Chaos Shard, Primordial Violet Qi Appears

"Trap!"

Lu Chen's hair stood on end.

The light radiating from that Primordial Violet Qi grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the entire fragment of space. Deep within the violet qi, the phantom of a qilin flickered in and out of view. It was unmistakably Shi Qilin!

"Shi Qilin... How could it be him?!" Blood trickled from the corner of Hong Yun's mouth, and his face looked grim.

Zhen Yuanzi quickly summoned the Earth Book. An ocher light shielded the four of them. "Someone tampered with this violet qi. It contains a sealing restriction from the Kirin Clan!"

Queen Mother of the West turned the Kunlun Mirror, directing its light toward the depths of the violet qi. "Not just Shi Qilin... There are traces of the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan, too! The Three Clans joined forces to set this trap!"

Before she could finish speaking, a wild laugh came from beyond the fragment.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, thanks for showing us the way!"

Four figures broke through the Chaos barrier and entered the fragment.

At the head was a man with a bird's head and a human body, with a pair of wings on his back. It was Old Ancestor Kunpeng—the future Demon Master—who had already reached the Early Quasi-Saint stage!

To his left stood a blood-robed elder, treading upon a Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus and holding the twin swords Yuantu and Abi: Ancestor Minghe!

On the right were two men in golden robes, Solar True Fire swirling around them: Di Jun and Taiyi!

The four Quasi-Saints had completely sealed off their escape route.

"You... were lying in wait here all along?" Hong Yun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, anger flashing in his eyes.

Kunpeng gave a sinister chuckle. "What did you expect? We put out that Primordial Violet Qi as bait. We thought we might hook a big fish, but instead this do-gooder took the bait."

"Bait?" Lu Chen's heart jolted.

He understood in an instant.

At the end of the Three Clans' tribulation, Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Shi Qilin had all sensed their impending doom. But with the struggle for the Saint Positions about to begin, they wanted to leave their clans a way out. So they joined forces to set this trap, using a fake strand of Primordial Violet Qi as bait to kill off their rivals!

And the ones carrying it out were Kunpeng and Minghe, who had close ties to the Three Clans, along with Di Jun and Taiyi, who would one day establish the Demon Clan!

"What a deep-laid scheme..." Zhen Yuanzi said gravely. "The three clan leaders sealed the violet qi with their own blood essence. Anyone without the bloodline of one of the Three Clans would suffer a backlash upon touching it. Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, that touch just now has already infected you with the Three Clans' baleful poison."

Hong Yun's face paled further. Sure enough, he could feel three strange forces gnawing at his Primordial Spirit.

"Hand over the violet qi, and we'll spare your lives." Minghe's voice was icy as he pointed Yuantu at them.

A phantom of the Chaos Bell appeared in Taiyi's hand. "Or die."

The four Quasi-Saints unleashed their pressure at once, and the entire fragment of space began to crack apart.

Lu Chen and the others could barely breathe beneath the crushing force. Even Zhen Yuanzi, the strongest among them, was only at the Grand Unity Peak. How could they stand against four Quasi-Saints?

They were trapped!

But Lu Chen's mind raced.

Fake Primordial Violet Qi... the Three Clans' seal... baleful poison...

He suddenly remembered the Kirin Heart Core inside the Qiankun Diagram, along with the aura of the Primordial Phoenix Heart Core and the remnants of the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale!

"Maybe... I can turn this against them!"

He secretly sent a message to Hong Yun. "Senior, trust me this once. When I say 'Now,' attack the qilin seal on the surface of the violet qi with all your strength!"

Hong Yun froze. But seeing the determination in Lu Chen's eyes, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Finished making plans?" Kunpeng said impatiently. "You have three seconds. Hand it over or die. Three—"

"Two—"

"One!"

"Now!" Lu Chen shouted.

Hong Yun poured all his strength into the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd. Crimson mist turned into blades and slashed at the qilin phantom on the surface of the violet qi.

At the same time, Lu Chen brought out the aura of the Kirin Heart Core, the Primordial Phoenix Heart Core, and the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale. He fused the three forces and sent them into the violet qi.

"Buzzz—"

The violet qi trembled violently.

The seal of the Three Clans shared the same origin. Now that it was struck by what it recognized as "its own," it fell into brief disarray.

