The Demon Race's Baize

Xuanqing watched her delighted expression and clicked his tongue inwardly.

"Alright, Luyao, go over there and get familiar with your body first. Stabilize your realm." Xuanqing instructed.

"Yes, Senior!" Luyao bowed deeply again before running off toward the side peak.

Watching Luyao's retreating figure, Xuanqing withdrew his gaze.

He had no mind to babysit right now, because if he counted the time, the second sermon at the Purple Cloud Palace was approaching.

The rule set by Hongjun Dao Ancestor was one sermon every three thousand years.

Although he was in seclusion on Kunlun Mountain, that faint sense of premonition from the void was growing stronger and stronger.

Xuanqing composed himself and walked out of his cave abode.

He didn't plan to go to the Jade Void Palace to find his master, Yuanshi Tianzun.

His master was a Sage-in-waiting; his travel speed was nothing Xuanqing could match.

If he followed his master, he probably wouldn't even get a clear look at what Chaotic air currents were like.

He decided to set off on his own and take in the scenery of the Honghuang along the way.

Xuanqing transformed into a streak of cyan light, left Kunlun Mountain, and shot straight toward the Heaven Beyond Heaven.

Along the way, he spotted many familiar faces and also many beings he had never seen before.

The Honghuang was bustling now. Dongwanggong was running around with his Dragon Head Cane recruiting troops, while Dijun and Taiyi were busily establishing the Demon Race.

Everywhere carried an air of "I'm going to be the boss."

As Xuanqing flew, he suddenly sensed a not-insignificant aura approaching from behind.

He halted his movement and turned to look.

A man in a white robe was riding Auspicious Clouds toward him.

The man had a refined face, three long strands of beard, and held a feather fan in his hand. He looked less like a cultivator and more like a scholarly teacher.

"Fellow Daoist ahead, please hold a moment," the man called out.

Xuanqing recognized the newcomer.

Baize.

One of the future ten great Demon Marshals of the Demon Race, said to know all things under heaven, a renowned strategist of the Honghuang.

At present, Baize was already at the Golden Immortal realm, a full major realm above Xuanqing.

Logically, a Golden Immortal looking at a Great Yi Mysterious Immortal would be looking down from on high.

But when Baize landed before Xuanqing, his face wore a warm smile, and he even proactively cupped his hands in greeting.

"This Humble One is Baize. Greetings to Daoist Xuanqing."

Xuanqing's heart stirred.

This Baize actually knew his Dao name?

It seemed that during the first sermon at the Purple Cloud Palace, even though he hadn't shown himself much, these observant individuals had still taken note of him.

Or rather, his master Yuanshi Tianzun's reputation was simply too loud.

"So it's Daoist Baize. I've long heard of your esteemed name." Xuanqing returned the greeting politely.

The two flew side by side toward the Heaven Beyond Heaven.

"Daoist Xuanqing is still young yet already at the late stage of Great Yi Mysterious Immortal, with such a solid foundation. Truly worthy of being the esteemed disciple of Sage Yuanshi," Baize praised as they flew.

Xuanqing chuckled inwardly.

This Baize indeed knew his background.

"Daoist Baize flatters me. This paltry cultivation of mine is nothing worth mentioning before you."

Baize shook his head. "Daoist, you possess great merit and thick fortune. That is something countless great powers envy. Cultivation—given enough time, it can always be raised. But fortune and merit are ordained by heaven."

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Xuanqing didn't take the bait. He knew that a clever man like Baize hadn't sought him out just to toss out a few compliments.

Sure enough, after flying for a while, Baize turned the conversation to the Witch Clan.

"Daoist Xuanqing, I have a heartfelt word to say, though I'm not sure if I should speak it," Baize said, waving his feather fan, his tone growing earnest.

"Please, speak your mind."

"I observed that last time outside the Purple Cloud Palace, you seemed to have quite a pleasant chat with Houtu, the Ancestral Witch of the Witch Clan?"

Xuanqing's heart skipped a beat.

Good heavens, did Baize have eyes growing out of surveillance cameras?

