Kunpeng's Grudge, Ambushing Hongyun

Ultimately, some powerful figures who were unwilling to accept their fate turned their attention to Old Ancestor Hongyun. He possessed a "Primordial Violet Qi" and, more importantly, the Dao Ancestor had neither taken him as a disciple nor explicitly stated that he could achieve sainthood!

This was a monumental opportunity!

The Demon Master Kunpeng of the Heavenly Court, in particular, harbored immense hatred for Old Ancestor Hongyun. After the lecture in Zixiao Palace, Kunpeng, relying on his innate divine abilities, spread his wings for a million li. Even while flying through the chaos, his speed far surpassed that of other Great Divine Abilities users, making him the fifth to arrive at Zixiao Palace.

He took his seat on the first row, on the fifth cushion, after Laozi, Primordial, Tongtian, and Nuwa!

But that damned, kindest old man in the Primordial Desolation!

Old Ancestor Hongyun was originally seated on the sixth cushion. However, after Zhunti and Jieyin tearfully pleaded with him, Hongyun, unable to bear their distress, actually gave up his seat!

Even worse, Daoist Jieyin, relying on his formidable magical power, unceremoniously shoved him aside and took the fifth cushion. With that, the six Saint positions were allocated, and Kunpeng missed his chance at sainthood!

He was just one step away from becoming a Saint. He hadn't merely failed to obtain it; it had been snatched away by force!

Facing the ferocious Jieyin and Zhunti, Kunpeng, who preyed on the weak and feared the strong, naturally dared not provoke them. All his resentment was directed at Hongyun. Now, seeing Nuwa and Laozi achieve their sainthood, Kunpeng's hatred for Hongyun reached its peak!

"Perhaps if I kill Hongyun, I can seize the 'Primordial Violet Qi' and achieve sainthood?"

In the "Demon Master's Palace" amidst the Thirty-Three Heavens, Kunpeng's gaze was icy as he looked down upon the Primordial Desolation, his killing intent openly displayed.

After a while, Kunpeng moved, silently leaving the Heavenly Court and entering the Primordial Desolation.

In the western part of the Primordial Continent lay an immortal realm, known as the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, reigning alongside the world: the "Wuzhuang Temple" of the Great Divine Abilities user Zhen Yuanzi.

Zhen Yuanzi ranked among the foremost of the Three Thousand Great Divine Abilities. During Hongjun's treasure distribution, he had obtained the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure "Book of Earth" from the "Treasure Distribution Rock." He was most famous, however, for an Innate Spiritual Root: the "Ginseng Fruit Tree."

The "Ginseng Fruit Tree" was formed from the essence of heaven and earth at the beginning of chaos, when the Primordial Desolation was first separated and the heavens and earth had yet to open.

The fruit it bore was called the Grass Returning Pill, also known as Ginseng Fruit.

It took three thousand years to bloom, another three thousand years to bear fruit, and a further three thousand years for the fruit to ripen. It took a full ten thousand years before one could eat it.

In nearly ten thousand years, it yielded only thirty fruits.

The fruits resembled infants not yet three months old, complete with facial features and limbs.

A mortal with affinity, upon merely smelling the fruit, could live for three hundred and sixty years. Eating one could extend their life by forty-seven thousand years.

At this moment, in Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi was entertaining a guest. On the table before the guest's cushion sat three "Ginseng Fruits," and on the cushion sat a Daoist clad in a crimson robe, with a large crimson gourd strapped to his back.

This person was Zhen Yuanzi's close friend, Old Ancestor Hongyun. He had attained Dao from a wisp of red cloud. Now, having severed his evil thoughts, he had become a Quasi-Saint. As long as he didn't incur karma, he would not perish before the immeasurable kalpas. He was a renowned figure in the Primordial Desolation.

Furthermore, due to the "Primordial Violet Qi," he had entered the sights of all the Great Divine Abilities users. Not only had Kunpeng descended from the Thirty-Three Heavens, but others aspiring to achieve sainthood were also eyeing him covetously, stirring with intent.

