Inside Zixiao Palace, tensions ran high as divine powers filled the air.
Three mighty Mid-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals clashed, their magical power surging as the shockwaves swept across the hall.
However, none of the three fought to kill, and they knew to hold back.
After all, shedding blood in a Saint's sanctuary would defy the will of Heaven.
Jade Pure Yuanshi, seated on the second cushion, looked at Old Ancestor Kunpeng and couldn't help feeling a hint of disgust.
"Born from wetness or eggs, covered in fur or bearing horns!"
As a die-hard racist, he also wanted to make his presence felt.
Besides, Zhunti and Jieyin had impressive roots, and Jade Pure Yuanshi wanted to form a good relationship with the fellow disciples. As for Old Ancestor Kunpeng, he was merely a monster and couldn't compare with them.
"Beast! Get off that cushion!"
"I don't think you deserve to sit with the Three Pure Ones and listen to the Dao. I advise you to know your place and not force the Three Pure Ones to act!"
Cold and ruthless, domineering and imposing!
Jade Pure Yuanshi spoke to Old Ancestor Kunpeng, killing intent lurking in his eyes. A vast, icy force swept toward him like a gale!
In an instant!
Old Ancestor Kunpeng staggered, the countless streams of Dark Water scattering into the air!
Despite his cultivation, he was no match for Jade Pure Yuanshi's sheer strength. If he hadn't been protected by the North Sea Divine Mansion, Old Ancestor Kunpeng would have been sent flying!
"Yuanshi, what are you saying?"
"Born from wetness or eggs, covered in fur or bearing horns—are you talking about me?"
"Anyone who insults the demon race is an enemy of mine, Tai Yi! Old Ancestor Kunpeng belongs to the flying beast tribe, so it's only right that I protect him. Zhunti, Jieyin, stop fighting!"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was furious!
Ever since they had gathered at Zixiao Palace, Jade Pure Yuanshi had looked upon the demon race's mighty ones with disdain.
Now he had even branded Old Ancestor Kunpeng a monster. Wasn't that tantamount to calling the demon race a species that defied the Heavenly Dao and brought chaos to the Primordial Wilderness?
As the demon race's emperor, Eastern Emperor Taiyi possessed strength that reached the heavens and had never thought much of the Three Pure Ones. Now he could no longer endure Jade Pure Yuanshi's taunts!
So he struck!
The scorching True Sun Fire transformed into a Golden Crow Shadow. With a long cry, it sent Zhunti and Jieyin flying with Thunderous Momentum. Their chests caved in, blood gushed from their mouths, and flames engulfed them!
At the same time,
the Chaos Bell suppressed the universe and annihilated space and time, surging toward Jade Pure Yuanshi with the might of chaos. Its power far exceeded Eastern Emperor Taiyi's Mid-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation.
That was when Zixiao Palace descended into even greater chaos.
The Saint's sanctuary seemed to have become an arena for the mighty ones to duel, as if no one paid any heed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun, the Saint himself.
"I apologize to Fellow Daoist Tai Yi on Yuanshi's behalf!"
"But you attacked one of the Three Pure Ones without warning. Even with the might of the Chaos Bell, you won't gain the upper hand against me. Let's end this here!"
Old Master Taiqing shot Jade Pure Yuanshi a withering look.
Then he formed a hand seal, using his profound magical power to hold back the Chaos Bell. He didn't even use the acquired supreme treasure, the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Exquisite Pagoda.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was still no match for Old Master Taiqing!
With a light sweep of his jade sleeve, the Taiqing Dao Method transformed into mist, obscuring the senses of the Three Thousand Innate Gods.
A short while later!
Eastern Emperor Taiyi, his face dark, reluctantly returned to Dijun's side.
As for Old Ancestor Kunpeng, he had somehow been displaced to a corner of Zixiao Palace, left completely bewildered, while Zhunti sat firmly on the final cushion!
"Old Master Taiqing didn't act before, but when he did, he made a stunning display!"
"Seems I underestimated him!"
Dong Wanggong's gaze was sharp as he saw through everything.
Just moments ago, Old Master Taiqing had fought Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Dijun alone, forcing them both back several steps and putting an end to the fight.
He had obscured everyone's senses with mist merely to spare the Two Golden Crow Brothers some embarrassment.
After all, the Three Pure Ones and the demon race weren't mortal enemies!
Old Master Taiqing had acted to intimidate Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, preventing them from making trouble for the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun Mountain again.
No matter how sharp Yuanshi's tongue was, only Old Master Taiqing had the right to reprimand him.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi had no right to dictate what he could do!
As for Old Ancestor Kunpeng, he had become a pawn in the struggle between various factions. All he could do was resent Ancestor Hong Yun, curl up, and hide in a corner to recover from his injuries!
Alone and friendless, he was a pitiful sight!
Above the Cloud Platform,
Dao Ancestor Hongjun finally opened his eyes and looked straight at Old Master Taiqing, giving him a slight nod.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun was highly pleased with what he had done.
"From now on, no one may change seats!"
"I will preach three times, once every ten thousand years. Today, I will preach the Dao of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal!"
