Fellow Daoist Tongtian looked at him, his gaze full of compassion:

"You must know, the Heavenly Dao is indifferent. Once you initiate unity of Heaven and man, you will not be influenced by any emotions. And the existence of the power of a Saint is a threat to the entire world. Therefore, once you achieve unity and gain the power of a Saint, the so-called ’Heavenly Dao Saint’ will immediately realize one thing—"

He paused, enunciating each word:

"His own existence is a huge threat to this world."

"To maintain the balance of the Heavenly Dao, the Heavenly Dao Saint will definitely sacrifice his own life to avoid such a threat. Moreover, the Heavenly Dao Saint is not bound by anything; even an Innate Sacred Artifact cannot resurrect him. Once dead, he is truly dead—his body merges with the Great Dao, dissolving into the world."

Emperor Shitian was stunned.

And in Xiao Jie’s heart, there was a moment of shock.

Damn!

This guy actually laid the trap bare?

That’s right, this is the principle that Xiao Jie comprehended from the Unnamed Taoist Scripture—

The Heavenly Dao’s Indifference is not only merciless to all things, but also to itself. Moreover, the Heavenly Dao is absolutely rational, without any desires.

The reason why people live is primarily because they "want" to live—or rather, they have the desire to survive.

So to the Heavenly Dao Saint, living is not a necessity. If there’s no reason to die, he won’t seek death recklessly. But if rationality tells him that his existence is a threat to the Heavenly Dao itself, then the Heavenly Dao Saint will have no hesitation in dying.

After comprehending this, Xiao Jie resolutely decided to give up vying for the power of a Saint—this thing must be used in conjunction with the Heavenly Dao Power and once combined, self-sacrifice is inevitable! He couldn’t jump into such a huge pit!

He originally thought the Tongtian Saint would lie to mislead, but unexpectedly he directly revealed this hidden peril.

Could it be... he truly has no ulterior motives, only aiming to save the world?

No way!

This guy must have some method to circumvent this hidden peril!

But now... will Emperor Shitian still be willing to take on this task?

He looked at Emperor Shitian.

Emperor Shitian also had a face full of uncertainty.

He naturally wouldn’t easily believe Fellow Daoist Tongtian’s words. After a moment of silence, he asked back:

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, if you say so, then by using the power of a Saint, aren’t you also facing the downfall of your existence? Would you not also die?"

"Of course." Tongtian Taoist nodded calmly, "But this world-ending catastrophe is a disaster caused by us Saints. As the last Saint, I naturally cannot evade responsibility, and besides, I should meet my brothers and sisters."

He looked directly into Emperor Shitian’s eyes, his gaze clear and calm:

"Thus, I have put life and death aside. To save the world, so what if I sacrifice my life? Let me die for righteousness. Truly, I can’t bear to let you outsiders die in my place."

What Fellow Daoist Tongtian said appeared sincere, with a heroic expression of devotion.

However, the more sincere he was, the more difficult it was for Emperor Shitian to believe.

At least, from his perspective, it was impossible to die for a stranger.

"Bluffing, keep on bluffing." From the side, I am a farmer suddenly sneered, "Tongtian Taoist, your lie is way too absurd!"

He took a step forward blocking Emperor Shitian:

"Brother Tian, don’t believe him! This guy is surely deceiving us! So many lives in the Great Thousand Worlds have died before and after, the world is nearly void of life, and he had no reaction. Now just because one more player might die, he gets worked up? Besides, we are not related in any way, why would he risk his life to die for us?"

He snorted coldly:

"He’s definitely trying to fool us! If you’re afraid, just say so, I can also take the power of a Saint!"

"Exactly, just say it if you’re scared!"

"Hurry up, Emperor Shitian! So many of us are waiting, we’re willing to take on the burden of being a Saint! If you don’t dare to go up, hurry up and let someone else do it!"

"Damn! Why so much nonsense!" Emperor Shitian gritted his teeth, "I never said I wouldn’t take it!"

