Chaos Pursuit, One Brick Per Kill

"Senior's words... what do they mean?"

Lu Chen clutched the still-warm Demon Abyss Token, watching the remnants of Luohu's soul and the illusory figures of the Three Clans' leaders completely vanish into the chaos. Alarm bells rang in his mind.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi exchanged a look, their expressions equally grave.

"Young friend, the moment you accepted the token, you became connected to the fate of the demonic path," Zhen Yuanzi calculated with his fingers, his brow furrowed. "Though it is but a wisp of karma, the Heavenly Dao has recorded it. You must be doubly careful in your future actions."

Lu Chen gave a wry smile. "If I hadn't accepted it then, with the four Quasi-Saints returning, the three of us would already be dust in the chaos."

His words were true. Luohu's appearance, while seemingly an offer of recruitment, was in fact a threat and a transaction—by accepting the token, he would help distract or deter Di Jun and the others who might have come back; if he refused, this remnant soul of the Demon Ancestor might not have protected them.

"Let's return to the Primordial Era first," Hongyun decided decisively. "This place is not suitable for lingering."

The three transformed into streams of light, flying at full speed towards the borders of the Primordial Era.

Along the way, Lu Chen sent a wisp of his divine sense into the Qiankun Diagram to check on the three Kirin Eggs that were incubating.

Something was indeed wrong!

The originally earth-yellow eggshells now displayed dense, dark red demonic patterns on their surfaces. The life force within the eggs was no longer pure and serene, but exuded a chaotic and violent aura.

"The memories of the Chaos Demon Gods... were they triggered by Luohu's demonic energy just now?" Lu Chen's heart sank.

He tried to purify them with Sky-Opening Merit and Three Lights Divine Water. The demonic patterns dimmed slightly but were not eradicated, moving around the eggshells like living things.

"This is troublesome," Lu Chen frowned.

These three eggs were the last hope for the Kirin Clan, entrusted to him by the Shi Qilin on his deathbed. The karma involved was significant. If they hatched into demonized Kirin, let alone preserving the Kirin Clan, it would be a miracle if they didn't cause a catastrophe.

"I need to discuss this with Senior Zhen Yuanzi as soon as possible..."

As he was thinking, three rifts suddenly tore open in the chaos ahead!

"They're here," Lu Chen's eyes turned cold, and he stopped his escape.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi also stopped simultaneously, each summoning their magical treasures.

From the rifts, three figures stepped out, forming a triangle to block their path.

On the left was Old Ancestor Minghe, standing on the Twelve-Grade Karma Red Lotus, with the Yuantu and Abi Twin Swords hovering at his sides. His blood-red robe fluttered without wind. "Hongyun, hand over what you obtained from the purple qi, and I shall spare your life."

In the middle was Kunpeng, his face grim. The anger from his second primordial spirit being injured by Lu Chen had clearly not subsided. His gaze was fixed on Lu Chen. "You scoundrel, I will kill you today!"

On the right was... an illusionary figure clad in a star-patterned daoist robe. It was not Di Jun or Taiyi in their true forms, but the "Star God Incarnation" condensed by Demon Master Kunpeng using the power of the Great Formation of the Stars. Its aura was also at the early Quasi-Saint stage!

"Three Quasi-Saints, you certainly think highly of us," Hongyun sneered, the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd emitting a crimson glow.

Zhen Yuanzi unfurled the Earth Book, and the illusion of thousands of miles of mountains and rivers enveloped the three. "If you want to fight, then fight!"

Lu Chen remained silent, gripping the Black Brick in his right hand and the newly acquired Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger Gourd in his left—it was taken from the Treasure Distribution Cliff, and he was eager to test its power.

"Kill!"

Minghe attacked first. The Yuantu and Abi Twin Swords transformed into two blood-red long rainbows, slashing directly at Hongyun.

Kunpeng's true form lunged at Zhen Yuanzi, his claws tearing through the illusion of mountains and rivers.

The Star God Incarnation took a step forward, stars swirling around it, and punched towards Lu Chen—wherever the fist's power passed, the chaotic energy was shaken into nothingness!

"Well met!"