"Now!"

Lu Chen unfolded the Qiankun Diagram. He wasn't trying to take the violet qi itself; he was taking the space around it, seal and all, forcibly tearing it free!

"You little thief, how dare you!" Kunpeng roared, swiping at him with a claw.

Zhen Yuanzi used the Earth Book to shield them, taking the blow head-on before spitting blood and flying backward.

Queen Mother of the West aimed the Kunlun Mirror at Minghe and temporarily pinned him in place.

The Chaos Bell rang in Taiyi's hand, freezing time and space.

Lu Chen felt his movements slow a hundredfold, but the Qiankun Diagram had already succeeded in sweeping away the violet qi and part of its seal.

"Go!"

Burning his blood essence, he charged toward the edge of the fragment, where the spatial rift they had entered through still hung.

"Stop him!" Di Jun's Solar True Fire transformed into a Golden Crow and swooped toward them.

Hong Yun gritted his teeth and detonated thirty percent of the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd's essence. Crimson mist exploded, temporarily blocking their pursuers.

"Pfft—" Hong Yun spat blood again, worsening his injuries.

The four took the chance to rush through the rift and return to Chaos.

Behind them, the four Quasi-Saints gave chase.

"Head toward Purple Heavens Palace!" Zhen Yuanzi shouted. "They wouldn't dare kill anyone under the Dao Ancestor's nose!"

The four fled for their lives.

Chaos Qi Flow raged around them, and their pursuers stayed hot on their heels.

As he fled, Lu Chen checked what he had "won" inside the Qiankun Diagram.

The strand of Primordial Violet Qi was wrapped in the Three Clans' seal like a porcupine. It was impossible to touch. But the seal was slowly being eroded by the aura of the Three Clans' heart cores, and was gradually weakening.

"Once the seal is gone, I'll be able to see whether this violet qi is real or not..."

Just then, a figure appeared ahead.

He wore purple robes and had white hair. His face was indistinct, and he stood upon auspicious clouds.

A pressure as vast as the heavens spread through the air. The four pursuers behind them halted at once, their faces changing dramatically.

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun!" Everyone bowed in unison.

Hongjun's gaze swept over them. It paused on Lu Chen for a moment, then moved to the Qiankun Diagram in his arms.

"The dispute over the Chaos fragment ends here." The Dao Ancestor spoke without joy or sorrow. "Purple Heavens Palace is about to open. If you have any grievances, settle them after the sermon."

Kunpeng was unwilling to give up. "Dao Ancestor, that Primordial Violet Qi..."

"Violet qi follows its own fate," Hongjun said calmly. "It cannot be forced."

With that, he waved his sleeve.

Everyone felt the world spin. When they came to, they were standing in front of an ancient-looking temple.

Three Great Dao characters were written on the plaque above the temple gate: [Purple Heavens Palace]!

The palace gates were shut. Hundreds of figures were already waiting outside, each with a deep and powerful aura. At the very least, they were Great Unity Golden Immortals.

"We're here..." Hong Yun sighed in relief and collapsed to the ground, his face as pale as paper.

Zhen Yuanzi hurriedly began treating his injuries.

Queen Mother of the West looked at Lu Chen, her expression complicated. "Young friend, thank you for your help back there. If you hadn't broken the seal, we would all have died."

Lu Chen shook his head. "You seniors brought me into Chaos. I should be the one thanking you."

He looked at Hong Yun, guilt welling up in his heart.

In the original story, Hong Yun died because of the violet qi. Now the violet qi was fake, but Hong Yun had been poisoned by the Three Clans and was badly wounded. Would he even survive until the end of the sermon?

"Senior Hong Yun's injuries..."

"The baleful poison has reached his marrow. Only Three Lights Divine Water or something of equal value can remove it," Zhen Yuanzi sighed. "The Ginseng Fruit from my Wuzhuang Temple can temporarily ease his condition, but it won't cure the root of the problem."

Three Lights Divine Water? Lu Chen's heart stirred.

He had some! A whole bottle of it!

But if he brought it out, would he reveal too much?

As he hesitated, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice came from within the palace.

"The gates are about to open. Those with fate may enter."

"Creak—"

The gates of Purple Heavens Palace slowly opened.

The cultivators outside immediately surged forward, rushing to get in.

