Hongjun's Scheme

The moment the aura of the World-Extinguishing Millstone appeared in the Primordial World, Shichen, deep within chaos, opened his eyes.

His fingertips tapped lightly against the armrest as he raised a brow slightly.

"A copy of the World-Extinguishing Millstone?"

"Hongjun seems to have no spirit treasures worth mentioning. If he faces the backup plans of other Chaos Demon Gods who possess supreme treasures, he may be at a disadvantage."

With that thought, Shichen raised a hand and lightly sliced through the void with the Law of Time.

On Yujing Mountain, Hongjun was sitting cross-legged atop the peak, comprehending the Dao patterns on the fragment of the Pseudo-Creation Jade Disk in his hand.

Suddenly, the surrounding space twisted. He found himself within a silver space, surrounded by endless flowing shadows of time.

Hongjun was startled and was about to activate the Law of Immortality when he saw a figure in azure robes step out from the void ahead.

He immediately stopped, cupped his hands, and bowed.

"Greetings, Dao Venerable Shichen. May I ask why you summoned me and what instructions you have?"

Shichen said nothing further and raised a hand, invoking the Law of Time. Azure light surged from his palm, piercing through the entire Primordial World.

After a long while, the River of Time came rushing forth. Several crystalline fragments were swept along in its waters before slowly floating down before him.

"Hongjun," Shichen said.

"I have noticed that you possess too few spirit treasures. Dealing with future battles may prove difficult. Fuse these fragments of the Pseudo-Creation Jade Disk with the fragment you already possess, and it can be restored to the level of a Chaos Spirit Treasure."

Hongjun accepted the fragments, his hands trembling slightly.

Feeling the Great Dao laws contained within them, an indescribable excitement rose in his heart. With a complete Chaos Spirit Treasure, his plan could finally begin in earnest.

"Thank you, Dao Venerable, for granting me this treasure!" Hongjun's voice was filled with heartfelt gratitude.

Shichen nodded, then seemed to recall something and added, "Also, keep an eye on Taotie of the Fierce Beast Clan."

Hongjun was slightly taken aback. "Taotie?"

"It is an anomaly that came here from another world," Shichen said blandly. "Do not kill it lightly. There is something within its body that may provide clues for solving the problem of the Chaos World's depleted origin."

Hongjun's expression turned solemn, and he respectfully cupped his hands. "Hongjun understands."

Shichen said nothing more. His figure gradually dissipated within the silver space. Time and space around them twisted again, and Hongjun's vision blurred before he found himself back atop Yujing Mountain.

Hongjun looked down at the fragments in his hands, took a deep breath, and wasted no more time. He turned and entered his cave abode, beginning his secluded cultivation to fuse the spirit treasure.

The Primordial World knew no years, and several hundred yuanhui passed quietly.

On this day, the doors of the cave abode on Yujing Mountain slowly opened.

Hongjun emerged, his aura restrained. Yet above his head floated a jade disk, pure white throughout, slowly rotating as it scattered gentle white light.

Upon the jade disk, phantoms of the three thousand Great Dao laws flickered in turn, emanating boundless Dao charm.

"With the Pseudo-Creation Jade Disk, this Chaos Spirit Treasure..."

Hongjun reached out, and the jade disk fell into his palm. A smile rose at the corner of his lips.

"It is time for this old Daoist to begin my plan."

He put away the jade disk and took a step forward, vanishing from Yujing Mountain.

At the same time, in the Far West Lands, within the territory of the Fierce Beast Clan.

Taotie lay in his cave abode, tossing and turning, unable to calm himself enough to cultivate.

He could feel Shen Ni's aura growing stronger and stronger. That will to destroy everything hung over his head like a sword, leaving him in constant fear every day.

"No, I can't wait any longer." Taotie suddenly sat up.

"If Shen Ni breaks through to the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm and the Fierce Beast Clan launches a full-scale attack on the Primordial World, I'll inevitably be dragged into it. Then I'll either be beaten to death by the great powers of the Primordial World or sealed in the forbidden lands of Kunlun Mountain, never to rise again."

He gritted his teeth and made a bold decision.

That night, without alerting any Ferocious Beast, Taotie quietly left the Far West Lands. He traveled east and arrived at the edge of the Dragon Clan's territory.

The Dragon Clan's territory stood along the shores of the East Sea, and its entrance was heavily guarded. The moment Taotie drew near, he was spotted by the Dragon Clan guards defending the city.

"Ferocious Beast!"

The guards' faces changed drastically, and they immediately sounded the alarm.

"Clang—clang—clang—"

The urgent bell reverberated throughout the Dragon Clan's territory. Countless Dragon Clan warriors rushed in from all directions and surrounded Taotie completely.

Taotie stood still and raised both hands high to show that he meant no harm.

Before long, a tall figure emerged from the city. He wore silver battle armor, and threads of the Law of Time flowed around the pair of white dragon horns atop his head. He was Zhulong, the Dragon Clan's second-in-command.

Zhulong frowned and stared warily at Taotie.

"Taotie, why have you come to my Dragon Clan instead of staying in the Far West Lands?"

Taotie lowered his hands and said seriously.

"I came this time to give you some intelligence."

"Intelligence?" Zhulong's brow furrowed even deeper. "What intelligence?"

"Shen Ni is about to break through to the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm," Taotie said word by word.

"The day he emerges from seclusion will be the day the Fierce Beast Clan launches a full-scale assault upon the Primordial World. By then, even the Innate Three Clans will become prey for the Fierce Beast Clan."

Zhulong's expression instantly turned grave.

