Contention for Purple Qi

The Sea of Blood in the Underworld, Minghe Hall.

Old Ancestor Minghe sat upon the Twelve-petal Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

Waves of blood surged around him, and Fiend Qi pierced the heavens!

The blood-red light in his eyes flickered like two ghostly flames from the underworld.

"Hehehehe... The six Saints have all emerged, causing the world's vital energy to become chaotic. This is the perfect opportunity for this Old Ancestor to fish in troubled waters!"

"Hongyun, that kind old man, possesses such a treasure as the Primordial Violet Qi, yet he carries it like a child carrying gold through a crowded market!"

"It is only right that it should belong to this Old Ancestor!"

"Once this Old Ancestor obtains the Violet Qi, comprehends the Primordial Dao, and then uses the Origin of the Sea of Blood to create a race, I will complete my Dao!"

"At that time, the lineage of the Sea of Blood may very well contend with the Saints!"

Upon this thought, the blood-red light around Old Ancestor Minghe intensified.

His form flickered, transforming into a dark red shadow that almost merged with the Sea of Blood. Silently, he slipped out of the Sea of Blood and headed straight for Longevity Mountain.

He was like a Flood Dragon lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.

Fangzhang Immortal Island, Xuan Yuan Palace quiet room.

Dao Xuan sat cross-legged, with four golden, Dao Rhyme-filled staffs floating before him.

The staffs were neither gold nor wood, imprinted with profound merit runes, exuding a righteous, peaceful aura that repelled all evil.

These were the merit Spiritual Treasures he had refined, using his own merit as the main material, supplemented by numerous rare and precious materials—the Xuanhuang Merit Staffs!

These staffs were immensely heavy, indestructible, and their attacks did not incur karma, making them powerful tools for protecting the Dao and subduing demons.

"These staffs perfectly suit the power of the Dao of the Four Mixed Monkeys."

Dao Xuan nodded in satisfaction.

He moved his mind.

"Six-Eared, Yuan Chi, come and see your Teacher."

His voice echoed across the island.

Not long after.

The Six-Eared Macaque and the Red-buttocked Macaque Yuan Chi respectfully arrived at the quiet room.

"Greetings, Teacher!"

Dao Xuan pointed to the two floating merit staffs.

"These are treasures refined by your Teacher using merit, named Xuanhuang Merit Staffs."

"They are as heavy as mountains, indestructible, and their attacks do not incur karma."

"Six-Eared, I bestow this staff upon you."

"Yuan Chi, I bestow this staff upon you."

"I hope you both will refine them well, diligently cultivate the Profound Technique, and not let down these treasures."

Six-Eared and Yuan Chi looked at the golden, Dao Rhyme-infused staffs, feeling the immense power and boundless merit aura within them, and were instantly overjoyed!

"Thank you, Teacher, for bestowing these treasures!"

Six-Eared stepped forward and grasped the merit staff meant for him.

Buzz!

The staff hummed softly, subtly resonating with the Blood Essence of his Nine Revolutions Profound Technique. It was incredibly heavy, yet it felt perfectly suited to him!

Yuan Chi also grasped the other staff. He felt its weight, yet it seemed to belong to him by birthright, and a sense of kinship arose within him!

"Disciples will not fail Teacher's expectations!" the two monkeys replied in unison.

Dao Xuan nodded. "Go now, refine them well, and familiarize yourselves with these treasures."

"Yes!" The two monkeys respectfully withdrew, eager to familiarize themselves with their newly acquired treasures.

Dao Xuan looked at the remaining two merit staffs.

"Tongbi... Lingming... Our destinies have not yet arrived."

He waved his hand and put away the remaining two staffs.

"All matters on the island are settled, and it is time for me to venture out."

Dao Xuan stood up and did not summon the Five Spirit Qilin.

With a single step, his figure vanished from the quiet room.

He left Fangzhang Immortal Island without a sound.

The Great Desolation.

Dao Xuan did not deliberately choose a direction, simply following his heart and sensing the world.

On this day.

He traveled to the central region of the Great Desolation Continent, above a range of continuous ancient mountains.

Dao Xuan felt something and his brow twitched slightly.

He sensed several powerful yet hidden auras far ahead, in the direction of Longevity Mountain.

These auras were like dormant venomous snakes, lurking in the void, earth veins, and clouds around Longevity Mountain.

