"I see that Fellow Daoist also Cultivates multiple Great Dao Laws. Though I do not know why Fellow Daoist chose this path, I happen to have some insights into certain Great Dao Laws. How about we discuss the Dao here? As for your brother's safety, you can rest assured."
After Daoist Hongjun finished speaking, he quickly formed hand seals and gently waved his sleeve. Instantly, a magnificent Formation rose around them.
"Hiss!!!" Taichu gasped, his heart filled with shock as he looked at the Formation that had appeared out of thin air.
Taichu had always considered himself to be quite talented in the Dao of Formations, and in the Honghuang World, he was considered a top-tier expert.
However, witnessing the Formation Daoist Hongjun casually set up, he realized with a jolt that the gap between him and Daoist Hongjun was as vast as the heavens and earth.
The Formations he had previously been so proud of were like child's play in front of Daoist Hongjun's Formation, as fragile as a thin sheet of paper, unable to withstand a single blow.
"Fellow Daoist, I'm afraid even an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal would find it difficult to break through your Formation, wouldn't they?" Although Taichu could tell that Daoist Hongjun's Formation contained an extremely high level of Formation Dao, he found it difficult to discern its specific power and intricacies.
"This Formation was made casually by me; it is not considered intricate. Currently, this Formation can only withstand attacks from a Grand Unity Golden Immortal Late Stage." Daoist Hongjun shook his head slightly, a hint of regret actually appearing on his face.
"This… this, this… ha ha ha…" Taichu looked at Daoist Hongjun's expression, momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
He secretly thought to himself: If your casual creation is so terrifying, wouldn't a meticulously arranged one be Heaven-Defying? Taichu really didn't want to continue talking about this topic, fearing that his last bit of self-confidence would be completely shattered.
"Let's discuss the Dao, let's discuss the Dao. Fellow Daoist, let's quickly begin discussing the Dao." Taichu forcefully changed the subject, trying to escape from the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
He truly did not want Daoist Hongjun to "strike" him like this again, otherwise, he would start doubting life and feel utterly useless.
"Good." Daoist Hongjun nodded lightly in response.
"The Great Dao is formless, giving birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is emotionless, operating the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, nourishing all things; I do not know its name, so I reluctantly call it Dao…" Daoist Hongjun spoke first, his voice deep and mellow, slowly expounding his understanding of the Great Dao.
Although Taichu was far inferior to Daoist Hongjun in Cultivation and comprehension of the Great Dao, everyone's understanding of the Great Dao is inherently different.
Seeing that Daoist Hongjun had already begun to speak, he was not to be outdone. He steadied himself and said, "Those who Cultivate the Great Dao must first purify their hearts. When the heart is pure, the spirit is enlightened. Only by discarding worldly complexities and staying away from greed, anger, and delusion can one glimpse the faint light of the Dao…"
For a time, the voices of the two discussing the Dao intertwined and echoed in this space, rising and falling.
Taichu was fully focused, immersed in this discussion of the Dao with Daoist Hongjun, and unconsciously, he entered a state of Dao comprehension.
"I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Taichu to enter a state of Dao comprehension so quickly. It's just, what exactly is Fellow Daoist Taichu's Source Great Dao? I have dabbled in many Great Dao Laws, but I have never seen a Source Great Dao as all-encompassing as Fellow Daoist Taichu's." A hint of doubt flashed in Daoist Hongjun's eyes as he gazed at Taichu, who was in a state of Dao comprehension, muttering to himself.
"Forget it, everyone has their own secrets, why should I insist on probing?" Daoist Hongjun gently shook his head, suppressing his curiosity.
"Although I don't know if that faint sensation is accurate, I see the existence of a variable in Fellow Daoist Taichu. This variable is worth me giving him a top-tier Innate Spirit Treasure." Daoist Hongjun mused inwardly.
Although Daoist Hongjun possessed many Spirit Treasures, he was by no means a "money-scattering boy" who would squander them at will.
Clearly, his act of giving the Virtue Golden Lotus was by no means as simple as it appeared on the surface; there must have been deeper considerations behind it.
Daoist Hongjun collected his thoughts and spoke again, continuing to expound on the Great Dao.
And Taichu, currently in a state of Dao comprehension, was like a long-parched sponge, fully absorbing the essence of the Great Dao from Daoist Hongjun's words.
Not far away, Minghe, still in a state of Dao comprehension, was also affected by Daoist Hongjun's sermon. Subtle changes began to appear on his body, as if he was undergoing a complete transformation.
"Whoosh!" Taichu suddenly opened his eyes, a flicker of surprise and disbelief flashing within them.
He could clearly feel the surging spiritual power within his body; at this moment, his Cultivation had already Broken Through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal Late Stage.
Taichu's Cultivation had finally caught up to Minghe, however, he also understood that this was only temporary.
