Tai Yi Is an Idiot

Ancestor Minghe's thoughts raced through his mind like lightning and flint.

Deep within his scarlet eyes, bloody light flickered violently.

Sixth Prince Lu Jun... merely a Golden Crow Crown Prince reborn through Nirvana Rebirth. Even if he was somewhat unusual, there was no way he would, in such a setting and before Tai Yi had set the tone, rashly ask such a sensitive question that struck directly at the heart of their enmity!

This could never have been his own doing!

It was Tai Yi!

It had to be at Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's instigation!

In an instant, Minghe became certain of this judgment.

If Tai Yi had not secretly prompted him, how would Lu Jun dare to strike so precisely at the most painful wound while two peak great powers stood at swords' point?

"What is Tai Yi trying to accomplish with this...?" Minghe's thoughts spun rapidly.

"There are only two possibilities for bringing up the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd at this moment."

The first was to kill with a borrowed knife.

Did he intend to use the enraged Zhen Yuanzi's hand to destroy this incarnation of mine here, perhaps even severely wound my origin?

The thought flashed through his mind, only to be immediately rejected.

No!

If he truly wished to kill me, why go through the trouble of inviting me to the Sun Star?

Would it not be more direct to join forces with Zhen Yuanzi outside the Blood Sea?

Besides, as one whose body was undying so long as the Blood Sea remained, the destruction of an incarnation would mean nothing more than a loss of Reputation and some damage to my vitality. It would not kill me.

If he truly did this, not only would the discussion of the Dao concerning "One Attainment, Eternal Attainment" be completely ruined, he would also utterly offend me and force me to side with the Witch Race—or stir the Blood Sea into boundless Slaughter Calamity!

Was Tai Yi an idiot?

No!

Then only the second possibility remained!

Minghe's scarlet pupils abruptly contracted. He glanced at Zhen Yuanzi, whose killing intent boiled over, then swept his gaze over Tai Yi, who stood in the middle attempting to mediate.

Tai Yi's purpose was not to harm me, but to resolve the conflict!

He knew full well that the greatest knot of resentment between Zhen Yuanzi and me, aside from Hong Yun's death, was this Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd that had fallen into my hands!

This treasure was Hong Yun's legacy, and even more, the object tied to Zhen Yuanzi's obsession!

By having Lu Jun expose this matter here and now, before everyone, Tai Yi was forcing me to state my position!

Forcing me to return this item before him and Zhen Yuanzi!

Using it as an opportunity to ease the relationship between us!

Otherwise, today's discussion of the Dao concerning "One Attainment, Eternal Attainment" could not proceed at all and might turn into a life-and-death battle at any moment!

What a calculation!

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi truly understood the human heart!

In that instant, Minghe understood everything.

Although surrendering such a powerful Innate Spiritual Treasure made his heart ache beyond measure, compared to the Great Dao opportunity of "One Attainment, Eternal Attainment," as well as the risk of completely enraging Zhen Yuanzi and perhaps even drawing Tai Yi's partial suppression, this small loss was still within the range he could bear!

Besides, keeping this item in his possession would ultimately leave him holding a scalding hot taro—one of the reasons Zhen Yuanzi would refuse to rest until one of them was dead.

In the space of lightning and flint, Ancestor Minghe had already made his decision.

The shocked, furious pallor on his face rapidly faded, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He no longer looked at Lu Jun. Instead, he directed his gaze straight at Zhen Yuanzi opposite him, whose killing intent had nearly taken tangible form, his voice deliberately slowed and heavy.

"Dao Friend Zhen Yuanzi, please quell your thunderous rage."

Minghe's voice pierced through the congealed killing intent.

"This Poor Daoist admits that what the Sixth Prince said just now... was not without basis."

The moment these words fell, the Earthly Divine Light erupting around Zhen Yuanzi abruptly stalled, and the terrifying pressure locked onto Lu Jun eased somewhat.

His blade-sharp gaze nailed itself to Minghe's face, as if confirming whether his words were true.

Minghe ignored the look that seemed ready to bore straight through him and continued, "When Dao Friend Hong Yun fell, his natal spiritual treasure, the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd... did indeed drift into the Blood Sea and come into This Poor Daoist's possession."

BOOM!

The light of the Book of the Earth in Zhen Yuanzi's hand surged once more, and the cracks in the jade table instantly widened!

He nearly attacked at once!

"However!" Minghe's speech suddenly quickened.

At the same time, he flicked the sleeve of his scarlet Daoist robe, and a dark-red streak of light shot forth amid shrill wails of ghosts and howls of spirits!

It was a gourd, dark red throughout, its surface covered in mysterious yin patterns. It exuded a terrifying aura that made one's soul tremble, as though it could dissolve every soul and True Spirit!

It was precisely the Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd!

The moment this treasure appeared, the temperature within the divine hall plummeted. Even the True Sun Fire seemed to dim by several degrees.

