Hongjun Arrives, the Dao Ancestor Reveals His Edge

"Ah, foolish child. I saved you, yet you did not know it? Instead, you strayed onto the wrong path and sought to destroy heaven and earth. Pitiful, truly pitiful."

Such words drifted over from afar. Li Zhengyuan was wondering who it could be when Hun'e seemed to suffer some sort of provocation.

His entire body writhed, and even the Earth Book Formation began to tremble, unable to suppress him.

He roared, "Hongjun, you old bastard! You finally came! Give me a quick death, and stop pretending to be a good man!"

Just as Li Zhengyuan was about to speak, an old man suddenly appeared before him. No aura emanated from him at all; Li Zhengyuan had no idea how he had appeared.

"Hmm? Something is wrong. There is something strange about this man." Upon seeing the old man, Li Zhengyuan sent out his divine sense to examine him, only to discover that there was nothing ahead of him—only emptiness. It was as though the old man did not exist at all.

As he was about to probe him with his mana, the old man turned around and smiled faintly, looking most benevolent as he teased, "Are you still going to test me with your mana?"

Li Zhengyuan hurriedly bowed, realizing his own discourtesy. Not knowing what to call him, he merely bowed in salute and stood by the old man's side.

"Hun'e, in the past, you refused to walk the righteous path. The Dao of Heaven wished to destroy you, but I said that Hun'e had not come into being easily. Moreover, beneath the Dao of Heaven, good and evil both existed. Better to spare him for the time being. If he could return to the righteous path, it would also be Merit for heaven and earth."

"The Dao of Heaven accepted my mediation, changing execution to imprisonment. It stripped the twelve restrictions from your Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Lost Soul Bell, and turned them into iron chains to imprison you here, hoping that you would mend your ways."

"This old Daoist also left behind the Pure Water Alms Bowl, hoping you would return to righteousness soon. Yet now you fail to recognize this kindness and instead bear hatred toward me. You truly are beyond saving."

After Hongjun Daoist finished speaking, he calmly looked at the roaring, ferocious Hun'e before him, utterly ignoring the surging baleful aura around him.

How could Hun'e listen? He only continued struggling, shouting, "You vermin, stop pretending to be compassionate! You are nothing more than a thief yourselves!"

Li Zhengyuan, standing at the side, was deeply shocked. Hongjun Daoist was that influential? When the Dao of Heaven wanted to destroy Hun'e, he could mediate, and even the Dao of Heaven had to show him some respect!

Did later generations not say that Hongjun Daoist had undergone Dao Integration, that he was constrained by the Dao of Heaven? The Dao of Heaven was Hongjun, but Hongjun was not the Dao of Heaven. It seemed matters were far from so simple.

Knowing that Hun'e was fated to meet his tribulation today, Hongjun Daoist turned to Li Zhengyuan and said with a smile, "Hun'e is destined to return to the Ruins of Return today. Since you have obtained his treasure, why not grant him release and accomplish a deed of Merit?"

Having said that, he ignored him and casually pointed ahead.

The iron chains that had bound Hun'e immediately vanished.

Hun'e burst forth with terrifying might, spewing baleful aura and filth that filled the sky and covered the earth. He even shattered the formation formed by the Earth Book through sheer struggle. Unable to support it any longer, the Earth Book whooshed back into Li Zhengyuan's hand.

Hongjun Daoist paid it no heed and simply began regulating his breath, his mind wandering beyond the heavens.

Li Zhengyuan looked on and thought, Fine, fine, fine. You even removed his iron chains. I might not have been able to beat him while he was shackled, and now you are actually aiding evil!

But seeing Hongjun Daoist calmly regulating his breath without paying any attention, he thought, It seems Hongjun insists that this Dao master kill this monster today!

So be it. This is also karma intertwined. Since I obtained your treasure, I will send you to release.

His hands rapidly formed seals, and vast mana surged forth like a tidal wave. In an instant, wind and clouds changed color, and heaven and earth trembled.

With an angry shout, he activated the Earth Book once more, but it was already vastly different from before.

The Earth Book, once merely a trapping formation, now emanated a bone-chilling killing intent, as though it could grind all living beings within it to death.

An eerie light flickered upon the Earth Book, drawing endless earthly qi from beneath the Nine Netherworlds.

The earthly qi intertwined and fused, forming a solid foundation for the formation and making the entire array increasingly tangible and powerful.

At the same time, he gripped the Nine Autumn Sword tightly in his right hand. With a light flick of his wrist, he spun out a dazzling sword flourish. The cold, gleaming blade hummed, as though it could not wait to drink its enemy's blood.

His figure flashed as he charged toward Hun'e like a ghost. Hun'e showed no weakness either, striding forward with huge steps and lunging at him.

By then, Hun'e had completely emerged from the ground. His body stood hundreds of zhang tall, blotting out the sky and sun. His imposing aura was so immense that it shook heaven and earth!

His blood-red eyes were like blazing flames, filled with endless killing intent as they stared fixedly at Li Zhengyuan, as if he wanted to swallow him whole and erase him completely.

Li Zhengyuan was utterly fearless. His overwhelming mana transformed into sword radiance and slashed forward, while Hun'e viciously opened his massive jaws, bared his fangs, and continuously spewed murderous baleful aura to dissolve the killing strikes.

He then summoned earth lightning, which struck without cease. At the sight of it, Hun'e grew even more violent. How could he not hate the thing that had tormented him day and night?