Zhen Yuanzi's face was currently contorted with rage, clearly displeased that Old Ancestor Hongyun was not heeding his advice.

"Hongyun, we have been friends since the Primordial era. Hongyun, listen to my counsel: return to your cave dwelling and meditate on the 'Primordial Violet Qi.' Wait for this tribulation to pass!"

"Brother Dao, I have no clue how to meditate on the 'Primordial Violet Qi.' I'd rather travel the Primordial Desolation and see. Didn't the Grand Pure Saint wander the Primordial Desolation for tens of thousands of years before comprehending how to achieve sainthood?" Hongyun indifferently ate a fruit and added, "How can one attain the Dao by merely meditating and reciting the Yellow Court?"

"Alas! Hongyun, why won't you listen to reason!"

"Hahaha! Although the Witch Clan and the Demon Race are fierce, I am also a Quasi-Saint. My safety is naturally assured. Brother Dao need not say more. Just await my good news of achieving sainthood!"

Hongyun laughed heartily, unconcerned by Zhen Yuanzi's worry. He took the other two "Ginseng Fruits" and, with boisterous laughter, walked out of "Wuzhuang Temple."

Zhen Yuanzi silently watched Hongyun leave on his cloud, sighing incessantly.

"Alas! Hongyun! Hongyun! Why are you so stubborn? You possess a treasure like the 'Primordial Violet Qi.' Do you think others will let you go?" Zhen Yuanzi said, shaking his head as he walked towards his quiet chamber.

Upon leaving "Wuzhuang Temple," Old Ancestor Hongyun rode his cloud eastward. Standing on the auspicious clouds, Hongyun pondered Zhen Yuanzi's recent words. Although he felt a flicker of unease, his words had already been spoken. Gritting his teeth, he did not turn back.

If Hongyun had returned to his cave dwelling peacefully, relying on the various formations and restrictions within, and the advantages of his territory, he might have truly weathered this tribulation.

However, being caught in a tribulation, how could one simply evade it? With this tribulation destined for him, how difficult would it be to pass through safely!

Meanwhile, Kunpeng, having left the Heavenly Court, flew his cloud towards the Primordial Continent and directly arrived at Hongyun's dojo.

He arrived shortly, but Hongyun was not in his cave dwelling. Kunpeng knew of Hongyun's close relationship with Zhen Yuanzi and immediately flew westward, hiding himself a hundred thousand li away from "Wuzhuang Temple."

After waiting for several decades, he indeed saw Hongyun leisurely flying eastward on auspicious clouds.

"Hongyun! Hongyun! Your time has come!"

Hidden in a dense forest, Kunpeng saw Hongyun and, without a word, leaped into the sky. A "Heavenly Demon Divine Thunder" was unleashed directly at Hongyun.

With a deafening "boom," Hongyun's protective immortal light shattered. Caught off guard by Kunpeng's surprise attack, Hongyun had no time to react and was injured.

"Kunpeng, why are you ambushing me?"

Hongyun never expected the Demon Master Kunpeng to attack him directly without a word. He quickly summoned his magic treasure, the "Nine-Nine Red Cloud Soul Scattering Gourd," to protect himself.

Kunpeng did not reply, his movements becoming even swifter. He unleashed another "Heavenly Demon Divine Thunder" with full force, striking Old Ancestor Hongyun.

After the lightning passed, Hongyun's clothes were disheveled, and his hair bun was undone.

Old Ancestor Hongyun's face turned crimson, his anger surging. He cursed, "Kunpeng, you bully me too much! Today, I shall fight you to the death!"

He activated the "Nine-Nine Red Cloud Soul Scattering Gourd," channeling his magic power. From the gourd's mouth, countless red sands spewed out, instantly obscuring the void.

Since obtaining the "Soul Scattering Gourd" from "Mount Buzhou," Hongyun had cultivated it as his life-bound magic treasure. The red sands it expelled could corrupt one's Nascent Soul or injure their physical body, causing flesh to rot. It was incredibly malevolent.