Hongyun Yields His Seat, Kunpeng Suffers Misfortune

"Fellow Daoists, all people of insight and virtue across the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands, open your eyes and see..."

The Two People's sorrowful voices intertwined, pouring out in full the Western Sentient Beings' poverty over Hundred Million Years, the hardship of racing about in pursuit of the Dao, and the pent-up bitterness in their hearts.

In an instant, the sorrowful Dao rhythm they exuded faintly resonated with the profound Dao laws of Yan Dao Palace, manifesting vague visions of Earth Veins collapsing and living beings wailing. Though it lasted only a moment, it was enough to shake the heart.

At this sight, the expressions of many Great Powers Inside the Hall, who had originally worn mocking smiles, gradually became complicated.

Those who had initially watched from the sidelines could not help sighing to themselves as well.

At this moment, no one showed any further contempt.

Even those with sharp minds could vaguely sense that the Two People might have some scheme in making this move.

Yet their every word was steeped in blood and tears, their emotions utterly sincere—something that could not escape the perception of the Great Powers present.

"Two fellow Daoists! Two fellow Daoists!" Hongyun, already the softest-hearted among them and unable to bear the sight, could no longer restrain himself and called out repeatedly.

Zhunti and Jieyin wiped away their tears as they lifted their heads to look over.

Zhenyuanzi's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Crying inwardly that things were bad, he hurriedly sent Hongyun a transmission to dissuade him.

But Hongyun's compassion had already been stirred. He ignored it, instead beckoning gravely to the Two People. "Two fellow Daoists, do not grieve any longer!"

"This Daoist's seat is fairly near the front. I shall yield it to you two, in hopes of easing the Western Sentient Beings' hardships in seeking the Dao."

The moment these words fell, the entire hall was stunned!

With a great Dao opportunity before them, the seating on these Golden Clouds was clearly anything but ordinary—yet Hongyun was actually willing to give his up?

The ominous feeling in Zhenyuanzi's heart suddenly intensified.

He vaguely felt that Hongyun's good deed this time might bring about a great calamity...

But with all eyes upon him, Hongyun's words had already left his mouth, like spilled water that could not be gathered again.

Zhunti and Jieyin, meanwhile, were ecstatic within.

Keeping sorrowful expressions on their faces, they wept as they offered thanks and hurried toward the Golden Cloud.

Along the way, the Two People swiftly discussed matters through a Secret Technique transmission. Then Zhunti took his seat upon the Golden Cloud.

Seeing this, Hongyun smiled in relief and turned to seek a seat in the rear rows.

But after taking only two steps, he heard Zhunti plead again in a tear-choked voice. "Daoist Hongyun, your righteousness is lofty beyond measure. This Daoist is endlessly grateful!"

"But my brother and I have come here on behalf of the Western Sentient Beings. Though this Daoist now has a seat, my Elder Brother still has nowhere to settle..."

"Fellow Daoists, with compassion in your hearts, could you... could you perhaps make room for us once more?" As he spoke, his pitiful, grief-stricken gaze had already fallen upon Kunpeng, seated upright atop another Golden Cloud. His appearance was even more heartrending than before.

It turned out that from the moment Hongyun agreed to yield his seat, Zhunti and Jieyin had resolved to secure another Golden Cloud seat.

The Two People had already regarded this opportunity as the key to a turning point in the Western Sentient Beings' fate.

Of the five Golden Clouds remaining, the first three were occupied by the Three Pure Ones, whom no one could shake.

The fourth was claimed by Nuwa, and Fuxi behind her did not look like someone easily provoked.

Only Kunpeng, on the fifth Golden Cloud, stood alone.

Moreover, the quick-witted Zhunti had noticed that Primordial Lord of Heaven among the Three Pure Ones looked at Kunpeng with a faint, barely perceptible disgust in his eyes.

Zhunti guessed that something must have happened between the Two People, but Primordial Lord of Heaven had not found an opportunity for revenge.

His reasoning was simple: if there had been a chance, with the strength of the Three Pure Ones, dealing with a single Kunpeng would have been a sure thing.

Thus, upon noticing this, Zhunti immediately sent a transmission to Jieyin, turning their attention toward Kunpeng.

When Kunpeng saw Zhunti's gaze fall upon him and heard his words, he immediately snorted coldly, his voice like frozen iron. "Hmph! Such crocodile tears only disgust people!"

