As the many powerful figures withdrew, only the Witch and Demon Clans remained facing off against each other.
On the Demon Clan's side stood thirteen Daluo Golden Immortals: Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, Demon Master Kunpeng, Bai Ze, Ji Meng, and the other demon generals.
On the Witch Clan's side, there were only six: Xuanyuan, Houtu, and the Six-Eared Macaque.
The difference in numbers was enormous.
But this was Zixiao Palace, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun had already made it clear that no fighting was permitted here.
So all they could do was trade barbs and run their mouths.
Xuanyuan looked at Donghuang Taiyi with amusement. Who did this guy think he was looking down on?
He wanted to shout that even before Hongjun began lecturing on the Dao, he had already reached the mid-stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
But that would be far too arrogant and likely provoke everyone's ire.
Besides, when he killed the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God, he had sensed a powerful figure watching from within the void.
In the Primordial World, only old man Hongjun could conceal himself from his senses.
If Xuanyuan revealed his true strength, he would surely put Hongjun on his guard and make him wary.
Then Hongjun would do more than simply target the Witch Clan from the shadows.
So Xuanyuan had no intention of arguing with Donghuang Taiyi over this.
He looked toward Kunpeng, who stood beside Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi, and asked with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, have you made up your mind?"
Kunpeng sighed. "I appreciate your kind offer, Fellow Daoist Xuanyuan, but as the Demon Clan's Demon Master, I will never betray the Demon Clan and join the Witch Clan."
Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi nodded with satisfaction.
Though they had their suspicions about Kunpeng, they knew he would never join the Witch Clan.
After all, Kunpeng himself had lured the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God to Buzhou Mountain, where the Witch Clan had lost several tribes and suffered countless casualties.
"You don't know a good thing when you see it!"
Xuanyuan's expression darkened. "Since you refuse to take the offer, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As he spoke, he gave the Six-Eared Macaque a meaningful glance.
The Six-Eared Macaque understood. He took out the Demon Clan Script that Xuanyuan had entrusted to him long ago and cried out, "I, the Six-Eared Macaque, have seen how difficult it is for the myriad beings of the Primordial World to cultivate. So I have invented the Demon Clan Script to help the beings of the Primordial World record cultivation techniques and their daily lives. Let the Demon Clan Script appear!"
As soon as the Six-Eared Macaque finished speaking, the jade scroll inscribed with the Demon Clan Script in his hands suddenly blazed with countless rays of golden light.
One character after another appeared in the sky.
Not only did they appear above Zixiao Palace in the Chaos Void, but characters from the Demon Clan Script also shone across the skies of the entire Primordial World.
Then the Sound of the Great Dao resounded throughout the Primordial World, and a thick pillar of golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping the Six-Eared Macaque.
At that moment, everyone outside Zixiao Palace turned to stare at the Six-Eared Macaque, their mouths agape with envy and jealousy.
They could hardly believe it.
Many of them knew the Six-Eared Macaque. Back on the edge of the Outer Heavens, he had been among the first to arrive.
But his strength had been insufficient to cross the Chaos Void and reach Zixiao Palace.
In the end, it was only after Xuanyuan brought out the Taiji Diagram that they could enter Zixiao Palace and listen to Dao Ancestor Hongjun's lecture.
They had never imagined that this obscure nobody would possess such talent—that he could create the Demon Clan Script.
But the one who took the hardest blow was Demon Master Kunpeng.
He had spent countless tens of thousands of years researching the Demon Clan Script, pouring his heart and soul into it. He had been so close to succeeding, yet someone else had beaten him to it.
Remembering Xuanyuan's earlier offer, he was filled with profound regret.
Clearly, Xuanyuan had planned this all along. The Demon Clan Script hadn't been created by the Six-Eared Macaque at all. It was Xuanyuan's work.
If Kunpeng had accepted Xuanyuan's invitation, he would have been the one to create the Demon Clan Script.
Alongside his regret, hatred filled Kunpeng's heart.
His eyes bloodshot, he glared at Xuanyuan. "Xuanyuan, we are sworn enemies!"
Xuanyuan looked back at Kunpeng and sneered. "Don't think I don't know that you lured the remnant spirit of the Destruction Chaos Demon God from the far north to Buzhou Mountain. You slaughtered so many of my people. We've been sworn enemies for a long time. Kunpeng, this is only the beginning. I'll make you understand exactly what happens when you cross the Witch Clan!"
Every person present heard their conversation, word for word.
An uproar broke out at once.
"The remnant spirit of the Chaos Demon God was lured to Buzhou Mountain by Old Ancestor Kunpeng?"
"That's too cruel!"
"I heard countless beings died along the way from the far north to Buzhou Mountain. After causing such a massacre, isn't he afraid of becoming entangled in karmic retribution and incurring Heaven's punishment?"
"Ruthless—utterly ruthless. The Demon Clan are all vicious. We'd better keep our distance from now on!"
As everyone voiced their opinions, the faces of Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, and the other Demon Clan members darkened.
Some things could be done, but never spoken of.
Once exposed in front of everyone, they would become targets for all.
From this day on, the Demon Clan's reputation was utterly ruined.
And Xuanyuan was to blame for it all.
Inside Zixiao Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression was just as grim.
The Demon Clan's overall strength had already been inferior to the Witch Clan's.
Now that this had happened, few powerful figures would likely join the Demon Clan from this day forward.
If the gap between the two clans grew too wide, the Witch-Demon Calamity would be unlikely to unfold along its intended course.
If that happened, it would be difficult for Hongjun to complete the task Heaven's Will had given him.
"Haotian, Yaochi, open Zixiao Palace. The second lecture begins!"
After thinking it over, Hongjun still couldn't come up with a suitable solution. He could only order his two attendants to open Zixiao Palace and begin the lecture early.
That would buy him some time.
"Yes, Master!"
Haotian and Yaochi were curious. The time hadn't come yet, so why was their master opening Zixiao Palace early?
But they dared not disobey Hongjun's orders. They bowed, accepted the command, and left the palace.
Outside Zixiao Palace, everyone was still talking, while the faces of Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, and the other Demon Clan powerhouses grew darker by the moment.
Just then, the long-shut doors of Zixiao Palace suddenly opened.
The two attendants stood outside the palace and called out, "Zixiao Palace is open. The second lecture begins!"
In an instant, everyone's attention shifted to the lecture. Excited and eager, they hurried into Zixiao Palace.
Houtu curled her lip and muttered, "That's blatant favoritism!"
Xuanyuan smiled and patted her fragrant shoulder, then sent her a voice transmission. "Sister Houtu, you'll get used to it. That old man Hongjun isn't merely playing favorites. He's trying to keep the Witch and Demon Clans in balance and make us fight to the death."
Xuanyuan didn't explain anything about the Witch-Demon Calamity. They were in Zixiao Palace, after all, right under the eyes of Hongjun and Heaven's Will. Venting his frustrations through a voice transmission was one thing, but if he dared reveal Heaven's secrets, Hongjun and Heaven's Will would surely retaliate at once.
In any case, the Witch Clan had long since changed under his influence and guidance. Even if Hongjun helped the Demon Clan, Xuanyuan had nothing to fear.
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