Once he realized he was about to face Demon Ancestor Luohu himself, along with the Primordial World's supreme treasure of slaughter, the God Slaying Spear, and that there was no escape, East King Duke instead became calm.
With the Chaos Bead among his three flowers, he should be able to shatter space and flee, even if it meant sustaining severe injuries. Even Luohu, a Late Quasi-Saint, might not be able to stop him. The only consequence would be exposing the fact that he possessed a Supreme Treasure.
Even so, East King Duke did not immediately bring out his treasure. He turned to face the attack, hoping to use this opportunity to test the limits of his current strength.
The God Slaying Spear, the Primordial World's foremost treasure of slaughter. Just hearing its name was enough to know its power.
Especially in the hands of Luohu, a Demon Ancestor at the Late Quasi-Saint stage, its power was even more evident. The moment it appeared, all life wherever it passed was snuffed out.
East King Duke felt himself locked onto by an endless intent of destruction. Naturally, he wouldn't just wait to die. He bolstered himself with Supreme Yang Power and pushed the Yin-Yang Two Qi of the Twelfth-grade Innate Yin-Yang Dao Lotus to its limits, conjuring two Yin-Yang Protective Divine Dragons that coiled around him. Then he released his Spiritual Sense, trying to discern the God Slaying Spear's trajectory so he could do everything in his power to keep it from striking a vital spot.
In the blink of an eye, it was upon him, trailing a blood-red streak. He flashed nearly ten thousand miles away.
"Roar!"
The Yin-Yang Protective Divine Dragons charged at the spearpoint. A mighty pressure spread across tens of thousands of miles, and their conjured forms instantly crumbled. The Dao Lotus shook violently, nearly flying out of his grasp.
The spear pierced through the Supreme Yang Immortal Light surrounding him and grazed past his body. Its overwhelming intent of destruction sent his immortal power roiling and left his Dao body icy cold.
By then, a pitch-black figure had emerged from the shattered space.
Black lotuses accompanied him. He seemed to move slowly, yet each step appeared to carry him across the void.
Luohu's power was not something he could withstand.
He couldn't wait any longer. Even if it meant exposing his Supreme Treasure, he had to escape. East King Duke was about to bring out the Chaos Bead and use its Supreme Treasure Power to shatter space when a sigh sounded beside his ear.
"An esteemed Demon Ancestor, bullying a junior like this? Luohu, you've gone too far!"
As the ethereal voice rang out, three sword-lights flashed, carrying sharp Chaos Qi.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The Chaos Sword Qi struck the God Slaying Spear, sending it flying backward.
Immediately afterward, a figure appeared out of thin air not far from East King Duke. He wore hemp robes, with his hair hanging loose, and held a horsetail whisk. He looked like an old man, his strength impossible to gauge, yet his aura was unfathomably deep.
East King Duke held back his impulse to bring out the Chaos Bead and watched to see what would happen.
The God Slaying Spear flew back after being knocked away. Luohu finally stepped out of the shattered space and caught it.
He swept the spear through the air. Malevolent Qi filled the sky, and the weapon rang with a mournful wail.
Only then did East King Duke come face-to-face with the Demon Ancestor. Luohu wore a Demon-patterned Black Robe, and demonic flames swirled around him. He used great magical power to conceal his face, leaving his features impossible to make out. The sword intent within him surged so fiercely it made one's heart tremble. An ordinary cultivator need only look at him once to fall into darkness forever.
"Hongjun, are you going to protect this junior?"
Luohu glanced at East King Duke, then turned to address the old man.
As expected, this seemingly ordinary old man was Hongjun, the future first Saint of the Primordial World, Lord of the Mystic Gate, and Dao Ancestor.
East King Duke hadn't expected these two rivals, destined by the Heavenly Mandate to clash, to confront each other in front of him.
"Since I'm here, I cannot let you slaughter the innocent."
Hongjun spoke calmly.
"Innocent? The Primordial Tribulation has begun. All life in the Primordial World is caught in its grip. How can anyone be called innocent?"
Luohu snorted and spoke with disdain.
"Fellow Daoist Luohu, you should return. Dao and Demon stand opposed. If you truly wish to fight, I'm more than willing to oblige."
At Hongjun's words, Luohu fell silent for a moment before replying coldly, "You and I are bound to fight one day. But we both know the time isn't right yet. Hongjun, I'll be waiting for you at Mount Sumeru!"
