Dao Ancestor, Don't Let Your Spirit Points Lose Face! The Tragedy of Lion Camel Ridge!

The atmosphere was peaceful and harmonious, filled with joy.

The Enlightenment Tea refreshed the heart and soot, while the innate spirit fruits gave off a delicate fragrance.

"Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, now that the Demon Court has been reestablished, it has divided the Heavenly Court's authority over the Heavenly Dao and its providence. Naturally, this is of little consequence to Senior Brother and me, but I cannot help feeling somewhat displeased."

"Behind the Demon Court stand two Saints, Lord Tongtian and Lady Nuwa, while the Heavenly Court's foundations are shallow and it suffers exclusion from the various Heavenly Dao Saints. The days ahead will not be easy..."

Yaochi parted her red lips slightly and looked at Lingxiao as she spoke.

When the Witch-Demon Calamity came to an end, the Thirty-Three Heavens had nearly collapsed. It was Dao Ancestor Hongjun himself who wielded great divine power to reshape the Thirty-Three Heavens and the High Heaven Palace, then placed the two of them in the positions of rulers of the Three Realms.

However, because Haotian and Yaochi had once been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's attendant children, the various Heavenly Dao Saints did not take them seriously. Thus, despite ruling the Heavenly Court for so long, they had never truly achieved the awe-inspiring prestige to shake all beings of the Primordial World.

Though Haotian and Yaochi were broad-minded, a resentment still lingered deep within them. Both wished to slap the faces of the Heavenly Dao Saints and let the Heavenly Court truly take control of heaven, earth, and the Three Realms.

"If only our Heavenly Court had a Heavenly Dao Saint to hold the fort!"

Haotian let out a soft sigh, his tone somewhat desolate.

Upon hearing this, Zhenyuanzi, Daoist Hongyun, and Lingxiao exchanged glances without leaving a trace, suspicion and astonishment surfacing in their eyes.

Was Haotian acting unintentionally, or was he deliberately hinting at them?

Immediately after!

Lingxiao remained calm and composed as he slowly said, "This poor Daoist once made a promise to the Jade Emperor: one day, the various Heavenly Dao Saints will lower their heads before you."

"Immortal Zhenyuan is the ancestor of earth immortals, bearing boundless providence and merit. If anyone in the Primordial World still possesses the qualifications to become a Saint, it can only be him."

"Perhaps one day, the Dao Ancestor may show mercy and bestow upon Immortal Zhenyuan an opportunity to attain Sainthood..."

Nothing in the Primordial World could escape the eyes of the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

His words carried profound meaning and demanded careful contemplation.

Haotian and Yaochi both frowned slightly, sensing the heavenly secrets and beginning their deductions.

A moment later!

Haotian abruptly rose to his feet, his eyes blazing with intense radiance.

"Immortal Zhenyuan, please help me!"

"The Heavenly Court's foundations are shallow, without any virtuous innate deity to hold the fort. In all the world, only you are qualified to take residence in Jade Capital Mountain!"

Haotian cried out to Zhenyuanzi, his voice filled with excitement.

His deductions of the heavenly secrets had yielded nothing.

Yet Haotian discovered that at the very moment Lingxiao's words fell, all the restrictive formations and order within Jade Capital Mountain in the Great Luo Heaven had dissipated. At some unknown time, a palace had appeared atop the mountain.

There was no need to think further—he understood.

This was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's guidance!

Jade Capital Mountain had been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's cultivation ground before he attained Sainthood, yet it had now become ownerless. Coupled with Lingxiao's earlier words, every mystery rose to the surface.

Zhenyuanzi possessed the bearing to attain the Dao and become a Saint!

"How could this poor Daoist possess such virtue and ability as to take residence in Jade Capital Mountain?"

"Since the Dao Ancestor has bestowed such blessings and an opportunity upon this poor Daoist, he must wish to encourage me to continue seeking welfare for the myriad beings of the Primordial World, follow heaven and answer the Dao, and assist the Jade Emperor and young friend Lingxiao in properly governing the beings of the Three Realms."

"For now, let the matter of taking residence in Jade Capital Mountain be set aside. However, this poor Daoist will choose a blessed immortal land within the Great Luo Heaven and, together with Hongyun, hold down the Heavenly Court."

Zhenyuanzi performed a Daoist salute, though waves churned within his heart.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun certainly knew that he had obtained the final strand of Grandmist Purple Qi, as well as that he was plotting to attain Sainthood through merit. Yet the former had not stopped him and had instead bestowed Jade Capital Mountain upon him as a cultivation ground.

Naturally, Zhenyuanzi understood the intention behind this.

His attainment of the Dao and Sainthood was already as certain as a nail driven into a board; the time simply had not yet come.

"Congratulations, Jade Emperor and Queen Mother."

"Immortal Zhenyuan's Dao is boundless. With him holding the fort in the Heavenly Court, that so-called Demon Court will amount to nothing. If it wishes to continue dividing the Heavenly Court's providence, that would be no different from a fool's dream."

Lingxiao raised his jade cup and drank with the others.

Zhenyuanzi joining the Heavenly Court had always been part of his plan.

In his previous life, Lingxiao had read a vast number of Primordial World novels, and he knew of many conspiracy theories concerning Dao Ancestor Hongjun. But he was no hotheaded fool who insisted on opposing Dao Ancestor Hongjun in everything he did.