"This Poor Daoist knows full well that this object is Dao Friend Hong Yun's legacy and bears profound Karma with you, Dao Brother!"

Minghe's voice carried a certain "candor" and "resolve."

"This Poor Daoist was also at fault in the karmic entanglements of the past. Today, before Dao Friend Tai Yi and Prince Lu Jun, This Poor Daoist is willing to return this treasure to its rightful owner and place it in Dao Brother's hands!"

Drawn by Minghe's magic power, the dark-red gourd slowly and steadily flew toward Zhen Yuanzi.

Minghe wore an incomparably "sincere" expression. "Perhaps Dao Brother may use the lingering aura of Dao Friend Hong Yun upon this treasure to glimpse a thread of Heavenly Secrets."

"Who is to say you may not find his reincarnated body? This is a token of This Poor Daoist's sincerity. I hope Dao Brother will see it clearly!"

Zhen Yuanzi was stunned!

The grief, indignation, and killing intent he had accumulated over countless ages seemed, at this moment, to have struck empty air.

He had imagined Minghe vehemently denying everything, flying into a rage from shame, or making every possible excuse.

He had even prepared himself to tear all pretenses apart here with Minghe and Tai Yi.

Yet he had never imagined that Minghe would be so straightforward, even carrying the attitude of "admitting fault voluntarily and offering compensation eagerly."

He had simply handed over this Innate Spiritual Treasure, coveted by countless great powers!

The Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd hovered before Zhen Yuanzi. Its cold, sinister, yet familiar aura undeniably proved its authenticity.

Zhen Yuanzi subconsciously extended a slightly trembling hand and accepted this relic left behind by his old friend.

It was icy cold to the touch. Naturally, its soul-scattering, spirit-eroding sinister power was ineffective against a great power such as himself.

Instead, he could clearly sense, deep within the gourd, an almost imperceptible yet genuinely existing remnant—a wisp of Hong Yun's exceedingly faint, nearly dissipated Primordial Spirit imprint!

Zhen Yuanzi's mind was utterly blank.

He really gave it back to me?

He lowered his head to look at the dark-red gourd in his hand, his feelings impossibly complicated.

To be fair, he did not like this magic treasure.

It was sinister and vicious, utterly at odds with Hong Yun's generous, kindhearted, gentle nature.

After obtaining this treasure, Hong Yun had rarely used it, as though he had merely kept it as a collectible.

Zhen Yuanzi had always felt that this treasure was unworthy of Hong Yun.

But now, this spiritual treasure he had once deemed "unworthy" had become a potentially crucial clue to recovering his dearest friend!

Minghe's words were like a lifeline, instantly igniting the flame of hope deep within his heart, a flame that had nearly been extinguished by despair.

His gaze rose involuntarily, first falling upon Minghe, whose expression was "solemn."

Then it shifted to Tai Yi in the seat of honor, whose face remained grave, though a flicker of surprise seemed to pass through the depths of his eyes.

At last, his gaze settled upon Lu Jun, who had triggered all of this.

This Sixth Prince Golden Crow had suddenly asked about the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd...

The timing was so exact, the effect so 'remarkable'... Could this truly have been Tai Yi's secret instruction?

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

If Tai Yi had not arranged it, how would Lu Jun have dared?

If Tai Yi had not tacitly approved—or even pushed it along—how could Minghe have surrendered his supreme treasure so readily?

Tai Yi... was he using this opportunity to resolve the conflict between Minghe and me?

Or at least ease it for the time being?

So as to ensure that today's discussion of the Dao of 'One Attainment, Eternal Attainment' could proceed smoothly?

Though Minghe had intercepted and killed Hong Yun's remnant soul, and could not escape blame for Hong Yun's death, the true chief culprit was that wretch Kun Peng!

It was the greed and cold cruelty the Demon Race's Heavenly Court had displayed back then in its struggle for the Primordial Violet Qi!

Today, Minghe had voluntarily returned Hong Yun's legacy, and his attitude was acceptable enough...

More importantly, the Dao of 'One Attainment, Eternal Attainment' concerned the eternity of the Great Dao. Perhaps it truly could reveal a method to revive Hong Yun.

If he completely tore all pretenses apart with Minghe at this moment, not only would the Dao discussion come to nothing, but he might also miss a rare opportunity.

After weighing the gains and losses, the towering killing intent in Zhen Yuanzi's heart, directed at Minghe, was forcibly pressed down as though by an invisible giant hand.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions. Looking at Minghe, he gave a cold snort.

His voice was still icy, but the absolute resolve to fight to the death within it had clearly faded considerably:

"Humph! Minghe! Do not think that returning Dao Friend Hong Yun's legacy can settle the Karma between us! You cannot evade responsibility for Dao Friend Hong Yun's blood debt!"