Chapter 49

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, the four quasi-Saint guest elders of the demon race, the nine Demon Marshals, and countless demon generals all followed suit, spraying their essence blood onto the Star Banners. In an instant, the power of the Zhou Tian Star Formation surged, and the violently trembling formation gradually stabilized. Yet the aftershocks within the formation had not ceased and continued to spread. At every moment, numerous demon soldiers and generals still perished.

After an unknown amount of time, Di Jun finally stabilized the Zhou Tian Star Formation completely. His eyes were bloodshot as he repeatedly searched the formation with his divine sense for Li Wu's whereabouts. At this moment, Di Jun wanted nothing more than to find Li Wu and tear him to pieces.

Li Wu, who had just used a secret technique, was utterly weakened. His cultivation rapidly plummeted from the peak of the early Martial Saint stage until it stopped at the peak of the Body Refining Realm. His blood and vitality were exhausted, his martial intent had dissipated, and all his meridians had shattered. He was already at death's door. Looking at the still-operating Zhou Tian Star Formation, Li Wu sighed softly. "In the end, I still failed to break this formation? Main body, I have done all I could. I hope you return soon, or the human race will be in grave danger." With that, he closed his eyes and awaited death.

At that moment, Di Jun found Li Wu waiting for death with his eyes closed. Seeing how weak Li Wu's aura had become, much of his killing intent immediately faded. Walking up to Li Wu, Di Jun asked, "Was such a sacrifice worth it?" Li Wu opened his eyes and smiled calmly. "Whether it was worth it does not matter. I only seek to be free of regret."

"What a fine conscience! You truly are a worthy Clan Leader, but unfortunately, you still cannot escape death today." Di Jun sighed as he raised his palm and struck toward Li Wu's head.

At that moment, the Zhou Tian Star Formation shook violently before exploding apart. Di Jun's expression changed drastically. He knew that only several Saints or the Pangu True Body could break this formation. Could Golden Peng Saint, Saint Nuwa, or Saint Fuxi have returned? Or had the Twelve Ancestor Witches of the Wu Clan come to aid the human race? Just as Di Jun's thoughts were in turmoil, a figure silently appeared beside Li Wu.

Upon seeing this person, Di Jun cried out, "Golden Peng Saint, why are you here?"

Li Peng ignored Di Jun and merely turned to Li Wu. "You were far too reckless. Who knows how long it will take you to recover from this?"

"I'll leave this place to you. I'm going to rest first." Li Wu smiled as he spoke, then fainted.

He was truly too exhausted. If he had not been concerned for the safety of the human race, he would have been unable to hold on long ago. Now that Li Peng had arrived, he could finally rest easy.

Looking at the unconscious Li Wu, Li Peng sighed helplessly. He then took out a bottle of Three Lights Divine Water from the system space and dripped it onto Li Wu's body, beginning to repair the meridians shattered by the violent energy and nourish his severely damaged soul.

A moment later, Li Wu's injuries had temporarily stabilized, and his life was no longer in danger. Only then did Li Peng let out a sigh of relief and place Li Wu inside the Yin-Yang Pagoda.

After finishing this, Li Peng finally turned his gaze to Di Jun.

He said coldly, "You have quite some nerve. You actually joined forces with the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints to scheme against me, and you even dared slaughter my human race. Since that is the case, die!"

With that, Li Peng struck at Di Jun with his palm. A palm imprint instantly shot forth.

Feeling the terrifying power of the palm wind, Di Jun hurriedly tried to dodge, only to discover in despair that he could not move at all, as though time and space themselves had frozen.

At this moment, Di Jun finally truly understood what it meant for all beneath Saints to be ants.

He watched helplessly as the palm imprint drew near. Just as it was about to strike him, a sigh rang out.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared once more, standing before Di Jun and receiving Li Peng's attack.

Li Peng's gaze turned hostile as he said coldly, "Could it be that you intend to protect Di Jun as well?"

"The demon race must not be destroyed. Withdraw for now," Hongjun said indifferently.

"The Three Pure Ones lost to me. When I wanted to kill them, you protected them. Di Jun slaughtered my human race and fell into my hands, yet you protect him too. Do you really think I, Li Peng, am someone you can push around?" Li Peng feigned anger.

At the same time, he silently recited in his heart, Use the Hunyuan Limitless Grand Unity Golden Immortal Experience Card.

"Ding! Hunyuan Limitless Grand Unity Golden Immortal Experience Card successfully used! Countdown begins: 23 hours 50 minutes 12 seconds, 23 hours 50 minutes 11 seconds..."

As the countdown began, Li Peng's cultivation started soaring wildly.

In mere moments, Li Peng's cultivation surged to the peak of the Hunyuan Limitless Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.

As his cultivation rose, a terrifying aura spread from him without the slightest restraint.

