Chapter 1664: Yunxiao Breaks Free, Hongjun

As for the Yuanxiao of another world, she had long since vanished.

Sensing her own peak Pure Saint cultivation base, Yunxiao was stunned.

"With this level of cultivation, I was still easily dragged into a hallucination, with not the slightest ability to resist. Is this what a Yuanxiao powerhouse is like?"

She always had a feeling.

The other's Yuanxiao realm was different from what she understood.

It should be even stronger!

Just as she pondered, a flash of celestial light crossed the Heavenly Stairway; Yunxiao felt her whole body tremble, and an unprecedented sense of ease surged into her heart.

"I've broken free from my bonds—I've reclaimed my true spirit!"

Yunxiao gazed toward the Earth Immortal Realm and saw the Investiture Scroll tremble, radiating terrifying energy; after a while, the scroll's aura finally receded.

Upon the Heavenly Stairway, the Jade Emperor stared at the Heavenly Court, seeing the Investiture Scroll's anomaly and Yunxiao emerging from her bondage, his expression complex.

He never expected that merely climbing the Heavenly Stairway would allow Yunxiao to break free.

The Heavenly Court.

The gods, once resigned to their fate, changed expression, eyes filled with anticipation.

"Sister Yunxiao has broken free—do you think we can climb that Heavenly Stairway too? Even if we can't join Master Taixuan's lineage, just gaining freedom would be a massive gain!"

"Exactly right!"

Their divine thoughts converged in the void, radiating joy.

The next moment, streams of spiritual light shot out of the Earth Immortal Realm, landing on the Earth Star, heading toward the Heavenly Stairway.

Moments passed.

"What's going on? Why haven't I regained my physical form?"

"Me too!"

"Why? Could Sister Yunxiao have some special quality?"

The gods simply could not accept it.

They had all done the same thing—why had they received no benefit?

But they did not know.

First, they lacked the connection; second, their former strength was too weak—they didn't even qualify as pawns.

Third, the Investiture Scroll is one of this realm's foundational pillars of Heaven's Dao.

Zhang Taixuan helping one soul break free was one thing; helping all the gods break free would not be placing pawns—it would be a direct confrontation with Hongjun.

Zhang Taixuan would never do such a thankless, exhausting thing.

"Fellow Daoists, my breaking free was the result of negotiations between Master Taixuan and Master Hongjun," Yunxiao said, unable to bear their ignorance. "Even with Master's immense power, he cannot free all the gods."

Hearing this, the others quickly grasped the logic and returned, disappointed.

The Jade Emperor sneered inwardly: "After billions of years, these gods still haven't grown any brains. The Investiture Scroll is the foundation of the Heavenly Court. As long as the Teacher still needs the Court to govern the cosmos, the gods can never break free. The occasional exception? That's merely Master granting someone a favor."

Thinking this, he glanced again at the Heavenly Stairway, which seemed endless, and felt a growing frustration.

"I once counted—the steps numbered only 490,000. Why does it now feel endless?"

"Could it be that sincerity grants one instant ascension, while insincerity traps one in endless circling?"

Looking at the mountain peak, the Jade Emperor frowned.

Mortals could still sincerely worship the gods.

But Pure Saint cultivators could never achieve true sincerity.

After all, who among those who reached the Pure Saint realm wasn't supremely arrogant?

"Keep going—absolutely no giving up!"

The Jade Emperor urged himself inwardly: "I will never abandon the Saint Seat."

His senior and junior brothers had all become Saints.

He was the Teacher's attendant, yet still remained a Pure Saint.

To say he felt no disappointment was impossible.

As for why he didn't compare himself to the other guests of Purple Cloud Palace, the reason was simple.

One only ever compares upward—has anyone ever compared downward?

Seven days passed swiftly.

At the mountain's peak.

Zhou Qing sat in meditation, contemplating the Emperor Scripture.

With the aid of his Dao seat, his cultivation speed reached its peak; in just a few days, his cultivation base reached the Yin-Yang realm.

Just as he prepared to continue, he sensed the Heavenly Stairway vanishing, returning mortals to their origins and casting the immortals back to the mountain's foot.

Looking ahead at the platform, three thousand new figures had appeared.

Among them were mortals and Pure Saints, their auras distinct, yet all shared the same expression—pure joy.

The Chat Group.

Zhou Qing: "Lord Dao, is the first disciple recruitment over already? Only three thousand?"

Su Xiao: "Three thousand is already plenty. Even Master Hongjun's Purple Cloud Palace only accepted three thousand disciples."

Zhang Taixuan: "Correct. Take those Pure Saints as your disciples. As for the rest, enroll them under your name."

Zhou Qing: "I was just about to mention that! Making Pure Saints my disciples—I'm a little scared."

Xiao Mai: "Aren't you fearless of heaven and earth?"

Zhou Qing: "That's when facing opponents of similar realm. Pure Saints are far stronger than me. One slip-up, and disaster strikes."

Ye Hei: "Hah… I thought you'd say, 'Defy my command, and you shall turn to ash!'"

Zhou Qing: "... I think, I'll say that kind of thing after I become a Saint. Saying it now wouldn't carry the slightest intimidation. Alright, time to take disciples."

The conversation ended.

Zhou Qing looked down at the crowd below.

With the Heavenly Ladder's enhancement, everyone's realm was clear at a glance.

"Haotian, Duobao, Yunxiao, Wukong, Zhenyuanzi... The Ancestral Master has said that you may be the Ancestral Master's registered disciples, and you shall be bestowed one scroll of the Immortal-Martial Dao Scripture. Once you achieve the Innate Divine Demon Body, you will be on par with a Hunyuan Daluo Jin Xian."

"Many thanks to the Ancestral Master!"

The crowd went wild with joy.

"As for whether you can vie for the position of Saint, that depends on who among you condenses the Innate Divine Demon Body first."

A Saint is a Hunyuan Daluo Jin Xian.

But a Hunyuan Daluo Jin Xian is not necessarily a Saint.

The difference between the two lies in the Authority of Heaven and Earth.

In other worlds, being able to prove oneself a Hunyuan Daluo would already be an immense blessing.

The Authority of Heaven and Earth is of no small importance.

But this is the Primordial Wilderness, where the role of Authority is far too great.

One can comprehend the Laws, can comprehend the Dao of Pangu—extremely beneficial for the future.

Even, if one's strength is sufficient, one can contend with Hongjun and Pangu, vying for the right to govern the Primordial Wilderness.

Hearing this, the crowd's enthusiasm was instantly roused.

The Jade Emperor cried out in his heart: "This Heavenly Honored One will not only become a Hunyuan Daluo, but also seize the Authority of Heaven and Earth. I will absolutely not yield on this matter!"

He looked toward the other Quasi-Saints, sparks flashing in his gaze.