Demon Master Kunpeng naturally understood the stakes involved, but asking him to hand over the Hetu Luoshu left him utterly unwilling.
During the Great Lich Tribulation, when the war between the demon race and the lich race had reached its fiercest point, he had chosen to lead several Demon Marshals in fleeing to the North Sea.
And he had done so for only one reason: to obtain Di Jun's Hetu Luoshu. Even being branded a traitor to the demon race had not mattered to him.
But now Hongjun Daozu wanted him to hand over the Hetu Luoshu. How could he possibly be willing?
Seeing the hesitation on Demon Master Kunpeng's face, Hong Ze knew it was time to add more fuel to the fire.
He immediately said to Demon Master Kunpeng, "Demon Master, there is no need to make things difficult for yourself. Whether you hand over the Hetu Luoshu or not is unimportant to me.
"What I want is merely an answer from you—an answer that will allow Junior Sister Wu Dang and me to return to Zixiao Palace and report back."
At this moment, Mother Wu Dang, standing nearby, had also understood Hong Ze's meaning and promptly played along with him.
"Eldest Senior Brother, since Demon Master is reluctant to part with the Hetu Luoshu, there is no need for us to waste any more time. We should return to Zixiao Palace and report back directly.
"After all, even if we were to seize it by force, Master and our two martial uncles would have to do it. We are no match for Demon Master."
Hong Ze nodded, then gave Demon Master Kunpeng a Daoist salute before preparing to leave with Mother Wu Dang.
This made Bai Ze, who stood beside Demon Master Kunpeng, deeply worried, and he hurriedly spoke to him.
"Demon Master, the Hetu Luoshu has been in your hands for tens of thousands of years, yet you have gained no insight from it to this day.
"Perhaps the Hetu Luoshu was never meant to belong to a Demon Marshal. Why not use this opportunity to grant Hongjun Daozu a favor?"
Demon Master Kunpeng sighed. "It seems this seat truly has no affinity with the Hetu Luoshu. Since that is the case, there is no need to force it."
With that, he reached into the void, and the Hetu Luoshu instantly appeared in his hand.
Then Demon Master Kunpeng tossed the Hetu Luoshu outward, and it flew directly toward Hong Ze and Mother Wu Dang.
When the Hetu Luoshu appeared before him, Hong Ze was overjoyed, though not the slightest expression showed on his face.
Instead, he casually caught the Hetu Luoshu as he spoke to Demon Master Kunpeng.
"Demon Master is truly worthy of his title. In order to comply with the will of Heaven, you did not hesitate to hand over such a supreme treasure. You may truly be called a model for all under Heaven.
"When Fuxi attains the Heavenly Emperor Dao Fruit in the future, the Heavenly Dao will certainly not forget Demon Master's achievement today. When Heaven-Sent Merit descends, Demon Master will surely receive a share."
After being flattered by Hong Ze in this way, a faint smile inevitably appeared on Demon Master Kunpeng's face.
"The Hetu Luoshu would serve little purpose in this seat's hands. I was merely reluctant to let it leave the demon race because it had once been the companion spiritual treasure of our demon race's Heavenly Emperor.
"Since the human race is now destined to rise, and Fuxi needs it to attain the Heavenly Emperor Dao Fruit, how could this seat refuse to help an old friend?"
Demon Master Kunpeng spoke with such righteous conviction that Hong Ze did not stint on his praise, immediately raising a thumb at him.
At this moment, Bai Ze said, "Since the matter has been settled, please come to Demon Master Palace and rest for a while. Let Demon Master show you some hospitality."
Hong Ze shook his head. "We dare not delay our patriarch's command. There will be plenty of time to drink later.
"If Demon Master and Demon Marshal Bai Ze should happen to pass through Golden Turtle Island someday, I, Hong Ze, will certainly welcome you with open doors."
