In the infinite Chaos, Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes, a faint smile flickering across his lips.
"Still trying to guard against me? As if I care for your Primordial Violet Qi..."
He spoke softly to himself, aware that Hongjun had anticipated his move. With a thought, he summoned the Hongmeng Cauldron. The ancient, heavy vessel shimmered with an eerie light. Within its depths, the phantoms of Three Thousand Major Thousand Worlds flickered, and the three strands of Primordial Violet Qi he had snatched were laid out within.
"The Heavenly Dao Origin..."
"The Dao has forty-nine paths, and there are forty-nine strands of Primordial Violet Qi. I wonder if the ones rewarded by the System are counted among them?"
Ling Xiao pondered this as he tapped the cauldron. It began to rotate, sending out ripples of boundless energy. Since Achieving Sainthood, he had discovered that the phantoms within the cauldron were not merely illusions; they could be completed and evolved into a true Grandmist (Grandmist) reality.
As the Violet Qi and the cauldron began to Fuse, Ling Xiao continued his dual-track cultivation, using a clone to undergo Reincarnation Cultivation within the cycle of rebirth. He was now close to the Third Heaven of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. His mastery over the Law of Fire, Law of Yang, and the Laws of Time and Space was nearing perfection, and his progress in the World Law, Five Elements, and Chaos Law promised a massive boost to his combat power.
Zixiao Palace
Haotian and Yaochi knelt before Hongjun, their heads touching the floor. "Master, what are your commands?"
Hongjun looked down at the two acolytes, his voice indifferent. "Haotian, Yaochi, you have been with me for eons. Though your cultivation has not reached the peak, your service has been long. Today, I grant you a grand Opportunity (Opportunity)!"
The two exchanged a look of shocked joy. "We thank the Saint Master for his grace!"
Hongjun sighed softly. "You have followed me long, yet you have lacked growth. You must now descend into the Great Desolation and reincarnate into the Human Race. You shall undergo hundreds of millions of trials. When you emerge from these tribulations, your Karma shall be Perfected, and only then can you enjoy the Limitless Great Dao and rule over heaven and earth together!"
Haotian and Yaochi were stunned. The "hundreds of millions of trials" sounded terrifying, but the reward—ruling the world—was beyond their wildest dreams. They were, after all, mere gatekeepers.
They prostrated themselves again, weeping with gratitude. "Haotian and Yaochi thank the Saint Master for his mercy!"
Hongjun nodded, and with a wave of his hand, the two transformed into streaks of light and vanished from the palace.
The Great Desolation
Since the failure of the Western Duo to achieve Sainthood, the world had entered a brief lull. The Witch and Demon Races continued their posturing in the Void Realm, but no real blood was shed.
At Yujing Mountain, Laozi sat beneath the Taiji Diagram (taiji diagram), shrouded in the ancient Chaos Qi. It had been a long time since his return from Zixiao Palace. He knew his path lay with the Human Race, but he lacked the "spark" to ignite the process. Yuanshi and Tongtian were even worse off; their Violet Qi remained dormant, leaving them in a state of gloom.
"Difficult! Truly difficult!" Yuanshi cried out, pacing restlessly. He was desperate to become a Saint so he could settle his old scores, but the path remained hidden.
"Second Brother, steady your Dao Heart. Sainthood cannot be forced. When the Opportunity arrives, it will flow like water," Laozi advised calmly. He felt his own Dao was right in front of him, separated by a thin membrane. He knew the wait was almost over.
"I hope so," Yuanshi muttered, his face dark.
Laozi gave a small smile and stood up. "I am going out for a walk."
He left the immortal cave, suppressed his aura, and transformed into an elderly man. Riding a cloud, he wandered through the Great Desolation until he unknowingly arrived at Shouyang Mountain.
The mountain was a paradise: white cranes nested in ancient junipers, and phoenixes sang to the sun. It was a majestic peak that seemed to hold the universe together, a fairy realm that transcended the void. Nuwa's residual Saint-majesty still lingered there.
Suddenly, the dormant Primordial Violet Qi in Laozi's heart pulsed with joy.
"You've finally moved..." he whispered, his eyes filled with complex emotion.
He descended to the mountain and wandered for a long time without success. Eventually, leaning on his staff like a man of seventy years, he walked toward a human tribe at the foot of the mountain.
Laozi, in his disguise, passed through several tribes as a simple traveler. One day, he encountered a hunting party returning with a bountiful catch. A youth leading the group caught his eye. The boy was handsome and tall, and his body radiated a purple Dao-resonance (Dao韵)—an aura of nobility and hidden power.
"This is..." Laozi was startled. His Wisdom Eye (Wisdom Eye) pierced through the surface, seeing the boy's incredible talent. He was a "seed" that rivaled some of the most gifted beings in existence.
"A truly fine sapling..." Laozi nodded, a satisfied look on his face. He leaned on his staff and shuffled toward the group.
"Young man, what is your name?" he asked, not hiding his admiration.
The youth blinked, pointing to his own nose. "Are you asking me?"
"He's called Zi Qi Dong Lai!" one of his companions shouted with a laugh before the boy could answer.
"Get lost!" The youth pushed his companion in embarrassment. The "gentle" shove sent the friend flying like a cannonball, his prey scattering across the ground. The raw power in that casual movement was staggering.
"A fine name. Purple Qi from the East—born of nobility!" Laozi praised him.
"Do you want something?" the boy asked, looking at Laozi with suspicion. He felt the old man's smile was a bit... peculiar.
"I see that your talent is extraordinary. You are a prime piece of Material (Material) for cultivation. Are you willing to take me as your master and join my sect?"
Laozi smiled, and at that moment, the Heavenly Secret in his mind became crystal clear. The fog of doubt vanished. His path to Sainthood was finally open.