Chapter 561

Just as the two Sages were lost in their thoughts, a calm and indifferent voice rang out.

"Old man Hongjun, as a Sage who has merged with the Dao, is this truly all the strength you possess?"

"Hmph, you brat, how dare you be so arrogant?"

Hongjun let out an angry shout, and within the void of the Heavenly Dao, a massive vortex condensed, revealing the Divine Wheel of the Heavenly Dao.

Clearly, Hongjun was now in a fit of rage, intending to use the power of the Heavenly Dao and thunderous methods to completely suppress Lin Xia.

"Hongjun, do you intend to ignite a war between the Heavenly Dao and the Earthly Dao?"

However, at this very moment, a voice of unparalleled dominance rang out, causing Hongjun's figure to falter and his expression to change drastically.

"Hongjun, if you dare to touch a single hair on Lin Xia!"

"This palace will surely trample the Purple Heaven Palace and shatter the Xuan Sect."

This voice was none other than that of Sage Houtu!

In fact, Houtu had been secretly observing this matter all along.

It was just that the likes of Laozi and Yuanshi were simply not worth her personal intervention.

Therefore, she had not manifested until now.

But now that Hongjun had personally entered the fray, Houtu finally spoke up, calling out to Hongjun from across the void.

Her words carried a biting chill.

Unparalleled dominance!

As the Sage of the Earthly Dao, when Houtu spoke personally, no one would doubt the truth of her words.

Naturally, it also served as a massive deterrent to Hongjun.

Upon hearing this, Hongjun felt a jolt in his heart, his expression shifting uncertainly.

After a long while, he finally reined in his offensive.

At this moment, igniting a war between Heaven and Earth would very likely result in mutual destruction.

It might even cause the Heavenly Dao to suffer heavy damage.

Such an irreparable consequence was clearly a price he could not afford to pay.

Therefore, Hongjun had no choice but to abandon the idea of detaining Lin Xia.

After a moment of silence, Hongjun changed his tone and said:

"Lin Xia, the human race is the protagonist of Heaven and Earth, favored by the fortune of the world; its rise is unstoppable."

"Therefore, the positions of Human Sages should be shared equally among the various Sage traditions!"

"Currently, Fuxi has joined the Ren Sect."

"But the remaining two Human Emperors should each join the Xun and Chan Sects."

The matter of the Chan Sect was already a settled conclusion, impossible to reverse!

Thus, Hongjun turned his consideration to the positions of the Human Sages.

Having previously peered into the River of Time, he had already discovered that eight great sages of the human race would emerge.

Therefore, seeing no hope in plotting for Fuxi, he set his sights on the subsequent Human Emperors.

Once this move succeeded, it would likewise allow the Xun and Chan Sects to carve up the immense fortune and merit of the human race.

Hearing Hongjun's words, Lin Xia shook his head without hesitation and sneered:

"Old man Hongjun, do you not find your own words ridiculous?"

"I have long stood in opposition to you, and my sister has already severed ties with the Xuan Sect, having no further dealings with you."

"Now you wish to scheme for the positions of Human Sages; it is truly too wishful thinking."

Hongjun frowned deeply and said coldly:

"Lin Xia, do not be overly arrogant!"

"The human race cannot be decided by you alone!"

Pausing, Hongjun looked toward the direction of the Western Honghuang.

"Western Sages, manifest at once!"

Clearly, Hongjun still wanted to win over the two Western Sages.

If successful, he could at most grant one Human Sage position to the Western Sect.

And if Lin Xia refused, then the three sects—Xun, Chan, and Western—would join forces to pressure Lin Xia together.

Hongjun's scheming could not be called anything but profound.

However, after his voice fell, there was no response from the West.

After a long time, Zhunti's somewhat hesitant voice finally rang out.

"Master, our Western Sect's fortune is barren!"

"We shall not participate in this matter!"

Hearing this, Hongjun was stunned.

Immediately, his expression turned abruptly gloomy.

The Western Sect had actually rejected him.

In other words, they had also abandoned the struggle for the Human Sage positions?

This was something Hongjun had never expected!

It was a massive slap in the face!

Hongjun was lost in a daze, saying nothing!

For endless ages, the two Western Sages had been quite covetous of the fortune of the East.

This was a fact known to all living beings.

Therefore, Hongjun had been so confident before.

He believed this was something the two Western Sages dreamed of and would never refuse.

Yet he had not expected them to make the decision to abandon the struggle for the Human Sage positions without hesitation.

Meanwhile, in the Western Sect at this time.

In truth, making such a decision had been quite a struggle for the two Western Sages.

One must know that the current Ren Sect was growing increasingly powerful.

Lin Xia had even reached a point of direct confrontation with Daoist Ancestor Hongjun.

The two Western Sages did not want to offend either side.

Especially after witnessing the battle between Lin Xia and Hongjun, which left them feeling even more horrified.

Although they were loath to admit it, the facts were right before their eyes.

The current Lin Xia already possessed the strength to rival Hongjun.

Offending him would be too unwise.

Thus, the two Western Sages had made this decision.

To stay out of the matter, sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, and seek opportunities later.

"Senior brother, is our decision today ultimately good or bad for the Western Sect?"

Although he had already refused Daoist Ancestor Hongjun, Sage Zhunti still wore a look of worry.

Hearing this, Sage Jieyin's expression remained calm, though the sorrow between his brows deepened.

After a long while, he merely sighed and said softly:

"Perhaps we shall only see the results in the future..."

Afterward, the two fell into silence once more.

Meanwhile, outside Mount Kunlun.

After a long while, Daoist Ancestor Hongjun finally reacted.

"So, you intend to monopolize all eight positions of the Human Sages?"

His face was as cold as water, and he looked at Lin Xia with gloomy eyes as he asked in a deep voice.

Hearing this, Lin Xia nodded as if it were a matter of course.

"And what if I do?"

The reason he dared to be so forceful was simple.

Lin Xia knew that Hongjun did not have the guts to ignite a war between Heaven and Earth.

After all, the current human race was no longer what it used to be.

Coupled with Houtu's Underworld forces, they were already capable of contending with the Heavenly Dao.