Chaos Shard, Primordial Violet Qi Appears

"Trap!"

Lu Chen's hair stood on end.

The light emanating from the Primordial Violet Qi grew stronger and stronger, illuminating the entire fragment space. Deep within the violet qi, a Kirin phantom flickered in and out of existence – it was Shi Qilin himself!

"Shi Qilin... how could it be him?!" Hongyun's mouth bled, his face grim.

Zhen Yuanzi quickly summoned the Earth Book, its earthy yellow light shielding the four of them. "This violet qi has been tampered with; it contains the Kirin Clan's seal and restrictions!"

Queen Mother of the West spun the Kunlun Mirror, its light shining into the depths of the violet qi. "It's not just Shi Qilin... there are also traces of the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan! This is a trap set by the Three Clans!"

Before she could finish speaking, a wild laugh echoed from outside the fragment.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, thank you for leading the way!"

Four figures broke through the Chaos barrier and stepped into the fragment.

The one in the lead had a bird's head and human body, with wings on his back – it was Old Ancestor Kunpeng, the future Demon Master, already at the early Quasi-Saint stage!

To his left stood a blood-robed elder, treading on the Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus, wielding the Yuantu and Abi swords – Old Ancestor Minghe!

To his right stood two golden-robed men, surrounded by Solar True Fire – Di Jun and Taiyi!

Four Quasi-Saints completely blocked their retreat.

"You... you've been ambushing us all along?" Hongyun wiped the blood from his lips, anger flashing in his eyes.

Kunpeng chuckled sinisterly, "Otherwise? This Primordial Violet Qi was bait we released. We thought we'd catch a big fish, but we didn't expect you, a kind-hearted old man, to take the bait."

"Bait?" Lu Chen's heart trembled.

He understood instantly.

In the late stage of the Three Clans' Calamity, Ancestral Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Shi Qilin had all foreseen their demise. But the battle for Saint positions was about to begin, and they wanted to leave a path for their clans – so they joined forces to set this trap, using a fake Primordial Violet Qi as bait to kill off competitors!

And the executors were Kunpeng and Minghe, who had close ties to the Three Clans, as well as Di Jun and Taiyi, who would later establish the Demon Clan!

"Such a deep scheme..." Zhen Yuanzi said gravely. "The three clan leaders sealed the violet qi with their own essence blood. Anyone not of the Three Clans' bloodline who touches it will suffer a backlash. Fellow Daoist Hongyun, your touch just now has exposed you to the Three Clans' malevolent poison."

Hongyun's face turned even paler. He indeed felt three strange forces within him eroding his primordial spirit.

"Hand over the violet qi, and we'll let you live," Minghe's voice was icy, the Yuantu sword pointed at them.

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

The pressure from the four Quasi-Saints erupted, and the entire fragment space began to crack.

Lu Chen and the other three were suffocating – the strongest among them, Zhen Yuanzi, was only at Grand Unity Peak. How could they possibly contend against four Quasi-Saints?

Despair!

But Lu Chen's mind raced.

Fake Primordial Violet Qi... Three Clans' seal... malevolent poison...

He suddenly remembered the Kirin Heart Core in the Qiankun Diagram, as well as the lingering aura of the Primordial Phoenix Heart Core and the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale!

"Perhaps... I can counter it!"

He secretly transmitted his voice to Hongyun. "Senior, trust me this once. When I say 'attack,' you will unleash your full power against the Kirin seal on the surface of the violet qi!"

Hongyun was startled, but seeing Lu Chen's determined gaze, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Are you done discussing?" Kunpeng said impatiently. "Three counts, if you don't hand it over, you die. Three--"

"Two--"

"One!"

"Attack!" Lu Chen roared.

Hongyun fully activated the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd, its crimson mist transforming into sharp blades that slashed at the Kirin phantom on the surface of the violet qi.

Simultaneously, Lu Chen summoned the Kirin Heart Core, the aura of the Primordial Phoenix Heart Core, and the aura of the Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale. The three forces merged and were injected into the violet qi.