Last time, he only exchanged a few words with Houtu, and this guy had already remembered it.

"We merely exchanged some insights on Dao Methods. Why do you ask, Daoist Baize?" Xuanqing asked, feigning nonchalance.

Baize sighed. "Daoist, you may not know this, but the Witch Clan cultivates only the physical body, not the Primordial Spirit. They are born violent and reckless, and they do not recognize the will of heaven. Now they are expanding aggressively across the Honghuang, clashing with all the Myriad Races. Our Demon Race exists to bring order to the Honghuang, yet we are repeatedly obstructed by the Witch Clan."

Xuanqing thought to himself: You call that maintaining order? That's just collecting protection money.

Baize continued, "Daoist, as a disciple of a Sage, your status is noble and your future boundless. If you grow too close to those Witch Clan members who only know how to fight and kill, you might incur unnecessary Karma. Especially Houtu—though she is more gentle-tempered among the Ancestral Witches, she is still a member of the Witch Clan. Daoist should keep your distance from them, lest it hinder your cultivation."

Xuanqing understood now. Baize was acting as a lobbyist for Dijun.

Or rather, he wanted to test Yuanshi's stance—and that of the other two—through Xuanqing.

Unfortunately, Xuanqing knew the future. Houtu would one day incarnate into the Six Paths of Reincarnation—what immense Merit was that?

If he could enlighten her ahead of time, he might even claim a share.

And Xuanqing also knew that the Demon Race and the Witch Clan would eventually cripple each other, leaving the Human Race to reap all the benefits.

"Thank you for the reminder, Daoist Baize." Xuanqing's tone was flat. "I cultivate as I please. I don't care what race someone belongs to. If we're fated to get along, they're my Daoist. As for Karma, my Master often says that as long as one's own strength is sufficient, Karma is irrelevant."

Baize caught the refusal in Xuanqing's words.

His hand gripping the feather fan tightened slightly, but his smile remained unchanged.

"Daoist speaks wisely. I was overthinking things."

Xuanqing wasn't used to having his thoughts steered by others, nor did he like someone buzzing in his ear telling him how to act.

Though Baize's words were pleasant, the scheming behind them made him uncomfortable.

"Daoist Baize, I suddenly recall that my Master assigned me an urgent task—I need to head to the Purple Cloud Palace ahead of time to report. I won't keep you company on this slow flight. See you at the Purple Cloud Palace."

Without waiting for Baize's reaction, Xuanqing directly activated the Merit power within him.

His originally steady mana instantly turned violent, and his speed multiplied several times over.

A streak of cyan light arced through the sky, vanishing from Baize's sight in the blink of an eye.

Baize halted midair, watching the fading cyan glow as his smile gradually faded.

He shook his feather fan and muttered to himself, "Yuanshi's disciple certainly has a personality. With Merit protecting his body, immune to all spells, he does have the capital to be arrogant. I just wonder if he can still be so carefree later on."

Xuanqing flew a long distance in one breath. Only after confirming he had shaken off Baize did he slow down.

"These schemers all have dirty hearts." Xuanqing spat. "We meet once and they start sowing discord. Do they really think I'm some naive little rabbit who's never seen the world?"

As he flew, he calculated in his mind.

This lecture at the Purple Cloud Palace should be about the path to the Quasi-Saint realm.

Slay Three Corpses.

That was Hongjun Dao Ancestor's specialty, and the only path for Honghuang cultivators on the road to the peak.

Though he was only at the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal realm now, still far from Quasi-Saint, listening in advance couldn't hurt.

And after this lecture ended, it would likely be time for the distribution of Sage positions and the treasures at Fenbao Rock.

That was the real highlight.

Passing through layers of thunder and fire, Xuanqing once again arrived at the edge of Chaos.

He summoned the Merit Golden Wheel, and wrapped in rings of golden light, stepped into Chaos.

Those chaotic currents, enough to tear apart the flesh of Mystic Cultivation cultivators, immediately crashed "bang bang" against the Merit Golden Light.