Kunpeng Enters the Heavenly Court

North Sea.

Kunpeng's face was ashen, icy, bone-piercing chill radiating from his entire body.

Everything that had happened in Purple Firmament Palace replayed over and over in his mind.

"Hong—Yun—!!"

A growl suppressed to the absolute limit squeezed through Kunpeng's clenched teeth, laden with endless venom and killing intent.

That Cushion! It should have been his!

That strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi! It should have been his too!

If not for that fool Hong Yun needlessly giving up his seat, how could Jieyin and Zhunti have risen to their positions?

If not for Hong Yun, how could he, Kunpeng, have lost such a heaven-sent opportunity?

What was even more hateful was that the final strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi had actually fallen into Hong Yun's hands!

"Arghhh—!"

Kunpeng could no longer suppress the fury in his heart. He slammed a fist onto the ten-thousand-year mystic ice table before him.

Crack!

The incomparably hard mystic ice table was instantly webbed with cracks before exploding into fragments.

He wished he could rush out of the North Sea at once, tear Hong Yun's corpse into ten thousand pieces, and seize back the Hongmeng Purple Qi that should have belonged to him!

But...

Kill Hong Yun?

Easy to say.

That fool Hong Yun had no shortage of friends.

Leaving aside everyone else, Zhen Yuanzi alone would be exceedingly difficult to handle.

With the Earth Book in hand, standing upon the Primordial Land, Zhen Yuanzi was innately invincible. Who could shake him so easily?

Not to mention that Hong Yun shared deep ties with the Wu Clan!

At the thought of those thirteen figures whose Baleful Intent pierced the heavens, Kunpeng felt his heart tremble.

He was all alone. Rashly seeking Hong Yun for revenge?

That would not be revenge—it would be delivering himself to death!

Was he hanging himself like an old immortal, thinking his life was too long?

Could he really just let this go?

Was he supposed to watch helplessly as Hong Yun held his opportunity, attained the Dao and became a Saint in the future, then roamed free between heaven and earth?

No! Absolutely not!

He could not swallow this grievance!

Kunpeng stopped pacing, his gaze flickering uncertainly.

A direct assault would not work, so he could only... borrow strength!

Since it was inconvenient for him to act himself, then he would kill with a borrowed blade!

He abruptly straightened, a glint of resolve flashing through his eyes.

Go to the Heavenly Court!

Those two Golden Crows were wildly ambitious. They had long wished to unite the Primordial Land and regarded the Wu Clan as thorns in their eyes and flesh in their teeth.

Moreover, they surely coveted the Hongmeng Purple Qi in Hong Yun's possession as well!

Yes! He would go find them!

A sharp gleam flashed through Kunpeng's eyes.

Though Di Jun and Taiyi had come to the North Sea in the past to invite him to join the Demon Race's Heavenly Court, only for him to reject them sternly.

But now... circumstances were stronger than any man!

To reclaim the Hongmeng Purple Qi! To avenge this grudge of having his path obstructed!

What the hell was a little face worth!

Besides, he was one of the three thousand guests of Purple Firmament Palace, a peak Great Power. If he took the initiative to join them, could they possibly refuse to show him respect?

Kunpeng hesitated no longer. His body transformed into a streak of light, shooting out of the North Sea and straight toward the Demon Race's Heavenly Court Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, the gatekeeping heavenly generals sensed a powerful Demonic Qi approaching from afar. Just as they were about to question it, they saw the streak of light charge straight in without slowing.

"Who goes there?!"

"Outrageous! How dare you barge into the Southern Heavenly Gate!"

The streak of light stopped within the Southern Heavenly Gate, revealing Kunpeng's figure.

He did not even glance at the shouting heavenly soldiers and generals. Releasing his aura, the pressure belonging to a peak Great Power instantly blanketed the surroundings.

Those heavenly soldiers and generals seemed to have a giant mountain pressing down on their heads. They instantly fell silent as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe.

"Kunpeng of the North Sea seeks an audience with His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor and His Highness the Eastern Emperor."

Kunpeng's voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly into the Heavenly Court.

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Di Jun sat upon the imperial throne, his expression calm.

Taiyi stood at the side, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Kunpeng?" Taiyi snorted coldly. "What is he here for? When we invited him to join the Heavenly Court, he made excuse after excuse. And now he has delivered himself to our door."

Di Jun waved a hand, signaling Taiyi to remain calm.

"Let him in."

Before long, Kunpeng strode into the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

He swept his gaze around the hall, letting it rest briefly on Di Jun and Taiyi before bowing in salute.

"Kunpeng pays respects to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor and His Highness the Eastern Emperor."

He had lowered his stance greatly, utterly unlike his usual aloof pride.

Di Jun looked at Kunpeng below but did not immediately speak. His fingers lightly tapped the armrest of the imperial throne.

Taiyi, beside him, could not hold back any longer. He spoke first, his tone edged with mockery. "Daoist Friend Kunpeng, what a rare guest. May I ask what brings you to our Heavenly Court today?"

Not a trace of embarrassment appeared on Kunpeng's face. Instead, he wore an earnest expression.

"In the past, Kunpeng lived long in the North Sea, devoting myself to comprehending the Dao and paying no heed to worldly affairs. Looking back now, I was truly short-sighted, like a frog at the bottom of a well."