After speaking, Luohu didn't spare East King Duke another glance. He stepped into the void with his already badly wounded clone and vanished in an instant.
Only after Luohu disappeared did East King Duke breathe a sigh of relief. He bowed to Hongjun.
"This junior, East King Duke, pays his respects to Senior!"
Hongjun looked at East King Duke, a hint of meaning in his eyes. Then he smiled faintly. "There's no need for such formality. Since we're both free, would you care to have a chat with this old Daoist?"
"I'd be glad to. I wouldn't dare presume to ask."
"Good!"
Hongjun smiled and nodded in satisfaction, then rose onto a cloud and flew into the distance.
East King Duke hurried after him. After a long while, they arrived at an ordinary immortal mountain. Passing through its array, they saw a thatched cottage at the summit, evidently built by Hongjun.
"You dwell overseas, yet your heart is set on the Primordial World's Great Trend. You entered the Primordial Tribulation alone. This is how we cultivators should be."
Hongjun looked at East King Duke and praised him with a smile.
He held the supreme treasure, the Jade Plate of Creation, and his powers of divination were unparalleled. East King Duke wasn't surprised that this future Dao Ancestor knew his origins and where he came from.
"Senior, you flatter me. To be honest, I underestimated that Demon Ancestor. If you hadn't arrived, he would surely have killed me."
"There's no need to say that, young friend. According to my calculations, even if I hadn't come, you would still have had a way to survive."
East King Duke was slightly taken aback. Hongjun's divination truly was extraordinary. Though he didn't know East King Duke possessed a Supreme Treasure, he had already calculated that East King Duke had a way to escape.
East King Duke smiled without confirming or denying it. Then a thought occurred to him. He had wanted to learn the Three Corpses Dao Proving Method, and now that he had met Hongjun, this was the perfect opportunity to ask for guidance.
He spoke up. "May I ask, Senior, is there a Dao to prove after Great Luo? Please bestow a Dharma Gate upon me, so that my Path Ahead doesn't come to an end."
Hongjun shook his head.
"The method by which I prove the Dao has not yet reached its time to appear. Besides, your Great Dao is different from mine."
East King Duke contemplated this and nodded slightly.
Hongjun continued, "Your Supreme Yang cultivation method is profound, and your Dao Path is already clear. Why ask me?"
"The Path Ahead is fraught with difficulty. This junior feels as though he's walking on thin ice."
"Cultivation is, by its nature, an act of Defying Heaven. I see that you possess great perseverance, young friend. You should be able to prove the Primordial Chaos."
"I thank you for your kind words, Senior!"
Hongjun pondered for a moment, then reached out. A spirit banner appeared in his hand.
"Young friend, you and I are fated to meet. This treasure is the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner. I'll give it to you to protect you as you attain the Dao."
Seeing the spirit banner in Hongjun's hand, East King Duke was greatly astonished. The Five Innate Banners were renowned throughout the world. They had been transformed from the Chaos Green Lotus Leaf, and each was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. The Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner presided over the center. It could manifest myriad golden lotuses, possessed unmatched defensive power, repelled all evil, and was All Laws Invulnerable. It was one of the Primordial World's foremost treasures.
But even with such a treasure before him, he didn't dare accept it lightly. After all, nothing in the Primordial World escaped the word "Karma." If he accepted Hongjun's treasure, he would incur a debt of Karma. Moreover, in his previous life, this treasure had been bestowed by Hongjun upon Jade Purity Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
Seeing East King Duke's hesitation, Hongjun understood and continued, "The Demon Clan has defied the natural order and provoked the Primordial Tribulation, bringing suffering to countless living beings. We cultivators ought to vanquish demons and uphold the Dao. In a hundred thousand years, I intend to attack the West. I would like to invite you to come with me."
East King Duke replied, "This junior's cultivation is shallow. I cannot stand against the Demon Ancestor."
Hongjun continued, "There's no need to worry, young friend. I still have several Fellow Daoists to invite. When the time comes, Luohu will be held in check by us. You need only slay the other demons. With your abilities, you'll surely be up to the task."
After hearing Hongjun's words, East King Duke pondered for a moment, then nodded and accepted the spirit banner from him. "In that case, I shall gladly accept your invitation. Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this treasure."
Hongjun clapped his hands and laughed. "Excellent!"
Before you continue