He stared at Taotie with a blade-like gaze, as though trying to pierce through his soul and see exactly what he was plotting.

"Why would you tell us such intelligence? You are a general of the Fierce Beast Clan. What benefit is there in betraying your emperor?"

Taotie fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Because I want to live."

"The Ferocious Beasts slaughter wantonly and are burdened by karmic sin. They are not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao. If I continue following Shen Ni, there is only a dead end ahead. I do not want to be buried alongside the Fierce Beast Clan."

Zhulong said nothing, merely staring fixedly at Taotie as if trying to see through him.

After a long while, Zhulong slowly said, "Come in with me. My elder brother must decide this matter."

Taotie breathed a sigh of relief and followed Zhulong into the Dragon Clan's territory.

Within the Dragon Clan's grand hall, Zulong sat high in the seat of honor.

He was broad and imposing, wearing a dragon crown, and his entire body radiated an awe-inspiring authority without the need for anger. Beside him sat an old Daoist.

The old Daoist wore a white Daoist robe. His features were refined and lean, and three long strands of beard hung over his chest. He held a teacup and drank tea leisurely.

When he saw Taotie enter, he lifted his eyes slightly and swept his gaze over Taotie before casually looking away.

That old Daoist was Hongjun.

After leaving Yujing Mountain, Hongjun had arrived at the Dragon Clan ahead of time. He had concealed his cultivation at the early Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm and altered his appearance slightly.

He had come because he needed the Innate Three Clans to advance his plan.

And the instant Taotie entered the hall, Hongjun recalled Shichen's warning.

Without revealing anything, Hongjun secretly condensed an extremely subtle Immortal Dao Mark at his fingertips. While Taotie bowed to Zulong, that trace of the mark silently entered Taotie's body.

Taotie noticed nothing.

Neither did the system within his body.

With the cultivation of the peak Primordial Unity Ninth Heaven realm, coupled with the assistance of the Pseudo-Creation Jade Butterfly, Hongjun's actions were concealed to the utmost degree.

Zhulong stepped forward and briefly explained the intelligence Taotie had brought. After listening, Zulong frowned deeply and remained silent.

At that moment, Hongjun set down his teacup and spoke with a smile.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Taotie is thoughtful indeed. This old Daoist is Luo Hou. I thank you here for your intelligence, Fellow Daoist."

Hongjun intended to borrow Luo Hou's name to carry out his plan, using the living beings of the Primordial World to eliminate Shen Ni. The Destruction Demon God would not know it was him afterward unless the Destruction Demon God lowered himself to ask the first five Demon God Dao Venerables. Given the Destruction Demon God's temperament, however, he would never bow his head to ask.

As for why he had specifically borrowed Luo Hou's name, during the previous chaos council, Luo Hou had called him a bootlicker. Hongjun had remembered that all this time.

When Taotie heard the name "Luo Hou," his heart immediately churned like a raging sea.

Luo Hou!

He suppressed the shock in his heart and calmly sized Hongjun up.

So this is the famed Demon Ancestor Luo Hou? But is Luo Hou this polite? In my impression, shouldn't Luo Hou be a ruthless and decisive tyrant? Why is he addressing me so courteously as Fellow Daoist?

Taotie was filled with doubt, but he still forced out a flattered expression.

"Senior Luo Hou is too polite. This junior simply does not wish to see the living beings of the Primordial World suffer devastation."

Although Taotie believed he had disguised himself well, Hongjun had lived for tens of thousands of chaos eras. In Hongjun's eyes, all the acting of someone like Taotie, who had transmigrated here, was as obvious as that of a fool.

This anomaly knows Luo Hou. Then there's a strong chance it knows of me as well. Interesting!

Hongjun responded with a smile on the surface, but inwardly he had already begun planning how to draw information from Taotie and find clues as to how the item within him could solve the Chaos World's problem of depleted origin.

Zulong spoke at this moment. "Fellow Daoist Taotie, my Dragon Clan thanks you for today's intelligence. That you possess such intentions is a blessing for the Primordial World."

He pointed at Hongjun.

"This is Senior Luo Hou. He has already contacted the Qilin Clan and Phoenix Clan. When the time comes, the Innate Three Clans will jointly launch an expedition against the Fierce Beast Clan.

"As for Shen Ni, you need not worry too much. Fellow Daoist Luo Hou is also a Primordial Origin Golden Immortal and naturally has a way to deal with him."

Taotie glanced at Hongjun, secretly remaining on guard.

Luo Hou contacted the Innate Three Clans to jointly attack the Fierce Beast Clan?

He sneered inwardly.

This old fox must be plotting something else. In history, the Dao-Demon War broke out after the Dragon-Han Calamity. He is preparing to scheme against the Innate Three Clans and lay the groundwork for the Dao-Demon War.

But Taotie did not expose him. He was more than happy to have someone block Shen Ni for him. As for whatever schemes Luo Hou had, those were matters for later.

"Thank you, Senior Zulong. Thank you, Senior Luo Hou." Taotie cupped his hands. "When the great war erupts, this junior will find an opportunity to hide and avoid causing trouble for everyone."

Zulong nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then allowed Taotie to leave first.

Taotie walked out of the Dragon Clan's grand hall and glanced back, his gaze deep.

Luo Hou... the Dao-Demon War... he murmured softly.

I need to raise my strength as quickly as possible if I want to survive this grand drama. Once that old Hongjun becomes a Saint, I'll be in an extremely passive position.

He quickened his pace and disappeared into the night.

Inside the hall, Hongjun held his teacup and watched the direction in which Taotie had departed. A meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

"Interesting. It truly knows this old Daoist!"