Potential Crisis, Jieyin Takes Form

Although Hongjun had defeated Luo Hou, he had also suffered severe injuries.

After recovering, the first thing he thought of was not to challenge the Saint realm he had envisioned, but to search for what Luo Hou had left behind.

He did not care about the World-Destroying Black Lotus. What he cared about was the Godslayer Spear.

The Godslayer Spear did not harm the flesh; it struck directly at the primordial spirit. It posed a certain threat even to the Saint realm he envisioned.

It absolutely could not fall into anyone else's hands.

What Hongjun had not expected was that as soon as he arrived in the west, he encountered a living being whose origin was the World-Purifying White Lotus.

The World-Purifying White Lotus and the World-Destroying Black Lotus shared the same root and origin. It might be able to locate the World-Destroying Black Lotus through their origins.

And if he found the World-Destroying Black Lotus, he would most likely find the Godslayer Spear as well. That was why Hongjun had wanted to stop him and ask.

Yet the other party fled without even looking back.

Hongjun could not help suspecting that he had already obtained the World-Destroying Black Lotus and the Godslayer Spear. Otherwise, why would he run?

He must have only just acquired such precious treasures and feared being targeted.

"Hmm?"

Hongjun tore through space and arrived above the East Sea, only to lose track of the other party.

An innate formation?

There was no need to think about it. The other party had definitely hidden inside some innate formation.

"Heh!"

"Now that your origin aura has been exposed, what use is it to hide within an innate formation?"

Hongjun sneered disdainfully and immediately used the other party's origin aura as a guide to calculate his current location.

But as he calculated, his brows gradually furrowed.

"Variable!"

Hongjun spat out the two words, his voice as cold as frost as his expression darkened.

The other party had merely entered the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, yet even he, a peak Quasi-Saint, could not calculate through him. That meant he could only be a variable.

The emergence of a variable would inevitably have an enormous impact on Hongjun's plans.

He absolutely could not be allowed to live!

But even Hongjun could not see through a top-grade innate formation.

"Then I shall let you live for a few more eras."

Hongjun swept his gaze over the surroundings before tearing through space and leaving the East Sea.

To see through a top-grade innate formation, he would have to break through to the Saint realm.

The day he became a Saint would be the day the other party died.

Abbot Island.

"Alas!"

Wuchen could not help sighing. Why had he run into Hongjun of all people?

Though he had not turned around, the only one capable of silently approaching him without his notice at present was Hongjun.

Besides, he had heard Hongjun's voice before.

Hongjun should have been cultivating in seclusion at his dojo, striving for the Saint realm. Yet he was wandering about the west instead. There was no need to think about what his purpose was.

And since Wuchen's origin was the World-Purifying White Lotus, if they encountered one another, he would inevitably be pressed into service.

If he stayed, he had only two choices: either wander around the west with Hongjun, or lead him to the Demon Realm.

The former would waste precious time, while the latter would be outright suicidal.

His origin aura still remained in the Demon Realm. With one look, Hongjun would be able to guess that the Godslayer Spear had fallen into his hands.

The Godslayer Spear could threaten even Saints. How could Hongjun possibly give up on it?

If he did not care, he should not have appeared in the west now. He should have remained in seclusion at his dojo, striving for the Saint realm.

Wuchen did not dare gamble that Hongjun was kind-hearted enough to trade the Godslayer Spear for some treasure.

He could only run.

Hongjun had yet to break through to the Saint realm, so he could not see through Abbot Island's innate formation. As long as Wuchen returned to his dojo, he would be safe.

But that safety was only temporary.

Once Hongjun broke through to the Saint realm, Abbot Island's innate formation would no longer be able to protect Wuchen.

Immense pressure instantly descended upon Wuchen.

He had only taken form not long ago. How had Hongjun already set his sights on him?

"Forget it. There is no use overthinking this. I should hurry and improve my strength. Only sufficient strength can resolve this crisis."

Wuchen took out several lotus platforms.

Great Luo Golden Immortals cultivated laws. As long as one comprehended at least one complete law, one could reach the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

The most fundamental difference between innate spiritual treasures and acquired spiritual treasures had never been their power.

In terms of power, acquired spiritual treasures were not necessarily inferior to innate spiritual treasures. Their most fundamental difference lay in laws.

Innate spiritual treasures contained laws within them, something acquired spiritual treasures did not possess.

In other words, as long as one possessed an innate spiritual treasure, reaching the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm was merely a matter of time.

The difficulty lay in breaking beyond Great Luo.

The Great Dao's gifts ended at the Great Luo realm. This was why the Three Pure Ones and the others had no choice but to cultivate Hongjun's Way of Slaying the Three Corpses.

Wuchen was not in a hurry to devour the origins of the World-Destroying Black Lotus and the Karma-Flame Red Lotus.

It would not be too late to devour them together once he obtained the Merit Lotus.

His top priority was to refine the many innate spiritual treasures he had gained on this journey, comprehend the laws within them, and break through to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

Four lotus platforms, two swords, and one spear contained more than a dozen laws.

Those dozen-plus laws were all complete. It was like studying from a book; there was no concern of biting off more than he could chew. He only needed to spend time comprehending them.

But among the three thousand laws, which encompassed all things, purification alone was his fundamental path.

The rest were merely supplementary cultivation.

With the aid of these treasures, Wuchen progressed rapidly. Before long, he comprehended the fundamental path of purification and entered the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.

He then turned to comprehending the other laws.

Creation, earth, fire, water, wind, time, space, life, death...

Time passed silently. Wuchen mastered more and more laws, and his overall strength improved enormously.

The current Wuchen was no longer the same Wuchen who could only display his might through the Purifying Divine Light.

One day.

Wuchen comprehended the final law when a sudden impulse stirred within his heart, and he sensed someone calling his name.

Jieyin had taken form.

Wuchen did not hesitate for long. He immediately left Abbot Island, crossed space, and descended upon the west.

At the same time, he pondered to himself.

"Now that my origin has changed, can Hongjun still find me?"

When Wuchen emerged from the spatial rift, he appeared above Jieyin's place of transformation—the very innate formation from before.

Jieyin was overjoyed to see Wuchen arrive.

"Senior, I have taken form."

With that, Jieyin respectfully offered up the Merit Lotus with both hands and voluntarily severed his origin connection with it.

This caused him to cough up a mouthful of blood.

The vivid blood blossomed in the air. Jieyin's face instantly became much paler, and his aura weakened.

With a wave of Wuchen's hand, the Merit Lotus landed in his palm.

"Remember, you may understand this matter in your heart, but you must not speak of it. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourself."

With that, Wuchen flicked a finger.

A flash of golden light vanished in an instant, entering Jieyin's sea of consciousness.

It was a piece of information.

"Someone's selfish desires caused the west to become what it is today. He must repay this karmic debt.

Since the two of you were born in the west, you are the best choice for him to repay that debt.

You need only hold your ground, and he will keep raising the stakes until the two of you agree. Even asking for an innate supreme treasure would not be difficult.

As for who this person is, do not ask. You will naturally learn when the time comes."

After receiving the information, Jieyin was overjoyed. But when he opened his eyes and looked up, Wuchen was nowhere to be seen.

Jieyin bowed deeply toward the sky. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior."