Kunpeng and Minghe Compromise; the Dao Ancestor's Name

Within the boundless chaos, Great Powers transformed into streaks of light and headed for Purple Cloud Palace to Listen to the Dao.

Compared to their aimless wandering last time, everyone now knew the way like the back of their hands.

Before long, Purple Cloud Palace—a venerable and mysterious structure standing silently within the void of chaos—appeared before them.

Its palace gates, made of Sky-Reaching Jianmu, had yet to open. Upon the plaza paved with Primordial Stone, the Great Powers gathered in twos and threes, discussing the Dao and conversing.

Some sat cross-legged in diligent cultivation, unwilling to miss even the slightest opportunity to improve their cultivation.

Others stood in the plaza, gazing at the roiling chaos beyond, seemingly lost in thought.

Compared to last time, the auras of the Three Thousand Mortal Guests had grown stronger, their cultivation clearly having advanced considerably.

With Hong Yun's arrival, the previous atmosphere was instantly shattered.

"Ha ha, This poor Daoist greets Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. It has been a long time, yet your bearing remains as splendid as ever!"

"After a hundred thousand years, This poor Daoist can see through Fellow Daoist's cultivation less and less. You must have made tremendous progress!"

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun! You promised to visit my Daoist sanctuary, so why have you not come? Could it be that you find my sanctuary too remote?"

"..."

The atmosphere grew ever more fervent as the Great Powers flocked over to exchange pleasantries with Hong Yun.

The might of the Primordial Charm Demon was truly terrifying!

Faced with such enthusiasm, Hong Yun naturally could only return it with even greater enthusiasm!

These were fat sheep waiting to be fleeced!

"Alas, Fellow Daoist's bearing does not lose to This poor Daoist's in the slightest. You are truly an exotic bloom amid the Primordial World, so do not mock This poor Daoist."

"My cultivation has improved somewhat, but how could it compare to yours? You have already reached the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm—truly astonishing!"

"It is not that This poor Daoist did not wish to visit. I was simply occupied with cultivation some time ago. Fellow Daoist's eye is famed throughout the Primordial World; you established your Daoist sanctuary beside Undying Volcano in the far south, so how could This poor Daoist possibly disdain it?"

"..."

Before long, Hong Yun was lost amid the chiming notifications of System Rewards.

He could not fleece them all!

There was simply no end to the fleecing!

Over the course of a hundred thousand years, the cultivation of the three thousand Great Powers had improved considerably.

The foremost Innate Demon Gods—the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Di Jun and Tai Yi, Eastern Prince, Western Queen Mother, and the rest—had all reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

Among them, Laozi was only a hair's breadth away from breaking through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Perfection.

The Innate Demon Gods of somewhat lesser foundations had likewise reached the late stage of the Golden Immortal realm.

Of course, not everyone was so fortunate.

At the northwestern corner of the plaza, two battered, scar-covered figures watched Hong Yun's direction while warily keeping guard against another two people not far away.

"Damn it! A hundred thousand years! You two have hounded us for a full hundred thousand years. Do you truly think my Senior Brother and I are easy to bully?" Zhunti gritted his teeth as he addressed the two murderous figures in the distance.

"What, and now it is This poor Daoist and his companion who are at fault? Had you two not shamelessly seized our seats while we were unprepared, why would Fellow Daoist Minghe and I have gone to such lengths?"

Kunpeng sneered, glaring hatefully at Zhunti and Jieyin.

Beside him, Minghe repeatedly honed the two vicious weapons in his hands, Yuan Tu and A Bi, against a piece of Primordial Stone, while his eyes occasionally flashed red.

Ever since the previous sermon had ended, he and Kunpeng had pursued these two day and night for a full hundred thousand years.

While others secluded themselves to digest what Hongjun had taught, they had known only slaughter, spell battles, and pursuit.

Unfortunately, Zhunti and Jieyin were far too troublesome. Even with Minghe and Kunpeng joining forces and relying on the spiritual treasures in their hands, they still could not completely kill the pair.

They had both broken through to the late stage of the Golden Immortal realm amid battle.

Yet after being delayed for a hundred thousand years, compared with their fellow cultivators who had already broken through to the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, they had suffered a truly massive loss!

Jieyin revealed a mournful expression. With a sigh, he persuaded them, "If this continues, the cultivation of you two Fellow Daoists and my Senior Brother and I will fall far behind everyone else who came to Listen to the Dao. Would that not be a pity? Why not stop here and devote our energy to cultivation instead?"

