In the Primordial World, Hongjun sat cross-legged atop Yujing Mountain, his brows slightly furrowed as he considered his next move.
Suddenly,
An endless tide of temporal power swept toward him.
The space before Hongjun's eyes twisted. When he came to his senses, Shichen's face filled the entire sky.
Hongjun hurriedly rose and bowed with cupped hands. "Dao Venerable Shichen, what are your instructions?"
Shichen's voice descended from above like ten thousand thunderclaps sounding at once:
"The Primordial World has entered the Dragon-Han Calamity, and the Heavenly Dao is about to take shape. Several more anomalies have arrived. Pangu and I are on our way back to Hundun. When the time comes, I will reveal the Primordial World's coordinates and draw other worlds near."
"You must spread your teachings as quickly as possible and unite every force you can. Even if you must share the fortune with others, you must preserve the Primordial World's stability.
Seize the opportunities held by those systems and anomalies, then follow the vine to find the God of Systems. Once we locate him, we can take the next step."
Hongjun's expression turned solemn. He bowed with cupped hands. "Hongjun understands."
Shichen's face slowly faded. The temporal power withdrew with him, and Yujing Mountain returned to normal.
Hongjun stood on the mountaintop, gazing at the sky in silence for a long time. Then he stepped down the mountain.
Years went uncounted in the Primordial World. Five epochs had long since passed.
Leading countless aquatic beings, the Dragon Clan launched an all-out attack on the Phoenix Clan.
The battlefield the two clans chose was curious. Both feared the war would ravage their own territory, so they chose the Qilin Clan's Central Continent instead.
Shi Qilin was so furious he nearly spat blood. But to avoid being drawn into the war, he could only swallow his anger for now and keep his army holed up at Qilin Cliff, ready to march at any moment.
The war between the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan was savage beyond measure. Primordial Unity Golden Immortals were cannon fodder in this conflict; only Daluo Golden Immortals could barely keep themselves alive.
Powerful fighters fell at every moment. Corpses carpeted the earth, and blood flowed in rivers.
Within Mount Sumeru, Luo Hou's Dao body sat cross-legged in a secret chamber. Four long swords and an array diagram floated before him, all refined from baleful energy.
The four swords were the Absolute Immortal Sword, the Slaughter Immortal Sword, the Trap Immortal Sword, and the Immortal-Execution Sword.
Jet-black from hilt to tip, their blades were covered in arcane patterns of baleful energy. Though each was only a supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, when all four were deployed in a sword array, even a Hunyuan Realm cultivator would give them a wide berth.
Luo Hou nodded in satisfaction and ran a hand along a blade, feeling the baleful power within it.
"With these four swords and the God-Slaying Spear, I have enough to deal with the contingencies those Demon Gods left in the Primordial World."
He rose and looked toward the distant battlefield.
The Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan had been fighting for a long time. Casualties kept mounting on both sides, yet the battle remained deadlocked. The Qilin Clan continued to hold back, watching the tigers fight from the mountain. Clearly, they meant to emerge and clean up once both sides had torn each other apart.
Luo Hou narrowed his eyes, calculating how to drag the Qilin Clan into the mire as well. Only a full-scale war among the Three Clans would produce enough blood-soaked baleful energy for the Demon Clan to absorb and grow strong, bringing him closer to his goal of ruling the Primordial World.
Just then, a ripple of spatial power came from outside Mount Sumeru.
Hongjun emerged from the void and landed before the mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Luo Hou, might we speak?"
No sooner had he finished than Luo Hou's Dao body shot out of Mount Sumeru, God-Slaying Spear in hand, and appeared before Hongjun with murder written across his face.
"Old Man Hongjun! How did you find me?"
Hongjun stroked his beard and smiled calmly. "From the memories of that Taotie anomaly we encountered earlier."
Luo Hou's brows drew tight, the killing intent undimmed in his eyes. "Then what have you come for today? I don't recall us being close."
Hongjun did not beat around the bush. "With the Dragon and Phoenix Clans at war, are you perhaps wondering how to pull the Qilin Clan in as well and profit from it?"
Luo Hou's pupils contracted slightly. "How do you know? Was that in the anomaly's memories too?"