He glanced at I am a farmer, thinking that although this guy was a bit brash, his words made sense.

He suddenly turned around, extending his hand towards the glowing human figure—

"Block him for me!"

Unity of Heaven and Man!

The Heavenly Dao Power emerged around him, transforming into mysterious patterns. The air between him and the glowing figure started to distort, gibberish-like objects appeared, flickered, and vanished in the air—it was Emperor Shitian using Heavenly Dao Power, trying to control the power of a Saint! A reaction of gradual fusion between the two.

Tongtian Taoist watched this scene, finally dropping his smile.

He sighed, the sigh devoid of previous warmth.

"Saints disdain lying, disdain deceit." He said slowly, "Since you do not wish to accept my goodwill, then I have no choice but to use force."

"Hahaha!" a player laughed loudly, "You are not a Saint! We have forty-eight Daluo Golden Immortals here, let’s see how you get past us!"

"Who said I was alone." Tongtian Taoist said faintly.

Before his voice had faded—

Suddenly, countless figures appeared around him!

Thousands upon thousands!

Tongtian Taoist—three thousand Tongtian Taoists emerged one after another from the void, surrounding everyone!

Each identical, each exuding the same aura, each looking at them emotionlessly!

The Three Demons watched with interest, yet showed no intent to act.

Li Xiaoyi scratched his head, "What’s Old Tongtian up to?"

Sun Xiaotian chuckled, "Who knows? This old man is tricky, how many times have we been fooled by him, it’s better not to get involved in things like this."

He glanced at Zhao Yu, "Three-eyes, want to try grabbing a hand? That’s the power of a Saint."

"Hmph." Zhao Yu stood with hands behind his back, gaze stern, "Even if I were to become a Saint, I would cultivate on my own. Snatching someone else’s stuff—is not my style."

Sun Xiaotian pouted, thinking that this guy was putting on an act, just say you’re too scared, what’s with the pretense?

The three thousand Tongtian Taoists enclosed everyone at the core, the intangible pressure causing those surrounded to have jittery hearts.

Full-time Expert gritted his teeth, encouraging, "Everyone, don’t be afraid! This guy isn’t a Saint! As long as he can’t use the power of a Saint, we can fight!"

"Who said I can’t use the power of a Saint?"

The leading Tongtian Taoist sneered coldly.

"Although the Saint’s power is affected by the Saint’s nature, I have already found a way to use this power safely! When I transformed into three thousand avatars back then, I had already anticipated this and deliberately left a backdoor."

Great Dao Secret Technique – Ten Thousand Spirits Unite!

In an instant, three thousand Tongtian Taoists simultaneously emitted a burst of white light!

The white light, like invisible threads, connected them together, forming a massive network!

"Three thousand Tongtian Taoists, resonating at the same frequency, collectively using the Saint’s power – this way, they will not suffer the backlash of the Saint’s nature!"

Three thousand Tongtian Taoists spoke simultaneously, their voices perfectly synchronized, as if using the same voice changer, giving an indescribable eeriness:

"Now, feel the power of the Saint. I only need to flick my finger lightly – all of you will turn to ash. But rest assured, your lives can naturally be resurrected in the Four Symbols Cauldron..."

Three thousand hands simultaneously raised.

"Snap—"

A snap of the fingers.

However—

Nothing happened.

Everyone looked at each other.

The three thousand Tongtian Taoists looked at each other as well.

"What’s happening?" one Tongtian Taoist asked in surprise. "Hey, none of you have changed your minds, right?"

"It must be that fellow 2031!"

"I didn’t do it! Don’t talk nonsense!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"It’s 1568, isn’t it? He’s from the same world as Emperor Shitian. Could there be some collusion?"

"Don’t slander the innocent. For the sake of the Dao, I would never do such a thing."

The three thousand Tongtian Taoists accused each other, causing chaos.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Hey, somethings wrong! There’s one more person here! There aren’t three thousand, there’s three thousand and one."

