Mount Buzhou, Demon Qi?

Nüwa's expression shifted slightly, as if lost in thought.

"Daoist Xuanqing." Nüwa gave Xuanqing a slight bow. "I am enlightened by your words today."

Xuanqing quickly sidestepped, not daring to accept such a grand gesture.

"Empress, you flatter me. I was merely speaking nonsense."

But Nüwa shook her head, gazing deeply at Xuanqing.

"I feel a stirring in my heart. I must enter seclusion to meditate immediately. I will repay today's kindness in the future. If the opportunity arises, I shall personally visit you to discuss the Great Dao again."

With that, she lingered no longer. Her form transformed into a streak of light, vanishing from the valley in an instant, flying toward the summit of Phoenix Mountain.

Watching Nüwa's departing figure, Fuxi's expression was a spectacle. First came surprise, then a flicker of joy.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Fuxi couldn't help but clap and laugh, his voice echoing through the valley.

"Daoist Xuanqing, you are truly my lucky star!"

Xuanqing was somewhat puzzled. "Fuxi, why do you say that?"

Fuxi walked over to Xuanqing, patted him on the shoulder, his expression excited.

"You don't know this, but my little sister has been sitting in meditation for tens of thousands of years, troubled by the matter of becoming a Sage. Her heart was knotted, her path stalled, and I could only watch in vain."

"Her vexation made it impossible for me to focus on deducing the Innate Bagua, and I couldn't bring it to completion. But today, hearing your words, seeing her reaction—she must have found the key to a breakthrough!"

Fuxi grew more elated as he spoke.

"Now that her heart's knot is untied, my own mind is clear. Just now, discussing the Dao with you, I too stumbled upon some insights. I feel my Bagua Diagram can advance another step!"

Xuanqing understood in his heart. It seemed his words had inadvertently helped both siblings.

Fuxi clasped his hands to Xuanqing, his attitude warmer than before.

"Daoist Xuanqing, great kindness needs no words of thanks. I must return to refine my deductions, so I won't keep you. When my sister and I emerge from seclusion, we will surely visit the Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain to pay our respects!"

Xuanqing smiled and returned the gesture. "I await you at any time."

Fuxi let out a hearty laugh, then transformed into a beam of pure light, following Nüwa's direction.

In the valley, only Xuanqing and his beast remained.

"Sigh, they left so quickly."

Xuanqing rubbed his chin, somewhat helpless.

He had originally wanted to get closer to the siblings and pry into matters within the Demon Race's Heavenly Court.

Now, it seemed, that chance was gone.

Still, the purpose of this trip had been exceeded. Not only had he gained the goodwill of Nüwa and Fuxi, but he had also planted the seeds of immense future merit.

Xuanqing looked down at Xiao Hei by his feet.

Xiao Hei was looking up at him too, its dark, round eyes full of innocence.

"You really are a surprise," Xuanqing said, tapping its forehead. "How did the crown prince of the Ink Qilin Clan end up in such a sorry state?"

Xiao Hei let out a pitiful whimper, rubbing its head against his pant leg.

Xuanqing smiled and picked it up.

"Well, since this matter is settled, it's time for us to get down to business."

He raised his head, his gaze fixed on the giant pillar in the distance that propped up the heavens and earth at the center of the Honghuang.

Mount Buzhou!

Back during the Treasure Distribution at the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun Dao Ancestor had bestowed seven strands of Primordial Purple Qi, the Foundation of Sagehood.

Six strands went to the future six Sages, but the last one, unlike in the legends of his past life where it was given to Hongyun, had directly vanished into the void, its whereabouts unknown.

Xuanqing guessed this might be the butterfly effect of his own transmigration.

Regardless, he was determined to obtain this masterless Primordial Purple Qi.

Though the Primordial Purple Qi was formless and intangible, hard to track, it would inevitably attach itself to the place in heaven and earth with the densest spiritual energy and the most manifest Dao laws.

