Should I go to Mount Buzhou, kill two Ancestral Witches, and drain the Pangu blood essence from their bodies?
Leaving aside how utterly evil this method would be, if he really did it, wouldn't he be playing right into Hongjun's hands?
With the Demon Race leaderless, it could hardly contend with the Witch Clan for supremacy, leaving the War of the Liches unable to proceed.
Hongjun was fretting over that very problem.
Perhaps he had already pulled out nearly all his beard in frustration.
If Daochen slaughtered two Ancestral Witches and sparked the War of the Liches, Hongjun would surely be delighted beyond measure. He might even give Daochen two Xiantian Supreme Treasures on a sudden whim.
But would Daochen really do that?
Only if a donkey had kicked him in the head.
If he went leaping about recklessly without enough strength, he wouldn't even know how he died.
So the moment this thought arose, Daochen dismissed it.
In a word, keeping his hide intact came first!
Still, the reward the system offered now had resolved his most pressing need.
I choose option two!
Daochen silently made his choice.
The seeds of the Creation Green Lotus were fine treasures, but cultivating them would take endless years. For Daochen, who would soon face the War of the Liches, they were nowhere near as useful as ten drops of Pangu blood essence.
Again, treasures might be wonderful, but without enough strength to protect them, they were all for nothing.
Daochen understood the principle that an innocent man became guilty simply by carrying a precious jade!
The next instant, ten drops of Pangu blood essence, each like a blood-red diamond, appeared in Daochen's dantian. Though wrapped in countless chains of laws, the wisps of aura that escaped stirred boundless storms within his dantian and sea of consciousness.
Buzz!
The Heaven Measuring Ruler and the God-Slaying Spear hummed in succession, shedding strands of mystic light that pressed down upon the ten drops of Pangu blood essence. The blood essence still trembled, but its resistance had clearly weakened considerably.
"Spread the word. In eight hundred years, I, Daochen, will preach the Dao on the Sun Star. All members of the Demon Race in the Primordial World may come and listen. Cultivators outside the Demon Race may also attend if they wish!"
With the Pangu blood essence secured, Daochen wasted no words and spoke directly to Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Dijun.
"Really?"
Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were delighted to hear this.
Ultimately, they were both members of the Demon Race. Though they had not involved themselves in the conflict between the Demon Race and the Witch Clan, they still wanted to lend their race a little aid.
Now that Daochen had personally agreed to preach and spread the teachings of the Dao, the two were naturally overjoyed.
"Of course!"
Daochen chuckled, then vanished from the Sun God Palace in a flash, entering seclusion to assimilate the Pangu blood essence.
Hearing Daochen confirm it once more, Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi grew even more excited. They immediately used their vast magical power to announce it throughout the Primordial World.
"Solar Divine Lord Daochen will preach the Dao on the Sun Star in eight hundred years. All living beings of the Primordial World may come and listen."
At these words, the countless members of the Demon Race outside the Sun Star erupted in excitement.
Hadn't they come here precisely to wait for this day?
"What? The Solar Divine Lord really is going to preach the Dao?"
Not far from the Sun Star, those members of the Demon Race who had just left jolted upon hearing Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's words. Regret immediately rose on their faces.
Now, returning was impossible.
Never mind whether Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi would agree; even those members of the Demon Race who had waited patiently outside the Sun Star would never allow it.
Seeking the Dao required sincerity.
If they lacked sincerity yet still came back, wouldn't that be disrespecting Daochen?
Thus, Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi would not even need to act. Those steadfast members of the Demon Race would kill them themselves.
To demonstrate their sincerity!
"Preaching the Dao? Just what medicine is Daochen hiding in his gourd?"
In the Jade Purity Realm on Mount Kunlun, Yuanshi, who was cultivating in seclusion, heard the announcement, and a shadow crossed his brow.
"All beings are equal, and all may hear the Dao. What great benevolence, fellow Daoist!"
Hearing that Daochen would preach to all beings of the Primordial World, Tongtian laughed heartily. The aura around him grew increasingly ethereal, even showing faint signs of an impending breakthrough.
He advocated teaching without discrimination, and Daochen's actions suited his convictions perfectly, strengthening his resolve in that path.
"What exactly does Daochen intend by this?"
