This Had to Be Hongjun's Plot

"Ah, the Dragon Race's move was truly cunning. In my opinion, our Qilin Race should follow their example and make a vow too. We'd gain benefits while waiting to see how things unfold."

First Qilin considered it, then sighed softly.

"Ancestor, we mustn't! If we make the same kind of vow, what if the Heavenly Dao decides that neither our Qilin Race nor the Dragon Race will take part in the conflict, and simply lets the Phoenix Race unify the Primordial World?"

A Qilin Race expert said worriedly.

"This..."

That was exactly what the Qilin Race feared. A vow like that could be interpreted in different ways, but the greater trend of the Heavenly Dao could not be changed.

What if the Heavenly Dao decided that neither race would take part in the Primordial World's conflicts and simply made the Phoenix Race the protagonist of the Primordial World? Wouldn't they be handing them a free advantage?

The Phoenix Race probably thought the same way.

So neither side dared to act rashly.

The Dragon Race had played this move very well!

"Ancestor! I have an idea!"

Just then, a Qilin Race expert who preferred to remain anonymous spoke up. (Too lazy to come up with a name.)

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"Before, it was always the Dragon Race oppressing the two of us. Now they want to retreat and defend their territory, just like that? As if it were that easy! Why don't we take the initiative and attack the Dragon Race?"

"Hmm?"

"Why should the Dragon Race be allowed to attack us, while we can't attack them?"

"Hahahaha, well said! Let's attack the Dragon Race and see if they can keep hiding in their shell."

The Qilin Race quickly drew up a simple plan, then decided to coordinate with the Phoenix Race.

After all, no one knew what the Phoenix Race was thinking.

If the Phoenix Race stabbed the Qilin Race in the back while they were attacking the Dragon Race, things would get interesting.

However, the Phoenix and Qilin Races had joined forces against the Dragon Race for years. Now that the Dragon Race had suddenly stopped attacking, the Phoenix Race wasn't foolish enough to believe the Dragon Race's nonsense and immediately fight the Qilin Race to the death.

So, after the two races coordinated, another eight thousand years passed.

"Hahahaha, by now, the Phoenix and Qilin Races must have fought each other to a standstill, right?"

At that moment, Ancestral Dragon was meditating in seclusion in his own Dragon Court. He slowly opened his eyes and calculated that eight thousand years had passed.

Eight thousand years should have been enough for the Phoenix and Qilin Races to fight a great battle.

Perhaps it wouldn't be long before he heard that the two races had both been badly weakened.

The original struggle for supremacy among three races had become a struggle between two. Though the Phoenix and Qilin Races were no match for the Dragon Race in numbers, each still had several hundred billion members.

The Primordial World was vast, but it could not accommodate so many living beings.

The two races would inevitably clash again and again, until Hongjun manipulated them into a decisive battle and both were wiped out.

Once the two races were on their last legs, it would be time for the Dragon Race to emerge once more.

Moreover, Ancestral Dragon had added another layer of insurance: Shi Chen's Law of Time. With it, the course of a battle could often be reversed in an instant.

Ancestral Dragon had carefully planned every step. He was sure to reap quite a reward.

At least, that was what he thought.

Ancestral Dragon was feeling rather pleased with himself.

He had simply never expected that, in this version of the Primordial World, Luohu would die before the three races.

And that Shi Chen would appear as well.

Actually, he had come across Shi Chen in a few novels in his previous life.

But there had been so few mentions of him that Ancestral Dragon hadn't paid him any mind.

Yet in this world, Shi Chen really did exist.

"Something terrible has happened!"

Just as Ancestral Dragon was happily imagining the Phoenix and Qilin Races fighting until rivers of blood ran, Candle Dragon rushed into the place where he was meditating in seclusion.

"What happened? Why are you acting so flustered? Have you no decorum?"

Ancestral Dragon frowned at Candle Dragon. Why was a Quasi-Saint still so jumpy?

"Elder Brother! This is terrible! The Phoenix and Qilin Races have joined forces and are attacking our Dragon Race!"

"Hmm?"

Candle Dragon's answer made Ancestral Dragon frown again.

"Say that again!"

"Elder Brother, I said the Phoenix and Qilin Races have joined forces and are attacking our Dragon Race!"

Candle Dragon blinked, thinking Ancestral Dragon hadn't heard him clearly, and repeated himself.

Ancestral Dragon asked, "What the hell is wrong with them? Didn't our Dragon Race swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao? We said we'd guard the Four Seas. Why are they still attacking us?"

"I don't know, Elder Brother! Please come out and take command of the Dragon Race!"

Candle Dragon bowed to Ancestral Dragon.

"Very well."

Ancestral Dragon nodded, but he was deeply confused. Why were the Phoenix and Qilin Races still coming after the Dragon Race?

Had he failed to take some precaution?

Why were the Phoenix and Qilin Races still picking a fight with the Dragon Race? Did they really have to fight them to the death?

Or was someone plotting behind the scenes?

Shi Chen?

Unlikely. If he were plotting against the Dragon Race, he would be dragged into a great karmic debt. (After all, he had made a promise to the Dragon Race.)

Then what about Qiankun Ancestor?

Also unlikely. That man was so timid; he couldn't be behind this.

Right! Hongjun! This had to be Hongjun's plot!

At that moment, the armies of the Qilin Race and Phoenix Race had gathered along the border of the Four Seas, ready to set the heavens aflame and boil the seas at any moment.

Ancestral Dragon was much faster than an ordinary member of the Dragon Race. In just ten years, he reached the border of the Four Seas. Seeing the armies of both races gathered there, he called out to them:

"First Qilin! Yuanfeng! Come out and talk with me!"

"Fellow Daoist Ancestral Dragon, it's been a long time."

At that moment, three figures stood proudly in the air above the coast of the East Sea.

One was Ancestral Dragon, the ancestor of the Dragon Race; one was Yuanfeng, the ancestor of the Phoenix Race; and one was First Qilin, the ancestor of the Qilin Race.

The three races each claimed supremacy over a different kind of creature: one ruled over the scaled, one over the beasts, and one over the flying birds. Thus, each commanded countless races across the Primordial World.

Ever since the three races had established themselves, their conflicts had never ceased.

To expect three races with entirely different natures to rule the Primordial World together in peace was simply a pipe dream.

Even races that were exactly alike fought among themselves. In the future, for example, the Human Race would be rife with conflict too.

So there was nothing surprising about this scene between the three races.

Yuanfeng and First Qilin smiled as they greeted Ancestral Dragon.

"Fellow Daoists, it's been a long time. Ever since our three races came to power, we've been embroiled in endless conflict. It's hard to say who's right and who's wrong. That's why I led the Dragon Race to guard the Four Seas and refrain from taking part. But I wonder, what have I, Ancestral Dragon, done to offend you both that you would make such a show of force?"

Ancestral Dragon asked the leaders of the two races.

"Heh. Fellow Daoist Ancestral Dragon, we all know that the only way for any of our three races to gain the true recognition of the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World is to unify the Primordial World. Only then can we borrow its fortune and attain the supreme position of a Saint. That is why our three races have been locked in endless conflict."

First Qilin continued:

"But, Fellow Daoist, you suddenly swore an oath to the Heavenly Dao, saying you would guard the Four Seas..."

"Is there anything wrong with guarding the Four Seas? Isn't that a good thing for the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World? Even the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World approved of my Dragon Race's actions and bestowed merit upon us."