Receiving Guide and Zhunti Make Their Move

Near the lotus pond on Kunlun Mountain.

Six Ears gripped the Six Pure Roots Bamboo, his figure flashing ceaselessly through the mountain forest. The six patterns on the bamboo's joints flickered between light and dark. Every sweep suppressed the chaotic spiritual currents around them, bringing a slight calm to the mind.

Duobao stood opposite Six Ears, his sleeves billowing. A copper coin, a jade ring, and a small seal revolved before him, successively blocking Six Ears's attacks.

"Junior Brother Six Ears, your Six Pure Roots Bamboo truly is formidable. But if you intend to rely solely on this treasure to suppress my six senses, then you'd best be careful."

As soon as Duobao finished speaking, a small seal circled around behind Six Ears and smashed toward his shoulder.

Six Ears's ears twitched slightly. He immediately spun around and swept out with the Six Pure Roots Bamboo, sending the small seal flying.

"Senior Brother Duobao, you really do have a lot of spiritual treasures."

Duobao's eyes lit up, and just as he was about to speak, Tongtian's voice came from nearby.

"Six Ears, don't praise him. Be careful, or he'll bring out a few more treasures later. Then you'll be in for it."

By the lotus pond, the Three Pure Ones sat at a stone table drinking tea. Sixty thousand years had passed. Though Xuan Heng had yet to return, Kunlun Mountain remained peaceful with the years, and had grown much livelier.

Duobao, Jin Ling, Nanji, and Yunzhongzi often cultivated in the mountains. Six Ears had also been left in Kunlun by Xuan Heng, using the Six Pure Roots Bamboo to suppress those ears of his.

Now, sixty thousand years later, Six Ears had become far steadier than before, and his cultivation had risen steadily as well. He had reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm and was nurturing the five qi within his chest in preparation to break through to the Taiyi realm. Moreover, during these sixty thousand years on Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi had personally instructed him. By now, he truly understood what he should hear and what he should not.

"Hehe, this little monkey's nature isn't bad. It was simply that Fourth Brother had been too lax in disciplining him," Tongtian said as he watched Six Ears spar with Duobao.

"Fourth Brother himself has not been born for long. Where would he have found the time to teach him? Still, after these sixty thousand years, he has finally been taught into something presentable. If he goes out and calls himself a disciple of Kunlun, he won't disgrace us," Yuanshi said after taking a sip of spiritual tea.

"Yes. Once Fourth Brother returns, he can finally scold him a little less."

At the mention of Xuan Heng, the stone table fell silent for a moment.

When Xuan Heng had left Kunlun all those years ago, he had only said that he was going out to wander the Primordial World.

Yet no one had expected that once he left, he would be gone for tens of thousands of years.

At first, the Three Pure Ones merely assumed that he was traveling the Primordial World. After all, when a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal entered seclusion or journeyed abroad, it was perfectly normal for tens of thousands of years to pass at a stretch.

But when thirty thousand years had passed since Xuan Heng's departure without any word from him, the Three Pure Ones could no longer sit still.

Taiqing sensed that the Taiji Diagram had remained deep within the chaos for a long time. Worried for Xuan Heng, the three of them went directly into the chaos beyond the heavens to search for him.

They searched all the way to the former site of Purple Cloud Palace. Before they could even see the true Purple Cloud Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice came from the depths of chaos.

"Xuan Heng is listening to the Dao within Purple Cloud Palace. He is unharmed."

Only then did the Three Pure Ones return to Kunlun.

Tongtian raised his teacup and smiled. "Speaking of which, Fourth Brother truly has fine fortune. Master is personally expounding the Dao to him alone—and has been doing so for sixty thousand years."

Yuanshi said, "Since Master kept him behind alone, he naturally has his profound intentions. Xuan Heng walks a thread beyond the Dao; it is good for him to hear more."

Tongtian raised a brow. "Second Brother, you sound even more biased than I am."

Yuanshi shot him a glance.

"He is the youngest brother of our Kunlun. If I do not favor him, should I favor outsiders instead?"

Tongtian froze for a moment, then burst into laughter.

Taiqing did not join in. He merely held his teacup, his gaze directed beyond the heavens.

The next instant, the teacup in his hand suddenly stopped in midair.

Yuanshi and Tongtian both sensed that something was wrong.

"Eldest Brother? What is it?"

The yin and yang qi in Taiqing's sleeve flowed faintly, and his expression darkened.

"Xuan Heng has used the Taiji Diagram."

The smile on Tongtian's face vanished instantly.

"Has something happened to Fourth Brother?"

Taiqing did not answer. He simply rose to his feet.

The Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda emerged above his head, with mystic yellow merit qi cascading down.

The Pangu Banner in Yuanshi's palm gave a faint tremor.

The Green Duckweed Sword behind Tongtian slid half an inch from its sheath, and the killing intent of the Immortal-Slaying Four Swords pressed down with it.

Duobao and Six Ears stopped fighting at once and looked toward the Three Pure Ones.

Taiqing said only one word.

"Go."

As his voice fell, three streaks of clear light shot into the sky and plunged straight into the chaos beyond the heavens.