When Minghe awakened from this Dao comprehension, with his profound Foundation and this Opportunity, his Cultivation would undoubtedly Breakthrough to the Taiyi Golden Immortal Perfected Realm Realm in one fell swoop.
Recalling his previous Cultivation path, Taichu had originally estimated that it would be impossible for him to Breakthrough to the Taiyi Golden Immortal Late Stage without tens of thousands of years of arduous tempering.
But who would have thought that this discussion of the Dao with Daoist Hongjun would be like a powerful catalyst, saving him at least tens of thousands of years of time.
Taichu's eyes were filled with gratitude as he looked at Daoist Hongjun and said, "This time, thanks to Fellow Daoist's help. If not for Fellow Daoist's assistance, this humble one would likely not have been able to Breakthrough to the Taiyi Golden Immortal Late Stage so smoothly." Taichu's expression was solemn as he sincerely expressed his gratitude to Daoist Hongjun.
"No matter, I also gained something from discussing the Dao with Fellow Daoist." Daoist Hongjun gently waved his hand, his expression calm. For him, this assistance was merely a small effort.
"Fellow Daoist, it seems your brother is about to awaken as well." Daoist Hongjun changed the subject, suddenly looking at Minghe, who was still in a state of Dao comprehension not far away.
As soon as his words fell, there was movement from Minghe's side. Upon noticing Minghe's abnormal movement, Taichu quickly cast his gaze over.
Minghe slowly opened his eyes, his pupils filled with killing intent. That dense killing intent was like materialized black flames, burning fiercely, which was a direct manifestation of his Great Dao of Slaughter.
At the same time, Taichu sensed that Minghe's Cultivation had already reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Perfected Realm Realm, exactly as he had predicted.
The moment Minghe awakened, he captured Taichu's Aura, and the corner of his mouth slightly curved upward, revealing a subtle smile.
But immediately after, he noticed Daoist Hongjun beside Taichu.
What startled Minghe was that with his current Taiyi Golden Immortal Perfected Realm Divine Sense perception, he couldn't sense Daoist Hongjun's presence.
This bizarre situation instantly put Minghe on alert. The Abi Sword and Yuan Tu Sword "whooshed" and instantly appeared beside him, their blades gleaming with a chilling light.
"Taichu, who is this Fellow Daoist beside you?" Minghe stared intently at Daoist Hongjun, his expression wary, and asked with confusion.
"Brother, don't worry, this is Daoist Hongjun. He is a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and Daoist Hongjun previously protected us brothers; he bears us no ill will." Taichu quickly spoke, explaining to Minghe.
"Grand Unity Golden Immortal? Taichu actually befriended a Fellow Daoist of such Cultivation. But then again, it makes sense. I have now reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Perfected Realm Realm, and only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could conceal their presence from my Divine Sense perception." Minghe secretly mused after hearing Taichu's introduction, then put away the Abi Sword and Yuan Tu Sword.
He understood that if Daoist Hongjun was truly a Grand Unity Golden Immortal and harbored hostility towards them, they would be utterly defenseless.
"Two Fellow Daoists have already achieved Breakthrough, what are your plans for the future?" Daoist Hongjun looked at Taichu and Minghe with a gentle gaze and asked softly.
"When our two brothers left our Daoist temple and stepped into the Honghuang World this time, we didn't have a fixed goal. We mainly wanted to broaden our horizons and make friends with Fellow Daoists from all sides.
Previously, we heard of Mount Buzhou and yearned for it, but we never saw it with our own eyes.
This time, we plan to thoroughly explore Mount Buzhou, so as not to have made this trip in vain." Taichu pondered for a moment before speaking.
"In that case, why not travel with me?" A hint of expectation flashed in Hongjun's eyes as he extended an invitation.
Taichu and Minghe quickly exchanged glances, their eyes conveying their thoughts to each other.
A moment later, both of them nodded simultaneously.
How could they refuse the invitation of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal?
Moreover, this Grand Unity Golden Immortal was Hongjun. In Taichu's heart, Hongjun was the biggest 'cheat' in the Honghuang World, full of mystery, which made him extremely curious.
Taichu was not unaware that traveling with Hongjun might create Karma.
But then he thought, he had already accepted the Virtue Golden Lotus given by Hongjun, and Hongjun had also shown them the grace of discussing the Dao and protecting their Dao. The Karma between them had already been sown and was difficult to sever.
Since they were destined to stand with Hongjun, then the upcoming Dragon Han Calamity and the conflict between Dao and Demon Ancestor Luo Hou would probably be unavoidable.
Given this, Taichu wanted to take this Opportunity to understand Hongjun's character better and plan for the future.
Thus, Taichu and Minghe followed Hongjun's footsteps and embarked on their exploration journey in Mount Buzhou together.
...
