Void Painting

Mother Wu Dang also realized that the Innate Five Elements Spirit Knife she had unleashed had somehow lost its target, merely severing a few feathers from the Nine-Headed Bird.

This made Mother Wu Dang realize that she had been tricked. But it was already too late to recall the Innate Five Elements Spirit Knife and use it to defend against the Nine-Headed Bird.

For at this moment, the Nine-Headed Bird's sharp claws had already struck Hong Ze's back.

Yet Mother Wu Dang was not worried in the slightest, because she did not believe the Nine-Headed Bird could harm Hong Ze.

And indeed, just as Mother Wu Dang had expected, the instant the Nine-Headed Bird touched Hong Ze's body, a powerful surge of Law Power arose.

The Great Dao Law manifested, and at the same time, an enormous painting descended from the heavens, directly sealing the Nine-Headed Bird inside it.

The painting then floated straight into Hong Ze's hand, bringing the battle in midair to an end.

Hong Ze was incomparably familiar with the painting in his hand.

This painting had been the quest item taken away by the system after Hong Ze completed the Great Dao Painting Saint quest.

Now that the painting had appeared again and even sealed the Nine-Headed Bird within it, Hong Ze could not help but be greatly astonished.

He immediately and slowly unfurled the painting, wanting to see just what changes it had undergone.

But when Hong Ze clearly saw what was depicted on the painting, he could not help feeling a trace of unfamiliarity.

The contents he had painted back then had long since vanished. In their place was a Nine-Headed Bird.

And beneath the Nine-Headed Bird was a line of writing: Guiche, commonly known as the Nine-Headed Bird. It was said that this bird once had ten heads, but a dog bit one off. To this day, it drips blood upon people's homes and brings calamity and misfortune.

At the same time, information about the painting appeared directly in Hong Ze's mind.

Void Painting: The exclusive magic treasure of the Great Dao Painting Saint. It possesses no offensive power and is a passive defensive treasure. When the Great Dao Painting Saint faces a threat to their life, it automatically appears to protect its master. It can turn all things into void and seal all living beings in the world.

Only then did Hong Ze understand. The one who had suddenly appeared and attacked him was actually Guiche, the Demon Marshal of the Demon Clan Heavenly Court from back then.

A disdainful smile appeared at the corner of Hong Ze's mouth, and he immediately spoke.

"Is this the hospitality of a Demon Marshal? Sending Demon Marshal Guiche to launch a sneak attack from behind.

"If I had lacked the means to protect myself today, would I have died at Demon Marshal Guiche's hands?

"Junior Sister Wu Dang, let us return to Zixiao Palace and report back to our master. If we remain here any longer, we may not even be able to keep our lives."

With that, he reached out, took Mother Wu Dang by the hand, and turned to leave the North Sea.

This time, Demon Master Kunpeng could no longer sit still. He directly pushed the Demon Master Palace up from beneath the surface of the North Sea.

As the massive Demon Master Palace emerged, enormous waves surged across the North Sea.

At the same time, Demon Master Kunpeng's voice came from within the Demon Master Palace.

"Please wait, fellow Daoists. I fear there has been some misunderstanding."

Hong Ze stopped and turned to look at Demon Master Kunpeng as he emerged from the Demon Master Palace.

"You must be the renowned Demon Master. But what exactly is this misunderstanding you speak of?"

As he spoke, Hong Ze shook the Void Painting in his hand, as if reminding Demon Master Kunpeng not to forget what had just happened.

How could Demon Master Kunpeng fail to understand? He immediately said to Hong Ze,

"Fellow Daoist, you have indeed misunderstood. Guiche did not truly intend to kill you.

"Everything he did just now was merely to test you and thereby confirm your identity.

"After all, the Hetu Luoshu is a supreme treasure of our Demon Clan. We could not simply let you take it away based on your one-sided claims.

"So even if you had not revealed your magic treasure just now, Guiche would have stopped at the critical moment. He absolutely would not have harmed you in the slightest."

After Demon Master Kunpeng finished speaking, his face was full of concern, as though he feared Hong Ze would not believe him.

Of course, Demon Master Kunpeng was not worried about what Hong Ze could do to him. He was worried that Hong Ze would go complain to Hongjun Daozu.

After all, Demon Master Kunpeng was now certain that Hong Ze and Mother Wu Dang had indeed come under Hongjun Daozu's orders.

They truly were Jie Sect disciples. Since they were Jie Sect disciples, they naturally would not dare falsely invoke Hongjun Daozu's name.

Otherwise, what awaited them would not merely be reflecting on one's mistakes behind closed doors. Even having their souls scattered and spirits destroyed was entirely possible.

But what Demon Master Kunpeng had not expected was that Hong Ze actually nodded.

At the same time, he unfurled the Void Painting in his hand, then gave it a shake and released Guiche from within.

"Today, I will spare you on the Demon Master's account. If there is a next time, I will trap you to death within this Void Painting."

At the same time, Guiche transformed into human form. Yet there was not the slightest trace of worry or guilt on his face; instead, he wore a smile.

This greatly shocked Demon Master Kunpeng. Even Hong Ze could not help thinking to himself, Is something wrong with this guy's head?

At that moment, Guiche bowed to Hong Ze and said, "Please wait a moment, Master."

After speaking, he turned and walked toward Demon Master Kunpeng, then knelt before him.

"Demon Master, my task has been completed. The facts have proven that they truly are Jie Sect disciples and have come under Hongjun Daozu's orders."

Demon Master Kunpeng had not expected Guiche to suddenly give him such a solemn salute. He hurriedly reached out to help him up.

But Guiche shook his head at Demon Master Kunpeng. "Please wait, Demon Master. There is another reason for this kneeling.

"From this day onward, Guiche will no longer belong to the Demon Clan, nor will I remain the Demon Clan's former Demon Marshal.

"From this day onward, I will acknowledge Hong Ze as my master and remain within the Void Painting for this life and all eternity."

With that, his figure flashed, and he immediately transformed into his true form, the Guiche Bird, flying toward the Void Painting in Hong Ze's hand.

Even though Hong Ze's Void Painting was not unfurled, Guiche still entered it with great ease.

At the same time, Guiche's voice sounded by Hong Ze's ear. "Master, there is no need to be shocked. Within the Void Painting, I came to understand my mission.

"From this day onward, I will protect you, Master. You may keep me within the Void Painting, or you may have me serve as your mount."

Although Hong Ze did not know what had gone wrong with Guiche, making him muddleheadedly insist on acknowledging Hong Ze as his master and even serving him like an ox or horse,

Hong Ze had no time to dwell on that now. Instead, he directly said to Demon Master Kunpeng before him,

"Demon Master, Fuxi will be reincarnated as the Human Sovereign of the human race, and the Hetu Luoshu is the treasure with which he will attain the Dao.

"Since you are destined to have no connection with the Hetu Luoshu, Demon Master, why risk incurring the wrath of all under heaven?

"If you willingly hand over the Hetu Luoshu and aid the Human Sovereign in attaining the Human Sovereign's fruition, you will surely receive Heaven-Sent Merit.

"On the other hand, you still will not be able to keep the Hetu Luoshu, and you will form karmic ties with the Human Sovereign because of it. I trust the Demon Master can distinguish which is more important."