"D-Dao Ancestor, I was just joking. You wouldn't really..."
Ran Deng looked somewhat flustered and helpless.
"Pouring tea and serving water is a task Hao Tian alone does well," Hongjun said slowly. "I have other matters to arrange for you."
Upon hearing this, Ran Deng breathed a sigh of relief.
What was he even thinking!
No matter how one looked at it, this Prehistoric World was never a webnovel for female readers.
Even so, it still gave him a fright.
"Just give the order, Dao Ancestor, and this disciple will not hesitate to die!" Ran Deng immediately pledged his loyalty.
Seeing that this transmigrator was so sensible, Hongjun stopped holding back or playing games with him.
"I know of your origins. As a variable within the Prehistoric World, you should have been dealt with by my own hands."
"However, given how sensible you are, I will give you a chance."
Hongjun's thought process was simple.
He was the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, so all the blame for the Heavenly Dao fell on him.
Could he not simply find a spokesperson for the Dao Ancestor to take the blame for him instead?
Although Hongjun did not spell it out, Ran Deng understood.
The other party knew of his identity as a transmigrator!
In an instant, Ran Deng felt as though needles were pricking his back and sweat drenched his body.
"What... what does the Dao Ancestor mean by that?"
When Ran Deng spoke, he was already stuttering slightly. Being a transmigrator was his greatest secret.
"Your system was obliterated by the Heavenly Dao. Do I still need to say more?" Hongjun said expressionlessly, stating a fact.
Ran Deng's heart finally died.
Yet, upon second thought, this seemed to be a good thing.
After all, the only one he could rely on now was Hongjun. What was so shameful about acting as a chess piece for the Dao Ancestor?
If you won't do it, plenty of others will!
"From now on, this disciple will follow the Dao Ancestor's lead in all things!" Ran Deng performed a high-speed slide-kneel.
Hongjun nodded.
"Oh, I'll mention one extra thing to you."
"We have quite a few transmigrator fellows in the Prehistoric World, so be a bit careful when you handle things for me."
Ran Deng: ◑.◑
At that moment, Ran Deng's brain went through a direct brainstorm.
What did that mean?
He wasn't the only transmigrator?
Unfettered by the influence of a system's intelligence-draining halo, Ran Deng figured it out in an instant.
No wonder so many variables had popped up in this Prehistoric World.
Turns out they were all transmigrators!
"Ran Deng."
"This disciple is here."
"I am currently plotting Dao Integration, and I cannot be present for every matter in the Prehistoric World. Today, I appoint you as the proxy of the Mystic Sect to act on my behalf throughout the Prehistoric World."
Hongjun did not tell Ran Deng that the Heavenly Dao was actually complete and intact.
Upon hearing this, Ran Deng hurriedly replied, "I am willing to share burdens for the Dao Ancestor!"
Hongjun nodded in satisfaction.
With a flick of his long sleeve, two immortal lamps emanating undying spiritual light appeared in Zixiao Palace.
"These are the Heavenly Lamp and the Earthly Lamp, sharing the same origin as the Spirit Coffin Lamp in your hands."
"Using these three lamps to sever your corpses will make the difficulty much lower."
Upon seeing the Heavenly and Earthly lamps, Ran Deng had only two words for Hongjun.
Loyalty!
Oh my goodness, this was way better than a system.
Accepting the two immortal lamps, the look Ran Deng gave Hongjun could only be described as utterly devoted and loyal.
"Dao Ancestor, I have a question. Must one use magic treasures of the same origin to achieve Dao severance through the three corpses?"
Having gathered the heaven, earth, and mortal lamps, Ran Deng thought of this issue.
He had encountered this kind of theory quite a few times.
Hongjun shook his head.
"Sharing the same origin merely makes it more convenient to sever corpses. You surely don't think the method of corpse severance relies entirely on external objects, do you?"
Compared to proving the Dao through sheer strength, severing the three corpses was indeed a shortcut.
Yet it also required the one severing the corpses to possess great perseverance; otherwise, the three corpses could not be severed at all.
The three corpses were none other than the practitioner's own desires.
"This disciple understands," Ran Deng spoke respectfully.
"Right, Dao Ancestor, this disciple has one more matter..."
"Why don't you take me as your adopted son!"
Hearing this, Hongjun almost tumbled off the cattail mat on the high platform.
No, you're still thinking about becoming my adopted son!
