Luohu's voice rang out at just the right moment, carrying a hint of temptation.
"Want me to hold back out of fear?"
Qing Tian's expression was stern as he charged straight down. He raised a hand and grabbed at the empty air, and the Immortal Slaying Sword appeared in his grasp. He brought it crashing down at Luohu.
BOOM!
Red light soared into the heavens. Baleful energy condensed into a thin line, piercing straight through the black radiance of the World-Ending Black Lotus before striking Luohu's arm.
PFFT!
Blood sprayed everywhere. An arm was sent flying, and the instant it fell into the formation, countless sword auras tore it into pieces.
"Luohu, you may not know this, but I have never been threatened by anyone. Submit or die. I will ask you one last time!"
Qing Tian spoke with chilling killing intent.
He truly would not kill Luohu. After all, he still needed Luohu to deal with Hongjun. But he absolutely could not neglect the show of force he needed to put on.
Hearing Qing Tian's cold voice and seeing the Immortal Slaying Sword still dripping blood in his hand, Luohu found the sight utterly terrifying.
His heart shook. He had never imagined that his final trump card would lose its effect.
His scalp prickled. Could it be that Qing Tian was not even afraid of the Heavenly Dao?
If he knew that Qing Tian had once slain the Heavenly Dao Incarnation on Buzhou Mountain, perhaps he would not have been so shocked.
Above his head, the World-Destroying Millstone radiated light. Baleful energy roiled endlessly, as though the apocalypse had descended and a catastrophe capable of destroying everything might strike at any moment.
"Dao Venerable Qing Tian, I am an Innate Demon God. If I submit to you, will I have any dignity left? At worst, we can fight until we both perish!"
Luohu shouted ferociously despite his inner weakness. At the same time, the World-Ending Black Lotus transformed once more, connecting with Mount Sumeru and borrowing that connection to reach the earth veins of the Western World.
After remaining silent for a long while, Luohu slowly spoke. His voice was ancient and weary. "I am willing to submit, but I absolutely will not do anything that amounts to throwing my life away."
"Rest assured. I will not make you throw your life away."
Qing Tian agreed readily.
Luohu was a being with the talent to attain the Dao.
Moreover, if nothing unexpected happened, once Hongjun died, the Heavenly Dao's choice would be him.
In other words, Luohu had a very high chance of becoming the future "Dao Ancestor" of the Primordial Wilderness!
How could Qing Tian possibly be willing to let such a figure die?
After receiving Qing Tian's answer, Luohu relaxed completely. He put away the World-Ending Black Lotus and the God-Slaying Spear, then bowed respectfully toward Qing Tian. With some difficulty, he said, "Your subordinate Luohu greets Dao Venerable!"
"Rise."
Qing Tian spoke indifferently to Luohu.
Luohu sighed deeply in his heart.
What an extraordinary figure he had once been. In the past, he had fought Pangu alongside the Chaos Demon Gods, yet now he had fallen into such a wretched state.
Looking across all the Chaos Demon Gods under heaven, he was probably the first to suffer such a fate.*
"You need not feel unbalanced. In this world, strength reigns supreme. You came to the Eastern Sea specifically to find me. If I had not been your match, I would probably have already been slain by you, my body and Dao destroyed."
Qing Tian spoke with a smile. He naturally understood Luohu's state of mind.
No matter who it was, being subdued by another would inevitably leave them unwilling.
Back then, even Meng Wu had tried to resist several times, let alone a giant like Luohu.
Luohu understood this principle. He nodded gloomily and said, "Dao Venerable, your lesson is correct. This subordinate would not dare harbor resentment."
"Very good." Qing Tian smiled calmly. He looked at Luohu and said, "Since you have chosen to submit, hand over your Soul Blood."
As an Innate Chaos Demon God, his Soul Blood was the foundation of everything. Handing it over was equivalent to placing his life in Qing Tian's hands.
It was also a test for Luohu—to see whether he truly intended to submit or was merely pretending while harboring ulterior motives.
Upon hearing this, Luohu's body trembled violently. He gritted his teeth, touched a finger to the center of his brows, and a drop of purplish-red blood seeped out. It was about the size of a fingertip, and countless ancient runes flickered within it, explaining the true essence of the demonic path.
Dense demonic energy spread out. The surrounding air rapidly changed, and even the seawater turned black. Some aquatic creatures that swam over began struggling in pain, hideous bone spines sprouting from their bodies. The sight was exceedingly strange.
This was the Soul Blood of the Demon Ancestor Luohu.
It was no exaggeration to say that if this drop of blood were obtained by a life-form in the Primordial Wilderness, even the most ordinary little fish could grow into an unparalleled great demon after enough years.
Under Luohu's control, the Soul Blood flew before Qing Tian. Qing Tian grabbed it and refined it in an instant.
At that moment, he could clearly sense that a special connection had formed between himself and Luohu.
