A figure wreathed in baleful energy appeared before Ye Jun.
The gods and demons took a closer look. The figure wore a black-and-red Daoist robe and exuded an icy chill.
When they saw his face, their hearts all lurched.
"Th-this... Why does he look like that monkey?" one god or demon closest to Ye Jun stammered.
The black-and-red "Ye Jun" curled his lips into a cold smile and beckoned with one hand. The God-Slaying Spear, which had been in Ye Jun's hand, suddenly flew into his grasp.
"Not good! That must be the monkey's Evil Corpse!" one of the gods and demons suddenly shouted.
Everyone's attention immediately shifted to Ye Jun. This fellow had actually chosen to slay his Evil Corpse first.
The black-and-red "Ye Jun" wielded the God-Slaying Spear, sweeping through the gods and demons one by one.
Though these gods and demons were all at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal level, the black-and-red "Ye Jun" had nearly reached the threshold of Quasi-Saint.
With the God-Slaying Spear's power on top of that, Ye Jun felt he could take on even the Three Pure Ones right now.
The Evil Corpse was inherently combative and filled with baleful energy. Facing dozens of gods and demons, he still held his own with ease.
The God-Slaying Spear in his hand was like the reaper's scythe. Wherever its tip pointed, screams rang out.
Many gods and demons suffered Death and Dao Annihilation on the spot, without even a chance to cry out.
For a time, no one could do a thing about the Evil Corpse. The gods and demons who had tried to snatch the God-Slaying Spear earlier were now trembling with fear.
One careless move, and they would lose their heads.
Just then, the Evil Corpse suddenly turned into a streak of light and surged into Ye Jun's crown.
Ye Jun, whose eyes had been tightly shut all along, abruptly opened them. He had finally broken through to Quasi-Saint!
Taishang Laojun, one of the Three Pure Ones, furrowed his brow. The monkey had actually seized the advantage.
But why had the monkey slain his Evil Corpse first?
When Dao Ancestor Hongjun had preached the Dao at Zixiao Palace, he had taught the Dao Method of Slaying Three Corpses, which involved slaying the Good, Evil, and Obsessive Corpses.
Yet he had never specified an order. So everyone had followed the Sages' example and started with the Good Corpse.
Who would have thought Ye Jun would beat them to it?
The Three Pure Ones immediately felt the pressure. If they couldn't break through to Quasi-Saint now, would they have no choice but to watch the Gourd Vine fall into the monkey's hands?
How could they accept that? They could let the Eight Treasures Glazed Vase go, but they couldn't just give up the Gourd Vine.
Ye Jun dusted off his hands and slowly rose to his feet. He held out his right hand and gave a soft call: "God-Slaying Spear!"
The God-Slaying Spear, embedded in the ground, shuddered. Then it traced a graceful arc through the air and landed steadily in Ye Jun's hand.
"You're all rather impatient, aren't you? I was just cultivating, and you were already in such a hurry?" Ye Jun said with a playful expression.
He had cultivated here and revealed the God-Slaying Spear and Enlightenment Dao Tea precisely to lure these fellows out ahead of time.
That would make it easier for Ye Jun to act.
Ye Jun glanced to the side at the Gourd Vine, which was still absorbing the Spiritual Energy around it.
The Gourd Vine had yet to mature, while the other Great Beings were still cultivating.
Ye Jun had already reached Quasi-Saint. If they remained at Grand Unity Golden Immortal, how could they compete for the Gourd Vine?
"Which of you wants to go first?" Ye Jun called out. The tip of the God-Slaying Spear dragged along the ground, while the aura around him continued to grow.
The gods and demons turned cold with fear at his words and scattered like birds and beasts.
Ye Jun sneered. The Gourd Vine was what mattered now; these fellows weren't worth bothering with.
With a flash, he appeared beside Jieyin and Zhunti.
"Fellow Daoists, Buzhou Mountain is under Pangu's pressure. It's truly difficult to stay here for long. Why don't I send you two on your way?" Ye Jun said slowly.
"Ye Jun, what do you mean by that? What does our cultivating here have to do with you?" Jieyin gritted his teeth.
That monkey was shameless beyond belief. He had already reached Quasi-Saint, yet he was still here disturbing the two of them!
Ye Jun paid no heed. Sitting down beside Jieyin and Zhunti, he said, "Fellow Daoists, why don't we have a chat?"
"When the Sage preached the Dao at Zixiao Palace, there were still plenty of questions I couldn't figure out!"
Jieyin and Zhunti trembled with rage. What did he mean, he hadn't understood? That fellow had been cultivating while the Dao was being preached.
After the sermon, he had gone straight from early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal to late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
What could he possibly not understand?
If even you didn't understand the Sage's sermon, then what did that make us?
Jieyin and Zhunti could only keep silent. How could they chat with this shameless fellow at such a crucial moment in their cultivation?
Besides, was chatting really what he was after?
Jieyin and Zhunti could only grit their teeth and continue cultivating. Seeing this, Ye Jun rose and headed toward the other side.
Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, who had been cultivating, suddenly sensed an aura approaching and quickly focused their attention on it.
"Damn, why is this bad star heading our way?" Di Jun sent to Eastern Emperor Taiyi.
"Who knows? We've never offended that monkey!" Eastern Emperor Taiyi was at a loss, too.
Ye Jun had already broken through to Quasi-Saint. It was clear he didn't want them to reach Quasi-Saint without trouble.
"Fellow Daoists, I've come to have a chat with you," Ye Jun said with a smile.
Ye Jun looked completely harmless. Paired with his handsome features, he looked like a sunny young man.
But Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi didn't see it that way.
"Fellow Daoist, the two of us have never had a conflict with you. What is this about?" Di Jun asked with a frown.
In his heart, he had already cursed Ye Jun dozens of times.
Ye Jun shrugged. "A conflict? Not at all. It's just that the Gourd Vine is about to mature, and I'm rather eager to get my hands on it!"
Di Jun gritted his teeth and circulated the Spiritual Energy within him. This fellow wanted to monopolize the Gourd Vine!
"Fellow Daoist Ye Jun, there are so many people here. Even if I don't object, the others may not agree," Di Jun said angrily.
At this point, all he could do was stall Ye Jun. If he failed to break through to Quasi-Saint, there would be no way for him to contend for the Gourd Vine anyway.
If he did break through to Quasi-Saint, then none of this talk would matter.
Ye Jun seemed to see right through him, but said nothing, merely nodding to himself.
"In that case, I can rest easy," Ye Jun said slowly.
And with that, he really did leave Di Jun's side. Di Jun had yet to feel relieved when a surge of the Great Dao suddenly swept over all of Buzhou Mountain!
Ye Jun's brows shot up. The Gourd Vine had matured!
Every Great Being present sensed the Gourd Vine's aura, and they immediately stopped cultivating.
If they kept cultivating, there might not even be any leaves left on the Gourd Vine!
Before you continue