"That's right, look at how sincere he is. You might as well take him as your adopted son," Zhang Hao's voice suddenly arrived.
There was fun to be had here, and he had followed the scent right over.
Hongjun steadied his posture, looking toward the direction of the Heavenly Dao void. His gaze clearly spelled out:
Are you simply that idle?
Carrying an obvious tone of mockery, Zhang Hao's voice echoed in the Heavenly Dao void:
"Look at how sincere Ran Deng is, kowtowing with three bows and nine knocks. He's practically about to wear through the threshold of Zixiao Palace. This filial piety is enough to move heaven and earth!"
"Besides, you are a dignified Dao Ancestor and the leader of the Mystic Sect. What's wrong with taking an adopted son?"
"Wouldn't it be great to have someone look after you in your old age and send you off? They can even help with odd jobs."
"Look at those two children, Hao Tian and Yao Chi. Guarding Zixiao Palace every day must be so boring. Having someone else around to keep them company and play would be nice."
Hongjun took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and tapped his fingers unconsciously on the cattail mat.
This fellow, the Heavenly Dao, definitely felt bored and wanted to watch some entertainment again!
Talk of looking after him in his old age and sending him off, or helping with odd jobs and keeping company... This scoundrel definitely harbored malicious intentions!
Yet, upon second thought, although this fellow Ran Deng was outrageously thick-skinned and his actions were somewhat... bizarre, he truly was a "talent."
He understood current affairs and knew when to advance or retreat.
Most importantly, he was now "one of us."
Knowing the secrets of transmigrators and systems, and having him firmly in his grip, using him was more reassuring than relying on those Prehistoric Great Powers with their own hidden agendas.
An extra adopted son... didn't seem entirely out of the question?
Mainly because this scoundrel of a Heavenly Dao was stoking the flames right beside him; if he didn't agree, there was no telling what kind of absurd trouble the fellow would stir up next.
Hongjun reopened his eyes, his gaze landing on Ran Deng. That look was indescribably complex, containing helplessness, scrutiny, and a hint of a resigned compromise.
"Ran Deng," Hongjun spoke, his voice returning to a well-like stillness.
"Work hard. When things are done well, there will be such a day."
Never mind all that for now.
First, dangle a pie in front of Ran Deng and talk about it later. Anyway, he didn't specify which day it would be.
Upon hearing this, Ran Deng only felt that he seemed to have heard this sort of talk somewhere before.
Yet he quickly cast that thought aside.
"Yes! This disciple will serve the Dao Ancestor well."
At that moment, words could not describe how thrilled Ran Deng felt.
A thoroughly dead game, and he had managed to bring it back to life!
Seeing that matters were nearly settled, Zhang Hao tossed the three supreme-grade innate spiritual treasures he had manufactured over to Hongjun.
The Coiling Dragon Crutch, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and the Qingping Sword.
They were all crafted from the origins he had extracted from the system.
Upon seeing the three treasures, Hongjun also understood the intent of the Heavenly Dao.
"Ran Deng, there is a matter that requires you to go and handle it."
Hongjun laid out the three magic treasures.
Seeing them, Ran Deng was stunned. Weren't these three magic treasures with the Ancestral Witches?
Could it be that the Dao Ancestor personally took action to punish the Ancestral Witches?
"These three spiritual treasures were re-evolved by the Heavenly Dao. Deliver them to the Four Pure Ones on my behalf."
After saying this, Hongjun thought for a moment and produced another ruler imbued with the power of merit.
The acquired supreme treasure of merit, the Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler!
Merit treasures were supreme in slaughter and killing, and killing with them incurred no karmic burden.
"The Four Pure Ones are of one body. Give this treasure to Li Shou, and he will understand."
The reason Hongjun paid out of his own pocket to bestow the Hongmeng Measuring Heaven Ruler upon Li Shou...
Aside from preserving the pride of the Four Pure Ones, he also wanted to see what kind of reaction Li Shou, this "fourth pure one," would have.
Accepting this supreme treasure of merit meant inheriting Pangu's creation merit after all.
Ran Deng never expected the Dao Ancestor would actually send him to deliver treasures.
What kind of trust was this!
"This disciple understands!"
While Ran Deng was paying a visit to Hongjun, the Demon Clan side was far from idle either.
Several millennia had passed, and they had largely finished recuperating.
Furthermore, owing to cultivation within the Thirty-three Heavens, several more Demon Saints had broken through to the early stage of Quasi-SAGE.