Zhen Yuanzi Kills Minghe

The Blood Sea churned. Beyond the shock and wariness in Minghe's scarlet eyes, a thread of uncontrollable ecstasy suddenly burst forth!

An opportunity!

A heaven-sent opportunity!

He had been fretting over how Zhen Yuanzi, that old turtle, had trapped him within the Blood Sea so thoroughly that even seeking the opportunity to become a saint had become nothing but a vain hope.

Now, Eastern Emperor Tai Yi had personally invited him with the Chaos Bell. This was like receiving a pillow just as sleepiness struck!

With Tai Yi's endorsement, he would have the firmest backing once he stepped out of the Blood Sea!

Still, as lord of the Blood Sea, Ancestor Minghe understood the importance of playing hard to get.

Suppressing the wild joy in his heart, he sent his voice through the Blood Sea, carrying a perfectly measured note of "difficulty":

"Your Majesty Eastern Emperor's invitation honors me greatly. However... you also know that Zhen Yuanzi currently has me pinned within the Blood Sea, leaving me unable to move a single step."

"He holds the Book of the Earth and sits guard over Wuzhuang Temple, watching me like a tiger watches its prey. If I leave the Blood Sea, I fear I will find it difficult to escape his entanglement."

His implication could not have been clearer: I want to come, but an enemy is blocking my door. You need to deal with him!

Upon the Sun Star, Tai Yi smiled knowingly.

How could he not understand Minghe's thoughts?

The Chaos Bell rang out once more, bearing the Eastern Emperor's characteristic tyranny and promise.

"No matter! Just come to my Sun Star! This emperor will await you here. I would like to see who dares stop a guest invited by me, Tai Yi!"

Those words were like a Sea-Calming Divine Needle, instantly setting Minghe's heart at ease.

"Hahaha, good! The Eastern Emperor truly is forthright! Then I shall make the trip!"

Minghe no longer hesitated and let out a long laugh.

The Karma Fire Red Lotus beneath his feet blazed brilliantly. The twin swords Yuan Tu and A Bi transformed into two heaven-shaking streams of Blood Fiend Qi that coiled around him.

His entire body became a streak of scarlet blood-light that tore through the netherworld, charging fiercely out of the foul Blood Sea and shooting straight toward the Sun Star in the Nine Heavens Above!

Wuzhuang Temple, beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Zhen Yuanzi sat cross-legged. The Book of the Earth had transformed into a hazy curtain of earthen-yellow light that shrouded the Dao Field, while in truth linking to the entire Great Desolation World.

He appeared to be meditating in quiet cultivation, but his Divine Sense was actually spread like a net, constantly locking onto every movement in the Netherworld Blood Sea.

The Karma between him and Minghe had long since become a deathless, unending feud.

He never dared forget the vengeance of Dao Friend Hong Yun.

The instant Minghe burst out of the Netherworld Blood Sea and exposed his aura, Zhen Yuanzi abruptly opened his eyes!

Cold light flashed within them like lightning, his killing intent soaring into the heavens!

"Wretch! How dare you leave your nest!" he roared.

With a sweep of his sleeve, his entire body transformed into a streak of earthen-yellow Evasion Light. Carrying the weight of earth, mountains, and rivers, he gave chase after Minghe!

Today, he would definitely beat this Blood Sea devil back again!

Sun Star, atop the Fusang Divine Wood.

The Divine Senses of Tai Yi and Lu Jun had been watching the developments at all times.

Seeing Minghe set off and Zhen Yuanzi indeed following close behind to kill him, Tai Yi's brow furrowed slightly.

He immediately transmitted his voice through the Chaos Bell. His voice was vast and mighty, ringing across the path of Zhen Yuanzi's pursuit:

"Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, please stay your step! Minghe was invited by this emperor to visit the Sun Star for a talk. Could you show some leniency?"

Zhen Yuanzi's Evasion Light did not pause in the slightest. Instead, it grew even sharper as his icy Divine Sense returned, steeped in bone-deep hatred:

"No! Tai Yi, your Demon Race conspired with Kun Peng back then and caused the death and Dao Annihilation of my dear friend Hong Yun! This hatred cannot exist beneath the same sky!"

"Minghe was also the chief culprit who intercepted and killed Hong Yun's remnant soul! Since he dares step out of the Blood Sea today, I will surely sever his head to console Hong Yun's spirit in heaven!"

"Your Demon Race had best not interfere. Otherwise, I will have words even with your Sun Star!"

Zhen Yuanzi's words were decisive and unyielding, carrying boundless grief and fury.

He believed that Kun Peng had been the direct murderer behind Hong Yun's death, but that Di Jun and Tai Yi, as emperors of the Demon Race, must have fanned the flames from behind the scenes.

This blood feud had filled him with hostility toward the entire Demon Race.

If the Witch Race had not rejected outsiders, he would have joined their camp and attacked the demons alongside them!

Now that he had finally caught Minghe alone, how could he possibly let him go over a single word from Tai Yi?

Pangu Hall, the place where the Ancestral Witches convened.

The Phantom Divine Senses of the Twelve Ancestral Witches had long since intertwined as well, closely watching the movements in the direction of the Sun Star.

"Hahaha! The show has begun!" Zhu Rong slammed the table and rose, flames blazing around his body.

"That old Daoist Zhen Yuanzi has finally lost his patience! He's going after Minghe, and that feathered crow Tai Yi definitely won't be able to sit still!"

"Exactly the opportunity!" Ru Shou's eyes flashed with sharp light.

"As long as Tai Yi dares leave the Sun Star by even one step—even if he only sends a wisp of an incarnation to help Minghe—we will immediately activate the Great Array of the Stars of Heaven and destroy Tai Yi!"