Lu Chen looked at Hong Yun. "Senior, let's go in and listen to the Dao first. As for your injuries... this junior may have a way to help."

Hong Yun managed a weak smile. "I'll be in your care, young friend."

The four entered Purple Heavens Palace with the crowd.

The palace was boundless, as if it were a world of its own. Seven prayer mats at the very front radiated profound Daoist aura.

"The Saint Positions!" someone cried.

In an instant, all the great powers rushed toward the mats.

The Three Pure Ones were the fastest. Lao Tzu, Yuanshi, and Tongtian each claimed one.

Nuwa followed close behind, taking the fourth.

Next came Jieyin and Zhunti, who took the fifth and sixth.

The seventh prayer mat was still empty.

Hong Yun was badly injured and a step too slow. He was about to miss his chance.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and gave him a shove. "Senior, sit!"

Hong Yun stumbled forward and sat on the seventh prayer mat.

At once, every gaze in the hall converged on him.

Kunpeng, Minghe, and Di Jun and Taiyi stared at Hong Yun, their murderous intent plain to see.

Hong Yun gave a bitter smile. "Young friend, you've put me right in the line of fire..."

"Better than missing your chance," Lu Chen whispered. "Focus on healing first. I'll guard you."

He pretended to take a pill from his robe, but actually drew a drop of Three Lights Divine Water from the Qiankun Diagram and mixed it into the pill before handing it to Hong Yun.

Hong Yun took it. His complexion immediately improved. "This is..."

"A life-saving medicine from my master," Lu Chen said with a meaningful look.

Hong Yun understood and asked no more. He closed his eyes to heal.

Lu Chen stood behind Hong Yun, surveying the hall.

Most of the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests had arrived. Aside from the six occupied prayer mats in front, there were dozens of lesser seats farther back, followed by the ordinary places.

He found a spot in the corner and sat down. He needed to keep a low profile.

As soon as he sat, he felt several gazes sweep over him.

Kunpeng, Minghe, Di Jun, and Taiyi were all watching him, clearly holding a grudge over how he had foiled their plan.

Jieyin and Zhunti were also looking back and forth between Hong Yun and Lu Chen, as if wondering what to make of them.

"This is going to be a headache..." Lu Chen thought with a wry smile.

But just then, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared.

Without a sound or warning, he materialized on the high platform at the front.

The entire hall fell silent.

"Today, I will lecture on the Great Unity Dao." As Hongjun spoke, flowers rained down from the heavens and golden springs welled up from the earth.

Lu Chen quickly stilled his mind and listened carefully.

He listened for three hundred years.

Hongjun's sermon pointed straight to the origin of the Great Dao. Although Lu Chen's cultivation was low, he had Sky-Opening Merit to build on and exceptional comprehension. He gained immensely.

Over those three hundred years, he broke through from Peak Golden Immortal to Early Taiyi Golden Immortal. Three flowers gathered above his head, and his Five Qi in the Chest returned to its source.

More importantly, his understanding of the Law of Strength deepened, and the Black Brick's quality rose once more.

With the Three Lights Divine Water's help, Hong Yun's injuries healed, and his cultivation even advanced.

When the three hundred years were up, Hongjun stopped.

"The first sermon is over. The next sermon will be in three thousand years."

The cultivators rose and bowed.

Hongjun's gaze swept across the seven prayer mats. "The seven of you are fated to meet me. You may stay for a while."

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Hong Yun remained.

The others filed out.

Lu Chen was about to leave when Hongjun suddenly said, "Young friend, you stay as well."

Everyone froze and looked at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat. He steeled himself and stayed.

Only after everyone else had left did Hongjun speak.

"Hong Yun."

"This disciple is here," Hong Yun replied respectfully.

"The violet qi you obtained is fake," Hongjun said bluntly.

Hong Yun's face went pale. "This disciple... had guessed as much."

"But the true violet qi is indeed fated to be yours." Hongjun changed the subject. "However, the time is not yet right."

Hong Yun looked bewildered.

Hongjun looked at Lu Chen. "Young friend, show me that fake strand of violet qi you have."

Lu Chen didn't dare delay. He brought out the Qiankun Diagram and released the sealed violet qi.

