Chapter 39

Li Peng moved, appearing outside Three Immortal Island in an instant. Smiling, he said, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, you have come from afar. Please come in so we may talk."

"Thank you, Golden Peng Saint." Houtu bowed.

"No need for such courtesy." Li Peng waved his hand.

With that, he led Houtu into the island.

The moment Li Peng left, the living beings outside erupted into an uproar.

"Was that the Wu Clan's Ancestor Witch Houtu who just went inside?"

"That's right! Who would have thought the Wu Clan had ties to Golden Peng Saint? It won't be easy for the Demon Clan to grow stronger now."

"Indeed. If the Wu Clan gains Golden Peng Saint's support, they will have three Saints behind them. Their strength will far surpass the Demon Clan's!"

For a time, the outside world's living beings speculated endlessly.

Quite a few members of the Demon Clan camp hurried away, rushing back to the Heavenly Court. Clearly, they intended to report the matter to Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi.

Li Peng brought Houtu into the newly refined main hall and asked:

"May I ask why Fellow Daoist Houtu has come?"

"I have come to resolve the karmic ties between my three elder brothers and Golden Peng Saint." Houtu answered solemnly.

Li Peng's eyes revealed surprise at her words, as though he did not understand why Houtu had suddenly acted this way.

Seeing his expression, Houtu could only smile bitterly.

After all, the Wu Clan's image of being rash and stubborn had not formed overnight. It was the result of her elder brothers' repeated actions.

Realizing he had lost his composure, Li Peng changed the subject.

"Then how does Fellow Daoist Houtu intend to settle this karmic tie?"

Seeing that he had returned to the matter at hand, Houtu's expression eased slightly.

"This is the Wu Clan's sincerity."

As she spoke, she took more than a hundred Innate Spiritual Treasures from her storage space in succession and tossed them out as though they were mere scraps.

Spiritual Treasures piled up around Li Peng's feet.

Houtu's attitude toward these Innate Spiritual Treasures made the corner of Li Peng's mouth twitch.

He released his divine sense and swept it over the treasures, immediately startled.

He had assumed that treasures Houtu treated so casually would not be of high grade. Yet the very first one was a Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

Li Peng eagerly began examining the grades of those Spiritual Treasures.

"An Innate High-grade Spirit Treasure. Not bad!"

"An Innate Middle-Grade Spirit Treasure. This is acceptable too!"

"Another Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!"

Yet what delighted Li Peng most was discovering two bead-like treasures at the level of Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.

I finally found them! Li Peng cried inwardly.

Those two beads were precisely the Taiyin Pearl and Taiyang Pearl he urgently needed, both part of the Four Symbols Pearl.

Li Peng had already gathered all thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Beads and the Five Elements Pearl. Only the Four Symbols Pearl remained incomplete.

To think he had found two of them at once among the Spiritual Treasures Houtu had brought. He was ecstatic.

As long as he found the Shaoyin Pearl and Shaoyang Pearl, he could complete the system mission and obtain the Chaos Supreme Treasure, the Hunsu Pearl.

Thinking of this, Li Peng was inwardly excited. However, Houtu was still before him, so he could only force himself to remain calm.

He steadied himself and continued counting the treasures.

A moment later, Li Peng finished taking stock: two Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures, several Innate High-grade Spirit Treasures, one hundred thousand Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, and all the rest were Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. There was not a single Acquired Spiritual Treasure among them.

The Wu Clan's immense wealth was evident.

As one of the two great overlords of the primordial world, the Wu Clan had naturally amassed enormous resources.

Moreover, they could not refine Innate Spiritual Treasures, so it was hardly strange for them to have mountains of them piled up in their storehouses.

If not for preventing the Demon Clan from obtaining those Spiritual Treasures, the Wu Clan probably would not even have been interested in collecting them.

Li Peng waved his hand and stored every Spiritual Treasure in the system space. Then he said to Houtu, "Good!"

"Then the karmic ties between me and your three elder brothers are settled."

"Thank you, Golden Peng Saint," Houtu said respectfully.

Just as Li Peng was about to respond, a majestic voice abruptly interrupted him.

"Heavenly Dao above, I am Laozi of the Three Pure Ones. Having attained success in comprehending the Dao today, I establish Daoism to enlighten all living beings of the primordial world. With the Taiji Diagram as the treasure that suppresses the sect, I shall continue Daoism's fortune."

"Daoism, arise!"

As the words fell, boundless pressure swept across the primordial world, forcing countless living beings to the ground, unable to rise.

Yet within Three Immortal Island, Li Peng and the others were barely affected.

First, their cultivation was profound enough to resist such pressure. Second, the Hunyuan Three Talents Great Formation protected the island, and less than one or two percent of the pressure reached its interior. Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal could endure it with ease.

