Haotian's pressure had become impossible to ignore.
Nuwa, in the Wa Imperial Palace, naturally couldn't keep sitting by and doing nothing.
Kunpeng was in the Demon Master Palace, torn over whether he should intervene.
At once, he received a telepathic message from Nuwa.
"Kunpeng!
Go and save Ying Zhao!
Otherwise, the Demon Race will lose its foothold in the Northern Region of the Primordial World."
The situation was urgent, and the circumstances were dire.
Nuwa's words were not a discussion as far as Kunpeng was concerned. They were a direct order.
At this point, it was no longer a matter of weighing the pros and cons.
If Kunpeng hesitated even for a moment, he would meet his end.
Kunpeng had betrayed the Demon Race, leading to its crushing defeat and Fuxi's death, yet he had still managed to survive until now.
That was naturally because Nuwa valued what he could offer.
And what he could offer, as it happened, was a measure of protection for the Demon Race.
If Kunpeng couldn't even demonstrate that value,
or was unwilling to demonstrate it,
then he would no longer have any reason to exist.
And what he would lose then wouldn't be the River Diagram and Lo Shu Square, but his own life.
After a rapid flurry of thoughts, Kunpeng bowed from afar.
"Kunpeng receives the Imperial Decree!"
With that, Kunpeng used his divine ability and headed straight for Ying Zhao.
At that moment, Ying Zhao saw that Haotian meant to let all pretense fall away, and fear seized his heart.
Even if someone came to save him, he had to hold out until they arrived.
If a Sage truly intended to come in person, with their immense power, they should have arrived long ago.
Since Sage Nuwa had yet to appear, the one coming this time was probably Demon Master Kunpeng.
Though Ying Zhao had always despised Kunpeng's character, Kunpeng was his lifeline now.
Ying Zhao had never been so eager to see Kunpeng.
All he could do now was stall for time until Kunpeng arrived.
As for whether he'd been abandoned—
Ying Zhao didn't think that was very likely.
All these years, he had faithfully obeyed the Sage's orders.
He had guarded the Southern Gate all this time, making no small contribution to the Demon Race's recovery.
After a moment's thought, Ying Zhao said, "This is a matter of great importance. Could the Heavenly Emperor give me some time to consider it?"
As soon as Ying Zhao said this, Haotian immediately understood what he was thinking.
Stalling for time?
Buying time?
Hoping someone would come to save him?
It didn't matter!
Who could Ying Zhao hope to see?
Kunpeng?
Or Nuwa?
Most likely Kunpeng.
If Nuwa really meant to come, she should have arrived already.
Only Kunpeng would take some time to get here.
Knowing Ying Zhao's intention, Haotian wasn't the least bit concerned.
Since he had already decided to recruit the Demon Race into service,
it was only a matter of time before he crossed paths with these two.
He just hadn't expected to receive such a gift as soon as he set foot in the Northern Region.
The former Demon Race's Demon Marshal would be useful in the Heavenly Court.
I'll have someone to keep the Heavenly Court running.
Ying Zhao will have the chance to accumulate Merit and wash away his Karmic Debt.
It's a win-win.
Of course,
while he was accumulating Merit, he might find it a little undignified.
After all, Haotian was forcing him into service in the Heavenly Court.
But Haotian was sure Ying Zhao would eventually understand his "good intentions."
Haotian then said, "Since the Demon Marshal needs time to think, I'm not unreasonable.
Please take all the time you need to consider it here."
Ying Zhao could only nod in agreement.
Run away?
That was out of the question.
The gap in cultivation was too great. He had no chance to flee.
If Ying Zhao dared to run, Haotian could send him straight to Reincarnation.
And so Ying Zhao waited in terror for Kunpeng to come to his rescue.
Fortunately, Kunpeng was as fast as they said.
With his Innate Divine Ability fully unleashed and his cultivation powering it, he didn't arrive in an instant,
but it took him only a short while to reach the scene.
After seeing Haotian and Ying Zhao, Kunpeng greeted Haotian first with a fist-and-palm salute.
"Kunpeng greets the Heavenly Emperor!"
Haotian smiled warmly and replied, "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng!
May I ask what brings you here?"
Hearing Haotian's feigned ignorance, Kunpeng could only play along. "I must admit, this is my fault.
I've been busy cultivating lately, and for a while I let my hold over the Demon Race slacken.
That allowed Ying Zhao to offend the Heavenly Emperor.
I've come to take him back to the Demon Master Palace and punish him properly.
I hope the Heavenly Emperor will do me this favor."
Haotian replied evenly, "You jest, Fellow Daoist!
It's not that I refuse you this favor.
Besides, Ying Zhao hasn't offended me."
"Then what is this about, Heavenly Emperor...?"
Seeing the confusion on Kunpeng's face,
Haotian explained slowly, "Ying Zhao certainly hasn't offended me.
But he has offended all living beings in the Primordial World.
The Karmic Debt weighing on him is his original sin.
As for your suggestion that you take him back to the Demon Master Palace and discipline him—
I don't think that's necessary.
Since I've encountered him, it's best that I personally discipline him, out of a sense of responsibility toward all living beings in the Primordial World.
What do you think, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng?"
Seeing that Haotian had no intention of yielding, Kunpeng was at a loss.
If he botched this, his value in Nuwa's eyes would undoubtedly plummet.
But he didn't have much confidence in taking Haotian on head-to-head.
His cultivation was far below Haotian's.
And it wasn't clear that his spiritual treasures were any better, either.
The Haotian Mirror, Haotian Sword, and Haotian Tower.
Though all those spiritual treasures bore the name "Haotian,"
they didn't sound like much, and hardly seemed like Innate Spiritual Treasures.
But—
there was always a "but."
Could anything Hongjun had made be ordinary?
Who knew whether that old man had taken a few Innate Spiritual Treasures, renamed them, and handed them to Haotian?
Neither his cultivation nor his spiritual treasures gave him an advantage. This fight was unwinnable.
In that case, he could only fall back on his old trick.
Take Ying Zhao and run.
So what if Haotian's cultivation was higher?
Aside from the Sages, who in the Primordial World could claim to be faster than Kunpeng?
At that thought, Kunpeng seemed to find some confidence.
It was only a matter of taking someone and running. What was there to hesitate about?
With that in mind,
Kunpeng said to Haotian, "Fellow Daoist Haotian, don't joke with me.
We both know why Ying Zhao bears that Karmic Debt.
To claim that Ying Zhao has affected the Primordial World is going too far.
To be frank, I came here on Empress Nuwa's orders.
You can refuse me this favor, but for Sage Nuwa's sake, could you make an exception?"
Haotian shook his head. "It's not that I won't make an exception.
But if everyone expects me to make exceptions, how can I serve as the Heavenly Emperor?
Today I make an exception for you and Sage Nuwa.
Tomorrow another Sage will come asking for one.
How will the order of the Primordial World be maintained then?
Those like Ying Zhao, who bear such heavy Karmic Debt, can no longer be left to their own devices."
Seeing that Haotian wouldn't be swayed, cold light flashed in Kunpeng's eyes.
Damn it!
Did this Quasi-Saint of mine mean nothing?
First, Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi forcibly dragged me to the Heavenly Court.
And now even Haotian, who came along later, wouldn't show me the slightest respect.
I'd even invoked a Sage, yet this bastard Haotian still didn't seem the least bit wary.
Why is everything so hard for me?
Before you continue