But now these petty schemes had vanished completely, leaving only despair and fear.
He suddenly threw himself before Han Xuanji's Divine Thought Incarnation, kowtowing frantically with a heart-wrenching voice, humbling himself to the very dust in a manner completely unbecoming of his status as a Chaos Overlord:
"Spare my life, My Lord! I truly know my mistake! I am willing to offer everything, to work like an ox or a horse, just please give me a chance to live!"
He knew that all his life-saving means had been stripped away, and even his Karma connections had been severed; once Han Xuanji acted, he would surely die, without even a sliver of a possibility of Rebirth.
Meanwhile, the toughness on the Demon Ancestor's face was also completely replaced by an unspeakable bitterness, his heart like dead ashes.
He similarly sensed the disappearance of all his backup plans—those foundations he had relied on while roaming Chaos for countless years and surviving desperate situations countless times were all gone now, without even a trace left behind.
The Demon Ancestor gave a bitter smile and slowly closed his eyes, neither uttering any more harsh words nor kneeling to beg for mercy like Juntian Merchant Venerable.
He knew better than anyone that it was impossible for Han Xuanji to spare him, regardless of who else might be let go.
Begging for mercy was but a futile act that would only make him look more pathetic.
He had roamed Chaos for countless ages and experienced death many times; he had even been besieged by many great powers and had his original self fall, yet every time, he could rely on his prepared backup plans and Clones to make a comeback and eventually emerge victorious.
But he never imagined that after a lifetime of schemes and exhausting every calculation, he would ultimately fall at the hands of Han Xuanji so thoroughly, without even a chance to turn things around, and even his reliance for Rebirth had been completely severed.
Han Xuanji looked at the two men's different yet equally desperate appearances, his expression remaining indifferent without the slightest hint of pity.
With a slight thought, the power of the three thousand great daos within the great dao pagoda surged instantly, and Great Dao runes flowed across the sky, forming two massive Origin Shackles that enveloped Juntian Merchant Venerable and the Demon Ancestor respectively.
These shackles not only suppressed their Physical Bodies and Divine Souls but also directly penetrated into the depths of their Origins, forcibly suppressing their wills and erasing their ability to think.
From this moment on, let alone moving, they could no longer even produce a single thought; they could not beg for mercy, feel anger, or harbor resentment. They could only be soulless puppets firmly suppressed at the bottom of the great dao pagoda, day after day enduring the wearing down of their Origin power, quietly waiting for the moment their Divine Souls were annihilated and their Origins completely dissipated, unable to even sense the fear of death.
This was a truly desperate end.
Having dealt with Juntian Merchant Venerable and the Demon Ancestor, Han Xuanji's gaze slowly turned toward the nearby Star Ancestor and Dragon Ancestor.
Their bodies were tense and their expressions complex; as they looked at the miserable state of the Demon Ancestor and Juntian Merchant Venerable, their hearts held both fear and a sense of relief.
They had not left any backup plans and naturally didn't have as many schemes, so at this moment, they actually had hope for survival.
Han Xuanji spoke indifferently, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable pressure:
"I consider that you are not guilty of the most heinous crimes, but were merely misled by wicked people, and you possess some strength. I give you a choice—submit to me and acknowledge me as your master. In the future, follow me to protect the Immortal Realm and stabilize Chaos, and your lives can still be preserved. If you are unwilling, then you shall be like those two, completely suppressed until your Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering."
The moment Han Xuanji's voice fell, Star Ancestor almost without any hesitation immediately knelt on both knees and cupped his hands, his tone incredibly respectful and without the slightest delay:
"My Lord, please see clearly; I was misled by that Demon Ancestor. I already know my mistake. Your subordinate, Star Ancestor, is willing to sincerely submit to Xuantian Dao Venerable and acknowledge the Dao Venerable as my master for all lifetimes, never to have a second heart!
If I violate this oath, may my Dao Fruit shatter, my Origin be annihilated, and may I never achieve Transcendence for all eternity!"
He had long been awed by Han Xuanji's terrifying strength, and having witnessed the fate of the Demon Ancestor and Juntian Merchant Venerable, he no longer had any thoughts of resistance.
To be able to save his life and even follow such a peerless expert as Han Xuanji meant he might truly be able to break through his Bottleneck and reach a higher Realm; for him, this was undoubtedly the best outcome.
The Dragon Ancestor, however, showed a look of difficulty, his expression incredibly conflicted and his brow furrowed as he fell into an intense struggle.
On one hand, he was once the number one person in Chaos and the ancestor of the Dragon Clan, having spent his life believing that great power belongs to oneself; having been proud for countless ages, it was truly difficult for him to accept submitting to another and casting aside his dignity. But on the other hand, his survival instinct was constantly urging him to kneel, as he was unwilling to fall like this and unwilling to let the Dao he had cultivated his entire life go down the drain.
He stood there, his body stiff and his expression shifting uncertainly; he neither submitted as decisively as Star Ancestor nor refused, his eyes full of struggle and pain—he found it hard to choose between dignity and life.
Seeing this, Star Ancestor understood and quickly spoke up to give the Dragon Ancestor a way out:
"Fellow Daoist Dragon Ancestor, at this point, why cling to a moment's dignity? Xuantian Dao Venerable's strength is heavenly, and he has already ascended to the peak of Chaos. Following the Dao Venerable will not only save your life but also allow you to receive his guidance.
Perhaps following the Dao Venerable in cultivation will make touching upon Transcendence, or even stepping into a Realm above the Limitless Primordial, easier than searching alone. Isn't this better than stubbornly clinging to dignity and falling in vain?
Are you really willing to let your countless years of cultivation be destroyed in an instant?"
Star Ancestor's words were like a sudden enlightenment, instantly waking the struggling Dragon Ancestor.
He suddenly looked up at Han Xuanji, a flash of interest appearing in his eyes. What he had pursued his entire life was the ultimate peak of the Dao and breaking the shackles of the Limitless Primordial; if there were a chance to realize this lifelong wish, a moment's dignity seemed not entirely indispensable.
Seeing his wavering state, Han Xuanji spoke indifferently, his tone carrying a hint of expectation as well as authority:
"I am a man of my word. If you two sincerely submit, perform meritorious deeds, and show absolute loyalty, I will not only guide your cultivation in the future but also give you the Opportunity for Transcendence.
In all of Chaos, only I can help you break through your shackles and step into a higher Realm."
These words completely crushed the last line of defense in the Dragon Ancestor's heart.
He had cultivated his whole life seeking the path of Transcendence; now that such a once-in-a-thousand-years Opportunity was before him, how could he miss it?
Moreover, Han Xuanji's strength had already proven that his words were indeed true; following such a Powerful Expert was perhaps not a disgrace, but rather an Opportunity.
The struggle in the Dragon Ancestor's eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by determination and emotion.
He took a deep breath and slowly knelt on both knees, bowing respectfully to Han Xuanji and letting go of all his pride as he spoke with great solemnity:
"Ying Shi is willing to sincerely submit to the Dao Venerable and acknowledge the Dao Venerable as my master. From now on, I will follow only the Dao Venerable's lead and go through fire and water without hesitation!
If I have a second heart, I am willing to suffer the backlash from the Great Dao, have my Divine Soul utterly destroyed, and never be reborn for all eternity!"
Han Xuanji looked at the two of them submitting respectfully and nodded, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.
The two possessed impressive strength; they could not only serve as Guinea Pigs for exploring the Hongmeng Sea but also act as decent enforcers.