The First Demon of the Chan Sect
Chapter 460 - 3 Conversations with Tongtian in the Zixiao Palace (Part 3)

Chapter 460: Chapter 3 Conversations with Tongtian in the Zixiao Palace (Part 3)

"Um?" Just as Tongtian was about to activate the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, he let out a light grunt and suddenly looked up.

Laozi and Primordial took a few strides to Tongtian’s side and said, "Tongtian, hurry to Zixiao Palace!"

Tongtian spat, saying, "Jieyin, consider yourself lucky! If it weren’t for Master’s urgent summons, I would have let you die on the spot! Remember, in the future, stay out of the affairs of the Eastern!"

"Pfft!"

Jieyin, having just recovered from the brink of death, was so infuriated by Tongtian’s words that he spit out a mouthful of backflowing blood.

Primordial and Laozi exchanged a glance and shook their heads with a wry smile.

Hidden in the shadows, Li Qingming laughed heartily and said, "This Uncle Tongtian is quite the character! Hahaha..."

In the deep void of the lifeless cosmos, Zixiao Palace was as elusive as ever.

The cute and charming Yaoji, dressed as a young child, was already waiting at the palace gate, her rosy cheeks adorned with a sweet smile.

Hong Jun had summoned all the Saints, and it seemed a significant event was about to unfold. But what exactly it was, Li Qingming thought, seemed to be known only by Hong Jun himself and possibly Jieyin.

Others had vague premonitions about it.

In Zixiao Palace, clad in a dark green Daoist robe, Li Qingming deliberately arrived late.

Seeing all the Saints in Zixiao Palace, Li Qingming smiled slightly and bowed, "Forgive my late arrival, esteemed seniors!"

Tongtian was well-acquainted with Li Qingming’s temperament and was not surprised by his demeanor.

The Three Pure Ones, being Li Qingming’s elders, along with the other Eastern Saints who always had good relations with him, naturally didn’t mind. Xuanhu and Jieyin merely nodded, not making a fuss.

Zhen Yuanzi smiled at Li Qingming and said, "Fellow Daoist Qingmingzi, you are indeed late! After so many years, you seldom visit my Wuzhuang Temple!"

Li Qingming shrugged, "It’s not that I don’t wish to, but I have been entangled in endless matters and couldn’t leave!"

Hearing this, Netherworld River also laughed and said, "After leaving Zixiao Palace, you must visit Zhen Yuan. His fruits are ripe recently, and they are real treasures!"

Zhen Yuanzi gave Netherworld River a stare and said, "You just remember my ginsengfruit!"

Li Qingming looked at their playful quarrel and laughed heartily, "That’s wonderful! Honestly, it’s been many years since I’ve tasted ginsengfruit, and I’ve been craving them lately!"

The Three Pure Ones watched Li Qingming jovially bantering, and the tension from the earlier conflict had long dissipated.

Nuwa in a pink skirt was biting her lip pensively, looking at Li Qingming with a look full of deep emotions. Suddenly she asked, "Fellow Daoist, how is Sister Wang Shu doing recently?"

Li Qingming’s smiling face stiffened slightly, and he laughed it off, "Wang Shu is well, thanks for your concern, Uncle Nuwa!"

"All these years, Brother Ming has really been living comfortably!" Houtu, who was beside Jieyin, couldn’t help but speak with a hint of jealousy.

Li Qingming, unusually, blushed and suddenly found himself uncomfortable facing the two ladies.

After thinking for a while, Li Qingming deliberately turned his head and said to Laozi, "Master, among all the Saints here, you have the highest Cultivation and are adept in divination. Do you know why Ancestor summoned us today?"

Laozi, who had been amused by Li Qingming’s antics, blinked at the flattering and thought, "This junior sure knows how to play his cards! How can you say I have the highest Cultivation when you are here?"

Unwillingly smiling wryly, Laozi stroked his long beard and said, "It must be that a great calamity is imminent!"

All Saints were greatly astonished, and Primordial couldn’t help but ask, "Elder brother, ever since the Witch Demon War, Huaxia Land has been tranquil. How can there suddenly be talk of a great calamity?"

Tongtian, always the most impatient, added, "Now, in Huaxia Land, the Human Clan has become the protagonist between Heaven and Earth, and the Three Emperors have already arisen. Where is this calamity from?"

Laozi, silently twirling his beard, said, "It’s exactly because it has been too calm for too long. Hence, karma entangles the Primordial Land once again, and the calamity arises. Even this old Tao cannot foresee it!"

As Laozi was sighing, outside Zixiao Palace, a verdant green and a snowy white light suddenly flashed towards the palace gate.

Shortly after, the lights gradually solidified, revealing Yang Mei and Xuanhu.

"Humph!"

The two exchanged glances, each snorted coldly, and turned their heads to enter Zixiao Palace.

Yaoji, the little girl, rubbed her slightly sleepy eyes and tilted her head, mumbling, "Did someone just arrive?"

Upon hearing footsteps, all Saints turned their heads to look. Upon seeing the newcomers, while feeling surprised, they all rose to pay their respects.

"Greetings to Senior Yang Mei, Senior Xuanhu!"

Yang Mei and Xuanhu nodded to All Saints and found a cushion to sit down on.

Li Qingming, however, paid no heed to them and directly asked, "You two old fellows! Today, we are summoned by the Taoist Ancestor to Zixiao Palace. Why are you two old coots joining in the fun? Could it be that you too are involved in the calamity?"

Li Qingming’s words made Yang Mei’s long beard tremble with anger, who then angrily retorted, "You ungrateful panda cub, no matter what, I am your elder, can’t you show me some respect?"

