Minghe Seeks to Establish a Clan

Minghe burst into laughter at this. "Don't worry. I, Minghe, still understand the rules of the Primordial Wilderness. Help me break through, and I'll act for you three times. How about it?"

Bo Huang nodded. "That works. Let me deduce something first. Martial Uncle Minghe, you were a living being born from the Sea of Blood, weren't you?"

Minghe nodded. "Everyone in the Primordial Wilderness knows that. What's wrong?"

"Ding! Task issued: Guide Minghe in establishing the Asura Clan. Reward: Star River Heavenly Dao Sword." At that moment, the system issued a task as well.

Bo Huang said, "Martial Uncle Minghe, do you know how Empress Wa became a Saint?"

Minghe smiled. "How could I not know? Empress Nuwa became a Saint by establishing the human race. What great power in the Primordial Wilderness doesn't know that?"

Bo Huang said, "Exactly. Why don't you establish a clan as well and gain merit?"

Minghe smiled pleasantly. "My worthy nephew's suggestion is good, but I truly don't know what's needed to establish a clan."

Bo Huang said, "I have a say in that matter. I personally molded all those one hundred and twenty thousand clay people. You need Three Lights Divine Water, Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, and the blood of a quasi-Saint."

Rubbing his hands together, Minghe said with an embarrassed grin, "Other than quasi-Saint blood, I can't get either of the other two. What should I do?"

Bo Huang said, "You may not have them, but someone else does. You could consider making a trade."

Minghe said carelessly, "This old man has no money. How about we discuss this? You pretend I kidnapped you, and we ask Di Jun for some resources. What do you think?"

Bo Huang shook his head. "If you truly kidnapped me, you could probably get those two items. But... do you think my father and second uncle might have somewhat fiery tempers?"

On second thought, Minghe realized that neither Di Jun nor Tai Yi had a good temper, so he immediately gave up on the idea. Then Minghe looked at Bo Huang and said, "Great Crown Prince, let's stop joking around. Do you have another method?"

Bo Huang pondered for a moment. "In any case, a living being is just a body and a soul put together. Make bodies that are roughly similar, and that makes them a race. You can figure out the rest yourself."

Having obtained the method, Minghe returned to the Sea of Blood on his own. Meanwhile, Jieyin and Zhunti's journey back to Mount Sumeru was nearly as arduous as Tang Sanzang's in later generations—trouble at every step.

Not long after they had sent Xuan Qing away, Kunpeng, Hongyun, and Zhenyuanzi intercepted them.

Kunpeng said, "Fellow Daoist Zhunti, shouldn't the karma from seizing my Saint seat at Zixiao Palace be settled now?"

Zhunti cursed, "You bastard, Kunpeng! If you have the ability, wait until I recover before coming to cause trouble. What kind of reason is there for attacking me while I'm injured?"

Kunpeng said, "You stole my Saint seat at Zixiao Palace back then. I won't make things difficult for you now. Hand over the Primordial Violet Qi, and I'll let you pass."

Zhunti snapped, "Impossible! The Primordial Violet Qi was bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. You dare try to seize it?"

Kunpeng said, "If you won't hand it over, then fight. In the Primordial Wilderness, the victor has always been in the right."

Zhunti could no longer endure it. Holding the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, he said, "Kunpeng, you have no magic treasures. You may not be my match now."

Kunpeng's face darkened at his words. "That may not be so. I've merely kept a low profile; it's not that I lack strength." As he spoke, Kunpeng produced numerous magic treasures and confronted Zhunti.

Then Zhunti discovered an awkward problem. He had just mocked Kunpeng for lacking spiritual treasures, yet he himself was not wealthy either. If they fought it out, wouldn't the already impoverished West be even worse off? With that thought, Zhunti said, "How about we contend using only our own Dao, without borrowing the power of magic treasures?"

Kunpeng laughed loudly. "Fine." Then he directly revealed his true form and said, "I've never seen anyone so eager to get beaten. How can that battered golden body of yours possibly be my match?"

Zhunti said, "Kunpeng, don't be so arrogant. When I become a Saint someday, we can settle this matter then." With that, he manifested his Dharma form and battled Kunpeng.

Zhunti's golden body shone with radiant Buddhist light, like ten thousand streams of golden brilliance scattering in every direction. The surrounding mountains, bathed in that Buddhist light, seemed to have been cast from gold.

Seeing the Buddhist light blazing from Zhunti's golden body, Kunpeng was not the least bit alarmed. Instead, he raised his head and chest, spreading his wings to meet the dazzling radiance. His body was enormous, towering into the clouds like a mountain range. His feathers were as dense as black clouds, gleaming with sharp light. His eyes shone brilliantly, revealing endless majesty and power.

Zhunti's golden arms were like forged iron. All eighteen arms smashed wildly toward Kunpeng, every strike carrying immense force and boundless Buddhist power. Kunpeng nimbly evaded, each movement incredibly agile. His wings were like silver-white blades, slicing through the air with howling sounds. Every counterattack contained Kunpeng's majestic momentum and authority, as though a divine bird were spreading its wings to take flight.

The entire scene resembled a fantastical duel between heaven and earth. Buddhist light and black clouds reflected one another, while gold and black collided in dazzling bursts of light. Every movement displayed Zhunti and Kunpeng's extraordinary power. After repeated clashes, Zhunti's old injuries flared up, and his golden body completely collapsed.