They were spaced far apart, not interfering with each other, yet they subtly formed an invisible net, tightly monitoring Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

"Oh? Quite a few 'fishermen' are lying in wait."

A playful smile tugged at the corner of Dao Xuan's mouth.

His form flickered, transforming into an invisible, formless breeze, and silently merged into the void.

In an instant, he had approached the borders of Longevity Mountain.

He found a solitary peak with misty clouds and steep terrain, concealed himself, and quietly observed.

The vantage point offered an excellent view, allowing him to overlook Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain and take in all the surrounding "stakeout points."

Longevity Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple.

Spiritual energy swirled beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi, holding a whisk, his face like a silver moon and three long whiskers beneath his chin, was currently frowning with worry.

A phantom image of the Earth Book floated above his head, its heavy, earthy yellow light enveloping the entire dojo, closely connected to the earth's veins.

"Old friend Hongyun! Danger lurks everywhere outside, with demonic energy filling the sky. You absolutely must not leave the dojo even half a step!" Zhenyuanzi pleaded earnestly, his voice filled with anxiety.

Old Ancestor Hongyun sat on a stone bench, clad in a bright red daoist robe and wearing a Pure Yang cap. His usually gentle face was etched with sorrow and frustration.

"Brother Dao! Five thousand years! A full five thousand years!" Hongyun slammed the stone table, sending stone fragments flying. "I've been like a prisoner in this Wuzhuang Temple! If I stay any longer, my dao heart will become tarnished! The path of freedom lies in following one's heart; how can I cultivate in such confinement?"

He stood up and paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan.

"I, Hongyun, am naturally free-spirited and love to travel the Great Desolation and make friends!"

"Yet now I'm trapped in this tiny space, unable to even enjoy a sip of immortal wine!"

"It's stifling! Truly stifling! Brother Dao, just let me go out for some fresh air! Nearby, I promise I won't go far!"

Zhenyuanzi shook his head repeatedly, waving his whisk. "Old friend! Your life is at stake!

Endure for a moment, and the storm will pass; take a step back, and the sea and sky will open up! That Kunpeng, Dijun, Taiyi, even Minghe – which one of them isn't watching with covetous eyes? They're all waiting for you to step out!

If you go out, you'll be like a lamb entering a tiger's den!"

"Hmph!" Hongyun flicked his sleeve, his face showing indignation. "I've also severed two corpses and am a Quasi-Saint! I have the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd for protection!

Am I some soft persimmon to be squeezed at will? If they dare to come, I'll let them taste the power of my Red Sand Soul Scattering! Besides, Brother Dao, you have the Earth Book protecting you and can arrive instantly. What are you afraid of?"

"Old friend! Two fists are no match for four hands! Open attacks are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against!" Zhenyuanzi was so anxious that sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Stop trying to persuade me! I'm leaving!" Hongyun's mind was made up. He transformed into a crimson escape light and shot out like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, eagerly rushing out of the Wuzhuang Temple's protective formation!

"Old friend! Return quickly!" Zhenyuanzi cried out urgently, quickly activating the Earth Book with all his might, sensing Hongyun's location, ready to provide support at any moment, though an ominous premonition had already arisen in his heart.

As soon as Hongyun left the bounds of Longevity Mountain.

He felt the vastness of the sky and the freshness of the spiritual energy. The pent-up frustration of five thousand years vanished!

"Haha! Wonderful! It feels so much better outside!" He rode his escape light, flying freely among the nearby mountains, enjoying the scenery, feeling utterly content.

Atop the solitary peak.

A sharp glint flashed in Dao Xuan's eyes.

"They're here!"

He clearly saw that the moment Hongyun stepped out of Longevity Mountain's protective range.

Those powerful auras lurking in all directions, like sharks smelling blood, instantly became agitated!

An invisible killing intent suddenly permeated the air!

Within a rift in the void.

Old Ancestor Kunpeng's pair of cold eyes suddenly erupted with terrifying brilliance!

"Hongyun! You've finally come out!"

"This ancestor has waited so long for you!"

Like a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, he struck instantly!

"Demon Master Palace! Suppress!"

BOOM!

An immensely vast palace phantom, exuding boundless demonic and icy energy, crashed down from the void without warning!

The palace was entirely deep blue, as if carved from ten thousand years of ice. Countless demonic script characters flickered on its eaves, emitting a terrifying pressure that suppressed all heavens!

