Outside Purple Cloud Palace

Zhen Yuanzi thought for a moment. "The legendary Four Divine Waters might be able to remedy this."

Qing Xuan smiled upon hearing this and pulled out the Eight Treasures Glazed Bottle. "Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, look at what this is."

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun curiously leaned in, only to see a three-colored light shimmering within the bottle.

"This... this is!"

"Three Lights Divine Water!" Zhen Yuanzi exclaimed in surprise.

"Hahahaha, now you don't have to worry anymore!" Hong Yun laughed heartily from the side.

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, take this Three Lights Divine Water and use it as you please. If it's not enough, I'll go back to Penglai and fetch more!" Qing Xuan said boldly, handing the bottle to Zhen Yuanzi.

"Good, good, good. Come, let's go to the orchard!" Zhen Yuanzi took it excitedly, then grabbed Qing Xuan's arm and pulled him toward the back view.

"Hey! Wait for me! I haven't eaten any ginseng fruit today!" Hong Yun quickly followed.

The three then arrived at the Ginseng Fruit Tree orchard. The entire orchard held only the Ginseng Fruit Tree, with a dozen or so ginseng fruits still hanging from its tall branches.

Zhen Yuanzi sprinkled the Three Lights Divine Water onto the soil beneath the tree. Unexpectedly, tiny green divine lights emerged from the earth and then merged into the tree trunk.

The branches and leaves, which had been somewhat withered, instantly brimmed with vitality. Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi sighed in admiration.

"Who would have thought it would be so effective! Truly a divine object of primordial origin!"

Zhen Yuanzi returned the spiritual treasure to Qing Xuan, then picked a few more ginseng fruits and said, "I'm in a great mood today. Come, let's go to the front courtyard to drink and discuss the Dao!"

"Hahahaha, as long as I get to eat ginseng fruit, you can ask me to do anything!" Hong Yun said cheerfully.

Seeing this, Qing Xuan was also quite pleased. After all, he had resolved the issue of the Ginseng Fruit Tree's insufficient origin. Though he still owed a favor, at least his conscience was clear.

"Both of you, let's hurry and set off for the Purple Cloud Palace to listen to the sermon. We can eat ginseng fruit along the way," Qing Xuan said.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun found this reasonable. After all, listening to Hongjun's Sermon was the greater matter; drinking and discussing the Dao could wait for any time.

Thus, the three packed up separately and set off together for the Purple Cloud Palace on Jade Capital Mountain.

In the blink of an eye, the day of Hongjun's Sermon drew nearer, and the Purple Cloud Palace had gathered a vast crowd.

Among them were Laozi and his two companions, the siblings Fu Xi and Nuwa, the Ancestral Witch Houtu, Minghe of the Blood Sea, Dong Wang Gong, Queen Mother of the West, and other great powers.

One group, numerous in number, was the host of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal-level Demon Race led by Di Jun and Tai Yi.

Among them were Bai Ze and Da Bai. At that moment, Da Bai was sizing up a gloomy man—robed in sun and moon patterns, with a hooked nose and a crown of Auspicious Clouds atop his head.

"Hey, Bai Ze, look at that guy. Does he seem like a demon?" Da Bai nudged Bai Ze and pointed at the man.

Bai Ze glanced at him and said helplessly, "This man is the great demon Kun Peng of the Northern Sea. He was originally a target for recruitment, but the Sage's sermon delayed matters. I didn't expect to run into him here."

"I see. Wait here, I'm going to feel him out!" Da Bai said, walking toward Kun Peng.

"Hey! Hey!" Bai Ze quickly reached out to stop him, but failed, and hurriedly followed.

As soon as Da Bai moved, the Demon Race crowd turned their heads. Even Tai Yi, who was cultivating, and Di Jun, who was chatting with Fu Xi and Nuwa, glanced over.

Da Bai walked up to Kun Peng and looked him up and down. Kun Peng's expression turned unfriendly.

"What are you looking at?"

Da Bai heard this and couldn't hold back.

"What, got a problem with that?"

Kun Peng burned with rage, but since they were at the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace, he suppressed his anger and moved aside, ignoring Da Bai.

Seeing this, Da Bai's stubborn temper flared up. He walked over to Kun Peng again.

"You haven't answered me yet. Got a problem with that?" Da Bai pressed on.

Bai Ze covered his face with one hand—he knew this would happen.

Kun Peng was furious. This man was utterly ungrateful. He had already backed down, yet this person kept pushing. Enraged, he spat, "Scram!"

"Slap!"

The area outside the Purple Cloud Palace fell dead silent as everyone watched Da Bai slap Kun Peng across the face.

"I'm giving you face! Telling me to scram? Don't you see how many people I've got behind me!" Da Bai said arrogantly.

Kun Peng was stunned for a moment—he hadn't expected Da Bai to actually strike, and to insult him so deeply. Then, murderous intent surged within him, and he prepared to attack.

But by then, the Demon Race crowd had snapped to attention. Seeing the two about to come to blows, they quickly walked over.

"Ahem, it seems something's happening over there. I'll go take a look. Wait for me a moment, you two," Di Jun said to Fu Xi and Nuwa before heading toward Da Bai.

Fu Xi and Nuwa exchanged glances and also looked over.

Behind Da Bai, aside from Bai Ze who had been there from the start, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Ying Zhao, Fei Lian, Ji Meng, and Jiu Ying now stood.

All eight Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals of the Demon Race fixed their gazes on Kun Peng. Their stares fell on him like a bucket of cold water, instantly dousing the fire in his heart.

"Oh? You want to fight me? Come on, come on!" Da Bai grabbed Kun Peng's arm and tried to force it onto his own head.

"Alright, Da Bai, let go. What's going on?" Di Jun came over and called out to Da Bai, his tone not particularly displeased.

"Boss, I was inviting this guy to join our Demon Race, but he said we were a bunch of nobodies, that only the weak band together. I couldn't take it, so I gave him a slap." Seeing Di Jun arrive, Da Bai immediately put on a tearful face and started tattling.

Bai Ze watched from the side, thinking to himself. Heh, this guy spouts lies as easily as breathing, what a scoundrel!

Seeing this, Kun Peng's anger flared up again. He hadn't expected this man to twist the truth so shamelessly, and quickly spoke up.

"Nonsense! I never said those words!"

Di Jun looked at Bai Ze and said.

"Bai Ze, is it as Da Bai says?"

Di Jun didn't fully trust Da Bai, but he had great faith in Bai Ze. Besides, Bai Ze had been right there the whole time, witnessing everything, so he asked him.

Bai Ze hadn't expected to be dragged into this, but then he spoke.

"That's right, it's exactly as Da Bai said. This man also claimed that whoever built this kind of force probably had no real skill."

At these words, Di Jun and Tai Yi's faces immediately darkened. Da Bai, however, curled the corner of his mouth into a smile.

Good brother!

Tai Yi stepped forward and said.

"Since Fellow Daoist Kun Peng says I have no skill, then This Humble One would like to test Fellow Daoist's abilities!"

Without waiting for Kun Peng to reply, he sent a blast of Solar True Fire hurtling toward him.

Kun Peng's expression shifted drastically. Sensing the aura of death from the flames, he instantly teleported away to a distance.

"In that case, I'll show you my skill!"

The two then clashed at the entrance of Purple Cloud Palace, with everyone around quickly moving aside to clear space.

"Hmph, truly a bunch of creatures born from wetness and eggs, so vulgar!" Yuanshi watched the scene, deeply displeased with this Demon Race.

"Haha, Second Brother, don't be upset. I actually find these fellows rather interesting," Tongtian said with a smile.

Laozi simply watched, saying nothing.