Di Jun's arm dropped, and he pressed a hand firmly onto Taiyi's shoulder, forcibly cutting off the words that had already reached Taiyi's lips.
He took half a step forward and solemnly cupped his hands toward Pure Yang Daoist. His voice was steady yet clear, carrying throughout the valley:
"Fellow Daoist, your Supernatural Ability is unmatched. My brother and I are no match for you. Let's call off this three-move challenge. We admit defeat, and we'll leave at once."
After saying this, Di Jun's gaze seemed to casually sweep over the seven gourds on the cliff face, their treasures' radiance flowing around them. A trace of barely perceptible regret flashed deep in his eyes, then turned to resolve.
He secretly sent Taiyi a thought transmission: "If we don't retreat now, we may not get away unscathed. That East King Duke is unfathomable."
Originally, when Fuxi stepped in and proposed the three-move challenge, it had been a brilliant move for them.
Taiyi held the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bell. Who beneath the Saints could defeat him in three moves?
Even if he couldn't win, he could still remain undefeated.
Then Di Jun could seize the opportunity to persuade those present to push East King Duke out. Innate Spiritual Treasures were limited—who among them wanted another person to take a share?
If this plan succeeded, they would not only obtain the treasures but also use the opportunity to undermine East King Duke, making the title of Immortal Head bestowed on him by the Dao Ancestor little more than an empty name.
Afterward, he could have people spread the results of this battle throughout the Myriad Races of the Primordial Wilderness.
They only needed to emphasize Taiyi's victory. There was no need to mention the details or the circumstances behind it.
Once Taiyi's invincible image—standing above the masses and shoulder to shoulder with the top great powers—had taken root in people's hearts, Di Jun could choose the right moment to rally the masses and propose establishing the Demon Race, under the pretext of uniting the Myriad Races to face the Great Tribulation together.
With Taiyi's already established prestige, heroes from all quarters would surely follow, and the many potential obstacles would naturally vanish.
It had been a foolproof plan, killing two birds with one stone. Yet no matter how carefully Di Jun had calculated, he could never have anticipated this twist.
He had never expected Jieyin and Zhunti to disregard all shame and openly seize the treasures by force. Even more shocking was that East King Duke, while contending with Taiyi, had still held strength in reserve—and had turned around to suppress Zhunti completely!
The second move had seemed evenly matched, but East King Duke had clearly still had room to spare.
If they called things off now, they could still claim a draw. If they continued to press the matter, not only would the treasures be beyond their reach, but Taiyi might suffer a serious loss in full view of everyone.
It was better to concede now. That would preserve the Demon Race's dignity and leave room to maneuver in the future.
As his thoughts raced, Di Jun had no choice but to advance by retreating.
Just as the situation grew delicate and everyone's thoughts diverged, Laozi, who had been quietly watching events unfold, suddenly stroked his long beard and spoke slowly, revealing the hidden truth that no one else had noticed:
"I hadn't expected Fellow Daoist East King Duke to have already severed his Three Corpses and attained the Quasi-Saint Dao Fruit."
His words struck like thunder!
Everyone's gaze swiftly turned, all falling on Pure Yang Daoist. Their earlier doubts—how he had been able to withstand the Chaos Bell, and how he had still had strength to suppress Zhunti while fighting Taiyi—now had their answers.
So that was it!
Taiyi was immensely powerful, and he also possessed an Innate Supreme Treasure. Zhunti's character might be deplorable, but his cultivation was undeniably among the very best in the Primordial Wilderness.
That East King Duke could face two opponents at once without falling behind had been beyond their comprehension.
Now the truth was clear: East King Duke had quietly taken that crucial step and reached the Quasi-Saint realm before anyone else!
Pure Yang Daoist met everyone's gaze, then glanced at Laozi, who seemed to be offering him praise. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
This Laozi seems kind, but every step he takes is calculated. Pure Yang Daoist sneered inwardly, instantly seeing through the hidden motive.
First, he provoked Taiyi into contending with me, using Taiyi to probe the true extent of our strength and hidden cards. Now that he's seen me gain the upper hand, he's immediately exposed my cultivation realm...
