World-Destroying Black Lotus! What Right Do You Have to Question This Poor Daoist?

With a slight stir of his divine sense, he perceived all things.

Lingxiao smiled calmly. "It is nothing more than a few storms and frosts! There are no so-called old enemies; it is merely that this poor Daoist once failed to judge people wisely."

"When this poor Daoist fell on hard times, even dogs despised me. Now that I have resumed cultivation and enjoy the revered position of Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Extremity, these Interception Sect disciples have come sniffing at the scent of blood."

"It is enough to ignore them!"

Lingxiao looked at Wangshu, his eyes deep and clear.

With a slight movement of his mana, they arrived at the heart of Penglai Immortal Island. There stood a Ren Water Flat Peach tree rooted in the earth, peach blossoms drifting down from the sky as the fragrance of Ren Water Flat Peaches spread through the air.

The Ren Water Flat Peach was a top-grade Xiantian spiritual root, while this one on Penglai Immortal Island had been cultivated from the mother tree. Its rank was more than mid-grade Xiantian, yet less than top-grade Xiantian.

"Fellow Daoist truly has an excellent state of mind!"

"If it were this palace, I would exhaust every scheme and method, washing away karma with blood and slaughter."

Wangshu landed before Lingxiao and sat down directly in a wicker chair.

She lightly crossed her jade-like legs, inadvertently revealing a flash of snow-white skin.

"The Investiture of the Gods Calamity is about to descend. Would it not be better to watch the Interception Sect walk step by step toward self-destruction and finally fall apart? Rather than destroy them with your own hands, why not watch them struggle bitterly?"

"After this poor Daoist left the Interception Sect, some people came to regret it. But it was of no use..."

With a sweep of his jade sleeve, Lingxiao placed a pot of spirit wine upon the jade table, along with Xiantian spirit fruits such as ginseng fruit and Ren Water Flat Peaches.

Wangshu personally poured the wine, and the two drank together.

The air was silent, and they sat at ease.

After a long while, Wangshu slowly said, "Fellow Daoist helped me escape the sea of suffering, but this palace is not one to forget kindness and betray gratitude. When they come to visit later, I will help you vent your anger."

As she spoke, a sharp gleam appeared in Wangshu's eyes.

Lingxiao found this somewhat puzzling, but he did not ask.

A moment later.

Outside Penglai Immortal Island, Yunxiao and Qiongxiao appeared.

Yunxiao was tall and graceful, her proud, delicate figure wrapped in a plain-colored long dress. A faint, gentle smile softened her originally cool and beautiful face.

Qiongxiao had a voluptuous figure and a lovely face, her red lips ripe and glistening.

"Sister Yunxiao, Junior Brother Lingxiao is inside Penglai Immortal Island. I can sense his aura. These days, he has haunted my dreams and waking thoughts. I want to make everything clear to him."

Upon hearing this, Yunxiao also revealed a look of longing.

Lingxiao had a gentle temperament. He absolutely would not abandon them sisters!

Within Five Estate Temple, Qiongxiao had been tortured into grievous injury by Daoist Hongyun. Surely his anger had already subsided by now.

Letting out a breath, Yunxiao looked toward Penglai Immortal Island and parted her red lips. "Junior Brother Lingxiao, this poor Daoist and Sister Qiongxiao have come to visit. We wish to discuss some matters with you face-to-face!"

Her ethereal voice echoed between heaven and earth.

At the center of Penglai Immortal Island, Lingxiao and Wangshu sat in wicker chairs, calmly watching the scene. Upon hearing Yunxiao's voice, Lingxiao showed not the slightest emotional fluctuation.

[ Ding! God-level selection mission successfully refreshed! ]

[ Choice One: Refuse Yunxiao and Qiongxiao entry into Penglai Immortal Island. Reward: top-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, Kylin Seal. ]

[ Choice Two: Show no mercy and kill Yunxiao and Qiongxiao. Reward: Genesis Water Spirit. ]

[ Choice Three: Meet Yunxiao and Qiongxiao, quietly watch them perform. Reward: Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus. ]

The system's voice suddenly sounded in Lingxiao's mind.

Lingxiao's thoughts sank slightly as he considered his options.

"Killing Yunxiao and Qiongxiao would bring Lord Tongtian's pursuit upon me. The losses would outweigh the gains, and Genesis Water Spirit is not particularly useful to me either."

"If I refuse them entry into Penglai Immortal Island, with their stubborn temperaments, they will certainly continue making trouble here. Besides, I have no use for the Kylin Seal at present."

"Therefore, only the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus will do!"

The Thirty-Six-Grade Chaos Green Lotus had nurtured five lotus seeds, which transformed respectively into the Creation Green Lotus, World-Purifying White Lotus, Merit Golden Lotus, World-Destroying Black Lotus, and Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

Among them, the Creation Green Lotus was twenty-four grade. During the Witch-Demon Calamity, it was acquired by the Three Pure Ones and transformed into three top-grade Xiantian Spiritual Treasures: the Taiyi Whisk, Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and Green Duckweed Sword.

From then on, a saying spread through later generations!

Red Flower, White Lotus Root, Green Lotus Leaf—the Three Pure Ones were originally one family.

