Di Jiang was livid. Just as he prepared to unleash his full power, three more streaks of celestial light descended from the heavens.
Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian arrived as one.
"Heh, apologies to our fellow Daoists," Yuanshi remarked with a smooth, patronizing smile the moment he landed. "The Yao Race (Yao Race) wretches stole our Five Elements Banners. We are merely here to reclaim what is rightfully ours."
Seeing the Two Sages of the West had already dropped their masks, the Sanqing followed suit, reclaiming their respective banners with a casual wave of their hands.
"Presumptuous!" Di Jiang roared, shattering the Void Realm (Void Realm) as he lunged forward. His fist-glow was world-shaking, illuminating the entire firmament.
HUM...
The fist-glow shattered the air but ground to a halt before the Three Pure Ones. Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian struck simultaneously, their combined power creating an immovable wall. After a momentary stalemate, the shockwave sent Di Jiang flying backward.
"Di Jiang, do not think that a lucky breakthrough into Physical Sainthood (Attain Sainthood through the Physical Body) makes you our equal," Yuanshi said coldly, his eyes flashing with a lethal chill. "Recognize reality. Do not ruin yourself."
"Big Brother! The Sanqing are here! Don't let Father Pangu down!"
Suddenly, Qiang Liang shouted from the sidelines. His words left the onlookers—and the Saints—completely bewildered. The other Ancestral Witches looked at Qiang Liang with hesitant expressions, wanting to ask if he was putting too much pressure on their big brother.
Three Pure Ones plus the Western Duo? That's five Saints. You want Big Brother to fight that with his bare hands? He's lucky if he isn't beaten into a pulp!
Qiang Liang's filial piety to Father Pangu is truly... extreme, the Witches thought.
The "Unfilial" Branding
The outsiders didn't fully understand Qiang Liang's words, but Di Jiang knew exactly what he meant. Teach the unfilial sons a lesson! Vent Father Pangu's anger!
However, the difficulty level was... high.
Di Jiang wavered, glancing back at Mount Buzhou (Mount Buzhou). He felt the weight of "Father's" gaze upon them. Steeling his heart, he decided to go all in.
"Three Pure Ones! You unfilial, disgraceful wretches! You still have the face to appear at Mount Buzhou? Today, I, Di Jiang, will make you pay! I will vent Father's anger!"
His roar shook the foundations of the world. As the words fell, Di Jiang reached out, and the Pangu Temple (Pangu Temple) rumbled, erupting with Chaos Qi (Chaos Qi) as it flew into his hand. Since attaining Physical Sainthood, his connection to the temple had deepened; it felt like an extension of his own body.
Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian were a mix of confusion and mounting fury. Why was Pangu being brought into this? Why were they "unfilial"?
Laozi's eyes flickered with ancient mirages as he performed a rapid deduction. A thought struck him, and he looked toward the depths of Mount Buzhou with a suspicious, heavy gaze.
"Di Jiang, what is the meaning of this? Has Father's will manifested? Did he give you a gift?" Laozi asked, his tone suddenly very serious.
Everything clicked. If Pangu's will had appeared—as it had once before—and aided the Witches, it explained how a "brainless" Ancestral Witch could achieve Physical Sainthood. No one understood the physical path better than Pangu.
"Hmph! You have no right to know!" Di Jiang sneered, his expression filled with a proud, "I know something you don't" arrogance. His face betrayed him; he looked exactly like a child who had just been told he was the favorite. "Just know this: the name of the Sanqing has been struck from the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu (orthodox lineage of pangu). From now on, you are forbidden from using that title to swindle the world!"
The Sanqing exchanged looks of genuine horror. The Witches weren't smart enough to fake this kind of specific, emotional detail. From Di Jiang's words, it seemed Father was... displeased with them?
They looked at Mount Buzhou, suddenly sensing a great, hidden terror within the mountain.
Sensing the atmosphere turning "domestic" and dangerous, Jieyin and Zhunti didn't say a word. They turned and vanished. This was a family matter; they had no business staying, especially now that they had their banner back.
The Western Duo's departure made the Sanqing even more anxious. They felt as if a pair of invisible eyes was watching them from the mountain, judging their every move.
"Ridiculous! Do you think we believe your mad ramblings?" Yuanshi barked, though his voice lacked its usual bite. He believed about eighty percent of it, even if his pride wouldn't let him admit it.
"There is no need for further words," Laozi said, his face pale but calm. "The banners are reclaimed. It is time to return."
The three brothers turned to leave with surprising synchronized speed.
"Hah! Scared? Where are you going!" Di Jiang's eyes lit up. Seeing the "unfilial sons" flee in the face of Pangu's majesty gave him a massive ego boost. He gave chase, hauling the Pangu Temple behind him.
"Go, Big Brother! Kill them!" the other Ancestral Witches cheered, their morale reaching an all-time high.
Caught up in the hype, Di Jiang actually managed to entangle the Three Pure Ones for a moment of chaotic combat. The Saints didn't want to fight at the foot of their "Father's" grave, but Di Jiang was becoming a nuisance.
"Get lost! We gave you face, didn't we?"
BOOM!
Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian struck back in anger. A section of the Void Realm was reduced to primal Chaos. Destructive energy flooded the area, accompanied by a very distinct, very loud series of screams.
CRASH...
A streak of light, like a falling star, smashed into the earth in front of Mount Buzhou, causing a massive earthquake.
It was Di Jiang. He lay in a crater, bruised, battered, and looking like a man who had been hit by a cosmic freight train. He stared at the sky, his eyes vacant, as if he were questioning the meaning of life.
"Big Brother!" The Witches rushed over to dig him out.
"Brother, are you okay?" "You were too impulsive! There are three of them—how could you take them all at once?"
Pfft! Di Jiang sprayed a mouthful of Saint-blood and promptly passed out.
The Chaos Sanctuary
The Sanqing didn't stop at Kunlun; they fled straight into the Chaos (Chaos). The news Di Jiang revealed was too heavy to process alone.
"Brother, what do we do?" Yuanshi asked, his heart hammering in his chest.
"Do not panic. We don't know the truth yet. The Dao Ancestor will surely have an answer," Laozi said, though his own face was grave.
Tongtian, oddly enough, looked the most relaxed. "We haven't done anything against our conscience," he said with a shrug. "Why should we fear Father Pangu?"
Laozi and Yuanshi looked at each other. ...Actually, that makes sense.
"Also," Tongtian added with a grin, "the Yao Race has failed. What's our next move?"