Diverting Disaster Eastward, Tricking the Kunpeng Again

"Defeat me, and the purple qi will be yours."

As soon as Lu Chen spoke, the entire area fell into dead silence.

The God-Slaying Remnant Spear spat out fierce black flames, the Chaos Brick emanated Sky-Opening pressure, and the Morning Bell pulsed with spatial fluctuations. With these three supreme treasures augmenting him, Lu Chen's aura at this moment had subtly surpassed all the Quasi-Saints present!

Old Ancestor Minghe's expression shifted, his Sea of Blood true form slightly retreating—he had suffered losses at Lu Chen's hands before and knew this brat's methods were ruthless.

Kunpeng's eyes were sinister, yet he dared not be the first to attack.

Those old monsters from the Primordial Era, one by one, focused their gaze on their noses and their noses on their hearts, pretending not to have heard.

No one wanted to be the first bird.

Lu Chen sneered inwardly, but feigned disappointment outwardly: "What, no one dares to come? Then I'll gladly accept this purple qi..."

"Wait!"

A clear, cold female voice rang out.

Saint Nuwa descended on clouds, her Saintly pressure, though not fully unleashed, already made breathing difficult for the Quasi-Saints.

"Little friend Lu Chen," Nuwa's gaze fell upon the Morning Bell, "this bell is a pair with my brother Taiyi's Chaos Bell. Where did you obtain it?"

Here it comes, the accusation!

Lu Chen had long anticipated this turn of events and calmly replied: "Replying to Saint Nuwa, this bell was obtained by your junior from the Treasure Distribution Cliff. As for its connection with the Chaos Bell, your junior is unaware."

"Oh?" Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly. "All items from the Treasure Distribution Cliff are recorded. I have never heard of a second Chaos Bell."

"Perhaps it was a private collection of the Dao Ancestor?" Lu Chen grinned. "Besides, if Eastern Emperor Taiyi hadn't willingly 'lent' the Chaos Bell to your junior, how could your junior have obtained it from him?"

"Nonsense!" Taiyi, who was healing in the distance, roared. "You clearly ambushed this Emperor while I was heavily injured and stole the supreme treasure!"

"Ambushed?" Lu Chen's expression was innocent. "Your Majesty Eastern Emperor, that is incorrect. Back then, His Majesty was 'sparring' with fellow Daoist Minghe. Your junior was merely passing by, saw the Chaos Bell fall to the ground, and kindly picked it up to return it. Who knew His Majesty ran so fast, and your junior couldn't catch up."

This ability to twist facts and lie made Taiyi so angry that he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Nuwa looked deeply at Lu Chen and suddenly said: "If that is the case, return the Morning Bell to my brother, and I can guarantee your safety in the Primordial Era."

"The Saint jokes," Lu Chen shook his head. "This bell has already recognized your junior as its master; it cannot be forcibly taken. Furthermore... the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan are locked in a fierce war. If the Saint intervenes now, aren't you afraid of the Dao Ancestor's reprimand for showing favoritism?"

Bringing up the Dao Ancestor rendered Nuwa speechless.

Although Saints transcended, Hongjun was the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao, and rules still had to be followed.

The situation became deadlocked once more.

Lu Chen seized the opportunity and suddenly looked at Kunpeng: "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, you've been staring at the purple qi. Do you also wish to become a Saint? Unfortunately, you couldn't even snatch a cushion in Zixiao Palace back then. Trying to become a Saint with purple qi now will likely be difficult."

These words struck Kunpeng's sore spot, and his face turned ashen: "Junior, you court death!"

"Enraged by shame?" Lu Chen continued to stir the pot. "If you ask me, instead of coveting my purple qi, you should go snatch some from Jieyin and Zhunti. Those two old schemers' cultivation dropped significantly after their reincarnation. Now is their weakest moment. With your abilities as the Demon Master, if you ambush them, you might actually be able to snatch a strand."