In an instant, the entire prehistoric world was enveloped by this aura.

Li Peng knew full well that Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, and the other demons could not all be killed. If the demon race were wiped out now, who would fight the Wu Clan to mutual destruction in the future?

How then could the human race become the protagonist of heaven and earth?

Could the human race be expected to personally wage war against the Wu Clan?

But Li Peng was unwilling to let Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi off so easily.

The demon race had slaughtered countless humans. How could they avoid paying a price?

He intended to use this opportunity to give the demon race a harsh warning.

As for the hatred between the human race and the demon race?

There was plenty of time. Once the demon race declined, the human race would naturally have countless opportunities for revenge.

Pangu Hall of the Wu Clan

"What an overwhelming aura! Just what realm has Golden Peng Saint reached?" Feeling the aura Li Peng was emitting, Zhu Rong could not help crying out.

"Did you hear what he said just now? Golden Peng Saint claimed that he defeated the Three Pure Ones. If Dao Ancestor had not appeared, the Three Pure Ones would already have been slain!" Houtu's expression was grave.

"He even wants to kill Saints? How ferocious!" Gonggong's face was filled with shock.

All the Ancestor Witches admired Li Peng's strength, and their praises continued without end.

"Perhaps we made a mistake by not aiding the human race this time. After this incident, the relationship between our clan and the human race will never return to what it was." Di Jiang sighed.

Xuan Ming nodded at his words. "With Golden Peng Saint as such a powerful backer, the human race will surely rise. As for the future of our Wu Clan... sigh." As she spoke, Xuan Ming could not help letting out a long sigh.

The Ancestor Witches all fell silent at her words, each of them beginning to worry about the Wu Clan's future.

Kunlun Mountain

When the Three Pure Ones heard Li Peng's words, all their faces turned ashen.

They had never expected Li Peng to publicly reveal their defeat.

"Li Peng! I, Primordial, will never rest until one of us is dead!" Primordial Heavenly Venerate roared in fury.

Fortunately, Laozi promptly set up a formation, sealing Primordial's voice within Jade Void Palace.

If his voice had spread, half the prehistoric world would likely have heard it. Then Li Peng, that fiend, might have been drawn here again.

"Second Brother, watch your words! If your reckless talk draws Li Peng, that god of slaughter, here again, the spirit treasures on us may not be enough to buy our lives a second time." Laozi spoke helplessly.

Upon hearing this, Primordial Heavenly Venerate instantly recalled the scene of being crushed by Li Peng in the chaos. He could not help shuddering, and an unbearable pain rose in his heart. That one encounter had cost the Three Pure Ones more than half their possessions. If it happened again, they might even have to hand over the Innate Supreme Treasures in their hands. For a time, the Three Pure Ones fell silent, and no one spoke again.

Western Spirit Mountain.

"Li Peng gave the Three Pure Ones no face at all. He exposed their humiliation right before the demon race. It will probably be impossible for them to reconcile now; they can only become mortal enemies." Zhunti laughed loudly.

"Indeed. With the Eastern Saints fighting among themselves, this is the perfect opportunity for our West to develop." Jieyin agreed with a smile.

"Perhaps we can even stir things up from within and make them fight even more fiercely!" Zhunti continued with a grin.

"This... may be difficult. Have you forgotten that Li Peng's strength far surpasses ours? I even suspect that he is capable of challenging Dao Ancestor Hongjun." Jieyin reminded him with a grave expression.

Hearing this, Zhunti also fell silent as he recalled Li Peng's terrifying strength.

Throughout the prehistoric world, the other great experts heard Li Peng's words and felt the astonishing aura emanating from him. One after another, they listed Li Peng and the human race among the beings they absolutely could not provoke.

On the battlefield,

When Hongjun saw Li Peng raise his aura once more to the peak of the Heavenly Dao, his expression immediately darkened. He was far too familiar with that move—he had experienced it once before in the chaos.

However, the many divine senses spying from the surroundings made Hongjun frown. With a cold snort, he instantly shattered every probing divine sense.

Seeing this, the spying great experts understood that Hongjun was truly enraged, and none of them dared direct their divine senses here again.

After doing this, Hongjun asked helplessly, "Then what do you want this time?"

"It is not about what I want. It is about what price you intend to pay to make me spare the demon race," Li Peng replied calmly.

Hearing this, Hongjun turned his gaze toward Di Jun. His meaning could not have been clearer: Di Jun had to pay the price himself.

When Di Jun saw Hongjun's gaze, his face was full of astonishment. Judging by how practiced Hongjun's response was, it was clear that this was not the first time he had been treated this way by Li Peng.

In an instant, Di Jun understood the deeper meaning behind Li Peng's earlier words: "The Three Pure Ones lost to me. When I wanted to kill them, you protected them."

