"Young friend, I have no shortage of treasures. I even have quite a few Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Are you certain you want to exchange the Immortal Trapping Sword for this Fierce Fiend Exotic Treasure?"
Hongjun offered the reminder calmly, but gave no hint of his own preference.
"I hope Senior will grant my request."
East King Duke was resolute. If he couldn't obtain a supreme treasure, then the God Slaying Spear really was the most suitable weapon for him.
"If that is what you wish, then so be it."
Hongjun didn't say anything more and agreed.
East King Duke took the God Slaying Spear. A killing intent surged straight into his heart. It truly was a peerless fiendish weapon famed throughout the Primordial World. This unexpected change delighted him rather than frightening him, and he used his magic power to suppress the Killing Intent.
"Young friend, the God Slaying Spear is a weapon of slaughter, and it has been tainted by demonic energy for many years. You must refine it carefully. Only after purging its boundless ferocity can you complete the refinement. Otherwise, the demonic energy could easily affect your mind."
After the two treasures had been exchanged, Hongjun didn't forget to warn East King Duke.
"This junior understands. Thank you for the reminder, Senior."
"Then let us part here. Your aptitude is exceptional, young friend, and your fortune is extraordinary. You have hope of reaching the Primordial Unity realm, so you should follow the Heavenly Mandate and not Defy Heaven. You should also perform more deeds of merit. If you encounter anything you don't understand in your cultivation, you may come to Mount Yujing to find me."
Hongjun now spoke almost like the spokesperson of the Heavenly Dao. East King Duke thought to himself that Hongjun really did intend to go that far.
Their paths were completely different. Hongjun was currently at Quasi-Saint Peak, beyond anyone's reach.
But East King Duke's goal was to remain unconstrained and become a truly free and untrammeled immortal. Let ten Yuan Hui, a hundred Yuan Hui, or even ten million Yuan Hui pass—then they could see who stood higher.
After parting with Hongjun, East King Duke didn't linger nearby. The Western Continent was not yet a suitable place for cultivation.
He mounted the clouds and headed straight for his destination.
He was going to the border between the East and West, to Daoist Zhenyuan's abode, Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain. After many years together, the two had become close friends. They had agreed beforehand to meet at the temple once the Western affairs were settled. Now that they were, he could go there.
As he neared the Eastern lands, he saw living beings traveling across the continent. With the end of the tribulation, order was slowly being restored. This was a boon to the Primordial World, so East King Duke made no stops and soon reached the foot of Longevity Mountain.
As soon as he descended from the clouds, he heard hearty laughter from the mountaintop.
"Daoist brother, seeing you return safely puts my mind at ease!"
Daoist Zhenyuan had come down the mountain to greet him personally. That was no surprise, as East King Duke had helped bring him a great opportunity. What was unexpected was that Hong Yun was there too.
"Daoist Zhenyuan, it seems you've gained quite a lot. That's truly worth celebrating. Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, greetings!"
East King Duke landed and saw faint Xuanhuang Merit surrounding Daoist Zhenyuan. Clearly, like himself, he had not refined it to improve his cultivation. East King Duke nodded to himself, thinking that the other man was indeed ambitious and extraordinary.
Among all the top-tier Innate Divine Demons in the Primordial World, East King Duke liked Daoist Zhenyuan best. Aside from the fact that he truly was an enlightened immortal, East King Duke also admired his uncompetitive nature and single-minded dedication to cultivation. That was why he had been willing to befriend him.
The three entered Wuzhuang Temple, and Hong Yun immediately began to complain.
"Daoist Supreme Yang, why did you only take Daoist Zhenyuan along to eliminate demons, uphold the Dao, and gain merit? Why didn't you invite me? That was hardly fair."
Before East King Duke could answer, Daoist Zhenyuan hurriedly explained, "Hong Yun, don't talk nonsense. The journey to the West was extremely dangerous. Even with the Earth Book, I could barely protect myself. Daoist Supreme Yang didn't invite you because he didn't want you to risk your life. He truly had your best interests at heart."
