Peng's Schemes

Peng's face turned pale and then flushed red after being rebuked in front of everyone, but in the end, he chose to swallow his anger.

He shot Yuanshi's retreating figure a resentful glance, then silently slowed down and fell back into the second group, daring not to overstep again.

After this, no one dared challenge the Three Pure Ones' lead.

The three streaks of clear light surged far ahead, broke through the boundary of the Thirty-Three Heavens first, and vanished from everyone's sight.

After them, powerful beings such as Dijun, Taiyi, Nüwa, and the Ancestral Witches also entered the Outer Chaos one after another.

Xuanqing was mixed in at the rear of the fourth group, taking in everything that had just happened. Only one thought filled his mind.

"Master is badass!"

Xuanqing couldn't help shouting.

The Myriad Qi Returning to Yuan Purification Technique inside him began circulating furiously. The Nine Heavens Gale and the chaotic currents around him were transformed as soon as they neared his body, and instead became a boost to his flight.

As one side waned and the other waxed, his speed actually grew faster and faster.

Gradually, he overtook many Mystic Immortals and even beings at the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal level, catching up closely to the third group.

This naturally drew the attention of many powerful beings ahead.

How could a mere Xuan Immortal Peak move so fast?

Quite a few divine senses swept over him, but they all withdrew when they touched the Mysterious Yellow Merit Robe he wore.

Having a Protective Treasure wasn't unusual, but anyone who could get their hands on a Postnatal Treasure to use as a robe must have a formidable background. No one wanted to provoke him for no reason.

After flying for who knew how long and passing through layer upon layer of spatial barriers, Xuanqing finally felt the pressure around him ease. The view before him opened up.

An endless expanse of gray Chaos appeared before him.

There was no up or down, no cardinal directions, and no passage of time.

Amid that boundless Chaos, Zixiao Palace, purple-gold from top to bottom, floated quietly.

"Good heavens, is this Hongjun's dojo?" Xuanqing grumbled to himself.

At that moment, the gates of Zixiao Palace stood open.

The Three Pure Ones were nowhere to be seen. They had probably been the first to enter.

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

Xuanqing didn't dare dawdle. He picked up speed and flew toward the gates.

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

They were Demon Emperor Dijun and Demon Master Kunpeng, whom Yuanshi Tianzun had just taught a lesson.

Kunpeng's face was now dark as a storm, and his aura was somewhat disordered. Clearly, Yuanshi's attack had left him no time to compose himself.

Dijun approached him first, his face full of indignation.

"Daoist Kunpeng, Yuanshi has gone too far! Our Yao Clan can't let him humiliate us like this," Dijun said, speaking up on Kunpeng's behalf.

Kunpeng glanced at him and snorted. "Daoist Dijun, that's easy for you to say. Yuanshi's strength is unfathomable. What can you and I do about him?"

He wasn't a fool. Dijun was trying to get him on his side.

"Daoist, you're mistaken." Dijun's eyes gleamed. "It's precisely because the Three Pure Ones are so powerful that we should join forces. I sincerely invite you to join the Yao Clan and serve as our Demon Master. Your position would be second only to my brother and me. We could work together to achieve a great cause in Honghuang. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Demon Master!

Kunpeng's heart stirred.

It was quite an impressive title.

But he still hesitated. An empty title wasn't enough to sway him.

"The Yao Clan already has two Daluo Immortals, you and Taiyi. You're one of Honghuang's top powers. Why would you need me?" Kunpeng said coolly.

Dijun was about to offer him even greater benefits when Kunpeng's gaze suddenly froze.

He stared intently at a figure who was about to step into Zixiao Palace.

It was a young Daoist in green robes, with a gentle air about him and a cultivation level of only Xuan Immortal Peak.

But Kunpeng recognized him at a glance!

That unmistakable aura of a Merit Spiritual Root!

It was him!

That Mystic Bamboo beneath Kunlun Mountain! And the new disciple Yuanshi had just taken!

When enemies met, their eyes blazed with hatred!

More importantly, that Innate Merit Treasure had to be on that brat!

In an instant, greed took hold of Kunpeng's heart once more.

It was an Innate Merit Treasure, enough to drive a cultivator like him mad with desire.

He couldn't beat Yuanshi, but surely a little Xuan Immortal would be easy to capture. Still, Yuanshi already suspected him, so he couldn't make a move himself.

Kunpeng thought for a moment, then abruptly turned to Dijun. His previously gloomy expression suddenly grew warm.

"Daoist Dijun!" Kunpeng lowered his voice and sent a divine transmission. "Do you see that Green-robed Daoist?"

Dijun followed his gaze and nodded slightly. "I see him. He's only a Xuan Immortal, nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about?" Kunpeng sneered. "Do you know why I was injured by Yuanshi? It was because of that man!"

He quickly recounted his feud with Xuanqing, embellishing the story of how Yuanshi had already injured him while taking his disciple's side.

Then Kunpeng declared firmly, "If I join the Yao Clan, I won't ask for any spiritual treasures! I have only one condition!"

He looked at Xuanqing and enunciated each word. "Help me capture that man, and I'll join!"

Dijun's eyes flickered intensely.

All he had to do was help Kunpeng capture a Xuan Immortal, and Kunpeng would willingly join his great cause.

It was a bargain!

Although Dijun had more or less guessed the relationship between Xuanqing and Yuanshi, he'd already offended Yuanshi anyway. One more enemy wouldn't make much difference; one more debt wouldn't hurt!

Besides, as long as they acted cleanly and left no witnesses, what could Yuanshi do?

"Agreed!" Dijun decided at once. "But this is the Dao Ancestor's dojo, so it's not a good place to make a move. Let's go in and listen to the Dao first. After the lecture ends in three thousand years, I'll capture him for you myself!"

"It's a deal!" Kunpeng was overjoyed.

"It's a deal!"

The two reached an agreement and smiled at each other.

They thought that no one could hear their divine transmission.

But they didn't know that, thanks to his innate spiritual root's heightened senses, Xuanqing had vaguely picked up a trace of malice.

He glanced back and met Kunpeng's greedy gaze.

"Oh, look who it is—the old unlucky bastard." Xuanqing was amused. "That look says he's got his eye on me. And he's whispering with Dijun, too. They're up to no good."

Xuanqing sneered inwardly but kept his expression unchanged.

He would deal with whatever came, as it came.

With a powerful master like Yuanshi Tianzun behind him, what did he have to fear?

He was about to look away and step through the gates when another gentle gaze suddenly fell upon him.

Xuanqing followed the feeling and saw a woman quietly watching him from the Twelve Ancestral Mages' ranks nearby.

She wore earthy yellow robes, and her gentle face held a hint of playfulness.

Standing among a group of Ancestral Witches whose Malevolent Qi soared to the heavens, she seemed completely out of place.

Houtu?

Xuanqing's heart jolted. He immediately recognized her.

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

When Houtu saw Xuanqing looking her way, she smiled gently and spoke first. Her soft voice warmed the heart.

"Greetings, Daoist."