Hong Jun looked at the Qiankun Cauldron spinning in his palm and said frankly.
"I previously performed a divination at the Purple Cloud Palace and learned that this Qiankun Cauldron was originally meant to be used by Fellow Daoist Nu Wa to create humans.
So I waited for Fellow Daoist Nu Wa to come and claim it. Yet now that the Human Race has been established, the Qiankun Cauldron remains in my possession.
I presume the coming calamity has muddled the heavenly secrets, causing an error in my divination.
Fortunately, I did not give this cauldron to Fellow Daoist Nu Wa in advance. Otherwise, the creation of humans might have ended in failure."
Just thinking about it made Hong Jun feel bitter.
He had originally divined that this was the cauldron Nu Wa needed to create humans, so he had taken it into his possession early on. He had intended to wait until Nu Wa came begging him, then claim a share of the Merit from creating humans.
Liu Mang's appearance as an anomaly meant Nu Wa had never sought his help in creating humans. He had no way to gain any Merit from it and could only casually use "muddled heavenly secrets, erroneous divination" as an excuse.
Though Hong Jun did not say it aloud, he was deeply reluctant to part with it. This was a treasure that had accompanied him through countless kalpas.
If he gave it to Nu Wa to create humans, at least he could obtain some Merit in exchange, which could help him harmonize with the Heavenly Dao.
Now, not only had he failed to get any Merit, he had also lost this treasure for nothing.
"If I had known, I would have divined it before making my move! I failed to get rid of the person, yet lost the treasure instead!"
The more Hong Jun thought about it, the angrier he became. If there had not been so many people present, he truly would have slapped himself twice.
With a push of Hong Jun's hand, the Qiankun Cauldron automatically flew before Liu Mang.
Liu Mang looked at the little cauldron before him, delighted, but he did not reach for it.
[Great! The famous Qiankun Cauldron of Hong Huang will bear the Liu name from now on! Just thinking about it is exciting!]
[But I can't take it. Who knows whether Hong Jun tampered with it? I should let Mother test it first!]
As Liu Mang thought this, he was about to raise his head and ask Nu Wa when, before he could even see her, a slap landed on his head with a smack.
Nu Wa withdrew the hand she had used to hit Liu Mang, then snorted. "Fellow Daoist Hong Jun testing you means he thinks highly of you, that you possess insight and can be nurtured! Why do you have so many schemes?"
It had to be said, she was becoming more and more accustomed to smacking people on the head. Once a habit formed, it was truly difficult to change.
Hong Jun looked stunned. Why had she not said that earlier? He had already given away two gifts before she said this to him.
I suspect I've been played! And I have proof!
Nu Wa looked at Liu Mang with displeasure. Before he could say anything, she put away the Qiankun Cauldron while saying, "You do not even know how to cultivate yet. Are you holding the Qiankun Cauldron because you think you will not die fast enough? I'll keep it for you first."
[I feel like I've heard that somewhere before!]
After hearing Liu Mang's inner thoughts, Nu Wa hardened her heart. She did not even spare the Chaos Jade Void Diagram he held in his arms, snatching it away as well and placing it in her storage space.
Nu Wa glared at the dazed Liu Mang and inwardly muttered, Serves you right for badmouthing me in your heart, you unfilial brat!
When she turned and saw the dumbfounded crowd who had witnessed everything, her face reddened slightly.
Clearly, she was still not quite used to doing something as shameless as robbing someone of their belongings.
But when Nu Wa remembered that this was not even the first time she had robbed him, she immediately felt there was nothing embarrassing about it.
She slapped the top of Liu Mang's head again and said unhappily, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank him!"
"Oh, oh!" Liu Mang only came back to his senses after responding twice. Although the items were temporarily gone, he no longer had to worry about Hong Jun secretly tampering with them!
Thinking about it, he did not know whether he should be happy or sad.
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor!" Liu Mang shouted, preparing to prostrate himself again. Hong Jun was so frightened that he hurriedly supported him with an invisible force, interrupting his attempt.
He could not let Liu Mang bow again. If he kept bowing, all the possessions Hong Jun had accumulated over dozens of kalpas would be bowed away!
Thinking of the two treasures he had given away, both Innate Spiritual Treasures, made Hong Jun's heart ache so badly that he nearly suffocated.
Afraid that if he stayed any longer, he truly would not be able to resist attacking Liu Mang, he decided to leave.
Hong Jun swept his gaze across the crowd and said with a smile, "Now that this matter is settled, I must return to the Purple Cloud Palace to continue merging with the Dao. The affairs of Hong Huang will be entrusted to all of you. If you encounter anything you cannot resolve, come find me at the Purple Cloud Palace."
