However, the Northern Continent was simply too vast. Finding someone there was even harder than finding a needle in the sea.
He had spent a full twelve years before finally locking onto Shen Ni's whereabouts.*
Shen Ni!
Beast King!
A special existence created from the flesh and blood of the Demon Gods after Pangu's Heaven-Opening.
He was fond of killing.
Though both involved killing, there was a huge difference between Shen Ni and Luohu.
Luohu killed in pursuit of the Dao.
He had his own ideals and principles.
Shen Ni was different.
He was pure slaughter.
In modern terms,
he was a lunatic.
And now, someone was sitting before Shen Ni, talking to him about something unknown.
The scene was utterly inconceivable.
If word got out, countless living beings would be left dumbfounded.
Was this really the brutal and violent Shen Ni?
"Daoist Hongjun, what exactly are you trying to say? Could it be that you want me to become a pawn in your hands?"
Shen Ni spoke coldly, a savage smile on his face.
Hongjun remained composed and was not frightened by Shen Ni.
He said calmly, "You don't understand. An anomaly has appeared in the Primordial Wilderness. There is a living being who wants to defy Heaven. I sought you out so that we could eliminate the Heaven-Defying Outlaw together. Naturally, as payment, I can promise you a Saint Position!"
"A Saint Position?"
Divine light surged in Shen Ni's eyes as he stared fixedly at Hongjun.
A violent aura howled outward like furious waves, surging toward Hongjun in wave after wave.
Hongjun remained calm. With a flick of the Whisk in his hand, he dispelled all the pressure and said evenly, "Why must the Beast Emperor act this way?"
"What proof do you have? You're only at the Sub-Saint Realm, yet you dare speak of a Saint Position?"
Shen Ni stared at Hongjun and asked in a low voice.
Hongjun smiled, and his gaze became haughty. His entire aura turned ethereal, as if he had merged with Heaven and Earth.
A voice like the tolling of a great bell rang out. "I am the Heavenly Dao Spokesperson, a destined Sage. How could there be any falsehood regarding the Saint Position?"
Boom!
As he spoke, countless leaden clouds churned across the firmament, transforming into a Heavenly Dao Eye that looked down coldly and emotionlessly at Shen Ni, making his heart jolt and filling him with the feeling that disaster was imminent.
"It... It really is the Heavenly Dao!"
Shen Ni spoke with a tremble, his expression turning complicated.
"Now you should believe me, right? Beneath the Heavenly Dao, Sages are destined to emerge. The matter of the Saint Position cannot be false. Naturally, the Beast Emperor will have a share when the time comes. In return, you must join me in taking action and killing the Heaven-Defying Person."
Hongjun earnestly coaxed him, and by the end, his eyes had grown frenzied.
He knew perfectly well that the Heavenly Dao Sages had long since been decided. How could there be a place for Shen Ni?
He had said this only to lure Shen Ni into dealing with Qing Tian.
Shen Ni took a deep breath and calmed his emotions before saying, "What do you want me to do?"
"I will naturally notify you when the time comes. I have already contacted Ancestor Dragon, Phoenix Ancestor, Shi Qilin, Yin-Yang Ancestor, Daoist Yang Mei, and other Great Powers of the Primordial Wilderness. With you and Lord of Divine Court Di Tian added to the force, dealing with that Heaven-Defying Person will be a certainty."
Hongjun spoke slowly, putting Shen Ni at ease.
"Ancestor Dragon, Phoenix Ancestor... What price did you pay to invite them? Could it also be a Saint Position?"
Shen Ni asked sharply.
Hongjun was clearly no easy person to deal with. He was also connected to the Heavenly Dao, so he was surely plotting something significant this time.
If what he said was true and he gathered so many Great Powers of the Primordial Wilderness together, their strength would likely be enough to sweep everything before them. Shen Ni had no choice but to be cautious.
How could Hongjun not know what Shen Ni was thinking?
Even if a beast that knew only slaughter was cautious, it still could not outmaneuver Hongjun, the Heavenly Dao Spokesperson.
