Mount Buzhou, Pangu Hall.
Zhenyuanzi and Fellow Daoist Hong Yun appeared outside the hall.
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun stood side by side: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I, Zhenyuanzi, and I, Hongyun, have come to visit."
Not long after, the hall doors opened, and Wu Ming's figure appeared.
His gaze lingered on Hongyun for a moment, and he nodded slightly.
"Fellow Daoists, please come in."
Wu Ming welcomed Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun into the hall.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Hongyun broke the silence, looking at Wu Ming and speaking solemnly.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."
"I have already thought it through."
"I have decided to give the Hongmeng Purple Energy to Fellow Daoist Kunpeng to settle the Karma between us."
As these words came out, even with Wu Ming's steady Heart-Nature, he couldn't help but look up at Hongyun.
He had originally thought that Hongyun would at least struggle and hesitate for a long time, after all, that was the Hongmeng Purple Energy, the foundation for becoming a Saint, a unique temptation in the Grandmist.
He didn't expect a decision to be made so quickly.
This decisiveness made Wu Ming regard him with a bit more respect.
Although he felt pity for Hongyun losing the Opportunity for Sainthood, being able to let go of his obsession and settle the Karma was not necessarily a bad thing for Hongyun.
He looked up at Hongyun and confirmed: "Fellow Daoist, have you decided?"
"Yes, I have decided." Hongyun nodded, his tone without the slightest hesitation.
Although his heart felt like it was being cut when he made the decision, speaking it out now gave him a feeling of having a heavy burden lifted.
He put down his teacup and stood up: "Good. Since Fellow Daoist has made a decision, it's better sooner than later."
"Let's depart now and go find Fellow Daoist Kunpeng."
Wu Ming slowly nodded: "Good."
"Since Fellow Daoist has made a decision, then there's no time to lose."
"Let's go find Fellow Daoist Kunpeng now."
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun naturally had no objections.
The three immediately set off, leaving Pangu Hall.
However, after flying for a moment, Zhenyuanzi noticed that the direction was wrong.
He spoke up and asked: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, aren't we going to the North Sea to find Fellow Daoist Kunpeng?"
"Why are we heading towards the Heavenly Court?"
Wu Ming looked back at the two, surprised: "Hmm? Don't Fellow Daoists know that Kunpeng has already joined the Demon Clan Heavenly Court?"
"What?!" Zhenyuanzi exclaimed.
Hongyun's expression changed even more drastically: "Kunpeng... joined the Heavenly Court? When did this happen?"
This news was nothing short of a thunderbolt from the blue for them.
"Shortly after the Zixiao Palace sermon ended, Dijun and Taiyi personally conferred upon him the title of Demon Master, his status only below their brothers and Nuwa and Fuxi."
"This matter has already spread throughout the Grandmist."
"Presumably, the Yao Race also did it intentionally to deter petty individuals and boost their prestige."
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun looked at each other, both seeing complex emotions in each other's eyes.
Shock, disbelief, and a hint of lingering fear and relief.
"I didn't expect... Kunpeng would choose to seek refuge with the Yao Race just to deal with me!" Hongyun murmured to himself, a chill running through his heart.
"Demon Master... what a grand gesture! Dijun and Taiyi certainly spent a lot to win over Kunpeng." Zhenyuanzi murmured to himself, his brows tightly furrowed.
Hongyun's heart sank.
Kunpeng was already powerful, and now he had the Demon Clan Heavenly Court as his backing, and was even conferred the title of Demon Master, a respected position.
If he had really been blinded by the Hongmeng Purple Energy before and chosen to resist...
The consequences would have been unimaginable!
Not only would he himself perish, but he would also implicate his good friend Zhenyuanzi, and even drag the Wu Clan into it.
This was definitely not the outcome they wanted to see.
Zhenyuanzi gave a bitter smile: "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun and I returned directly to Wuzhuang Temple after returning from Zixiao Palace."
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun has been troubled by the matter of the Hongmeng Purple Energy, and after making his decision, he immediately came to seek you, Fellow Daoist."
"During that time, we indeed did not pay attention to the affairs of the Grandmist."
"So that's how it is." Wu Ming nodded.
The three said no more, transforming into three streaks of light and speeding towards the Demon Clan Heavenly Court above the Nine Heavens.
...
South Heaven Gate.
The majestic Heaven Gate stood tall in the clouds, radiating golden light and auspicious Qi.
