Outside Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain.
Six figures descended, and Laozi announced, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I am Taiqing, and I have come to visit with a few Fellow Daoists."
Not long after, the hall doors opened, and Wu Ming slowly emerged, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes as he saw the six people outside the hall.
"Rare guests, truly rare guests. Fellow Daoists, instead of cultivating in your respective Daoist temples, why do you have leisure to come to my Buzhou Mountain today?" Wu Ming spoke, his voice calm.
After leading everyone into Pangu Hall, Wu Ming then looked at them and said, "May I ask, Fellow Daoists, what brings you here today?"
Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti all turned their gaze towards Nuwa simultaneously.
The meaning was clear: you proposed it, so you speak first.
Nuwa felt several gazes on her and inwardly grumbled: A bunch of big men, always making me, a weak woman, show my face.
Her expression remained calm as she met Wu Ming's gaze and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I won't beat around the bush."
"We have presumptuously come this time to ask for your guidance: how exactly should one comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Energy?"
Wu Ming heard this, chuckled lightly, and shook his head: "How to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Energy? How would I know that?"
"I didn't receive the Hongmeng Purple Energy bestowed by the Dao Ancestor."
"All of you possess the Hongmeng Purple Energy. When it comes to understanding this item, you are the ones with the most authority to speak, so why would you turn around and ask me?"
He spread his hands, an expression of "you've come to the wrong person" on his face.
Nuwa's expression remained unchanged as she continued, "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, why are you being so evasive?"
"If you say you know nothing about the Hongmeng Purple Energy, I absolutely won't believe it."
"Regarding the matter of Fellow Daoist Hong Yun in the past, if it weren't for your guidance, how could he have so easily given the Hongmeng Purple Energy to Kunpeng and resolved that Karma?"
"Moreover, as far as I know, Fellow Daoist, you mentioned this matter even before Teacher in Purple Cloud Palace bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Energy."
"Fellow Daoist, you must have anticipated the ownership of the Hongmeng Purple Energy long ago, right?"
Thoughts whirled in Wu Ming's mind: this Nuwa is indeed sharp-witted.
Wu Ming's expression remained calm and noncommittal: "What if I know? What if I don't?"
As soon as these words were uttered, the six people in the hall were all shaken.
Indeed!
He knew it all along!
Nuwa continued, "We have come today hoping that Fellow Daoist will not hesitate to impart your wisdom and tell us the method for comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Energy. For this, we… are willing to pay the corresponding price."
She emphasized the word "price" slightly, indicating their sincerity and determination.
Upon hearing the word "price," Wu Ming's heart stirred slightly.
He looked at Nuwa, then swept his gaze over the other five, and asked with feigned confusion, "I am rather curious."
"Why are you all so eager to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Energy?"
"Even willing to pay a price to know the method of comprehension?"
"This is the foundation for Enlightenment to become a Saint, profoundly mysterious. Wouldn't it be better to comprehend it slowly and await Opportunity?"
Wu Ming's words struck at the core.
As soon as he spoke, Nuwa instantly fell silent.
How should she explain? Should she say that the Yao Race is powerful, and her Senior Brother Fuxi is caught up in it, and she is eager to become a Saint to ensure her own safety and influence? If she said that, wouldn't it weaken her Aura in front of the Wu Race and potentially allow Wu Ming to manipulate her?
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, also sensing something amiss in Wu Ming's words.
Yes, why were the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa so anxious?
Even willing to drag the two of them, Senior Brother and Junior Brother, into it.
They had been so excited about being able to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Energy with the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa that they hadn't thought carefully: how arrogant were these four, especially the Three Pure Ones, and why would they lower their stance and actively invite the two of them?
One must know that their Western duo was quite unwelcome in the East.
The two of them simultaneously turned their inquiring gazes towards Nuwa, clearly also wanting to know the true reason behind this.
The atmosphere in the hall became somewhat stagnant for a moment.
Seeing Nuwa's difficult expression, the Grandmaster of Heaven also understood her concerns.
The relationship between the Yao Race and the Wu Race was extremely complex.