"Now that the Demon Race's Heavenly Court has been established, with His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor and His Highness the Eastern Emperor commanding all demons, their might aweing the Primordial Wilderness, this is the grand trend of Heaven and Earth—the resplendent righteous path!"

"As a member of the Demon Race, how can Kunpeng continue to stand apart and preserve only myself?"

"Today, Kunpeng has come specifically to offer my allegiance! I am willing to serve the Heavenly Court like a hound or a horse, to add bricks and mortar to the great cause of the Demon Race unifying the Primordial Wilderness. Even if I must die ten thousand deaths, I will not shrink back!"

The speech was lofty and imposing, righteous in every word.

Taiyi could not help curling his lip. This old fellow's skin was truly thick.

When they had established the Heavenly Court and gone to the North Sea to invite him, what had he said?

Something about devoting himself to comprehending the Dao and refusing to concern himself with external matters.

Yet now, fresh from returning from Purple Firmament Palace, he had run over claiming he wanted to "add bricks and mortar"?

Only a ghost would believe that!

This old fellow had merely suffered a setback at Purple Firmament Palace, lost the Hongmeng Purple Qi, and grown jealous of the opportunity Hong Yun had received.

He feared Zhen Yuanzi and the Wu Clan behind Hong Yun, so he did not dare make a move himself. He wanted to drag their Demon Race into the water instead!

A mocking curl touched Taiyi's lips as he was just about to sneer at him.

But Di Jun calmly raised a hand and stopped him.

He looked at Kunpeng, the smile on his face unchanged, while his mind calculated rapidly.

Kunpeng wanted to kill with a borrowed knife, using them to deal with Hong Yun—and perhaps even the Wu Clan.

That scheme could not escape Di Jun.

But was this not also an opportunity?

They wanted the Hongmeng Purple Qi in Hong Yun's hands as well!

As for the Wu Clan...

A cold glint flashed through Di Jun's eyes. There was bound to be a battle between the Wu Clan and the Demon Race!

It was a hurdle the Demon Race had to cross if they wished to truly unite the Primordial Wilderness and become the protagonists of Heaven and Earth!

Though Kunpeng's motives were impure, his strength was formidable. He was one of the foremost Great Powers.

For the Demon Race, his joining would bring more benefit than harm.

Moreover, using the "Grudge of Blocking the Dao" between Kunpeng and Hong Yun as the pretext to act against Hong Yun would make their cause righteous and give them just grounds to send forth troops!

Even if the Wu Clan intervened, their Demon Race would still have "reason" on their side.

As for Kunpeng's little calculations...

Once Kunpeng entered the Heavenly Court, bore the brand of the Demon Race, and accepted the Demon Race's investiture, it would no longer be up to him whether he wanted to waver between two loyalties!

"What fine enlightenment, Daoist Friend!" Di Jun laughed, clapping his hands.

"The Demon Race is in need of capable people. Since Daoist Friend is willing to come, my second brother and I welcome you wholeheartedly!"

Joy rose in Kunpeng's heart. He knew it was settled.

"Many thanks, Your Majesty!"

Though Taiyi was somewhat displeased by Kunpeng's opportunistic manner, since his elder brother had agreed, he would not object.

Moreover, he truly did want to kill Hong Yun and seize that Hongmeng Purple Qi.

That old fox Kunpeng had come at just the right time to be used as a spear!

Di Jun continued, "Daoist Friend is one of the Great Powers of the Primordial Wilderness, lofty in virtue and held in high esteem. Now that you have joined my Heavenly Court, you should naturally be entrusted with an important duty."

"I wish to confer upon you the title of Master of the Demon Race, with the honorific 'Demon Master.' You will oversee all demon script under heaven and enlighten the myriad demons. Your status will stand only below mine and my second brother's, as well as those of Daoist Friends Nuwa and Fuxi. What does Daoist Friend think?"

Demon Master!

A status second only to Di Jun, Taiyi, Nuwa, and Fuxi!

This position could not be called anything but exalted!

Kunpeng was satisfied inwardly.

This Di Jun was quite willing to pay the price.

Though he would still be beneath Di Jun, Taiyi, and the others, it was already an extremely lofty position—enough to give him ample face.

"Kunpeng thanks Heavenly Emperor Your Majesty for your generous favor!" Kunpeng bowed deeply once more, his tone sincere.

"Demon Master, no need for such ceremony." Di Jun made a gesture of support, his smile widening. "From this day forth, sovereign and subject shall be of one heart, and together we shall forge the Demon Race's glorious hegemonic enterprise!"

"Attend me—proclaim the decree!"

"Confer upon Kunpeng of the North Sea the title of Demon Master, and announce it throughout the Primordial Wilderness!"

"Yes!" A Demon God outside the hall immediately accepted the order and hurried away.

Though Taiyi was still somewhat displeased, seeing that Di Jun had made his decision, he said no more. He merely cast Kunpeng a cold glance.

From then on, Kunpeng officially joined the Demon Race's Heavenly Court, becoming the highly honored Demon Master.

He stood to one side of the Great Hall, looking at Di Jun and Taiyi upon their thrones, then sweeping his gaze over the other Demon Gods within the hall. A faint gleam flashed through his eyes.

Di Jun, Taiyi, you want to use me?

But am I not using you as well?

Just wait, Hong Yun! What you owe me, I will make you repay with both principal and interest!

What I, Kunpeng, have lost, I will personally take back!