But refining poison to counter the Saints could prove highly promising.
He had mythological incarnations and feared no death.
With the Cauldron of Fortune as well, he could employ every underhanded tactic, including the Saint Slaying Pill and Three Lights Divine Water.
"Hongjun, just you wait!"
Hong Yun muttered.
Then he stored the Cauldron of Fortune in his spatial storage.
He did not take out the Saint Slaying Pill yet. He would explore the Thirty-Three Heavens first before devising a poison strategy.
Whoosh!
Hong Yun's figure blurred as he flew toward the upper heavens.
Only eleven levels of heaven remained unexplored.
He did not know what other opportunities awaited him.
But even if he stopped here, his gains were still astonishing.
At the same time, on the Solar Star.
"Second Brother, several centuries have passed. When will the opportunity you mentioned appear?"
Dijun gazed at Eastern Emperor Taiyi and asked.
Earlier, when Taiyi had deduced the Grand Formation of the Stars of the Heavens, he had sensed that a great opportunity would appear in the starry sky.
This was the opportunity for the Demon Clan to establish its dojo.
With it, the Demon Clan might usher in an age of prosperity.
But now, the opportunity had yet to appear.
"Elder Brother, do not worry. I calculated it again the day before yesterday. At the latest, the opportunity will appear within two centuries!"
Taiyi's tone was firm.
His comprehension of the Grand Formation of the Stars of the Heavens had deepened.
The formation's power was immense, greatly increasing his confidence.
"Mm."
Dijun nodded.
He was burning with impatience.
In another five centuries, the battle between the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan would inevitably erupt.
Without a dojo, the Demon Clan would be far inferior to the Witch Clan.
If they wished to fight for supremacy over the Great Desolation, they absolutely could not fall behind.
Especially in the struggle for destiny, they had to seize the initiative.
The Witch Clan had Buzhou Mountain suppressing its formation and had already gained the upper hand.
Dijun had once wanted to take the Three Immortal Islands in the East Sea as their foundation, but abandoned the idea because they were too far from the Solar Star.
Whoosh!
Within the thirty-third level of heaven, Hong Yun stepped into the upper heavens.
He began searching for treasures there.
Twenty-second, twenty-third level...
Before long, he had reached the thirty-third level of heaven.
"The final level of heaven. I wonder what unexpected encounter awaits me!"
Hong Yun was filled with anticipation.
On this journey, he had obtained the Heaven Suppressing Coffin, the Saint Slaying Pill, and the Cauldron of Fortune. Every one of them was a great opportunity.
If other mighty figures obtained even one of them, they could celebrate wildly for a billion years.
Even Hongjun had never possessed such fortune.
Yet in less than a thousand years, Hong Yun had gathered them all.
There were also immortal fruits, spirit roots, rare treasures, and exotic artifacts, all of which had transformed into spiritual power and merged into the Blood Sea.
By now, the Blood Sea had recovered nearly twenty percent.
This energy was enough to give birth to one or two more mythological incarnations.
One more incarnation meant one more life. How precious was that!
This journey through the Thirty-Three Heavens could be called the greatest harvest since Hong Yun had crossed into this world.
Hong Yun continued exploring.
Suddenly, a savage aura locked onto him.
"Hmm?"
Hong Yun frowned. The aura made his heart tremble.
It far surpassed the might of Azure Heaven and Yellow Heaven in the past.
However, the aura vanished after locking onto him for only a moment.
This happened several times over the next few days.
"What kind of existence is this?"
Hong Yun investigated cautiously.
Although his incarnations did not fear death, he was not a reckless person.
Several days later, he found the source of the aura.
A remnant soul drifted before him.
The soul seemed to have no consciousness and acted solely on instinct.
A savage aura radiated from it, and it seemed to want to break through the barrier of the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Its power was profound, no weaker than Hong Yun at the mid-stage Quasi-Saint realm.
It was even several times stronger.
But it did not know the right method and could not break through the barrier.
Hong Yun secretly considered that if he had the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler, he might be able to break through it.
Unfortunately, he did not possess that treasure.
Roar!
The remnant soul sensed Hong Yun's approach and roared, shaking the heavens.
Its savage aura increased tenfold, surging toward him like raging waves.
"Not good!"
Hong Yun cried out inwardly. His expression remained unchanged as he activated his Dao Fruit.
Boom!
His aura erupted and collided with the other's might.
A tremendous sound reverberated through the Thirty-Three Heavens.
"So strong!"
Hong Yun marveled at the soul's might.
It must have been a terrifying existence in life.
It far surpassed Hong Yun's current state of invincibility among mid-stage Quasi-Saints.
In the Great Desolation, even late-stage Quasi-Saints might not match it.
Yet compared with this soul, they would still be inferior.
Whoosh!
The remnant soul pounced.
It was vicious and fierce!
A terrifying aura of laws transformed into a colossal net that shrouded Hong Yun.
"The Law of Reincarnation!"
Divine light burst from Hong Yun's eyes.