On Mount Buzhou, Fuxi, who was discussing the Dao with Nüwa, frowned. He immediately attempted a divination but found no clues.
"Who cares what he intends? That fellow Daochen is definitely up to no good!"
Nüwa's pretty face darkened with anger as she gave an indignant snort.
Even now, she was still dwelling on how Daochen had stolen her Gourd Vine.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. In the end, she abandoned their discussion of the Dao and went straight back to her own cultivation grounds.
"Why does my little sister become like this whenever Daochen is mentioned?"
Watching Nüwa storm away, Fuxi frowned.
In all the endless years since their birth, he had never seen Nüwa gnash her teeth with hatred at the mere mention of anyone. Yet now, whenever Daochen came up, she seemed to react exactly like this...
"Could it be...?"
At that thought, Fuxi gave a playful smile.
He did not dwell on it, however, instead turning all his attention to Daochen.
Daochen's decision to preach to the Demon Race of the Primordial World was a promising start for Bai Ze and the others, who were heading to the Sun Star to invite him.
"Daochen is going to preach the Dao to our Demon Race?"
Among the stars of the Primordial World, Bai Ze, Kunpeng, and the others, who were hurrying toward the Sun Star, also showed delight upon hearing the news.
Daochen's actions had finally given them a glimmer of hope!
"Excellent!"
Within the Purple Heavens Palace, Hongjun, who had been watching the changing situation in the Primordial World, glanced toward the Sun Star, a smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
"Daochen's preaching to all beings of the Primordial World brings great merit before Heaven. Fetch two Fire Law Fragments and present them to him!"
He then addressed Haotian and Yaochi, who were nodding off by the entrance.
"Huh? Fire Law Fragments?"
Haotian, who looked like a young boy, froze at these words.
Fire Law Fragments were extraordinarily precious, worth no less than two Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures.
Even the Purple Heavens Palace had few of them.
Why was the Dao Ancestor telling him to give them to Daochen?
"Hurry up. These are Teacher's instructions. Are you going to argue?"
Seeing Haotian hesitate, Yaochi quickly gave him a push, and they headed together toward the Purple Heavens Palace's Treasury Pavilion.
In truth, Yaochi did not understand Hongjun's actions either.
Previously, Kunpeng had preached in the North Sea and spread the Demon Script. In the eyes of the Heavenly Dao, that had earned far more merit than a single preaching session.
Yet Hongjun had not even spared him a glance.
Why had things changed when it came to Daochen?
Could Teacher favor Daochen?
Yaochi wondered inwardly as she walked toward the Treasury Pavilion.
Hongjun naturally understood Haotian and Yaochi's hesitation.
But he did not care.
Nothing could delight him more than Daochen taking command of the Demon Race.
Once Daochen took command of the Demon Race, the War of the Liches would begin, completing the Primordial World's Heavenly Dao. This would greatly aid his eventual union with the Heavenly Dao.
After all, who would be content to cultivate for countless tens of thousands of years without making even an inch of progress?
"Eldest Brother, is Daochen really going to take command of the Demon Race?"
Inside Pangu Hall on Mount Buzhou, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who had been cultivating in seclusion, also frowned at the news.
Ever since witnessing Daochen overpower the Three Pure Ones and severely injure numerous mighty figures of the Primordial World during the struggle for the Xiantian Gourd Vine on Mount Buzhou, the Twelve Ancestral Witches had counted him among those they must not provoke.
Unless absolutely necessary, they did not want to make an enemy of Daochen.
"Let's watch for now. If it truly comes to that, we will have no choice but to fight!"
Dijiang's brow also knitted tightly at these words.
He felt no hostility toward Daochen and even felt something of a mutual appreciation for him.
But if Daochen truly took command of the Demon Race, a battle between them would likely become inevitable!
After all, the conflict between the Witch Clan and the Demon Race was a struggle for survival. No matter how good their relationship with Daochen might be, once their race's survival was at stake, they would have no choice but to turn their blades against him!
Without further discussion, they immediately entered seclusion to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Mystic Art.
Daochen knew nothing of what the many mighty figures of the Primordial World were thinking, nor did he want to know. At this moment, all his attention was focused on the Pangu blood essence within his dantian and sea of consciousness.
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