"The peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal?"
Far off in the void, Bai Ze cried out in shock as he watched the phantom Golden Crow blot out the sky and sun.
When Hongjun had preached the Dao at the Purple Heavens Palace, both he and Daochen had been at the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Even when he broke through to Great Luo Golden Immortal, Daochen had yet to make that breakthrough.
He had never imagined that, after four thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye, he would still be hovering at the middle stage of Great Luo Golden Immortal while Daochen had already reached its peak.
One more step, and he would become a Quasi-Saint.
And for some reason, he kept feeling that Daochen's peak Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation possessed something inexplicably different from that of an ordinary cultivator at the same level.
Yet he could not put his finger on what it was.
"What a terrifying aura. It seems we've truly found the right person!"
Excitement shone in the eyes of the two women, Qinyuan and Yingzhao.
The stronger Daochen became, the more eagerly they anticipated the day he would preside over the Demon Race of the Primordial World.
The Demon Race had always revered the strong, and great demons like them, born in lands of ignorance, were even more inclined to do so!
"Dao Ancestor above!"
After murmuring that invocation, Kunpeng instinctively tightened his grip on the Demon Master Hall hidden inside his sleeve.
He was ready to turn tail and run the moment things took a bad turn!
Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing was the best!
Stir up whatever trouble you like, Bai Ze. Just don't drag me into it!
A moment later, the manifestations dispersed, and a slender young man in golden Daoist robes appeared in the void.
It was Daochen!
"Congratulations on reaching the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal, eldest brother!"
Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi moved, streaking over to Daochen in a flash of light.
Both looked at Daochen with joy written all over their faces.
"Thank you for your efforts all these years!"
Though Daochen had been cultivating in seclusion within his chamber, he had remained fully aware of everything happening outside. Had he not reached the final, critical stage of stabilizing his cultivation, he would never have delayed this long.
"What are you saying, eldest brother? This was only what the two of us should have done."
Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi waved their hands repeatedly as they spoke.
They, too, were thrilled by Daochen's tremendous progress.
The three brothers had been together ever since taking form. To them, their eldest brother Daochen had long been both a brother and a father.
Naturally, they would not begrudge such a trifling matter.
"Hmm?"
Daochen was just about to speak, but his brow furrowed as his gaze swept across the void.
"How much longer do the four of you intend to hide? Must I personally drag you out?"
Daochen spoke coldly.
"Hmm?"
At those words, Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi froze.
They looked toward the void in confusion.
"Please don't take offense, fellow Daoist! Please don't take offense!"
Just then, Kunpeng, Bai Ze, and the others stepped out of the void, looking embarrassed.
"Why has the Demon Master come?"
"Isn't that Demon Saint Bai Ze?"
"And the two Demon Saints, Yingzhao and Qinyuan?"
The demons present were startled to see Bai Ze, Kunpeng, and the others emerge from the void.
"We pay our respects to Fellow Daoist Daochen and congratulate you on reaching the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal."
Looking embarrassed, Kunpeng ignored the demons' chatter below. Instead, he approached Daochen respectfully and spoke with a placating smile.
His gaze kept drifting, seemingly by accident, toward Daochen's hands.
He was genuinely panicking now, afraid Daochen would simply lash out and give him a beating.
Especially in front of nearly ten billion demons.
If word of that spread, he would lose every last scrap of face.
He wanted to stand his ground, too!
But I can't beat him!!!!
"Bai Ze pays his respects, fellow Daoist. Four thousand years have passed since we parted at the Purple Heavens Palace. To think that upon meeting again, you have already reached the peak of Great Luo Golden Immortal. This is truly cause for celebration!"
Bai Ze spoke after Kunpeng.
Yingzhao and Qinyuan said nothing, merely watching Daochen with some nervousness.
Daochen's innate origin was that of a Chaos Golden Crow, which exerted a natural suppression over avian great demons like them!
"Whatever important business has brought the four of you here, wait to one side for now. We can discuss it once I finish preaching the Dao."
Daochen gave Kunpeng and the others an indifferent glance, then swept his wide sleeve and appeared directly outside the Sun God Palace.
He simply left Kunpeng, Bai Ze, and the others hanging in the void.
"What...?"
Seeing Daochen's indifferent manner, Bai Ze, Qinyuan, and Yingzhao all looked embarrassed.
At least let us inside!
What's the meaning of leaving us hanging out here?
Compared with the resentment simmering in the other three, Kunpeng was much more obedient.
He summoned the Demon Master Palace and casually sat down on it.
Seeing Kunpeng behave like this, the other three were stunned.
Was this really the Demon Master Kunpeng they knew?
He was the very picture of a well-behaved child!
Kunpeng had no intention whatsoever of acknowledging the strange looks in their eyes.
He simply remained seated atop the Demon Master Palace, perfectly composed.
As long as I don't get beaten!
Anything else is negotiable!!!
Face?
I, Kunpeng, don't need face!!!!
With even Kunpeng, the strongest among them, behaving like this, Bai Ze, Qinyuan, and Yingzhao had no choice but to remain obediently in the void and wait for Daochen to finish preaching.
"Everyone, my seclusion has cost you a hundred years of waiting. I, Daochen, offer my apologies and hope you will not take offense!"
Outside the Sun God Palace, Daochen's deep, resonant voice rang out like evening drums and morning bells, reverberating through the void.
"You are magnanimous, Solar Divine Lord! How could we take offense? Never mind a hundred years-even a thousand would be no trouble!"
Seeing Daochen apologize outright, the demons present were startled and hurriedly rose.
What a joke-with Daochen's standing!
Never mind apologizing to them.
Even if he said nothing and simply began preaching,
They would not dare utter the slightest complaint.
Thus, as soon as Daochen spoke, tens of billions of cultivators from the myriad races of the Primordial World bowed toward him from afar, returning his courtesy with utmost respect.
"What???"
At this sight, Bai Ze could no longer remain composed.
Why was Daochen treating them so differently? He was, after all, a great demon at the middle stage of Great Luo Golden Immortal.
Even in the Primordial World, he was a mighty figure in his own right!
Yet when he saw Daochen's icy gaze sweep toward him,
He instantly lost his nerve!
He did not dare say a single word.
He fixed his eyes on his heart and his nose on his ears.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What have I done?
The three soul-searching questions!!!
"Most of those who have come to hear me preach today are at the Earth Immortal realm, so I shall proceed from the shallow to the profound, from the simple to the complex."
Daochen sat cross-legged in the void, his golden eyes quietly surveying the tens of billions of cultivators from the myriad races of the Primordial World gathered beyond the Sun Star.
"When you emerge from ignorance and take form, you become Earth Immortals. Above Earth Immortal lie Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Profound Immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and finally my current realm, Great Luo Golden Immortal."
"As for the Great Dao beyond Great Luo Golden Immortal, I have yet to tread it, so I shall say no more on it. You need only listen carefully to the Dao below Great Luo Golden Immortal!"
Daochen spoke clearly, his voice seeming to carry a strange magic.
When Daochen began speaking, not a single stray sound disturbed the Sun Star, where countless living beings had gathered!