Looking across the entire Honghuang, aside from the Heavenly Dao that had already Merged with the Dao, what place was more fitting than Mount Buzhou?

Mount Buzhou was formed from Pangu's spine, the center of heaven and earth, the source of all veins.

More importantly, Great God Pangu possessed the virtue of creating the world, and the residual Pangu aura on Mount Buzhou carried boundless merit.

For Xuanqing, a Merit Spiritual Root with double merit fortune, this was practically home turf.

Five hundred years later.

Xuanqing finally arrived at the foot of Mount Buzhou.

The closer he got, the more he could feel the residual pressure of Great God Pangu.

The mountain was so tall its peak was invisible, as if connected to the heavens.

The mist swirling between the cliffs was no ordinary cloud, but Innate Spiritual Qi.

An ordinary immortal cultivating here for a single day could match a hundred years of cultivation in a blessed cave or paradise.

But at the same time, the pressure on Mount Buzhou was no small matter.

Starting from the foot of the mountain, an invisible oppressive force bore down; those with insufficient cultivation could barely stand.

Xuanqing, however, felt nothing of it.

He temporarily stowed Xiao Hei into his Sleeve Universe, then took a deep breath and stepped onto the path up the mountain.

The moment his foot touched the mountain, a pressure as heavy as a mountain range crushed in from all directions.

Xuanqing's expression remained unchanged as his internal energy circulated, easily neutralizing the pressure.

Step by step, he climbed steadily upward.

Mount Buzhou had a Forbidden Seal—the higher one went, the stronger the no-fly zone became, and walking allowed one to better comprehend the Dao Rhyme left behind by Great God Pangu.

Time passed in the monotonous ascent.

The Merit Golden Wheel within Xuanqing activated on its own, enveloping him in faint golden halos that blocked most of the oppressive force.

He simply continued upward.

Unbeknownst to him, another five hundred years slipped by.

Xuanqing had now reached the mountainside of Mount Buzhou.

This height already surpassed the position the Three Pure Ones had once attained. Beyond this point lay territory no living being had ever set foot upon.

The surrounding pressure had become terrifying, but the Merit Golden Wheel clinging to him greatly reduced the damage Xuanqing suffered.

Still, fine beads of sweat seeped from his brow.

Just then, his heart stirred, and he stopped.

Several hundred li to his left and ahead, he sensed an unusual fluctuation of energy.

"Something's off."

Intrigued, Xuanqing changed direction and made his way toward the source of that energy.

Soon, he arrived before a hidden cliff face.

On the cliff, a pitch-black cave mouth appeared before him. That cold, sinister energy was emanating from deep within the cave.

Xuanqing extended his divine sense to probe, but found that the moment it entered the cave mouth, it was shredded by a strange force, unable to penetrate further.

He thought for a moment, then stepped inside.

The interior of the cave was dim, the path rugged.

He had barely advanced a hundred meters when a sudden change occurred!

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Two clumps of pitch-black Demon Qi shot out from the darkness without warning, one from the left and one from the right, aiming straight for Xuanqing's face!

The two masses of Demon Qi moved with incredible speed, and the power within them was fierce and overbearing.

Xuanqing's pupils contracted. Without a second thought, he raised his hand and unleashed his innate divine ability—the Purification Divine Light.

But when the Purification Divine Light touched the two masses of Demon Qi, it only dimmed them slightly, without slowing their speed at all.

"So strong?"

Surprise flickered in Xuanqing's heart. He dared not be careless. The Jing Shi Sword appeared in his hand instantly, and with a flick of his wrist, he traced two sword blossoms to meet them.

"Clang! Clang!"

A tremendous force of backlash came through the blade. Xuanqing felt his arm go numb, and his entire body uncontrollably stumbled back several steps.

The two masses of Demon Qi were also knocked away, circling in the air before emitting an even more ferocious aura.

Xuanqing steadied himself, his expression grave as he stared at the two masses of Demon Qi.

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