Xuanhu’s mouth twitched, and after a long while, he ultimately chose not to engage.

Li Qingming sneered and said, "Old fellow, cut the nonsense! Quickly tell me, what did the Taoist Ancestor summon you for?"

On Penglai Island, Li Qingming always loved to bully Yang Mei, that old youngster, always managing to infuriate him to the point of fuming.

Rolling his eyes, Yang Mei huffily said, "It’s nothing. We’re just here to join in the excitement!"

"Darn it, old fellow!" Li Qingming initially wanted to get some information out of Yang Mei, but the old man had choked him off.

However, having heard Yang Mei, the rest of the saints were even more puzzled.

Just as All Saints were lost in thought, Taoist Ancestor Hong Jun silently appeared in the main hall of Zixiao Palace, and everyone was completely unaware of his presence, the profundity of his cultivation instilled fear in the hearts of some saints.

Regaining their senses, All Saints saw Hong Jun and immediately prostrated on the ground, respectfully greeting him, "Disciples welcome the Master (Taoist Ancestor), wishing the Master (Taoist Ancestor) endless longevity!"

Hong Jun waved his hand, "Spare the formalities!"

At this moment, Yang Mei and Xuanhu also stood up to pay respects, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist!"

Hong Jun quickly reciprocated the gesture, "No need for such formalities, my friends!"

Hong Jun somewhat understood the reason behind Yang Mei and Xuanhu’s presence. However, this related to the Path to Heaven, therefore Hong Jun did not dare to neglect it.

Hong Jun glanced around the Zixiao Palace, his gaze finally pausing on Li Qingming, and said, "Since the Witch Demon War, the entanglements of karma between heaven and earth have been excessively heavy. Five hundred years later, the Killing Tribulation of mankind will descend. Thus, the Path to Heaven must be opened to resolve this calamity!"

What is the Path to Heaven? In fact, its existence is known only to the ancient Chaos God Demons and the sole survivor, Li Qingming, in all of Huaxia Land.

At this moment, Li Qingming cursed in his heart about Hong Jun, "Damn it, it’ll still be over five hundred years before it opens. Why are you so anxious? Just wait a bit longer tonight, and that draw would have snapped! Intentional, this old man is definitely doing this on purpose!"

"Indeed, it’s the Path to Heaven!"

Having already guessed this outcome, Yang Mei and Xuanhu exchanged glances, sparks flashing in their eyes.

"The Path to Heaven?"

The other All Saints, however, did not understand, looking puzzled collectively and casting their eyes towards Hong Jun for help.

Hong Jun, expressionless, swept a glance over the saints, and explained, "Pan Gu God opened heaven and earth, thereby creating the Primordial Land and All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds. Among these, the Primordial Land is the main body, while the other myriad worlds are affiliated Central Heaven Worlds. During the Dragon Han Calamity, some of our Primordial creatures once stepped into these myriad worlds. Later on, more creatures from Huaxia Land entered either through spatial rifts or by their own means of breaking through the void. These creatures thrived and continued their existence in the myriad worlds!"

"Master, are all these creatures originally from our Huaxia Land?" Laozi, stroking his long beard, suddenly asked.

Hong Jun slightly raised his eyebrows and explained, "Not all! Those Central Heaven Worlds naturally can also foster life!"

"Master, what does this have to do with the Path to Heaven?" Tongtian didn’t care whether those guys were creatures from Huaxia Land or not, he was only concerned about the route that shares his name, where it is and where it leads to?

Hong Jun glanced at Tongtian and said, "For these creatures, breaking into the myriad worlds from Huaxia Heaven and Earth is easy, but returning is much harder! Therefore, they vie for various resources every day, striving to increase their Cultivation, hoping one day they could return to Huaxia Land! Billions of years have passed, and in these myriad worlds, the strongest creatures have forged half the Path of the Stars! This Killing Tribulation shall occur on this starry path!"

Primordial frowned, asking, "Master, it’s unknown upon whom this Killing Tribulation should fall?"

"Human Clan!"

"Is there a limit to the number of people?"

"Five shall be the ones to break through the tribulation!"

"How is the Killing Tribulation deemed complete?"

"By opening the Path to Heaven, naturally, they will achieve the Merit!"

"What?" Understanding the reason, Laozi lost his usual calm demeanor and suddenly stood up, saying, "Master, after becoming a Saint, I have also traveled the myriad worlds. Those Central Heaven Worlds number nearly ten thousand, and although their world barriers are not as impregnable as the Chaos Barrier, they are still incredibly tough. The highest creatures within these myriad worlds have even reached the Quasi-Saint Realm, and there are countless in the Da Luo Realm. Even if a Golden Immortal Peak Cultivator were to go, it would take tens of thousands of years to open this Path to Heaven, let alone those from the Human Clan?"

The other All Saints also felt a deep unease. The Human Clan? With their physically frail stature, how could they possibly complete this Killing Tribulation!

"The Path to Heaven is full of hardships. Only those with great fortitude and fate can complete this tribulation!" Hong Jun suddenly opened his eyes, his empty gaze fixed on the void before him as he continued, "Within five hundred years, you all should independently seek out those who can break through the tribulation. When the great calamity arrives, and the Path to Heaven opens!"

As the supreme ruler of Heavenly Dao has issued a life-or-death decree, All Saints had no choice but to obey, and they respectfully accepted the order, saying, "We heed the Taoist Ancestor’s decree conscientiously!"

Thus, Hong Jun’s figure once again vanished within the Zixiao Palace, leaving only the saints staring blankly at the high platform in front of them. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)