Danger in the Shadows

Dijun was choked speechless, his face instantly turning ashen.

Talk to the Heavenly Dao? If he had that kind of ability, would he still be here listening to you lecture?

"Pfft!"

"Hahaha! That kills me!"

A burst of unrestrained laughter came from the Ancestral Witches' side.

Zhurong slapped his thigh and pointed at Dijun, laughing: "This flat-feathered bird wants to reason with the Dao Ancestor? Got his head stuck in a door, huh!"

Tianhao also rumbled in agreement: "Exactly! The Dao Ancestor says you are, so you are. Even if you're not, you are! Not convinced? Tough it out!"

"You!"

Dijun burned with rage, whipping his head around, golden True Sun Fire flickering in his eyes.

"What? Want to fight?"

Zhurong stepped forward, flames surging around him, showing no sign of backing down.

Just as a fight seemed about to break out, Hongjun Dao Ancestor gave a soft cough.

"Cough."

With that single sound, the flames on Zhurong instantly extinguished, and the True Fire in Dijun's eyes vanished without a trace.

An invisible pressure enveloped the entire hall, making it hard for everyone to breathe.

The two immediately fell silent, not daring the slightest insolence.

And from start to finish, the six people sitting on the foremost Prayer Mats showed no reaction at all.

The Three Pure Ones had their eyes closed, as if asleep.

Nüwa's mind wandered, lost in thought.

Jieyin and Zunti wore expressions of "none of my business."

It seemed to them that the position of Immortal Chief was nothing but fleeting smoke, not worth a moment of their attention.

Thus the storm subsided.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor spoke again: "The first sermon is complete. You may all leave."

With that, his figure gradually faded and vanished atop the platform.

As soon as the Dao Ancestor left, the atmosphere in Purple Cloud Palace instantly became lively.

"Congratulations, Daoist Dongwanggong! Congratulations, Daoist Dongwanggong!"

"Empress Xi Wangmu, please look after us in the future!"

A large crowd of immortals immediately swarmed around, surrounding the newly appointed Dongwanggong and Xi Wangmu in a tight circle, a torrent of flattery unceasing.

Dongwanggong, holding his dragon-head staff, beamed with a ruddy complexion and high spirits, basking in the crowd's adulation.

Xuanqing shook his head from behind.

This guy was probably about to get carried away. Being singled out by the Dao Ancestor seemed like a tremendous opportunity, but in truth, it was being set on a fire to roast.

"Xuanqing, let's go."

Yuanshi Tianzun's calm voice sounded in his mind.

"Yes, Master."

Xuanqing immediately responded, following behind Yuanshi Tianzun, ready to leave this place of trouble.

Master and disciple walked through the noisy crowd without drawing much attention.

However, just as they were about to step out of Purple Cloud Palace's gate, a cold gaze fell upon Xuanqing's back.

Dijun stood there with a dark expression, watching the immortals fawning over Dongwanggong, the fury in his heart burning ever hotter.

"Elder Brother, that disciple of Yuanshi's has left."

Donghuang Taiyi reminded him from the side.

Hearing this, Dijun's gaze instantly locked onto Xuanqing's retreating figure, his eyes turning extremely dangerous.

Today in Purple Cloud Palace, he had lost all face.

As for that old fellow Kunpeng, with his great strength and reputation as one of the few wise men of the Honghuang, if he could be firmly bound to the Demon Race's war chariot, the Demon Race's power would surely soar.

After a moment's thought, a flash of killing intent flickered in Dijun's eyes.

"Taiyi, pass the order. Have Baize and the others prepare."

Donghuang Taiyi's heart stirred. "Elder Brother, you mean to..."

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"So what if it's Yuanshi? He can protect him for a while, but not forever!" Dijun said coldly. "As long as it's done cleanly, even the Three Pure Ones won't find any evidence!"

Xuanqing naturally had no idea that he had already been marked by the two emperors of the Demon Race.

At this moment, he was following behind Yuanshi Tianzun, shuttling through Chaos, rapidly fleeing toward the Honghuang continent.

