The Scramble

In midair.

Golden sword qi stirred wind and thunder.

Zhou Yuan's black hair streamed behind him, his ancient green robe snapping in the wind.

"I never expected to encounter an opponent like you today, Fellow Daoist."

"Good sword!"

"Good sword!"

Zhou Yuan sighed in admiration.

Although this golden-eyed old man cultivated the Geng Metal Great Dao, his attainments in the Sword Dao were clearly even greater.

With this sword unleashed, all laws submitted.

Even Zhou Yuan could not help feeling as though thorns were pressed against his back, his primordial spirit aching with pain.

"How many heroes there are beneath heaven."

The greatest respect one could show a hero was to send him on his way.

Zhou Yuan shifted slightly, and the entire void seemed to tremble.

"Summon Wind and Rain, Command Thunder and Lightning!"

"Thunder, come!"

Wind rose, rain fell, thunder roared, and lightning flashed.

Zhou Yuan stood bathed in boundless lightning, like a sovereign of thunder.

Rumble!

Black Water Divine Thunder tore through the void and crashed against the sword light.

A streak of white light flashed across the Great Thousand Universes.

The extreme collision shook the earth veins and split the void.

The surging aftershocks shattered countless clouds and mists.

The water vapor throughout the sky gathered ever more densely. In the blink of an eye, Zhou Yuan and Old Man Heavenly Sword were no longer visible in the lofty heavens.

Only the aftershocks of clashing laws spread outward, caught by the gathered cultivators.

Sword light flickered, thunder light shone, and yin-yang mystic radiance unfolded countless wondrous arts.

Who knew how much time passed.

The rain within the void turned into a rain of blood.

The heavens were filled with killing intent. Laws trembled, and sinister winds howled.

Amid the bloody rain filling the sky, a Daoist in broad-sleeved green robes stood proudly.

He turned to look at several Grand Unity Great Sages flying toward him from the horizon and smiled gently.

"Why have you all arrived so late, Fellow Daoists?"

He raised the head still dripping golden divine blood and gave it a slight shake.

"This fiend has already been beheaded!"

The streaks of escaping light came to an abrupt halt.

At that moment, the gazes of countless living beings throughout the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range fell upon the green-robed figure in the void.

A true man.

Should be like this!

"Have you heard?"

"The master of Chessboard Mountain, Great Sage Taiyuan, slew the Golden Brilliance Imperial Dynasty's elder Old Man Heavenly Sword in battle."

"Magnificent! He has bolstered the prestige of our Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage!"

The entire Myriad Spirit Mountain Range boiled with excitement because of one man.

Countless beings looked toward Chessboard Mountain with fervent gazes.

The Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage had led the demon race in battle against the Five Directions Divine Dynasty for untold years.

This great victory had truly raised the morale of the many races within the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyuan is truly capable."

Within a cave abode atop Chessboard Mountain, many Grand Unity Great Sages sat together discussing the Dao.

One Great Sage clapped his hands and praised him.

"To slay Old Man Heavenly Sword in an instant—Fellow Daoist, your reputation will likely spread throughout millions upon millions of miles."

Old Man Heavenly Sword had attained the Dao during the era of the Human Emperor.

He had fought several times during the Dragon-Han Crimson Bright Tribulation.

His killing arts were far beyond those of ordinary cultivators, yet he had fallen to Zhou Yuan, who had only recently attained Grand Unity. How could this not shock everyone?

The several Grand Unity Great Sages looked with complicated expressions at Zhou Yuan, who sat smiling and conversing at the seat of honor.

One had to know that just one kalpa ago, he had merely been a True One Realm cultivator.

"To possess such power immediately after attaining Grand Unity—he is truly terrifying."

As they thought this, certain thoughts in their hearts could no longer be restrained.

A deity wreathed in Netherworld aura, idly playing with a bead of Netherworld Heavy Water, smiled boldly.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyuan, do you have a lineage of Dao teachings?"

Zhou Yuan's gaze shifted. The man asking the question was named Chong Ming. He came from the North Sea and had attained the Dao as a giant whale.

The North Sea.

He should belong to Old Ancestor Kunpeng's lineage of Grand Unity cultivators.

But what did he mean by asking this?

Several thoughts flashed through his mind, but Zhou Yuan's expression did not change in the slightest as he calmly said,

"This poor Daoist was once fortunate enough to enter a Grotto-heaven relic passed down from ancient times and obtain some good fortune there. That was how I was fortunate enough to advance to Grand Unity."