It seemed like praise, but it was all calculation.
With a casual mention of the "Quasi-Saint realm," he had made Pure Yang Daoist's astonishing feat of fighting two opponents at once seem like nothing more than an ordinary display of superiority in cultivation.
Not only had he erased the brilliance of Pure Yang Daoist's feat, he had also pushed him into the spotlight before everyone.
What a clever move!
Facing Laozi's "kindness," Pure Yang Daoist sneered inwardly, but his face remained as untroubled as a spring breeze.
He calmly turned and bowed from afar toward Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens. His voice rang out like a clear spring:
"Fellow Daoist Taiqing, you flatter me. I was fortunate enough to break through only because of the Dao Ancestor's grace and the opportunity he bestowed upon me, which allowed me a glimpse of the path to the Quasi-Saint realm.
"To be honest, I merely relied on the help of my elders. It's nothing worth boasting about."
Pure Yang Daoist shifted his tone slightly and looked back at Laozi with heartfelt sincerity. Every word he spoke carried immense weight:
"By contrast, Fellow Daoist Taiqing has relied on nothing external, nor on the mandate of Heaven. Through your own comprehension of the Great Dao, you've already understood your own Quasi-Saint realm.
"Such a foundation and realm—relying on no Saint's favor, but forging your own path—is the true mark of great perseverance and great wisdom. It truly fills me with admiration and makes me feel inadequate by comparison!"
At these words, the gazes that had just focused on East King Duke after hearing "Quasi-Saint" instantly grew complicated. Quite a few eyes quietly shifted to Laozi, whose expression remained calm.
"I..."
Laozi was just about to explain, but Pure Yang Daoist spoke first. His voice rang like striking jade, clear and resolute, cutting Laozi off without question. In an instant, he took control of the entire scene.
"Since I've gained a slight advantage this time, I'll decide how these treasures are distributed. Does anyone here object?"
Pure Yang Daoist's gaze flashed like lightning as he slowly swept it over every great power present.
After he spoke, the hall fell silent for a moment, then several subdued or unhurried replies sounded.
"No."
"No."
Seeing that no one openly objected, Pure Yang Daoist made his decision at once, leaving no room for anyone to interject:
"In that case, the Three Pure Ones may take two, Fellow Daoist Nuwa may take one, and Fellow Daoist Hongyun may take one. The treasures are right here. You may collect them yourselves."
He spoke crisply and divided the treasures decisively, then changed the subject, turning everyone's thoughts toward a loftier matter:
"We've just heard the Dao Ancestor's sermon. This is a rare opportunity. We should return to our abodes at once, cultivate in seclusion, and carefully comprehend the Method of Severing the Three Corpses. Only by breaking through to Quasi-Saint will we live up to the Dao Ancestor's grace."
A delicate silence settled over the valley.
Pure Yang Daoist hadn't explicitly stated who would receive the remaining treasures. But his hands-behind-his-back stance and silent composure had already made everything clear.
Strength reigned supreme. Naturally, the remaining treasures should first be decided by the strongest person present.
In an instant, the atmosphere grew delicate and tense once more.
The treasures that had just been so hotly contested floated quietly in the air, yet they seemed to have become a mirror, reflecting everyone's calculations and deliberations.
Almost in unison, one gaze after another—curious, expectant, and even carrying a trace of subtle provocation—turned toward Laozi, whose words East King Duke had just forcibly interrupted.
Everyone present understood the situation perfectly. At the moment, only Laozi, the head of the Three Pure Ones and a fellow Quasi-Saint, had the strength and standing to oppose East King Duke on equal terms and question the rules he had laid down.
Their silent gazes were wordless nominations, and wordless beacons of war.
They had pushed Laozi to the forefront, forcing him to choose between the treasures and his dignity.
Pure Yang Daoist's gaze flashed like lightning as he looked toward Laozi, who had remained standing still. His voice was calm, yet edged with hidden meaning:
"Fellow Daoist Taiqing, you've been slow to choose. Could it be that you believe the Three Pure Ones are one, and should advance and retreat together, so each of you ought to take one?"
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