Zhunti chuckled softly. "Kunpeng, are you satisfied with your life as it is now?"
Rather than answering Kunpeng directly, Zhunti asked a question instead.
"I do not understand what you mean, Sage."
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, there is no need for such formality between us. You and I once listened to the Dao beneath the Dao Ancestor together. We are of the same generation."
Once Zhunti's words fell, Kunpeng became even more confused. What exactly was Zhunti plotting?
Was there some mistake? He had once wanted to kill Zhunti and seize his Hongmeng Purple Qi. Even though the karmic debt between them had been settled, their relationship was hardly good. Why was Zhunti being so mild now?
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, I became a Sage thanks to your kindness in yielding your seat back then. The karmic debt was offset in the Blood Sea of the Netherworld that day, and from then on, neither of us owed the other anything."
"But you are both among the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace. You listened to the Dao beneath the Dao Ancestor together and are both members of the Mystical Sect. Why must we be so distant?"
Heh heh!
Kunpeng sneered inwardly. I do not believe a single word of that.
There were countless Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace, yet Zhunti had never contacted any of the others. He had been a Sage for so many kalpas—why had he not come earlier or later, but sought him out right as the tribulation began?
"I do not know what you mean, Sage. Please speak plainly."
Still, a Sage was a Sage. With such strength standing before him, especially during a tribulation, Kunpeng did not dare offend him and spoke again.
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, I came this time for the sake of your future."
Kunpeng grew even more puzzled and looked at Zhunti with uncertainty.
"Kunpeng, let me ask you this. What benefits have you gained from joining the Demon Court and serving beneath Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi?"
"Benefits?" Kunpeng frowned.
"Indeed!"
"Kunpeng, you were born an innate deity of the Primordial World, a renowned Innate Great God and a Great Divine Power famous throughout the Primordial World. Whether in foundation or cultivation, you rank among the very best in the Primordial World."
"Other than lacking opportunities and having no Magic Treasure to protect yourself, in what way are you inferior to Di Jun or Eastern Emperor Taiyi?"
Kunpeng could not help nodding. He had been born in the boundless North Sea, becoming a Kun in the sea and a Peng when soaring into the heavens. His cultivation was profound, and even among the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace, he had been among the finest.
When the Dao Ancestor passed down the method of severing the Three Corpses, he had been one of those who severed all Three Corpses in a single thought. With his exquisite cultivation, let alone Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, even the Three Purities, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti had not necessarily surpassed him before becoming Sages!
He had merely been somewhat lacking in opportunities and possessed no spirit treasures for protection, which left his strength slightly wanting this time.
Yet even so, he had condensed the Kunpeng True Form. With this divine ability, even ordinary peak Quasi-Saints with Magic Treasures protecting them were no match for him.
Back then, had Hongyun not held the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd, only to have his body shattered and flee in panic?
Seeing Kunpeng's expression, Zhunti secretly rejoiced and spoke again.
"In terms of cultivation, you are no weaker than Di Jun or Eastern Emperor Taiyi. The three of you are peers, yet you remain beneath the two of them, driven and commanded by them."
"It would be one thing if there were benefits, but from what I can see, you still do not possess even one decent Magic Treasure for protection, nor do you have any spiritual roots at your side. Does that not mean you are allowing the two of them to command you for nothing?"
Once those words fell, Kunpeng nodded involuntarily.
That was right. He had originally been a great divine power on their level. Back then, they had listened to the Dao together at Purple Cloud Palace. They had given him nothing, not even the slightest benefit, yet he had joined them and obeyed their orders, letting them command him as they pleased?
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, think carefully. After joining the demon race for so many years, have you gained any tangible benefits apart from the title of Demon Master?"
As Zhunti's voice rang out, Kunpeng immediately shook his head.
He had gained nothing. Not to mention an Innate Spirit Treasure—he had not even seen a single Postnatal Spirit Treasure.
"Then, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, after joining the demon race for so many years, have you rendered great service to the demon race?"
"Of course!" Kunpeng nodded directly.
Not to mention the distant past—thirty thousand kalpas ago, he alone had held off Liang Qiang, indirectly saving Lu Ya.
Over the past thirty thousand kalpas, he had commanded the hundreds of millions of demons of the Demon Court and fought the Witch Clan for a full thirty thousand kalpas. Even if he had no merit, he had certainly endured hardship.
"Since that is so, Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, you lowered yourself to serve others, exhausting your mind and strength, yet gained nothing at all. Why should that be?"
As Zhunti's words fell, Kunpeng's expression immediately turned ugly. That was right. Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had gone too far.
He had worked like an ox and horse for them, yet they had given him nothing. They still commanded him with perfect ease. He was a dignified Innate Great God—where was his dignity in this?
Kunpeng took a deep breath, looked at Sage Zhunti before him, and bowed. "Many thanks to the Sage for guiding me out of my confusion."
"If not for the Sage's guidance, I would still be in the dark, working for those two in vain."
