Ten thousand Hongmeng beings...
And how could they, mere three Hongmeng beings, compare?
It could be foreseen that the Human Heavenly Court, in the future, would absolutely be a colossal force within the Ancient Hongmeng Realm.
Since ancient times, across three thousand epochs, most beings who ascended from the myriad Chaos Domains were solitary wanderers. Never had there been a scenario where a hundred thousand Great Dao Saints collectively transcended.
Could such a force, with its tightly structured organization, contend with those few supreme Hongmeng beings upon transcending to the Ancient Hongmeng Realm? It was uncertain.
However, crushing the three of them, and even ordinary Hongmeng beings, was undoubtedly within their capabilities.
Heavens! Why hadn't they thought of this before?
Regret filled the faces of "Tai" and "Shang."
Fang Ming calmly stated his requirement: a method to rapidly transcend Chaos and escape the period of restraint.
Rapidly escape the period of restraint?
Rapidly transcend Chaos, transforming from Chaos beings into Hongmeng beings?
Upon hearing this, "Tai" and "Shang" pondered.
They had transcended Chaos and cultivated into Hongmeng beings over countless eons. Their understanding of Hongmeng power was profound, and they were adept at certain secret techniques and shortcuts.
They possessed the capability to fulfill such a request.
If, just after their defeat, they had possessed the ability to help all the humans in the Human Heavenly Court transcend rapidly, they would not have been willing.
However, Fang Ming's earlier words had made them reflect, leading them to believe that clashing with the Human Heavenly Court, a future dominant force in the Ancient Hongmeng Realm, was their most foolish decision. It offered no benefits whatsoever and carried infinite disadvantages.
They already regretted their previous conflict.
If they could reconcile with the Human Heavenly Court through such secret techniques and shortcuts...
"Tai" continued, "I have such a method, but if I give it to you, can we preserve our lives?"
Fang Ming calmly assured them, "Naturally."
"Tai" and "Shang" breathed a sigh of relief.
They felt that their decision upon arriving in this Chaos had been a mistake.
And the Lord of the Human Heavenly Court's arrival here was simply offering them a final chance.
This chance, they must seize.
They could not afford to make another mistake.
Reconciling with the Human Heavenly Court would not only save their lives but also allow them to benefit from the Human Heavenly Court's immense future prospects...
Although they had missed the optimal solution from the outset, they could still choose the sub-optimal solution. They absolutely could not err again.
Just as the two of them had made their decision,
"Hong" beside them interjected, "You two idiots, does him saying he can spare your lives mean he'll definitely keep his word?"
"How can he guarantee he'll keep his word? He can just go back on it whenever he wants!"
"Handing over the method will be the true beginning of our demise!"
At these words, "Tai" and "Shang" were startled again. Their intention to reveal the shortcut wavered slightly.
"Tai" privately transmitted, still holding a sliver of hope, "Actually, even if we don't hand over the shortcut, they'll eventually overcome this period of restraint, right? By then, we'll still die horribly."
"Shang" also transmitted privately, "The only way we can survive is to trust his word. There is no other choice."
The two Hongmeng beings knew that although Fang Ming had made a promise, there was no mechanism to bind him to fulfill it.
But so what?
Besides this method of survival, all other options led to death.
If they handed over the shortcut and Fang Ming turned on them, they would die.
If they didn't hand over the shortcut, Fang Ming would merely waste more time, and he would still cultivate into a Hongmeng being. Once Fang Ming achieved that, they would still be unable to escape death.
Since the outcome was the same, why not test Fang Ming's integrity?
After all, even if Fang Ming broke his promise, it would only be a difference between dying sooner or later.
There was no difference.
After "Tai" and "Shang" privately conveyed their thoughts to "Hong,"
"Hong" coldly replied, "Have you considered why there are so many Great Dao Saint-level beings lingering in this Chaos?"
"One hundred thousand Great Dao Saints... all remaining in this Chaos, is that reasonable? Even if it is, are the seven beings who defeated us, and even the Lord of the Heavenly Court before us, possessing such immense power, yet remaining in this Chaos and not transcending, reasonable?"
"It is unreasonable."
"Even if the period of restraint is long, as long as transcendence is possible, at most we would see a few dozen Great Dao Saints, not this many."
"Therefore, they are not merely experiencing a long restraint, but are fundamentally incapable of transcending!"
"They lack the qualification for transcendence!"
"Therefore, as long as we do not hand over the shortcut, they will never be able to transcend, and will never possess higher-level attributes."
"Without higher-level attributes, they cannot truly harm our lives."
"Not handing over the shortcut is the way to survive."
"Handing over the shortcut is seeking our own death!"
These words sent a chill through both "Tai" and "Shang."
They had once again overlooked a fact: why were there so many Great Dao Saints remaining in this Chaos?
There must be a reason for this.
And the reason lay in...
Fang Ming watched speechlessly as the three Hongmeng beings engaged in private telepathic discussions.
As a rational being, he could not fathom why the decisions of these three Hongmeng beings kept wavering.
They had just decided to hand over the shortcut, and after a few words of persuasion, they changed their minds again.
It was truly exasperating.
Fang Ming immediately issued them an ultimatum.
"The three of you, make up your minds and speak quickly."
"My time is limited. I don't have the leisure to listen to your indecisiveness and lengthy discussions."
Upon hearing this,
"Tai" and "Shang" had shifting expressions, their hearts still wavering, unsure of what decision to make.
"Hong," however, seemed to have made up his mind, stating:
"The decision, of course, is not to hand over the shortcut."
"This Chaos, with its immense volume, so many Great Dao Saints, and even the ability to crush Hongmeng beings..."
"The Ancient Hongmeng Realm suppresses countless Chaos Domains, yet this is the only instance. Only this one."
"Will the dissemination of such information pique the curiosity of the many Hongmeng beings in the Ancient Hongmeng Realm? Will many Hongmeng beings descend, seeking to understand why this has occurred?"
"What mysteries does this Chaos Domain hold?"
"Hong" also spoke his final words in a calm tone.
"I have already transmitted the information. I believe the many Hongmeng beings in the Ancient Hongmeng Realm will be very interested."
Already transmitted.
Fang Ming could discern that this statement was true.
He glanced at the surrounding Human soldiers who were observing.