Chapter 50

"Lead the way." Li Peng's tone was calm.

Di Jun had no choice but to lead Li Peng toward the Heavenly Court's treasure vault.

After passing countless pavilions and towers, and after Di Jun performed a series of complicated procedures, Li Peng finally stepped into the vault.

The moment he entered, Li Peng was stunned by the Demon Clan's hoard—

All kinds of materials were piled into mountains, treasures were neatly displayed, and spiritual fruits and herbs gave off a refreshing fragrance.

Li Peng stepped forward and began collecting without the slightest politeness:

"Star Crystals are piled up like mountains. Half of them are mine. Collect!"

"Tens of millions of Acquired Spiritual Treasures and standard weapons can be used by the Human Clan. Half are mine. Collect!"

"Half of the Innate Spiritual Treasures are mine as well. Collect!"

He plundered the vault to his heart's content, taking half of every kind of treasure.

Suddenly, Li Peng's eyes lit up when he found three treasures he desperately needed—the Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Shaoyin Pearl.

Now, the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Beads, the Five Elements Pearl, the Taiyin Pearl, the Taiyang Pearl, and the Shaoyin Pearl had all been gathered. Only the Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Shaoyang Pearl remained.

If he could find the Shaoyang Pearl, he could complete the system's selection task and claim the Chaos Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bead.

Li Peng immediately spread out his divine sense and searched the entire vault carefully.

Since the Shaoyin Pearl was here, the Shaoyang Pearl should have been here as well.

Yet after searching several times and turning the entire vault upside down, he still found no trace of the Shaoyang Pearl.

Unwilling to give up, Li Peng asked Di Jun, "The Shaoyin Pearl is one of the Four Symbols Pearls. Why is only this one here? Where are the others?"

Di Jun answered helplessly, "If the Four Symbols Pearls had been complete, I would have long since bestowed them upon capable subordinates. Why would I leave them gathering dust in the vault?"

After hearing that, Li Peng no longer held any hope of finding the Shaoyang Pearl.

Feeling dispirited, he casually took half the Innate Spiritual Treasures before leaving the Heavenly Court.

The moment he returned to the Human Clan, Li Peng released Li Wu and began treating his injuries.

However, after thoroughly examining Li Wu's condition, Li Peng was completely stunned.

Li Peng discovered that Li Wu's injuries were severe beyond measure, and conventional methods could no longer heal him.

He was proficient in the Yin-Yang Great Dao but not skilled in healing, so he sent Nuwa a voice transmission asking for help.

Not long after, Nuwa arrived at the Human Ancestral Land.

After examining Li Wu's injuries, she immediately used the Law of Creation to treat him.

The moment Li Peng had some free time, the system's notification sounded:

"Congratulations, Host, for teaching the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints a lesson and successfully repelling the Demon Clan's attack.

Reward: ten million years of cultivation, the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Luobao Coin, and a ten percent increase in Yin-Yang Great Dao law comprehension."

Li Peng thought that Daoist Jinlian and the others must have already eliminated the Demon Clan members lying in wait among the Human Clan.

Immediately afterward, he felt immense mana surge into his body and hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it.

In mere moments, all ten million years of mana had been fully refined.

Next, profound insights into the Yin-Yang Great Dao laws flooded his mind, causing him to enter a state of enlightenment.

Before long, Li Peng's comprehension of the Yin-Yang Great Dao broke through from fifty percent to sixty percent.

The instant he broke through, the world in his eyes became entirely new. Everything seemed capable of being explained through the Way of Yin and Yang, as though yin and yang were the origin of all things.

He even felt that he could use the Yin-Yang Great Dao to create anything, but that was merely an illusion.

Creating simple objects or living beings was possible, but Innate Spiritual Treasures or powerful living beings could not be created.

This sensation came from the qualitative change in his Yin-Yang Great Dao comprehension from fifty to sixty percent, and it was also a side effect of his sudden surge in power.

Just as Li Peng immersed himself in his own strength, Hongjun's figure appeared in his mind.

It was as though cold water had been poured over him. He immediately dispelled his arrogant thoughts.

At this moment, Dang Kong was leading the Human Clan's elites toward the Ancestral Land.

On the first day of x year, the experts of Nian Xing had already cleared all the surrounding Demon Clan members.

Half a year later, Daoist Jinlian and the others returned with the elites of the a Clan.

When Li Peng saw Daoist Jinlian and the others return, he smiled and said, "Thanks for the effort!"

"We are one body. Why speak of effort?" Daoist Jinlian, Daoist Black Lotus, and White Lotus Daoist replied in unison with smiles.

Kong Li Xuan looked excitedly at his elder brother Hua Yi—Li Peng, the Golden Peng Saint whose name now shook the Primordial World.

"Big Brother!" Kong Xuan shouted excitedly.

