Mount Sumeru.
A hundred years of time, like quicksand between fingers, quietly slipped away.
Sanqing, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, the six top Great Experts of the Grandmist, now looked at each other, their Faces all etched with two words—no solution.
With the combined strength of the six of them, they had painstakingly comprehended for a hundred years, yet they hadn't even figured out a single thing.
That Hongmeng Purple Energy was still Hongmeng Purple Energy, suspended deep within their Primordial Spirits, without the slightest movement.
"This…what exactly is going on?"
Zhunti was the first to lose his composure, his Face so bitter it looked like water could be wrung from it.
"A hundred years! A full hundred years! The six of us working together, and we haven't even touched a single hair of this Hongmeng Purple Energy!"
His words spoke everyone's mind.
Laozi slowly opened his eyes, those eyes that should have been as still as an ancient well, now rarely showed a hint of confusion.
He shook his head and said, "A hundred years of hard work, a reflection in a mirror, a flower in water."
Yuanshi's expression was displeased, and he snorted coldly.
He had always been arrogant, priding himself as the authentic Pangu lineage, destined by Heaven.
Now, being trapped by this mere wisp of Hongmeng Purple Energy for a hundred years, he had long been simmering with an unnameable fire.
"Since that is the case, there is no need for us to sit here idly."
Laozi spoke, his voice calm, showing no emotion.
"This poor Daoist wishes to return to Kunlun and seek another method."
Nuwa also sighed lightly, saying, "I am also preparing to return to Phoenix Perch Mountain."
Clearly, continuing like this was meaningless.
Everyone felt the urge to leave.
"Fellow Daoists, wait!"
Just then, Daoist Zhunti suddenly spoke, his voice urgent, stopping everyone.
He rolled his eyes, a look of "I have a brilliant idea" appearing on his Face.
"Three Dao Brothers, Senior Sister Nuwa, the six of us have been comprehending the Hongmeng Purple Energy for a hundred years without success."
"Could it be…because there aren't enough of us?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone was startled.
Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly as she looked at Zhunti: "What does Fellow Daoist mean by that?"
Jieyin also looked at his Junior Brother with some confusion.
Zhunti chuckled.
"Teacher granted seven strands of Hongmeng Purple Energy in Purple Cloud Palace back then."
"Besides the six of us, isn't there still one in Kunpeng's hands?"
"Since the six of us can't do it, why not invite Kunpeng as well?"
"Perhaps this Hongmeng Purple Energy only reveals its true mysteries when all seven strands are gathered!"
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene immediately fell silent.
Both Nuwa and Jieyin showed thoughtful expressions in their eyes.
This suggestion…it seemed, perhaps, as if…it made a little bit of sense?
Laozi's brows furrowed slightly, but he did not speak.
"Nonsense!"
Yuanshi, however, flew into a rage, slamming the table and rising to his feet.
"Zhunti! Stop talking nonsense!"
"Whose hands is that seventh strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy in? Kunpeng!"
"What is Kunpeng? Does he deserve to comprehend the foundation of becoming a Saint with us?"
The more Yuanshi spoke, the more agitated he became, his spittle almost spraying onto Zhunti's Face.
"We are all Teacher's Personal Disciples, and this Hongmeng Purple Energy was personally bestowed by Teacher!"
"And Kunpeng? It was merely Fellow Daoist Hong Yun's foolish kindness that gave him an Opportunity that didn't originally belong to him!"
"Something obtained through the charity of others, does he deserve to lay claim to the Dao of Sainthood?"
"Furthermore, which of the six of us isn't of profound origin and extraordinary Comprehension?"
"Even the six of us can't comprehend anything, what good would adding one more Kunpeng do?"
"It's simply a joke!"
Zhunti was left speechless by his retort, his Face alternating between green and pale, he opened his mouth but couldn't speak.
He had only thought of it as a last resort, a desperate attempt.
Who knew Yuanshi would react so strongly.
Laozi slowly spoke at this moment.
"What my second brother said is not without reason."
"The profoundness of the Hongmeng Purple Energy does not seem to be solvable by the number of people."
"If one does not find the method, then no matter how many people there are, it will probably be in vain."
As soon as Laozi spoke, he basically pronounced a death sentence on Zhunti's proposal.
Even Laozi said so, then this matter was basically hopeless.
Zhunti's Face completely fell.
"This…what should we do?"