Time flowed by, and five hundred years passed in a flash.
During these five hundred years, Taichu and Minghe had always followed Hongjun's side.
During this period, Taichu gained a deeper understanding of Hongjun and this world.
Hongjun seemed extremely enthusiastic about imparting the Dao and teaching, enjoying being a mentor.
Throughout these long five hundred years, he repeatedly lectured Taichu and Minghe on the profound principles of the Great Dao.
Each time he lectured, Hongjun's voice seemed to contain a mysterious power that could penetrate the Soul, eloquently explaining the obscure and difficult Great Dao Laws in a simple and clear manner.
Moreover, Hongjun's extensive knowledge and profound understanding of the Three Thousand Great Daos astonished Taichu.
No matter what Great Dao Law was discussed, Hongjun could effortlessly expound upon it, and his unique insights and thorough analyses greatly benefited Taichu and Minghe, enhancing their comprehension of the Great Dao far beyond what it was before.
Taichu secretly speculated that Hongjun's profound understanding of the Three Thousand Great Daos was very likely due to the creation green lotus.
Legend has it that when Pangu opened the Heaven and Earth, the creation green lotus shattered, and its fragments scattered across the Primordial Land.
Hongjun obtained the largest of these fragments, which led to him being favored by the Heavenly Dao and becoming its spokesperson.
Furthermore, Hongjun's world-renowned Three Corpses Severing Method was also said to have been created with the help of the creation green lotus.
It could be said that the creation green lotus was Hongjun's greatest cheat on his cultivation path.
However, in these five hundred years, Taichu had never seen the legendary creation green lotus fragments, so these legends could never be confirmed.
Nevertheless, in these five hundred years, Taichu truly witnessed what it meant to have profound fortune and what it meant to be the 'Lucky Emperor' of the Honghuang World.
During their exploration journey in Mount Buzhou, they practically found a spiritual material every ten steps and a Spirit Treasure every hundred steps.
Taichu secretly calculated that in these five hundred years, Hongjun alone had acquired no less than a hundred Innate Spirit Treasures, many of which were High Grade Innate Spirit Treasures.
Besides these, there were countless Innate spiritual objects and spiritual materials.
Most miraculously, many Innate Spiritual Roots and Innate Spirit Treasures with sentience, upon sensing Hongjun's aura, actively sought him out and willingly followed him.
Taichu looked at the Spirit Treasures and Spiritual Roots that voluntarily joined Hongjun, his heart filled with envy, and he almost shed 'tears of envy'.
Before meeting Hongjun, Taichu always considered himself to have profound fortune. After all, ever since he left the sea of blood, he had stumbled upon many Heaven And Earth Treasures, and also acquired some Innate Spirit Treasures and Innate Spiritual Roots, though most were Low Grade or Medium Grade, which was still quite rare.
But compared to Hongjun, his gains were simply insignificant.
However, Hongjun did not accept all Heaven And Earth Treasures that came to him.
For some treasures that he felt he had no affinity with, Hongjun would decisively refuse them.
Even so, after these five hundred years, Hongjun's gains still far surpassed Taichu's entire fortune.
This day, the three of them were leisurely wandering in Mount Buzhou as usual.
Hongjun was walking when he suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the Void Realm, his expression subtly changing as he said, "It seems I can no longer continue traveling with the Two Fellow Daoists. An old friend seems to be restless." Hongjun's words carried a hint of helplessness and regret.
"If Fellow Daoist has matters to attend to, please feel free to leave. Our two brothers have also traveled in Mount Buzhou for a long time, and it's time for us to return to our Daoist temple." Taichu, though a little reluctant, said understandingly.
After all, in these five hundred years, their two brothers had gained immensely by Hongjun's side, and their comprehension of the Great Dao had made a qualitative leap.
For the first time, Taichu deeply realized the benefits of having a senior guide one's cultivation, and he finally understood why almost all top Innate Sacreds desperately wanted to go to Zixiao Palace to listen to Hongjun's lectures.
Moreover, when Taichu heard the words "restless," he roughly guessed that the "old friend" Hongjun spoke of was very likely Demon Ancestor Luo Hou.
Anything related to Luo Hou must be a major event, so how could Taichu stop Hongjun from leaving?
"Two Fellow Daoists, we shall meet again if fate allows. I hope that when we meet next time, the Two Fellow Daoists will have achieved Grand Unity Golden Immortal Demonstration." Hongjun nodded slightly, his eyes filled with expectation, then his figure flashed, instantly disappearing into the Void Realm.
"Phew." After Hongjun left, Taichu let out a heavy sigh of relief. While he felt some reluctance about Hongjun's departure, he also felt a sense of relief.
Facing a powerful figure like Hongjun every day, Taichu felt immense pressure, truly "Alexander the Great."
