Hongjun nodded and said:
"Di Jun, you were killed by Chu Yan. Now, I've used the flesh and blood of a Chaos Demon God to rebuild your body. Your body is now comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure. I hope you make good use of it."
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor."
Di Jun quickly knelt, his heart brimming with joy. He never expected that dying once would bring him such an enormous benefit.
"All right, go. I've already retrieved the River Diagram and Luo Book for you. They're in the Heavenly Court."
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor. This disciple will take his leave."
As he watched Di Jun leave happily, an imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of Hongjun's mouth.
Then Hongjun turned to Nuwa and said:
"Nuwa, Tongtian killed you once. The karma between you is already established, and one day it will surely be repaid."
If Chu Yan had been here, he would have understood that Hongjun's words referred to the later Investiture of the Gods.
The Chan Sect would profit, while the Interception Sect would suffer catastrophic losses. Apart from the Interception Sect, every other Saint would come out ahead.
But with the Heavenly Mechanism in chaos, no one could say whether the Investiture of the Gods would still take place.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Hongjun then looked at Jieyin and Zhunti and said:
"Jieyin, Zhunti, you two Saints of the West were also killed once by Tongtian in this battle. The karma is settled, and Tongtian will surely repay it one day—and then some."
"Thank you, Teacher."
Jieyin and Zhunti were thrilled and hurriedly bowed in gratitude.
"Taiqing."
Hongjun looked at Saint Taiqing and said:
"Though your losses were heavy, you managed to grasp some of the Human Race Destiny. It isn't much, but it gives you an opening. You can use it to take part in the affairs of the Human Race. When the time comes, join forces with Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Yuanshi to forcibly seize the Human Race Destiny."
"Thank you, Teacher, but..."
Taiqing said:
"Teacher, as long as Chu Yan lives, this disciple will never be able to control the Human Race Destiny."
Chu Yan had come into being through the Human Race Destiny. As long as the Human Race endured, Chu Yan would not die.
But Hongjun chuckled.
"Don't worry. The One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans are gone. Before long, the Human Race Destiny will begin to disperse. When that happens, Chu Yan won't have the final say. Still, Chu Yan is the Human Race Teacher and the leader of the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans, so he should be entitled to a portion of the destiny."
At this, the Saints understood.
"Teacher, with the Heavenly Mechanism in chaos, what should we do?"
"Wait."
Hongjun said:
"The Human Race has no treasure to suppress its destiny. Once its destiny begins to crumble, all of you Saints must join forces to help Taiqing. Use the Kongtong Seal to vie for the Human Race Destiny. Then every Variable will return to its Fixed Number."
The discussion was still underway at the Purple Sky Palace.
Meanwhile, Chu Yan and Sect Master Tongtian had already arrived at Buzhou Mountain.
Seeing the barren mountain, Sect Master Tongtian felt a pang of sorrow.
"Such a fine mountain, once filled with countless spiritual treasures and plants of heaven and earth, was burned to the ground by the Demon Race's Ten Golden Crows. It's infuriating."
Chu Yan chuckled.
"Don't worry, Sect Master. They won't be arrogant for much longer. The day I find the Human Race's treasure to suppress its destiny will be the day the Ten Golden Crows die."
Chu Yan raised his head and looked toward the Demon Heavenly Court.
"They dared to kill my people. They must die."
His words were firm and decisive, and a terrifying killing intent erupted from him.
In an instant, it shook the land for ten thousand li in every direction.
Sect Master Tongtian also looked up, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. Of all the people the Demon Princes could have offended, they had to provoke Chu Yan.
Sect Master Tongtian could almost see their doom.
"Indeed. You've already killed the Demon Emperor, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's foundations have been damaged. If the Ten Golden Crows are killed, the Demon Race's General Trend will be finished."
"All right, Sect Master. Time is short. We should get moving."
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Yan and Sect Master Tongtian hurried upward against the mountain's oppressive force.