"System, this poor Daoist chooses three!"

Lingxiao made his decision. Soon, within the system space, a lotus platform one hundred zhang tall burned with raging demonic flames. Extinction demonic light evolved from it, destroying the void.

"If this poor Daoist merges the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus into my origin, perhaps my innate foundation can undergo another transformation."

"But this World-Destroying Black Lotus alone is not enough. If I gather the remaining Creation Green Lotus, Merit Golden Lotus, and Karmic Fire Red Lotus, I will have a chance to possess the innate foundation of a Thirty-Six-Grade World-Purifying White Lotus!"

"It seems some scheming will be unavoidable in this Investiture of the Gods Calamity..."

The innate foundation of a Thirty-Six-Grade World-Purifying White Lotus would surely rival the Chaos Demon Gods of the Heaven-Opening Calamity. By then, Lingxiao's comprehension and potential would ascend to their utmost limit, reaching an entirely new realm.

At that thought, a sharp light flashed through Lingxiao's eyes.

The Creation Green Lotus had split into three top-grade spiritual treasures, controlled by the Three Pure Ones. The Merit Golden Lotus was in the hands of the Two Sages of the West. Now, he could only set his sights on Patriarch Styx and seize his Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

"Do not rush. This matter must be plotted slowly!"

Lingxiao held his breath and focused, calming the turmoil within his heart.

Patriarch Styx was no ordinary figure. He was known as the foremost beneath the saints, occupying the Nether Blood Sea, commanding the Asura Clan, and maintaining influence within the Netherworld Underworld.

Most crucially, as long as the Blood Sea did not dry up, Styx would not die!

The man had a violent temperament. If a single disagreement drove him to drag the Nether Blood Sea down with him and take Lingxiao to the grave, the losses would outweigh the gains.

"Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, if you do not wish to see them, I can use my divine power to send them away at once."

Wangshu toyed with the jade cup in her hand as she spoke to Lingxiao.

Yunxiao and Qiongxiao had offended her eyes!

"Fellow Daoist Wangshu, why not watch a good show?"

"They came knocking only to humiliate themselves. These Interception Sect disciples truly are stubborn beyond redemption, foolish and ignorant. Let them come in!"

Lingxiao formed a hand seal, and immortal mist transformed into a sky-reaching avenue that extended beyond Penglai Immortal Island.

Penglai Immortal Island was protected by a grand formation and restrictions. Unless a mighty quasi-saint took action, it would be difficult to breach it by force. That was why Yunxiao and Qiongxiao had not barged in on their own.

"Sister, Junior Brother Lingxiao is willing to see us!"

Qiongxiao was overjoyed, misty tears immediately welling in her eyes. Recalling scene after scene from the countless ages she had spent with Lingxiao, she felt both moved and nostalgic.

Before long, she would make Lingxiao change his heart and renew their former bond with her.

Yunxiao, however, frowned.

"Why did Junior Brother Lingxiao not come out to receive us?"

Doubt filled her heart, mixed even with a trace of anger.

Before Lingxiao entered the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, he had not been like this. Whenever they called, he came; whenever they beckoned, he went.

But now, he had changed!

It made Yunxiao uncomfortable, yet before she could think further, Qiongxiao grabbed her arm and flew forward.

In the blink of an eye, the two stepped onto Penglai Immortal Island.

But!

What met their eyes was Lingxiao and Wangshu discussing something, neither of them even turning to look at them.

"Lingxiao, who is she?"

Coldness, fury, heartache.

Yunxiao flashed beneath the Ren Water Flat Peach tree. Her beautiful face was filled with rage, her brows tightly furrowed, even her breathing growing heavy.

Seeing that Wangshu surpassed her in both bearing and beauty, Yunxiao's pride was crushed beneath her feet, followed by endless fury blazing within her heart.

As though Lingxiao had betrayed her!

At the same time, Qiongxiao arrived before Lingxiao.

With every word ringing like struck metal, she angrily rebuked him, "Junior Brother Lingxiao, you have disappointed Sister and me too deeply. We had originally forgiven you for defying the sect and disrespecting Master, but now you are being ambiguous with another female immortal."

"If word of this gets out, it will damage the dignity of you, the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole, and bring shame upon us Three Xiao Sisters as well."

"Quickly drive this wild woman out, or I will never speak to you again..."

They condemned him with both tongue and pen, their words sounding utterly certain.

Yunxiao and Qiongxiao directed their spearheads at Lingxiao and Wangshu.

Their auras surged forth, raging wildly through the air.

Reclining in his vine chair, Lingxiao said faintly, "When did I ever say I needed your forgiveness? From beginning to end, it was you, Qiongxiao, who kept pestering me. And what qualifications do you possess to question me?"

"Fellow Daoist Wangshu is not the wild woman you call her!"

As he spoke!

Lingxiao lightly flicked his jade sleeve, sending a stream of divine power into Qiongxiao's chest.

"You show no respect to the Heavenly Emperor, arrogant and ignorant!"

"For the sake of your being a saint's disciple, I have merely given you a light punishment. If you dare do this again, I will send you to the Immortal Execution Platform of the Heavenly Court!"