Kunpeng and Minghe could not help showing some hesitation at those words, yet when they thought of the grudge of their stolen seats, they remained unwilling.

After pondering for a moment, Minghe put away his two vicious swords and said sternly, "This poor Daoist and his companion do not wish to continue like this either. But if we are to settle this matter so easily, even our Dao Hearts may become unstable. You two should tell us how this ought to be resolved."

Seeing Minghe throw the question back at Zhunti and Jieyin, Kunpeng said nothing and merely waited for their answer.

"This..."

Zhunti's long brows furrowed slightly, but he did not know what to do.

Jieyin, however, had an idea. He said, "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng and Fellow Daoist Minghe have pursued my Senior Brother and me for so many years. You should know that the two of us are utterly penniless and cannot offer you compensation."

"What, do you want to take our seats for free?"

Kunpeng's face immediately darkened at those words, while Minghe once more drew his two vicious swords.

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! That is not what This poor Daoist meant!"

Jieyin hurriedly explained, "How about this? Let it count as my Senior Brother and I each owing you one great Karma. This poor Daoist can swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao that we will certainly repay it in the future!"

At these words, Minghe and Kunpeng fell silent.

They did not know whether they should agree. They knew that cushion had been a great opportunity, but it was gone now, and the matter had become a foregone conclusion.

Even if the two of them joined forces, they could not take the lives of the two shameless men before them. There was little point in dragging this out any longer.

Kunpeng and Minghe exchanged a glance, each reaching a decision in his heart.

Kunpeng compromised with immense heartache. "Fine! Then swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, and we will let you go."

Seeing this, Minghe also gave a slight nod in agreement.

"Senior Brother, the West is barren. These two great Karmas..."

Zhunti still wanted to say something, but Jieyin cut him off. "Junior Brother, it is already a blessing that these two fellow Daoists are willing to let go of this entanglement. They are merely two great Karmas; we can repay them in the future."

Jieyin raised his right hand and swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao. "I, Jieyin, swear to the Heavenly Dao this day that I owe Fellow Daoists Minghe and Kunpeng two great Karmas. I shall surely repay them in the future. Should I break this oath, may my Dao path be utterly destroyed, leaving me beyond redemption through ten thousand tribulations!"

"I, Zhunti, swear to the Heavenly Dao this day..."

Seeing Jieyin be so decisive, Zhunti could only follow suit and swear the oath!

As for whether this transaction was a loss or a gain, only time could prove it.

Clang!

No one knew how much time had passed before the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened.

The same two familiar young figures stood before the two doors respectively, though this time, someone else was doing the calling.

Yao Chi's voice, as pleasant as a yellow oriole's song, rang out. "The time has come. By Master's decree, those fated to do so may enter the Purple Cloud Palace to Listen to the Dao!"

Unlike last time, everyone wore respectful expressions as they slowly entered the palace.

Hongjun had already assigned the seats. None dared alter them without permission; whether they arrived a step early or a step late made no difference.

Upon the high platform deep within the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun had long since seated himself cross-legged upon a cushion, his eyes tightly shut as though he were asleep.

Compared with last time, his aura was even more obscure and unfathomable, steeped in mystery.

"We pay our respects to Saint Hongjun!"

The Great Powers were startled at the sight. Their expressions grew even more reverent as they all bowed low in salute.

"Hong Yun pays respects to Dao Ancestor Hongjun. May Dao Ancestor's saintly lifespan know no bounds, may he remain undying through ten thousand tribulations, and may the Great Dao lie within reach!"

After everyone had paid their respects, an abrupt voice rang out. When they looked closely, it was none other than that fellow Hong Yun.

"Dao Ancestor?"

Hongjun slowly opened his eyes. In those profound depths seemed to hide the stars of all heavens and myriad Great Daos; flickering in and out of existence, they seemed to dissolve into Chaos.

Hong Yun revealed a look of reverence and declared loudly, "Saint Hongjun is compassionate. He spreads the Dao throughout the Primordial Wilderness, exhausting his heart and mind for the cultivation of all beings, allowing us to glimpse the mysteries of the Great Dao. He may be called the progenitor of myriad Great Daos, and thus should be known as the Dao Ancestor!"

[ Ding, the host has praised Hongjun. Congratulations, the host has randomly obtained a reward: Jade Disk of Creation Shard x1 ]