The target was the unsuspecting Old Ancestor Hongyun, who was admiring the scenery!

"Kunpeng! Despicable!"

Hongyun's face turned deathly pale in shock!

In his haste, he only had time to summon his protective magical treasure!

"Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd! Emerge!"

Whoosh!

A gourd, entirely crimson and imprinted with arcane runes, shot up into the sky!

The mouth of the gourd spewed forth a torrent of red sand!

This red sand was incredibly venomous, specifically designed to corrupt the primordial spirit, dissolve souls, and erode bone. It transformed into a vast, sky-obscuring red cloud, surging towards the descending Demon Master Palace!

BOOM--!!!

A world-shattering roar erupted!

The red sand and the Demon Master Palace collided violently!

A ferocious energy shockwave swept in all directions, instantly leveling several mountain peaks below!

Old Ancestor Hongyun grunted, his face paling, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

He had reacted in haste, his magical power circulation was not smooth, and he had suffered a hidden loss.

The Demon Master Palace was momentarily obstructed by the red sand, but its momentum was undiminished, still pressing down with immense force!

"Old thief Kunpeng! How dare you launch a sneak attack!" Hongyun exclaimed, both shocked and enraged, fully channeling his magical power into the Soul Scattering Gourd.

The red sand became denser, churning like a sea of blood, stubbornly holding back the Demon Master Palace.

"Hmph! Hongyun! Hand over the Primordial Violet Qi! And I will spare your life!" Kunpeng's figure materialized from the void.

He wore a deep blue Demon Master robe and a crown of profound ice. His face was sinister, and killing intent blazed in his eyes.

"Wishful thinking!" Hongyun roared, but his heart sank, knowing he was likely doomed today.

"Stubborn fool! Then die!" Kunpeng shrieked, forming seals with his hands.

The Demon Master Palace blazed with light, its chilling aura intensifying. Countless ice shards shot out from the palace like sharp swords, piercing the red sand!

Simultaneously, Kunpeng opened his mouth and spat!

A beam of deep blue cold light, swift as lightning, shot directly towards Hongyun's face!

It was his Natal Demon Weapon, refined over many years—the Northern Darkness Cold Soul Thorn!

It specialized in breaking protective divine light and was incredibly venomous!

Hongyun was greatly alarmed!

The Soul Scattering Gourd was fully occupied resisting the main body of the Demon Master Palace, leaving him unable to effectively deal with this insidious sneak attack!

He could only awkwardly shift his body to the side, simultaneously summoning a small crimson shield.

Pfft!

Although the Cold Soul Thorn was deflected by the small shield, its piercing cold energy still grazed Hongyun's shoulder!

Screech!

His protective immortal light was torn apart, his shoulder instantly turning black and frozen. His primordial spirit felt a sharp sting!

"Ah!" Hongyun cried out in pain, his aura becoming chaotic. The red sand from the Soul Scattering Gourd faltered.

The Demon Master Palace seized the opportunity and pressed down!

Boom!

The red sand was forced back!

Hongyun felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer, spitting out another mouthful of blood. His body, like a kite with a broken string, flew backward, crashing heavily onto a cliff face, causing rocks to shatter!

"Kunpeng! This old ancestor will fight you to the death!" Hongyun's hair was disheveled, his Taoist robe stained with blood, and he looked utterly frenzied.

He knew this situation could not end well. Kunpeng had initiated the sneak attack, and he was already severely injured.

Escape? Kunpeng's speed was top-tier in the Great Desolation; how could he escape?

Seek help? Although his fellow brother Zhenyuanzi was nearby, would Kunpeng give him the time?

Despair and rage surged in his heart!

"You want the Violet Qi? Dream on!"

A flicker of madness and resolve flashed in Hongyun's eyes!

He abandoned all defense and instead poured all his magical power, vital blood, and even the origin of his primordial spirit into the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd with frenzied intensity!

The crimson gourd instantly expanded, emitting a destructive wave of energy! Faint cracks even appeared on its surface!

"Not good! He's going to self-destruct!" Kunpeng's face changed drastically!

He never expected Hongyun to be so fierce!

He wanted to retreat, but it was already too late!

"Explode--!!!"

Hongyun let out a roar that shook heaven and earth! It was filled with the resolve of mutual destruction!

