In the End, I, Kunpeng, Bore It All!

After pondering for a moment, Kunpeng spoke. "Daoist Haotian, I'm willing to settle this matter with the River Diagram and Lo Shu Square.

What do you think?"

At this, Haotian's gaze swept over Kunpeng.

"Daoist Kunpeng, you've gone too far!

The River Diagram and Lo Shu Square?

Aren't those mine?

You're using my own possessions to negotiate with me?"

At first, Kunpeng didn't understand what he meant.

He couldn't help replying, "The River Diagram and Lo Shu Square are my spiritual treasures. When did they become yours?

That claim of yours is a little detached from reality."

Hearing Kunpeng's words, Haotian said gravely, "I'm not making things up!

Why don't you think about it?

After you fall, won't this treasure belong to me?"

As soon as Haotian said this, Kunpeng's face changed dramatically.

I'm still alive, damn it!

And you, Haotian, are already claiming my estate?

But the bastard wasn't wrong.

After he, Kunpeng, fell, all his spiritual treasures would belong to Haotian.

At the thought, Kunpeng couldn't help feeling disheartened.

After a long silence, he finally said, "Then you can name your terms."

To his surprise, Haotian shook his head. "You're mistaken, Daoist!

How am I supposed to know what you have to offer in exchange?

So it would be better for you to say what you're willing to give.

That way, I won't put you in a difficult position.

Right?"

Though Haotian said this, he thought to himself,

I hope this fellow knows what's good for him.

If he refuses to offer his loyalty,

then I'll just have to arrange his funeral and inherit his estate.

Sure enough!

As soon as Kunpeng heard Haotian's words, he fell into despair.

The most valuable thing he owned was the River Diagram and Lo Shu Square.

Yet Haotian had already claimed that spiritual treasure as his own.

He had roamed the Primordial World for more than a Measure Calamity, survived the Dragon-Han Calamity, and endured the Lich-Demon Calamity.

Was he really going to fall here today?

In his panic, inspiration suddenly struck Kunpeng.

Wait!

Maybe there was still a way out.

Haotian had already captured him.

If he wanted to kill him, he could simply do it. Why go through all this trouble?

So Haotian must still have some use for him.

But the problem was, Haotian had already claimed the spiritual treasure he valued most.

What else could Haotian want from him?

Ying Zhao?

No!

This fellow had his eye on...

Ahem!

This fellow had his eye on his strength.

At the thought, Kunpeng couldn't help thinking,

There's hope!

Kunpeng promptly said, "I know that I have accumulated deep karmic debt. I'm willing to serve under the Great Heavenly Venerate.

I will always heed the Great Heavenly Venerate's guidance and contribute to peace in the Primordial World.

If the Great Heavenly Venerate does not disdain me, I am willing to acknowledge him as my master."

Seeing that Kunpeng had finally grasped the situation, Haotian breathed a sigh of relief.

The Heavenly Court's strength was about to increase substantially.

But this fellow had a poor reputation.

A betrayal?

That wouldn't do!

He had to nip that possibility in the bud.

At the thought, Haotian couldn't help saying, "Well...

Daoist Kunpeng, I should be pleased that you feel this way.

It's just that you...

Sigh!

I'll be blunt.

Your reputation precedes you, Daoist. I really can't feel at ease."

Hearing this, Kunpeng nearly choked.

Good grief!

Now he was being looked down on, too.

And Haotian was rubbing his nose in it right to his face.

Where were his manners?

But in the current situation, Kunpeng wasn't the one who got to decide what was polite.

After struggling inwardly for a moment, Kunpeng came to terms with it.

He'd already thrown away his dignity, so why care about that now?

The important thing was to save his bird life.

In the end, I, Kunpeng, bore it all!

Kunpeng then said, "I'm willing to offer up a wisp of my soul."

But Haotian still shook his head. "Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi also had a wisp of your soul back then.

So that alone makes it hard for me to trust you.

Why don't you also swear a Dao Oath?

With a Dao Oath and a wisp of your soul, there'll be no more suspicion between us."

At these words, Kunpeng closed his eyes.

A moment later, he sighed.

"Very well!

I'll do as the Great Heavenly Venerate says!

I, Kunpeng, sincerely pledge my allegiance to the Great Heavenly Venerate Haotian today.

If I ever flee or harbor treacherous intentions, may the Heavenly Dao forsake me, and may I die beneath Heavenly Punishment.

Let the Heavenly Dao bear witness!"

Only after Kunpeng finished his oath did Haotian release him with a thought.

However, Haotian still didn't withdraw his Law Domain.

And once Kunpeng regained his freedom, he didn't think of running away.

The fact that Haotian hadn't withdrawn his Law Domain clearly meant he was guarding against him.

There was no point in asking whether he trusted him.

What was trust worth, anyway?

Haotian didn't even trust the Sages, let alone him, Kunpeng.

As for what Haotian was waiting for,

Kunpeng knew perfectly well.

He promptly separated a wisp of his soul and offered it respectfully.

"Please accept this wisp of my soul, Your Majesty!"

Haotian didn't stand on ceremony. He took Kunpeng's wisp of soul and placed it in the Investiture of the Gods.

Only then did Haotian speak. "Since you've come to the Heavenly Court, I'll assign you some duties."

"Please give your orders, Your Majesty!"

Haotian nodded. "You should have heard what I just discussed with the Sage Nuwa.

You should know which of the Demons have accumulated deep karmic debt.

Please bring them all to the Heavenly Court.

They have accumulated deep karmic debt, and they can't be left without supervision.

And don't say I haven't given them a chance.

Bring as many as you can, and I'll find a place for all of them in the Heavenly Court.

As for those you don't bring, that will mean you also think they're beyond saving.

Once I've reorganized my forces, I'll send troops to wipe them out.

Are you willing to take on this task?"

At Haotian's demand, Kunpeng's face twitched.

He wasn't leaving him even the slightest way out!

If he accepted this task, he, Kunpeng, would cut himself off from the Demon Race.

Even if he left the Heavenly Court in the future, no other faction would accept him.

The Demon Race wouldn't take him in.

And other cultivators wouldn't associate with him, either.

At the slightest risk, he'd have to bear everything himself.

Of course.

For a Quasi-Saint like him, none of that was the most important thing.

His reputation?

It was already ruined.

Being ostracized didn't matter, either.

For cultivators, solitude was the norm.

The most pressing concern was that he'd earn the Sage Nuwa's resentment over this.

The moment he left the Heavenly Court, he'd have to face a Sage's fury alone.

Haotian could stand up to a Sage, but he, Kunpeng, didn't have that ability.

But if he refused Haotian's assignment now,

then what awaited him would probably be endless petty humiliations.

He'd probably be stuck guarding the gates and doing the like.

If a dignified Quasi-Saint had to guard the gates, then he, Kunpeng, might as well die.

After weighing his options, Kunpeng could only cup his hands and say, "Yes!

I accept the decree!"

Offend the Sage Nuwa?

He couldn't afford to care about that anymore.

After all, this whole mess had been caused by the Sage Nuwa.

He, Kunpeng, had ended up in this situation largely because of her.

Since the Sage had abandoned him first,

then obeying Haotian's orders now couldn't be held against him.

After hearing Kunpeng's answer, Haotian nodded. "Then I'll leave this matter to you!

I'll await your good news in the Heavenly Court!"

"I won't fail in my mission!"

"Good!"

With that, Haotian returned to the Heavenly Court on his own.