of chaos. There should be an opportunity there that will allow me to advance further."

"The depths of chaos are fraught with danger, young friend, please be careful."

"Don't worry, senior, I know what I'm doing."

Lu Chen stayed at Wuzhuang Temple for another half month, completely stabilizing his cultivation at the peak of the Hunyuan realm.

In the past two weeks, he did three things:

First, nurture the fragments of the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd and the wisp of Hongyun's true spirit to a perfect state, preparing to help Hongyun rebuild his foundation when he is reincarnated.

Secondly, he thoroughly studied the "secret techniques of salvation" copied from Buddhist restrictions and created a "Buddha-breaking seal" specifically to counter Buddhist supernatural powers. He then passed it on to Zhen Yuanzi and his own people, such as the Fire Department and the underworld ghost messengers.

Third, he used the remaining merits to reinforce the defensive array of the Pillar of Heaven Cave, ensuring that the lair would be completely safe after he left.

After doing all this, he bid farewell to Zhen Yuanzi and used brick magic to return to the Pillar of Heaven.

Standing atop the pillar, he took one last look at the thriving human realm of the Nine Provinces, then glanced towards the western direction of the Spirit Mountain, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Jieyin and Zhunti, you two had better behave yourselves. Otherwise, when I return from Chaos..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

He activated the Brick Escape Technique, transforming into a stream of chaotic light that shot straight into the heavens, breaking through the primordial barrier and entering the vast chaos.

A new adventure begins.

And the primordial world will also usher in a relatively peaceful period—at least, before Lu Chen returns from chaos, no one will dare to cause trouble easily.

After all, who could afford to offend a sixth brother who was at the peak of the Hunyuan realm, possessed a supreme treasure, and was particularly vengeful?

Deep within the chaos, Lu Chen's figure gradually disappeared.

But his legend has quietly spread across the vast land.

"Have you heard? That 'Black Brick Thief,' oh no, I mean 'Daoist Lu Chen,' slapped the two Western Saints so hard their faces were swollen!"

"It's more than just a slap in the face; I heard that Mount Ling was so angry that it closed its gates!"

"He also spearheaded the forging of the Nine Cauldrons of the Human Race, accumulating great merit and now reaching the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm!"

"Peak of the Primordial Chaos Realm...isn't that almost catching up to a Saint?"

"Tsk tsk, the primordial world is about to change again..."

Amidst the discussions, one era slowly came to an end, while another era quietly began in the depths of chaos.