Wu Ming, Zhenyuanzi, and Hongyun landed in front of the gate.
Hongyun stepped forward, calling out loudly: "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, I, Hongyun, have come to visit, and hope Fellow Daoist will come out to meet me!"
The voice spread far and wide, piercing through the clouds, reaching deep into the Heavenly Court.
...
Inside Lingxiao Palace.
Kunpeng was discussing matters with Dijun and Taiyi when he heard Hongyun's voice, his face instantly turned ashen, and a cold Qi erupted from his body.
"Hong—Yun—!" He suddenly stood up, gritting his teeth, "He actually dares to come? What is he here for? To mock me?"
"Good, good, good! There's a path to Heaven, but you refuse to take it; there's no gate to Hell, but you barge in!"
Killing Intent filled Kunpeng's eyes as he turned to Dijun and Taiyi: "Your Majesty! Your Highness!"
"I hope the two of you will lend me a hand; today I must capture this Hongyun! Tear him to shreds to vent the hatred in my heart!"
Dijun's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, his expression unchanged, but his eyes deepened slightly.
He glanced at the furious Kunpeng and said indifferently: "Demon Master, calm yourself."
"You want to capture Hongyun? I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
"Capture Hongyun? I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
Dijun's gaze seemed to pierce through Lingxiao Palace, seeing the situation outside the South Heaven Gate.
"This time, he didn't come alone."
"Wu Ming and Zhenyuanzi both came with him."
"What?!" Kunpeng's rage grew even stronger, "Good! This despicable scoundrel! Not content with snatching my Opportunity, he even brings helpers to humiliate me!"
"Too much! Too much!"
"I will definitely tear him to shreds, grind his bones to dust, and obliterate his true spirit!"
Taiyi frowned slightly beside him, also feeling that Hongyun's visit was not for good.
Dijun, however, shook his head: "Demon Master, calm down."
"Although Hongyun is somewhat pedantic, he is not a treacherous person. His bringing Wu Ming and Zhenyuanzi with him probably isn't to mock you."
"Let's go out and see what he's up to."
Kunpeng forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, but his face remained so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.
He snorted coldly: "Hmph! Going out to see is fine too!"
"I want to see what tricks he can pull!"
"He can't possibly... be here to give me the Hongmeng Purple Energy, right? Hahaha!"
As Kunpeng spoke the last words, he found it absurd himself, and couldn't help but let out a dry, self-mocking laugh.
Dijun and Taiyi exchanged glances.
Give the Hongmeng Purple Energy?
Hehe.
This Kunpeng is truly muddled by anger, what kind of pipe dream is he having?
In this Grandmist, besides the Dao Ancestor, who has such courage?
Hongyun? That good-natured fellow?
Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
"Let's go, we'll know when we see it." Dijun stood up and walked out of the hall first.
The three said no more, stood up, left Lingxiao Palace, and headed towards the South Heaven Gate.
...
Outside the South Heaven Gate.
The figures of Dijun, Taiyi, and Kunpeng appeared.
As soon as Kunpeng appeared and saw Hongyun, the suppressed rage could no longer be controlled, and he roared sharply: "Hongyun! You still dare to see me!"
Facing Kunpeng's towering rage, Hongyun showed a hint of guilt on his face, bowed, and said: "Fellow Daoist Kunpeng."
"Regarding the Zixiao Palace cushion matter, it was indeed my oversight, and it implicated Fellow Daoist."
"I feel ashamed."
"I have come this time precisely to settle this Karma with Fellow Daoist."
Upon hearing this, Kunpeng laughed in extreme anger: "Settle Karma?"
"Hahaha! Easy for you to say!"
"That was a Saint position! It was the Hongmeng Purple Energy! It was the Opportunity to become a Saint!"
"You ruined my Dao path! Cut off my future!"
"Such an irreconcilable deep hatred! How do you propose to settle it?!"
"With your life?!"
Kunpeng's Killing Intent almost solidified, clearly, if Hongyun said one wrong word, he would immediately strike!
Dijun and Taiyi stood to the side, observing coldly.
They were also very curious as to how Hongyun intended to settle this irreconcilable Karma.
Hongyun raised his head, looking directly into Kunpeng's resentful eyes, and said clearly, word by word:
"I am willing to give the Hongmeng Purple Energy to Fellow Daoist."
"With this, I will settle the Karma between you and me."