"However, I have no Dharma lineage inheritance to rely upon."

Upon hearing this, joy flashed through Great Sage Chong Ming's eyes. He steadied himself and slowly spoke.

"Fellow Daoist has now attained the Grand Unity Great Sage realm."

"You should know that the Great Dao is arduous. The higher one climbs, the more cultivation feels like ascending to heaven."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

"The Grand Unity realm comprehends the profundities of laws."

"The Innate Dao Lord realm comprehends the true essence of the Great Dao."

Great Sage Chong Ming continued,

"Laws are difficult to comprehend, and the Great Dao is even harder to find."

"To explore it alone is harder still."

"Have you not heard that one sentence of true teaching surpasses ten thousand volumes of false teachings?"

"If Fellow Daoist wishes to advance further on the path of Dao, you must join a Dao lineage and obtain its Dharma inheritance."

At last, he had revealed his true intentions.

"This poor Daoist comes from North Sea Palace in the North Sea."

"North Sea Palace is the lineage of a Dao Lord."

"Old Ancestor Kunpeng is a renowned Great Divine Ability User throughout the heavens."

"If Fellow Daoist is willing, this poor Daoist would gladly serve as your guide and lead you into the North Sea."

As soon as Great Sage Chong Ming finished speaking,

a burly figure laughed loudly. His hair blazed like fire, his face was crimson red, and he was Great Sage Chi Zhou, the Fire God from the Sun Palace lineage.

"Fellow Daoist Chong Ming is going too far."

"How can you deceive Fellow Daoist Taiyuan into going to the North Sea with nothing but empty words?"

"Though Old Ancestor Kunpeng is indeed immensely powerful, our Sun Palace lineage also has Great Divine Ability Users presiding over it."

Though Great Sage Chi Zhou did not state it directly,

everyone present knew that the Great Divine Ability Users he referred to were Dao Lord Di Jun, who was about to ascend as the Heavenly Emperor, and Dao Lord Tai Yi, who had been born cradling the Chaos Bell.

Great Sage Chi Zhou smiled brilliantly at Zhou Yuan.

"With Fellow Daoist's talent, once you join the Sun Palace, you will surely be entrusted with important duties."

"Both Your Majesties are currently occupied with a great undertaking. Should it succeed, the vast primordial world will be theirs to command."

"Though this poor Daoist is merely a Grand Unity cultivator, I have some standing within the Sun Palace."

"The Sun Palace is willing to offer ten Grotto-heavens, ten thousand jin of Sun Gold Essence, a thousand volumes of Dao scriptures, a wisp of True Sun Fire... and the position of an Innate Star God, in invitation for Fellow Daoist to join the Sun Palace."

Great Sage Chi Zhou looked at Zhou Yuan with blazing eyes.

The Demon Court had only recently been established, and the two Majesties thirsted for worthy talents.

Taiyuanzi had only just broken through to become a Grand Unity Great Sage, yet his combat strength already rivaled that of veteran Grand Unity Great Sages. This showed that both his talent and foundation were exceptional. With the Sun Palace's assistance, he might one day have a chance to break through to become an Innate Dao Lord.

Moreover, Taiyuanzi was proficient in both alchemy and artifact refinement, a rare talent indeed. Inviting him into the Heavenly Court would greatly benefit the strengthening of the demon race.

With this merit, perhaps he could advance further himself.

Hearing Great Sage Chi Zhou's words, Great Sage Chong Ming froze for a moment before shaking his head with a bitter smile.

There was no resentment in his heart.

Yet he still sighed inwardly.

"In the end, the Sun Palace has greater resources."

"But it is also because Taiyuanzi's talent is so outstanding, like an awl standing in a sack, that he has drawn the Sun Palace lineage into competing for him."

The Innate Great Sages present wore varying expressions.

The position of an Innate Star God—the Sun Palace was truly willing to pay the price.

Innate Star God positions varied in rank. Those of high rank, such as Ziwei and Gouchen, were Innate Dao Lord positions.

Those of lower rank, such as minor stars, barely reached the Grotto-heaven Realm.

But the Daoist Taiyuan before them had already attained the Innate Great Sage realm.

Therefore, the Sun Palace must be willing to give up a Grand Unity position this time.

Otherwise, it would not be a recruitment of Taiyuanzi, but an insult to him.

Although the position of an Innate Great Sage could not bring a qualitative transformation to existences like them,

it would still be of great benefit in helping them comprehend the Great Dao sooner through analogy.

Even they were somewhat tempted at this moment.