At the same time, upon the battlefield of chaos, Xuan Heng used the Taiji Diagram to block the Chaos Bell's attack. Yin and yang qi continued to flow before him.

Red Cloud was shielded by the Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag, while the black qi at his glabella was temporarily suppressed by the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd. But his injuries were too severe; even standing steadily was difficult.

His gaze was still somewhat unfocused, as though a layer of gray mist veiled the depths of his pupils. Strands of black qi coiled through the crimson cloud-light around him.

Xuan Heng's expression was exceedingly grim. He had not expected that, even before Hongjun had merged with the Dao, the Heavenly Dao would already possess means to enter the fray and forcibly propel the great calamity forward.

Di Jun stood opposite Xuan Heng without striking first. At his side, Taiyi, Kunpeng, and Minghe all revealed wary expressions as they looked at the Taiji Diagram.

"Xuan Heng, are you truly going to meddle in this matter?" Kunpeng stared fixedly at Red Cloud behind Xuan Heng, the killing intent in his eyes utterly undisguised.

"None can save Red Cloud from today's tribulation!"

Xuan Heng ignored him. His gaze pierced through the four before him and looked toward the faintly visible golden Buddhist light within the chaos behind them. Yet the golden light there was no longer steady.

Within the Buddhist light, Zhunti's expression was ugly as he spoke to Receiving Guide beside him. "Senior Brother, Xuan Heng has actually come."

Receiving Guide lowered his eyes and remained silent.

His gaze fell upon Red Cloud, and a trace of complexity flashed through his eyes. Back then, in Purple Cloud Palace, Red Cloud had indeed fulfilled them by giving up his seat. Receiving Guide understood this karmic debt well, and Zhunti naturally understood it too. That was why neither of them had shown themselves from the beginning.

If Red Cloud died at the hands of Kunpeng, Minghe, and the Demon Race, they could avoid the most direct karmic consequence.

But Xuan Heng's sudden appearance had changed the situation. With Xuan Heng present, it would be difficult for the four on the other side to take down the two of them in a short time. Moreover, once Xuan Heng made a move, they did not believe the Three Pure Ones would remain idle. If this dragged on until Zhenyuanzi and the Three Pure Ones arrived, killing Red Cloud today would become difficult.

Zhunti said in a low voice, "Senior Brother, we cannot wait any longer."

Receiving Guide slowly raised his head.

At that moment, the Primordial Violet Qi deep within both their brows suddenly trembled. A cold and vast will descended soundlessly. Zhunti's face abruptly turned pale, while the Buddhist light behind Receiving Guide swayed violently.

In that instant, the expressions in both their eyes changed.

Soundless thunder rolled through the chaos.

Zhunti had still held some hesitation, but now it was as though some great tide of fate had given him a shove.

He stared at Red Cloud, his voice much lower.

"Red Cloud cannot live."

Receiving Guide's brow furrowed slightly, as though he wished to suppress the thought, yet the Primordial Violet Qi between his brows trembled once more.

That vague will of the Heavenly Dao grew heavier. Red Cloud possessed the seventh strand of Primordial Violet Qi, yet he had no Heaven-ordained saintly position. If he lived, he would become a variable. If he lived, the karma of yielding their seats in the west would forever weigh upon Receiving Guide and Zhunti. If he lived, the great trend that had originally been set would shift.

Red Cloud had to undergo his tribulation.

Receiving Guide closed his eyes, then finally let out a soft sigh. "Junior Brother, make your move and stop Xuan Heng."

Zhunti hesitated no longer. The Seven Treasures Wonder Tree appeared in his hand, its seven-colored treasure light sweeping aside the chaotic currents and brushing directly toward the Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag behind Xuan Heng.

Xuan Heng's eyes turned cold.

He had always been on guard against Receiving Guide and Zhunti, so the moment the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree moved, he raised his hand and sacrificed the Northern Black Origin Water-Control Flag.

The black treasure flag unfurled, its watery light spreading like a curtain and blocking the Seven Treasures Wonder Tree's radiance outside.

Boom!

The seven-colored treasure light collided with the Black Origin water light.

Zhunti's expression sank.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, Red Cloud bears the Primordial Violet Qi. Today's tribulation is the decree of fate. Why must you forcibly interfere?"

Xuan Heng looked at Zhunti.

"The decree of fate?"

He raised a hand and pointed at the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd.

Profound blue clear light fell from the gourd's mouth onto Red Cloud's brow, pressing down another layer of the black qi entwined around Red Cloud's Primordial Spirit.

"If it truly is the decree of fate, why cloud his spirit platform, plunge his consciousness into chaos, and force him into tribulation!"

Zhunti was left speechless by Xuan Heng's words for a moment.

Yet soon, Receiving Guide stepped out from the Buddhist light as well. Golden light spread around him as he looked at Xuan Heng and said, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, Red Cloud's tribulation has arrived. You may save him for a time, but you cannot save him forever."

The Calamity Severing Sword appeared in Xuan Heng's hand, his voice calm.

"Then I shall save him for this time first."