Li Peng nodded at Kong Xuan and smiled. "Not bad. You've already reached the Quasi-Saint Early Stage. It seems you haven't slacked off."

Yet Kong Xuan showed no joy at the praise. Instead, he said dejectedly, "Compared to Big Brother, I am still far too lacking."

Li Peng thought to himself, I cultivate with cheats. You do not. Reaching this level is already remarkable.

Li Peng then turned to the Human Clan members and said apologetically, "I failed to annihilate the Demon Clan completely. I truly am sorry."

The Human Clan members were all stunned. They had never expected Li Peng, the Human Clan's Saint Father and a revered Saint, to apologize to them.

After a moment, the Human Clan members all knelt and tried to console him:

"Saint Father, why say such things? Without your help, we would have long since been exterminated by the Demon Clan."

"If Dao Ancestor Hongjun had not intervened this time, Saint Father would surely have wiped out the Demon Clan completely."

"Saint Father, there is no need to blame yourself. You have already done everything possible!"

"Even after being intercepted by the Three Pure Ones, Saint Father still sent his Three Corpses to help us. You have given so much for the Human Clan!"

Listening to their comfort, Li Peng was deeply moved and temporarily speechless.

The Phoenix Clan at the side felt rather disappointed, believing that their Clan Leader had never shown them such concern.

Elder Feng Yun spoke up. "Clan Leader, when will you return to the Phoenix Clan?"

Li Peng asked curiously, "With my Evil-Corpse Black Lotus Daoist stationed in the Phoenix Clan, is there anything he cannot resolve?"

"Nothing like that. It is only that Clan Leader has not returned to the clan for a long time. Do you not miss the Phoenix Clan?" Elder Feng Yun asked resentfully.

Li Peng thought to himself, I did not grow up in the Phoenix Clan. If not for the fact that Yuanfeng is this body's birth mother, why would I bother with you?

Elder Qie Yun saw that Li Peng was completely ignoring him, so he closed his mouth and said no more.

At this moment, an elite of the A Clan cautiously asked, "Saint Father, how is our Clan Leader doing now?"

Upon hearing this question, the other Human Clan elites also turned their gazes toward Li Peng.

Li Peng sighed and said, "His injuries are severe, but his life has been saved. It's just..."

He found himself unable to continue. After all, his avatar had now lost all cultivation, and no one knew when he would be able to cultivate it back.

"It's just that all his cultivation has vanished. Li Wu is now only at the Body Refining Realm," Li Peng said with a sigh.

The Human Clan members present all burst into tears.

They had never imagined that Clan Leader Li Wu had fought for the Human Clan to the point of losing all his cultivation.

"Can we go see Clan Leader now?" another Human Clan elite asked.

Li Peng hesitated before saying, "You may only look from afar. Nuwa is still treating him. It would be bad if you disturbed her and caused his injuries to worsen."

He did not continue. Some things did not need to be stated too plainly.

The Human Clan members nodded one after another. Then, one Human Clan elite walked outside the Ancestral Hall.

In his eyes, Li Wu's aura was weak, his breathing faint as a thread, as though he might stop breathing at any moment.

If not for Saint Mother Nuwa's continuous rescue, Li Wu would likely have long since died and vanished from the Dao.

That elite wiped the corner of his eyes and silently left.

The others stepped forward in turn, taking only one glance from outside before retreating.

Yet every person who had looked had reddened eyes, and their hatred for the Demon Clan deepened another layer.

Suddenly, a Human Clan elite spoke coldly. "Heavenly Dao above, our Human Clan and the Demon Clan are irreconcilable enemies! Until death! Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

Upon hearing this, the others also swore to the Heavenly Dao:

"Heavenly Dao above, our Human Clan and the Demon Clan are irreconcilable enemies! Until death! Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

"Heavenly Dao above, our Human Clan and the Demon Clan are irreconcilable enemies! Until death! Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

"Heavenly Dao above, our Human Clan and the Demon Clan are irreconcilable enemies! Until death! Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

The Human Clan elites shouted themselves hoarse, as though only this could vent the grief in their hearts.

One oath after another echoed through the skies, resounding in every corner of Human Clan territory.

Many Human Clan members immersed in sorrow heard the cries and began shouting as well.

In an instant, the entire Human Clan united in hatred against a common enemy.

Listening to the earth-shaking shouts, Li Peng's brows furrowed slightly.

He immediately raised his hand and set down a restriction, isolating the Human Ancestral Hall so Nuwa would not be disturbed while treating Li Wu.

The instant the restriction formed, a thunderclap rang out from the heavens.

Li Peng immediately sensed that a natural opposition had formed between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan—the stronger the demons became, the weaker humans would become; the stronger humans became, the weaker demons would become. It was practically a repeat of the Dao-Devil War.