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—!!!

It was like billions of suns exploding at once!

An indescribable destructive energy, centered on Hongyun, erupted violently!

The first to bear the brunt was the Kunpeng Old Ancestor, who was extremely close, along with his massive Demon Master Palace!

A blinding light devoured everything!

A ferocious energy storm swept across heaven and earth!

Space shattered inch by inch like fragile glass!

The earth was torn open with unfathomably deep ravines!

"Ah—!"

A scream, the most piercing imaginable, erupted from the center of the explosion!

A shadowy blue figure appeared, bathed in blood, half its body almost blown to pieces. The Demon Master Palace, its light dimmed and covered in cracks, was violently flung away!

It was none other than Kunpeng Old Ancestor!

He had paid a heavy price, using the Demon Master Palace to protect his vital points at the last moment, but he was still blown into a severe state, his aura weak to the extreme! He was barely clinging to life!

And at the center of the explosion...

The figure of Hongyun Old Ancestor had vanished.

Only a faint purple qi, carrying a wisp of a weak Primordial Spirit imprint, fled in panic amidst the explosion's aftershocks!

Beside it floated the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd, its light also dim, its surface covered in even more obvious cracks.

At the gourd's opening, that faint Primordial Violet Qi was about to escape into it!

"Primordial Violet Qi! Mine!" The severely injured and dying Kunpeng's eyes blazed with greed and madness upon seeing the purple qi! It was like a drowning person grabbing the last straw!

He summoned his last bit of demon essence, burning his dwindling vital blood, and transformed into a shadowy light, rushing towards the gourd without regard for anything else!

"Hahaha! It's still mine, Old Ancestor!"

Under the gaze of countless hidden eyes, Kunpeng's demon claws grabbed the dimly lit Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd!

As the gourd entered his grasp, the Primordial Violet Qi was also firmly imprisoned by him!

"It's mine!" Kunpeng was overjoyed. Even though he was severely injured and dying, he felt it was worth it at this moment!

At the summit of the lone peak.

Dao Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

He looked at the Soul Scattering Gourd and the Primordial Violet Qi held in Kunpeng's hand.

A flicker of desire stirred deep within his Dao heart.

"Primordial Violet Qi... the key to becoming a Saint..."

His finger moved almost imperceptibly.

But then, he returned to calmness.

"The time is not yet right, and there are too many onlookers."

His gaze swept over the powerful auras that remained motionless, and a faint smile touched his lips.

However!

"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, this item is fated to be with me!"

A majestic and domineering voice rang out!

Simultaneously!

CLANG—!!!

A bell chime, capable of stabilizing the primordial chaos, resounded throughout the universe!

Time seemed to freeze for a moment!

Space was forcefully suppressed!

A golden hand, burning with Solar True Fire, ignored the spatial distance and arrived after the fact!

It grabbed the dimly lit Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd from Kunpeng's hand!

Boom!

Two figures, like descending great suns, appeared in mid-air.

One wore imperial robes and a sun crown, his face majestic, radiating imperial aura – it was the Demon Emperor Dijun!

The other wore Golden Crow battle armor, looking heroic and extraordinary, with a chaotic-colored ancient bell floating above his head, its body Xuanhuang – it was the Eastern Emperor Taiyi!

The golden hand reaching for the gourd was none other than Dijun's transformed form!

Dijun's gaze was like lightning, locking onto Kunpeng: "Fellow Daoist, you have worked hard. This item is of great importance and should be kept by the Heavenly Court. Hand it over."

His tone was flat, yet carried an undeniable command!

Kunpeng's eyes were about to split, his resentment so potent it was almost tangible!

"Dijun! Taiyi! You want to snatch the spoils?!" he clutched the gourd tightly, as if protecting his last shred of life. "This ancestor worked desperately to obtain it, how can I hand it over so easily! Don't even think about it!"

"Hmph! You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!" Taiyi snorted coldly, the Chaos Bell above his head flared, its pressure intensifying! The suppressing power suddenly strengthened!

"Then don't blame us for disregarding our kinship!" Golden flames flickered in Dijun's eyes, imperial pressure sweeping out! A massive golden hand exerted force!

How could the heavily wounded Kunpeng withstand the pressure and snatching of two peak Quasi-Saints?

He felt an immense, unstoppable force surge, his hand nearly losing its grip on the gourd!