The other Tongtian Taoists also realized this.

"Quick! Find that person!"

"Huh? There’s no outsider here—there’s only us!" A group of Tongtian Taoists looked at each other, seemingly trying to identify the intruder among them.

The players looked confused – what are these guys up to?

Xiao Jie, however, sighed in relief internally.

It seems Wang Xie’s plan is really working!

Suddenly, a painful wail from Emperor Shitian echoed from behind.

Xiao Jie instinctively turned his head upon hearing the commotion—only to see Emperor Shitian floating in mid-air, with one half of his body filled with light, transparent enough to see the mysterious runes flowing within; the other half remained in its original state, with shock and agony clearly visible on his face. The glowing humanoid figure slowly and steadily extended to his other half of the body.

Is this about to succeed? As long as it can be delayed for a moment longer—

"Found it! It’s here!" A Tongtian Taoist suddenly shouted.

Xiao Jie turned around to see, among the group of Tongtian Taoists, a few grabbing a companion in the crowd and dragging him out, while shouting, "Whose avatar is this, who the heck brought their avatar here!"

"Hahaha!"

That captured Tongtian Taoist burst into maniacal laughter!

The laughter was mad, wild, filled with boundless delight!

"You bunch of fools! Now you know how formidable I, Wang Xie, am!"

"Hey, seems like it’s my avatar." One Tongtian Taoist suddenly exclaimed in surprise, then angrily said, "Why did you sneak in here, you scoundrel?"

"Hahaha, so you’re my original self, just as I suspected, you look incredibly loathsome." Wang Xie glaring at that Tongtian Taoist, his eyes full of hatred, "How does it feel to be played?"

Not good, discovered! Xiao Jie’s heart tightened. This was Wang Xie’s plan given to him; with the Tongtian Taoist’s ability, it’s impossible to wield the Saint’s power, but he found a way, which was collective mind. As long as Wang Xie could blend in, during the spiritual link, he would be incorporated into the system. Because Wang Xie is a Tongtian Taoist’s avatar, he wouldn’t be excluded, thus he could merge into it.

This collective mind requires three thousand minds to unite to be effective, with Wang Xie’s presence it’s like a code with a BUG, making it impossible to use the Saint’s power.

And as long as the Saint’s power isn’t unleashed, there’s nothing to worry about.

Although the strength of these Tongtian Taoists is profoundly mysterious, it’s not at the level of instantly killing a Daluo.

But didn’t expect Wang Xie to be found so soon.

"Prepare to act!" Xiao Jie shouted urgently, raising the magic treasure in his hand, ready to strike.

Once they kick Wang Xie out of the network, these Tongtian Taoists will be able to use the Saint’s power, they must fight hard, definitely not allowing them to unleash the Saint’s power.

"Quick! Get him out! Re-link!"

"Whose avatar is this!?"

"Don’t worry about it!"

Those Tongtian Taoists were even more panicked than him, shouting chaotically. Suddenly, a Tongtian Taoist pointed behind the players in terror, "Too late! Look quick—"

At this point, everyone felt something unusual and turned to look, just in time to see Emperor Shitian, who had fully merged with the glowing humanoid figure!

A dazzling light shot skyward, illuminating the entire hall! In the glow, Emperor Shitian’s form gradually expanded, transforming into a massive, radiant image!

As the white light faded—

Emperor Shitian floated in mid-air, expressionless.

He just floated there quietly, as if existing, yet as if not.

He opened his eyes, his gaze seemed to come from all directions, simultaneously looking at everyone.

He just hung there, as if pondering something, yet seemingly vanished.

Xiao Jie’s heart pounded wildly, is this the power of the Heavenly Dao Saint? Even with his Daluo Golden Immortal cultivation, he couldn’t comprehend it at all.

"It’s over... it’s too late." Tongtian Taoist sighed, his voice full of helplessness.

Everyone held their breath, staring at Emperor Shitian in mid-air.

A question surfaced in everyone’s mind—

So... did it succeed?