The Primordial Wilderness Boils

The news that Hongyun had given the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng struck the Primordial Wilderness like a boulder crashing into a still lake, instantly stirring up monstrous waves.

Kunlun Mountain, the dojo of the Three Pure Ones.

Yuanshi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Hongyun's move is rather unexpected to this poor Daoist."

"To abandon the foundation of becoming a Saint, merely to settle a karmic debt... Hmph, how pedantic."

Taiqing sat with eyes closed, fingers idly twisting, and after a long moment spoke slowly: "Great boldness, great perseverance."

"But... what a pity."

Tongtian, however, burst into laughter, his demeanor unrestrained. "How refreshing! That old Hongyun, usually looking so listless—who knew he had that much spine?"

"Pedantic or not, at least he dares to act and own it. That's better than some who hide their heads and tails."

Yuanshi gave a cold snort and said no more.

Phoenix Nest Mountain.

Nuwa heard the news and furrowed her brow slightly.

She let out a soft sigh. "This Fellow Daoist Hongyun... ah."

In the end, he was not a disciple of a Sage. Whether obtaining this Hongmeng Purple Qi was a blessing or a curse was truly hard to say.

Even she, a personally taught disciple of the Dao Ancestor, had chosen to distance herself from the Heavenly Court and return to Phoenix Nest Mountain to lie low, hadn't she?

Why?

Wasn't it for fear that Di Jun and Taiyi would start scheming?

A Saint position stirs the heart!

Even she, a legitimate future Sage, had to tread carefully. For Hongyun, a rootless Rogue Cultivator, obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Qi was already a crime to possess a coveted treasure.

Giving it away now was a pity, but it might also be a way to escape the trap.

"Elder Brother," Nuwa said, looking at Fuxi beside her, "why do you think Fellow Daoist Hongyun suddenly saw reason and handed the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng?"

Fuxi plucked at his zither strings, producing a few clear, crisp notes.

He stopped his hand and sighed. "This matter is likely inseparable from Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."

"After the Treasure Distribution Rock at Zixiao Palace, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming spoke to Hongyun, telling him to seek him out once he had thought things through."

"I suspect that was all for today's events."

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming..." Nuwa murmured to herself.

She recalled that after Zixiao Palace ended, she and her brother had hurried back to Phoenix Nest Mountain without lingering in the Heavenly Court.

Though Di Jun and Taiyi treated her with courtesy, the Demon Race was powerful, and with the Hongmeng Purple Qi being such a hot potato, she had never felt truly secure.

Now it seemed that although Hongyun had lost his opportunity for a Saint position, escaping that vortex might... actually be a good thing?

"But now that Kunpeng has the Hongmeng Purple Qi, will Di Jun and Taiyi let him refine it in peace?" Nuwa asked again.

Fuxi shook his head. "Unlikely. Di Jun is a man of grand ambition and talent, and Taiyi's combat prowess is unmatched. How could they tolerate an uncontrollable 'future Sage' at their side?"

"For Kunpeng, this is a case of fortune and misfortune intertwined."

Nuwa said no more, but her wariness of Wu Ming deepened.

This Ancestral Witch of the Witch Clan always seemed able to see through the fog and make the most correct choice.

The West, Mount Sumeru.

Jieyin and Zhunti heard the news, and their faces turned extremely grim.

Zhunti's expression was bitter as he spoke urgently: "Elder Brother! What do we do now?"

"Hongyun gave the Hongmeng Purple Qi to Kunpeng! Their karmic debt is settled!"

"But what about the karma we owe Hongyun, and Kunpeng too?"

He gritted his teeth.

"Back in Zixiao Palace, if the two of us hadn't..."

"If the Hongmeng Purple Qi were still in Hongyun's hands, we might still have had a chance to maneuver and find a way to resolve our karma with those two."

"Now that the Hongmeng Purple Qi is in that bastard Kunpeng's hands, and he's obtained the foundation of a Saint position, he'll surely hold a grudge over the Cushion incident!"

"This karma of ours will be even harder to settle!"

Jieyin sighed, his face growing even more sorrowful. "Junior Brother, calm down."

"What's done is done. Worrying is useless."

"As for Kunpeng..." Jieyin paused. "He has obtained the Purple Qi, but he has also stepped into the mire of the Demon Court."

"Di Jun and Taiyi see him as a thorn in their side, a splinter in their flesh. Whether he can refine the Purple Qi in peace remains to be seen."

"Our urgent task is to comprehend the Hongmeng Purple Qi as quickly as possible and attain the Saint position!"

"Once you and I achieve Sagehood, what is a mere karmic debt?"