Li Peng was not surprised to sense Laozi attaining the Dao and becoming a Saint. It was ordained by Heavenly Dao and could not be changed.

However, hearing that Laozi wished to enlighten all living beings, Li Peng could not help sneering. According to the old course of events, Laozi's so-called "enlightenment" would amount to little more than going through the motions. He might even accept only one disciple before abandoning the matter entirely.

But none of that was what concerned Li Peng.

What truly mattered to him was how to improve his cultivation and break through the restraints of Heavenly Dao.

At that moment, Nuwa, Xihe, and Changxi flew over from afar. They had evidently heard of Houtu's arrival and come together to meet her.

Houtu hurriedly bowed. "Greetings, Saint Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Xihe, and Fellow Daoist Changxi."

Nuwa said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, there is no need for courtesy. Since it is rare for you to visit Three Immortal Island, why not tour the island with us?"

Though Nuwa, Xihe, and Changxi all greeted her with smiles, a trace of wariness still lingered in their eyes, difficult to conceal completely.

Houtu could not conveniently refuse. Nuwa was already a Saint, and her personal invitation had given Houtu ample face.

To reject her outright would be to offend a Saint and create an additional powerful enemy for the Wu Clan.

Houtu nodded. "Very well."

After hearing Houtu's answer, Nuwa departed together with Li Peng, Changxi, and Xihe.

Seeing this, Li Peng looked utterly bewildered and muttered, "Since when did Nuwa and the others become so close to Houtu?"

Above the Heavenly Court, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi both showed astonishment after hearing the report from the lesser demon.

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi said in disbelief, "The Wu Clan's Houtu actually visited Golden Peng Saint? Could she be planning to use the Saint's hand to destroy our Demon Clan?"

Di Jun shook his head. "Absolutely impossible. Dao Ancestor Hongjun once said that Saints must not disturb the order of the primordial world. Why would Golden Peng Saint interfere in the struggle for supremacy in the primordial world?"

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi pressed, "Then why did Houtu go to see Golden Peng Saint?"

Di Jun was momentarily speechless.

Seeing this, Bai Ze offered, "It is not difficult to determine whether the Wu Clan has gained Golden Peng Saint's support. We need only find a reason to invite the great powers of the primordial world to gather at the Heavenly Court. If Golden Peng Saint does not come, then the Wu Clan has gained a Saint's backing. If he does come, then Houtu's visit was merely a courtesy call."

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi burst into laughter. "Excellent plan! As expected of the Demon Clan's strategist!"

Di Jun pondered. "But under what pretext should we invite them? Inviting a Saint over some ordinary matter might be disrespectful."

Bai Ze smiled. "That is easy. The Heavenly Emperor's wedding is the perfect opportunity. Then Your Majesty may rightfully invite all the Saints of the primordial world."

Di Jun was stunned. "Me? Getting married?"

"Precisely." Bai Ze nodded. "The Demon Clan is now one of the two great powers of the primordial world. Your Majesty should establish an Empress to serve as mother to all under heaven and continue your bloodline. This can also test the Saints' attitudes toward the Demon Clan. It accomplishes two things at once."

After pondering for a moment, Di Jun said, "Very well. But has a candidate for Empress been chosen?"

Bai Ze said solemnly, "She has. It is Hu Mei, Clan Leader of the Fox Clan. She is a Nine-tailed Demon Fox of noble bloodline, her cultivation has reached the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage, and she possesses peerless beauty. She is truly the finest choice for Empress."

Di Jun nodded. "I'll leave this matter to you."

After Di Jun nodded in agreement, the entire Demon Clan began bustling with activity.

In the blink of an eye, invitations were sent from the Heavenly Court to the renowned great powers throughout the primordial world.

The Three Pure Ones, the Western Second Saints, Li Peng, Fuxi, Nuwa, and the other Saints were naturally all among those invited.

However, the Saints' invitations were not delivered by ordinary demon soldiers or generals, but by the Demon Clan's upper ranks in person.

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi was responsible for delivering invitations to the Three Pure Ones, while Di Jun personally went to Three Immortal Island to deliver one.

As for the Western Second Saints, Bai Ze was sent.

From this, one could also glimpse the Demon Clan's unspoken ranking of the Saints' strength.

As time passed, more and more living beings from the primordial world gathered outside Three Immortal Island.

However, there were still more than a hundred years until Li Peng's time to accept disciples, and many of the beings waiting there had begun to show impatience.

Yet in order to become disciples of a Saint, they could only suppress their feelings and continue waiting.

A streak of light passed over the crowd's heads and descended directly before the formation outside Three Immortal Island.

