Hongjun's Scheme, Dragon-Han Upheaval

Within the Primordial World, Hongjun sat cross-legged atop Yujing Mountain, his brows slightly furrowed as he pondered how to arrange his next move.

Suddenly,

Endless power of time swept in.

Hongjun saw the space before him distort. When he came back to his senses, Shichen's face filled the entire firmament.

Hongjun hurriedly rose and cupped his hands in salute. "Dao Venerable Shichen, what instructions do you have?"

Shichen's voice descended from the heavens like ten thousand claps of thunder:

"The Primordial World has now entered the Dragon-Han Calamity, and the Heavenly Dao is about to take shape. Several anomalies have also descended. Pangu and I are returning to Hundun. When the time comes, I will open the coordinates of the Primordial World and draw other worlds closer.

"You must spread the Dao as soon as possible and unite every force that can be united. Even if you must share fortune with others, you must maintain the Primordial World's stability.

"Seize the opportunities of those systems and anomalies, then follow the vine to find the God of Systems. Once we have located him, we can proceed to the next step."

Hongjun's expression sharpened, and he solemnly cupped his hands. "Hongjun understands."

Shichen's face slowly faded away, and the power of time receded with it. Yujing Mountain returned to normal.

Hongjun stood at the mountaintop, gazing at the sky in silence for a long while before striding toward the outside of the mountain.

Time went uncounted in the Primordial World, and five epochs had long since passed.

Leading countless aquatic beings, the Dragon Clan was the first to launch a full-scale attack against the Phoenix Clan.

The battlefield chosen by the two clans was rather interesting. Both feared that war would damage their own territories, so they directly chose the Qilin Clan's Central Continent.

Shi Qilin had been so enraged that he nearly spat blood. Yet, in order to avoid getting dragged into the war, he could only swallow his anger for the time being, while keeping his army huddled at Qilin Cliff, ready to move at any moment.

The war between the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan was incomparably brutal. Primordial Unity Golden Immortals were mere cannon fodder in this war; only Great Luo Golden Immortals could barely preserve their lives.

Powerful cultivators fell on the battlefield at every moment. Corpses carpeted the earth, and blood flowed into rivers.

Within Mount Sumeru, Luo Hou's incarnation sat cross-legged in a secret chamber. Four longswords and an array diagram floated before him, all refined by him through Sha Qi.

The four swords were the Absolute Immortal Sword, Slaughter Immortal Sword, Trap Immortal Sword, and Immortal-Execution Sword.

The four swords were pitch-black throughout, their blades engraved with profound patterns of Sha Qi. Though they were merely top-grade innate spirit treasures, once all four swords emerged and formed a sword array, even those in the Primordial realm would have to retreat three steps.

Luo Hou nodded in satisfaction and ran a hand across the sword blades, sensing the power of Sha Qi contained within them.

"With these four swords and the God-Slaying Spear, dealing with those Demon Gods' contingencies in the Primordial World should be enough."

He rose to his feet and looked toward the distant battlefield.

The slaughter between the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan had continued for a long time. Casualties on both sides were constantly mounting, yet the battle remained deadlocked. The Qilin Clan still endured without acting, watching tigers fight from atop the mountain, clearly intending to emerge only after both sides had been grievously wounded and clean up the mess.

Luo Hou narrowed his eyes, calculating how to drag the Qilin Clan into the fray as well. Only when the Three Clans descended into all-out chaos could enough blood-soaked Sha Qi be produced for the Devil Race to absorb and grow, allowing him to achieve his goal of dominating the Primordial World.

Just then, a ripple of spatial fluctuation suddenly came from outside Mount Sumeru.

Hongjun emerged from the void and landed before Mount Sumeru.

"Fellow Daoist Luo Hou, let us speak."

The moment his words fell, Luo Hou's incarnation shot into the sky from Mount Sumeru, God-Slaying Spear in hand. He appeared before Hongjun with a face full of murderous intent.

"Hongjun, you old bastard! How did you find my location?"

Hongjun stroked his beard and smiled unhurriedly. "I learned it from the memories of that Taotie anomaly from before."

Luo Hou frowned deeply, the killing intent in his eyes undiminished. "Then what have you come here for today? I do not recall us being particularly close."

Hongjun did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point. "With the Dragon and Phoenix clans at war, Fellow Daoist Luo Hou, are you considering how to pull the Qilin Clan into the conflict so that you may profit from it?"