"Buzz buzz buzz--"

The violet qi vibrated violently.

The Three Clans' seal was originally of the same origin. Now, encountering an attack from "their own kind," it actually showed a brief moment of chaos.

"Now!"

Lu Chen unfurled the Qiankun Diagram, not to collect the violet qi, but to collect the space around it – along with the seal, forcibly stripping it away!

"Insolent thief, how dare you!" Kunpeng roared, tearing at him with a claw.

Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book protected him, taking the full force of the blow and spitting blood as he was sent flying back.

Queen Mother of the West's Kunlun Mirror shone on Minghe, temporarily immobilizing him.

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

Lu Chen felt his movements slow down a hundredfold, but the Qiankun Diagram had successfully rolled up the violet qi and part of the seal.

"Go!"

He burned his vital blood and charged towards the edge of the remnant—where the spatial rift from his entry point was!

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

Hongyun gritted his teeth and sacrificed thirty percent of the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd's origin, causing a crimson mist to explode and temporarily block the pursuers.

"Pfft—" Hongyun spat blood again, his injuries worsening.

The four took the opportunity to charge out of the rift and back into Chaos.

Behind them, the four Quasi-Saints pursued relentlessly.

"Towards Purple Heaven Palace!" Zhen Yuanzi shouted, "They wouldn't dare kill anyone under the Dao Ancestor's nose!"

The four fled desperately.

The chaotic currents raged, and the pursuit continued behind them.

As Lu Chen fled, he checked the "harvest" within the Qiankun Diagram.

That Primordial Violet Qi was encased in a seal from the Three Clans, like a hedgehog, untouchable. But the seal was being eroded by the core aura of the Three Clans, slowly disintegrating.

"Once the seal is broken, I can see if this Violet Qi is real or fake..."

As he was thinking, a figure suddenly appeared before him.

Purple robes, white hair, a blurred face, standing on auspicious clouds.

A vast, heaven-like pressure permeated the air. Kunpeng and the other four pursuers immediately stopped, their expressions drastically changing.

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun!" everyone saluted in unison.

Hongjun's gaze swept over everyone, pausing for a moment on Lu Chen, then looking at the Qiankun Diagram in his arms.

"The battle for the Chaos remnant ends here," the Dao Ancestor said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Purple Heaven Palace is about to open. If any of you have grievances, settle them after listening to the sermon."

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

"The Violet Qi has its destined path," Hongjun said faintly. "It cannot be forced."

With that, he waved his sleeve.

Everyone felt the world spin, and when they regained their senses, they were standing before an ancient Taoist temple.

Three Great Dao runes were inscribed on the temple's plaque—[Purple Firmament Palace]!

The palace gates were closed, and hundreds of figures were already waiting outside, each with a profound aura, at least Grand Unity Golden Immortals.

"We're here..." Hongyun sighed in relief, collapsing to the ground, his face as pale as paper.

Zhen Yuanzi quickly tended to his injuries.

Queen Mother of the West looked at Lu Chen with a complex expression, "Young friend, thank you just now. If you hadn't broken the seal, we would all have died there."

Lu Chen shook his head, "Senior, you brought me into Chaos, it's I who should thank you."

He looked at Hongyun, feeling guilty.

In the original story, Hongyun died because of the Violet Qi. Although the Violet Qi was fake now, Hongyun had already been poisoned by the Three Clans' malevolent energy and was severely injured. Could he even hold on until the sermon ended?

"Senior Hongyun's injuries..."

"The malevolent poison has entered his marrow. It requires Three Lights Divine Water or an equivalent divine object to cure," Zhen Yuanzi sighed. "The Ginseng Fruit from my Wuzhuang Temple can temporarily alleviate it, but it's not a fundamental cure."

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

He had it! And a whole bottle!

But would taking it out expose too much?

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

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

"Creak—"

The gates of Purple Heaven Palace slowly opened.

The cultivators outside immediately became restless, rushing in one after another.

Lu Chen looked at Hongyun, "Senior, go in and listen to the sermon first. As for your injuries... I might have a way."

