Tricking the Heavenly Dao

Qing Xuanzi looked up toward the source of the voice. Sure enough, Heavenly Dao Hongjun had appeared at some point.

Qing Xuanzi's mind began racing.

Heavenly Dao had likely decided that the Karma Fire Red Lotus would go to Dijun.

How could he talk Heavenly Dao into changing his mind?

As Qing Xuanzi racked his brains, Zhunti saw that the one in charge had arrived and hurriedly squeezed out a few tears.

"Teacher, our Western Sect has suffered greatly. Ever since we handed over the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus, we have had nothing left to suppress our sect's fortune. Teacher, your divine powers are boundless. Why not erase this treasure's karmic ties and grant it to the Western Sect?"

The Sages were immediately filled with contempt.

This Sage is being far too shameless. How did I have a lapse in judgment and become a Sage alongside this fellow?

It would have been one thing if you cried in private, but so many eyes are watching.

"No."

Well, those tears had been shed for nothing. What about his dignity?

Zhunti did not care in the slightest. Dignity? What even is that? Is it more important than a spiritual treasure?

Even Jie Yin felt his face burn slightly. This was far too humiliating.

After flatly rejecting Zhunti's tearful plea, Heavenly Dao Hongjun looked toward the Demon Clan.

Qing Xuanzi spoke up. "Teacher, this disciple has a suggestion, though I do not know whether I should say it."

Heavenly Dao truly wanted to say, If you don't know, then don't say it.

But he restrained himself in the end and said expressionlessly, "Speak."

"This disciple believes that the Karma Fire Red Lotus is one of the Four Great Lotus Platforms of the primordial world and serves an irreplaceable purpose. If it becomes tainted with too much Demon Clan karma, I fear it would be inappropriate."

The Sages' first reaction was: had Qing Xuanzi's clever mind gone stupid?

What did he mean by becoming tainted with too much Demon Clan karma? Wasn't it already so?

If not for that, would the Demon Clan even have had a chance at it?

Laozi was the first to understand. He gave Qing Xuanzi an approving look. How had this fellow's mind been made? He had even thought of this. He cupped his hands and said, "Teacher, Junior Brother Qing Xuanzi's words are reasonable. Please examine the matter carefully."

At that moment, Heavenly Dao also came to his senses and carefully considered the meaning behind Qing Xuanzi's words.

It was true. The one who received this treasure could not be Dijun or Taiyi.

It could only be Fuxi.

Dijun and Taiyi bore the Demon Clan's fortune. If they took possession of the Karma Fire Red Lotus—

Then after the Witch-Demon Tribulation, the Karma Fire Red Lotus would be ruined. Having inherited too much of the Demon Clan's fortune, it could only circulate within the Demon Clan.

Then how could the Asura race ever be born?

Once Heavenly Dao considered this, cold sweat broke out on him. He had been so focused on his schemes that he had failed to notice such a massive loophole.

He nodded in satisfaction, and the look he gave Qing Xuanzi softened considerably.

Perhaps Qing Xuanzi is not so bad after all. At the very least, if he had not pointed this out today, a great disaster would surely have occurred in the future.

The hidden meaning in Qing Xuanzi's words was actually quite simple. To use an inappropriate analogy—

Imagine the treasure as Heavenly Dao's daughter.

Now Heavenly Dao was preparing to marry his daughter off.

He could only choose one family, and the eldest and second sons were both destined to inherit the family estate.

Marrying her to either of them meant that if the family went bankrupt in the future, his daughter would be saddled with its debts.

Once the path to inheriting the family estate was cut off, a problem arose.

If Heavenly Dao wanted to marry his daughter off to another fool afterward, it would not be so easy.

After all, no one wanted to think, I don't even know what my wife will be like, and I already have a huge debt dropped on my head.

No one could bear that—not even a Sage.

Thus, the only solution was to marry her to the third son, who had no inheritance rights, so that she could remarry in the future.

After the third son died, remarrying her would become much easier.

After all, Heavenly Dao's daughter was as beautiful as a flower and beloved by all.

But what Heavenly Dao never expected was that Qing Xuanzi had only said half of what he meant.

