Minghe Seeks to Establish a Clan

Minghe laughed heartily, "Rest assured, I understand the rules of the Great Desolation. You help me break through, and I'll act for you three times. Is that acceptable?"

Bo Huang nodded and said, "That would be good. Allow me to deduce. Uncle-Master Minghe, you were born from the Sea of Blood, correct?"

Minghe nodded and said, "Everyone in the Great Desolation knows that. What's wrong?"

"Ding, Mission Issued: Guide Minghe to establish the Asura Race. Reward: Star River Heavenly Dao Sword." At this moment, the System simultaneously issued the mission.

Bo Huang said, "Uncle-Master Minghe, do you know how Empress Wa achieved sainthood?"

Minghe laughed, "How could I not know? Empress Nuwa became a Saint by establishing the Human Race. Which great being in the Great Desolation doesn't know that?"

Bo Huang said, "Exactly. Why don't you also establish a race to gain merit?"

Minghe said with a smile, "Nephew's suggestion is good, but I truly don't know what's needed to establish a race."

Bo Huang said, "I have the right to speak on this matter. Those 120,000 mud figures were all shaped by my own hands. That sort of thing requires the Three Lights Divine Water, the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, and Quasi-Saint blood."

Minghe rubbed his hands and chuckled sheepishly, "Except for the Quasi-Saint blood, I can't get the other two. What should I do?"

Bo Huang said, "You don't have it, but others do. You can consider the art of trading."

Minghe said boldly, "This old man has no money. How about we arrange for you to pretend to be kidnapped by me, and then you can ask Di Jun for some resources?"

Bo Huang shook his head and said, "If you really kidnapped me, you could probably get those two things, but... do you think my father and my Second Uncle would have fiery tempers?"

Minghe thought for a moment. Di Jun and Tai Yi were both known for their short tempers, and he immediately dismissed the idea. Then, Minghe looked at Bo Huang and said, "Great Crown Prince, let's stop joking around. Do you have any other methods?"

Bo Huang pondered for a moment and said, "In any case, it's just a body and a soul. Put them together, and you have a living being. If you create bodies that are roughly similar, that constitutes a race. Figure out the rest yourself."

Having received the method, Minghe returned to the Sea of Blood on his own. Meanwhile, on the other side, Jieyin and Zhunti's journey back to Mount Sumeru was almost as arduous as that of the Tang Monk in later generations; it was a struggle with every step.

Shortly after they had sent Xuan Qing away, they were intercepted by Kunpeng, Hongyun, and Zhenyuanzi.

Kunpeng said, "Fellow Daoist Zhunti, it's time to settle the karmic debt from the struggle for sainthood in Zixiao Palace back then, isn't it?"

Zhunti cursed, "You scoundrel Kunpeng! If you have the guts, wait until I've recovered and then come find trouble. What's the reason for ambushing me while I'm injured?"

Kunpeng said, "You snatched my position as a Saint in Zixiao Palace back then. Today, I won't make things difficult for you. If you hand over the Primordial Violet Qi, I'll let you pass."

Zhunti angrily said, "Impossible! The Primordial Violet Qi was bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. Do you dare to snatch it?"

Kunpeng said, "If you don't want to fight, then come and battle. In the Great Desolation, the one who wins is always in the right."

Zhunti could no longer bear it. He held the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and said, "Kunpeng, you don't have a Magic Treasure. You might not be my opponent now."

Kunpeng's face darkened upon hearing this. "That's not necessarily true. I'm just low-key, not lacking in strength." With that, Kunpeng took out numerous Magic Treasures and confronted Zhunti.

Then, Zhunti discovered an awkward problem. He had just mocked Kunpeng for lacking spiritual treasures, but he himself wasn't well-off either. If a battle broke out, wouldn't the already impoverished West become even more strained? With this thought, Zhunti said, "Let's rely on our own Dao to contend, without borrowing the power of Magic Treasures. Is that acceptable?"

Kunpeng laughed heartily, "Acceptable." Then, he directly revealed his true form and said, "I've never seen anyone so eager to be beaten. How can your damaged golden body be my opponent?"

Zhunti said, "Kunpeng, don't be arrogant. When I achieve sainthood in the future, we'll settle this." With that, he directly manifested his Dharma form and engaged Kunpeng in battle.

Zhunti's golden body shone with Buddhist light, like myriad golden rays scattering around. The surrounding mountains, illuminated by the Buddhist light, appeared as if cast from gold.

Kunpeng saw the shining Buddhist light of Zhunti's golden body but was not alarmed. Instead, he held his head high, spread his wings, and met the brilliance of the Buddhist light. His body was enormous, towering into the clouds like a mountain range, his feathers dense like dark clouds, flashing with sharp light. His eyes were piercing, revealing an endless majesty and power.

Zhunti's golden body had arms like forged iron. Eighteen arms swung wildly at Kunpeng, each strike carrying immense power and boundless Buddhist energy. Kunpeng dodged nimbly, each movement extremely agile. Its wings, like silver-white blades, sliced through the air with a whistling sound. Each counterattack contained Kunpeng's vast aura and majesty, as if a divine bird were spreading its wings to fly.

The entire scene was like a fantastical duel between heaven and earth. Buddhist light and dark clouds intertwined, and gold and black clashed, creating dazzling light. Every movement displayed the extraordinary power of Zhunti and Kunpeng. After repeated collisions, Zhunti's old injuries flared up, and his golden body completely collapsed.