It was as if he could decide Luohu's life or death with a single thought!
After confirming Luohu's loyalty, Qing Tian felt relieved and said with a smile, "Since you have submitted to me, hand over the World-Ending Black Lotus as well. You came to the Eastern Sea in search of me because you were guided by the Five Elements Lotus Platform. Handing it to me can also settle that karma."
Luohu's expression stiffened. He had not expected Qing Tian to spare even the World-Ending Black Lotus.
He hesitated. "Dao Venerable, you have already taken the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. I have only the World-Ending Black Lotus and the God-Slaying Spear left. If I hand them over to you, I fear I will be unable to protect myself."
The God-Slaying Spear was certainly powerful, but it excelled at offense and lacked defense. If he encountered a formidable expert, it would inevitably become his weakness.
Just as when he fought Qing Tian—once Qing Tian summoned the Taiji Diagram, Luohu could do nothing against him.
Qing Tian's gaze remained calm as he said indifferently, "Are you handing it over or not?"
Luohu's heart tightened, but in the end, he nodded.
When beneath another's roof, one had no choice but to bow one's head.
Compared to the World-Ending Black Lotus, his life was more important.
He sighed inwardly. It seemed he had to hurry and find another defensive treasure.
The war between the Three Races was growing increasingly fierce, and the final battle was about to erupt. If he lacked the ability to protect himself by then and someone else reaped the benefits, he would have no choice but to weep bitterly.
With a thought, a black lotus the size of a palm floated up and spun into Qing Tian's hand, where he grabbed it.
"The World-Ending Black Lotus was formed from the baleful energy of Pangu Cleaving the Heavens. It does share some similarities with my World-Destroying Millstone."
Qing Tian pondered this silently.
Long ago, a Chaos Green Lotus had been nurtured within the Chaos World.
The Chaos Green Lotus had five leaves, twenty-four petals, and bore five lotus seeds.
After who knew how many years, it finally nurtured Great God Pangu.
Later, when Pangu split open the heavens and earth, the Chaos Green Lotus fell apart as a result and fell into the Primordial Wilderness.
Its five leaves transformed into the Innate Five Elements Flags.
Its five lotus seeds, meanwhile, transformed into the Twelfth-grade Creation Green Lotus, the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit, the Twelve-grade Karma Red Lotus, the Twelfth-grade Pure World White Lotus, and the Twelfth-grade World-Ending Black Lotus.
It could be said that these Five Elements Lotus Platforms were originally of the same root, sharing life force and existing as one.
The reason Qing Tian demanded the World-Ending Black Lotus was also because the Creation Green Lotus had transmitted a message of longing, as though it could devour the World-Ending Black Lotus and increase its own power.
Naturally, Qing Tian would satisfy that desire.
After all, these were the lotus seeds of the Chaos Green Lotus. No one knew what would happen if all five Five Elements Lotus Platforms were gathered.
Perhaps the Chaos Green Lotus might even reappear!
And the Chaos Green Lotus was an ultimate divine treasure that had nurtured Pangu.
According to Qing Tian's estimate, it had to be at least a Chaos Supreme Treasure, or perhaps something even more terrifying.
After putting away the World-Ending Black Lotus, Qing Tian looked at Luohu's gloomy face and could not help shaking his head. "You need not cry poverty and play the victim in front of me. Aside from the God-Slaying Spear, you still have the supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Heavenly Demon Pagoda. Its defensive power is extraordinary as well. Do you really think I do not know?"
The Heavenly Demon Pagoda was no ordinary treasure. It was Luohu's Companion Spiritual Treasure.
After all, Companion Spiritual Treasures were vastly different from ordinary Spiritual Treasures. They could be said to share a life with their master, making them extremely difficult for others to seize.
As for why Luohu had not used it during the earlier battle, the Heavenly Demon Pagoda was currently suppressing the fortune of the demon race on Mount Sumeru. The matter was of great importance, and it could not be moved recklessly.
It could be said that the Heavenly Demon Pagoda was Luohu's bottom line. Unless he faced a life-or-death crisis, it would never appear.
Luohu was somewhat surprised. He had not expected Qing Tian to understand him so thoroughly, even knowing about the Heavenly Demon Pagoda.*
Qing Tian fell into thought. He had taken the World-Ending Black Lotus and the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, so Luohu's strength had indeed been greatly reduced. Even with the Heavenly Demon Pagoda in hand, he could not possibly defeat Hongjun.
After all, anyone familiar with the Primordial Wilderness knew that Hongjun was a true "Daoist Duobao."
On the Treasure-Splitting Cliff, no one knew how many treasures there were.
Not to mention anything else, the Jade Plate of Creation alone had suppressed Luohu completely.
To say nothing of the Heavenly Dao secretly aiding him, which was equivalent to openly cheating.
Before you continue