Nan Ji: Was I Set Up?

Di Jun looked at Nan Ji with a smile, one that made Nan Ji feel as though he were basking in a spring breeze.

At this moment, it did not seem like Nan Ji had charged into the Sun Star. It was more like an uncle and nephew who had been apart for years were reminiscing.

Di Jun continued, "Nephew, the Kunlun Three Pure Ones and our demon race have always kept out of each other's way. You have injured one of her heads, so let this karma end here."

"I..."

Nan Ji knew that no matter how he struggled now, it would be useless.

Brother Nan!

Yet when he thought of the time he had spent with Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao, he simply could not bring himself to speak.

"Humph!"

Tai Yi snorted coldly without saying another word, then flicked his sleeve at Ghost Chariot.

"Ah!"

In an instant, Ghost Chariot's remaining half-head was severed by him.

Tai Yi paid no attention to Ghost Chariot before him. Instead, he stared at Nan Ji with an unfriendly gaze. "That extra half-head was a burden anyway. Surely you are satisfied now, little friend?"

He no longer called Nan Ji nephew and had switched to little friend.

Nan Ji understood the warning in those words perfectly.

Di Jun, standing nearby, also understood his younger brother's meaning. He said, "Since you are the disciple of the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun, little friend, why not visit our Solar Palace while you are here on the Sun Star?"

This was not an invitation for Nan Ji at all. It was merely telling him that enough was enough.

Utterly shameless!

Though Nan Ji was furious, he knew his meager cultivation was no match for Di Jun and Tai Yi.

But if he retreated so carelessly, he would disgrace the Three Pure Ones and betray the bond between himself, Xiao Sheng, and Cao Bao.

Thus, Nan Ji gritted his teeth and said, "Senior Di Jun, Senior Tai Yi, please allow this humble Daoist to settle this karma."

"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Tai Yi looked at Nan Ji and thought that this brat did not know his place. After cursing, he directly brought out the Eastern Emperor Bell.

This was the Chaos Bell, one of Pangu's three great treasures from when he split open Heaven and Earth. After falling into Tai Yi's hands, it had been renamed the Eastern Emperor Bell.

When Tai Yi took out the tiny Eastern Emperor Bell, the flames raging around them seemed to have been frozen in place.

Seeing the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda above Nan Ji's head, Tai Yi simply gave the bell a gentle shake.

Bzzzzz—

With the ringing of the bell, even Heaven and Earth seemed to fall silent.

When the ripples radiating from the bell struck Nan Ji, the invincible Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda let out a mournful cry and fell before him.

It was not that the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda was inferior to the Eastern Emperor Bell. Nan Ji's cultivation was simply weaker than Tai Yi's, and he had not refined the pagoda himself.

As the pagoda fell, Nan Ji could not help spitting out a mouthful of blood.

The instant the blood touched the air of the Sun Star, it vaporized, leaving only drops of blood staining his Soul Slaying Staff.

Nan Ji's internal organs felt as though they were being crushed beneath a massive boulder, yet he still gripped the Soul Slaying Staff tightly with both hands and hurled the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda at the two of them with all his might.

"Heh, such a petty trick, and you dare flaunt it before an expert?"

Tai Yi spoke disdainfully and easily caught the pagoda with his mana.

However, when Di Jun looked at Nan Ji, he suddenly revealed a meaningful smile. Realizing what was happening, Di Jun hurriedly shouted, "Not good!"

Bang!

"Ah!"

Ghost Chariot, already severely wounded, immediately had one of his wings shattered by the incoming Soul Slaying Staff.

Nan Ji's attack with the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda had been a feint. The Soul Slaying Staff was the real strike.

At this moment, Ghost Chariot not only had to endure the pain of his primordial spirit being fouled, but blood also continued to pour from his body.

"You..."

Tai Yi glared furiously at Nan Ji. He refused to accept that he had actually been toyed with by a junior.

Using what little mana he had left, Nan Ji said, "Nan Ji only wishes to settle the karma between the juniors. Must the two seniors intervene as well?"

Every word Nan Ji spoke took all his strength.

Every word he uttered spread outward with his mana.

After all, his three masters were still in seclusion and might not be able to emerge at this time.

Nan Ji was gambling on whether Di Jun and Tai Yi dared to disregard the friendship forged at the Purple Cloud Palace before the great powers of the Great Desolation.

Others did not know it, but Nan Ji knew that Di Jun and Tai Yi still wished to establish the Heavenly Court during the upcoming second sermon.

Sure enough, Di Jun's smiling face immediately darkened.

His clenched fists also revealed that he was far from as calm as he appeared.

Just then, the Soul Slaying Staff in Nan Ji's hand suddenly released a cool aura that gently lifted him up.

"Stop."

Th-this was Eldest Uncle Laozi's voice.

"Di Jun, Tai Yi, do you take the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun for people with no one to stand up for them?"

As soon as Yuanshi's voice fell, the previously dim Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda suddenly shot toward Tai Yi.