Hong Yun sighed and fell silent. He clearly knew where he fell short: he lacked a suitable spiritual treasure.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, there's no need to take it so hard. The Heavenly Dao is impartial. The opportunity meant for you will come in time. You need only wait patiently."
East King Duke offered words of comfort.
The three then spoke of the Dao Demon War. Daoist Zhenyuan had taken part, but he had not witnessed the battle on Mount Sumeru. Even so, he had experienced the calamity firsthand when Luohu self-destructed and set off the Spiritual Veins of the West. The power of the tribulation had been truly terrifying. The Heavenly Dao's majesty had left him shaken.
When East King Duke spoke of the Immortal Slaying Great Array, Qiankun Ancestor's self-destruction, and Yin-Yang Ancestor's death, Daoist Zhenyuan and Hong Yun both sighed with regret.
As the three chatted, the earth suddenly trembled. This time, the disturbance came from the central region of the Primordial Continent.
In a vast valley near Buzhou Mountain, the earth suddenly split apart, and rays of divine light shot out. Soon, amid the boundless Malevolent Qi, a huge palace slowly rose, stopping only when it reached ten thousand zhang into the air.
The palace was majestic, its light shining in every direction. Three characters written in Dao Script gleamed above its gates, radiating supreme Dao intent.
"Pangu Hall."
A heartbeat suddenly sounded from inside the hall. It began low, then gradually grew louder until it echoed across the land. Next, a pool a hundred li across suddenly formed behind the hall, filled entirely with blood.
A hundred years later, twelve globes of boiling blood essence suddenly flew out of the Blood Pool.
With a thunderous rumble, they transformed into twelve enormous beings, each a hundred zhang tall. They all looked different, yet every one of them was wreathed in Malevolent Qi.
As soon as the twelve beings emerged, they cried out, their voices spreading across the Primordial World. They were called the Ancestral Witches of the Witch Clan.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches named themselves: Dijiang, who commanded space and speed; Gou Mang, who controlled wood; Zhu Rong, who commanded fire; Ru Shou, who controlled metal; Gong Gong, who controlled water; Houtu, who controlled earth; Xuan Ming, who commanded ice, snow, and rain; Qiang Liang, who controlled thunder; Zhu Jiuyin, who commanded time; Tian Wu, who controlled wind; Xi Zi, who controlled lightning; and She Bi Shi, who controlled poison.
After they emerged one after another, the Twelve Ancestral Witches called one another brothers and sisters. Nearly a thousand years later, each transformed into an Innate Dao Body. They all had exceptionally powerful physiques, but none had a primordial spirit.
After taking human form, the twelve Ancestral Witches used magic to create countless descendants from the Blood Pool. They established a clan beside Buzhou Mountain, calling it the Witch Clan, and quickly began to multiply in the surrounding area.
The Witch Clan had been formed from blood essence. Most of them were combative and violent by nature. As descendants of Great God Pangu's blood essence, they called themselves the Pangu Orthodox. They did not cultivate the Dao of primordial spirits or revere Heaven and Earth; they honored only Pangu Father God.
With the emergence of the witches, the Malevolent Qi of the Primordial World surged once more. Though much gentler than that of the Demon Clan, it still shocked the living beings of the Primordial World.
The Three Pure Daoists in Kunlun Mountain were especially affected. They had been formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and had always considered themselves the Pangu Orthodox. Now other beings were laying claim to that title, and all three looked furious.
It wasn't just them. On the Sun Star, Di Jun and Tai Yi, who had already built up some power, were also stirred. They seemed to feel an instinctive aversion toward the Witch Clan.
The Great Powers of the Primordial World all felt wary of the Witch Clan. But East King Duke, still at Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, was burning with excitement.
It wasn't that he had any particular fondness for the Witch Clan. The truth was that he knew this magnificent Great Contention Era was about to begin.
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