Chapter 21

They never expected that Li Peng would not only loot Treasure Distribution Cliff clean, but now even refuse to spare Treasure Distribution Cliff itself.

Though they were furious, no one dared utter a word of complaint.

After putting away Treasure Distribution Cliff, Li Peng said to Nuwa and the others, "We should go too."

He then led everyone away from Purple Cloud Palace.

Not long after leaving the palace, Li Peng immediately asked Fuxi, "Fellow Daoist Fuxi, can you help me deduce where Zhunti and Jieyin are at this moment?"

"The deduction is not difficult, but why are you looking for them?" Fuxi asked in confusion.

"Nothing much. They merely possess a treasure related to my attainment of the Dao, and I must take it," Li Peng said calmly.

Hearing this, Fuxi and the others immediately understood—Li Peng intended to seize it by force.

"Very well. I will find them for you," Fuxi answered solemnly.

The Law of Fate began circulating around him, and threads of destiny appeared before his eyes.

In no more than a moment, Fuxi had locked onto Zhunti and Jieyin's trails of fate.

Following their trails of fate, Fuxi attempted to trace their whereabouts.

"Zhunti and Jieyin are in that direction, heading toward the western region of the Primordial World," Fuxi said with certainty, pointing ahead.

Without another word, Li Peng led everyone in pursuit along the direction Fuxi had indicated.

Time passed, and twenty years flew by. Li Peng finally caught up to Zhunti and Jieyin.

He spoke calmly from behind them. "Please wait, Fellow Daoists."

Zhunti and Jieyin turned around. When they saw Li Peng drawing closer, their expressions immediately grew solemn. They could not understand why Li Peng had stopped them.

"Fellow Daoist Li Peng, may I ask why you have called us to a halt?" Zhunti asked cautiously.

Li Peng smiled faintly. "You possess a treasure related to my attainment of the Dao. That is why I stopped you both. I wish to exchange spirit treasures with you."

He only proposed an exchange to avoid drawing attention.

If news of him forcibly seizing treasures spread, it might alert the other great powers. If they joined forces against him, matters would become troublesome.

The Three Pure Ones now each possessed an Innate Supreme Treasure, and their cultivation had reached the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage. Li Peng could no longer defeat them easily. If they joined forces with the other great powers from Purple Cloud Palace, the situation would become even more complicated.

He did not fear being besieged, but if Fuxi, Nuwa, Changxi, or Xihe were injured or even killed because of it, Li Peng would regret it for the rest of his life.

Hearing that he only wanted to exchange spirit treasures, Zhunti and Jieyin relaxed slightly.

"May I ask what Fellow Daoist wishes to exchange for?" Zhunti asked.

"The Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure bestowed by Dao Ancestor—the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus," Li Peng replied with a smile.

"What? The Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus? Impossible! This treasure concerns the fortunes of the West ** and absolutely cannot be exchanged!" Zhunti cried out, firmly shaking his head.

"So you are unwilling to exchange it?" Li Peng's tone turned cold.

Seeing Li Peng's expression suddenly darken, Zhunti and Jieyin's hearts tightened. They knew full well how powerful Li Peng was.

Zhunti's eyes shifted, and he suddenly smiled. "It is not entirely impossible to discuss. If Fellow Daoist is willing to exchange that pagoda, then this matter can be negotiated."

Fuxi, Nuwa, Xihe, Changxi, and the others all glared angrily. They had not expected Zhunti to make such an unreasonable demand.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit," Li Peng said with a cold smile.

"Why would Fellow Daoist Li Peng say that? You were the one who proposed exchanging spirit treasures. We merely stated our terms. If you do not wish to exchange, then let us forget it!" Zhunti said, forcing himself to remain calm.

"Since you have no sincerity at all, do not blame me for showing no mercy," Li Peng said icily.

He had never intended to exchange anything in the first place. Now that they had handed him an excuse to act, he naturally went along with it.

In an instant, the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Yin Yang Twin Swords emerged from within Li Peng.

Sword qi crisscrossed the air and filled the void, while an icy killing intent spread from the blades.

At the same time, the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda above his head blazed with radiance. Its vast pressure swept through all directions as though it intended to crush everything.

Such a disturbance immediately alerted the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Eastern Prince, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, Kunpeng, Minghe, and the other innate great powers traveling toward the Primordial World.

Their cultivations were similar, their escape speeds close, and they were all heading toward the Primordial World. Naturally, they sensed the Spiritual Energy churning nearby.

Streams of divine sense immediately descended, seeking to observe what was happening.

"Why has Fellow Daoist Li Peng come into conflict with Zhunti and Jieyin?" Tongtian asked, looking toward Laozi and Yuanshi in confusion.

