Sun Star.
Dijun and Taiyi had just returned from Buzhou Mountain when, as they were about to enter the Sun Star—
"Fellow Daoists, please wait."
A clear, gentle voice came from behind them.
The two turned and saw an elegant Daoist in white robes, holding a feather fan and smiling at them.
The newcomer's aura was mild and peaceful, yet his eyes seemed capable of seeing through all things. It was Bai Ze, renowned for his wisdom.
Dijun's gaze fell upon Bai Ze without a ripple as he said indifferently, "fellow daoist, you followed us all the way here. What guidance do you have to offer?"
Bai Ze lightly waved his feather fan and smiled.
"Bai Ze greets the two Fellow Daoists."
After a pause, his smile remained unchanged as he continued, "I have indeed come to discuss an important matter with you both. This concerns not only the future structure of the Primordial World, but also both Fellow Daoists' paths to attaining the Dao."
"The path to attaining the Dao?" Dijun narrowed his eyes slightly, and the aura around him stirred faintly.
He glanced at Taiyi beside him. Taiyi's eyes were equally bright, clearly deeply interested.
Dijun hesitated no longer and stepped aside. "Fellow daoist, please."
Inside the Sun Palace.
The three sat facing one another, with spiritual fruits and immortal wine laid out on the stone table before them.
Taiyi was direct by nature and could not suppress his curiosity any longer. He was the first to ask:
"Fellow daoist, you said this concerns the path to attaining the Dao for my brother and me. What exactly do you mean?"
Bai Ze gently waved his feather fan. Rather than answer immediately, he smiled and asked:
"What do the two Fellow Daoists think of the Dao of fortune?"
Dijun unconsciously tapped his fingers against the stone table. His gaze shifted slightly, signaling Bai Ze to continue.
Bai Ze's smile faded, and his expression grew several degrees more solemn.
"So-called fortune is the favor of the great trend of Heaven and Earth, the foundation of the rise and fall of all living beings."
"Those who gain fortune receive Heaven's favor and possess deep blessings and opportunities."
"Those who lose fortune suffer calamities, and their Dao paths become fraught with hardship!"
Then he changed the subject.
"Today, the myriad races of the Primordial World stand side by side, with countless living beings. Their fortune should have been flourishing."
"Yet every race acts on its own, like scattered sand. Their fortune naturally disperses in all directions and cannot be gathered."
"Look at the Thirteenth Ancestral Witch. Blessed by Pangu's fortune, they possess formidable cultivation. At Buzhou Mountain, countless great powers did not dare test their edge!"
"And what of our demon race?" Bai Ze sighed softly, with a trace of reluctance in his voice. "Birds and beasts, plants and spirits, mountains and stones, rivers and marshes... We encompass nearly half the living beings of the Primordial World, far outnumbering any other race! Yet because we lack a true leader, internal strife never ceases. Each claims its own territory, squandering the boundless fortune that should have been gathered together!"
Dijun's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. At last, he spoke, his tone still calm.
"My brother and I have long resided on the Sun Star and grown accustomed to tranquility. We have little interest in the struggles and slaughter of the Primordial World."
"The Ancestral Witches were born from Pangu's essence and blood. It is only natural that they receive some protection from his legacy. As for the demon race... their current state is merely the result of their own karma."
"Fellow daoist, you are mistaken!"
Bai Ze immediately raised his voice slightly.
His eyes burned as he looked at Dijun and Taiyi.
"The Ancestral Witches do not cultivate primordial spirits, understand nothing of heavenly calculations, and show no reverence for Heaven and Earth. They are ultimately limited."
"But our demon race follows Heaven in taking form and cultivates primordial spirits. We should have a far greater future!"
"What we lack now is merely a leader capable of unifying the myriad demons and gathering their fortune! A true sovereign!"
Bai Ze's voice gradually rose, carrying an indescribable power to inspire.
"In terms of origin, the two Fellow Daoists were born from the Sun Star and transformed from the left eye of the great god Pangu. In all the Primordial World, how many can compare to such a foundation?"
"In terms of strength, fellow daoist Dijun has already reached the peak of the Great Golden Immortal realm. Even compared to Qin Xuan, who is currently in the limelight, he may not be inferior."