"What a pity. If we could continue traveling with Daoist Hongjun, I feel that the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm is already within reach." Minghe said with a regretful expression by his side.
Minghe did not know about Hongjun's future. In his eyes, Hongjun was a rare good teacher and friend, and traveling with him greatly benefited his cultivation, so he naturally did not wish for Hongjun to leave.
"Brother, Daoist Hongjun has already left. We should also leave Mount Buzhou and return to the sea of blood." Taichu calmed his emotions and suggested to Minghe.
Actually, Taichu came to Mount Buzhou originally to search for the enlightenment tea tree and the twenty-four grade creation green lotus, but despite his continuous search, he never found any trace of them.
However, they had been away from the sea of blood for too long.
And Taichu gradually understood that some Opportunities could not be forced. Their failure to find these two treasures after traveling in Mount Buzhou for tens of thousands of years only indicated that they had no affinity with them at this moment.
"Alright, this trip back, it's a good time to go into seclusion and sort out what we've gained from this journey." Minghe pondered for a moment and nodded.
They had indeed been away from the sea of blood for too long. Even though Minghe was usually emotionally detached, at this moment, he couldn't help but feel a hint of nostalgia for the sea of blood.
"It's truly a great pity. After exploring Mount Buzhou for so long, I still haven't found the twenty-four grade creation green lotus and the enlightenment tea tree. This means my Breakthrough to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm will likely be delayed for a long time." Taichu looked up at the majestic Mount Buzhou, his eyes full of disappointment, and couldn't help but sigh heavily and shake his head slightly.
At this moment, he and Minghe had already left the vicinity of Mount Buzhou.
Behind them, Mount Buzhou gradually receded, disappearing into a sea of clouds.
"No matter. Perhaps the time for the enlightenment tea tree and the twenty-four grade creation green lotus to appear is not yet ripe, or perhaps the location you deduced was wrong, and they were not born on Mount Buzhou at all.
But rest assured, as long as these two treasures haven't fallen into someone else's hands, we still have a chance to obtain them.
If they are truly acquired by others, I, your elder brother, will spare no effort, even if it means becoming an enemy of all living beings, to help you reclaim them." Minghe turned his head, looking at Taichu with firm eyes, revealing the elder brother's unreserved support and love for his younger brother.
"Elder brother, there's no need for that. Opportunities in this world cannot be forced. Let's go, it's time for us to return." Taichu's lips curved slightly, forcing a carefree smile, and he shook his head again.
Although his heart was full of regret, Taichu was open-minded by nature and knew that some things could not be forced.
As soon as his words fell, the spiritual energy around the two brothers instantly surged. Both of them simultaneously activated their Divine Ability.
In an instant, their figures, like two streaks of light, pierced through the Void Realm and vanished, leaving only the lingering spiritual energy fluctuations in the air, proving they had once been there.
…
"Heavenly Dao above, I am Zu Long of the Dragon Clan! Today, all scaly creatures in the Honghuang World shall be protected by my Dragon Clan. I shall be the Dominator of scaly creatures, leading all scaly creatures in the world, and I will surely protect the prosperity of my Clan. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness!" Zu Long stood above the East Sea, his enormous body covering the sky and obscuring the sun.
His powerful voice, like the long toll of a grand bell and the rumble of thunder, echoed endlessly between heaven and earth, carrying endless majesty.
This sound shook the sea, raising thousands of towering waves, and caused ripples in the Void Realm. The space seemed unable to withstand this power, and faint cracks appeared.
"Heavenly Dao above, I am Yuan Feng of the Phoenix Clan! Today, all avian creatures in the world shall be protected by my Phoenix Clan. I shall be the Dominator of avian creatures in the Honghuang World, leading the avian Clan to soar through the Nine Heavens and dominate the firmament. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness!" Yuan Feng flapped her wings high in the southern sky, surrounded by colorful auspicious light, both beautiful and majestic.
Her voice was clear and pleasant to the ear, yet it carried an undeniable Aura, resounding throughout the entire Honghuang World.
"Heavenly Dao above, I am Ancestral Qilin of the Qilin Clan! Today, all beastly creatures in the world shall be protected by my Qilin Clan. I shall be the Dominator of beastly creatures in the Honghuang World, leading tens of thousands of beasts and guarding the peace of the Primordial Land. May the Heavenly Dao bear witness!" Ancestral Qilin stood on the Primordial Land, his four hooves planted firmly, like a towering mountain.
His voice was deep and heavy, containing endless power, as if it could make the Primordial Land tremble.
As the Clan Chiefs of the three Clans successively made such earth-shattering declarations, a colossal purple eye suddenly appeared in the Void Realm of the Honghuang World.
This eye, a hundred zhang in diameter, emitted a mysterious and majestic Aura.
Within the eye, purple light flowed, as if it could perceive all the mysteries of the world, seeing through the past, present, and future.
