Is This Seat's Quasi-Saint Fake?

Haotian's pressure was now laid out in the open.

Within Wa Imperial Palace, Empress Nuwa naturally could no longer sit idly by and ignore it.

In Demon Master Palace, Kunpeng was still agonizing over whether to step forward.

He immediately received a transmission from Empress Nuwa.

"Kunpeng!

Step forward and protect Ying Zhao!

Otherwise, the Demon Race will lose this foothold in the Northern Region of the Primordial World."

The situation was urgent, the circumstances dire.

Empress Nuwa's words were not a discussion for Kunpeng—they were the most direct of commands.

At this point, it was no longer a time for Kunpeng to weigh pros and cons.

If he hesitated even a fraction, what awaited him was utter annihilation.

The reason Kunpeng had survived betraying the Demon Race, causing their catastrophic defeat and Fuxi's fall, was simple.

Empress Nuwa valued his worth.

And that worth was precisely that Kunpeng could provide some measure of shelter for the Demon Race.

If he could no longer demonstrate that value—

Or was unwilling to—

Then he would lose his reason for existing.

What he would lose then would not be the River Diagram and Lo Shu Square, but his very life.

After a lightning-fast turn of thought, Kunpeng bowed from afar.

"Kunpeng accepts the Imperial Decree!"

With those words, Kunpeng activated his divine ability and sped straight toward Ying Zhao's location.

Meanwhile, Ying Zhao, seeing that Haotian intended to tear away all pretense, was filled with terror.

Even if he waited for rescue, he had to hold out until then.

If a Saint were to come personally, with their divine power, they would have arrived long ago.

Since Empress Nuwa had yet to show herself, the one coming was likely Demon Master Kunpeng.

Though he held Kunpeng's character in contempt, at this moment Kunpeng was his lifeline.

Never before had Ying Zhao so desperately wished to see Kunpeng.

All he could do now was stall for time until Kunpeng arrived.

As for whether he had been abandoned?

Ying Zhao thought it unlikely.

Over the years, he had strictly followed the Saint's orders.

He had guarded the Southern Gate diligently, contributing no small merit to the Demon Race's recovery.

After a moment's thought, Ying Zhao spoke: "This matter is of great importance. Could the Heavenly Emperor grant This Humble One a moment to consider?"

The moment Ying Zhao said this, Haotian immediately understood his intent.

Stalling for time?

A delaying tactic?

You want to wait for someone to rescue you?

No matter.

Who could Ying Zhao possibly summon?

Kunpeng?

Or Nuwa?

Most likely Kunpeng.

After all, if Nuwa were truly coming, she would have arrived by now.

Only Kunpeng would take some time to get here.

Knowing Ying Zhao's intentions, Haotian felt no worry at all.

Since he had already decided to conscript labor from the Demon Race, it was only a matter of time before he clashed with these two.

He just hadn't expected to stumble upon such a prize the moment he set foot in the Northern Region.

A former Demon Marshal of the Demon Race—dragging him off to work in the Heavenly Court would be quite a good catch.

Imperial We have gained the manpower to maintain the Heavenly Court's operations.

Ying Zhao has gained the chance to accumulate Merit and wash away his karmic sins.

This is a win-win situation.

Of course.

When accumulating Merit, he might find it somewhat undignified.

After all, he was forcibly dragged to the Heavenly Court by this Haotian.

But I believe Ying Zhao will, in time, understand this Haotian's "good intentions."

Then Haotian spoke: "Since the Demon Marshal wishes to consider it, Imperial We are not unreasonable.

Please, Demon Marshal, consider it here."

Ying Zhao, upon hearing this, could only nod in agreement.

Flee?

That was impossible.

The gap in cultivation was too vast; there was no chance to escape.

If he, Ying Zhao, dared to run, Haotian could send him to reincarnation the very next step.

Thus, Ying Zhao, filled with dread, waited for Kunpeng's rescue.

Fortunately, Kunpeng's speed was no empty boast.

With his innate divine ability fully unleashed, aided by his cultivation, he might not arrive in an instant.

But within a short while, Kunpeng had reached the scene.

Upon seeing Haotian and Ying Zhao, Kunpeng was the first to offer a salute.

"Kunpeng greets the Heavenly Emperor!"

Haotian replied with a smile: "Greetings, Daoist Kunpeng!

May I ask what brings you here?"

Hearing Haotian's knowingly feigned question, Kunpeng had no choice but to respond: "This is this poor Daoist's fault.

I have been busy with cultivation lately, and for a time, I loosened my grip on the Demon Race.

This fellow Ying Zhao offended the Heavenly Emperor.

This poor Daoist has come to take him back to the Demon Master Palace for proper punishment.

I ask the Heavenly Emperor to grant me this face."

Haotian replied calmly: "Daoist, you jest!

It is not that Imperial We refuse to give you face.

Nor has Ying Zhao offended Imperial We."

"Then, Heavenly Emperor, what is this..."

Seeing Kunpeng's face full of confusion.

Haotian said slowly: "Ying Zhao has indeed not offended Imperial We.

But he has offended all beings of the Primordial World.

That body of karmic sin is his original crime.

As for the Daoist taking him to the Demon Master Palace for discipline, Imperial We see no need.

Since Imperial We have encountered him, out of a sense of responsibility toward all beings of the Primordial World, it is best that Imperial We discipline him personally.

What do you say, Daoist Kunpeng?"

Seeing that Haotian showed no sign of backing down, Kunpeng found himself in a difficult spot.

If he botched this matter, his value in Empress Nuwa's eyes would undoubtedly plummet.

But if he clashed head-on with Haotian, Kunpeng had little confidence.

In cultivation, he, Kunpeng, was still far behind Haotian.

In spiritual treasures, he could not necessarily surpass Haotian either.

The Haotian Mirror, the Haotian Sword, the Haotian Tower.

Though these treasures were all named after "Haotian,"

they sounded unremarkable, not like Innate Spiritual Treasures.

But.

The trouble always comes after a "but."

Was there anything simple that old man Hongjun ever handed out?

Who knows if that old man had taken a few Innate Spiritual Treasures, renamed them, and given them to Haotian?

With neither cultivation nor spiritual treasures in his favor, this fight was unwinnable.

As things stood, he could only fall back on his old trade.

Take Ying Zhao and flee.

Even if Haotian's cultivation was higher, so what?

In the Primordial World today, aside from a few sages, who dared claim they were faster than this Kunpeng?

Thinking this, Kunpeng seemed to find some confidence.

It was just running away with someone in tow—why hold back?

With that thought, Kunpeng said to Haotian, "Fellow Daoist Haotian, do not jest.

We all know full well where Ying Zhao's karmic sin comes from.

Claiming that Ying Zhao has disturbed the Primordial World is going too far.

To be honest, this poor Daoist came here on the orders of Her Holiness.

You may disregard my face, but for the sake of Sage Nuwa, could you grant this convenience?"

Haotian shook his head and replied, "It is not that I refuse convenience.

But if everyone demands convenience from Imperial We, how can We remain the Heavenly Emperor?

If We grant convenience to you and Sage Nuwa today, and other sages come tomorrow, how can the order of the Primordial World be maintained?

Someone burdened with karma as deep as Ying Zhao's cannot be left unchecked."

Seeing Haotian unmoved, a cold glint flashed in Kunpeng's eyes.

Damn it all!

Was This Seat's Quasi-Saint cultivation a joke?

First Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi forcibly dragged This Seat to the Heavenly Court.

Now even this later-comer Haotian showed This Seat no respect.

Even when This Seat invoked a sage, this Haotian showed not a shred of fear.

Why was This Seat's path so hard?