Dao Ancestor, Keep Your Spirits Up and Don't Lose Face! The Tragedy of Lion Camel Ridge!

The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious.

The Enlightenment Tea refreshed the spirit, while the Primordial Spirit Fruits gave off a faint fragrance.

"Dao Friend Ling Xiao, now that the Demon Court has been reestablished, it has divided up the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Dao authority and fortune. Naturally, this is of little consequence to my senior brother and me, but I cannot help feeling uncomfortable about it."

"Behind the Demon Court stand two Sages, Tongtian and Nuwa, while the Heavenly Court has shallow foundations and suffers exclusion from all the Heavenly Dao Sages. The days ahead will not be easy..."

Yaochi parted her red lips slightly and spoke to Ling Xiao.

When the Lich Tribulation came to an end, the Thirty-three Heavens had nearly collapsed. Dao Ancestor Hongjun personally used great Mana to rebuild the Thirty-three Heavens and Lingxiao Palace, then placed the two of them in the positions of rulers of the Three Realms.

However, because Haotian and Yaochi had once been Dao Ancestor attendants, the Heavenly Dao Sages did not take them seriously. Thus, despite ruling the Heavenly Court for so long, they had never truly achieved prestige that shook all living beings of the Primordial Wilderness.

Though Haotian and Yaochi were broad-minded, they still harbored resentment deep within. Both wished to slap the faces of the Heavenly Dao Sages and let the Heavenly Court truly control the Three Realms of Heaven and Earth.

"If only the Heavenly Court had a Heavenly Dao Sage overseeing it!"

Haotian sighed softly, his tone somewhat desolate.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and Ling Xiao exchanged glances without leaving a trace, suspicion and surprise surfacing in their eyes.

Was Haotian saying this unintentionally, or was he deliberately hinting at them?

Then!

Ling Xiao remained calm and spoke slowly. "I once promised the Jade Emperor that one day, all the Heavenly Dao Sages would lower their heads before you."

"Great Immortal Zhenyuan is the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, bearing boundless fortune and merit. If anyone in the Primordial Wilderness still has the qualifications to attain Sagehood, it can only be him."

"Perhaps one day, Dao Ancestor will show mercy and bestow upon Great Immortal Zhenyuan an opportunity to become a Sage..."

Nothing in the Primordial Wilderness could escape the eyes of the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

The implication was profound and required careful consideration.

Haotian and Yaochi both furrowed their brows as they sensed the heavenly secrets and began their deductions.

A moment later!

Haotian suddenly rose to his feet, his eyes shining brightly.

"Great Immortal Zhenyuan, please help me!"

"The Heavenly Court's foundation is shallow, with no virtuous Primordial God overseeing it. Under heaven, only you are qualified to take charge of Jade Capital Mountain!"

Haotian spoke loudly, his tone filled with excitement.

His deductions of the heavenly secrets had yielded nothing.

Yet Haotian discovered that, at the instant Ling Xiao finished speaking, all the restrictive order within Jade Capital Mountain in Great Net Heaven had dissipated. At some unknown time, a palace had appeared atop the mountain.

There was no need to think further. He understood.

This was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's guidance!

One had to know that Jade Capital Mountain had been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's cultivation ground before he attained Sagehood. Yet it had now become ownerless. Combined with Ling Xiao's earlier words, every mystery had surfaced.

Zhen Yuanzi possessed the bearing to attain Sagehood!

"How could I possibly deserve to take charge of Jade Capital Mountain?"

"Since Dao Ancestor has bestowed such blessed fortune and opportunity, he surely wishes to encourage me to continue seeking blessings for all living beings of the Primordial Wilderness, follow Heaven and comply with the Dao, and assist the Jade Emperor and little friend Ling Xiao in governing the living beings of the Three Realms."

"For now, let us set aside the matter of taking charge of Jade Capital Mountain. However, I will choose an immortal blessed land in Great Net Heaven and, together with Hong Yun, guard the Heavenly Court."

Zhen Yuanzi performed a Daoist salute, while waves surged within his heart.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun surely knew that he had obtained the final strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy, as well as his plans to attain Sagehood through merit. Yet not only had he not stopped him, he had even bestowed Jade Capital Mountain upon him as a cultivation ground.

Zhen Yuanzi naturally understood the intention behind this.

Attaining Sagehood was already certain. It was merely not yet time.

"Congratulations, Jade Emperor and Queen Mother."

"Great Immortal Zhenyuan's Dao is immeasurable. With him overseeing the Heavenly Court, that so-called Demon Court will amount to nothing. If it wishes to continue dividing the Heavenly Court's fortune, it is simply dreaming."

Ling Xiao raised his jade cup and drank with the others.

Zhen Yuanzi joining the Heavenly Court had always been part of his plan.

In his previous life, Ling Xiao had read countless Primordial Wilderness novels, and he knew many conspiracy theories concerning Dao Ancestor Hongjun. But he was not some hotheaded fool who insisted on opposing Dao Ancestor Hongjun in everything.