"We will know if we watch," Laozi replied calmly.

"Should we help them? They are disciples of Dao Ancestor after all, and share the same origin as us," Yuanshi asked.

"Why interfere with people of the West? Besides, we have only just obtained our supreme treasures and have yet to refine them. There is no certainty of victory if we act now," Laozi said, shaking his head.

Yuanshi and Tongtian both nodded silently.

On the other side, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Hong Yun, Zhen Yuanzi, and the others were also discussing the matter.

Within the Chaos Void, the confrontation continued.

"Li Peng! You had better think this through! We are direct disciples of Dao Ancestor Hongjun, and this Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus was bestowed by Dao Ancestor himself! If you seize it by force, Dao Ancestor will never forgive you!" Zhunti shouted.

This was the confidence that allowed him to refuse Li Peng.

"Hmph! Offering to exchange with you was already giving you enough face, yet you are so greedy that you even covet my Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda! Do you truly think Li can be bullied?"

Li Peng's voice was as cold as ice. "Do not think that invoking Dao Ancestor's name will be enough to suppress me!"

"You are merely nominal ** disciples under Dao Ancestor Hongjun! Do you truly think Dao Ancestor Hongjun would value the two of you, a pair of worthless trash?

"Besides, I never intended to take your lives. Do you really think Dao Ancestor would come trouble me over such a trivial matter?"

Li Peng's expression was filled with contempt.

When they heard Li Peng call them "worthless trash," Zhunti and Jieyin's faces immediately turned livid.

Yet when they heard that Li Peng had no intention of killing them, they inexplicably felt relieved.

"So, Fellow Daoist Li Peng intends to forcibly seize our spirit treasures today?" Jieyin asked in a deep voice.

"Since you are so greedy, I shall teach you a lesson today, so that you understand what attitude you should have when facing the strong!"

As soon as Li Peng finished speaking, he waved his sleeve.

In an instant, the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Yin Yang Swords erupted with dazzling light, and countless streaks of sword qi shot toward Zhunti.

At the same moment, the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda descended upon Jieyin with overwhelming force.

Zhunti and Jieyin's expressions changed drastically. Though they wanted to bring out the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus bestowed by Hongjun to defend themselves, they had only just acquired it and had not yet refined it. They could not activate it at all.

In the midst of danger, Zhunti could only bring forth the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree formed from his true body and frantically pour all his mana into it.

Mystic light immediately flowed across the treasure tree as it swept toward the Yin Yang sword qi—

However, the anticipated stalemate never appeared. Although the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree's mystic light continuously devoured the Yin Yang sword qi, the combined power of the Top-Grade Twin Swords was comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure. How could Zhunti, at the Quasi-Saint Early Stage, possibly withstand it?

In no more than a moment, the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree could no longer hold on.

The Yin Yang sword force cut through everything in its path and slashed directly at the treasure tree's true body!

"Crack—boom!"

With a single strike, branches snapped from the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, while Zhunti was sent flying tens of thousands of miles by the remaining sword qi.

On the other side, Jieyin's face became extremely ugly when he saw Li Peng bring forth the Innate Supreme Treasure Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda to smash down upon him.

Jieyin immediately took out the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Pure Dust Brush and sent it winding toward the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda. Yet a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure was ultimately no match for an Innate Supreme Treasure. Moreover, Jieyin was only at the Quasi-Saint Early Stage, two minor realms below Li Peng. The moment the Pure Dust Brush made contact, it was instantly blasted away by the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda.

Immediately afterward, the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda slammed heavily into Jieyin. In truth, Li Peng had deliberately held back some of his strength at the final moment. Although he knew Dao Ancestor Hongjun did not value Zhunti and Jieyin that highly, if he truly dealt **, Hongjun would certainly not stand by and do nothing. After all, the two were saints destined by Heaven. If this changed the Great Trend of the Heavenly Dao, then with Li Peng's current cultivation, it would be no different from courting **.

"Are you two still unwilling to hand over the treasure?" Li Peng's gaze was sharp, and killing intent surged around him. "Must I truly take your lives and search your bodies myself?"

Zhunti and Jieyin exchanged glances, both seeing the helplessness and humiliation in the other's eyes. At the brink of life and death, they had to make a choice—risk their lives to protect it, or hand over the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus?

Jieyin gritted his teeth, took out the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus from his treasure space, and tossed it toward Li Peng. Between his life and a supreme treasure, he ultimately chose survival.

With a wave of his hand, Li Peng stored the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure in the system space. At that moment, the system notification sounded once more:

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for seizing the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus from Zhunti and Jieyin and completing Choice Three. Reward obtained: one million years of cultivation, and a ten percent increase in the Yin-Yang Law."