Hongjun nodded lightly, then changed tack. "Dao Venerable Shichen has told this old Daoist that several new anomalies have appeared in the Primordial World, each carrying a system. If you and I keep fighting, those anomalies will reap the rewards while we exhaust each other."
"You know how valuable systems are. Besides, during that battle in Hundun, your true body already sided with Dao Venerable Shichen.
Rather than keep damaging the Primordial World, why not join forces with this old Daoist and earn the recognition of the Primordial World's Heavenly Dao? Then we can share the anomalies' opportunities. Wouldn't that be better than each fighting alone?"
Luo Hou's Dao body fell silent. His grip on the God-Slaying Spear loosened slightly.
After a long while, he asked, "What do you propose?"
Seeing him relent, Hongjun felt reassured, though his expression did not change.
"The Dragon and Phoenix Clans are at war, and Karmic Force is spreading, harming the foundations of the Primordial World. If you and I step forward to teach all living beings, we can spare the Primordial World a catastrophe and earn the Heavenly Dao's recognition. Two birds with one stone."
Luo Hou's Dao body snorted. "And how will we deal with the contingencies the other Demon Gods left behind?"
At that, a knowing smile touched Hongjun's lips.
"This old Daoist cannot speak for the other Demon Gods, but I do know what the Five Elements and Yin-Yang left behind. Like you, they entered the Primordial World in Dao bodies. During the battle in Hundun, they intended to attack the Primordial World. This old Daoist has few virtues, but I do have a long memory.
Dao Venerable Shichen did not pursue the matter, but this old Daoist can still ease his burden by eliminating what they left behind."
Luo Hou's Dao body narrowed his eyes, studying him. "How do you intend to eliminate them? You're only at the fifth heaven of the Hunyuan Realm. The Five Elements and Yin-Yang rank among the ten greatest Demon Gods. Their Dao bodies are probably no weaker than mine."
Hongjun merely smiled.
Then he let his cultivation show.
An immeasurably vast aura burst from his body. It was so powerful that Luo Hou's Dao body instinctively took a step back.
The peak of the ninth heaven of the Hunyuan Realm.
Luo Hou's pupils shrank sharply, shock written across his face. "You... you've been hiding your cultivation?!"
Hongjun drew his aura back in and resumed the appearance of a harmless old Daoist. Smiling, he said, "This old Daoist walks the Primordial World in his true body. I must keep a card up my sleeve, mustn't I?"
Luo Hou's Dao body stared at him for a long while before slowly exhaling. "You really are devious... I nearly fell for your scheme."
Hongjun let the remark pass and continued:
"This old Daoist will first end the war between the Dragon and Phoenix Clans. Then you will make a grand entrance, and I will fight you while showing only cultivation at the fifth heaven of the Hunyuan Realm. I'll feign defeat. Once the Five Elements and Yin-Yang see the threat you pose, they will come forward of their own accord and join forces with me against you."
"Set up your grand array beforehand. Once I lure them inside, we will strike together and catch them all in one net."
After listening, Luo Hou's Dao body was silent for a moment, then gave an unreadable laugh. "That's Hongjun for you. Even the Demon God of Deception falls short of you in underhandedness. Becoming the Immortal Demon God was a waste of your talents."
His smile vanished. After thinking for a few breaths, he said, "I agree."
Hongjun smiled and nodded, paying no mind to Luo Hou's mockery. With a flicker, he disappeared.
Luo Hou stared at the place where Hongjun had vanished, eyes narrowed and gleaming dangerously.
Meanwhile, inside the East Sea Dragon Palace, Zulong sat in the great hall, studying a battle report with a deep frown.
Both the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan had suffered grievous losses, yet neither could gain the upper hand. He was considering whether to change strategy when a guard came to report:
"Clan Chief, a Golden Crow calling himself Taiyi requests an audience outside the hall."
Zulong raised an eyebrow. "Taiyi? The Three-Legged Golden Crow who took form on the Sun Star? What does he want?"
"He says he has something important to tell you."
Zulong considered for a moment, then waved a hand. "Let him in."