Although most of the living beings in the Honghuang World at this time had never seen the appearance of the Heavenly Dao, the moment this purple eye appeared, a thought spontaneously arose in their hearts: This is the Incarnation of the Heavenly Dao—the Eye of Heavenly Dao!
The Eye of Heavenly Dao gazed quietly at Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Ancestral Qilin on the Primordial Land with an indifferent and cold gaze.
That gaze seemed substantial, like a sharp treasured sword, sweeping back and forth over the three, devoid of any emotion, as if all things in the world were as insignificant as dust in its eyes.
Zu Long and the others, whose strength had already reached the Perfection of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm, stood at the Peak of strength in the Honghuang World, usually majestic and exalted.
However, under the gaze of the Eye of Heavenly Dao, they felt as small as ants, unable to move, as if bound tightly by an invisible and supremely powerful force.
This force made their Souls tremble, and the spiritual energy within their bodies seemed to be frozen, unable to circulate.
This feeling of being belittled and ignored made the three of them extremely uncomfortable, and anger and unwillingness burned fiercely in their hearts.
After all, they were now the strongest in the Honghuang World; who would dare to be disrespectful on normal days?
When had they ever been treated like this?
However, they could also clearly feel the breath of death assailing them from the gaze of the Eye of Heavenly Dao—a chill that penetrated to the bone, as if if they showed the slightest dissatisfaction or hint of resistance, they would be instantly annihilated by the Heavenly Dao, turning to dust, leaving not even a fragment of their Soul.
The Eye of Heavenly Dao only lingered in the Void Realm for a brief moment before slowly disappearing.
And at the moment it disappeared, the Luck of the myriad Clans in the Honghuang World, as if drawn by some mysterious force, began to gather continuously according to the categories of scaly, avian, and beastly creatures.
For a time, the Luck between heaven and earth surged, forming three colossal torrents of Luck, flowing respectively towards the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan.
Clearly, the Heavenly Dao had already approved of the actions of the three Clans.
Zu Long and the others keenly noticed that their Clan's Luck was soaring at an astonishing rate.
Under the powerful impetus of this massive amount of Luck, their cultivation, which had not fluctuated for a long time, finally began to slowly improve. The spiritual energy within their bodies, like a bursting dam, surged powerfully, continuously impacting their Meridians and Sea of Consciousness.
"Hahaha, this path is indeed viable! It turns out that beyond Grand Unity, there truly is a higher Realm!
The Dao is endless! The Dao is endless!
Today, I, Zu Long, shall Breakthrough Grand Unity and step into that brand new Realm!" Zu Long felt the surging and rising power within his body, and he laughed excitedly towards the sky, his voice full of madness and joy.
Around his body, Dragon might overflowed, his scales shimmered with golden light, and his Aura continuously escalated under the impetus of Luck.
Yuan Feng and Ancestral Qilin were in a similar state to Zu Long at this time. As the earliest explorers and seekers of the Dao in the Honghuang World, in the long years, when they discovered that there seemed to be no path beyond the Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they too had fallen into madness, anger, and even once into despondency.
For countless days and nights, they had painstakingly searched in the darkness for a path to Breakthrough, but always without success.
But now, all the gloom had dispersed.
The three of them, relying on their Clan's Luck, successfully broke the shackles of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal and entered the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm.
Their Aura became increasingly powerful, as if they had merged with heaven and earth. With every move, they could stir the power of heaven and earth.
"Could it be that the only way to Breakthrough the Grand Unity Golden Immortal is to rely on Clan Luck?" Countless Innate Sacreds, witnessing Zu Long and the other two successfully Breakthrough by relying on Luck, couldn't help but murmur to themselves, their eyes filled with envy and contemplation.
Especially those first batch of Innate Sacreds in the Honghuang World who had participated in the Vicious Beast Tribulation, they had gained a lot of Karma and Luck during the tribulation, and most of them had now reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm.
However, that Karma and Luck were clearly not enough to allow them to break through the shackles of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
At this moment, seeing the three Clans forcefully open a new path and successfully Breakthrough by relying on Clan Luck, they seemed to see a ray of light in the darkness, and many began to consider the possibility of joining the three Clans.
For a time, undercurrents surged in the Honghuang World, and countless people weighed the pros and cons in their hearts, contemplating how to choose their future Dao.
The three clans have finally reached this point.
Taichu keenly sensed the drastic changes in the Luck of the races within the Honghuang World, and could not help but shake his head again, a hint of worry appearing in his eyes.
He had always upheld the belief that Luck and Karma could only aid Cultivation, and had never thought of using Luck or Karma as the primary means to Breakthrough his cultivation.
Otherwise, with the Karma he had accumulated now, it would not be difficult to Breakthrough to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
"Taichu, do you think we should also join the three clans?" Minghe witnessed the shocking scene of Ancestral Dragon and others Breakthrough to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm, and his mindset could not help but ripple slightly, turning to ask Taichu.
