Persuading the Three Clans to Make Peace

Hongjun held a Whisk in one hand and stroked his beard with the other as he slowly entered the Dragon Palace's main hall.

Seeing this, Zulong hurried down from his throne. Together with Zhulong, he bowed in greeting. "We did not know Senior Hongjun was coming and failed to welcome you from afar. We beg your forgiveness."

"No need for such formalities." Hongjun raised a hand slightly, and a gentle force lifted the two of them upright.

Zulong looked up and cautiously asked, "May I ask what guidance Senior has come to offer?"

Hongjun smiled faintly and lightly swished his Whisk. "This old Daoist has come for the future of the Primordial World."

Zulong's expression turned solemn. "Please speak plainly, Senior."

Hongjun did not beat around the bush. He went straight to the point. "The war between the Dragon and Phoenix Clans has spread karmic sin throughout the Primordial World, damaging its very foundation. At this moment, outsiders from beyond the domain have quietly invaded the Primordial World, intending to devour its origin and destroy its foundations."

He looked at Zulong with sincere eyes. "This old Daoist has come today to persuade Fellow Daoist Zulong to cease the war and join forces against those outsiders from beyond the domain. As for Fellow Daoist's desire to break through beyond the Primordial Golden Immortal realm—"

After pausing for a moment, he slowly continued, "Before long, this old Daoist will hold a Dao lecture and point out the path ahead for those fated to hear it. If Fellow Daoist can attend, you will surely gain something."

The instant Zulong heard the words "break through beyond the Primordial Golden Immortal realm," his eyes lit up.

He had cultivated through countless eras and had long been stuck at the peak of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, unable to touch the threshold of the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Otherwise, he would not have sought to rely on the destiny fortune of unifying the Primordial World to make his breakthrough.

Now that Hongjun had personally promised to point out the path ahead during his lecture, how could Zulong still care about any blood feud with the Phoenix Clan?

Zulong immediately cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Senior! This junior had also been considering ending the war!"

Hongjun was somewhat surprised. "Oh? Fellow Daoist Zulong actually harbors such intentions?"

Zulong gave Zhulong a meaningful look. Zhulong understood at once and hurriedly took out the jade slip, presenting it with both hands.

"Senior Hongjun, this was previously given to my elder brother by a Golden Crow named Taiyi. I observed that the Golden Crow's Dao heart was chaotic, unlike that of a true innate living being. Could he be one of the outsiders from beyond the domain that Senior spoke of?"

Hongjun accepted the jade slip and extended his divine sense into it, watching the scenes within from beginning to end. His fingers moved repeatedly in calculation, as though deducing something. A moment later, he stroked his beard and smiled.

"It truly fell into my lap without any effort."

He looked at Zulong and instructed him, "Fellow Daoist Zulong, that Golden Crow is no longer the original Golden Crow. His body has long been occupied by an outsider from beyond the domain.

"However, for now, do not take any action against him. You may cooperate with them as usual. Once you have obtained the opportunities upon them, it will not be too late to deal with them."

A cold glint flashed through Zulong's eyes, though his expression remained respectful. "Yes, Senior. This junior understands."

Hongjun nodded. "Since that is the case, this old Daoist shall make a trip to Undying Volcano and bring this meaningless conflict to an end as soon as possible."

With that, his figure dissipated within the Dragon Palace.

Zulong stood where he was and watched Hongjun leave. The respectful look on his face gradually faded, replaced by an icy chill.

"Damn outsiders... occupying the bodies of innate living beings and even attempting to devour the Primordial World's origin..."

He clenched his fists as dragon might surged around him. "What is even more detestable is that a mere Great Luo Golden Immortal actually dared to deceive this clan leader!"

Zhulong advised from the side, "Big Brother, calm your anger. Since Senior Hongjun already has arrangements in place, we need only act according to plan."

Zulong took a deep breath, suppressing his fury as he said in a low voice, "Pass down the order. All members of the Scaled Clan are to prepare to withdraw from the war at any moment."

"Yes!"

After leaving the Dragon Palace, Hongjun went on to visit Undying Volcano and Qilin Cliff in succession.

After hearing Hongjun's explanation, Yuanfeng fell silent for a moment before asking, "Senior Hongjun, are those outsiders from beyond the domain truly such a great threat?"

Hongjun nodded. "They possess strange treasures called systems. By completing tasks, they can obtain origin and supreme treasure rewards, rapidly improve their cultivation, and their Dao hearts are in chaos. If they are left unchecked, the Primordial World's origin will sooner or later be gnawed away completely by them."

Yuanfeng pondered for a moment before asking again, "And the Dao lecture Senior mentioned..."

"Once everything has been settled, this old Daoist will naturally hold a Dao lecture and point out the path ahead for those fated to hear it. If Fellow Daoist attends, you will surely gain something."

Upon hearing this, Yuanfeng finally made up her mind. "Very well. This junior agrees to a truce."

Shi Qilin's reaction on the other side was much the same.

Upon hearing the words "break through beyond the Primordial Golden Immortal realm," he agreed to Hongjun's request with scarcely any hesitation.

Thus, under Hongjun's mediation, the armies of the Dragon and Phoenix Clans began withdrawing from the Central Continent one after another. The lands ravaged by war finally received a chance to catch their breath.

However, just as the armies of the Three Clans had begun their withdrawal—

In the west, in the direction of Mount Sumeru, a towering surge of devilish qi suddenly erupted!

Immediately afterward, an incomparably arrogant voice rang throughout the entire Primordial World.

"Hehehe!"

"I am the Devil Ancestor Luo Hou! Today, I shall lead the billions of Devil Race warriors to unify the Primordial World!"

As his words fell, the terrifying pressure of the eighth level of the Hunyuan Realm swept forth, blanketing the entire Primordial World!

Countless living beings were crushed to the ground beneath that pressure, trembling uncontrollably.

The newly born innate living beings fared somewhat better, but those who had survived the Ferocious Beast calamity after witnessing the battle between Luo Hou and Hongjun felt nothing but despair well up in their hearts.

When Hongjun heard that "hehehe" laughter, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Why does that laugh sound like someone whose days are numbered?

He shook his head and looked toward the west.

"Since Fellow Daoist Luo Hou has entered the stage, then the real show shall begin."