"This Seat is no fool. How could I be deceived by tricks like yours?"

"Get away at once!"

His words were arrogant, carrying the innate pride and unruliness of the North Sea's overlord.

Yet he did not know that the instant he spoke, he had incurred the anger of the crowd.

Earlier, Zhunti and Jieyin had spoken plainly of the Western Sentient Beings' miserable plight. Through the resonance of their Dao Hearts, all the Great Powers Inside the Hall knew that their words were not false.

Though they were all innate living beings, and might differ in closeness and personal preference, they could not help feeling some sorrow for their own kind at such tragedy born of Heaven and Earth.

Kunpeng's words were no different from calling every person who felt sympathy a "fool."

Zhunti immediately seized this fleeting opening. His expression turned solemn, and his voice abruptly rose with grief and indignation. "Daoist Kunpeng!"

"If you do not wish to help, you could simply say so. Why speak so rudely and insult the many fellow Daoists present who hold benevolence in their hearts?"

These words were like a stone striking water, stirring up ripples.

Zhenyuanzi, already in a foul mood because Hongyun had yielded his seat, grew even more displeased upon hearing Kunpeng's contemptuous words. He immediately spoke in agreement. "Daoist Zhunti speaks reasonably."

"In the Primordial Wilderness, all actions depend upon fate and willingness."

"Daoist Hongyun yielded his seat of his own accord; it was an act of benevolence and lofty righteousness."

"That the fellow Daoists feel compassion is likewise the mercy of their nature."

"If you were unwilling, so be it. Why insult others with vicious words and damage the dignity of our fellow Daoists?"

"Exactly so!" Tongtian Sect Master was fiery by nature and loved to stand up for justice. He too raised his voice in support. "Kunpeng, those words of yours are truly rude!"

Even the mild-tempered Fuxi frowned slightly. "Daoist Kunpeng, when you entered the hall earlier, you disrupted the Dao rhythm. We said nothing of it."

"And now you hurl malicious words for no reason at all. What reason is there for that?"

Faced with so many Great Powers calling him out at once, Kunpeng's expression abruptly turned incomparably ugly.

Alarm and fury roiled within him. Without a second thought, he circulated his Great Dao, and the formidable pressure belonging to a late-stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortal burst forth.

This was no different from pouring oil on a fire!

"Impudence!"

"Arrogance!"

Several rebukes rang out at once. The expressions of many Great Powers darkened as they too revealed the pressure of their Dao rhythms—clear light shooting into the heavens, rosy clouds billowing like mist, phantom mountains and rivers rising and sinking...

For a time, the hall's auras clashed and collided, its Dao rhythms thrown into chaos as the sounds of wind and thunder arose.

Only Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Houtu, Grand Supreme Elder Lord, East Prince, West Queen Mother, and the few others in the corner, such as Styx and Burning Lamp, continued to conceal their auras and watch in silence, giving nothing away.

"Those covered in fur and bearing horns, born damp or hatched from eggs, truly know neither propriety nor the workings of Heaven." Primordial Lord of Heaven's indifferent voice rang out, carrying a lofty scrutiny and undisguised disgust.

"With conduct like this, how could you be worthy of sitting among us upon these Great Dao Golden Lotus seats?"

"In This Seat's view, it would be best for you to yield this seat."

The words fell like a judgment. Kunpeng's heart jolted in horror, as though he had plunged into an ice cellar.

At this, a flash of anger crossed Eastern Emperor Taiyi's face. The phantom of the Chaos Bell swirled above his palm, and the ancient, profound runes upon its body glimmered faintly.

Di Jun swiftly reached out and lightly pressed a hand to his younger brother's wrist. He gave a slight shake of his head, his eyes full of warning.

He saw the situation clearly. Kunpeng had already incurred public wrath and become the target of all.

If the two brothers involved themselves now, then even with their formidable strength, they would find it hard to stand against the will of all the Great Powers in the hall. They would only be dragged into this dispute for nothing, and the loss would outweigh the gain.

Seeing Kunpeng still sitting stiffly atop the Golden Cloud, his expression shifting uncertainly as if struggling within himself, Tongtian Sect Master's eyes filled with eagerness to make a move.

He held two fingers together like a sword. A strand of peerlessly sharp azure Sword Qi, seeming capable of severing time and space, flickered at his fingertips. "What is it?"