Hongyun managed a weak smile, "Thank you, young friend."

The four entered Purple Heaven Palace with the crowd.

The palace was vast and boundless, as if it were a world of its own. At the very front were seven futons, exuding profound Dao charm.

"Saint seats!" someone exclaimed.

Instantly, all the powerful beings surged towards the futons.

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

Nuwa followed closely, taking the fourth seat.

Next were Jieyin and Zhunti, taking the fifth and sixth.

The seventh futon remained empty.

Hongyun's injuries were severe, and he was a step too slow, about to miss out.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and pushed him, "Senior, please sit!"

Hongyun stumbled forward and sat on the seventh cushion.

The moment he sat down, all eyes in the hall focused on him.

Kunpeng, Minghe, Di Jun, and Taiyi stared intently at Hongyun, their killing intent unconcealed.

Hongyun gave a bitter smile, "Little friend, you've put me on the spot..."

"It's better than missing this opportunity," Lu Chen whispered. "Senior, tend to your injuries first, I'll guard you."

He pretended to take out pills from his robe, but in reality, he drew a drop of Three Lights Divine Water from the Qiankun Diagram, mixed it with the pills, and handed it to Hongyun.

After taking it, Hongyun's complexion immediately improved. "This is..."

"A life-saving divine medicine gifted by my master," Lu Chen signaled.

Hongyun understood and asked no further questions, closing his eyes to heal.

Lu Chen stood behind Hongyun, surveying the surroundings.

Of the three thousand guests of the mortal world, more than half had arrived. In the front row, besides the six cushions, there were dozens of secondary seats behind them, and further back were the regular seating areas.

He found a seat in a corner—low profile was essential.

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

Kunpeng, Minghe, Di Jun, and Taiyi were all looking at him, clearly still holding a grudge for his disruption of their plans.

Jieyin and Zhunti were also there, their gazes shifting between Hongyun and him, as if contemplating something.

"This is going to be troublesome..." Lu Chen gave a wry smile.

But just then, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared.

Silently, he materialized on the high platform in front.

The entire hall fell silent instantly.

"Today, I will begin lecturing on the Dao of Grand Unity," Hongjun spoke, and the heavens rained down flowers while the earth surged with golden springs.

Lu Chen quickly gathered his thoughts and listened attentively.

He listened for three hundred years.

Hongjun's lecture pointed directly to the origin of the Great Dao. Although Lu Chen's cultivation was low, he had the foundation of Sky-Opening Merit, making his comprehension exceptional, and he gained immensely.

Over the three hundred years, he broke through from the peak of Golden Immortal to the early stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, with the Three Flowers atop his head condensed and the Five Qi in his Chest returning to the origin.

More importantly, his understanding of the Law of Strength deepened further, and the quality of the Black Brick improved again.

Meanwhile, Hongyun's injuries had healed under the treatment of the Three Lights Divine Water, and his cultivation had also advanced.

When the three hundred years were up, Hongjun stopped.

"The first lecture has concluded. The next lecture will be in three thousand years."

The assembled cultivators rose and bowed.

Hongjun's gaze swept over the seven cushions. "You seven have a connection with me. You may stay a moment longer."

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Hongyun remained.

The others began to leave.

Just as Lu Chen was about to depart, Hongjun suddenly said, "That little friend, you stay as well."

Everyone was surprised and looked at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he reluctantly stayed.

After everyone else had left, Hongjun finally spoke:

"Hongyun."

"Your disciple is here," Hongyun replied respectfully.

"The purple qi you obtained is fake," Hongjun stated bluntly.

Hongyun's face turned pale. "Disciple... had guessed as much."

"But the true purple qi is indeed fated for you," Hongjun changed tack. "However, the fated time has not yet arrived."

Hongyun looked bewildered.

Hongjun turned to Lu Chen. "Little friend, let me see that fake purple qi you have."

Lu Chen did not dare to delay. He took out the Qiankun Diagram and released the sealed purple qi.