Before long, a figure in black strode into the hall. Taiyi wore a golden crown, and faint Sun True Fire circled his body. With the system's help, his cultivation had already reached the middle stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.
Taiyi reached the center of the hall and bowed with cupped hands. "Junior Taiyi greets Senior Zulong."
Zulong looked him up and down. "You're the Three-Legged Golden Crow who took form on the Sun Star? What business do you have with me?"
Taiyi raised his head, his expression earnest. "Senior Zulong, the war between the Dragon and Phoenix Clans must not continue. Otherwise, the Dragon Clan will be destroyed!"
Zulong's face darkened. He slammed a palm onto his armrest, and draconic might surged. "Impudent! A mere Daluo Golden Immortal dares make such wild claims before me?"
Pressure from a peak Primordial Origin Golden Immortal crashed down like Mount Tai. Taiyi's legs buckled, and he nearly fell to his knees.
Damn that Zulong! Taiyi cursed inwardly. If it weren't for the system mission, I wouldn't bother saving you! Once I become a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal and take the throne as Demon Emperor, I'll make you pay for what you did today!
He did not dare show a trace of displeasure. Instead, he hurriedly took a jade slip from his robe and offered it with both hands. "Please calm your anger, Senior Zulong! This junior has a record of how the Dragon-Han Calamity begins and ends. Please take a look!"
Zulong frowned, took the jade slip, and sent his divine sense into it.
Scenes flashed before his eyes: Luo Hou manipulating the war among the Three Clans from the shadows, leaving living beings in misery; the Three Clans ultimately withdrawing, followed by the Dao-Devil War between Luo Hou and Hongjun, which Hongjun won before attaining sainthood.
Ninety percent of the Dragon Clan died in battle. Zulong himself swore to suppress the East Sea Eye for eternity and bear endless Karmic Force; his second brother Zhulong retreated to the Northern Divine Mountain, never to emerge again.
Zulong's face grew darker and darker. Even the hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly.
But Zulong was an innate being who had lived through countless epochs. He soon spotted something amiss.
Luo Hou's and Hongjun's cultivation in those scenes was not especially terrifying. Yet he had witnessed those two fight with his own eyes, and their strength went far beyond that. Moreover, something about the look in Taiyi's eyes felt wrong.
Those eyes held every sort of desire—greed, anger, obsession, lust, and more. His Dao Heart was nothing like an innate being's.
Zulong set the jade slip on the table. His expression returned to calm. "I understand. I will consider this matter. Thank you for coming to tell me, young friend Taiyi."
Taiyi was delighted. "You are too kind, Senior Zulong! This junior simply couldn't bear to see the Dragon Clan suffer and hoped to form a good bond with you. I'll take my leave, then."
Ding! Mission to inform the Dragon Clan of Luo Hou's plot completed. Rewards: ten thousand years of cultivation and thirty-six supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the Sea-Calming Pearls.
At the system's announcement, Taiyi was wild with joy.
Ten thousand years of cultivation, plus thirty-six Sea-Calming Pearls! Formed within the East Sea Eye, those supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures could each calm the four seas. Once he grew strong, who could stand against him? Then every beautiful female immortal in the Primordial World would enter his Demon Emperor's harem!
Suppressing his excitement, he hurried out of the Dragon Palace.
After Taiyi left, Zulong summoned Zhulong and tossed him the jade slip.
Zhulong watched the scenes within it, his brows knitting. "Elder brother, did that Golden Crow just give you this?"
Zulong nodded.
After thinking for a moment, Zhulong said slowly, "I've met both Senior Luo Hou and Senior Hongjun before. Their auras were nothing like what these scenes show. And that Golden Crow's Dao Heart was a jumble, unworthy of his innate origins. There must be something wrong here."
"But much of what the scenes show does match. I think... perhaps we should suspend the war with the Phoenix Clan for now and consider our next move carefully?"
Zulong narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before nodding. "I was thinking the same. But our clans have fought for years, and both sides have suffered heavy losses. The Phoenix Clan may not be willing to stop."
Just then, a gentle voice came from outside the Dragon Palace:
"Why worry, Fellow Daoist Zulong? This old Daoist will handle it."
Before you continue