He then clasped his hands in farewell to Demon Master Kunpeng and Bai Ze, leaving the North Sea directly with Mother Wu Dang.
Watching Hong Ze and Mother Wu Dang depart, Demon Master Kunpeng's face instantly filled with pain.
"If there is anyone to blame, it is only that my demon race no longer possesses its former might. Otherwise, how could we have been bullied to such an extent?"
Bai Ze hurriedly consoled him. "Demon Master, I believe this is simply the cycle of karmic cause and effect.
"Back when the demon race forged the Witch Slaughtering Sword, who knew how many humans were slaughtered? Now that the human race is destined to rise, the demon race must naturally repay this karma."
Demon Master Kunpeng sighed helplessly, then withdrew his forces and returned to Demon Master Palace.
At this time, Hong Ze and Mother Wu Dang did not dare linger in the slightest, heading straight for the Hua Xu Tribe.
Only after traveling tens of thousands of miles did Mother Wu Dang finally let out a long breath.
"Eldest Senior Brother, my heart was in my throat just now. I was terrified that Demon Master Kunpeng would see through our ruse."
Hong Ze smiled and said, "I had calculated that Demon Master Kunpeng would believe us, and that he would not dare seek out our patriarch to verify it.
"Otherwise, how would I have dared invoke our patriarch's name to fool Demon Master Kunpeng in the North Sea?
"Remember, whenever something can be resolved with your mind, never resort to force.
"Once force becomes necessary, strike decisively and without hesitation. If they can be killed, leave them no chance of survival."
Mother Wu Dang nodded after hearing this. "Wu Dang will remember. From now on, I will learn much more from Eldest Senior Brother."
Hong Ze immediately put on a smug expression and reached out to pat Mother Wu Dang's shoulder.
"Little girl, you have much to learn. Remember, the world of cultivators is built on human relations, not merely fighting and killing."
"Master, are you saying that the Child of the Great Dao has already reincarnated into the prehistoric world?" Laozi asked Hongjun Daozu with disbelief written all over his face.
Hongjun Daozu nodded. "I am now a Heavenly Dao Sage and can use the power of the Heavenly Dao to observe the prehistoric world.
"Yet a force of Great Dao Law interferes with me, leaving one or two places that I cannot see clearly.
"Those who possess Great Dao Law can only be Great Dao Saints. There can be no second such person beneath Heaven.
"Moreover, from the chaos until now, only Great God Pan Gu ever reached the realm of a Great Dao Saint.
"Although Great God Pan Gu perished after creating Heaven and Earth, the aura of the Great Dao carried away a single thread of life.
"This is why the Great Dao has fifty, while Heaven's evolution has forty-nine. For the one that escaped is the Child of the Great Dao."
Upon hearing Hongjun Daozu's analysis, Laozi could not help nodding repeatedly.
At the same time, he understood Hongjun Daozu's intentions: before the Child of the Great Dao had fully grown, they needed to eliminate him.
For as long as the Child of the Great Dao existed, Hongjun Daozu would never be able to truly control the entire prehistoric world.
One day, the Child of the Great Dao might even turn his blade upon Hongjun Daozu and the Heavenly Dao of the prehistoric world itself.
Laozi immediately said to Hongjun Daozu, "Master, rest assured. Once this disciple returns, I will make the arrangements and find the Child of the Great Dao.
"Then I will bring him to Zixiao Palace for Master to deal with personally, lest he throw the prehistoric world into chaos and return it to the primordial chaos."
Seeing how readily Laozi understood, Hongjun Daozu could not help nodding.
"To prevent panic, the fewer people who know of this matter, the better."
Laozi could not help feeling a trace of concern upon hearing this, and he immediately said to Hongjun Daozu.
"Master, this disciple cultivates Quiet Non-Action, and I have only one disciple under me, Grand Master Xuandu.
"Therefore, this disciple believes that my two junior brothers should search as well. Only then can we find the Child of the Great Dao more quickly."
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