He had some understanding of the Law of Reincarnation.
Back in the East Sea, he had obtained ten Yellow Middle Plums.
This fruit came from one of the Great Desolation's top spirit roots and contained the power of reincarnation.
Its predecessor had been the Chaos Reincarnation Enlightenment Fruit, which had later fallen in rank.
Whether the Yellow Middle Plum or the Enlightenment Fruit, both could help him comprehend reincarnation.
Yet this remnant soul was actually proficient in the Law of Reincarnation—and extremely powerful at it.
Hong Yun did not dare to be careless.
With a wave of his hand, the Laws of Devouring and Light and Darkness emerged together to meet the enemy.
Rumble!
The three laws converged, their power surging as the void cracked slightly.
"Who are you?"
Hong Yun shouted.
This soul was certainly no ordinary being.
"Who am I? I... I..."
The remnant soul ceased its attack, as though trapped in a fog.
Pain appeared on its face.
"I... I am the Beast Emperor! The Beast Emperor..."
Its words were broken and halting.
"The Beast Emperor?"
Hong Yun searched through his memories.
He suddenly recalled the Calamity of the Ferocious Beasts.
That was the calamity that had occurred when the Great Desolation had first opened, long before the Dragon-Han Conflict.
He abruptly understood.
This was the Beast Emperor's reincarnation!
There had once been two Beast Emperors. Shen Ni had perished at Luohu's hands.
The other had cultivated the Law of Reincarnation. Hong Yun had not expected his remnant soul to have ended up here.
Now, it had revived only as a remnant spirit, not as the true Beast Emperor.
Even so, it remained incomparably powerful.
In the Great Desolation, aside from Hongjun, there was likely no one who could defeat it.
Hong Yun was the exception.
Whoosh!
He brought out the Great Dao Treasure Gourd.
This gourd could both attack and defend, and it could also seal and imprison enemies.
If one's strength was sufficient, it could seal any existence beneath the Saint realm.
"Seal!"
Hong Yun waved his hand. The gourd flew out, transforming into a gigantic mouth that devoured the remnant soul.
The remnant soul struggled.
The power of reincarnation surged and churned within the gourd, as though it wanted to self-destruct.
Hong Yun repeatedly cast restrictions, sealing it completely.
"The Six Paths... Samsara Monument..."
Before the seal closed, the remnant soul spoke in broken syllables.
"The Six Paths Samsara Monument?"
Light flashed in Hong Yun's eyes.
This treasure could transform into the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
During the calamity between the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan, Houtu had borrowed it to transform her body into reincarnation.
Otherwise, no matter how powerful the Ancestral Witch's physical body was, it would have been difficult to form the Six Paths.
The Six Paths encompassed the Netherworld. Even the Yellow Springs and the Blood Sea were insignificant before it.
It could not be formed without a supreme treasure.
The remnant soul had mentioned this monument.
"Could this monument be in the Thirty-Three Heavens?"
Hong Yun pondered.
Without his intervention, the Demon Clan and Hongjun might obtain the treasure here.
If Houtu obtained the monument and transformed into reincarnation, there might be a hidden hand from Hongjun behind it.
The Demon Clan would find it difficult to win the third battle between the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan.
For the sake of the Heavenly Dao's balance, Hongjun might even promote Houtu's transformation into reincarnation and her ascension to Sainthood.
Hong Yun became increasingly certain that the monument was here.
Whoosh!
He transformed into a streak of light and continued searching for the treasure.
Three years later.
"Hahaha, I found it!"
A massive monument towered before him.
The monument's aura was ancient, and it seemed to contain a small world within.
The monument was covered in dense restrictions.
Hong Yun immediately began refining it.
Sizzle!
His divine sense invaded it, and the restrictions gradually faded.
His primordial spirit had grown even stronger because of the Great Dao Technique, so he refined it as swiftly as wind sweeping away clouds.
With thirty percent of the restrictions broken, he could control the monument.
Hum!
Information surged into him, confirming that it was the Six Paths Samsara Monument.
Though he had anticipated it, Hong Yun was still excited.
He continued refining it.
Several months later, all the restrictions had been removed.
"Collect!"
Hong Yun waved a hand and shouted softly.
The enormous monument shrank, transforming into an object that fit in his palm, with samsara aura swirling around it.
"With this monument and the Yellow Middle Plum, comprehending the Law of Reincarnation won't be difficult!"
Hong Yun was delighted.
He had already mastered devouring, light, and darkness. With reincarnation added, his Mythical Dao Fruit could grow stronger.
Even without reincarnation, improving the other two laws would help it grow.
Both laws had the entry level, followed by minor mastery, major mastery, and perfection.
Above that were the Great Dao of Devouring and the Great Dao of Light and Darkness, which were likewise divided into four stages.
Each advancement nourished the Dao Fruit.
However, compared to advancing the other two laws, comprehending reincarnation was easier.
The Thirty-Three Heavens was already empty.
Hong Yun took out the Great Dao Cushion, sat down, and began comprehending reincarnation.
