Fellow Daoist, This Violet Qi Is Poisonous! (A Legendary Scene)

"Little thief! Put Hong Yun down—!"

Kunpeng's furious roar ripped through Chaos. His enormous true form blotted out the sky, and a single flap of his wings carried him ninety thousand miles.

Without looking back, Lu Chen fled with the unconscious Hong Yun wrapped in the Qiankun Diagram. The Black Brick blazed a path ahead, while Golden Light of Merit forcibly carved a passage through the Chaos Qi Flow.

Too slow!

A Quasi-Saint was simply too fast. Even as he burned his essence blood, the distance between them kept shrinking.

"At this rate, they'll catch up within thirty breaths!" Sweat beaded on Lu Chen's forehead.

The Qiankun Diagram in his arms suddenly shuddered. The energy of the purified fake violet qi was resonating violently with the remnants of the Three Clans' baleful poison inside Hong Yun!

"Oh no!"

Lu Chen sent his Divine Sense into the diagram. The violet qi energy had turned into red, gold, and yellow light. Tangled with the baleful poison, it was now attacking Hong Yun's Primordial Spirit!

"Damn it, did Dao Ancestor Hongjun fail to purify it completely? Or is there something more to the Three Clans' curse?"

He didn't dare stop. As he fled, he tried to suppress it with Three Lights Divine Water.

But it didn't work! The three-colored light grew brighter and brighter. Hong Yun's face began to darken, and his aura rapidly weakened.

"I need to find somewhere safe to treat him..."

Lu Chen scanned Chaos and suddenly spotted a cluster of floating Chaos boulders to his front left.

"Let's take a chance!"

He changed direction and plunged into the cluster.

The field of boulders stretched far and wide. Each boulder was as large as a mountain, drifting chaotically through Chaos and forming a natural maze.

Lu Chen slipped into the densest part of the cluster. The Qiankun Diagram unfolded, turning into a speck of dust that clung to the back of a boulder.

He suppressed every trace of his aura.

Three breaths later.

"Boom!"

Kunpeng's true form smashed through several boulders before stopping at the edge of the field.

"The aura vanished?" Minghe stood atop the Karma Red Lotus, his blood-red eyes sweeping over the area.

Di Jun's Solar True Fire formed a Golden Crow phantom that circled above the boulders. "He's hiding. Search! Every inch!"

The four Quasi-Saints split up and began searching the boulder field.

Inside the speck of dust, Lu Chen held his breath.

Any one of them could kill him in an instant. For now, he was relying entirely on the Qiankun Diagram's concealment to hold out.

But it wouldn't last long. Quasi-Saints' Divine Senses were incredibly sharp; sooner or later, they would find him.

"I have to save Senior Hong Yun first..."

He looked into the space inside the diagram.

Hong Yun lay on the ground. The three-colored light had spread across his entire body, and the flame of his Primordial Spirit flickered as if it might go out at any moment.

"The Three Clans' baleful poison... the violet qi energy... wait!"

A flash of inspiration struck Lu Chen.

The Three Clans' baleful poison was a curse formed from the essence blood of Ancestral Dragon, Yuanfeng, and Shi Qilin. The violet qi energy was the product of purifying the fake violet qi, and it contained the Three Clans' origins.

They shared the same source, which was why they resonated.

But what if... he introduced a fourth kind of power?

Something like Sky-Opening Merit!

"I'll use Merit as a guide to force them into harmony!"

Lu Chen activated a fragment of the axe haft, sending a thread of Golden Light of Sky-Opening Merit into Hong Yun's body.

"Vmmm—"

The Golden Light of Merit flowed like a warm current. Wherever it passed, it forcibly "bound" the three-colored light together, stopping it from clashing.

But it wasn't enough!

The baleful poison and violet qi energy were too vast. A single thread of Merit could only delay them.

"I need more Merit... or a more overbearing force!"

Lu Chen looked at the Black Brick.

This personal magic treasure had fused with fragments of the Sky-Opening Axe and contained the Law of Strength. It was the perfect weapon for breaking through every fancy trick.

"Smash!"

He summoned the Black Brick, wrapped it in Golden Light of Merit, and held it three inches above Hong Yun's forehead.

"Senior, forgive me!"

The Black Brick descended gently, tapping Hong Yun between the brows.

"Clang—"

It wasn't the sound of a blow against flesh, but a shock reverberating through the Primordial Spirit!

The Law of Strength entered through Hong Yun's brow and forcibly suppressed the rampaging three-colored light.

At the same time, Lu Chen poured out all the Three Lights Divine Water he had left.

Sunlight scoured, moonlight corroded, and starlight devoured—the Three Lights Divine Water was actually the bane of the Three Clans' baleful poison!

The three-colored light melted away like snow under the sun.

Hong Yun groaned and opened his eyes.