He spoke with a crying tone.
"We have exhausted our efforts, comprehending for a hundred years, yet we can't even find the entrance."
"How exactly is this Hongmeng Purple Energy to be used?!"
"Could it be that we are truly fated to be without that Saint position?"
By the end, Zhunti's voice even carried a hint of despair.
His Western lands were barren, and he had finally looked forward to such a foundation for becoming a Saint; if it just became a decoration like this, he would not be reconciled even in death!
The hall was once again in a dead silence.
A huge rock pressed down on everyone's hearts.
A Saint position!
Who doesn't yearn for it?
But this thing was too damn tormenting!
Just as everyone was frowning in distress.
Nuwa, who had been frowning in deep thought, suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
Kunpeng…Hongyun…Hongmeng Purple Energy…Wu Ming!
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
"Fellow Daoists!"
Nuwa's voice, clear and pleasant, like the sound of nature, instantly broke the dullness and oppression in the hall.
Everyone looked at her in unison.
"I did recall one person, perhaps…he might know some secrets about the Hongmeng Purple Energy."
"Oh?" Laozi looked at her, "Who is Junior Sister referring to?"
Nuwa organized her words.
"The Wu Clan, Wu Ming."
As soon as this name was uttered, the hall fell silent again.
The Sanqing exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of surprise in the other's eyes.
The Wu Clan, Wu Ming.
That mysterious and unfathomable Wu that even they couldn't see through.
"Junior Sister Nuwa, why do you say that?" Laozi looked at her, his tone still calm, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry.
Nuwa organized her thoughts and began to explain.
"Fellow Daoists, do you still remember the matter of Fellow Daoist Hong Yun?"
"The reason Fellow Daoist Hong Yun granted the Hongmeng Purple Energy to Kunpeng back then seemed to be based on the guidance of Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."
"Moreover, what concerns me most is that Fellow Daoist Wu Ming mentioned this matter seemingly before Teacher bestowed the Hongmeng Purple Energy in Purple Cloud Palace!"
"He…he seemed to have already foreseen the ownership of the Hongmeng Purple Energy, and even foreseen Hongyun's calamity!"
"Therefore, I believe that Fellow Daoist Wu Ming might know some secrets about the Hongmeng Purple Energy."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone in the hall varied.
A gleam flashed in Laozi's eyes as he fell into deep thought.
Yuanshi Tianzun, however, frowned tightly; his perception of the Wu Clan had always been complex. Although the Ancestral Witches had now cultivated their Primordial Spirits and there had been no major conflicts between the two sides for the time being, asking him to seek help from a Wu Clan member…it was somewhat difficult for him to save Face.
Tongtian stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Zhunti's eyes darted around quickly, and he was the first to speak.
"Senior Sister Nuwa, will that Wu Ming…will he tell us?"
"After all, if we are unable to become Saints for a long time, it would be a great thing for their Wu Clan!"
"Why would he help us, these potential competitors?"
"Not adding insult to injury, or stabbing us in the back, would already be considered noble of him!"
These words were very realistic and very hurtful.
Nuwa said, "I cannot guarantee this matter."
"But, this is our only clue at the moment."
"Trying is better than sitting here idly, waiting for death."
"Even if…even if it requires some cost, this Junior Sister is willing to try!"
She looked at the Sanqing, and then at Jieyin and Zhunti: "What do you all think?"
Daoist Jieyin sighed, "If there truly is a method, though my Western lands are barren, it is right to pay some price."
He was stating his position: as long as they could become Saints, anything was negotiable.
Tongtian was always straightforward.
"It doesn't hurt to ask!"
"That Wu Ming is indeed very mysterious; perhaps he really knows something."
"It's better than us blindly pondering here!"
Yuanshi snorted coldly, not speaking, but also not explicitly opposing.
He was also calculating in his heart; Wu Ming was indeed unfathomable.
If he truly knew the secret of the Hongmeng Purple Energy, asking him would not be impossible.
It was just a matter of Face…
Laozi finally nodded slowly: "Good. Wu Ming indeed has extraordinary qualities."
"Since Junior Sister Nuwa suggested it, let us make a trip to Buzhou Mountain and ask."
"If he can truly guide us, we will naturally repay him."
His words were a way of giving them an out.
Everyone reached a consensus.
Without further delay, the six figures rushed out of Mount Sumeru and headed straight in the direction of Buzhou Mountain.