"Listen closely. How much you comprehend will depend entirely on your own insight!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun lowered his eyelids. The Immortal Dao enveloped everyone as the Jade Disk of Creation released the Three Thousand Laws, containing the Heavenly Dao Principles—vast and profound.
The Immortal Dao was boundless, and the Dao Sound rang out.
Purple aura spread, Heavenly Flowers Scatter, and Golden Lotuses Spring from the Earth.
Sacred visions appeared, and the Great Dao's rules became clear.
As Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke the Dao, all the Innate Deities fell into a state of enlightenment.
Time passed!
Suddenly!
The Dao Sound ceased, and the Heavenly Dao vanished.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression darkened with anger, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes as he looked toward the Primordial Continent.
What had happened?
The Three Thousand Innate Gods looked alarmed. The lecture had only just begun, so why had it ended?
Could it be that Dao Ancestor Hongjun no longer wished to preach?
Seeing the anger on Dao Ancestor Hongjun's face, everyone wondered who had provoked him.
"Chaos Demon Ape, you tried to use the Six-Eared Macaque to spy on me. You truly are impossible to shake off!"
"The Dao cannot be passed on to Six Ears. Let the Heavenly Dao manifest and destroy this evil presence!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun sent a burst of magical power toward a certain immortal mountain in the Primordial Wilderness.
At once, the Six-Eared Ape Monkey's head throbbed. He vomited white foam and fell unconscious; even his Early-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation vanished.
Blood poured from the monkey's ears like a spring.
Then!
A wisp of black energy was forced out of his primordial spirit and drifted into the air, where it condensed into a divine ape several zhang tall, with powerful muscles and pitch-black fur.
The Six-Eared Macaque was nothing but a weakling before the divine ape.
"So the Dao truly cannot be passed on to Six Ears. But the one behind this was actually the Chaos Demon Ape? He didn't perish in the World-Opening Tribulation!"
Dong Wanggong looked at the Chaos Demon Ape and furrowed his brow slightly.
The waters of the Primordial Wilderness were growing ever more troubled!
In the chaos of ancient times, the Chaos Demon Ape had wielded the War Dao and withstood a strike from Great God Pangu's axe. His combat prowess was unmatched, making him one of the greatest Chaos Demon Gods.
He had only withstood a single frontal strike from the Pangu Axe, but he was the only one among the Three Thousand Chaos Demon Gods to do so.
One could only say that he was incredibly formidable!
After he perished, his remaining origin split into four parts and fell into the Primordial World, where four apes were born from them.
The Six-Eared Macaque could hear everything, discern the truth, know what came before and after, and understand all things.
The Spiritual Clarity Stone Monkey could transform, recognize the seasons and the terrain, and shift the stars.
The Red-Tailed Horse Monkey understood yin and yang, human affairs, and the ways of coming and going, and could evade death and prolong life.
The Vast-Arm Ape Monkey could grasp the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, discern fortune and misfortune, and manipulate the universe.
Among the apes, the most famous was Sun Wukong, the Spiritual Clarity Stone Monkey. However, he would only be born in accordance with the Heavenly Dao Destiny during the Journey to the West Tribulation.
The Six-Eared Macaque, on the other hand, was one of the Three Thousand Innate Gods.
His cultivation was at the Early-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal level. Now that Dao Ancestor Hongjun had crippled it, he would have to start cultivating all over again.
He had presumably skipped the lecture at Zixiao Palace and eavesdropped on Dao Ancestor Hongjun's lecture just now because the Chaos Demon Ape had been secretly manipulating him. Yet the Six-Eared Macaque had suffered undeservedly.
"Hongjun, you sly old fox!"
"You even found me hidden deep in the Six-Eared Macaque's bloodline. But I've learned that you were born with a Primordial Breath, and I know the weakness of the Immortal Dao you command!"
"One day, I'll join the other Chaos Demon Gods in breaking through the barriers of this Primordial World, devouring the Heavenly Dao completely, and attaining the Primordial Great Dao Realm!"
With a long howl, the Chaos Demon Ape self-destructed!
Only a peculiar Chaos Aura flew from beyond the chaos into the myriad heavens and realms.
Even with his Heavenly Dao Saint cultivation, Dao Ancestor Hongjun couldn't stop the Chaos Demon Ape from escaping. After all, the latter was merely a remnant wisp of a primordial spirit hiding in the Primordial World.
"Hmph!"
"Heavenly Dao Rules, by my command, erase the evil presence of the Chaos Demon Gods!"
At once!
The Jade Disk of Creation above Dao Ancestor Hongjun's head burst with immortal light, scanning the entire Primordial World. The Chaos Demon Ape's aura within the origins of the as-yet-unborn Spiritual Clarity Stone Monkey, Red-Tailed Horse Monkey, and Vast-Arm Ape Monkey was completely erased.
After sweeping his divine sense across everyone inside Zixiao Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun continued his lecture.
Within the Heavenly Dao Origin, boundless black chaos energy was devouring the rules of the Primordial World, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun had no way to stop that corruption.
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