Luo Hou's pupils contracted slightly. "How did you know? Did you obtain that from the anomaly's memories as well?"

Hongjun nodded lightly, then shifted the topic. "Dao Venerable Shichen has informed this old Daoist that several more anomalies have appeared in the Primordial World, each carrying a system. If you and I continue fighting, those anomalies will merely reap the benefits while we fight like clams and snipes.

"You know how precious the things produced by systems are. Moreover, in that battle in Hundun, your true body had already stood on Dao Venerable Shichen's side.

"Rather than continue damaging the Primordial World, why not join hands with this old Daoist and gain the Heavenly Dao's recognition? At that time, you and I can share the opportunities of those anomalies. Would that not be far better than fighting separately?"

Luo Hou's incarnation fell silent, and the hand gripping the God-Slaying Spear loosened slightly.

After a long time, he asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Seeing that he had relented, Hongjun felt reassured, though his expression remained unchanged.

"The Dragon and Phoenix clans are at war, and karmic debt fills the air, damaging the foundation of the Primordial World. If you and I enter the fray to spread the Dao among all living beings, we can not only save the Primordial World from catastrophe, but also gain the Heavenly Dao's recognition. Killing two birds with one stone."

Luo Hou's incarnation snorted coldly. "Then how will we handle the contingencies left behind by the other Demon Gods?"

At this, a meaningful smile appeared on Hongjun's lips.

"This old Daoist does not know about the other Demon Gods, but I do know of the contingencies left behind by Five Elements and Yin-Yang. Like you, they entered the Primordial World with incarnations. In that battle in Hundun, they intended to strike at the Primordial World. This old Daoist has no particular virtues, save for one—I hold grudges.

"Dao Venerable Shichen did not pursue the matter, but this old Daoist can still ease the Dao Venerable's burdens by eliminating their contingencies."

Luo Hou's incarnation narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing him. "How will you eliminate them? Your cultivation is only at the fifth level of the Primordial realm, while Five Elements and Yin-Yang are among the ten greatest Demon Gods. Their incarnations are likely no weaker than mine."

Hongjun merely smiled without answering.

Then he released his cultivation.

A vast, boundless aura abruptly erupted from within him. It was so powerful that Luo Hou's incarnation instinctively took a step back.

Peak ninth level of the Primordial realm.

Luo Hou's incarnation's pupils suddenly shrank, his face full of shock. "You... you actually concealed your cultivation?!"

Hongjun withdrew his aura and returned to the harmless appearance of an old Daoist, smiling as he said, "This old Daoist is walking the Primordial World in his true body. I had to keep a trump card up my sleeve, did I not?"

Luo Hou's incarnation stared at him for quite some time before slowly exhaling. "You truly are sinister... I nearly fell into your scheme."

Hongjun did not respond to that and continued:

"This old Daoist will first resolve the war between the Dragon and Phoenix clans. Then you will make a high-profile appearance, while I fight you with the cultivation of the fifth level of the Primordial realm and feign defeat. Once Five Elements and Yin-Yang see your threat clearly, they will naturally reveal themselves and join hands with me against you.

"By then, you will have set up the grand array in advance. Once I lure them into it, you and I will strike together and sweep them all into one net."

After hearing this, Luo Hou's incarnation was silent for a moment, then let out an unreadable laugh. "As expected of you, Hongjun. Even the Demon God of Deception falls short of you in cunning. You became the Immortal Demon God—what a waste."

His smile faded. After pondering for several breaths, he said, "I agree to this."

Hongjun nodded with a smile. He did not mind Luo Hou's mockery. With a flash, he vanished from where he stood.

Luo Hou gazed at the place where Hongjun had disappeared, his eyes narrowing as dangerous light flickered within them.

Meanwhile, within the East Sea Dragon Palace, Zulong sat in the great hall, his brows tightly knit as he looked at a battle report before him.

The Dragon Clan and Phoenix Clan had both suffered terrible losses, yet neither could secure victory. As he considered whether to adjust their strategy, a guard suddenly reported:

"Reporting to Clan Leader, a Golden Crow calling himself Taiyi seeks an audience outside the hall."

Zulong raised a brow. "Taiyi? The three-legged Golden Crow who took form on the Sun Star that day? What does he want?"

"He says he has something important to report."

Zulong pondered for a moment, then waved his hand. "Let him enter."

