Karma Schemes, Heading to Buzhou Mountain

Hongjun nodded and said:

"Di Jun, you were killed by Chu Yan. Now, This Seat has used the flesh and blood of a Chaos Demon God to reshape your physical body. Your current body is comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure. I hope you will make good use of it."

"Many thanks, Dao Ancestor."

Di Jun knelt quickly, his heart brimming with joy. He never expected that dying once would bring him such immense fortune.

"Alright, go now. The River Diagram and Luo Book have already been retrieved by This Seat and are in the Heavenly Court."

"Many thanks, Dao Ancestor. This disciple will take his leave."

Watching Di Jun depart in high spirits, a faint, imperceptible smile curled at the corner of Hongjun's lips.

Then, Hongjun turned to Nuwa and said:

"Nuwa, you were slain once by Tongtian. The karma has been set, and it will surely be repaid in the future."

If Chu Yan were here, he would certainly understand that these words from Hongjun pointed to the later Investiture of the Gods.

The Chan Sect profited, while the Jie Sect suffered heavy losses. It could be said that aside from the Jie Sect, all other saints came out ahead.

But now, with the Heavenly Mechanism in chaos, whether the Investiture War would still occur was anyone's guess.

"Many thanks, Teacher."

Hongjun then looked at Jieyin and Zhunti and said:

"Jieyin, Zhunti, in this battle, you two Saints of the West were also slain once by Tongtian. The karma is sealed, and Tongtian will surely repay it in the future—and then some."

"Many thanks, Teacher."

Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and quickly kowtowed in gratitude.

"Taiqing."

Hongjun turned to the Taiqing Saint and said:

"Though your losses were severe, you have seized a portion of the Human Race Destiny. It is not much, but it is an opportunity. With this opening, you can involve yourself in human affairs. When the time comes, you may join forces with Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Yuanshi to forcibly contend for the Human Race Destiny."

"Many thanks, Teacher, but..."

Taiqing said:

"Teacher, as long as Chu Yan lives, this disciple will never be able to fully control the Human Race Destiny."

Chu Yan was born from the Human Race Destiny. As long as humanity endured, Chu Yan would not die.

Yet Hongjun chuckled lightly:

"Rest assured. Now that the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans are gone, the Human Race Destiny will soon begin to scatter. When that happens, it will no longer be Chu Yan's to command. Still, Chu Yan is after all the Human Race Teacher and the leader of the One Hundred Thousand Innate Humans, so he is entitled to a share of that destiny."

Hearing this, all the saints understood.

"Teacher, with the Heavenly Mechanism in chaos, what should we do?"

"Wait."

Hongjun said:

"Now that humanity lacks a treasure to stabilize its destiny, once the Human Race Destiny begins to collapse, all of you saints must act with full force to aid Taiqing. Use the Kongtong Seal to seize the Human Race Destiny. Then, all Variables will return to their Fixed Numbers."

Over at the Purple Cloud Palace, discussions were still ongoing.

But Chu Yan and Sect Master Tongtian had already arrived at Buzhou Mountain.

Seeing the mountain barren and bare, Tongtian felt a pang of sorrow.

"Such a fine mountain, countless heavenly treasures and spiritual plants—all burned to nothing by those Ten Golden Crows of the Demon Clan. How detestable."

Yet Chu Yan chuckled:

"Sect Master, rest assured. They won't be arrogant for much longer. The day I find humanity's race-stabilizing treasure will be the day those Ten Golden Crows meet their end."

Chu Yan looked up toward the Demon Heavenly Court.

"They dared to kill my people. Then they must die."

His words were resolute, and a terrifying killing intent erupted.

In an instant, it shook ten thousand miles in every direction.

Sect Master Tongtian also looked up, a smile curling at his lips. These Demon Princes—who else could they have provoked but Chu Yan?

Tongtian could already see their doom.

"Indeed. The Demon Emperor has already been slain by you, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's foundation is wounded. If the Ten Golden Crows are killed, the Demon Clan's General Trend will be lost."