"Little friend... you..." He was still somewhat dazed.

"Senior, don't move. It's not over yet!" Lu Chen said sharply.

Though the three-colored light had been suppressed, part of it had already fused with Hong Yun's Primordial Spirit. Forcibly removing it would damage him at his core.

"There's only one way... transform it!"

Lu Chen's thoughts raced. He remembered the Ancestor Dragon Nine Transformations, the Nirvana True Scripture, and the Kirin Clan's cultivation techniques.

He had learned the basics of all three secret arts from his spoils of war.

"Senior, follow my guidance and circulate the techniques!"

He sent the foundational circulation routes of all three techniques into Hong Yun's mind.

Hong Yun didn't understand, but he trusted Lu Chen and followed his instructions.

"Ancestor Dragon Transformation—Water!"

"Phoenix Nirvana—Fire!"

"Kirin Earth-Step—Earth!"

Guided by the Golden Light of Merit, the three forces began to merge slowly, forming pure Five Elements origins that flowed back into Hong Yun.

Hong Yun's aura began to recover. It even grew stronger!

"Is this... a blessing in disguise?" Hong Yun was stunned.

He had already been at Grand Unity Peak, but now he could feel the threshold of Quasi-Sainthood within reach!

"Senior, focus on stabilizing your cultivation. There are four Quasi-Saints searching for us outside." Lu Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

Hong Yun nodded and closed his eyes to meditate.

Lu Chen turned his attention to the outside world.

The four Quasi-Saints had already searched most of the boulder field and were drawing closer.

"This won't work..." He furrowed his brow in thought.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on a corner of the Qiankun Diagram. Three Phoenix Eggs lay there, along with a Heavenly Phoenix Egg—Little Golden Phoenix had already hatched from it—and the three Kirin Eggs, the final seeds of their kind.

A daring plan took shape in his mind.

"A scapegoat and a diversion!"

He took out the empty shell of the Heavenly Phoenix Egg and infused it with a trace of Yuanfeng's Heart Core aura.

Then he took a drop of Ancestral Dragon's Reverse Scale essence blood and smeared it over the shell.

Next, he took a fragment of a Chaos Kirin's finger bone and embedded it in the egg.

Finally, he poured all the remaining purified fake violet qi energy into the Heavenly Phoenix Egg!

"Vmmm—"

The Heavenly Phoenix Egg burst into brilliant light. Its aura mingled the origins of the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Clans, and carried the Dao resonance of Primordial Violet Qi!

It wasn't true violet qi, but it was convincing enough to fool anyone—especially in Chaos, where Divine Sense was obstructed.

"Go!"

Lu Chen disguised the Heavenly Phoenix Egg as "Primordial Violet Qi," wrapped it in the Qiankun Diagram, and quietly sent it out from behind a boulder.

At the same time, he sent his clone, "Ao Chen"—his Dragon Clan clone—out from another direction, pretending to flee in panic.

"There!" Di Jun was the first to spot the clone.

"Pursue!" Taiyi's Chaos Bell rang, locking down space and time.

The clone deliberately revealed an opening, letting the four of them see the glowing Heavenly Phoenix Egg in his arms.

"The violet qi is with him!" Kunpeng shrieked.

The four Quasi-Saints immediately abandoned their search and rushed after the clone.

"Now!"

Lu Chen carried Hong Yun and fled at full speed in the opposite direction.

The clone led the four of them toward the depths of Chaos.

The plan worked!

But Lu Chen had barely flown a hundred thousand miles when—

"Boom!"

Chaos erupted ahead of him, and a black figure blocked his way.

A bird's head, a human body, and a pair of wings on his back—it was Kunpeng!

"Little thief, you think I'll fall for the same trick twice?" Kunpeng sneered.

Lu Chen's pupils contracted. "Your true form went after my clone. This is... your second Primordial Spirit?"

"That's right!" Kunpeng sneered. "My true form went to seize the violet qi, while I stayed here to lie in wait. I didn't expect to actually catch you—Hong Yun is gravely wounded, and you're just a puny Taiyi. Die!"

His claw raked toward them, and the might of a Quasi-Saint crushed the void.

Lu Chen gritted his teeth, raising the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to protect himself and gripping the Black Brick.

"Senior, can you still fight?"

Hong Yun opened his eyes. His aura had recovered to eighty percent. "I can!"

The Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd rose into the air, its crimson mist forming a barrier.

"Bang!"

Kunpeng's claw smashed through the mist. The two of them spat blood and were sent flying.

The gap was too great!

"Foolish insects trying to shake a tree." Kunpeng raised his hand again, preparing to finish them off.

Just then—

"Chirp—!"

Little Golden Phoenix, who had been asleep in Lu Chen's arms, suddenly woke.

It seemed to sense the mortal danger. The three golden feathers atop its head burst into flame, and its wings spread wide.