Before long, a black-robed figure strode into the hall. Taiyi wore a golden crown, with faint Sun Truefire circling his body. With the system's aid, his aura had actually reached the middle stage of Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Taiyi walked to the center of the hall and cupped his hands in salute. "Junior Taiyi greets Senior Zulong."

Zulong sized him up and said flatly, "You are the three-legged Golden Crow who took form on the Sun Star that day? Why have you come to see this clan leader?"

Taiyi raised his head, his expression earnest. "Senior Zulong, the war between the Dragon and Phoenix clans absolutely cannot continue. Otherwise, it will only lead to the Dragon Clan's destruction!"

Zulong's face darkened. He slammed a palm onto the armrest, and draconic might surged forth. "Insolence! You are merely a Great Luo Golden Immortal, yet you dare spout such wild words before this clan leader!"

The pressure of a peak Primordial Golden Immortal crashed down like Mount Tai bearing down from above. Taiyi's legs went weak, and he nearly fell to his knees.

Damn Zulong! Taiyi cursed wildly in his heart. If it were not for the system mission, I could not be bothered to save you! Once I become a Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal and ascend to the position of Demon Emperor, I will make you pay for what you did today!

Yet he did not dare reveal the slightest dissatisfaction on his face. He hurriedly took out a jade slip from his robes and offered it up with both hands. "Please calm your anger, Senior Zulong! This junior possesses the full account of the Dragon-Han Calamity. Please examine it!"

Zulong frowned and accepted the jade slip, extending his divine sense into it.

Scene after scene flashed before his eyes: Luo Hou secretly manipulating the war among the Three Clans, leaving living beings devastated; in the end, the Three Clans withdrew, and Luo Hou and Hongjun fought in a struggle between Dao and Devil. Hongjun won and attained sainthood.

Ninety percent of the Dragon Clan perished in battle, while he himself swore to eternally guard the East Sea's spring eye, bearing endless karmic debt. His second brother Zhulong withdrew to the divine mountains of the northern realm and never emerged again.

Zulong's expression grew increasingly unsightly, and even the hand clutching the jade slip trembled faintly.

However, Zulong was an innate being who had lived through countless epochs. Before long, he noticed something was wrong.

The cultivation of the Luo Hou and Hongjun in the scenes was not especially terrifying. Yet he had personally witnessed the battle between those two, and they were certainly far more powerful than this. Moreover, there was something about Taiyi's eyes before him that made him uneasy.

Those eyes contained greed, anger, delusion, lust... every desire imaginable. They were completely unlike the Dao heart an innate being should possess.

Zulong placed the jade slip on the table, his expression returning to calm. "This clan leader understands. I will consider this matter. I must thank little friend Taiyi for coming to inform me."

Taiyi was overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "Senior Zulong is too courteous! This junior merely could not bear to see the Dragon Clan suffer calamity and wished to forge a good connection with Senior. Then this junior shall take his leave."

"Ding! Mission to inform the Dragon Clan of Luo Hou's scheme completed. Reward: ten thousand years of cultivation, thirty-six top-grade innate spirit treasures, Sea-Calming Pearls."

Hearing the system announcement, Taiyi was ecstatic.

Ten thousand years of cultivation, plus thirty-six Sea-Calming Pearls. Those Sea-Calming Pearls were top-grade innate spirit treasures condensed from the East Sea's spring eye; a single pearl could stabilize the Four Seas. Once he had grown powerful, who could stand in his way? When that time came, every beautiful female immortal in the Primordial World would enter his Demon Emperor harem!

He forcefully suppressed his excitement and quickly left the Dragon Palace.

After Taiyi departed, Zulong summoned Zhulong and tossed the jade slip to him.

After Zhulong finished watching the scenes within the jade slip, his brows furrowed tightly. "Big Brother, did that Golden Crow just now give this to you?"

Zulong nodded.

Zhulong pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "I have met both Seniors Luo Hou and Hongjun before. Their auras are completely different from those in these scenes. Furthermore, that Golden Crow's Dao heart is chaotic. It does not match the foundation of an innate being. There must be a problem here."

"Yet much of what the scenes show does indeed line up. Perhaps... we should first suspend the war with the Phoenix Clan and make plans in the long term?"

Zulong narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, then nodded. "That is what I was thinking as well. But our clan and the Phoenix Clan have fought for many years, and both sides have suffered grievous casualties. The Phoenix Clan may not be willing to cease hostilities."

Just then, a gentle voice suddenly came from outside the Dragon Palace:

"Fellow Daoist Zulong, why worry? This old Daoist will handle it."