Sanqing, Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhen Yuanzi, and a host of other Daluo Golden Immortal powerhouses had gathered together.
Zhen Yuanzi looked at Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, Demon Master Kunpeng, and the other members of the Demon Clan, then said with a smile, "Dijun, the Demon Clan certainly cuts a fine figure, having made it all the way to Buzhou Mountain!"
He was obviously being sarcastic.
Over two thousand years ago, Jieyin and Zhunti had stolen the Demon Clan's treasury. Hunted by the Demon Clan, they eventually handed the stolen treasures over to the Witch Clan, and only then managed to escape disaster.
But that had also directly triggered the first great war between the Witch and Demon Clans.
At the start of the war, because Dijiang and the others had concealed their strength, the Demon Clan had seemed to hold the advantage.
For a time, the entire Demon Clan had grown unbearably arrogant, looking down on everyone.
They had even begun to consider establishing the Heavenly Court and ruling the Primordial World.
To that end, the Demon Clan had approached Sanqing, Ancestor Minghe, and a host of other powerhouses of the Primordial World, promising them important positions in the Heavenly Court in an effort to win them over.
Among them was naturally Zhen Yuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals.
Who could have guessed that their good fortune wouldn't last? The Twelve Ancestor Witches of the Witch Clan had all "broken through" to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, beating the entire Demon Clan until they couldn't hold their heads up.
By bringing this up in front of so many powerhouses, Zhen Yuanzi was naturally mocking Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, and the others for overestimating themselves.
"Zhen Yuanzi, are you looking to die?"
Before Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi could speak, Ci Tie couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped forward, pointed at Zhen Yuanzi, and berated him furiously.
He had only recently joined the Demon Clan and was eager to prove himself.
Besides, he had heard that once the Heavenly Court was established, His Majesty the Demon Emperor planned to appoint the Ten Demon Saints of the Heavenly Court.
As a Demon Clan powerhouse in the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, Ci Tie had not been with the Demon Clan for long, but he was determined to secure one of the Ten Demon Saints' positions. That was why he was doing his utmost to defend His Majesty the Demon Emperor.
Zhen Yuanzi gave a derisive snort and glanced sidelong at Dijun, his expression dripping with mockery. "Dijun, you can't even keep a dog under your command in check. No wonder the Demon Clan is inferior to the Witch Clan!"
"Enough!"
Dijun waved the furious Ci Tie back, then fixed Zhen Yuanzi with a sharp gaze. "Zhen Yuanzi, stop making sarcastic remarks. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?"
"Of course you aren't afraid of me, Daoist."
Zhen Yuanzi retorted without backing down. "The dignified Demon Emperor, ruler of countless demons, doesn't even take Sanqing seriously. Who am I to make Your Majesty afraid?"
He turned to Sanqing and asked with a smile, "Do you three fellow Daoists think what I said makes sense?"
Taiqing Laozi and Yuqing Yuanshi smiled and waved their hands, unwilling to get involved in the dispute between Zhen Yuanzi and the Demon Clan.
Shangqing Tongtian, however, gave a cold snort and looked toward Demon Master Kunpeng. "The Demon Clan certainly throws its weight around."
Demon Master Kunpeng gave a wry smile and tried to placate him. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, I was at fault back then. I apologize. Can we put the matter behind us?"
Back then, the Demon Clan had been powerful, and when he had represented them on a visit to Kunlun Mountain, his attitude had naturally been quite haughty.
Who could have expected that, before he had even left Kunlun Mountain, news would arrive that the Witch Clan had defeated the Demon Clan?
Kunpeng had been completely dumbfounded.
To deal with the Witch Clan, he had gone to great lengths to lure the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God from the Far North to the Witch Clan's territory at Buzhou Mountain.
The two places were separated by who knew how many millions of miles. In the process, he had once again been severely wounded by the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God and had been forced to withdraw from the war between the Witch and Demon Clans.
He had then become an envoy for the Demon Clan instead.
The bitterness of it all was beyond words. Unless someone had experienced it firsthand, it was hard to understand what he had felt at the time.
After that, Kunpeng had become thoroughly disappointed with the Demon Clan.
He had begun to seriously doubt the abilities of the two Demon Emperors, Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi.
If he hadn't been researching the Demon Clan Script and been on the verge of a breakthrough, he might even have considered leaving the Demon Clan and taking no further part in the conflict between the Witch and Demon Clans.
That was why Kunpeng was being so humble.
He wanted to keep his head down, quietly finish his research on the Demon Clan Script, and earn Heavenly Dao merit. Unfortunately, someone didn't want to let him have his way.
Ancestor Hong Yun, the Primordial World's greatest Good Samaritan, urged Zhen Yuanzi, "My old friend, look at how graciously Fellow Daoist Kunpeng is behaving. I hear that he's now devoted to studying the Demon Clan Script, determined to benefit the entire Primordial World. He hardly gets involved in the Demon Clan's affairs at all. That's the sort of example we should all follow."
The speaker might have meant nothing by it, but the listeners took it to heart.
The two Demon Emperors, Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi, both changed expression. They looked at Kunpeng with suspicion.
Ever since Kunpeng had returned from Kunlun Mountain, he had seemed like a different person. He shut himself away in his palace all day and never concerned himself with the Demon Clan's affairs.
They had previously assumed that Kunpeng had been severely wounded by the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God and had yet to recover fully, which was why he had remained in seclusion.
Now it seemed that Kunpeng had probably had other intentions for some time. They would have to be on their guard.
Kunpeng knew that Ancestor Hong Yun had just set him up. Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi had probably already begun to suspect him, but all he could do was give a wry smile and shake his head.
As one of the earliest Demon Clan powerhouses to follow the two of them, he understood those brothers far too well.
They were both suspicious by nature.
Once they began to doubt him, they would never trust him again.
And what was more, it was Ancestor Hong Yun who had said it.
As the Primordial World's greatest Good Samaritan and most honest man, no one ever doubted Ancestor Hong Yun's words.
"Ancestor Hong Yun is right. Fellow Daoist Kunpeng is devoted to bringing blessings to the beings of the Primordial World. He truly deserves our respect!"
A voice rang out from afar.
Everyone turned to look and saw that Xuanyuan had arrived with Houtu, Six-Eared Macaque, and the others.
When they reached the group, Xuanyuan immediately invited Old Ancestor Kunpeng, "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, a talent as selfless as you is wasted in the Demon Clan. Would you consider coming over to our Witch Clan?"
Dijun's face darkened. His fury surged, and he shouted, "Xuanyuan, don't take things too far!"
"How are we taking things too far?"
Xuanyuan's lips curled into a smile. "Our Witch Clan values talent above all. A talent like Fellow Daoist Kunpeng can only make the greatest contribution by joining us!"
Seeing that only Xuanyuan and Houtu had come from the Witch Clan, Donghuang Taiyi let out a cold snort. "Xuanyuan, times have changed. Don't think too highly of yourself. Why not open your eyes and look around? Everyone here is a Daluo Golden Immortal powerhouse. What right does a mere Taiyi Golden Immortal like you have to stand here?"
The moment the Witch and Demon Clans met, the air was thick with hostility.
Sanqing, Zhen Yuanzi, Ancestor Hong Yun, and the others all stepped aside to watch the show.
The siblings Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged a glance and also moved aside.
Although they were both members of the Demon Clan, neither had joined Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi's faction.
And because of the seat they had given up at Zixiao Palace, they had always been grateful to Xuanyuan.
Now they were even less willing to help Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi deal with Xuanyuan.
Stepping aside to watch the show was already the greatest help they could offer the Demon Clan.
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