Hongjun raised a finger. The seal shattered, revealing the violet qi's true nature. It contained the Three Clans' baleful energy, as well as a vicious curse: anyone who refined it would be entangled in the Three Clans' karmic burdens!

"How sinister..." Hong Yun broke out in a cold sweat.

If he had truly refined it, he wouldn't have needed anyone to kill him. The karmic burden alone would have been enough to make him perish.

Hongjun erased the baleful energy and curse. The violet qi transformed into pure energy, then split in two, with one portion given to Hong Yun and the other to Lu Chen.

"This energy can help you stabilize your cultivation. As for the true primordial purple qi, you'll find out at the next lecture."

"Many thanks, Dao Ancestor!" the two said, bowing in gratitude.

Hongjun looked at Lu Chen again. "Your path is unlike any other. Take care."

With that, his figure faded away.

Only the seven others and Lu Chen remained inside Purple Heavens Palace.

The Three Pure Ones gave Lu Chen a long look, then left.

Nuwa seemed deep in thought as she, too, departed.

Jieyin and Zhunti approached warmly. "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, why not travel with us? This young friend could come along as well. Chaos is dangerous, and we can look out for one another."

Hong Yun was about to agree, but Lu Chen spoke first. "Seniors, please go on ahead. I still have some things to ask Senior Zhen Yuanzi."

Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions stiffened, but they couldn't insist. They left, disgruntled.

Only after everyone had gone did Hong Yun ask, "Young friend, why did you refuse them?"

Lu Chen lowered his voice. "Senior, those two... aren't people you should get too close to. At the next lecture, if they ask you to give up your cushion, don't do it!"

Hong Yun froze. "Why?"

"If you give it up, you'll die." Lu Chen's tone was grave.

Hong Yun's pupils contracted. Looking at Lu Chen's earnest expression, he slowly nodded. "I'll remember."

The two of them left Purple Heavens Palace.

Zhen Yuanzi and the Queen Mother of the West were waiting outside.

"How did it go?" Zhen Yuanzi asked with concern.

Hong Yun briefly explained what had happened.

Zhen Yuanzi turned to Lu Chen and bowed solemnly. "You saved Hong Yun's life. Wuzhuang Temple will always welcome you."

The Queen Mother of the West added, "So will Kunlun Mountain."

Lu Chen quickly returned their bows.

The four were about to set off together for the Primordial World when suddenly—

"Boom!"

A terrifying shockwave came from deep within Chaos.

A streak of golden light tore through Chaos, hurtling straight toward Hong Yun!

"Hong Yun, hand over the primordial purple qi—!"

It was Di Jun and Taiyi. They had doubled back to launch a sneak attack!

"Look out!" Zhen Yuanzi summoned the Earth Book to shield them.

But Di Jun and Taiyi weren't the only ones who had come.

Kunpeng and Minghe also attacked from both sides!

"Four Quasi-Saints... Have they lost their minds?! How dare they attack outside Purple Heavens Palace?!" the Queen Mother of the West cried in fury.

Lu Chen looked at the four Quasi-Saints charging toward them, then at Hong Yun, who was still badly injured. He gritted his teeth.

"Senior, forgive me."

He took out the Black Brick, unleashing the full force of his Golden Light of Merit.

But he didn't aim it at their enemies.

Instead—

"Thwack!"

He brought the brick down on the back of Hong Yun's head.

Hong Yun's eyes widened, and he crumpled to the ground.

"What are you doing?!" Zhen Yuanzi roared in fury.

Lu Chen swept up Hong Yun with the Qiankun Diagram and sped off into the depths of Chaos.

"I'll take Senior with me! You hold them off—!"

Behind him came the furious roars of the four Quasi-Saints and Zhen Yuanzi's shocked cry.

But Lu Chen didn't look back.

Because he knew this was the only way to save Hong Yun!

With the unconscious Hong Yun slung over his shoulder, Lu Chen fled through Chaos, the four Quasi-Saints hot on his heels.

Inside the Qiankun Diagram against his chest, the purified energy of the fake primordial purple qi suddenly resonated with the remnants of the Three Clans' baleful poison inside Hong Yun's body—and began to transform!

At the same time, deep within Chaos, a pair of cold eyes opened and fixed on him... Could it be the remnant will of Luohu?!

The Demon Ancestor wasn't dead?!