Nuwa, as a powerful being of the Yao Race, naturally did not want Wu Ming to know the top-secret matter of the Yao Race currently deducing the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation.
He, the Grandmaster of Heaven, didn't have so many scruples.
So, he spoke loudly, "To be frank, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Dijun of the Yao Race is currently collaborating with Fellow Daoist Nuwa's Senior Brother Fuxi to deduce a peerless killing formation called the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation!"
"Once this formation is complete, it will be able to draw upon the power of the stars, possessing infinite power, enough to destroy Heaven and Earth!"
"At that time, the Yao Race's strength will surely skyrocket, and the Primordial World will likely be plunged into complete war."
"We are also compelled by circumstances, thus eager to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Energy and attain Enlightenment to become a Saint, in order to have some self-preservation in this future great calamity."
The Grandmaster of Heaven explained the reason in one breath, his tone filled with undisguised worry.
"What?!"
Jieyin and Zhunti both cried out in alarm, their faces changing drastically.
"The Yao Race… the Yao Race is actually deducing such a terrifying great formation?" Zhunti Daoist's voice trembled slightly.
Their Western lands were already barren, and they had finally obtained the Hongmeng Purple Energy, hoping to turn their fortunes around with it. If the Primordial World descended into chaos, their meager possessions would likely turn to dust in an instant.
For a moment, their faces grew even more sorrowful, and their hearts were filled with extreme anxiety.
Wu Ming listened to the Grandmaster of Heaven's words, but his brows furrowed slightly, and he muttered softly, "What's going on? They're already starting to deduce the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation now?"
"That shouldn't be right. According to the original trajectory, wasn't this thing only supposed to be created after the first Witch and Demon War, when the Yao Race suffered losses and then decided to do it out of painful reflection?"
"Could it be… because the current Wu Race is too strong, making them feel immense pressure, so they advanced it?"
"Do they have to be so cowardly, Dijun, Taiyi."
Although his voice was soft, who among those present was not sharp-eared and keen-eyed?
Each and every one of them heard it clearly.
Everyone was instantly shocked!
He even knew about the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation!
And what was this "first Witch and Demon War"?
Are the Wu Race and the Yao Race really going to break out into full-scale war?
How many other secrets did this Wu Ming know that they didn't?!
The Grandmaster of Heaven reacted the fastest. He suddenly looked at Wu Ming: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! What did you just say? What Witch and Demon War?"
Wu Ming came back to his senses, his expression still calm and unruffled: "Nothing, I was just a little emotional."
He scanned the crowd, a knowing smile appearing on his face.
"No wonder Fellow Daoists are so anxious to attain Enlightenment to become a Saint."
"So, it turns out you're afraid that if the Yao Race grows powerful and obtains the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation, they will come to seize the Hongmeng Purple Energy in your hands."
These words directly hit everyone's sore spot.
Although no one said it out loud, more or less everyone had this kind of worry in their hearts.
The struggle for the Saint position, how cruel it was!
Wu Ming mused inwardly: Since they are so anxious and have come to him on their own initiative, this is a good Opportunity.
Anyway, even if he didn't say anything, they would figure it out eventually; it was just a matter of time.
The general trend of Heavenly Dao was thus: Nuwa becoming a Saint by creating humans, the Three Pure Ones becoming Saints by establishing a sect, Jieyin and Zhunti becoming Saints by making great vows—these were all predetermined.
It would be better to seize this Opportunity and use this information asymmetry to gain some tangible benefits for the Wu Race.
Thinking of this, Wu Ming looked at everyone, a meaningful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Thinking of this, Wu Ming looked at everyone: "Just now, Fellow Daoist Nuwa said that you are willing to pay a price to exchange the method of comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Energy from me."
"So, Fellow Daoists… what kind of price are you willing to pay?"
As soon as these words were uttered, inside Pangu Hall, the six future Saints instantly fell silent.
What price would they have to pay to satisfy Wu Ming and in exchange for the crucial method of becoming a Saint?
For a time, each harbored their own thoughts.