"Fellow cultivator Taiyi even holds the Primordial Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bell. Unmatched in offense, his battle prowess is enough to look down upon the Primordial World!"
"If the two Fellow Daoists are willing to step forth, raise the banner high, and unite the demon race, then that boundless scattered fortune will surely converge upon you like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea!"
"At that time, with the fortune of billions of demons supporting you, the cultivation speed of you both will advance by leaps and bounds, far beyond what secluded cultivation can achieve!"
"Even if we dare not hope for a realm like the Dao Ancestor's, becoming the foremost figure beneath the Dao Ancestor would be no difficult feat!"
Growing excited, Bai Ze suddenly rose to his feet and bowed deeply to Dijun and Taiyi, his tone incomparably earnest.
"The two Fellow Daoists were born with the destiny of sovereigns. Leading the demon race is the will of Heaven and the trend of the age!"
"I sincerely beg the two Fellow Daoists to ascend to the position of Demon Emperor. This will not only fulfill the demon race, but also provide the finest opportunity for you both to achieve your supreme Dao paths!"
Inside the Sun Palace, even the air seemed to grow several degrees hotter because of Bai Ze's words.
Dijun's gaze was profound, the light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. Clearly, he was struggling fiercely within.
Every word Bai Ze spoke struck precisely upon the strings of his deepest concerns!
Attaining the Dao, and that ambition hidden deep within him.
Especially after witnessing Qin Xuan and the Ancestral Witches suppress the gathered heroes at Buzhou Mountain not long ago, it would have been a lie to claim his heart had remained unmoved.
Taiyi's blood surged even more fiercely. The Chaos Bell in his arms emitted a faint hum, as though it had sensed its master's battle intent.
"Leading the demon race" and "the foremost figure beneath the Dao Ancestor"—such words were far more tempting to him than remaining on the Sun Star in solitude.
He looked at Dijun with burning eyes, his gaze filled with undisguised anticipation.
A long silence followed.
Dijun slowly rose to his feet. An invisible majesty naturally spread from him, and his formerly calm tone was now filled with decisiveness and unquestionable dominance.
"Fellow cultivator Bai Ze speaks the truth."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the palace and look upon the boundless lands of the Primordial World as he said in a deep voice:
"Since destiny is thus, fortune can be contested, and the path to attaining the Dao lies here, then my brother and I shall accept this great responsibility!"
"Your Majesty is wise!" Bai Ze was overjoyed upon hearing this. So excited was he that he directly bowed down. "This subordinate will immediately contact the great demons of every region and gather them at the Sun Star to join in this grand undertaking and help Your Majesty establish the demon race's great legacy for all ages!"
Dijun stepped forward and made a gesture to help him up.
"Fellow cultivator, there is no need for such courtesy."
"Ha ha ha!" Taiyi could no longer contain himself and burst into hearty laughter, his heroic spirit soaring. The Chaos Bell in his hand blazed with light, and its resonant, domineering chime rang out, spreading across the entire Sun Star...
Beyond the heavens.
Following his sense of direction, Qin Xuan hurried toward the Sun Star.
Just then, a cool gleam suddenly caught the corner of his eye.
In the distance, a star was enveloped in a layer of cold radiance, its hazy glow carrying a touch of mystery.
Curious, Qin Xuan approached to investigate.
The moment he neared the star's outer perimeter, Qin Xuan felt a gentle yet resilient force blocking his way, like an invisible barrier preventing outsiders from drawing close.
Just then, a small rabbit-shaped sculpture in his robes flew out on its own, beyond his control.
The instant the rabbit sculpture appeared, the resistance ahead quietly vanished.
That hazy layer of radiance seemed to be gently parted to both sides by an invisible hand, opening a crystal-clear passage.
Then, a massive star emitting pure, luminous moonlight clearly appeared before him.
A path of light condensed from pure lunar essence extended from the edge of the formation deep into the star's interior.
Qin Xuan stepped onto the path of light. The scene before his eyes instantly changed, and in the next moment, he was already inside the star.
However, before he could clearly make out his surroundings, an embarrassed yet angry cry suddenly rang out.
"Who goes there?!"
Immediately afterward, another furious female shout rang out.
"Where did this lecher come from?!"
Before you continue