Kunpeng: I Was Reckless, I Shouldn't Have Joined the Heavenly Court So Early

Hongyun didn't hesitate for even a moment.

He took a deep breath, straightened his Daoist robe, and with a solemn expression, spoke aloud toward the Nine Heavens:

"Great Dao above!"

"Great God Pangu above!"

"Heavenly Dao above!"

"This disciple, Hongyun, in Zixiao Palace, due to yielding my seat, formed a karmic bond with Fellow Daoist Kunpeng."

"Now, feeling the suffering of karma entangling me, I wish to gift the Hongmeng Purple Qi bestowed by the Dao Ancestor to Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, to settle the grievance from that seat-yielding and dissolve the Dao-Blocking Grudge!"

"This heart of Hongyun's is clear before Heaven and Earth! Manifest before Sun and Moon!"

"If there is any falsehood, may I be spurned by the Great Dao, struck by heavenly punishment, annihilated in body and spirit, never to be reborn!"

As the oath was uttered, some nameless rule in Heaven and Earth seemed to be stirred.

Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, the wind stopped and the clouds stilled.

An invisible pressure descended, weighing on everyone's hearts.

This was an oath witnessed by the Great Dao, Pangu's Will, and the Heavenly Dao together!

The moment the oath fell—

Buzz!

A dazzling purple radiance burst forth from Hongyun's body, hovering in midair.

That was the Hongmeng Purple Qi!

Mysterious, vast, filled with endless allure!

Outside the entire Southern Heavenly Gate, silence fell, terrifying in its depth.

All eyes, including Di Jun's and Taiyi's, locked onto that purple qi, their breathing growing heavy.

It was... real!

Hongyun had actually sworn a heavy oath and brought out the Hongmeng Purple Qi!

Hongyun looked at the Hongmeng Purple Qi floating before him, a mix of emotions churning in his heart. He reached out, gently cradling the qi, and walked toward Kunpeng.

"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng."

"This thing is for you."

"The karma between us... from now on, it's settled."

Kunpeng took the Hongmeng Purple Qi in a daze, his entire body frozen stiff.

Really... really given?

Hongyun... he actually gave me the Hongmeng Purple Qi?

An indescribable ecstasy instantly flooded Kunpeng's entire being, drowning out all his thoughts.

Hahaha! The Hongmeng Purple Qi is finally mine!

Kunpeng laughed wildly in his heart, almost wanting to roar to the heavens, venting the thrill of regaining what he'd lost.

He greedily absorbed the Great Dao principles within the Hongmeng Purple Qi, as if he could already see the day he would Attain Sainthood and overlook the Primordial Wilderness!

But this ecstasy didn't last long. A biting chill suddenly shot up from the soles of his feet, instantly quenching the fire in his heart.

Kunpeng's movements froze.

He instinctively looked up at Di Jun and Taiyi, not far away.

Di Jun and Taiyi were watching him quietly.

More precisely, they were watching him and the Hongmeng Purple Qi in his hand.

Their expressions were calm, without a ripple.

Kunpeng's heart lurched, sinking.

Trouble!

Almost instinctively, he stowed the Hongmeng Purple Qi away, hiding it deep within his Primordial Spirit, as if any delay would see it snatched.

Seeing him accept the Hongmeng Purple Qi, Hongyun's face showed a look of relief. He spoke again, his voice carrying the lightness of release:

"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, the karma between us is now settled."

Kunpeng's mind was a mess, with no thought left for past grievances.

He only wanted to leave this place of trouble as fast as possible!

He nodded instinctively: "Good. The karma between us is settled."

Hongyun gave him a deep look, said nothing more.

He turned and nodded to Wu Ming and Zhen Yuanzi.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, let's go."

Wu Ming and Zhen Yuanzi glanced at Kunpeng, whose expression was shifting unpredictably, then looked toward Di Jun and Taiyi in the distance, their faces expressionless. They said nothing more and simply nodded.

Without lingering, the three transformed into streaks of light, leaving the Southern Heavenly Gate and flying toward Buzhou Mountain.

Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, only Di Jun, Taiyi, and Kunpeng remained.

Watching the three figures recede into the distance, Kunpeng felt no relief from settling the karmic ties—instead, his heart grew heavier.

He knew the real trouble was only just beginning.

Sure enough, no sooner had Hongyun and the others left than Di Jun and Taiyi stepped forward.

The two approached Kunpeng unhurriedly.

Di Jun still wore that trademark, gentle smile, but it carried no warmth for Kunpeng.

"Demon Master, what a fine Opportunity you've stumbled upon."

"Congratulations, Demon Master, on obtaining the foundation to become a Saint."

"In time, our Demon Race's Heavenly Court may well gain another Sage."

"Then, the Demon Race's unification of the Primordial Wilderness will be within reach!"

Every word from Di Jun struck Kunpeng's heart like a hammer.

Taiyi stood to the side, silent, but the aura of Solar True Fire faintly rippled around him, an invisible threat.

Kunpeng's scalp tingled, and inwardly he screamed: "Damn! I was too hasty!"

"I really was too damn hasty!"

"Why did I rush to join the Demon Race's Heavenly Court in the first place!"

"Was I out of my mind?!"

Back then, what had possessed him to join the Heavenly Court?

To deal with Hongyun?

Now Hongyun was dealt with, and the Hongmeng Purple Qi was in hand.

But he had thrown himself into an even bigger whirlpool!

One misstep, and he—along with the Hongmeng Purple Qi—might be swallowed up without a trace!

Another Sage for the Demon Race?

Easy to say!

Before he could become a Saint, they'd probably find a way to "borrow" that Hongmeng Purple Qi first!

Alarms blared in Kunpeng's mind, countless thoughts racing as he sought a way out.

Run!

He had to run now!

Leave this place of trouble immediately, the farther the better!

He forced a smile uglier than tears onto his face, bowed deeply to Di Jun and Taiyi, and lowered his posture as much as possible: "Your Majesty flatters me."

"This... this is all thanks to Your Majesty's blessings."

"Ah... Your Majesty, Your Highness Taiyi..."

"I suddenly recall that I have some... well, some important matters to handle back in Beiming."

"They're urgent and cannot be delayed."

"So... I'd like to return to Beiming first. Once my personal affairs are settled, I'll come back to the Heavenly Court to serve Your Majesty and await your orders!"

Without waiting for Di Jun or Taiyi to respond, Kunpeng's Magic Power surged, and like an arrow from a bow, he transformed into a streak of light shooting toward Beiming!

His speed was ten times faster than when he had come to the Heavenly Court!

It was pure flight!

Watching Kunpeng's panicked retreat, Taiyi frowned, the Solar True Fire around him flickering faintly.

Outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, only Di Jun, still smiling gently, and Taiyi, clearly displeased, remained.

Staring at the direction Kunpeng had vanished, Taiyi finally couldn't hold back.

"Big Brother!"

He called out, his tone sharp with dissatisfaction and urgency.

"You're just letting him go? That's the Hongmeng Purple Qi!"

Di Jun raised a hand to stop Taiyi from continuing.

His gaze still followed the sky where Kunpeng had disappeared, his eyes deep and unreadable.

After a long moment, he slowly withdrew his gaze and spoke in a calm, flat tone.

"No rush."

"Let him go first."

"Let's talk inside."

"The Hongmeng Purple Qi isn't so easy to claim."

"Once you step through the gates of this Heavenly Court and stain yourself with the Destiny of my Demon Race, you think you can run?"

"Heh."

With that, Di Jun turned and walked toward the direction of the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Taiyi looked at the direction where Kunpeng had vanished, then at Di Jun's retreating back. A flicker of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but in the end, he suppressed the urge to act, let out a cold snort, and followed Di Jun.

The Southern Heavenly Gate returned to its usual calm, but everything that had just happened was like a pebble thrown into a lake, stirring up enormous ripples across the Primordial Wilderness.