Time stopped!

Though only for a tenth of a breath, Lu Chen and Hong Yun were both seasoned fighters. They seized the opportunity in an instant.

"Smash!"

"Slash!"

The Black Brick and the red gourd slammed into Kunpeng's chest at the same time.

"Pfft!" Kunpeng's second Primordial Spirit was caught off guard and hurled backward, its chest caved in.

"Go!" Lu Chen didn't dare keep fighting. He grabbed Hong Yun and fled again.

"Don't think you can escape!" Kunpeng's second Primordial Spirit roared in fury and gave chase.

But wounded, he was a little slower.

They chased and fled, flying for who knew how many tens of thousands of miles.

There was no sense of direction in Chaos. Lu Chen could only rely on instinct to fly toward the Primordial World.

Gradually, Kunpeng's aura faded farther and farther behind them. His second Primordial Spirit had been badly injured and couldn't catch up.

"We're... safe for now." Lu Chen panted and stopped to rest.

Hong Yun was pale as well. "Little friend, I truly... owe you my thanks."

"Think nothing of it, Senior." Lu Chen smiled bitterly. "I'm the one who got you caught up in this."

"No." Hong Yun shook his head, his expression complicated. "That fake violet qi was meant for me. If not for you, I would have perished outside the Purple Sky Palace."

He paused, then said solemnly, "Little friend Lu Chen, I can never repay you for saving my life. If you ever have need of me, Hong Yun will do anything you ask, even if it costs me my life."

Lu Chen hurriedly waved his hands. "You're too kind, Senior."

After resting for a while, the two prepared to continue on their way.

But just then—

"Vmmm!"

A rift suddenly split open in the Chaos ahead.

A figure stumbled out, covered in blood, clutching a glowing Heavenly Phoenix Egg.

It was the clone, Ao Chen!

"How did you..." Lu Chen froze.

Wasn't the clone supposed to be leading the four Quasi-Saints away? Why was he back?

And from the look of him, he was gravely wounded and on the verge of death!

"Main body... run..." The clone sent a strained message. "They... found out it was fake... They're coming..."

Before he could finish, four rifts burst open in the Chaos behind him.

Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, and Kunpeng's true form came after them, murderous intent surging!

"You little thief, how dare you toy with us—!" Di Jun flew into a rage, Solar True Fire scorching the heavens and boiling the earth.

Taiyi's Chaos Bell locked down the space-time in every direction.

Minghe's Yuantu Abi Twin Swords came slashing in.

Kunpeng's true form blotted out the sky.

Four Quasi-Saints surrounded him, attacking in a fury!

This time, there was no way out!

Lu Chen looked at the heavily wounded clone in his arms, then at the weakened Hong Yun beside him. He gritted his teeth.

"Senior, trust me one last time."

"What are you going to do?" Hong Yun had a bad feeling.

Lu Chen took out the "fake violet qi" disguised as the Heavenly Phoenix Egg and stuffed it into Hong Yun's arms.

Then he threw back his head and shouted:

"Senior Hong Yun—take the violet qi and run! I'll hold them off—!"

He shouted with all his might, his voice carrying across Chaos.

The four Quasi-Saints' gazes instantly locked onto the "glowing violet qi" in Hong Yun's arms.

"The violet qi is still with him!" Minghe shrieked.

"After him!" Di Jun and Taiyi changed course and charged at Hong Yun.

Hong Yun was stunned. "Friend, you..."

"Go! Find Senior Zhen Yuanzi!" Lu Chen shoved him away and sent him a voice transmission at the same time. "It's fake. I'll explain later!"

Though confused, Hong Yun trusted Lu Chen. He gritted his teeth and fled.

All four Quasi-Saints went after Hong Yun.

In Chaos, only Lu Chen and his heavily wounded clone remained.

"Main body... that move of yours... was too risky..." The clone gave a bitter smile.

"Risky, but effective." Lu Chen's gaze was icy. "Senior Hong Yun has the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd. He's a master at escaping. The four Quasi-Saints won't catch up to him right away."

"What about next...?"

"Next?" Lu Chen looked toward the direction the four Quasi-Saints had gone, the corner of his mouth lifting into a faint smile.

"Now we close the net."

Taking the clone with him, he quietly followed after them.

Half a day later.

Somewhere in Chaos, the four Quasi-Saints had surrounded Hong Yun, leaving him in grave danger.

"Hong Yun, hand over the violet qi and we'll spare your life!" Kunpeng barked.

Hong Yun clutched the Heavenly Phoenix Egg, his face deathly pale. "This thing... this thing is poisonous!"

"Still trying to trick us?" Taiyi's Chaos Bell rang, and Hong Yun spat blood.

Just as the four Quasi-Saints were preparing to strike the killing blow—

"Stop!"