But soon, they felt a terrifying pressure.
"As expected of Great God Pangu. Even after death, he still has such a terrifying aura. What a pity..."
Chu Yan gazed into the distance at a massive hollow. Hongjun had forcibly taken away a huge chunk of Buzhou Mountain.
Otherwise, the mountain's aura would have been even more terrifying.
"Let's go, Human Master. Where is Father God's spinal marrow?"
Sect Master Tongtian could hardly wait.
Chu Yan chuckled and said:
"Pangu's Spinal Marrow is part of Great God Pangu's flesh and blood. If you want to take it, you must first obtain his consent. That's all I can say. The rest depends on your fate."
If Great God Pangu agreed, he would point the way. If he refused, they wouldn't find it no matter how hard they searched.
Hearing this, how could Sect Master Tongtian fail to understand what Chu Yan meant?
He immediately knelt before Buzhou Mountain.
"Father God, your son Tongtian has been trapped by the Heavenly Dao's schemes and cannot escape. Though I founded the Interception Sect and seized a Thread of Life from heaven and earth, I have no treasure to suppress its destiny. I beg you to take pity on me and let me obtain your spinal marrow, so that I may escape these schemes."
When he finished speaking, Sect Master Tongtian bowed three times.
A terrifying aura erupted. Pangu's might spread across Buzhou Mountain.
At once, countless Great Powers of the Primordial World turned pale.
"Pangu's aura? How is that possible?"
"Could something major have happened in the Primordial World again?"
One after another, they quickly projected themselves toward the mountain, but the terrifying pressure of Pangu tore their projections to pieces.
In the Purple Sky Palace, Hongjun and the Saints also turned pale.
"Pangu—this is bad!"
They looked over at once and saw Sect Master Tongtian kneeling before Buzhou Mountain.
Hongjun's heart lurched. That traitor was going to betray his sect and leave the Xuanmen Immortal Path.
Hongjun could no longer sit still.
"Pangu, you and I have an agreement. You must not interfere. What are you doing?"
His voice resounded throughout the Primordial World. Hongjun's Dharma Body descended, and the other Five Saints followed close behind.
But Pangu's Will ignored him.
A terrifying golden light burst from Buzhou Mountain.
"There!"
Chu Yan immediately looked toward the enormous gap in Buzhou Mountain.
It was the very chunk Hongjun had taken earlier.
"Sect Master, let's head over there. Every cause has its consequence. Hongjun took a huge chunk out of Buzhou Mountain to weaken Pangu's Will, never expecting it would work to our advantage."
Buzhou Mountain had been formed from Pangu's Spine. Pangu's Spinal Marrow had to be deep inside it.
It would have been difficult to obtain otherwise; they would have needed to dig a huge hole. But since Hongjun had taken away a large chunk, he had unwittingly made things easier for Chu Yan and the others.
"Good. Let's go."
But Hongjun wasn't about to let them go so easily.
"Tongtian, what are you doing?"
With a furious roar, the terrifying aura of the Dao Ancestor erupted, instantly pinning Sect Master Tongtian in place.
Chu Yan's expression changed. That old Cricket had to stick his nose into everything. He was going too far.
In an instant, the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Golden Body rose from the ground. Chu Yan reached out, and the Killing Spear turned crimson.
He stepped directly between Hongjun and Sect Master Tongtian.
"Hongjun, you're meddling again. Get lost!"
His shout left every living being in the Primordial World stunned.
Good heavens! Chu Yan had actually told Hongjun to get lost?
What nerve!
"Chu Yan, you've gone too far! Do you think I can't do anything to you?"
"That's right. You really can't do a thing to me."
Chu Yan had already figured it out: Hongjun and Pangu had an agreement that neither of them could interfere directly.
Hongjun's face flushed with anger at those words.
"You... Fine. I'll let your matter go for now. But Tongtian is one of my disciples. Am I not allowed to deal with him?"
"Hmph. With me here, you really can't."
Before you continue