"Di Jun remains in seclusion. If Tai Yi can be lured away, this will be a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!" Gong Gong's cold voice rang out, trembling with a trace of excitement.

"Keep a close watch!" As the Ancestral Witch of Space, Di Jiang oversaw the entire situation. His voice was steady, yet it could not conceal his excitement.

"Zhu Rong, Ru Shou, Ju Mang, prepare to command the boys. Stand by at all times!"

"She Bishi, Xuanming, the moment Tai Yi leaves the range of the Sun Star, that will be our signal to strike!"

Di Jiang even directly sent his Divine Sense across the distance to call out to Zhen Yuanzi, his voice rumbling like thunder:

"Dao Friend Zhen Yuanzi! Strike without fear! That bastard Minghe deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

"Just act as you please. If Tai Yi dares leave the Sun Star to interfere, my Witch Race will stop him for you! Today, the Demon Race shall pay the price!"

Upon the Sun Star.

Feeling Zhen Yuanzi's resolute killing intent, Tai Yi let out a heavy sigh within his heart.

In the matter of Hong Yun back then, the Demon Race had indeed been in the wrong. Kun Peng was their Demon Master; they could not simply stand apart from it. This Karma had ultimately been forged.

And now, the Witch Race was all the more eager to use this chance to ignite a war.

Was Tai Yi afraid of battle?

With the Chaos Bell in hand, he feared no one beneath the Saints!

But not now!

He and Di Jun had yet to fully comprehend the method of "Nirvana."

What they sought was not a forced Transformation under the threat of death, like Lu Jun's.

They wanted to complete this ultimate Transformation proactively and calmly, with sufficient certainty.

That required time, and absolute concentration.

If they went to all-out war with the Witch Race now, not only would their comprehension be interrupted, but they might also be forced into a hasty Nirvana amid fierce battle. Their chances of success would plummet.

Moreover, after Nirvana, they would be like Lu Jun's eight brothers, needing an immense amount of time to devour energy within the Solar Core and be nurtured anew.

As supreme beings formed from the origin of the Sun Star, the energy and time he and Di Jun required would only be even more terrifying!

If they underwent Nirvana and departed now, the Demon Race would lose its two most powerful combatants. Against the Witch Race, which had long been plotting, the consequences would be unthinkable!

Their only hope was to await Empress Nuwa's return.

Only with a Saint presiding over them could they deter the Witch Race and allow the brothers to complete their Nirvana in peace.

They could not fight!

At the very least, not now!

As thoughts raced through his mind, Tai Yi made his decision.

He once more used the Chaos Bell to transmit his voice. This time, there was less domineering force in it and more frankness and temptation as it entered Zhen Yuanzi's mind directly:

"Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, hold your hand for now! As for the Karma of old, who was right and who was wrong, I have no wish to argue it at this moment. In the matter of Dao Friend Hong Yun, the Demon Race was indeed at fault."

His tone shifted as he cast out bait that no Great Desolation Mighty One could refuse:

"However, I invited Minghe here today not to reminisce, nor for the grudges of the Demon Race."

"It was to discuss the supreme wondrous realm of 'One Attainment, Eternal Attainment'! If we can glimpse the path to this Dao, then perhaps... within the River of Time in the future, there may be a possibility of reshaping Karma and reversing life and death!"

Tai Yi's voice carried the profound depth of one who had seen through the Great Dao:

"Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, your Dao arts are unfathomable. You wield the Book of the Earth and comprehend the origin of the Earth Immortal Realm; you also possess unique insights into the Dao of time and space."

"Is such a discussion concerning the Great Dao of eternity not worth hearing?"

"If anything is gained, then for you and for the Karma of Dao Friend Hong Yun, perhaps there may be a new sliver of opportunity!"

"If you are willing, you may also come to my Sun Star and comprehend this Dao together with us!"

The four words "One Attainment, Eternal Attainment" were like thunder from the Ninth Heaven, crashing fiercely upon the lake of Zhen Yuanzi's furious heart!

His resolute Evasion Light abruptly halted!

His surging killing intent seemed pressed down by an invisible giant hand, instantly freezing in place.

Reverse life and death?

Reshape Karma?

Find a sliver of opportunity for Dao Friend Hong Yun?

The implications contained in those words were far too great!

This was not merely power. It was a true mighty force that touched the very origin of the River of Time!

It was the possibility of transcending the constraints of Saints and attaining true freedom and eternity!

If he could truly glimpse even a trace of the path, then perhaps at some point in the future, he really could turn back time and alter the Destiny of Hong Yun's fall?

Or at the very least, recover his True Spirit?

This temptation was more lethal than any Spiritual Treasure, any hatred!

The fury on Zhen Yuanzi's face was gradually replaced by deep contemplation and deliberation.

He stared fixedly at the blinding blood-red light ahead that was Minghe, then looked toward the resplendent, unseeable Sun Star.

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi might be his adversary, but given his status and standing, he would never spout empty nonsense over a matter concerning the very foundation of the Great Dao.

"One Attainment, Eternal Attainment..."

Zhen Yuanzi murmured, a flicker of struggle passing through his eyes before it finally hardened into resolve.

The towering killing intent slowly withdrew. The earth-yellow Evasion Light pursuing Minghe traced an arc through the air, no longer seeking to intercept him, but likewise shooting straight toward the Sun Star!

A cold Divine Sense carrying a hint of probing intent returned to the Sun Star:

"Fine! Tai Yi, this time I'll trust you once! You'd better not be speaking falsehoods—otherwise... hmph!"