But the combat strength he had displayed was enough to make even a Late Grand Unity suffer a bitter defeat—and even Quasi-Sages wary!
Di Jun's question was clearly alluding to Ao Chen!
For a moment, countless gazes drifted involuntarily toward Demon Master Kunpeng, whose face was livid, as if it were about to drip with water.
Feeling the faint, barely perceptible gazes around him, Kunpeng felt an indescribable humiliation and fury surge straight to his head.
But he was in Zixiao Palace, and he didn't dare act out of line. So he could only swallow his anger, his face black as ink.
On the high dais, Dao Ancestor Hongjun heard Di Jun's question. Even in his usually placid eyes, a rare flicker of surprise appeared.
"A Heavenly Immortal suppressing a Great Luo?"
He felt somewhat puzzled. Ever since delivering his lectures, he had been preparing for his final Dao Integration, roaming the depths of the void and merging with the Heavenly Dao. He hadn't paid much attention to the specific disputes unfolding in the Primordial Wilderness.
Moreover, the Mythical Grand Unity Method Ao Chen cultivated was independent of the Primordial Wilderness's Heavenly Dao system. It could also obscure the workings of heaven and prevent divinations.
Thus, even he, a Saint on the verge of Dao Integration, couldn't figure out whom Di Jun was referring to, nor did he know when such an anomaly had appeared in the Primordial Wilderness.
Still, though he didn't know the details, with his understanding of the laws of the Heavenly Dao and the cultivation realms of the Primordial Wilderness, he knew such a thing was absolutely impossible.
Hongjun slowly shook his head. His voice was indifferent, yet carried unquestionable authority:
"Absurd."
"Immortals and mortals are distinct, and realms have their proper order. A Heavenly Immortal is to a Great Luo as a firefly is to the bright moon, as heaven is to earth. The gulf between them is like a chasm. How could anyone possibly cross it?"
"Such thoughts are nothing more than delusions. You must guard your hearts and diligently cultivate the true path of the Great Dao."
With these words, Hongjun directly dismissed Di Jun's question—and the possibility of a Heavenly Immortal suppressing a Great Luo.
Hearing this, Di Jun furrowed his brow. His doubts deepened, but he didn't dare ask any more questions. He could only respectfully acknowledge the answer and return to his seat.
The other powerful figures who knew what had happened, such as the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, were also deep in thought. If even the Dao Ancestor said it was impossible, then what exactly was Ao Chen's background?
Hongjun paid no mind to the thoughts of those below and continued, "Under the Heavenly Dao, all who wish to attain a Saint Position need one thing. It is the foundation of the Great Dao, known as the Primordial Violet Qi!"
Before his voice had even faded, Dao Ancestor Hongjun swept his wide sleeve!
Seven streams of purple qi, shimmering with light and imbued with profound Daoist charm, flew from his sleeve. They seemed connected to the very origin of the Great Dao as they hovered in midair above the hall!
They were none other than the key to sainthood—the Primordial Violet Qi!
Everyone's breathing stopped. Their eyes were fixed on the seven streams of purple qi, filled with boundless longing!
"Under the Heavenly Dao, the Saint Positions are predetermined," Hongjun said again.
"Taiqing, Yuqing, Shangqing, the three of you were formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and bear the Creation Merit of opening the heavens. You are destined to attain Saint Positions!"
Three streams of Primordial Violet Qi flew out and entered the bodies of the Three Pure Ones!
The three immediately sat cross-legged, Daoist aura swirling around them as they began to comprehend the foundation for sainthood!
"Nuwa, you will one day earn great merit for the Primordial Wilderness. You, too, are destined to attain a Saint Position!"
Another stream of Primordial Violet Qi flew toward Nuwa and merged into her body. A glimmer of understanding flashed through her beautiful eyes, and she bowed respectfully to Hongjun.
"Jieyin, Zhunti, though you were born in the impoverished West, you possess great perseverance and lofty aspirations. You intend to establish a great sect and teach the people of the West. You are destined to attain Saint Positions!"
Two streams of Primordial Violet Qi shot through the air and entered Jieyin and Zhunti, whose faces were etched with sorrow.
The two were overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed. "Thank you for your compassion, Teacher!"
In the blink of an eye, six streams of Primordial Violet Qi had found their owners.
Only the last one remained, spinning in midair as if searching for its destined master.
The hearts of all the powerful figures who had yet to receive the purple qi were in their throats!
Ancestor Hong Yun, seated in the front row and confident in his deep fortune, was especially expectant.
Just then, the final stream of Primordial Violet Qi flashed and truly flew toward Hong Yun, entering his body!
"Huh? I... I have one too?"
Hong Yun was both surprised and delighted, almost at a loss for what to do. Feeling the profound foundation of the Great Dao within him, he stood there in a daze.
But this sight made Kunpeng, seated beside Hong Yun's former spot, so furious that his eyes turned bloodshot, as if flames might burst from them!
"Hong Yun!" Kunpeng roared inwardly.
If Hong Yun hadn't pretended to be magnanimous and offered up his seat, forcing Kunpeng away, that last stream of Primordial Violet Qi should have been his!
The foundation for sainthood! He'd missed out on it because of one remark from that old do-gooder!
