Yang Mei knew full well that the Primordial World was growing weaker by the day.
After every tribulation, the Primordial World declined a little more. It went from the Primordial World to the Investiture of the Gods, and then to Journey to the West, where the journey was only 108,000 li. The boundless Primordial World had eventually dwindled to a mere 108,000 li.
The parts of the Primordial World that had disappeared had surely been secretly refined by Hongjun. In Yang Mei's eyes, Hongjun was exactly the sort of scheming old bastard who'd do that.
So he had to turn the tables and take advantage of Hongjun instead.
If Hongjun could secretly steal the Primordial World's land, why couldn't he? He wanted to take Hongjun's place, become the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson, and then use Hongjun's method to steal the Primordial World's land.
Hongjun heard Yang Mei's thoughts loud and clear, and couldn't help feeling awkward.
Hongjun was ready to take back his earlier judgment. This guy was no different from any other transmigrator!
Remember, not a single difference.
Still, Hongjun decided to play along with Yang Mei.
"What do you think, Daoist Hongjun?"
Seeing Hongjun stay silent, Yang Mei grew even more pleased with himself.
Didn't expect that, did you?
Heh. Hongjun, what are you going to do now?
"Daoist Yang Mei, do you have any proof for what you're saying?"
Hongjun asked with a slight frown.
"Proof? That's easy. With our divine senses, as long as we look carefully, we're sure to find traces of the Demon Race disciples deliberately stirring up trouble among the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Races."
Yang Mei continued confidently:
"Let's keep a close eye on things from here on. It won't take long."
After Great Immortal Yang Mei's reminder, Yin-Yang Ancestor and Qiankun Ancestor began keeping an eye on Luohu.
Whenever the Western Demon Race showed signs of activity, they watched from the shadows.
The Primordial Continent was vast, but for several old ancestors of their stature, it was easy enough to spot traces of Luohu's followers and the Devil Cult's disciples if they made a point of looking.
After ten thousand years of observation, they finally discovered that Luohu had been secretly plotting to drive a wedge between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Races.
The Innate Three Races were at odds not only because of their own reasons, but even more because Luohu was secretly provoking them.
Another hundred years passed, and the group of fellow Daoists met once again.
"Daoist Hongjun, now that we know of Luohu's scheme, we absolutely cannot let him succeed. We've decided to head west together and attack Luohu. What do you think?"
After confirming that Luohu was provoking a war among the three races in an attempt to Prove Dao through Killing, Great Immortal Yang Mei and the others were all intent on attacking him.
Of course, in reality, Yang Mei was the one mainly stirring up the other two's emotions. They'd become his die-hard fans.
The Dao of Heaven and the Devil Dao had always been irreconcilable. If Luohu became a Saint now, not only would countless living beings in the Primordial World suffer, but the entire Primordial World would likely be refined into chaos.
It wasn't that Yang Mei and the others were overflowing with a sense of justice. They had no choice.
Would Luohu spare the few of them?
A few Quasi-Saint-level ancestors would surely be refined, wouldn't they?
If they didn't fight, they'd die.
During this time, Yang Mei had tried to use his advantage as a transmigrator to persuade the three races to stop their pointless disputes.
The Phoenix Race and the Qilin Race had been all right about it, politely declining.
But the Candle Dragon he met in the Dragon Race—
Candle Dragon had taken Ancestral Dragon's words to heart: Hongjun and his crowd were all rotten to the core.
So he used a phrase he'd just learned from Ancestral Dragon to fire back at Yang Mei.
"What the hell are you? You piece of shit, get the fuck out of here!"
Yang Mei was so enraged by Candle Dragon's attitude—like he was the greatest, Ancestral Dragon came second, and he himself came third—and by his utterly shameless profanity, that he nearly spat blood. If the Dragon Race hadn't been so powerful, they would probably have come to blows.
By then, Yang Mei had realized that this Primordial World was surprisingly down-to-earth. Modern expressions that anyone could understand would pop up at any moment. For example, that Fellow Daoist Tian Zhu he'd met just the other day...
Over the past ten thousand years, Hongjun hadn't been particularly enthusiastic about this matter.
After all, he knew everything already. He could let these transmigrators run around for now and watch their antics in his spare time. It was entertainment that didn't require him to tip, unlike those streamers who demanded you like, comment, and subscribe. Hongjun no longer had to say, "Maybe next time."
Of course, over these ten thousand years, Yang Mei had given Hongjun a thorough demonstration of his intelligence.
Truly touching. That was why Hongjun always smiled whenever he saw Yang Mei. (You know what that smile means. Some people need a little extra care.)
Luohu would be hard to deal with once he grew stronger, but that didn't mean he'd be easy to deal with now.
The Heavenly Dao's grand trend hadn't arrived yet. If they attacked Luohu by force, were they sure to get anything out of it?
What? I'm the Heavenly Dao's grand trend? Fine, then I'm not going.
As a transmigrator, why not lie low, build up his strength, and earn some system rewards?
Maybe Yang Mei didn't have a system?
No way.
He really didn't have a system, did he? What era was this? How could a transmigrator not have a system?
Hongjun almost forgot: Yang Mei really didn't have a system.
What a tragic situation. A whole table piled high with teacups. (An old joke, brought up again.)
"The Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Three Races haven't gone to war yet, and Luohu hasn't finished refining the Immortal Execution Array Diagram. The three of you should be enough to deal with him, so I won't go."
Hongjun smiled at the three fellow Daoists.
"Then... huh????"
Yang Mei was dumbstruck.
He wasn't going?
Hongjun wasn't going???
You've got to be kidding!
You—one word!
Brilliant!
The two ancestors beside him were just as stunned.
Was that something Hongjun would say?
Where was the Old Ancestor Hongjun who'd destroyed Beast Emperor Shen Ni for the greater good?
"Daoist, this attack on the Devil Dao is for the sake of the countless living beings in our Primordial World. We old ancestors must uphold righteousness and vanquish evil. We have a duty to destroy the devils. How can you possibly refuse to go?"
Once he came to his senses, Yang Mei asked Hongjun.
Hmph, I've seen through your scheme, Hongjun.
You must be trying to buy time. If you don't go, we won't dare go either.
Then you'll drag this out for one or two yuanhui, until Luohu has grown into his full strength.
That was what he thought to himself.
Hongjun smiled and said:
"Fellow Daoists, forgive my bluntness. The Heavenly Dao's grand trend has yet to arrive. If we attack Luohu rashly, I fear things won't end well."
"Daoist Hongjun, I'm afraid you're mistaken."
Yang Mei retorted:
"Luohu hasn't finished refining the Immortal Execution Array Diagram yet. This is the perfect moment for us to strike first. If you won't go, the three of us still will."
Yang Mei sneered inwardly. Hmph, buying time? Not a chance.
No matter what, he was going to drag Hongjun into this. If Hongjun said he wouldn't go now, then Yang Mei would have to wonder whether he still considered them fellow Daoists. What would Hongjun do about Luohu without them?
"Very well. Since you fellow Daoists have made up your minds, I can only wish the three of you a safe journey."
Hongjun replied casually.
"????"
The three ancestors were all dumbfounded.
This didn't seem to be going according to the script?
And Yang Mei—why had he dragged them into this?
Was it too late to change their minds?
When it came to reading the Heavenly Secrets, they trusted Daoist Hongjun more than their own predictions!
Before you continue