Hongjun's Setback

Hongjun had originally planned to let Ancestor Yin Yang steer the conversation, asking him why he had come.

Unexpectedly, after Ancestor Yin Yang finished exchanging pleasantries, he simply sat there in silence, unmoving.

He showed no intention whatsoever of asking Hongjun about the purpose of his visit.

Left with no choice, Hongjun awkwardly stated his own reason for coming.

His eyes carried a thick layer of sincerity—if Ancestor Yin Yang had not been warned by Old Ancestor Wuxing, he might truly have been deceived by Hongjun's earnest expression.

"What a scheme, Hongjun. Even the spoils of war after the battle are a trap for us?

Daoist Friend Wuxing was right—you intend to ensnare your old friends.

If the battle itself doesn't finish us off, there's still the division of spoils to do the job?

If the distribution is uneven, we'll surely come to blows.

And you, Hongjun, will slip away cleanly, sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight.

When we've crippled each other over the spoils, you'll jump in to pick up the scraps, won't you?"

Every word Hongjun spoke was a pitfall aimed at them.

That line about him taking not a single piece of the spoils, leaving it all for the assisting powerhouses to claim for themselves—

that alone was a massive trap. If by some luck they weren't killed by Hongjun in the battle, they would inevitably be crippled by infighting over the spoils.

At that point, Hongjun would be the final victor.

Not only could he effortlessly eliminate all his old friends, but he could also claim every last piece of loot.

Even the Lingbao on their persons—he, Hongjun, had no intention of letting those go.

Hongjun had truly calculated it all perfectly.

It had to be said, that old thief Hongjun's scheming was truly remarkable.

If not for Wuxing's warning, and his own preconceived caution, he, Yin Yang, would have been utterly destroyed by that old thief Hongjun.

"I do know a thing or two about the battle between Daoist Hongjun and Daoist Luohu.

It's merely the Heavenly Dao, seeking to mend its own flaws, choosing one of you two to become the Dao Integrator.

That's a good thing—once you integrate with the Heavenly Dao, it's a step straight to heaven.

Perhaps if you win in the end, you could even get the Heavenly Dao to ease its suppression on us.

But I wonder, which Daoist friends has Daoist Hongjun invited to assist you?

Who did you invite before me?

Did you happen to invite Daoist Friend Wuxing?

Let me say this first—if Daoist Friend Wuxing doesn't go, then I won't go either.

It's not that I'm refusing you, Daoist Hongjun.

It's just that Wuxing and I are close as brothers; if he doesn't go, naturally I won't either."

As soon as Yin Yang finished speaking, Old Ancestor Wuxing, hiding deep within Ancestor Yin Yang's Daoist Arena, nearly burst out laughing.

Yin Yang, you really know how to be passive-aggressive.

He left Hongjun with a face like he'd eaten something sour, utterly embarrassed.

The conflict between Dao and Demon between Hongjun and Luohu was no secret among the reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods.

That the Heavenly Dao was flawed and needed to select a Dao Integrator was also common knowledge among them.

And that the Heavenly Dao suppressed all living beings from cultivating the Law Path—these reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods were well aware of it.

There was nothing wrong with Ancestor Yin Yang's words.

Their implication was clear: if you want their help, you'd better offer something real, not just empty promises of spoils.

After you integrate with the Dao, you'd better get the Heavenly Dao to ease its suppression on us reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods, right?

Though the Heavenly Dao's suppression couldn't stop them from cultivating entirely, it could greatly slow their progress.

If not for that suppression, he, Ancestor Yin Yang, would have already attained the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin.

At this moment, Hongjun was utterly mortified.

Not a single thing Ancestor Yin Yang mentioned could he, Hongjun, accomplish.

First, getting the Heavenly Dao to reduce its suppression on the reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods—

that was completely impossible. The Heavenly Dao's goal was to wipe out all these reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods.

Reducing suppression? That was pure wishful thinking.

He Hongjun only managed to exist because he obtained the largest fragment of the Jade of Creation, coupled with his cultivation of the Path of Three Corpses instead of the Law Path to Sainthood, and because the Heavenly Dao had nearly designated him as the Dao Integrator.

Now, as for inviting Old Ancestor Wuxing—that fellow, for reasons unknown, adamantly refused Hongjun's invitation no matter what.

When did you, Ancestor Yin Yang, become so close with Old Ancestor Wuxing?

Close enough to share a single pair of trousers, it seems.

"Ah... well... Daoist Friend Yin Yang, matters after Dao Integration should still wait until this Poor Daoist has defeated Luohu before we discuss them.

As for Daoist Friend Wuxing, the first person this Poor Daoist thought to invite was you, Daoist Friend Yin Yang.

Thus, I have not yet visited Daoist Friend Wuxing.

How about this: Daoist Friend Yin Yang, you agree to this Poor Daoist first.

Afterward, this Poor Daoist will go invite Daoist Friend Wuxing to join the battle, what do you say?

That way, the outcome will be the same.

By then, if you, Daoist Friend Yin Yang, have already agreed, Daoist Friend Wuxing will surely agree as well."

The old thief Hongjun forced an explanation.

Once he achieved Dao Integration, he would no longer need to worry about the karmic debts of these promises.

By then, these reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods would all be dead under the schemes of the Heavenly Dao.

Why would the Heavenly Dao still need to reduce its suppression of the reincarnated Chaos Demon Gods?

That karma, naturally, would not require Hongjun to repay.

As the saying goes, if you can't repay, then don't—just kill the creditor, and it's the same.

In later ages, two very famous figures acted in this way.

They were the shame of the Primordial Wilderness—the two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti.

In the Purple Cloud Palace, the karma of Old Ancestor Hongyun yielding his seat was too immense.

Jieyin and Zhunti's strategy was simply not to repay what they couldn't.

Thus, they schemed to have Old Ancestor Hongyun killed.

If they had stepped in to save Hongyun when he was besieged by Kunpeng and others, how could Hongyun have died by Self-Destruct?

Back to the present.

As for Wuxing, as long as Ancestor Yin Yang agreed, that was enough. Hongjun had no intention of inviting Old Ancestor Wuxing at all.

Ancestor Yin Yang had gone to the Western Continent to participate in the Conflict between Dao and Demon; he had no chance to mind anything else.

Why would he care about Old Ancestor Wuxing?

"Daoist Friend Hongjun, this Poor Daoist will not agree to you until Daoist Friend Wuxing has agreed first.

Let this matter rest, Daoist Friend.

This Poor Daoist and Daoist Friend Wuxing have our own agreement. If Daoist Friend Wuxing does not agree first, this Poor Daoist's losses will be great.

Daoist Friend Hongjun cannot compensate for this Poor Daoist's losses.

Thus, forgive this Poor Daoist for being unable to agree.

Daoist Friend, please first invite Daoist Friend Wuxing, or some other Daoist Friend.

This Poor Daoist will absolutely not agree before Daoist Friend Wuxing does."

Watching the old thief Hongjun's awkward and anxious expression, Ancestor Yin Yang felt immense delight in his heart.

You old thief Hongjun, look at you now.

Doesn't it feel bad to be shut down?

However, as a veteran actor, Yin Yang had excellent control over his expression.

He did not show any exaggerated reaction.

"Daoist Friend Yin Yang, you..."

Old Ancestor Hongjun was at a loss for words, utterly speechless.

Why was this fellow so stubborn? He insisted on Old Ancestor Wuxing agreeing first.

What, is Old Ancestor Wuxing your father? Why must you make such a demand?