Boundless resentment and killing intent began to take root in Kunpeng's heart, like venomous snakes!
He looked at Hong Yun with undisguised greed and murderous intent!
On the other side, East King Duke, seated in the front row, also looked displeased.
He was filled with jealousy and indignation!
Why? He was the Head of Male Immortals, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor. He commanded the Immortal Court and held a position of great honor. Why hadn't he received even a single stream of Primordial Violet Qi?
Hong Yun was nothing more than an independent cultivator. What had he done to deserve it?
An intense greed and a trace of resentment toward Hongjun for his "favoritism" quietly rose within him.
The other powerful figures, such as Di Jun and Tai Yi, were also disappointed, but they were more guarded and didn't reveal much.
Hongjun seemed unconcerned by the myriad expressions among the beings below. After bestowing the Primordial Violet Qi, he slowly closed his eyes and said nothing more.
While the Primordial Violet Qi stirred undercurrents in Zixiao Palace, Ao Chen had already taken Ao Guang across boundless seas.
By then, he had reached the deepest part of the East Sea: a Forbidden Land shrouded year-round in endless darkness and terrifying water pressure—the Dragon Abyss.
The Dragon Abyss was also said to be the site of the legendary deep-sea Dragon Tomb.
The moment they entered the Dragon Abyss, an indescribable desolation and stillness washed over them, along with Karmic Debt and resentment so dense they seemed almost tangible!
The seawater here was black as ink and bitterly cold. Enormous dragon skeletons lay everywhere, radiating a faint pressure and unwillingness to fade.
The boundless negative energy converged here, forming a unique, terrifying domain capable of unsettling even the minds of Great Luo Golden Immortals.
"What dense Karmic Debt..."
Ao Chen frowned. He could clearly sense that the karmic consequences left behind by the Dragon-Han Calamity were concentrated to an extreme degree!
It seemed Ao Guang hadn't been exaggerating. Something really had happened to the Dragon Clan Elders!
And the situation was likely even worse than he had imagined!
Without further hesitation, he protected Ao Guang, whose mind was in turmoil, and flew straight toward the deepest part of the Dragon Abyss, where Karmic Debt and dragon energy were most concentrated.
The deeper they ventured into the Dragon Abyss, the heavier the desolation and stillness became. The dragon skeletons around them grew ever larger and more ancient. Some still radiated a faint dragon might, clearly having belonged to once-mighty figures.
At last, deep in a pitch-black trench ringed by countless enormous dragon bones, they saw an ancient palace built from some strange black crystal.
Visible strands of dense, black Karmic Debt coiled around the palace. Yet it also radiated a Dragon Race aura that, though weak, remained dignified and vast.
This was where the Dragon Clan Elders had secluded themselves to cultivate in isolation—and where they were now trapped by the backlash of their Karmic Debt.
As soon as they approached the palace, an aged and weary voice rang out, still carrying supreme authority:
"Ao Guang? Why have you come to this Forbidden Land instead of guarding the East Sea?"
The voice paused, as if it had recognized Ao Chen's aura. A trace of surprise entered it.
"And Ao Chen? Little one, hadn't you left the East Sea? Why have you appeared here?"
As the voice fell, an elderly figure emerged slowly from the palace's shadows. He wore a blue dragon robe, had an ancient face, and bore imposing dragon horns.
He was one of the oldest surviving Dragon Clan Elders, Azure Dragon, one of the Four Spirits of the East!
But now, this Dragon Clan Elder who had once shaken the Primordial Wilderness seemed exceptionally weak. His face was pale, and an intractable black aura lingered between his brows. He was clearly suffering terribly from the backlash of Karmic Debt.
He looked at Ao Chen with confusion. The junior, who should have been away from the East Sea, had been a Golden Immortal. Now he had suddenly appeared, his aura strangely altered, and Azure Dragon couldn't understand why.
"Greetings, Ancestor Azure Dragon!"
Ao Guang hurried forward and bowed respectfully.
His face then filled with anxiety. He quickly recounted everything to Azure Dragon: how the Immortal Court had oppressed them, how East King Duke had made an example of them, how Ao Chen had returned, and how he had casually killed an Immortal Court Primordial Unity envoy.
"Ancestor, the Immortal Court has gone too far! Now Brother Ao Chen has even killed one of their envoys. East King Duke is already a Quasi-Sage. If he comes seeking revenge..." Ao Guang's face was full of worry.
After hearing him out, the suspicion in Azure Dragon's eyes gave way to a sharp gaze. He looked deeply at Ao Chen, clearly not expecting this junior to have such courage and strength.
Surprise gave way to even deeper concern.
As an elder of the Dragon Race, he couldn't just watch one of his descendants go to their death.
He sighed and said sternly to Ao Chen, "Ao Chen, you acted too rashly!"
"After you killed an Immortal Court envoy, East King Duke will never let this go! He is already a Quasi-Sage. You are no match for him!"
"Stay in the Dragon Abyss for now," Azure Dragon said, his tone carrying unquestionable authority.
"The remnants of our power and the Dragon Tomb's grand formation protect this place. They may be able to keep you safe for a time. Once we deal with our own Karmic Debt, we'll help you resolve this conflict."
"Until then, you must not leave again!"
Before you continue