The speed of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal was far beyond what he could imagine.

Around him, chaotic currents of energy receded at breakneck speed, countless fragments of shattered worlds flashing past in an instant.

Before long, the familiar aura of the Honghuang washed over him.

The towering Kunlun Mountain once again appeared before his eyes.

Yuanshi Tianzun led Xuanqing without any pause, landing directly in front of the bamboo grove below the Jade Void Palace.

"You're back."

Yuanshi Tianzun looked at the many thriving Spiritual Roots before him, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Xuanqing gazed at the place that had once been his original form, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions.

When he left, he was still an Earth Immortal who had yet to take shape.

Now that he had returned, he was already a late-stage Great Yi Mysterious Immortal.

"Master, this disciple..."

Xuanqing was about to speak words of gratitude, but Yuanshi Tianzun waved his hand.

"Your cultivation has advanced greatly this time, but your foundation is still somewhat unsteady. You need to go into seclusion and fully digest the Dao Ancestor's teachings to stabilize your realm."

"Yes, this disciple understands."

Xuanqing replied respectfully.

Yuanshi Tianzun nodded and added, "In the Purple Cloud Palace, there are many eyes and tangled Karma. After the Dao Ancestor's lectures are over, there's no need to go again unless necessary."

Xuanqing's heart tightened.

His master's words seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

He recalled the hostile gazes of Dijun and Kunpeng, as well as the Karma that had formed between Jieyin, Zunti, and Kunpeng after Hongyun gave up his seat.

It did seem to be the case.

"This disciple will heed Master's command."

Yuanshi Tianzun gave him one last look and instructed, "Cultivate in peace. As long as your master is here, no one within Kunlun Mountain can harm you."

With that, his figure vanished, returning to the Jade Void Palace.

Xuanqing stood there, a warm current surging in his heart.

Having such a protective and powerful master was truly the greatest fortune in the Honghuang.

Xuanqing took a deep breath, feeling the dense spiritual energy of Kunlun Mountain, then turned and walked into his Cave Abode, preparing to begin a new round of seclusion.

He had to convert all the gains from this lecture into his own strength as quickly as possible!

The trip to the Purple Cloud Palace had been incredibly fruitful. Not only had his cultivation soared from Xuan Immortal Peak all the way to late-stage Great Yi Mysterious Immortal, but more importantly, he had listened to the Sage's great Dao, gaining a clear understanding of the path ahead.

"This wave was a total win!"

He sat cross-legged on his Prayer Mat, feeling the surging mana within his body. Although his realm had risen, he could sense that his foundation was somewhat unstable—like a fruit forced to ripen, glossy on the outside but hollow within.

"I absolutely must go into seclusion and fully digest the laws the Dao Ancestor taught."

Xuanqing steadied his mind, ready to begin his seclusion. Just then, his divine sense stirred, and an object flew out from his storage space, hovering in midair.

It was entirely golden, solid yet ethereal, ethereal yet solid, exuding an air of mystery.

This Innate Merit Treasure, ever since it had voluntarily sought him out on Kunlun Mountain, had never been refined.

Xuanqing stared at the Innate Merit Treasure before him, his eyes burning with desire. This was a Merit Treasure—killing with it incurred no Karma, and its defensive power was unmatched.

He reached out a hand, intending to refine it.

But halfway there, his hand abruptly stopped.

Xuanqing's mind raced.

"This is an Innate Merit Treasure! Once I start refining it, the heavenly phenomena it stirs up will be anything but small."

He recalled the malicious looks from Kunpeng and Dijun outside the Purple Cloud Palace.

"Right now, who knows how many pairs of eyes in the Honghuang are fixed on such a treasure. If I cause such a commotion in my Cave Abode, isn't that just writing 'I have a fortuitous encounter, come rob me' on my forehead?"

"If I attract a bunch of old monsters, even if Master can protect me, it'll only bring endless trouble."

Thinking this, Xuanqing suddenly felt a chill of fear.

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