After speaking, Hong Jun turned to leave, but his stride was interrupted by a sharp feminine cry.
"Dao Ancestor, please wait!"
Hong Jun stopped and turned toward the Twelve Ancestral Witches. After studying the Ancestral Wu Hou Tu, who had just spoken, he frowned slightly.
He had always known the Twelve Ancestral Witches' attitude toward him. For a moment, he could not guess why Hou Tu had called out to him.
"Ancestral Wu Hou Tu? For the sake of how kindly you have always treated the living beings of Hong Huang, speak if you have a question!"
Hou Tu cupped her hands toward Hong Jun and asked tentatively, "You said earlier that the Human Race represented by Liu Mang would become the protagonists of Hong Huang?"
Hong Jun nodded after hearing this, his expression solemn. "Yes, I did say that."
"Then what about the Wu Clan?"
Before Hong Jun could answer, Di Jun stepped forward and asked, "Dao Ancestor, what Hou Tu said is also what I wish to ask. Aside from the Wu Clan, where will the Demon Race stand?"
"Heh." Hong Jun glanced at them both and sneered.
"The Wu Clan? The Demon Race? You two actually have the nerve to ask me? Surely you know what the Witch-Demon clans have done!"
"This..." Hou Tu and Di Jun exchanged glances, their faces darkening as neither could speak.
Hong Jun ignored them and continued mockingly, "And you still wish to become the protagonists of heaven and earth? Why not ask yourselves first whether you are worthy? Whether the countless dead beings of all races would agree?"
The moment Hong Jun finished speaking, the hot-tempered Zhu Rong stepped forward. "Hong Jun, our Wu Clan was formed from Father God Pangu's Essence Blood. How dare you slander us?"
Hong Jun had already been angered by Liu Mang for quite some time and had been suppressing his fury. Zhu Rong had happened to jump out as if seeking death.
"I can't attack that dog, but I can't attack you either?"
"Do you take people for fools just because they do not get angry?"
Hong Jun narrowed his eyes at Zhu Rong and said coldly, "So what if it is Pangu? Who taught you to disregard rank and propriety? Today, I'll teach you a lesson."
Hong Jun did not appear to make any movement, yet Zhu Rong, who had just stepped forward, seemed to be struck by an invisible sledgehammer. He spat out a mouthful of blood and was hurled thousands of meters away like a sack of garbage, struggling for a long time without managing to rise.
For the first time, everyone witnessed the might of a Saint. Under Hong Jun's pressure, the other Ancestral Witches did not even have the thought of fighting back. They personally experienced what Hong Jun meant by "all beneath Saints are ants."
Hong Jun glanced at the struggling Zhu Rong. "Hmph. This time, I merely gave you a light punishment. Next time, it will not be so easy!"
After saying that, he turned to the members of the Witch-Demon clans and said seriously, "Whether it is slander or not, see for yourselves. I cannot be bothered to say more."
"Since the demons governed the heavens and the witches ruled the earth, when have the Witch-Demon clans not regarded the living beings of all races in Hong Huang as grass and treated them however they pleased? You can do it yourselves, but no one else may speak of it?"
"Remember, what people do, heaven sees! It is not that retribution will not come; the time has simply not arrived!"
Hong Jun snorted coldly. "Wait for it. After the Dragon-Han Tribulation, another calamity is about to arrive. The Witch-Demon clans will be its protagonists. I advise you all to conduct yourselves properly."
"What?!" The Ancestral Witches and Demon Gods all wore expressions of disbelief, clearly shocked by this news.
Although conflict between the Witch-Demon clans had been frequent, and countless living beings had died from their battles, neither clan believed this would give rise to a calamity.
They had personally experienced both the Dragon-Han Tribulation and the Demon Dao calamity. The entire Hong Huang had been shattered in those conflicts.
The current struggle between the witches and demons had barely begun. How could it possibly cause a calamity?
After speaking, Hong Jun prepared to leave without waiting for the Ancestral Witches and Demon Gods to react. After taking two steps, he stopped once more and turned to look at Nu Wa.
"Saints must not enter Hong Huang, or they too will perish! Fellow Daoist, make your preparations early."
After saying that, Hong Jun took another two steps. In merely four steps, his body went from solid to ethereal before completely vanishing into the sky, as though he had never appeared at all.
Nu Wa looked in the direction where Hong Jun had vanished, her brows knitting slightly.
"Was that a threat?"
Before you continue