His voice was not loud, but everyone present was a powerful being and heard him clearly.

Jieyin and Zhunti (Amitabha, Patriarch Bodhi), having just become Saints, had not yet stabilized their realms. Upon hearing this, their expressions changed: "Little friend Lu Chen, do not speak such nonsense!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Lu Chen shrugged. "Back in Purple Heaven Palace, didn't you two snatch Senior Hongyun's cushion? What's wrong with snatching some purple qi now? Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, seize the opportunity!"

Kunpeng's breathing quickened, and greed flashed in his eyes.

Lu Chen was right. Jieyin and Zhunti were the weakest Saints now. If he truly ambushed them... snatching a strand of purple qi, he too could become a Saint!

Seeing Kunpeng waver, Lu Chen added more fuel: "Oh right, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, you probably don't know yet? Before their reincarnation, Jieyin and Zhunti hid all of the Western Sect's assets beneath Spirit Mountain. Among them were seeds from the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, a supreme treasure that can purify demonic energy and improve aptitude..."

He deliberately didn't finish, but the implication was clear—Spirit Mountain was currently empty, and treasures were there for the taking!

Kunpeng was completely swayed.

He took a deep look at Lu Chen, then glanced at Jieyin and Zhunti, and suddenly transformed into a black streak of light, heading straight for the West!

"Kunpeng, how dare you!" Jieyin and Zhunti roared in anger and chased after him.

Lu Chen chuckled inwardly: It's done!

The trouble has been successfully diverted eastward!

Old Ancestor Minghe, seeing this, his eyes flickered. He suddenly cupped his hands to Lu Chen: "Little friend Lu Chen, we have no deep enmity. How about we let bygones be bygones. Farewell."

With that, he transformed into a blood-red light and also flew towards the West—he too was tempted by the treasures on Spirit Mountain!

With two Quasi-Saints gone, the pressure greatly reduced.

The remaining old monsters, seeing no benefit to be gained, also dispersed one after another.

Only Nuwa, Taiyi, Di Jun (who had just arrived), and Lu Chen remained in the field.

Nuwa sighed: "Little friend has excellent methods."

"The Saint flatters me," Lu Chen cupped his hands. "Your junior is merely protecting himself."

"We will not discuss the matter of the Morning Bell for now," Nuwa said, looking in the direction of Buzhou Mountain. "The Witch-Demon War has reached a critical juncture. Could little friend promise me one thing?"

"Please speak, Saint."

"Under this Calamity, the Demon Clan is destined to suffer heavy casualties. But those innocent little demons, I hope little friend will show mercy." Nuwa's tone carried a hint of pleading. "I have become a Saint and cannot intervene too much, so I can only entrust this matter to little friend."

Lu Chen was silent for a moment, then nodded: "As long as they do not provoke me, I will not kill the innocent."

"Thank you." Nuwa gave him a deep look and left with Di Jun and Taiyi.

Before leaving, Taiyi glared fiercely at Lu Chen, but ultimately did not dare to make a move.

Everyone was gone.

Lu Chen let out a long sigh and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead—what seemed easy just now was actually perilous.

If a fight had broken out, though he wouldn't fear it, he wouldn't come out unscathed either.

"Purple Qi obtained, Morning Bell secured, and I even tricked Kunpeng... Perfect." He grinned and was about to leave when his mind suddenly stirred, and he looked in the direction of Wuzhuang Temple.

Senior Hongyun's foundation was damaged; he needed to check on him.

Brick Escape activated, and moments later, he arrived at Wuzhuang Temple.

Zhen Yuanzi was tending to Hongyun's injuries beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree. Seeing Lu Chen arrive, he gave a wry smile, "Young friend, you've come."

"Senior, how is Senior Hongyun?" Lu Chen asked with concern.

"His foundation is damaged, and his path to Sainthood is severed," Zhen Yuanzi sighed. "However, the Dao Ancestor bestowed the essence of the Earth Immortal upon him, so his life is not in danger, but... he will never have a chance at the Great Dao again."

