Chapter 568

On the Blood-Colored Mountain Range.

Hongyun Laozu's heart sank to the valley's bottom.

He watched as two figures, one in front and one behind, blocked all his retreat routes; the blood color on his face faded at a visible speed.

One was Youshi Kunpeng, Lord of Beihai, whose speed was unmatched in the Great Wasteland, his eyes gloomy and vicious like ten-thousand-year-old black ice.

One was Minghe Laozu, Lord of the Blood Sea, a born slaughter demon god, with karmic fire red lotuses beneath his feet emitting an ominous aura that made souls tremble.

These two were among the top-tier powerhouses in the Great Wasteland, each not weaker than him.

Now, the two came together.

"Kunpeng Daoist, Minghe Daoist, what is your meaning?" Hong Yun forced himself to calm his mind, storing the rolling Primordial Beginning Purple Qi into his sleeve, stood up, and squeezed out a smile uglier than crying.

"What meaning?" Kunpeng let out a cold laugh, the sound like two floating ice blocks rubbing together, making one's teeth ache, "Hong Yun, plain people don't speak in riddles—hand over what you obtained. This item has no fate with you; to keep it forcibly will only bring you a killing calamity."

"Not bad." Minghe Laozu licked his lips, the Yutu and Aobi swords revolving around him, emitting a bloodthirsty hum, "The Ancestor of the Dao said this item has fate with you, but did not say it cannot be gifted. I see, its fate with my Blood Sea seems deeper."

Hong Yun's heart turned completely cold.

He knew today could not be settled peacefully.

He glanced at the two, suddenly recalling in Zixiao Palace, when Di Jun refused the Saint Position, that determination of 'even if ten thousand people oppose me, I will go forward.'

A surge of blood qi rose from somewhere to his heart.

"This is what the Ancestor of the Dao bestowed; it is my foundation for sanctification—how could I lightly give it to others!"

Hongyun Laozu let out a great shout, auspicious divine clouds rose around him, and atop the auspicious clouds, a gourd emitting nine paths of pure qi spun rapidly.

Nine-Nine Dispersing Soul Gourd!

He knew he could not defeat the two together; his only path to survival was to flee!

"Zhenyuanzi Daoist brother, save me!"

A mournful cry rang out, accompanied by the boundless red sand spraying from the gourd's mouth, echoing through the clouds.

Hong Yun transformed entirely into a streak of red light, fleeing desperately toward Wanshou Mountain.

"Want to run?"

A trace of disdain flashed in Kunpeng's eyes.

He took a step forward, his figure blurring as if merging into space; the next instant, he appeared before Hong Yun's escape light, blocking his path.

"Comparing speed before this seat—you are still not qualified."

At the same time, Minghe Laozu's karmic fire red lotus beneath his feet blazed with blood light, the Twelve-Grade Lotus Platform transforming into an endless blood sea, enveloping the space of billions of miles in all directions.

Blood Sea Domain!

Hong Yun only felt his whole body tighten, as if sinking into sticky mud, his escape speed greatly reduced.

"Hong Yun, today is your day of death!"

Kunpeng no longer wasted words; a huge claw tore through the void, carrying endless North Ice Wind Snow, grabbing down toward Hong Yun's celestial spirit cover.

Hong Yun, terrified to the point of soul flying and spirit scattering, hastily activated the Nine-Nine Dispersing Soul Gourd; the red sand sprayed from its mouth turned into solid barriers, layered upon layered, protecting him in front.

However, under Kunpeng's furious strike, those barriers were as fragile as paper, easily torn apart.

The claw was about to fall.

"Daoist, spare a life!"

A hurried shout came from the horizon.

A thick, earth-yellow light curtain appeared out of thin air, blocking in front of Hong Yun.

Boom!

The claw collided with the light curtain, erupting in a earth-shaking roar.

The light curtain shattered, but the claw was also shaken back, flying inverted.

A figure stepped on auspicious clouds, holding Jade Chen, landing beside Hong Yun—none other than Zhenyuanzi, who had rushed from Wuzhuang Guan.

"Zhenyuanzi?" Kunpeng looked at the newcomer, his eyes growing colder, "You want to interfere in this matter?"

"Kunpeng Daoist, Hong Yun Daoist brother and I are close friends; I hope Daoist, out of respect for my humble face, lets him go." Zhenyuanzi held the Earth Book, his expression solemn.