A figure radiating a stern, kingly aura appeared before everyone.

Several well-informed beings of the primordial world recognized him and cried out in alarm.

"Di Jun!"

That cry immediately made every living being present aware of the visitor's identity—the emperor of the Demon Clan, Di Jun.

A wave of commotion followed.

"Fellow Daoist Li Peng, Di Jun has come to pay a visit!"

His clear voice rang out, echoing across millions of li in every direction.

Li Peng, who was taking stock of his gains on Penglai Island, could not help muttering upon hearing it.

"Strange... I seem to have no friendship with him."

Puzzled, he calculated the Heavenly Secrets with his fingers.

A moment later, Li Peng understood Di Jun's purpose.

"So Di Jun is getting married."

I didn't expect that even without Xihe, Di Jun would still marry.

Thinking of the Ten Golden Crows, he could not help recalling the old events of the primordial world, when ten suns had hung in the sky and countless living beings had suffered devastation.

"I must have my clone prepare early. If the Ten Golden Crows one day appear within human territory and are shot down by a human expert, causing the human and demon races to forge a blood feud, the loss will outweigh the gain," Li Peng murmured.

Then he appeared before Di Jun.

"I already know why you have come. When the time comes, I will attend the banquet together with Fuxi and Nuwa," Li Peng said calmly.

After saying that, his figure silently vanished.

"Thank you, Golden Peng Saint!" Di Jun bowed toward the empty air.

With that, he too used the Golden Crow Transcending Rainbow Technique and turned to leave.

Di Jun's heart was filled with fury at that moment.

However, circumstances forced his hand. Li Peng's strength far surpassed his own.

This was the primordial world, a place where the strong were revered.

The many living beings below witnessed the domineering manner Li Peng displayed before the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court, and their determination to become his disciples grew even firmer.

Li Peng's acceptance of disciples was merely meant to hasten the Three Pure Ones' eventual separation.

Therefore, the number of disciples he accepted this time would certainly be limited.

Meanwhile, great powers from every corner of the primordial world received invitations from the Heavenly Court.

The entire primordial world immediately erupted into excitement.

Ancestor Witch Hall

Di Jiang swept his gaze across the Ancestor Witches and asked in a deep voice, "Di Jun's wedding is imminent. How should we respond?"

"We must show them our strength!" Zhu Rong was the first to speak.

"Indeed. We absolutely cannot let them continue growing stronger." Gonggong immediately agreed.

Di Jiang gave no response and instead looked toward the other Ancestor Witches.

Although Houtu wished to prevent war, she also understood that they could not simply allow the Demon Clan to grow stronger.

Otherwise, the Wu Clan would surely find its future path increasingly difficult.

Thus, both Houtu and Xuan Ming remained silent.

After a moment, Zhu Jiuyin spoke. "Not only must we fight this battle, we must deal the Demon Clan a devastating blow."

"Why?" Di Jiang asked.

"Di Jun has invited nearly every great power in the primordial world to his wedding. Many experts will surely be won over to his side."

"We should seize this opportunity to strike the Demon Clan heavily and let them understand which race is truly the strongest in the primordial world," Zhu Jiuyin analyzed.

"This is inappropriate. A great war will surely lead to the deaths of countless clansmen. Why not have us Twelve Ancestor Witches launch a surprise attack on the Demon Clan instead?" Houtu proposed.

"Wu Clan warriors have never feared death!" Zhu Rong shouted.

Houtu frowned tightly. "How difficult is it to cultivate a qualified warrior? Meanwhile, the Demon Clan not only has far more troops than we do, but new living beings throughout the primordial world gain intelligence every moment. All of them can become the Demon Clan's reserves."

"If we wage a war of attrition against the Demon Clan, we will have no chance of victory."

Houtu had not realized this herself. She had learned it from her previous conversation with Li Peng.

Now that the occasion had arisen, it was the perfect time to put it to use.

After hearing Houtu's analysis, the Ancestor Witches present fell silent.

In the end, Di Jiang was the first to break the silence.

Houtu bit her lip before speaking. "I believe this operation should be swift and decisive. We strike once, then retreat immediately! Or better yet, we gather all the Wu Clan's strength and launch a surprise attack on the Demon Clan, crushing them in one stroke."

Given her usual disposition, she would never have suggested such an all-or-nothing strategy. This was something she had learned while seeking Li Peng's guidance on Three Immortal Island.

After hearing Houtu out, Di Jiang burst into hearty laughter. "Houtu, little sister, you have considered everything thoroughly! If we bring the elites of Zhu Rong's and Gonggong's divisions, we can certainly wipe out the Demon Clan completely!"

The other Ancestor Witches exchanged glances for a moment, then all nodded in agreement.