Hongyun's face was pale, but he comforted the two instead, "It's alright, being alive is already a great fortune. It's just that Purple Qi..."

He looked at Lu Chen, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Lu Chen understood his meaning and took out his own complete Purple Qi. "Senior, you want to ask why my Purple Qi is fine?"

Hongyun nodded.

Lu Chen pondered, "This junior guesses that Luohu's Demonic Seed only targets specific individuals. Senior's character is benevolent; if he were to become a Saint, he would surely be a merciful Saint, which is unfavorable to the Demonic Path. That's why Luohu focused his 'care' on Senior's Purple Qi."

"As for this junior, I walk the path of Proving the Dao through Strength. I am inherently at odds with the Demonic Path. Luohu either dared not interfere, or... he interfered but was purified by the Dao Ancestor."

This was just a guess, but Hongyun's expression eased slightly after hearing it.

"What are your plans next, young friend?" Zhen Yuanzi asked.

"To the Demon Abyss," Lu Chen's eyes were resolute. "The Dao Ancestor gave a three-year deadline, and only a few days remain. The Myriad Demon Banner must be destroyed, or the Primordial Era will face a great calamity."

"The Demon Abyss is perilous, young friend, please be extremely careful," Hongyun cautioned.

"This junior understands." Lu Chen rose to take his leave. "Seniors, take care. Once this junior returns from the Demon Abyss, I will bother you again."

Leaving Wuzhuang Temple, Lu Chen did not head directly to the Demon Abyss. Instead, he first returned to Buzhou Mountain to retrieve some items—during the Witch-Demon War, he had instructed Hun Yuanzi to secretly collect the battlefield's malevolent energy, residual essence, and souls. These were great supplements for the God-Slaying Spear.

As expected, Hun Yuanzi had collected three large gourds. Lu Chen injected the essence from them into the God-Slaying Remnant Spear, and the final missing piece at the spear tip was finally restored!

The complete God-Slaying Spear reappeared in the world, its malevolent aura soaring into the heavens, triggering heavenly punishment! But Lu Chen suppressed it with the Chaos Brick, enduring nine heavenly lightning bolts to finally refine the God-Slaying Spear completely.

"Everything is ready, only the final push is needed."

He gazed in the direction of Mount Sumeru in the west, his eyes cold.

"Luohu, it's time to settle the score."

Brick Escape activated, and his figure vanished from heaven and earth.

Meanwhile, at Spirit Mountain in the west.

Kunpeng had just broken through the restrictions left by Jieyin and Zhunti and was ecstatic after digging out three Merit Golden Lotus seeds when Jieyin and Zhunti caught up, and the three began to fight.

Minghe also arrived, seizing one lotus seed amidst the chaos before turning to flee.

The entire west descended into utter pandemonium.

And in the depths of the Demon Abyss, Luohu's remnant soul stood before the Myriad Demon Banner. The banner had completely solidified, and countless demonic thoughts roared within it.

"The time has come... Myriad Demon Banner, rise!"

He formed seals with both hands, intending to unleash the banner and break through the Heavenly Dao's seal!

At this most crucial moment—

A brick shadow descended from the sky!

"Luohu, your banner—it's mine now!"

Lu Chen had arrived!

Before the Myriad Demon Banner, Luohu's remnant soul suddenly looked up. His scarlet demonic eyes reflected the figure holding a brick and a spear, and he sneered, "Youngster, you've finally come... I've been waiting for you for a long time!"

Around the Demon Abyss, hundreds of millions of demonic creatures simultaneously awakened, forming the "Myriad Demon Devouring Heaven Array," completely surrounding Lu Chen!

And in Lu Chen's hand, the God-Slaying Spear revealed its ferocity for the first time. The tip of the spear, a cold glint, illuminated the entire Demon Abyss—

"Today, we slaughter demons!"