"The Demon Court belongs to the two of them. What does it have to do with me? They give me nothing, yet expect me to obey their commands? They can keep dreaming!"
A smile appeared at the corner of Zhunti's lips. "Good!"
"With Fellow Daoist Kunpeng's wisdom, even if I had said nothing, you would have understood sooner or later."
"You flatter me, Sage."
Kunpeng replied, then said nothing more. Zhunti had come to find him because he surely needed something. Since Zhunti had raised this matter first, he would naturally offer a solution afterward.
For a time, the space fell silent. After a long while, Zhunti inwardly cursed him as an old fox and spoke again.
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi do not regard you as one of their own. You should make plans early."
Kunpeng's gaze shifted slightly. He cupped his hands and bowed. "Please instruct me, Sage."
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, I will not beat around the bush. With your cultivation, there is little in the Primordial World that could catch your eye."
"What you need is, first, to attain the Dao; second, spirit treasures. You must explore the matter of attaining the Dao yourself, but as for spirit treasures, I am willing to make arrangements for you."
Kunpeng's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked, "What Magic Treasure? How will you arrange it?"
In the Primordial World, he was the poorest. He did not possess a single decent spirit treasure. Everyone else relied on Magic Treasures in battle, while he could only depend on the Kunpeng True Form he had condensed himself.
"The River Diagram and Luo Book!"
Zhunti's voice rang out faintly, and Kunpeng froze on the spot.
Were those not Di Jun's accompanying spirit treasures?
"In the Witch-Demon War, Di Jun will surely die. If you accomplish two things, then after Di Jun's death, the River Diagram and Luo Book will fall into your hands!"
Kunpeng's heart pounded wildly. He was incomparably shocked. Di Jun would actually die?
"Are the Sage's words true?"
"Naturally!"
"The Witch-Demon War is destined. The upper echelons of both races will surely be wiped out. If you act according to my words, you may escape this calamity. Otherwise, whether you live or die will be uncertain!"
Kunpeng narrowed his eyes and considered how credible Zhunti's words were. After a long while, he said, "What must I do?"
Seeing this, satisfaction appeared on Zhunti's face. "Very simple. First, slaughter the human race. Second, during the great battle, take the River Diagram and Luo Book amid the chaos. Once you take them, they will be yours!"
Kunpeng sneered inwardly. I knew this supreme treasure would not be so easy to obtain!
Behind the human race stood Sage Nuwa and the Grand Pure Sage. The Three Purities were one entity—offending the Grand Pure Sage meant offending all Three Purities.
Of the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao, he would offend four at once.
Slaughter the human race?
Am I tired of living?
The Primordial World had been in chaos for three kalpas, yet nothing had happened in the human race's territory. Both the Witch Clan and demon race had consciously avoided the humans' lands.
They could not avoid them quickly enough, yet Zhunti wanted him to slaughter the human race.
"The Sage must be joking. The human race was created by Sage Nuwa and is the land where the Grand Pure Sage teaches the Dao. How could slaughter be so casually started?"
"Sage, please seek someone more capable. My opportunities are insufficient, and I cannot obtain this supreme treasure."
Zhunti's expression did not change. He glanced at Kunpeng and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, do not be hasty. I never said I wanted you to personally slaughter the human race, nor do I wish to massacre humanity and cause the living beings of the Primordial World to suffer."
"But once a tribulation begins, the living beings of the Primordial World will suffer. When the two races fight, accidental harm is unavoidable."
"There are many newly born demon kings among the demon race. They do not recognize the Sages' divine might. Why would the Sages lower themselves to argue with such juniors?"
Kunpeng merely sneered and did not take in a single word Zhunti said.
Zhunti's expression remained calm. "Very well, very well. Since Fellow Daoist Kunpeng has no such intention, let us not mention the human race again. Today, neither of us ever spoke of the human race."
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, during the next decisive battle, take the River Diagram and Luo Book, then flee far away to the North Sea. Those two Ultimate Innate Spirit Treasures will be yours from then on."
"I am the Demon Master of the demon race and therefore a member of it. How could I harm my own demon race? Sage, do not lead me into unrighteousness!" Kunpeng said expressionlessly.
If the River Diagram and Luo Book were truly so easy to take, then with so many Magic Treasures in the Primordial World, why would he lack even one for protection?
Zhunti had spoken for half the day, yet it was all nonsense and completely useless.
"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, you are too attached to appearances. Heaven and Earth have their ordained course. The Witch Clan and demon race will decline after reaching their height. The Twelve Capital Celestial Gods Array and the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Array seize the creation of Heaven and Earth and infringe upon the mysteries of the sun and moon; they are not tolerated by Heaven and Earth."
"Destroying the Zhou Tian Star Dou Great Array is part of your destiny. When the time comes, you will understand!"
As Zhunti's words fell, the world spun, and Kunpeng's consciousness returned to his true body.
Looking at the familiar surroundings of the Demon Master Palace, Kunpeng frowned. What did Zhunti mean? He spoke in such vague and cryptic terms, yet refused to explain clearly.
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