Hongjun held a Whisk in one hand and stroked his beard with the other as he slowly walked into the Dragon Palace's main hall.
Seeing this, Zulong hurried down from his throne and bowed alongside Zhulong. "We did not know Senior Hongjun was coming and failed to welcome you properly. Please forgive us."
"No need for such formalities." Hongjun raised a hand slightly, and a gentle force lifted the two of them.
Zulong looked up and cautiously asked, "May I ask what guidance you have come to offer, Senior?"
Hongjun smiled faintly and lightly swished his Whisk. "I have come for the future of the Primordial World."
Zulong's expression turned serious. "Please speak plainly, Senior."
Hongjun did not beat around the bush. "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 infiltrated the Primordial World, intending to devour its origin and destroy its foundation."
He looked at Zulong with sincere eyes. "I came today to advise you, Fellow Daoist Zulong, to stop the war and join forces against those outsiders. As for your desire to break beyond the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm—"
After a brief pause, he slowly continued, "Before long, I will hold a sermon and guide those fated to hear it along the path ahead. If you can attend, Fellow Daoist, you will surely gain something."
The moment Zulong heard the words "beyond the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm," his eyes lit up.
He had cultivated for countless eras and had been stuck at the peak of the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm for a long time, never able to touch the threshold of the Primordial Great Golden Immortal realm. Otherwise, he would not have sought to use the fortune of unifying the Primordial World to make his breakthrough.
Now that Hongjun had personally promised to guide him during his sermon, how could he still care about any blood feud with the Phoenix Clan?
Zulong immediately cupped his hands. "Rest assured, Senior! I have also been intending to stop the war!"
Hongjun was somewhat surprised. "Oh? Fellow Daoist Zulong actually harbors such intentions?"
Zulong gave Zhulong a 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 Golden Crow's Dao heart to be chaotic, unlike that of a true innate being. Could he be one of the outsiders you spoke of?"
Hongjun accepted the jade slip and sent 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.
"What a stroke of luck."
He looked at Zulong and instructed him.
"Fellow Daoist Zulong, that Golden Crow is no longer the original Golden Crow. His body has long since been occupied by an outsider from beyond the domain.
"However, we should not take any action against him for the time being. You may cooperate with him as usual. Once you have obtained the opportunities upon him, it will not be too late to deal with him."
A cold glint flashed through Zulong's eyes, but he respectfully replied, "Yes, Senior. I understand."
Hongjun nodded. "In that case, I shall make a trip to Undying Volcano and end this pointless conflict as soon as possible."
With that, his figure vanished from the Dragon Palace.
Zulong remained where he was, watching Hongjun depart. The respectful look on his face gradually faded, replaced by icy coldness.
"Damn outsider... Occupying the bodies of innate beings, yet still daring to devour the Primordial World's origin..."
He clenched his fists as dragon might surged around him. "Even more detestable, a mere Great Golden Immortal actually dared to deceive this clan chief!"
Zhulong advised from the side, "Elder Brother, quell your anger. Since Senior Hongjun already has arrangements in place, we only need to proceed according to the plan."
Zulong took a deep breath, suppressing his rage. "Pass down the order. All members of the Scaled Clan are to prepare to withdraw from the war at any time."
"Yes!"
After leaving the Dragon Palace, Hongjun visited Undying Volcano and Qilin Cliff in succession.
After listening to Hongjun's explanation, Yuan Feng 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, which allow them to obtain origin and treasure rewards by completing tasks. They can also rapidly increase their cultivation. Furthermore, their Dao hearts are chaotic. If left unchecked, they will eventually devour the Primordial World's origin completely."
Yuan Feng pondered for a moment, then asked, "And the sermon you mentioned...?"
"Once everything has been settled, I will hold a sermon and guide those fated to hear it along the path ahead. If you attend, Fellow Daoist, you will surely gain something."
Yuan Feng finally made up her mind. "Fine. I agree to a truce."
Shi Qilin's reaction on the other side was much the same.
Upon hearing the words "beyond the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal realm," he barely hesitated before agreeing to Hongjun's request.
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 had a chance to breathe.
However, just as the armies of the Three Clans began their retreat,
a towering wave of demonic aura suddenly erupted from the west, in the direction of Mount Sumeru!
Immediately afterward, an incomparably arrogant voice rang throughout the entire Primordial World.
"Heh heh heh!"
"I am Demon Ancestor Luo Hou! Today, I shall lead the countless warriors of the Demon Clan to unify the Primordial World!"
As his voice fell, the terrifying pressure of the eighth level of the Hunyuan Realm swept outward, engulfing the entire Primordial World!
Countless living beings were crushed to the ground by that pressure, trembling in terror.
The newly born innate beings were relatively unharmed, but the beings who had survived after witnessing the battle between Luo Hou and Hongjun during the Ferocious Beast Calamity felt nothing but despair welling up in their hearts.
When Hongjun heard that "heh heh heh" laughter, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
Why did that laugh sound like someone who would not live long?
He shook his head and looked toward the west.
"Since Fellow Daoist Luo Hou has entered the stage, the real show can begin."
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