"Junior Brother Gongming, there is something I'm not sure whether I should ask."
"Eldest Senior Brother, ask away. I, Gongming, will tell you everything I know without holding anything back."
Hong Ze nodded. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke.
"You and Junior Sister San Xiao are blood siblings. What are your true forms?"
The reason Hong Ze hesitated was that he knew this was absolutely Zhao Gongming and San Xiao's secret.
After all, once someone else knew one's true form, one's weakness would be in their grasp.
That was why Hong Ze hesitated for a moment. Even so, he did not forget to add,
"Of course, if it is inconvenient for Junior Brother Gongming to say, then just pretend I never asked."
After speaking, he raised the wine bowl in his hand again and toasted Zhao Gongming.
Zhao Gongming lifted his wine bowl and drained it in one gulp. Then he sighed and said,
"Since Eldest Senior Brother has asked, there is naturally no reason for me not to answer.
My three younger sisters and I were originally a colored cloud from the beginning of creation. We later took form, attained the Dao, and entered Master's sect."
Hearing Zhao Gongming reveal his identity, Hong Ze nodded.
In truth, Hong Ze was not the least bit shocked by the identity Zhao Gongming had revealed.
After all, this had always been the established setting in later generations' Primordial World novels.
There was only one thing Hong Ze had never understood: why could Red Cloud Ancestor, also an innate cloud, make it in time for the teachings at Zixiao Palace?
So he asked Zhao Gongming, "Junior Brother Gongming, do you and your siblings have any connection to Red Cloud Ancestor?"
"If there is any connection, it can only be said that we belong to the same race.
Because at the beginning of creation, there was not only that one red cloud. The colored cloud that became the true forms of us four siblings was also born at that time.
Red Cloud only produced one consciousness, unlike the colored cloud of our true forms, which gave birth to four consciousnesses. That was why he took form one step ahead of us."
Hong Ze nodded upon hearing this, then asked Zhao Gongming again.
"Then does Junior Brother Gongming have any grudges against the demon race? Or perhaps any conflicts with those Crown Princes of the demon race?"
At Hong Ze's question, Zhao Gongming's brows furrowed tightly as he tried hard to recall the past.
Suddenly, Zhao Gongming seemed to remember something and spoke directly to Hong Ze.
"If Eldest Senior Brother had not mentioned it, I nearly would have forgotten about this.
Back when the ten suns wreaked havoc across the Primordial World, the great Wu clansman Hou Yi shot down nine Golden Crows with the Vermillion Bow White Arrow.
Those nine Golden Crows fell upon the Primordial World, intending to rely on Sun True Fire to come back to life.
I happened to encounter them, so I used the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl bestowed by Master to restrain the boundless Weak Water and extinguish the Sun True Fire.
I also collected the corpses of the Nine Golden Crows, intending to refine them into a magical treasure for future use.
Unfortunately, after tens of thousands of years, I still have not found a way to refine the Golden Crow corpses.
So if I have any grievance with the demon race, it is only that I prevented the Nine Golden Crows from being reborn."
With a wave of his hand, the corpses of the Nine Golden Crows appeared before Hong Ze.
Only then did Hong Ze understand. So this was the reason behind it all.
No wonder Daoist Lu Ya had been willing to stain himself with karmic consequences just to use the Seven Arrows Book with Nailhead to take Zhao Gongming's life.
Zhao Gongming had made his nine brothers lose all chance of life completely, and had even taken their corpses away.
Forget Daoist Lu Ya—if this had happened to Hong Ze, he would never have let Zhao Gongming off easily either.
He immediately said to Zhao Gongming, "No wonder I saw immense karmic consequences between you and the demon race. So this was what happened.
The only way to resolve this karmic consequence is to find that remaining Three-legged Golden Crow.
Either gain his forgiveness, or kill him outright. Otherwise, Junior Brother Gongming will surely fall at his hands."
Zhao Gongming nodded. "I will remember this. I will certainly find that remaining little Golden Crow and resolve this karmic consequence.
These Nine Golden Crow corpses are useless if they remain with me. I might as well give them to Eldest Senior Brother today.
Perhaps, with Eldest Senior Brother's ability, you may be able to refine them into a magical treasure."
The moment Zhao Gongming handed the Nine Golden Crows over to Hong Ze, a cool aura spread throughout his body.
In the end, it actually formed a strand of Law Power within his Sea of Consciousness.
This made Zhao Gongming sense that his opportunity had arrived. Breaking through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm was already within reach.
He immediately rose to his feet, drained the fine wine from his bowl in one gulp, and said to Hong Ze,
"Many thanks for Eldest Senior Brother's generous hospitality. I will not disturb Eldest Senior Brother any longer today. Another day, I will surely prepare a generous gift and come again to thank you in person."
After speaking, he once again performed the half-master's bow to Hong Ze.
Seeing Zhao Gongming preparing to leave, Hong Ze spoke directly to him.
"Junior Brother Gongming, when you have time, take a trip to Mount Wuyi. There are two people there who are fated with you. If possible, take them into your sect."
Although Hong Ze did not think he had the ability to change Zhao Gongming's fate, he could at least offer whatever reminders were within his power.
As for whether Zhao Gongming could meet Xiao Sheng and Cao Bao and prevent the Sea-Stabilizing Pearl from encountering the Treasure-Dropping Coin again, that would depend on his own fortune.
Zhao Gongming nodded to Hong Ze. "I will remember."
After speaking, he bowed to Hong Ze once more, turned around, and left Hong Ze's Thatched Cottage.
The Three Xiao Maidens on Three Immortal Island were currently waiting for news from Zhao Gongming, wondering whether he had likewise found an opportunity with Hong Ze.
"Big Sister, do you think Brother can find an opportunity with Eldest Senior Brother?" Bi Xiao looked out at the sea as she asked Yun Xiao.
"Senior Sister Jin Ling and the others would not deceive us. Eldest Senior Brother is certainly no ordinary person.
As for whether Brother can find an opportunity with Eldest Senior Brother, that depends on his own fortune."
Yun Xiao was undoubtedly an extraordinary figure within the Jie Sect.
Not only had her cultivation reached the Late Stage Taiyi Golden Immortal, but her temperament was also beyond comparison even among Direct Disciples.
If not for the karmic consequences of the demon race upon her, Master Tongtian would likely have taken her in as a Direct Disciple.
Even though he had not accepted her as a Direct Disciple, he still loved Yun Xiao dearly.
He had spared no expense in giving her the Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Primal Chaos Golden Chalice, as well as the killing weapon, the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors.
This gave Yun Xiao an extremely high status within the Jie Sect. Even Duobao Daoren had no choice but to yield to her somewhat.
As for her two younger sisters, as well as Zhao Gongming, they obeyed Yun Xiao's words without question.
Thus, when Yun Xiao spoke, anticipation inevitably appeared on Qiong Xiao and Bi Xiao's faces.
Just then, Zhao Gongming's figure appeared in midair. In the blink of an eye, he arrived on Three Immortal Island.
Yun Xiao had already noticed the changes in Zhao Gongming, because his cultivation had now surpassed hers.
She immediately stepped forward and asked, "Brother, did you find an opportunity with Eldest Senior Brother?"
Zhao Gongming nodded with a broad smile. "Not only did I find an opportunity with Eldest Senior Brother, but I also gained all sorts of benefits.
But now is not the time to explain everything to you, because I am about to break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm. I will need my three junior sisters to guard me."
Before you continue