"Forget it, joining the three clans, although it might give our cultivation a certain boost in the short term, this is not the life I aspire to."
As soon as Minghe finished speaking, in the next instant, he himself denied this idea.
"Elder brother, it's best that you think this way. The three clans may seem incomparably glorious now, but this glory is like a fleeting fireworks display, brilliant but short-lived."
Taichu slightly raised his head, a hint of regret in his eyes, looking towards the Void Realm, as if he had already foreseen the tragic scene of the three clans eventually heading towards destruction due to the Dao of Luck.
Minghe looked at Taichu with a face full of doubt and asked, "Does Taichu, you, not favor the Dao of Luck of the three clans? With the current powerful strength of the three clans, will there still be any unforeseen changes?"
"Joining the three clans indeed seems like a good thing in the short term.
However, the Luck of Honghuang is not inexhaustible; to obtain more Luck, one can only plunder it from other races.
What do you think they will choose when their Luck is insufficient to support their Cultivation?" Taichu asked Minghe.
"Naturally, they will seek more Luck to Cultivate."
"This..." As soon as Minghe spoke, his thoughts also turned around.
"But if we can understand this, wouldn't the three clans be clear about it? Their struggles among themselves will probably be restrained, right?" Minghe said with a bit of uncertainty.
Taichu shook his head after hearing Minghe's words, "Elder brother, you are thinking too simply. Once the three clans taste the sweetness brought by Luck, they will not be willing to give up this path.
Moreover, this Dao of Luck is not something you can stop whenever you want; at that time, whether they fight or not may no longer be something the three clans can decide. At that time, the entire Honghuang will be dragged into the quagmire of war.
If we choose to join the three clans, whether voluntarily or not, we will inevitably be deeply entangled in the vortex of the three clans' struggles. At that time, we will be worn down by endless battles."
"Although the Dao of Luck is indeed a path to Demonstration, with the three clans simultaneously embarking on this path now, I always feel that there might be another hidden agenda behind this matter; I'm afraid someone is meticulously plotting in the dark." Taichu said with a solemn expression, patiently explaining to Minghe.
"With the current powerful strength of the three clans, is there still someone who dares to scheme against them? Moreover, among the three clans, has no one noticed anything unusual?" Minghe asked with a face full of surprise, staring intently at Taichu.
"Elder brother, how do you think Daoist Hongjun, whom we met before, ranks in terms of strength?" Taichu did not directly answer Minghe's question, but instead asked a rhetorical question.
"Daoist Hongjun? He is the most mysterious person I have encountered since stepping into Honghuang. During the few years I traveled with him, the more I interacted with him, the more difficult it was to see through him." Minghe recalled the bits and pieces of his time with Hongjun, giving a very high evaluation of Hongjun.
"Then, elder brother, who do you think is stronger between Daoist Hongjun and the Clan Chiefs of the three clans?"
"This... Although this idea of mine might be a bit outlandish, I vaguely feel that the cultivation of the Clan Chiefs of the three clans is probably not as good as Daoist Hongjun's." Minghe replied with a hint of uncertainty in his tone, sounding a bit lacking in confidence.
"Elder brother, your feeling is correct.
The strength of Daoist Hongjun is far above that of the Clan Chiefs of the three clans.
And in Honghuang, as far as I know, there are three beings whose strength is comparable to Daoist Hongjun.
They found their Dao earlier than the three clans. If they are secretly plotting against the three clans, do you still think the Dao of Luck of the three clans can remain safe and sound?"
The Honghuang World is far more complex than we imagine. Therefore, before we possess sufficient strength, it is better not to easily get involved in the muddy waters of the three clans of Honghuang." Taichu deliberately did not mention Luo Hou's name.
He knew deeply that such a powerful existence as Luo Hou could very likely be sensed if anyone in Honghuang mentioned his name.
Taichu was already connected to Hongjun, and he did not want to needlessly attract Luo Hou's attention at this time.
"It seems that the Dao of Luck is indeed full of hidden mysteries. However, have the three clans truly not noticed this problem?" Although Minghe had already somewhat agreed with Taichu's explanation, he still had a hint of doubt.
He truly found it hard to believe that a problem they both could see, no one among the three clans had noticed.
"The Dao of Luck can indeed help Cultivators reach the Hunyuan Realm. Even if the three clans know there might be problems, they are full of confidence in their own clans and firmly believe that they will be the ultimate winners. This is an open conspiracy." Taichu sighed deeply, lamenting.
"Forget it, let's hurry back to the Sea of Blood and go into seclusion. The beings in Honghuang are too complex in their thoughts." Minghe shook his head helplessly after hearing Taichu's explanation, having already made up his mind.