He knew that a direct confrontation would only lead to death!

"Want to snatch it? Dream on! This ancestor is leaving!"

Kunpeng let out a furious roar! His voice filled with unwillingness and madness!

An unprecedented azure light erupted from his body!

A profound Dao Rhyme of ultimate speed permeated the air!

He actually burned his remaining life essence again, forcibly activating his innate divine ability—Northern Darkness Free Roam!

This was the Great Desolation's number one speed!

Even when heavily wounded and on the verge of death, once unleashed with full power, it was still unbelievably fast!

"Whoosh—!"

Kunpeng's figure, along with the Soul Scattering Gourd he clutched, instantly transformed into an azure thread so thin it almost merged with the void!

Ignoring spatial distances!

It was so fast that even the Chaos Bell's suppression was a moment too slow!

Towards the Northern Darkness, he fled desperately!

"Where do you think you're going!" Dijun and Taiyi roared, transforming into two golden rainbows that split the sky, in hot pursuit!

Though their speed was fast, compared to Kunpeng, who was burning his life essence and unleashing his innate extreme speed, they were still a fraction slower!

Just as Kunpeng was about to escape into the Northern Darkness territory!

An unforeseen event occurred!

"Hehehe... Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, this treasure is fated to be with this ancestor, so leave it behind!"

A sinister voice, like the cry of a night owl, sounded out of nowhere in front of Kunpeng's escape path!

Simultaneously!

A boundless vision of a Sea of Blood, exuding an overwhelming aura of blood and filth, materialized out of thin air!

It instantly enveloped Kunpeng's escape route!

Blood waves churned, countless resentful souls and fierce spirits wailed within! The power of filth permeated, as if corroding space itself!

A massive blood hand, condensed from pure, filthy blood water, emerged from the Sea of Blood, carrying a terrifying aura that corroded all things and defiled Primordial Spirits!

The timing was masterfully executed!

It was precisely when Kunpeng had just unleashed his extreme speed, caught between the passing of old strength and the yet-to-arrive new strength, at his most vulnerable and mentally relaxed moment!

It ruthlessly grabbed towards Kunpeng!

"Minghe! You old schemer! How dare you—!" Kunpeng was utterly terrified! His soul flew out of his body!

He never imagined that Minghe, that scoundrel, had calculated his escape route and laid an ambush here!

At this moment, heavily wounded and on the verge of death, his life essence almost depleted, he was at his weakest!

How could he possibly block this well-planned, fatal sneak attack?

"Pfft!"

The filthy blood hand, ignoring the fragile ice barrier Kunpeng hastily erected, which was already不堪一击, ruthlessly slammed onto his already battered body!

"Ah—!"

Kunpeng let out a scream even more piercing and desperate than when he had self-destructed before!

The filthy power contained within the blood hand madly corroded his demonic body and Primordial Spirit! It was like ten thousand ants gnawing at his heart!

The Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd, which he tightly clutched, could no longer be held and flew out of his hand!

A dark red blood shadow, swift as a ghost, instantly streaked past, snatching the gourd!

It was Old Ancestor Minghe!

He wore a blood jade crown, a dark red daoist robe, his face withered, his eyes emitting blood light. Seated atop the Twelve-petal Karmic Fire Red Lotus, he let out an extremely triumphant, strange laugh:

"Hehehe! Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Kunpeng and Fellow Daoists Dijun and Taiyi for 'delivering the goods'! This treasure, this ancestor accepts with pleasure! As long as the Sea of Blood does not dry up and this ancestor does not die, we shall meet again!"

Before his voice even faded, Old Ancestor Minghe rolled up the vision of the Sea of Blood, transforming into an unfathomably strange blood light. Ignoring the roars and attacks of Dijun and Taiyi, he instantly vanished into the void, disappearing! His direction was none other than the Netherworld Sea of Blood!

"Minghe! How dare you!" Dijun and Taiyi's furious roars echoed through heaven and earth! The Chaos Bell boomed, the Solar True Fire incinerated the sky!

But Minghe, having succeeded in his sneak attack, did not linger for battle. His blood escape technique was bizarre and unpredictable, and he had already fled tens of thousands of miles in an instant! All that remained was a patch of blood-reeking, defiled aura!

"Chase!" Dijun and Taiyi's rage soared, transforming into two golden rainbows that boiled the sea and burned the sky.