Hong Jun lowered his head to look at Liu Mang, who was prostrated on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of viciousness showed in his narrowed eyes.
However, since Hong Jun had lowered his head, no one else saw his expression.
At first, Hong Jun had not intended to kill Liu Mang.
Even if Liu Mang was an anomaly, he did not believe such a minor nobody could pose any threat to him.
When dealing with someone so flattering, Hong Jun had a hundred million ways to pull him into his own camp and ultimately make the Heavenly Dao lose more than it gained.
In Hong Jun's eyes, this little fellow Liu Mang was polite and spoke pleasantly.
Keeping him around and occasionally calling him over to hear him praise him sounded thrilling just thinking about it.
But Liu Mang's later bootlicking reminded Hong Jun of an unpleasant memory.
He saw his own reflection in Liu Mang.
When Pangu had opened the heavens, had he not been just like this before Pangu?
Under Pangu's might, he could only stick his ass up and lie trembling in the chaos, unable even to do something as simple as running away.
To survive, he had been just as shameless, just as willing to compromise, just as low as dust.
There had been many Demon Gods as humble as him back then, but through his own shamelessness, he had laughed until the end.
But now, the short, ugly, poor Demon God Hong Jun of the past was gone. All that remained was the great, glorious, upright Dao Ancestor Hong Jun of today.
Hong Jun knew well that gentlemen were not frightening. He had seen over a thousand gentlemen among the three thousand Demon Gods, yet now not even their ashes could be found.
On the contrary, true villains like him had lived quite well.
And Liu Mang had gone even further than he had back then. That fellow truly had no shame at all!
In an instant, Hong Jun made up his mind.
This child absolutely could not be allowed to live!
Over on Liu Mang's side.
Liu Mang lay sprawled on the ground for a long while without receiving any response. Nor did his outstretched hands feel any gift being placed upon them.
Could Hong Jun really be this clueless about social etiquette? I already called him Grandpa, and I even held out my hands. Isn't he going to give me anything?
Just as Liu Mang was about to raise his head and see what was happening, before he could move, a powerful aura surged toward him from every direction. It wrapped around him and suppressed him so thoroughly that he could not move.
Within a second, blood sprayed from every pore of Liu Mang's body. He was dyed entirely red, as though Ming He had been reincarnated.
That pressure seemed capable of crushing heaven and earth. Every muscle in his body trembled under it, and all 206 of his bones groaned as if they would shatter into powder the next moment.
Liu Mang's heart turned bitter. I've already cowered this much, yet this worm still has no intention of letting me go.
Had Liu Mang known things would turn out this way, he would have hidden behind Nu Wa and refused to come out. He definitely would not have recklessly delivered himself before Hong Jun.
Now, even if Nu Wa wanted to save him, it was already too late.
Everyone was equally dumbfounded as they watched Hong Jun suddenly attack Liu Mang, completely unable to react.
[It's over! This time I'm really screwed!] [They're about to hold my funeral feast. I wonder if I can still receive the gift.]
Liu Mang had already prepared himself to die once more.
But the next second, he felt the aura pressing down on him suddenly vanish, as though it had never existed.
Nu Wa, who had been about to act, also stopped. Yet the trace of shock in Hong Jun's eyes was caught by Nu Wa, who had been watching him closely all along.
The shock in Hong Jun's eyes vanished in an instant. Before anyone could notice it, he had already returned to normal.
Ignoring everyone's astonished expressions, he looked at Liu Mang and said, "Hahaha, as expected of the Human Race that will become the protagonist of Hong Huang in the future. Though you have not cultivated yet, you can still withstand the test of heaven and earth's pressure."
A faint smile rested on his face as he looked approvingly at Liu Mang. "Not bad, truly not bad!"
Only after hearing Hong Jun's words did everyone suddenly understand.
So the Dao Ancestor had been testing Liu Mang. We had misunderstood him, thinking he would disregard his status and attack a junior without reason. If that were the case, wouldn't everyone in Hong Huang be in danger?
Why had Hong Jun suddenly stopped? That required starting from the beginning.
After making up his mind, Hong Jun immediately launched an attack the next moment.
Having spent so long in Hong Huang, how could he not know that villains died from talking too much?
So he said nothing and attacked directly.
But just as the attack launched by Hong Jun's avatar touched Liu Mang, an immense sense of danger assaulted Hong Jun's true body in the Purple Cloud Palace, filling him with dread.
He had no doubt that if he dared erase Liu Mang, death and the destruction of his Dao would await him the very next moment.
Hong Jun immediately stopped his attack. The instant he did, that feeling of death disappeared as well.
He knew that killing Liu Mang was no longer possible, so he changed his words and claimed it had merely been a test.
As for how many people believed that, that was another matter.
Everyone exchanged glances and fell silent.
Purple Cloud Palace.
Hong Jun's true body stared into the void, his face filled with mockery.
"What kind of background does he have? Even you, Heavenly Dao, cannot wield a power that could make me die and have my Dao extinguished."
He waited for a long time, yet received no response.
He raised his head and looked into the depths of chaos. "Could the existence over there have acted?"
After thinking for a moment, Hong Jun said with a fierce expression, "I do not care who you are. Anyone who obstructs my transcendence beyond Hong Huang is my enemy."
Through his avatar, he watched Liu Mang lying on the ground and thought, Hong Huang is so vast. If something were to happen to your person, you can't blame me, can you?
But for now, the more important matter was dealing with the situation before him.
With a wave of Hong Jun's hand, Liu Mang became spotlessly clean again, and his body was involuntarily pulled upright from the ground.
Liu Mang looked eagerly at Hong Jun and fawned, "Dao Ancestor Grandpa, what treasure is this disciple-grandson's greeting gift?"
Liu Mang was smiling on the surface, but inwardly he was cursing.
[What fucking test? Who the hell are you trying to fool?] [I nearly got killed by you. If you don't bleed a little, do you think I'll let you leave?]
Hong Jun looked at Liu Mang's still-outstretched hands, his face darkening. This bastard is really persistent. If I don't give him something today, I'm afraid he won't leave!
"Of course you will receive a greeting gift. This—" Before Hong Jun could finish, Liu Mang's delighted voice rang out.
"I knew Dao Ancestor Grandpa would never be stingy. Di Jun gave this disciple-grandson a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure and even said no one could surpass him."
Di Jun, who had just been dragged into this, was utterly dumbfounded as he faced Hong Jun's murderous expression.
Di Jun: That wasn't me, I never said that, stop talking nonsense!
Hong Jun's hand, which had been taking out a gift, paused. He looked at Di Jun with ill intent and slowly said, "As expected of the ruler of the Demon Race. You give away a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure so readily. When I have the chance, I should pay the Demon Court a visit as well."
After hearing Hong Jun's words, Di Jun's face darkened as he glared furiously at Liu Mang. When did I ever say something like that? You bastard, you're setting me up again.
I, Di Jun, may not be human, but you really are a dog!
Before you continue