They merely shouted a few words, yet the Heavenly Dao actually acknowledged the opposition between humans and demons? Isn't that far too hasty? Li Peng thought.

In the original history of the Primordial World, such an oath had indeed existed, but it had been sworn when the Human Clan stood on the brink of extinction, when their cries to heaven and earth went unanswered. The three Human Ancestors had led the entire clan in making a blood oath amid utter despair.

At that time, the entire Human Clan had been united as one, sharing a single will. Only then had the Heavenly Dao acknowledged it.

But what was happening now?

Clan Leader Li Wu was still unconscious, while Li Peng, the Human Clan's Saint Father, and Nuwa, the Human Clan's Saint Mother, had not even made their positions known. Why had the Heavenly Dao acknowledged it?

Could it be that the Heavenly Dao was correcting the course of the Primordial World on its own?

The thunder spread throughout the Primordial World, and many great powers comprehended the reason behind it.

Within the Heavenly Court,

Di Jun's thoughts stirred. After a brief calculation, he understood the entire matter.

"Big Brother, what happened?" Eastern Emperor Tai Yi asked.

"It is nothing. Just some ants making meaningless gestures," Di Jun said disdainfully.

He did not take the Human Clan's oath to heart. Without the protection of Saints, how could the Human Clan possibly contend against the Demon Clan?

Seeing this, Eastern Emperor Tai Yi asked no more and continued tallying the Demon Clan's losses from this battle.

On Kunlun Mountain,

Primordial Lord of Heaven sneered. "The Human Clan overestimates itself. If Li Peng had not acted, they would have long since been exterminated. Yet they now dare declare that humans and demons are irreconcilable? They are only humiliating themselves."

Laozi calmly added, "The Human Clan has Saints such as Golden Peng, Nuwa, and Fuxi standing behind it. Naturally, they have the confidence to say such things."

Yuanshi and Tongtian both fell silent upon hearing this.

After calculating the chain of events, the other Primordial Great Powers mostly regarded the matter as a joke as well. None believed the Human Clan could pose any threat to the Demon Clan—provided, of course, that the Saints did not interfere.

Before long, the thunder gradually faded, and the Human Ancestral Land returned to tranquility.

Li Peng was still pondering why the Heavenly Dao had acknowledged the Human Clan's oath.

At that moment, a crisp voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Master!"

The moment Li Peng came back to his senses, he felt a soft body leap into his arms.

Looking down, he saw Bixiao clinging to him like an octopus.

Li Peng said helplessly, "Get down. You are already so grown up, yet you are still this clingy. What kind of behavior is that?"

"Master, I'm still little!" Bixiao said coquettishly.

Li Peng could not help but fall silent.

This girl was already more than ten ** years old, older than the entire Human Clan, and her cultivation had reached the Late Grand Unity Golden Immortal stage. Was she still little?

If she counted as little, would not the entire Human Clan still be drinking milk?

Even stranger, Bixiao had taken human form tens of thousands of years ago and possessed profound cultivation, yet her body had always retained a childish appearance.

Logically, after taking form, her body should have matured along with her cultivation. Why had she always remained in this loli-like form?

Li Peng shook away these distracting thoughts and gently pried Bixiao off himself.

The moment she landed, Bixiao said aggrievedly, "Master doesn't like me anymore! I'm so sad!"

Her eyes shimmered with tears, as though she might cry at any moment.

Li Peng sighed when he saw this. He knew she was pretending, but he could not bring himself to expose her.

He could only pull Bixiao back into his arms and comfort her. "How could that be? Master likes Bixiao the most."

Bixiao took the chance to flash a V-sign at her two elder sisters, declaring another overwhelming victory in her spoiled-brat campaign.

Demon Clan Heavenly Court

The Demon Clan's upper ranks gathered to discuss their next move.

Di Jun stood before the hall with shame on his face. "Our campaign against the Human Clan suffered grievous losses. Demon Marshal Ji Meng also tragically fell. All of this resulted from my poor decision-making. I apologize to everyone!"

With that, he bowed deeply to the crowd.

The Demon Clan's upper ranks hurriedly tried to console him:

"Your Majesty! How can this be blamed on you? Who could have expected the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints, five Saints in total, along with Golden Peng Saint and Nuwa Saint..."

"Even the three Saints, Fuxi and the others, could not stop Golden Peng Saint. That was truly unexpected."

"This truly cannot be blamed on Your Majesty. If our five Saints had been able to stop their three Saints, the Human Clan would have long since been destroyed."

"That's right. This is not Your Majesty's fault. Golden Peng Saint concealed his strength. Who could have expected him to be so powerful?"

The Demon Clan's upper ranks all defended Di Jun, and he felt somewhat relieved. At the very least, their hearts remained united and the ranks had not fallen apart.

After settling everyone down, Di Jun turned to Bai Ze and asked, "How many Human Clan members did we kill this time?"