It seemed that the protection Li Peng spoke of had indeed come at no small price!

Di Jun gritted his teeth and said solemnly, "My demon race is willing to offer five High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures, ten Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, and thirty Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures in exchange for Golden Peng Saint sparing the demon race."

Li Peng sneered disdainfully. "Are you trying to send away a beggar? It seems that the Heavenly Emperor of the demon race—His Majesty Di Jun—has no sincerity in speaking with me."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Heavenly Emperor, His Majesty Di Jun," his tone dripping with mockery.

Before his words had even faded, Li Peng's terrifying aura at the peak of the Hunyuan Limitless Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm pressed down upon Di Jun.

Shaken by that aura, Di Jun immediately spat out blood.

Hongjun sighed, stepped forward, and blocked Li Peng's pressure.

"What exactly are your terms? Just say them," Hongjun said helplessly.

"My demands are not high. I only want half of the demon race's spirit treasures and materials, along with the Chaos Bell," Li Peng replied calmly.

In truth, he was merely asking an outrageous price and waiting for Hongjun and Di Jun to bargain him down.

"Pfft—"

Upon hearing this unreasonable demand, Di Jun was so enraged that he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Half of the demon race's spirit treasures and materials? And the Chaos Bell as well?

Unable to suppress his fury, he roared at Li Peng, "The Chaos Bell? Absolutely impossible!"

Li Peng raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "So you are unwilling to pay the price?"

As he spoke, his aura surged toward Di Jun once more, only to be blocked again by Hongjun.

After blocking the pressure, Hongjun thought to himself, If the demon race loses the Chaos Bell, what right will it have to contend with the Wu Clan?

He then spoke calmly. "The Chaos Bell cannot be given to you."

Li Peng's expression darkened, and the aura around him suddenly became violent.

"It seems Dao Ancestor Hongjun wishes to go to war?" His voice carried an icy chill.

Hongjun was furious as well, but when he considered the consequences of a battle, he could only force down his anger.

"How about this? I have an Innate Supreme Treasure, the Qiankun Ding. I will give it to you. Take half of the demon race's spirit treasures and materials, and let this matter end here. What do you say?" Hongjun said meaningfully.

Li Peng also understood Dao Ancestor Hongjun's unspoken meaning. The Heavenly Dao still needed the demon race for now, so they could not be touched. Once the demon race lost its value, he could deal with them however he wished.

Hearing Dao Ancestor Hongjun's words, Li Peng was stunned. He had only intended to seize an opportunity to gain some benefits. Who would have thought Hongjun would be so generous, directly handing over an Innate Supreme Treasure? Li Peng could not help shouting inwardly, Boss, if you have any more Innate Supreme Treasures you do not need, why not give them all to me?

Seeing Li Peng's eyes light up, how could Dao Ancestor Hongjun fail to guess what he was thinking? He immediately felt a chill down his back. Over the past few days, he had experienced Li Peng's methods more than enough.

"What do you think of this proposal?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun asked, clearly unwilling to remain with Li Peng any longer.

Without even thinking, Li Peng immediately nodded. "Since Dao Ancestor has spoken, I naturally have to give you this respect. Let us do as you said."

Dao Ancestor Hongjun inwardly grumbled, If you truly wanted to give me face, you would have stopped long ago. Now that the terms have been settled, you say you are giving me face? He changes his expression faster than turning a page!

After complaining inwardly, Hongjun tossed the Qiankun Ding to Li Peng. Li Peng had just wanted to thank him, but when he looked up, Hongjun had already vanished without a trace.

"Why leave so quickly? It is not as though I would chase after you demanding more treasures," he muttered to himself.

Di Jun, who had been listening nearby in complete confusion, was rendered utterly speechless upon hearing Li Peng's words.

It seemed that Li Peng's background was extraordinary. Otherwise, how could he dare negotiate terms with Hongjun? Di Jun sighed inwardly, I truly made a wrong move this time. The demon race offended someone like him. Things will not be easy for us from now on.

Li Peng glanced at the still-dazed Di Jun and said irritably, "Why are you still standing there? Aren't you going to take me to the Heavenly Court treasury?"

Only then did Di Jun come back to his senses. Dejectedly, he replied, "Fine."

He then commanded the demons, "All of you, listen up! Return to the Heavenly Court with me!"

With that, he mounted an auspicious cloud and prepared to leave. Li Peng frowned. "Too slow. I'll give you a lift."

Before his words had faded, he had already grabbed Di Jun, torn open a Space Channel, and departed.

When Eastern Emperor Tai Yi and the other demons saw Li Peng's actions, they did not worry about Di Jun's safety.

After all, they had just watched Li Peng reach an agreement with Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Before long, Li Peng arrived at the Heavenly Court with Di Jun.