"Yes, Honghuang is too complex. Let's return to the Sea of Blood as soon as possible to Cultivate in seclusion. As long as we stay in the Sea of Blood, the disputes in Honghuang will hardly affect us." Taichu could not help but show a wry smile when he thought of the future situation.
Taichu did not refute Minghe's words, but he knew that they were already in the game now. Even if they returned to the Sea of Blood and remained in seclusion, various unexpected situations would arise, pushing them into the Calamity.
This was already destined when they came into contact with Hongjun at Mount Buzhou.
They had already entered the game at that time, not to mention that they later traveled with Hongjun on Mount Buzhou for fifty thousand years.
Now, even if they could avoid the Dragon Han Calamity, they could not escape the subsequent battle between Dao and Demon.
However, Taichu had already considered this point beforehand. The battle between Dao and Demon was a continuation of the Dragon Han Calamity, but by then, the Calamity was already nearing its end. At that time, as long as they didn't court death by running into the battlefield of Hongjun and Luo Hou, the risk was actually very small.
Moreover, this Calamity was not meant for them, the second batch of Innate Sacreds born. At that time, as long as the two brothers acted carefully during the Calamity, it would be relatively easy to safely pass through the Dragon Han Calamity.
Taichu withdrew his mind from the matters of the three clans. There was still a long time until the Dragon Han Calamity. Their current worries were not as good as quickly improving their strength. Without strength, no amount of consideration was mere empty talk.
"Elder brother, let's go. We are almost leaving the eastern region of Honghuang and returning to the western area. Honghuang is probably not peaceful now, so let's return to the Sea of Blood as soon as possible."
"Good." Minghe nodded after hearing Taichu's words.
With that, the two brothers no longer concerned themselves with the matters of the three clans, turned and flew towards the west, their figures gradually receding and disappearing into the end of the world.
Meanwhile, in other corners of Honghuang, others were also closely watching the actions of the three clans.
"The current situation of the three clans is probably inseparable from the hidden push of Fellow Daoist Luo Hou. But what exactly is Fellow Daoist Luo Hou trying to achieve by instigating the conflict between the three clans?"
Hongjun frowned, his gaze solemn as he looked towards the direction where the three clans were, his heart filled with doubt.
He knew that Luo Hou was secretly scheming against the three clans and understood that Luo Hou intended to provoke conflict among them, but he truly could not understand what Luo Hou's ultimate goal was in doing so.
"It's here, finally here. Hongjun, just wait and see. When the three clans fall, that will be the day I achieve Demonstration." Luo Hou looked at the movements of the three clans, a hint of maniacal laughter appearing on his face, his laughter echoing in the Void Realm, carrying a sinister and ruthless tone.
"Heavenly Dao, can you truly not tolerate us remnants of Chaos? If I fail again this time, it seems I should find a time to leave this Honghuang World." Yang Mei's expression was bitter, as he looked up at the Void Realm, his eyes filled with helplessness and desolation.
"Brother, in the mountain range in the distance, there seems to be something resonating with me. I think my Opportunity has arrived." Taichu suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on the distant, overlapping mountain ranges.
"If that's the case, then let's go take a look." Minghe nodded slightly upon hearing this, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes.
During these years of traveling, Taichu could often keenly sense various Opportunities, but most of what he encountered in the past were only Low Grade Spirit Treasures or Spiritual Roots, which offered limited help to their current strength.
In Minghe's understanding, the only existence that could surpass Taichu in terms of fortune was someone like Hongjun, who was practically "cheating."
He still remembered how, back then, those Spirit Treasures and Spiritual Roots seemed to be possessed, flocking to Hongjun like fawning dogs, just begging to be taken in by him.
That scene almost shattered Minghe's usually firm Dao Heart.
Spiritual Qi surged beneath their feet, and in just a moment, they arrived outside the valley.
"It seems this Opportunity is far from simple. What's hidden within is at least a High Grade Spirit Treasure." Taichu gazed at the faintly visible First Acquired Array in the mountain range, unable to suppress his inner joy, his voice trembling slightly.
Looking up, the mountain range was shrouded in mist, dreamlike and illusory. Within it grew some seemingly ordinary Spiritual objects, like common wild grasses, idle flowers, and ordinary Spiritual woods.
But Taichu knew in his heart that all of this was merely an illusion, created by the deeply hidden First Acquired Array within the mountain range.
This Formation was extremely profound, completely obscuring the true scene within the mountain range.
This First Acquired Array was the most complex and profound Formation Taichu had encountered in all these years.
If it weren't for Hongjun's careful guidance on the Dao of Formation during their previous travels together, with his original Formation attainments, he probably wouldn't have even noticed such a profound Formation hidden within this mountain range.
"Brother, it seems we'll have to stay here for a while." Taichu looked at the First Acquired Array before him, feeling a bit helpless, yet unable to hide the excitement in his eyes.