Why?

Why could he not help the Earthly Dao and Human Dao awaken, seek benefits for himself, and let Dao Ancestor Hongjun take a share of the spoils as well?

There was one matter of which Lingxiao was utterly certain.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's fusion with the Dao had been a helpless measure. He did not wish to remain eternally bound by the Heavenly Dao. What he sought was transcendence as well!

Time passed.

Cups clinked amid the feast, and the melodies of the Dao drifted through the air.

Lingxiao and Wangshu watched Haotian, Yaochi, Zhenyuanzi, and Daoist Hongyun depart.

From this day onward!

The Heavenly Court would gain two more peak quasi-saint mighty figures to stand guard over it, while Zhenyuanzi had also earned Dao Ancestor Hongjun's recognition. So long as he henceforth placed the Primordial World and its heavens and earth first, attaining the Dao and becoming a saint would be within sight.

At this moment!

Wangshu gently leaned against Lingxiao's shoulder and whispered, "This palace remembers that the antique jade box contained far more than merely thirty-odd Enlightenment Tea leaves, didn't it?"

"Tell me, what unspeakable words did you want to say to Dao Ancestor Hongjun...?"

Her breath was fragrant as orchids, her tone playful.

The breath Wangshu exhaled made Lingxiao's ears itch.

"Nothing else!"

"I merely told Dao Ancestor Hongjun to keep his spirits up and not lose face!"

"The Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao are all Dao. Yet Dao Ancestor Hongjun can break free from the cage and take a step further. When that time comes, his title as Dao Ancestor will resound throughout all the heavens and worlds—even the Heavenly Dao will have to weigh his strength carefully!"

Lingxiao did not spell it out, instead speaking vaguely.

But even so, Wangshu had already understood what he meant.

Before this, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had been the Dao Ancestor of the three thousand innate divine spirits and all living beings of the Primordial World. Yet Lingxiao wanted the Heavenly Dao, Earthly Dao, and Human Dao all to return to their rightful places, making the former the Dao Ancestor of the Three Daos!

Such ambition was terrifying beyond measure!

"No wonder Dao Ancestor Hongjun favors you so greatly—you drew him a huge pie! But even so, even if there is only the faintest sliver of a chance, Dao Ancestor Hongjun will gamble on it once."

"Because ever since he merged himself with the Dao, he has had no choice. Yet you can help him break the deadlock!"

"Wonderful, truly wonderful..."

Wangshu held Lingxiao's arm, allowing him to take liberties with her.

Yet in her mind, she envisioned many things.

Among them was the scene of ten thousand immortals coming to pay homage, congratulating them on becoming Dao companions and bearing witness to their Heavenly Marriage!

"My plan is simple, but achieving it will be exceedingly difficult."

Lingxiao pulled Wangshu down to sit, then directly rested his head upon her slender jade-like thighs. A faint fragrance lingered around his nose, stirring his blood.

Just then!

Within his Primordial Spirit, the Kongtong Seal trembled faintly.

Lingxiao's gaze sharpened. The Kongtong Seal floated into the air, then manifested a scene.

"It is Lion Camel Ridge!"

Lingxiao stared at the image before him. A thousand miles of dark clouds blotted out the sky and sun, while gales howled through the mountains like the wailing of vicious ghosts. Demons and fiends freely slaughtered the human race.

Blood dyed the earth crimson; the eight-hundred-mile Lion Camel Ridge had become a veritable hell on earth.

"Not long ago, I heard that the Golden-Winged Great Roc was committing evil deeds at Lion Camel Ridge, but I never expected that in so short a time, Lion Camel Ridge would become like a purgatory."

"The resentment of countless humans, along with the power of faith from the surviving humans, was what stirred the Kongtong Seal. Otherwise, unless I personally descended upon Lion Camel Ridge, I would never have been able to see this scene."

"Qiushou Immortal, Spirit Fang Immortal, Golden-Winged Great Roc—you deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

Lingxiao clenched his fists, fury flashing in his eyes.

As the Eastern Extremity Qinghua Emperor, he governed the growth of all things. Now, these three Interception Sect disciples had joined with the Demon Race to wantonly slaughter and ravage the human race. How could Lingxiao possibly stand by and do nothing?

"Lingxiao, do you need this palace to act?"

Wangshu's expression was calm, but anger lay hidden in her voice.

In the past, she might not have had the inclination to concern herself with such a matter. But Lingxiao and she shared the karmic bond of Dao companions, and the Kongtong Seal was especially close to her as well.

Turning a blind eye was not Wangshu's nature!

At this, Lingxiao shook his head and said, "I bear the authority and fortune of the Heavenly Dao, so I have the duty to intervene in Lion Camel Ridge's affairs. But you hold no immortal office. If you act rashly, you will leave the Interception Sect and the Demon Court with something to hold against us."

"But if anyone means me harm, I will sell them an opening and let myself be injured. Then you will have a reason to unleash a slaughter..."

After earnestly instructing Wangshu, Lingxiao stepped upon the World-Destroying Black Lotus and headed west.

Lion Camel Ridge lay on the western continent, billions of miles from the foot of Spirit Mountain.

By rights, it fell within the Western Sect's jurisdiction...