Why?

Why not help the Earthly Dao and Human Dao awaken, pursue his own interests, and let Dao Ancestor Hongjun take a share as well?

There was one thing Ling Xiao was certain of.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's fusion with the Dao had been a helpless choice. He did not wish to remain eternally bound by the Heavenly Dao. What he sought was transcendence as well!

Time passed.

Cups clinked, and Dao Sound drifted through the air.

Ling Xiao and Wangshu watched Haotian, Yaochi, Zhen Yuanzi, and Hong Yun depart.

From this day onward!

The Heavenly Court would gain two top-tier Quasi-Sage Great Beings to oversee it, while Zhen Yuanzi had gained Dao Ancestor Hongjun's recognition. So long as he continued to prioritize the heavens and earth of the Primordial Wilderness, attaining Sagehood would be within reach.

At that moment!

Wangshu gently rested against Ling Xiao's shoulder and whispered, "I remember that the ancient jade box contained far more than thirty-odd Enlightenment Tea Leaves, didn't it?"

"Tell me, what unspeakable words did you wish to convey to Dao Ancestor Hongjun..."

Her breath was fragrant, and her tone playful.

The breath Wangshu exhaled made Ling Xiao's ears itch.

"Nothing much!"

"I merely told Dao Ancestor Hongjun to keep his spirits up and not lose face!"

"The Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao are all Dao. Yet Dao Ancestor Hongjun can break free from the Cage and advance one step further. Then his title as Dao Ancestor will resound throughout the myriad heavens and universes, and even the Heavenly Dao will have to weigh his strength carefully!"

Ling Xiao did not spell it out, speaking only vaguely.

Yet even so, Wangshu had already understood his meaning.

Before this, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had been the Dao Ancestor of the three thousand Primordial Gods and all living beings of the Primordial Wilderness. But Ling Xiao wanted the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao to each return to their proper places, making him the Dao Ancestor of the Three Daos!

Such ambition was terrifying!

"No wonder Dao Ancestor Hongjun favors you so much. So you drew him a grand promise! Even so, no matter how slim the chance, Dao Ancestor Hongjun will gamble on it."

"Because ever since he fused himself with the Dao, he has had no choice. Yet you can help him break the deadlock!"

"Wonderful, truly wonderful..."

Wangshu wrapped her arm around Ling Xiao's, allowing him to take advantage of her.

Yet in her mind, she imagined many things.

Among them was the scene of Ten Thousand Immortals Bowing in Homage, congratulating them on becoming Dao companions and bearing witness to their Heavenly Marriage!

"My plan is simple, but achieving it will be exceedingly difficult."

Ling Xiao pulled Wangshu down to sit, then directly rested his head on her slender jade-like legs. A faint fragrance lingered around his nose, stirring his blood.

Just then!

Within his primordial spirit, the Kongtong Seal trembled slightly.

Ling Xiao's gaze sharpened. The Kongtong Seal floated into the air, then manifested a scene.

"It's Lion Camel Ridge!"

Ling Xiao stared at the image before him. Thousand-mile dark clouds blotted out the sky, while fierce winds howled through the mountains like the wails of evil ghosts. Demons and fiends wantonly slaughtered human beings.

Blood dyed the earth red, and the eight-hundred-mile Lion Camel Ridge had become a living hell.

"Not long ago, I heard that the Golden-Winged Great Peng had been committing atrocities at Lion Camel Ridge. I never expected it to turn into such a purgatory in so short a time."

"The resentment of countless humans, along with the power of faith from the surviving humans, was what stirred the Kongtong Seal. Otherwise, unless I personally descended upon Lion Camel Ridge, I would never have witnessed this scene."

"Qiushou Immortal, Lingya Immortal, Golden-Winged Great Peng, death is too good for you!"

Ling Xiao clenched his fists, fury flashing in his eyes.

As the Great Emperor of the Azure Radiance, he governed the growth of all things. Now these three disciples of the Sect of Interception had joined with the Demon Clan to slaughter and ravage humanity at will. How could Ling Xiao possibly stand by and do nothing?

"Ling Xiao, do you need me to act?"

Wangshu's expression was calm, but anger hid within her voice.

In the past, she might not have cared to interfere in such matters. But Ling Xiao shared a Dao companion bond with her, and the Kongtong Seal was especially close to her as well.

Turning a blind eye was not Wangshu's nature!

Hearing this, Ling Xiao shook his head. "I bear Heavenly Dao authority and fortune, so I have the duty to intervene in Lion Camel Ridge's affairs. But you hold no immortal office. If you act rashly, it will give the Sect of Interception and the Demon Court leverage against us."

"But if someone acts against me, I will deliberately expose a flaw and let myself be injured. Then you will have reason to begin a massacre..."

After earnestly reminding Wangshu, Ling Xiao stepped upon the World-Ending Black Lotus and headed west.

Lion Camel Ridge lay on the western continent, billions of miles beyond the foot of Mount Ling.

By rights, it was within the Western Sect's jurisdiction...