Lu Chen advanced instead of retreating, the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner protecting his body as he met the fist's power with the Black Brick.

"Boom!"

Fist and brick collided. Lu Chen was sent flying back a hundred miles, his tiger's mouth splitting, but the Star God Incarnation was also forced back three steps.

"Grand Unity Golden Immortal, you can withstand my punch?" the Star God Incarnation seemed slightly surprised, then sneered, "Then take another!"

The second punch was even stronger, with the illusory figures of three hundred and sixty stars appearing on the surface of the fist—a miniature version of the Great Formation of the Stars!

Lu Chen's pupils contracted sharply.

Taking this head-on would mean death!

"Gravity Brick!"

He activated the divine ability he had recently comprehended. The gravity field on the surface of the Black Brick distorted, and the Star God Incarnation's punch visibly slowed down by a hair's breadth.

That sliver of a moment was enough!

"Please, turn, treasure!"

Lu Chen unleashed the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger Gourd. A white light shot out from the gourd's opening, so fast it transcended the concept of space and time, circling the Star God Incarnation's neck—

"Pfft!"

The Star God Incarnation's head flew off, dissipating into specks of starlight.

One strike, to slay a Quasi-Saint's incarnation!

Although it was only an incarnation, and Lu Chen had the advantage of the opponent's underestimation and the surprise of the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife, this feat was enough to shock the entire scene!

"Immortal Slaying Flying Knife?!" Minghe exclaimed in shock and anger, "How did this treasure end up in your hands?!"

Kunpeng's eyes turned redder. "Scoundrel, how many treasures have you stolen?!"

Lu Chen did not answer, retracting the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger Gourd—it could only be used once and needed to be nurtured again. However, the deterrent effect had been achieved.

"Seniors, it's time for us to counterattack!" he roared.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi were greatly invigorated, their attacks becoming fiercer.

Minghe was entangled by Hongyun's Soul Scattering Mist, unable to break free for the moment.

Kunpeng, on the other hand, was firmly trapped by Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book's mountains and rivers, roaring continuously.

"Kill Kunpeng first!" Lu Chen transmitted his voice.

The three acted in tacit understanding, turning their attention to Kunpeng simultaneously.

Hongyun's gourd spewed out crimson poisonous mist, corroding Kunpeng's protective demonic light.

Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book transformed into a colossal mountain tens of thousands of feet high, suppressing him with a roar.

Lu Chen circled behind Kunpeng, unleashing the full power of the Black Brick's Golden Light of Merit, smashing it towards the back of Kunpeng's head—

"This move again?!" Kunpeng roared in fury, sweeping his wings back.

But this time, Lu Chen used a new divine ability.

"Malevolent Qi Brick!"

The surface of the Black Brick shimmered with the malevolent aura of God-Slaying Spear fragments, and combined with the Law of Strength, it ignored all defenses and struck directly at the primordial spirit!

"Bang!"

It landed a solid hit.

"Ah—!" Kunpeng shrieked, his primordial spirit violently jolted, his vision going black.

"Suppress!" Zhen Yuanzi seized the opportunity, transforming the Earth Book into a cage and temporarily trapping Kunpeng.

"Let's go!" Hongyun rolled up Lu Chen, preparing to flee.

"Want to leave? Did you ask me first?" Minghe snorted coldly, his Karma Red Lotus erupting, spawning billions of Blood God Son clones that sealed off all directions.

"Sea of Blood Array!"

The entire Chaos was dyed blood-red, and endless Blood God Sons surged forward, each possessing the strength of a Golden Immortal!

"Troublesome." Zhen Yuanzi's expression turned grim.

As long as the Sea of Blood doesn't dry up, Minghe won't die. This old devil is the most difficult to deal with.

Lu Chen looked at the sky full of Blood God Sons and suddenly remembered something within the Qiankun Diagram.

"Senior, help me hold them off for ten breaths!"

He flickered and entered the Qiankun Diagram.

Inside the diagram, he quickly retrieved an item—that drop of Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood (obtained from the Dragon Palace treasury)!

Then he took out the aura of the Primordial Phoenix Heart Core and the aura of the Kirin Heart Core.