With that, Jieyin closed his eyes, his countenance solemn and majestic, and began to enter meditation.

"But..." Zhunti wanted to say more, but seeing Jieyin already in meditation, he could only swallow his words.

"Sigh! There's no other choice!" Zhunti gritted his teeth, sat down cross-legged, and forced himself to calm his mind for enlightenment.

Yet the urgency and unwillingness in his brow refused to fade no matter what.

Deep within the Sea of Blood, Ancestor Minghe sat upright atop the Karma Fire Red Lotus.

Hearing the news that Hongyun had yielded the Hongmeng Purple Qi, a strange glint flickered in his blood-colored pupils.

"Hongyun... Kunpeng... Hongmeng Purple Qi... Demon Race..."

Minghe murmured to himself, the corner of his mouth curling into a meaningful arc.

"Interesting... very interesting..."

"The waters of the Primordial Wilderness are getting murkier by the day."

"In murky waters, it's easier to fish..."

East Sea, Penglai Immortal Island.

East Prince Gong leaped to his feet at the news and burst into curses.

"Hongyun! You idiot! Pig-brained fool!"

"Truly mud that can't be plastered on a wall!"

"What a waste of the Dao Ancestor's regard!"

"The Hongmeng Purple Qi in your grasp! The opportunity to become a Saint! And you just give it away?"

"If I had the Hongmeng Purple Qi, whoever dared to snatch it, I'd kill them dead!"

"Can't hold onto a heaven-sent opportunity like this—no wonder you'll never become a Saint!"

East Prince Gong fumed, his beard bristling. In his eyes, Hongyun was the epitome of stupidity.

For a time, the entire Primordial Wilderness erupted over Hongyun's move.

Countless great powers and rogue cultivators buzzed with discussion.

Some admired Hongyun's boldness, some mocked his foolishness, some gloated, and others schemed in secret.

And the instigator of it all, Hongyun, was now inside Buzhou Mountain, within Pangu Hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was relaxed.

A relieved smile graced Hongyun's face, his whole being radiating a lightness born of release.

He raised the tea before him, toasting Wu Ming and Zhen Yuanzi: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, today's matter was only resolved thanks to your help!"

"If not for you two, I'm afraid I would have... ah!"

Recalling the peril outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, Hongyun still shuddered.

Had Wu Ming not promptly proposed the oath method, he might have ended up in a life-or-death struggle with Kunpeng, even dragging Zhen Yuanzi and the Witch Clan into it.

Zhen Yuanzi helped Hongyun up: "Fellow Daoist, you speak too gravely."

"That you could see through the temptation of the Hongmeng Purple Qi, hold fast to your original heart, and settle your karma—I am happy for you too."

Though he regretted his friend losing the Saint position, seeing Hongyun's current peace of mind, no longer entangled by karma, Zhen Yuanzi felt this might be the best outcome.

Hongyun sighed emotionally: "Indeed. Without the Hongmeng Purple Qi, my heart feels empty, but at least the great stone pressing on my chest has been lifted."

"From now on, I can cultivate in peace, no longer troubled by this matter."

Wu Ming looked at Hongyun and nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist, letting go of your obsession is a great virtue."

"The Hongmeng Purple Qi is good, but it comes with endless storms."

"Kunpeng has gained the purple qi, seeming glorious, but he is already trapped in a dangerous situation."

"Di Jun and Taiyi will never sit idly by and let him become a Saint smoothly."

Zhen Yuanzi agreed: "Indeed. Kunpeng has entered the Demon Court—that's like seeking skin from a tiger."

"For him to refine the Hongmeng Purple Qi in peace? Difficult!"

Listening to his two friends' analysis, Hongyun felt the last shred of regret in his heart gradually fade.

Perhaps losing the Hongmeng Purple Qi was truly a good thing for him.

The three chatted a while longer, exchanging some cultivation insights.

With the great matter off his chest, Hongyun was in high spirits.

Zhen Yuanzi was also glad for his friend.

The mood was quite harmonious.

After a moment, Wu Ming turned to Zhen Yuanzi, his expression growing serious.

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi."

Seeing Wu Ming's changed demeanor, Zhen Yuanzi also dropped his smile: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, is something the matter?"

Wu Ming spoke slowly: "I do have a matter on which I wish to ask for your assistance."

"This matter... is of great importance. Only a Fellow Daoist can handle it."

Zhen Yuanzi's heart stirred. For Wu Ming to be so solemn, it could not be a trivial matter.

He had known Wu Ming for many years and understood his nature well—he never lightly asked for help.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, speak freely."

Zhen Yuanzi sat up straight.

"As long as This Humble One is capable of it, I will not shirk my duty."