If the third son was capable and had a child, things would become troublesome.

Then the only possible recipient would be the third son's maternal family.

Hehe, that was exactly the effect Qing Xuanzi wanted.

Getting a top-grade innate spiritual treasure for free—just thinking about it thrilled him.

"Then we shall proceed according to your proposal," Heavenly Dao Hongjun said.

Then he turned to Qing Xuanzi. "If you can devote yourself to cultivation, you may yet amount to something. Do not harbor any crooked thoughts."

With that, he departed directly.

The corner of Qing Xuanzi's mouth curled upward. Heavenly Dao has been completely talked in circles.

Jie Yin and Zhunti knew the treasure would have nothing to do with them, so they left without a word.

Laozi gave Qing Xuanzi a complicated look and sighed inwardly. Qing Xuanzi's schemes are growing ever more formidable. What a masterstroke.

"Let's go. Qing Xuanzi, once you are done, come sit in my Dao palace."

Laozi left, and Yuanshi and Tongtian followed after him.

Only Qing Xuanzi and Nüwa remained behind to clean up the situation.

Nüwa glared at Qing Xuanzi. "If this fails in the future, I will hold you accountable."

"Hehe, Senior Sister, how could it fail? You understand the grand trend of Heavenly Dao far better than I do."

Nüwa ignored Qing Xuanzi and turned around instead. "You have all heard it. This treasure shall be given to my brother."

Fuxi was the most surprised. He had never expected that he would be the one to benefit in the end.

As for Dijun and Taiyi, both wore livid expressions. It was not because they had failed to obtain the treasure.

It was because they had both understood the hidden meaning in Qing Xuanzi's words.

Damn it, it was like a man in the prime of his life suddenly being told that he would die in a few years.

How could they possibly look pleased?

Although Fuxi also understood the mystery within Qing Xuanzi's words, he differed from Dijun and Taiyi.

He was deeply versed in divination. Using Qing Xuanzi's words as a lead, he had just performed a calculation.

It was actually a hidden dragon stranded in the shallows.

How could that be? He was clearly at the height of his success, so how had he become a hidden dragon?

After pondering it further, he understood.

He would likely die during the great war between the Witch Race and the Demon Clan, then receive his sister's protection and become a hidden dragon.

Once he thought of it that way, he accepted it calmly. At worst, he would die. There was no reason to refuse a free treasure.

He stepped forward and took the Karma Fire Red Lotus.

Judging by Fuxi's expression, Qing Xuanzi guessed that he knew something as well.

After all, Fuxi's divination arts were unrivaled throughout the primordial world.

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi, this treasure's karmic power is difficult to control. Why not have Senior Sister Nüwa refine it for you, so that you may control it more easily in the future?"

"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuanzi, you were the one who helped this poor Daoist obtain this treasure in the first place. I shall do as you say."

Fuxi turned to Nüwa. "Little sister, your elder brother is useless and lacks the skill for this. Please help your brother out."

"Brother, whoever gave you the idea can be the one you ask."

Fuxi awkwardly turned to look at Qing Xuanzi.

Just as Qing Xuanzi was about to speak—

Dijun and Taiyi walked over together.

"Sage Qing Xuanzi, our Demon Clan has offended you on many occasions. We hope you can forgive us." Dijun was preparing to seek Qing Xuanzi's counsel.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi immediately added, "Sage Qing Xuanzi, if you can set aside past grievances and show our Demon Clan a path forward, the Eastern Emperor Bell shall be your reward."

Eastern Emperor Taiyi's words were even more direct. Their meaning was very clear: if Qing Xuanzi could help the Demon Clan break free from its predicament—

The Eastern Emperor Bell would be his.

He would not need to return it.

Qing Xuanzi was delighted. Someone was actually offering him a treasure on a silver platter.

This was good. He had originally been afraid they would not believe him.

Hehe, Heavenly Dao had done him a huge favor. He had gained Dijun and Taiyi's trust so easily.

"Demon Emperor, this is bad! The Witch Race is attacking the Demon Court!"

The moment he heard that, and saw that the speaker was a Demon Clan demon marshal, Qing Xuanzi was instantly dumbfounded.

How was that possible?