The origins of the three clan leaders, united!

"With the essence blood of the three clans, I'll break your Sea of Blood Array—let's see who's the real ancestor!"

He fused the three streams of essence blood and injected them into the Black Brick.

The Black Brick erupted with crimson, gold, and yellow light. Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin phantoms appeared on its surface, roaring towards the sky.

"One brick, to stabilize the Qiankun!"

Lu Chen rushed out of the Qiankun Diagram and smashed the Black Brick fiercely towards the core of the Sea of Blood Array.

"Boom—!!!"

The essence blood of the three clans erupted, possessing a natural suppression over the Sea of Blood—the Sea of Blood was formed from Pangu's navel's filth, while the three clans were Pangu's descendants, with higher origins!

The Sea of Blood Array shook violently, and countless Blood God Sons dissipated with screams.

Minghe grunted, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth: "Essence blood of the three clans?! Where did you get..."

Before he could finish speaking, Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi's attacks arrived.

"Go!" Minghe gritted his teeth, retracted the Sea of Blood, and transformed into a blood-red light, fleeing.

Although he wouldn't die, he still needed time to recover from his injuries and didn't want to fight to the death.

Kunpeng, still trapped in the Earth Book's cage, roared upon seeing this: "Minghe, you—"

"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, fend for yourself." Minghe's voice faded into the distance.

"Damn it!" Kunpeng struggled desperately.

"It's your turn." Lu Chen and the other two surrounded him.

"You dare kill me? Di Jun and Taiyi won't let you go!" Kunpeng shouted fiercely.

"Then let them come." Hongyun sneered, aiming his gourd at Kunpeng.

Just as Kunpeng was about to fall—

"Clang—!"

The sound of the Chaos Bell echoed from afar.

Time froze.

A figure in golden robes strode forward, and with each step, Solar True Fire Golden Lotuses bloomed beneath his feet.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi, his true form has descended!

"Release them," Taiyi said indifferently.

Zhen Yuanzi's expression turned ugly, "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, this matter began with Kunpeng..."

"I'll say it one more time, release them." The phantom of the Chaos Bell appeared in Taiyi's hand, and its chime rang out again.

"Crack--" The Earth Book cage showed cracks.

Quasi-Saint peak, coupled with the Chaos Bell, their strength completely crushed the three of them.

Lu Chen's mind raced, and he suddenly transmitted a message to Kunpeng, "Do you want to live?"

Kunpeng was stunned.

"Give me the complete formation diagram of the Great Formation of the Stars, and I'll guarantee your survival," Lu Chen said quickly.

"You wish!" Kunpeng roared.

"Then you die." Lu Chen winked at Hongyun.

Hongyun understood and intensified the poisonous mist from his gourd.

"Wait!" Kunpeng was terrified, "I'll give it to you! But you have to swear to protect me!"

"I swear, if you are saved and don't give me the formation diagram, may I be destroyed by heavenly lightning," Lu Chen said casually.

Kunpeng gritted his teeth, and a star-light Jade Slip flew from his brow, shooting towards Lu Chen.

Lu Chen caught it and scanned it with his divine sense—it was indeed the complete formation diagram of the Great Formation of the Stars. Although the core part was restricted and unclear, it was enough.

"Fellow Daoist Taiyi!" Lu Chen suddenly shouted, "We are willing to release them, but please swear that after today, Kunpeng will not pursue us three again!"

Taiyi frowned and looked at Kunpeng.

Kunpeng quickly said, "I swear! If I pursue you again, I will never achieve enlightenment!"

Taiyi nodded, "Agreed."

Zhen Yuanzi removed the Earth Book cage.

Kunpeng broke free and flew behind Taiyi in a disheveled state, glaring at Lu Chen with venomous eyes, but he dared not make a move.

"Let's go." Taiyi swept Kunpeng up and turned to leave.

From beginning to end, he didn't even glance at the formation diagram in Lu Chen's hand—perhaps he didn't care, or perhaps he had other plans.

After Taiyi left far away, the three of them finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Little friend, you really intend to protect Kunpeng?" Hongyun frowned.

