Entering Mount Sumeru, Obtaining the Golden Lotus

Di Jun was greatly startled and shouted, "What's going on!"

The Hall of High Heavens certainly hadn't collapsed on its own; it had to be the result of some external force.

The other high-ranking members of the Demon Race were also terrified. Could it be that the Witch Clan had launched a full-scale assault?

Then Styx's voice rang out: "Di Jun, if you pull any more petty tricks like this next time, it won't just be the tiles of the Hall of High Heavens that hit the ground!"

Hearing this, Di Jun's face turned black as ink!

Styx was slapping him in the face!

Styx didn't care what Di Jun was thinking.

If Di Jun truly dared to keep targeting him, Styx would absolutely risk getting caught up in the Calamity to teach him a harsh lesson.

Rather than swallowing his pride and waiting for Di Jun and the others to die in the Witch-Demon Calamity before settling scores with the Demon Race, Styx would rather beat Di Jun and his ilk so badly that they'd never dare scheme against him again!

After destroying the Hall of High Heavens, Styx headed west across the Primordial Wilderness.

Going from the Eastern Lands to the Western Lands was like moving from a wealthy district to a slum.

The entire Western Lands were nearly barren, with no spiritual roots or herbs growing, and even the spiritual energy was much thinner than in the East.

Only on a towering Divine Mountain in the Western continent was there some dense spiritual energy.

That was where Jie Yin and Zhun Ti dwelled—Mount Sumeru.

This had originally been the Daoist Temple of the Devil Ancestor Rahula, and precisely because of that, it hadn't been destroyed in Rahula's self-destruction. So Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had set their own temple here as well.

Styx made his way toward Mount Sumeru. When he reached the foot of the mountain, he found that Jie Yin and Zhun Ti had already been waiting there for some time.

Jie Yin said, "Daoist Friend Styx, please come inside for a talk!"

Styx wasn't afraid that the two might try anything, so he nodded and stepped into Mount Sumeru.

Styx's open and straightforward demeanor actually surprised Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.

To be so unguarded meant either he was overly naive or he was confident enough in his own strength.

The two believed Styx was the latter.

Jie Yin and Zhun Ti led Styx to a simple bamboo hut, and the three sat around a stone table.

Zhun Ti got straight to the point: "Daoist Friend Styx, how can the karmic debt between us be settled?"

Zhun Ti was being so polite because of Styx's strength.

If Styx hadn't displayed such formidable power, the two of them probably wouldn't have even thought about settling the karmic debt.

They might have even found a way to secretly kill Styx and turn the debt between them into a messy, unresolved affair.

Styx didn't waste words and said directly, "I want the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus!"

Upon hearing this, Zhun Ti's face showed displeasure: "Daoist Friend Styx, you're asking far too much! How could the karmic debt between us be worth repaying with a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

And this wasn't just any Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus could be considered the cream of the crop among Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.

They had only just received this treasure from Hongjun, and before they could even warm it in their hands, Styx wanted to take it away. This was outright extortion!

Jie Yin hadn't spoken yet, but from his expression, Styx could tell he agreed with Zhun Ti.

Styx didn't waste any more words. With a flick of his sleeve, ten spiritual treasures appeared in the air.

"Ten spiritual treasures, plus settling the karmic debt between us, in exchange for the Twelfth Grade Merit Golden Lotus!"

Styx was determined to get the Merit Golden Lotus, so he couldn't be bothered to waste time with Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.

These ten treasures were all ones he had obtained from the Treasure Distribution Rock, and their grades were low—all mid- or low-grade.

They were useless to Styx. Even if he gave them to his subordinates, he felt they were beneath his dignity, so he might as well hand them over to Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.

These two hadn't gotten many treasures from the Treasure Distribution Rock, so the moment they saw those ten treasures, the greed in their eyes was impossible to hide!

Zhun Ti's eyes darted around. He remembered that Styx had gotten several dozen treasures from the Treasure Distribution Rock, so he said, "Daoist Friend Styx, the Merit Golden Lotus is a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

Meaning it wasn't enough—he needed to add more!

Indeed, a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure was priceless. Ten mid- or low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures couldn't compare to the value of one Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

But don't forget, Styx's offer included not just those ten treasures but also settling the karmic debt.

Though he had many treasures, that didn't mean he would let Zhun Ti jack up the price on the spot.

Styx directly summoned No Sword and slammed it onto the stone table: "How about this Connate Supreme Treasure?"

Zhun Ti flinched in fright and immediately shut his mouth.

Styx's words certainly didn't mean he was going to trade a Connate Supreme Treasure for the Merit Golden Lotus—it was a warning to the two: either agree, or they'd have to fight it out!

Jie Yin fell into hesitation.

To be honest, if Styx hadn't brought out any treasures and had just tried to force the exchange, Jie Yin definitely wouldn't have agreed.

Even if it meant a fight, he'd have been willing.

But since Styx had actually produced ten treasures, his softened stance instead made Jie Yin feel that this deal wasn't a loss.

Still, he said, "Daoist Friend Styx, the Merit Golden Lotus is a matter of great importance. Our master bestowed upon us a strand of Primordial Purple Qi and instructed us to use the Merit Golden Lotus to suppress our fortune after attaining sainthood. Now this..."

Jie Yin's words were quite interesting.

He first stated that the Merit Golden Lotus was a matter of great importance, meaning it could be exchanged, but not so simply.

He brought up how Hongjun had bestowed upon them the Primordial Purple Qi, and how after attaining sainthood, they would use the Merit Golden Lotus to suppress their fortune.

On one hand, he used Hongjun to pressure Styx; on the other, he reminded Styx that they would eventually become saints, so he shouldn't offend them to the point of no return. Thus, an exchange was possible, but Styx would have to offer something of significant weight for them to use in suppressing their fortune.

But Styx directly ignored the deeper meaning in their words, his tone turning cold: "Zhun Ti's East Azure Lotus Precious Color Flag can also suppress fortune!"

He should never have made concessions in the first place, to avoid Jie Yin and Zhun Ti pushing their luck!

Hearing Styx's outright refusal, Jie Yin could only sigh in the end. Very well!

He brought out the Merit Golden Lotus and handed it to Styx.

"Then this object shall be given to you, Daoist friend."

Styx accepted the Merit Golden Lotus, and the ten spiritual treasures flew over to Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.

The deal was done. Styx did not linger and flew straight back to the Blood Sea.

Zhun Ti watched the direction Styx had left and asked, "Elder Brother, if we had joined forces just now, combined with our Mount Sumeru's Mountain Defense Array, we could definitely have suppressed Styx. So why..."

Jie Yin shook his head. "Styx is by no means that simple. He dared to come alone; he definitely still has a trump card. If we acted rashly and failed, we would likely face mortal disaster."

Zhun Ti said in shock, "How is that possible? Master gave us a strand of Primordial Purple Qi and said we might become saints!"

"Don't forget that Styx also has the Primordial Purple Qi! Although Master did not promise that he could become a saint, since he dared to refuse becoming Master's disciple back then, he must have full confidence in attaining sainthood."

If Styx could become a saint, then their capital for sainthood would lose its deterrent effect before him.

After all, they only had one strand of Primordial Purple Qi, and only one of them could become a saint.

Seeing Zhun Ti distressed over losing a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, Jie Yin comforted him.

"Don't worry. Styx may be powerful, but he is only one person. In the future, if we plan carefully, there may yet be a day we reclaim the Merit Golden Lotus."

Zhun Ti found this reasoning sound.