Li Peng immediately circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and absorbed the pure mana. As ** circulated, mana continuously flowed into his limbs and bones, tempering his flesh, skeleton, and meridians.

In an instant, his aura surged. In no more than a moment, the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique broke through from the late eighth revolution to the peak of the eighth revolution. The remaining mana continued nourishing his body and further stabilizing his realm.

However, for Li Peng's current body, this amount of mana was merely a drop in the bucket and had little effect.

The instant he finished refining the mana, the system pulled him into a mysterious, indescribable state.

In an instant, countless insights into the Yin-Yang Law flooded Li Peng's mind, rapidly deepening his understanding of it.

A short while later, Li Peng awoke from that state. His comprehension of the Law of Yin had reached seventy percent, while his comprehension of the Law of Yang had reached sixty percent.

Once he returned to Penglai Island and opened the Three Talents Six Heavens, his comprehension of the Law of Yin would rise to ninety percent, leaving him only one step away from the Primordial Unity realm.

At the thought of this, Li Peng could not help feeling excited.

But he quickly suppressed the emotion.

Within Purple Cloud Palace.

This was fine as well. Without the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus ** the fortunes of the West, the West would not flourish as greatly as I had previously deduced.

After thinking this, Dao Ancestor Hongjun closed his eyes once more and continued stabilizing his realm.

Within the Chaos Void.

"Zhunti and Jieyin are truly useless. They were defeated by Li Peng in a single move," Yuanshi said disdainfully.

Laozi and Tongtian said nothing. Each was silently calculating how many moves they could withstand against Li Peng.

In the end, the two exchanged a glance, leaving only helpless sighs.

Within another region of chaotic space.

"Li Peng is truly too strong," Di Jun exclaimed.

"Hmph! Once my cultivation advances again, I may not necessarily be unable to defeat him with the power of the Chaos Bell," Tai Yi said unwillingly.

Di Jun merely shook his head and did not refute him.

"We must accelerate the matter of establishing the demon race. Otherwise, without the aid of fortune, we will be no match for Li Peng," Di Jun said gravely.

"I will listen to you, Brother," Tai Yi replied with a nod.

Within the Chaos Void, countless great powers of the Primordial World were discussing what had just happened, yet not a single one dared to help Zhunti and Jieyin.

After obtaining the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, Li Peng returned to Three Immortal Island with Fuxi and the others.

The moment he returned to the island, Li Peng immediately entered seclusion to prepare to sever his Good Corpse.

To his surprise, the Good Corpse, which should have been the easiest to sever, became a difficult hurdle.

Li Peng from his previous life had long been accustomed to keeping aloof from matters that did not concern him. Although his conscience had not been entirely extinguished,

when it came to kindness,

he could not really be considered kind.

After arriving in the Primordial World, all Li Peng saw was slaughter and conflict, deceit and scheming, and the law of the jungle.

In such an environment, expecting him to retain much kindness was simply unrealistic.

That was where the problem lay—Li Peng did not truly understand the good side of himself, causing his cultivation to stagnate.

This stagnation lasted ten thousand years. Yet Li Peng still had no clue how to sever his Good Corpse.

"Alas, everyone else gets stuck when severing the Self-Corpse, yet I am trapped at the Good Corpse stage. How helpless," Li Peng sighed.

At that moment, a voice spread throughout the Primordial World. "Heavenly Dao above, our demon race has arisen in response to destiny. With the Heavenly Court as our foundation, and the Chaos Bell and River Diagram and Luo Book ** our fortune, the demon race—shall be established!"

For this voice to spread across the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao was naturally aiding it.

Li Peng thought, The demon race has been established. Next should be the Wu Clan, right?

Sure enough, another majestic voice rang out:

"Father God above, our Wu Clan now dominates the Primordial World. With the lands of the Primordial World as our foundation, and Pangu Hall ** our fortune, the Wu Clan—shall be established!"

"Both the Wu Clan and demon race have emerged. It seems the curtain of the Wu-Demon Tribulation has officially risen," Li Peng said with a sigh.

He then thought that after the Wu Clan and demon race established themselves, the Heavenly Dao would bestow vast amounts of merit. The great powers within both races would certainly experience tremendous increases in strength.

Take Di Jun and Tai Yi, for example. By the time of their second lecture at Purple Cloud Palace, they had already reached the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage. Now that they had gained merit once more,

if they broke through again, would they not reach the Quasi-Saint Late Stage?

Their cultivation would then be not far below Li Peng's.

At that thought, alarm bells rang in Li Peng's heart, and an intense sense of crisis surged within him.