"Protect him?" Lu Chen grinned, "He swore it himself, what does it have to do with me? Besides, I only said I'd protect him from death, not from injury."

As he spoke, he shook the star-light Jade Slip in his hand, "The formation diagram of the Great Formation of the Stars is in hand, this is the real benefit."

Zhen Yuanzi gave a wry smile, "You... your courage is too great."

"Fortune favors the bold," Lu Chen put away the formation diagram, "Senior, let's return to Wuzhuang Temple first. Those three Kirin Eggs have a problem."

"Alright."

The three of them accelerated and finally flew out of Chaos, returning to the Primordial Era.

As soon as they entered the Primordial Era, the Heavenly Dao's senses descended.

"Buzz--"

Three streams of Golden Light of Merit fell, integrating into their bodies respectively.

This was a reward for them maintaining the stability of the Primordial Era (repelling Minghe, suppressing Kunpeng), though not much, it was better than nothing.

Lu Chen's cultivation advanced further, stabilizing at the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal.

"Let's go back to Wuzhuang Temple first," Zhen Yuanzi said.

The three flew towards Longevity Mountain.

On the way, Lu Chen studied the formation diagram of the Great Formation of the Stars, and the more he looked, the more shocked he became.

"What an exquisite formation... It's based on 365 main stars and supplemented by 14,800 secondary stars, condensing the power of the stars, it can rival a Saint... Wait, there's a loophole here?"

He discovered a blurry marking in a certain part of the formation diagram, which seemed intentional.

"The Taiyin star position is unstable... It requires the two Taiyin Goddesses, Changxi and Xihe, to guard it? If something happens to them, the formation's power will be reduced by 30%?"

Lu Chen's eyes lit up.

In the future Heavenly Court of the Demon Race, Di Jun would marry Xihe and Changxi and have ten Golden Crows. However, Changxi didn't seem truly devoted to Di Jun? Perhaps he could...

While he was contemplating, they had already arrived at Wuzhuang Temple.

As soon as they landed, Qingfeng and Mingyue ran over in a panic, "Master! It's bad! Those three Kirin Eggs... they've hatched! But, but they..."

"What's wrong?" Zhen Yuanzi strode quickly into the back garden.

Beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, three small Kirins were playing.

One was entirely crimson, its feet treading flames; another was clad in golden armor, with dragon wings sprouting from its back; and the third was the most bizarre—half Kirin, half a twisted demonic body, exuding the aura of a Chaos Demon God!

"Chaos Kirin bloodline awakened?!" Zhen Yuanzi exclaimed in shock.

The Half-Demon Qilin saw Lu Chen and suddenly spoke, its voice ancient and hoarse:

"Junior... you bear the finger bone of Father God (Chaos Kirin)..."

Lu Chen's heart trembled. "You are... a remnant of the Chaos Kirin?"

"No... I am newly born... but I have inherited his memories..." The Half-Demon Qilin's eyes were deep. "Before Father God died... he asked me to tell you something..."

"What is it?"

"In the deepest part of the Demon Abyss... there is something Pangu left behind... Luohu is also looking for it..."

Something Pangu left behind? In the Demon Abyss?

Lu Chen's breathing quickened.

"Also..." The Half-Demon Qilin looked west, its eyes filled with fear. "Beware of Jieyin and Zhunti... they have already defected to Luohu..."

What?!

Lu Chen, Hongyun, and Zhen Yuanzi all changed expression simultaneously.

Just then, a Buddhist chant echoed from outside Wuzhuang Temple:

"Amitabha... Fellow Daoist Hongyun, little friend Lu Chen, could you come out for a chat?"

It was Jieyin's voice!

Jieyin and Zhunti had suddenly arrived at Wuzhuang Temple, specifically asking to see Lu Chen and Hongyun! The Half-Demon Qilin trembled and transmitted to Lu Chen: "They carry Luohu's Demonic Seed!"

At the same time, the Demon Abyss Token in Lu Chen's embrace grew hot, and a message entered his mind—it was Luohu's summons: "Kid, come to the Demon Abyss, and I'll give you a great gift: the karmic merit of Jieyin and Zhunti's attainment of sainthood. Do you want to... intercept it early?"