Hongjun raised a hand and pointed. The seal shattered, revealing the true form of the purple qi—it contained the malevolent aura of the Three Clans, along with a vicious curse: whoever refines it will be entangled by the karma of the Three Clans!

"How malicious..." Hongyun broke out in a cold sweat.

If he had truly refined it, he would have perished from karma alone, without anyone else needing to kill him.

Hongjun erased the malevolent aura and the curse. The purple qi transformed into pure energy, split into two. One portion was given to Hongyun, and the other to Lu Chen.

"This energy can help you stabilize your cultivation. The true Purple Qi will be revealed during the next sermon."

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!" the two said in thanks.

Hongjun looked at Lu Chen again, "Your path is different. Take care of yourself."

With that, his figure faded away.

Inside the Purple Heaven Palace, only the Seven Sages and Lu Chen remained.

The Three Pure Ones gave Lu Chen a deep look before leaving.

Nuwa, lost in thought, also departed.

Jieyin and Zhunti eagerly stepped forward, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, and this young friend, why don't we travel together? Chaos is dangerous, and we can look out for each other."

Hongyun was about to agree when Lu Chen interjected, "Seniors, please go ahead. This junior still has some matters to consult with Senior Zhen Yuanzi."

Jieyin and Zhunti's expressions stiffened, but they couldn't force the issue and left dejectedly.

After everyone else had gone, Hongyun asked, "Young friend, why did you refuse them?"

Lu Chen said in a low voice, "Senior, those two... are not to be befriended. During the next sermon, if they ask you to give up your cushion, absolutely do not do it!"

Hongyun was stunned, "Why?"

"If you give it up, you will die," Lu Chen said with a serious tone.

Hongyun's pupils contracted. Seeing the earnestness in Lu Chen's eyes, he slowly nodded, "I understand."

The two walked out of the Purple Heavens Palace.

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

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

Hongyun briefly recounted the events.

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Lu Chen and bowed solemnly, "Young friend has saved Hongyun's life. Wuzhuang Temple welcomes you forever."

The Queen Mother of the West also said, "Kunlun Mountain is also open to you."

Lu Chen quickly returned their greetings.

The four were about to head back to the Primordial Era together when suddenly—

"Boom!"

From the depths of Chaos, a terrifying fluctuation erupted.

A golden light tore through Chaos, heading straight for Hongyun!

"Hongyun, hand over the Purple Qi—!"

It was Di Jun and Taiyi, who had returned and launched a surprise attack!

"Be careful!" Zhen Yuanzi shielded himself with the Earth Book.

But this time, it wasn't just Di Jun and Taiyi.

Kunpeng and Minghe also attacked from the sides!

"Four Quasi-Saints... Are they insane?! To dare attack outside the Purple Heaven Palace?!" the Queen Mother of the West exclaimed in shock and anger.

Lu Chen looked at the four Quasi-Saints rushing towards them, then at the still-injured Hongyun, and gritted his teeth.

"Seniors, I'm sorry."

He took out the Black Brick, activating the Golden Light of Merit to its fullest.

But he didn't throw it at the enemies.

Instead—

"Bang!"

He struck Hongyun on the back of the head with the brick.

Hongyun's eyes widened, and he slumped down limply.

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

Lu Chen rolled up the Qiankun Diagram, put Hongyun inside, and sped towards the depths of Chaos.

"I'll take Senior away! You guys cover the rear—!"

Behind him, the roars of the four Quasi-Saints and Zhen Yuanzi's cry of alarm could be heard.

But Lu Chen didn't look back.

Because he knew, this was the only way to save Hongyun!

Lu Chen fled through Chaos carrying the unconscious Hongyun, with the four Quasi-Saints in hot pursuit.

Meanwhile, inside the Qiankun Diagram in his arms, the purified fake Purple Qi energy suddenly resonated with the residual Three Clans' malevolent poison within Hongyun—the energy began to mutate!

At the same time, deep within Chaos, a pair of cold eyes opened, locking onto him... Could it be Luohu's remnant soul?!

The Demon Ancestor is not dead?!