Whoosh!
Ten Yellow Middle Plums and the Six Paths Samsara Monument floated before him.
His divine sense enveloped them, borrowing the cushion's power to break down and comprehend them.
The reincarnation radiance within the Yellow Middle Plums transformed into information and was absorbed by him.
Within several months, one Yellow Middle Plum dissipated.
All its information had entered Hong Yun.
He remained still in quiet cultivation.
After one fruit dispersed, his divine sense entered another.
Several months later, another fruit was exhausted.
The cycle continued.
Before a year had passed, he had already cultivated the Reincarnation Divine Ability.
However, this divine ability had only reached the entry level.
Time flew. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years passed.
At this moment, Hong Yun slowly opened his eyes.
The ten Yellow Middle Plums before him had long since been exhausted, leaving only the completely refined Six Paths Samsara Monument.
"In just ten years, I advanced the Reincarnation Divine Ability to major mastery."
"However, advancing from major mastery of the divine ability to an initial glimpse of the Law of Reincarnation took a full ninety years!"
"Even so, this achievement can be called astonishing!"
The corners of Hong Yun's lips lifted slightly, revealing a satisfied smile.
How profound and difficult was the Law of Reincarnation to comprehend?
If it had been any other top expert in the Great Desolation, they might not have been able to glimpse its threshold even after hundreds of thousands of years.
At most, they would have cultivated the Reincarnation Divine Ability.
But with the power of the Great Dao Cushion, he had touched the Law of Reincarnation in just a hundred years.
Although he had only just crossed the threshold, it was enough to advance his Mythical Dao Fruit another step.
With a soft hum!
Hong Yun rose to his feet, and a heart-stirring might radiated from his body.
As he raised his hand, the Law of Reincarnation quietly blossomed.
Above his head, a five-colored, swirling Mythical Dao Fruit gradually emerged.
He then injected the power of the law into the Dao Fruit.
The Dao Fruit rapidly expanded with astonishing momentum.
After a full quarter of an hour, the Dao Fruit had grown an entire circle larger.
Hong Yun immediately felt his strength rise another notch.
"I still haven't entered the realm of the Mythical Foundation Establishment Third Layer!"
He put away the Dao Fruit and felt the spiritual power within him surge like a great river.
Although he was only one step away from the Third Layer, he had not truly crossed over.
Hong Yun pondered inwardly. If he comprehended another law, or advanced any one of devouring, reincarnation, or light and darkness to minor mastery, he would be able to break through to the Third Layer.
When that time came, his combat strength would erupt anew.
"Now that I've plundered the Thirty-Three Heavens clean, it's time to return and deal with those three remnant souls!"
He swept his gaze around the empty Thirty-Three Heavens and muttered under his breath.
Not only this place—the treasures of every heaven had been taken into his possession.
When the Demon Clan arrived full of anticipation to welcome their opportunity, they would probably be left dumbfounded.
But how could this be blamed on him?
In the Great Desolation, opportunities had always been things over which the strong contended.
When the Heavenly Dao's tribulation descended, only strength mattered, not who was fated to own them.
At present, only the Heavenly Dao's most fiendish treasure, the Heaven Suppressing Coffin, remained in the Eleventh Heaven, along with the three remnant souls within it: Azure Heaven, Azure Sky, and Yellow Heaven.
Whoosh!
Hong Yun transformed into a streak of light and headed straight for the Eleventh Heaven.
Several days later.
He was already standing before the Heaven Suppressing Coffin.
"Little friend, you... you've finally returned. Quickly, save us and let us out!"
"Little friend, all the treasures of the Thirty-Three Heavens have fallen into your hands. Spare us, and we'll forever remember your great kindness!"
"That's right, little friend. We're willing to acknowledge you as our master!"
When Azure Heaven, Azure Sky, and Yellow Heaven saw him, they became extremely excited and pleaded one after another.
"Let you out? So you can disrupt the Great Desolation again?"
Hearing this, Hong Yun snorted coldly.
If he had still been the softhearted Hong Yun of the past, he might have felt pity for them.
But now, he had absolutely no intention of releasing these three souls.
He never involved himself in matters offering no benefit.
Besides, releasing these three souls might not earn their gratitude. It could instead invite hostility.
How could Hong Yun be so foolish?
With a flash!
He brought out the Great Dao Cushion and suspended it before him.
Last time, he had only undone thirty percent of the Heaven Suppressing Coffin's restrictions. This time, he would take complete control of it.
Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!
As the power of his primordial spirit spread over it, he refined one restriction after another.
The three souls were utterly bewildered.
They did not understand Hong Yun's intentions and could only plead desperately.
But he remained completely unmoved.
Fifty years passed in a flash.
Hong Yun finally refined every restriction on the Heaven Suppressing Coffin.
With the Great Dao Cushion's hundredfold acceleration, it was as though he had passed five thousand years.
At this moment, he could freely control this Heavenly Dao's most fiendish treasure.
Before you continue