He smiled and shook his head. "The Beast Emperor does not know that the Tribulation has already begun. As the saying goes, Heaven sends forth killing intent, shifting the stars and constellations. The Three Innate Races are all caught in the Tribulation and are destined to perish. How could there be any Saint Positions for them? As for Yin-Yang Ancestor and Daoist Yang Mei, they each have their own destinies, unrelated to the Saint Position."
Shen Ni was only half-convinced, but he nodded. "Since that is so, then it's settled. When you need me, I will naturally come. However, if you deceive me with your words, you should know my methods as well, shouldn't you?"
Hongjun laughed loudly and flicked his Whisk. "Beast Emperor, if you do not believe me, I can swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao. Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"
As he spoke, he indeed began swearing an oath to the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial Wilderness.
Rolling thunder echoed across the firmament, and the Heavenly Dao gave its response.
Shen Ni's gaze sharpened, and he finally let down his guard.
Hongjun, meanwhile, sneered inwardly.
As the Heavenly Dao Spokesperson, communicating with the Heavenly Dao and making an oath was as easy for him as eating or drinking. He did not need to bear any karma at all.
In other words, even if he deceived Shen Ni, it would cost him nothing.
"Hongjun, you certainly have a fine mood. Have you forgotten your pain so soon after your wounds healed?"
Just then, a voice echoed faintly, making Hongjun's body tense sharply.
"Dao Venerable Qing Tian!"
He swept his gaze around. The Whisk in his hand instantly extended, transforming into three thousand heavenly rivers that pierced through the surrounding void as he searched for Qing Tian's location.
At the same time, he took a piece of jade from his robes, bit the tip of his tongue, and spat blood onto it. Muttering an incantation, he crushed the jade in one hand and scattered it onto the ground.
Dense mist rose up, isolating all auras. Even someone proficient in divination would be unable to calculate his exact location.
Only after doing all this did Hongjun breathe a sigh of relief.
Qing Tian's strength was far too terrifying. Even the Heavenly Dao Incarnation was no match for him.
If he encountered Qing Tian now, he would most likely be in serious trouble.
Even if he could retreat unharmed, Shen Ni would not escape death.
That was why he had expended such tremendous effort to reverse the workings of Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, and Creation, completely isolating their presence. At the same time, he had used the Sitting Still Traveling Myriad Miles escape technique to leave the place of trouble behind.
Watching Hongjun's actions, Shen Ni could not help growing curious. He asked, "Hongjun, what are you doing?"
Hongjun waved his hand. "The Heaven-Defying One I mentioned has appeared, and he has detected our whereabouts. To avoid being defeated one by one, I can only withdraw for now."
"Oh? I never expected such an existence to be found in this world. Could it be that even the combined strength of you and me is no match for him, to the point where we cannot even escape alive?"
Shen Ni found it hard to believe.
After all, he was a powerful expert in the Sub-Saint Realm and could vaguely glimpse the Primordial Dao Fruit.
Hongjun's strength was even more unfathomable, with the Heavenly Dao supporting him from behind. It was difficult to imagine what kind of existence could contend with the two of them.
Could it be a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal?
"His methods are very strange. You will know when you truly encounter him. Remember this: if you meet him alone, do not fight him. Run as far as you can."
Hongjun warned him.
As his voice fell, his figure had already turned illusory and vanished in an instant.
Qing Tian's appearance had given him an intense sense of danger.
He had to speed up and act before Qing Tian, eliminating the threat in one stroke.
Shen Ni fell silent where he stood, secretly wondering, What kind of person would dare call himself a Heaven-Defying Person? And how many of Old Daoist Hongjun's words are true, and how many are false?
He secretly speculated, but could never find an answer.
He shook his head and cast those thoughts to the back of his mind.
As a powerful expert of the Primordial Wilderness and the Emperor of Fierce Beasts, he was not so easily frightened.*
"So Old Daoist Hongjun got here first and joined forces with Shen Ni. He used the power of the Jade Plate of Creation to obscure the secrets of Heaven, which was why it took me so long to find them."
Qing Tian sneered, his gaze piercing through layer upon layer of mist and clearly seeing Shen Ni inside.
Before you continue