A furious shout rang out as Zhen Yuanzi arrived!

The Earth Book unfurled, and an illusory landscape stretching thousands of miles enveloped the area, shielding Hong Yun for the moment.

"Zhen Yuanzi, do you intend to make enemies of us?" Di Jun said coldly.

"Hong Yun is my sworn friend. Whoever dares touch him will face a fight to the death with Wuzhuang Temple!" Zhen Yuanzi stood his ground.

The two sides faced off.

In the distance, Lu Chen lay hidden, watching the scene.

"Almost..."

He controlled the clone, Ao Chen, who suddenly appeared from the other side and shouted in alarm:

"Something terrible has happened! The Dragon Clan Treasure Vault has been robbed! Ancestral Dragon is furious and has ordered a full investigation—!"

His voice rang across the battlefield.

The four Quasi-Saints froze.

The Dragon Clan Treasure Vault had been robbed? When had that happened?

In the instant their attention was diverted, Lu Chen's main body turned into a streak of light, charged onto the battlefield, and snatched the Heavenly Phoenix Egg from Hong Yun's arms.

"Fellow Daoists—this violet qi really is poisonous! I'll prove it to you!"

He raised the Heavenly Phoenix Egg high, then crushed it with all his might as everyone watched.

"Crack!"

The eggshell shattered.

There was no violet qi inside—only a destructive energy, a mixture of the Three Clans' baleful poisons. It burst open with a thunderous boom!

"What?!" The four Quasi-Saints' expressions changed drastically, and they hurriedly retreated.

The explosion shook Chaos.

When the dust cleared, Lu Chen lay on the ground, "on the verge of death," clutching the broken eggshell. He gave a bitter laugh.

"See... see? This isn't Primordial Violet Qi at all... It's a trap left by the Three Clans... Anyone who touches it dies..."

The four Quasi-Saints probed with their Divine Senses and indeed detected the lingering aura of the Three Clans' curse on the eggshell.

"So it really was a trap..." Minghe's expression darkened.

Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance. Reluctance flashed in their eyes, but they had no reason to keep pressing the matter.

Kunpeng stared hard at Lu Chen. "You little thief, did you know all along?"

"I only... just realized..." Lu Chen said "weakly." "Senior Hong Yun... hurry... give me that bottle of antidote... I've been poisoned..."

Hong Yun froze, but when he saw Lu Chen give him a signal, he hurriedly took out a bottle of ordinary healing pills, pretending they were an antidote.

Lu Chen swallowed one, and his "complexion improved."

At the sight of this, the four Quasi-Saints' last shred of suspicion vanished.

"What a waste of time!" Taiyi put away the Chaos Bell. "All that effort for nothing."

The four departed in frustration.

Only after they had gone far did Zhen Yuanzi finally relax. He looked at Lu Chen. "Friend, what exactly..."

Lu Chen got to his feet, dusted himself off, and grinned.

"Senior, the show's over."

He took out his true reward: the purified energy from the fake violet qi, with three-tenths remaining.

"Though the violet qi was fake, the energy was real. Senior Hong Yun has turned misfortune into fortune and already touched the threshold of Quasi-Sainthood. And I got a share, too."

Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi gaped at him.

"You... you were acting from the very beginning?" Hong Yun stammered.

"Of course." Lu Chen shrugged. "Four Quasi-Saints were hunting us. A direct fight would've meant death. We had to outsmart them—first pin the blame on someone else, then expose the truth. Once they thought they'd seen through everything, naturally they'd stop pursuing us."

Zhen Yuanzi gave Lu Chen a long look. "Your ingenuity is rare even in the Primordial World, my young friend."

"You flatter me, Senior." Lu Chen cupped his hands. "We shouldn't linger here. Let's return to the Primordial World."

Just as the three were about to leave, a soft laugh came from deep within Chaos.

"Wonderful. Simply wonderful."

A figure in a black robe slowly emerged from the void.

His features were blurred, and demonic aura surged around him.

"I thought the Three Clans' schemes were impressive enough. I didn't expect to see something even better."

The black-robed figure's gaze fell on Lu Chen.

"Boy, you have a bright future. How about... joining me?"

Lu Chen's pupils contracted.

This aura... Luohu?!

Hadn't the Demon Ancestor perished in the Dao-Devil War?!

Luohu's remnant soul had appeared, and he was trying to recruit Lu Chen! Even more terrifyingly, two phantom figures stood behind him—none other than the remnants of Ancestral Dragon and Yuanfeng!

The leaders of the Three Clans had actually been in league with the Demon Ancestor?!

At the same time, the rumble of the Heavenly Dao rang out from the direction of the Primordial World: the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity had ended, the Three Clans had fallen into decline, and the Heavenly Dao's Merit was about to descend! And Lu Chen still bore a tremendous karmic debt to the Three Clans...