Even though his Formation abilities had made a qualitative leap under Hongjun's guidance, breaking through this grand Formation before him was still not an easy task.
"No matter." Minghe's expression was calm as he gently shook his head.
For Innate Sacreds like them, the long years were like an endless river; time was the least scarce thing.
"This Formation is too complex. I need to fully devote myself to comprehending it. During this period, I'll have to trouble brother to be my Protector." Taichu looked at Minghe, his eyes full of trust and gratitude.
Minghe nodded solemnly upon hearing this.
Seeing Minghe agree, Taichu immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and immersed his entire mind in the mysterious First Acquired Array before him.
For a time, everything around them fell silent, only Taichu's Spiritual Qi subtly fluctuated, seemingly forming some subtle connection with the grand Formation.
Time flowed like a fleeting shadow, and the two spent a long hundred years in this nameless mountain range.
"Hoo… I've finally comprehended this First Acquired Array! I didn't expect to be trapped by this Formation for a hundred years. If the treasure within doesn't satisfy me, it would truly be a huge loss." Taichu slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them as he looked at the First Acquired Array, letting out a long sigh.
With that, Taichu's figure flickered, appearing in the Void Realm. His hands danced like phantoms, light flashing between his fingers. Streaks of powerful spell techniques shot out from his fingertips, accurately merging into the Spiritual Qi Context of the mountain range's grand Formation.
With each spell technique that landed, the grand Formation trembled violently, emitting a dull roar, as if an enraged ancient beast was struggling to resist the invasion of this external force.
The Spiritual Qi surrounding the grand Formation, which had originally flowed smoothly and orderly, instantly became chaotic, colliding and surging, producing crackling sounds like dense firecrackers exploding.
As Taichu continuously injected Spiritual Qi, an anomaly quietly appeared at a crucial point within the grand Formation.
A thick, inky black mist slowly rose, and within the mist, faint, ferocious beast shadows flickered, letting out roars, as if trying to break through this restraint and tear the intruders to shreds.
Taichu's eyes narrowed, understanding in his heart that this was the grand Formation's core defensive mechanism being triggered.
"Hmph, my diligent study day and night for the past hundred years wasn't in vain, was it? There's no way you can stop me now!" Taichu snorted coldly, the speed of his hand seals suddenly accelerating, like falling leaves in a storm, dazzling to the eye.
Under the impact of Taichu's powerful Spiritual Qi, the black mist gradually dissipated.
But just as the mist dissipated, countless Spiritual Qi blades, like a rainstorm, shot towards Taichu from all directions of the grand Formation.
These blades shimmered with a cold, chilling light, moving as fast as lightning. Wherever they passed, tiny cracks were carved into space, as if fragile paper was being easily torn.
Taichu reacted extremely quickly, instantly condensing a thick Spiritual Qi shield in front of him.
The Spiritual Qi blades struck the shield, producing dense and crisp clanging sounds, sparks flying everywhere, like a dazzling fireworks display.
Taking advantage of the brief moment he was defending against the blade attacks, Taichu's gaze was like a torch, firmly locking onto the location of the grand Formation's core.
At the core, a Spiritual Pearl emitting a faint glow floated, continuously supplying Spiritual Qi to the grand Formation.
This Spiritual Pearl was a High Grade Spirit Treasure, and also the core of the entire grand Formation.
"Break!" Taichu roared, the Spiritual Qi within him surging out like a torrential tide, condensing into a giant Spiritual Qi hand in front of him, which swiftly reached out to grasp the Spiritual Pearl.
Wherever the Spiritual Qi hand passed, space twisted and deformed, and the many obstacles within the grand Formation were instantly torn apart by force.
As the Spiritual Pearl was successfully retrieved by Taichu, a deafening roar erupted from within the grand Formation, as if heaven and earth were collapsing.
The entire First Acquired Array shook violently, its light flickering erratically, like a candle about to go out.
With the loss of the Spiritual Pearl, the light of the First Acquired Array rapidly dimmed, and the surrounding Spiritual Qi also quickly dissipated like a receding tide.
Taichu looked at the now broken grand Formation, his taut nerves finally relaxing as he let out a long sigh.
"I didn't expect it to be this Spirit Treasure." Taichu looked at the Spiritual Pearl in his hand, which emitted a faint golden light, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
This Spiritual Pearl was the Gold Spiritual Pearl among the Five Elements Spiritual Pearls.
The Five Elements Spiritual Pearls were extremely rare combination Spirit Treasures in the Honghuang World.
If one could collect all five Spiritual Pearls – Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth – the power they could unleash would be comparable to a top-tier Spirit Treasure.
Just this single Gold Spiritual Pearl alone made Taichu feel that his hundred years of effort had not been in vain.