The Kunpeng's Calculations

Kunpeng, having been publicly rebuked, his face shifting between pale and green, ultimately chose to swallow his anger and endure the humiliation.

He cast a venomous glance at Yuanshi's back, silently slowed his pace, and retreated to the second echelon, daring no further transgression.

After this incident, no one else dared to challenge the Three Pure Ones' leading position.

Three beams of clear light shot far ahead, first to breach the boundary of the Thirty-Three Heavens, vanishing from everyone's sight.

Then, Dijun, Taiyi, Nüwa, the Ancestral Mages, and other great powers one by one entered the Outer Chaos.

Xuanqing, mixed in at the tail end of the fourth echelon, had taken in everything that just happened, with only one thought in his mind.

"Master is awesome!"

Xuanqing couldn't help but exclaim aloud.

The Myriad Qi Returning to Yuan Purification Technique within Xuanqing's body spun wildly; the surrounding Nine Heavens Gale and chaotic currents, as soon as they neared him, were converted, instead becoming a boost to his flight.

With this shift in momentum, his speed actually grew faster and faster.

Gradually, he surpassed many beings at the Xuan Immortal level, even Great Yi Mysterious Immortals, and clung tightly to the third echelon.

This scene naturally drew the attention of many great powers ahead.

A mere Xuan Immortal Peak, possessing such speed?

Many divine senses swept over, but upon touching the Mysterious Yellow Merit Robe on Xuanqing, they all withdrew.

Having a protective magic treasure wasn't strange, but being able to acquire a Postnatal Treasure as a Taoist Robe meant his background was absolutely no simple matter; no one wished to provoke him for no reason.

After flying for who knows how long, piercing through layer upon layer of spatial barriers, Xuanqing finally felt the pressure around him lighten, and his view opened up.

A boundless gray chaos appeared before him.

Here, there was no up or down, no four directions, no passage of time.

And within that endless chaos, the Purple Cloud Palace, entirely purple-gold in color, floated there quietly.

"Damn, so this is Hongjun's dojo?" Xuanqing grumbled inwardly.

At this moment, the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace were already wide open.

The Three Pure Ones were long out of sight, presumably the first to enter.

Dijun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Nüwa, Fuxi, and the Twelve Ancestral Mages, along with other top-tier great powers, were leading their respective clans into the palace one after another.

Xuanqing dared not delay and sped up, flying toward the palace gates.

Just as he was about to reach the gates, two figures nearby caught his attention.

They were none other than Demon Emperor Dijun and Demon Master Kunpeng, who had just been taught a lesson by Yuanshi Tianzun.

At this moment, Kunpeng's face was grim and gloomy, his aura somewhat disordered; clearly, Yuanshi's earlier strike had left him no time to adjust himself.

Dijun had actively sought him out, his face full of indignation.

"Daoist Kunpeng, Yuanshi goes too far! Our Demon Race cannot allow him to humiliate us like this." Dijun spoke up for Kunpeng.

Kunpeng glanced at him and snorted coldly: "Daoist Dijun speaks lightly. That Yuanshi's strength is unfathomable; what can you or I do to him?"

He wasn't foolish—Dijun was trying to rope him into his own camp.

"Daoist, your words are mistaken." Dijun's gaze burned. "Precisely because the Three Pure Ones are so powerful, we should unite. I sincerely invite you, Daoist, to join our Demon Race and take the post of Demon Master, with a status second only to my brother and me. Together, we can scheme for the Great Cause of the Honghuang—wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Demon Master!

Kunpeng's heart stirred.

That title was no small thing.

But he still hesitated; an empty name alone couldn't sway him.

"The Demon Race already has you and Taiyi, two Daluo Immortals—you're already a top-tier force in the Honghuang. Why would you need me?" Kunpeng said flatly.

Dijun was about to promise more benefits when Kunpeng's gaze suddenly froze.

He stared fixedly at a figure about to step into the Purple Cloud Palace.

It was a young Daoist in green robes, with a gentle temperament, his cultivation merely at Xuan Immortal Peak.

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But Kunpeng recognized him in an instant!

That unique aura of a Merit Spiritual Root!

It was him!

The Mystic Bamboo from the foot of Kunlun Mountain back then! Also Yuanshi's newly accepted disciple!

When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred!

More importantly, that Innate Merit Treasure must be on this brat!

In an instant, greed once again seized Kunpeng's heart.

That was an Innate Merit Treasure—enough to drive a cultivator like him to lose all reason.

Yuanshi he couldn't beat, but this little Xuanxian? Easy pickings. However, since Yuanshi already suspected him, he couldn't act with his own hands.

So Kunpeng pondered a moment, then abruptly turned his head toward Dijun, his previously gloomy gaze suddenly flaring with enthusiasm.

"Daoist Dijun!" Kunpeng lowered his voice, transmitting his thoughts through divine sense. "Do you see that green-robed Daoist?"

Dijun followed his gaze and gave a slight nod. "I see him. Just a Xuanxian, nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?" Kunpeng let out a cold laugh. "Do you know, Daoist, why I was wounded by Yuanshi back then? It was because of this brat!"

He quickly recounted his grudge with Xuanqing, embellishing the tale of how Yuanshi had shielded the boy and struck him down.

Then, Kunpeng declared without hesitation, "If I join the Demon Race, I want no spiritual treasures! I have only one condition!"

He looked at Xuanqing and spoke each word with weight: "Help me capture this brat, and I will join!"

Dijun's eyes flickered intensely.

All he had to do was seize a single Xuanxian for Kunpeng, and the man would willingly throw himself into the Great Cause.

This deal was a steal!

Though Dijun had already roughly guessed the relationship between Xuanqing and Yuanshi, since they were already on bad terms, what was one more offense? When you're crawling with lice, one more itch doesn't matter; when you're drowning in debt, one more worry makes no difference!

Besides, as long as he did it cleanly and left no witnesses, what could Yuanshi do?

"Fine!" Dijun decided on the spot. "But this is the Dao Ancestor's Dojo—not a place for action. You and I will enter and listen to the Dao first. When the lecture ends three thousand years from now, I will personally act and capture this brat for you."

"It's a deal!" Kunpeng rejoiced.

"It's a deal!"

The two reached an agreement and exchanged a knowing smile.

They thought their divine sense transmission was unknown to anyone.

But they didn't realize that Xuanqing, relying on the spiritual intuition of his innate Spiritual Root, had vaguely caught a trace of malice.

He glanced back and met Kunpeng's greedy gaze.

"Oh, the old jinx is here too." Xuanqing laughed inwardly. "With that look, he's got his eyes on me? And whispering with Dijun—no good intentions."

Xuanqing sneered in his heart, but his face betrayed nothing.

He'd deal with soldiers as they came, and dam the flood when it arrived.

With Yuanshi Tianzun as his powerful Master, what did he have to fear?

He was about to withdraw his gaze and step through the palace gate when suddenly, another gentle gaze fell upon him.

Xuanqing followed the feeling and saw a woman standing quietly among the Twelve Ancestral Mages not far away.

She was dressed in earthy yellow, her features warm with a hint of playfulness.

Standing amidst a group of Ancestral Mages radiating fierce Sha Qi, she seemed utterly out of place.

Houtu?

Xuanqing's heart jolted as he immediately recognized her.

He hadn't expected the future Empress to look like this now.

Seeing Xuanqing look her way, Houtu gave a warm smile and spoke first, her voice soft and soothing.

"This Daoist, greetings."