"Alright, Sect Master. Time is pressing. Let's move quickly."

With that, Chu Yan and Sect Master Tongtian swiftly ascended against the mountain's flow.

Yet they felt a terrifying pressure bearing down on them.

"As expected of the Great God Pangu. Even in death, his imposing aura remains so fearsome. What a pity."

Chu Yan looked into the distance at a massive depression—the spot where Hongjun had forcibly torn away a great chunk of Buzhou Mountain.

Otherwise, the aura of Buzhou Mountain would likely be even more terrifying.

"Let's go, Human Master. I wonder where Father God's spinal marrow lies?"

Sect Master Tongtian could no longer contain his impatience.

Chu Yan chuckled and said, "Pangu's Spinal Marrow is the flesh and blood of Great God Pangu. To take it, you must obtain Great God Pangu's consent. I can only say this much; the rest depends on your fortune."

If Great God Pangu agreed, he would point the way; if not, no amount of searching would find it.

Hearing this, how could Sect Master Tongtian not understand Chu Yan's meaning?

He immediately knelt before Buzhou Mountain.

"Father God above, your child Tongtian is trapped by the Heavenly Dao and cannot free himself. Though I established the Jie Sect to seize a Thread of Life from heaven and earth, I lack an artifact to suppress fate. I beg Father God's mercy, let your child obtain Father God's Spinal Marrow to help me escape this scheme."

With these words, Sect Master Tongtian kowtowed three times.

Instantly, a terrifying aura erupted, and Pangu's might spread across Buzhou Mountain.

All the Endless Great Powers of the Primordial World changed color.

"Pangu's presence? How is that possible?"

"Has something major happened in the Primordial World again?"

One by one, they projected their avatars, only to have them torn to shreds by the dreadful pressure of Pangu.

In the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun and All Saints also paled.

"Pangu, this is bad."

In an instant, they saw Sect Master Tongtian kneeling before Buzhou Mountain.

Hongjun's heart sank—this rebellious disciple was about to betray the sect and abandon the Xuanmen Immortal Path.

Hongjun could no longer sit still.

"Pangu, you and I have an agreement not to interfere. What are you doing?"

His voice resounded across the Primordial World as Hongjun's Dharma Body descended, followed closely by the Five Saints.

Yet Pangu's Will paid him no heed.

A blinding golden light burst forth from Buzhou Mountain.

"Over there."

Chu Yan's gaze locked onto a massive gap in Buzhou Mountain.

It was the very piece Hongjun had seized earlier.

"Sect Master, head that way. Every loss has its gain. Hongjun once weakened Pangu's Will by taking a large chunk of Buzhou Mountain, but now it works to our advantage."

Buzhou Mountain was originally formed from Pangu's spine, so Pangu's Spinal Marrow must lie deep within it.

Normally, retrieving it would require drilling a huge hole, but since Hongjun had already torn away a large piece, it made things easier for Chu Yan and the others.

"Good, let's go."

But how could Hongjun let this slide?

"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 face darkened. This old Cricket meddled in everything—utterly insufferable.

In an instant, his ten-thousand-zhang Dharma Body rose from the ground. With a single hand, he grasped the Killing Spear, which turned a bloody red.

He stepped directly between Hongjun and Sect Master Tongtian.

"Hongjun, you're meddling again. Get lost."

With that shout, every Living Being in the Primordial World was thunderstruck.

Good heavens, Chu Yan actually told Hongjun to get lost?

What audacity.

"Chu Yan, you are far too insolent. Do you think This Seat cannot deal with you?"

"That's right. You really can't do anything to me."

Chu Yan had already understood that Hongjun and Pangu had an agreement—neither side could directly intervene.

Hearing this, Hongjun's face flushed with rage.

"You... fine, fine. I'll set your matter aside for now. But Tongtian is my disciple—can I not discipline him?"

"Hmph, with me here, you really can't."