Bang!

Tai Yi let out a muffled groan. "Hngh..."

The pagoda struck Tai Yi squarely in the chest. He pressed his lips tightly together, his teeth clenched so hard that the muscles in his cheeks bulged.

"Why should elders interfere in matters between juniors?"

That was Tongtian's voice.

Hearing the voices of the Three Pure Ones before him, Nan Ji suddenly felt all strength leave his body, while warmth surged through his heart like a flood bursting through a dam.

With the Three Pure Ones backing him, it was worth it!

Tai Yi kept his mouth shut as he looked at Nan Ji, his eyes filled with a hatred that wished to tear him apart.

But Di Jun suddenly grabbed Tai Yi's raised hand. The smile on his face remained as gentle as a spring breeze. "I never knew the three senior brothers cherished this eldest disciple so deeply that you used your own essence blood to forge a weapon for him. It was Di Jun who was at fault."

Di Jun was not merely saying this for the Three Pure Ones to hear. More importantly, he was telling Tai Yi how important Nan Ji was to them.

Tai Yi immediately understood Di Jun's meaning and lowered his head unwillingly.

The voices of the Three Pure Ones no longer came from within the Soul Slaying Staff.

Instead, the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda suddenly released a pull toward Nan Ji.

Sensing that his eldest uncle was acting, Nan Ji did not resist. He merely glared fiercely at Ghost Chariot, then at Tai Yi, and said harshly, "Today's karma will be repaid someday."

Then, the pagoda took Nan Ji in and flew toward Kunlun Mountain.

It was not that Nan Ji overestimated himself and dared to threaten Ghost Chariot, or even Tai Yi.

Rather, Nan Ji knew that after this incident, there was no longer any affection left between the Three Pure Ones and Di Jun and Tai Yi.

When the great Witch and Demon calamity arrived in the future, Nan Ji, as a transmigrator, would have plenty of opportunities to trip Tai Yi up.

Yet in the eyes of Di Jun, Tai Yi, and even Ghost Chariot, this was simply overestimating himself.

None of them took it seriously. After watching Nan Ji leave, Tai Yi finally could no longer suppress it and spat out a mouthful of blood.

After all, Nan Ji's master, Yuanshi, had never been a magnanimous man when it came to matters concerning his disciples.

After the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda released Nan Ji, he discovered that he had returned beneath Kirin Cliff on Xuanqing Peak.

The Three Pure Ones were still seated in meditation, but all of them had opened their eyes.

Looking at the familiar Three Pure Ones, Nan Ji's eyes reddened. He wanted to tell them everything that had happened along the way, but when the words reached his lips, they became, "This disciple has been unfilial and made his masters worry again."

The Three Pure Ones did not seem to need Nan Ji's explanation. Laozi said, "It is good that you are back."

"Those fur-covered, armored beasts born wet or from eggs are not worth keeping in your heart." Yuanshi also offered consolation.

Hearing his master Yuanshi's words, Nan Ji's emotions eased, and he nearly laughed aloud.

Master, weren't you insulting me too?

Seeing Nan Ji's expression, Yuanshi seemed to realize it as well, but he added expressionlessly, "You are different."

"Little Nan Ji, if anyone dares bully you next time, your martial uncle will stand up for you!"

Tongtian became so excited that he nearly began dancing around.

But when he turned and saw Laozi and Yuanshi looking at him, Tongtian did not dare look at Nan Ji and lowered his head.

"Your master, martial uncle, and I will need another hundred years before we can leave seclusion. Rest and recover properly," Laozi said.

After bidding farewell to the three of them, Nan Ji went alone to the summit of Xuanqing Peak.

Sitting atop a massive boulder at the peak, Nan Ji stared blankly at the familiar white clouds and took out the storage pouch left behind by Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao.

Treasure Dropping Coin...

Enlightenment Tea Tree...

There were also some ordinary items, all collected by the two of them.

Holding the Treasure Dropping Coin, Nan Ji felt no excitement or joy at gaining a treasure. Instead, there was a trace of sorrow in his gaze.

Suddenly, the Treasure Dropping Coin emitted a faint fluctuation.

Feeling that fluctuation, Nan Ji's eyes widened as his divine sense probed into the Treasure Dropping Coin.

"Brother Nan Ji..."

Th-this was Xiao Sheng's true spirit!

"Brother Xiao! You... you are still alive!"

Upon hearing Xiao Sheng's voice, Nan Ji's melancholy instantly vanished, and he hurriedly replied with excitement.

Yet Xiao Sheng within the Treasure Dropping Coin did not answer Nan Ji. He merely continued, "Brother Nan Ji, only a sliver of Cao Bao's and my true spirits remain. Listen to me."

"Your elder brother did not tell you..."

"Your elder brother's previous life was the Karmic Demon God. Only to survive and evade the Heavenly Dao did I scheme for my own death beneath the Heavenly Dao."

"One day..."