Within Purple Cloud Palace, the previous bustle and clamor had vanished!
Hongjun did not rush to speak. He merely looked at Chen Ku with an inscrutable gaze.
Seeing this, Chen Ku grew increasingly terrified.
After all, his identity as a transmigrator was his greatest secret, and it absolutely could not be known by outsiders.
Once exposed, he would inevitably be regarded as an anomaly.
No wonder he was so frightened and uneasy.
After a long while, the atmosphere grew more and more oppressive, almost suffocating.
Chen Ku braced himself and spoke.
"Why... why has Master Ancestor kept this disciple behind?"
After pausing, Chen Ku put on an utterly aggrieved expression.
"This disciple has always been diligent and conscientious. Like Master Jie Yin and martial uncle Zhun Ti, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to revitalizing the West, with no other intentions."
"Even when traveling across heaven and earth, I yielded at every turn and never harmed the innocent."
"This disciple... this disciple is completely a good person."
Chen Ku's words were truly a preemptive strike.
As the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun claimed to treat all living beings equally and to harbor no selfish thoughts.
Even if he wanted to make a move against him, he needed a reasonable excuse, did he not?
As for Hongjun—
Hearing Chen Ku's words, he was first taken aback, then his expression turned strange.
Yielded at every turn? A good person?!
Hmph!
Did this brat think he knew nothing?
Back beneath the Innate Banana Tree, Hongjun had known about how Chen Ku joined forces with Jie Yin and Zhun Ti to forcibly seize Old Ancestor Ming He's opportunity.
For this brat to call himself a good person, his skin was truly thick enough.
Hongjun was rendered speechless.
Of course, he had deliberately kept Chen Ku behind alone not to seek justice for Old Ancestor Ming He.
The ownership of a mere Plantain Fan was not enough to affect the greater course of events, nor did it require much of Hongjun's concern.
After pondering for a moment, Hongjun finally spoke in a deep voice.
"Chen Ku, there was once an item in the Outer Heavens that came into your possession."
"However, that item should not belong to you."
Hongjun spoke vaguely. As the Dao Ancestor, it seemed somewhat inappropriate for him to "covet" the opportunity of a junior.
Hearing this, Chen Ku's heart sank as he thought of something.
However, he could not help but let out a long breath of relief, and his heart settled.
The Dao Ancestor had mentioned the Outer Heavens? It seemed this was not because his identity as a transmigrator had been exposed.
If so, then nothing else was much of a problem.
Without revealing anything on his face, he feigned confusion and asked.
"The Outer Heavens?!"
"Master Ancestor truly knows everything. This disciple, along with my master and martial uncle, did indeed enter the Outer Heavens."
"However, there was nothing there. It was silent and desolate, and the three of us merely gathered a little Star Sand."
"If there was anything improper about that, this disciple will go find my master and martial uncle at once and have them return the Star Sand."
As he spoke, Chen Ku immediately made as though to leave Purple Cloud Palace and seek out Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.
Behind him, hearing such a response from Chen Ku, Hongjun's expression stiffened, and he was utterly speechless.
Did this brat truly not understand the implication behind his words?!
Or was he... once again talking around the matter, trying to change the subject and escape?!
It had to be said that perhaps Chen Ku alone dared play such petty tricks before the Dao Ancestor.
Not only was this child thick-skinned, his cunning was also exactly the same as Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's.
Hongjun thought to himself, deciding not to pretend any longer.
With a sigh, he spoke again.
"What I speak of is the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand!"
"One must know that greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant."
This time, Hongjun finally made it completely clear.
That was right!
His goal was precisely the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand!
The moment these words fell, Chen Ku, who had still been feigning confusion, suddenly froze.
So that was it!
The Thirty-Three Heavens Sand possessed no other heaven-defying function. Its sole purpose was connected to the future establishment of the Heavenly Court.
Since that was the case, there was no doubt that Dao Ancestor Hongjun was seeking that treasure from him specifically for the future Heavenly Court.
At this thought, Chen Ku could not help but secretly gasp.
The Witch and Demon Calamity had not even fully begun or erupted yet. Could Hongjun have already discerned the direction of the future greater course of events?!
Immediately afterward, Chen Ku rejected that speculation.
That was absolutely impossible!
Not even the Dao Ancestor could accomplish such a thing!
Perhaps Hongjun had merely sensed in the unseen that the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand should not be obtained by anyone.
Thinking this, Chen Ku relaxed somewhat.
However, although he understood Hongjun's intentions, Chen Ku was not prepared to hand over the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand so easily.
He turned to face Dao Ancestor Hongjun, his face already filled with unprecedented misery and grievance.
"This... Master Ancestor, the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand is also one of this disciple's opportunities."
"Since this disciple discovered where it was, by all reason it should belong to this disciple."
"Moreover, this item is also a rare blessing for our West, enough to benefit the living beings of the West."
"I hope Master Ancestor will take pity on this disciple's sincere heart."
Rather than responding to Hongjun's words, Chen Ku spoke like this instead, making much of the importance of the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand to himself and even to the West.
Hearing this, Hongjun remained calm and said nothing.
Had it been any other cultivator, they would have immediately handed over the treasure without another word, perhaps even begging Dao Ancestor Hongjun's forgiveness.
Yet Chen Ku still dared to speak so righteously, looking as though he absolutely would not hand over the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand.
But who was Dao Ancestor Hongjun?!
In an instant, he understood Chen Ku's meaning!
This brat... was negotiating terms with him.
What did the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand have to do with the West?!
To put it plainly, the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand was not as important as Chen Ku claimed.
He was simply relying on the advantage of possessing that treasure to demand sufficient benefits.
What the hell...
Beneath the cover of endless immortal radiance, Hongjun's face had long since darkened with frustration. He was utterly speechless.
Troublesome!
Far too troublesome!
Even when facing the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others back then, they had all obeyed Hongjun's every word.
Something like today was unprecedented.
However, Hongjun could clearly sense that the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand was immensely important and absolutely could not be abandoned lightly.
If it remained in Chen Ku's hands, it would have a shocking impact on the future course of the Heavenly Dao.
Therefore, Hongjun was determined to obtain it!
Naturally, with his strength, if he simply seized it without explanation, Chen Ku would have no way to resist.
But Hongjun could not do that.
First, as the dignified Dao Ancestor, if word spread that he had seized a junior's opportunity, what would all living beings think? Where would the Dao Ancestor's dignity be?
Second, now that the three sermons had ended, Hongjun was about to begin the Harmonization Method.
At such a crucial moment, he could not be tainted by even the slightest karmic burden. Otherwise, it would inevitably affect the progress of his harmonization with the Dao.
In other words, he still had to go along with Chen Ku's wishes if he wanted to reclaim the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand.
Hongjun cast Chen Ku an annoyed glance and sighed inwardly.
"Since that is the case, it would not be appropriate for me to force you."
"I shall exchange two treasures for your Thirty-Three Heavens Sand. How about it?"
Before his words had even faded, Hongjun lightly swept his sleeve.
In an instant, two incomparably resplendent immortal lights burst forth, carrying two supreme treasures whose auras surged monstrously and terrifyingly.
"Of these two treasures, one is the God-Slaying Spear, while the other is the Twelfth Grade Black Lotus of Destruction!"
"Surely... you brat can hand over the Thirty-Three Heavens Sand now?"
Seeing the two divine lights above his head and hearing Dao Ancestor Hongjun's words—
For a moment, Chen Ku's expression changed as he was shocked beyond measure!
Before you continue