"Let him go?" Minghe Laozu let out a strange laugh, "Possible—let him leave the Primordial Beginning Purple Qi behind."

Zhenyuanzi's face darkened.

He knew this was impossible.

"It seems today we cannot reach an agreement."

Zhenyuanzi sighed; the Earth Book above his head shone brightly, thick paths of Profound Yellow Qi poured down, firmly protecting him and Hong Yun.

"Then kill you together!"

Kunpeng and Minghe exchanged a glance, simultaneously arousing killing intent.

The four top-tier powerhouses of the Great Wasteland, on this desolate mountain range, began a battle of no death, no rest.

Although Zhenyuanzi had the Earth Book protecting him, standing in an invincible position, but Kunpeng's speed was too fast, Minghe's Blood Sea polluting the primordial spirit—he alone could not protect the already timid Hong Yun.

After less than a hundred moves, Hong Yun was found by Minghe's Blood God Child Avatar, a sword piercing his heart.

Karmic fire entangled his body; Hong Yun let out a miserable cry, his flesh body destroyed more than half on the spot.

"Daoist brother!" Zhenyuanzi's eyes nearly burst, he frantically activated the Earth Book, trying to retrieve Hong Yun.

But Kunpeng had long been waiting; he transformed into a giant bird covering the sky, flapping his wings, an endless space storm sweeping in, tightly entangling Zhenyuanzi.

"Hong Yun, hand over your life!"

Minghe Laozu laughed ferociously, the Yutu and Aobi swords transforming into two blood dragons, instantly crushing Hong Yun's remaining primordial spirit into fragments.

A strand of purple qi shot up from the shattered primordial spirit, trying to escape.

Kunpeng had long prepared; his giant claw reached out, firmly grasping it in his hand.

"Hahaha! The foundation for sanctification is mine!" Kunpeng laughed to the sky.

However, his laughter had not yet fallen.

A streak of icy sword light, coming from who knew where, silently slashed toward the sharp claw with which he grasped the Primordial Beginning Purple Qi.

Kunpeng was startled in his heart, and hurriedly retracted his claw and dodged.

But that sword light pursued like a shadow following form, forcing him to release his claw.

The Primordial Beginning Purple Qi was once again exposed in the air.

The Blood Sea surged, and a large hand reached out from the Blood Sea, grabbing toward that streak of purple qi.

"Minghe, you dare!" Kunpeng flew into a rage.

Just as the two were about to once again come to blows over the Primordial Beginning Purple Qi.

That streak of purple qi seemed to have gained sentience, tracing a bizarre arc through the air, instantly vanishing into the void, its whereabouts unknown.

Both Kunpeng and Minghe were stunned.

And far away, Zhenyuanzi, trapped by the space storm, gazing at the place where Hong Yun had perished body and soul, shed two lines of blood tears from his eyes.

He raised his head to the heavens and let out a grief-stricken, utmost roar: "Kunpeng! Minghe! If I do not avenge this grudge, I, Zhenyuanzi, swear I will not be human!"

……

Above the Nine Heavens, the Heavenly Court.

Lingxiao Baodian.

Di Jun sat upright upon the Imperial Throne, his face like still water.

He had already heard Fuxi's report.

Hong Yun was dead.

He had died under the siege of Kunpeng and Minghe.

"Emperor, Treasure Vault Master Kunpeng he..." Fuxi looked at Di Jun, wanting to speak but stopping.

"We know." Di Jun waved his hand, his voice revealing no joy or anger.

Regarding Hong Yun's death, he had not a shred of sympathy.

The Great Wasteland was originally this cruel.

He merely had not expected that Kunpeng's moves would be this fast, his courage this great.

"Issue Our edict: Treasure Vault Master Kunpeng pursued and killed the Blood Sea remnants with merit; reward one Innate Spiritual Treasure, promote one rank, govern North Heavenly Gate affairs." Di Jun spoke blandly.

Fuxi was stunned.

He did not understand; Kunpeng had clearly gone to seize the Primordial Beginning Purple Qi, how had it become pursuing and killing Blood Sea remnants?

But he soon reacted.

Di Jun was protecting Kunpeng.

After all, Kunpeng was the Yao Clan's Treasure Vault Master, a Heavenly Court heavy minister.

No matter what he did, when facing outward, the Heavenly Court must uphold his face.

"Emperor is wise." Fuxi bowed in salute, and withdrew.

Inside the great hall, only Di Jun remained.

He leaned against the cold imperial seat, rubbing his brow.

Kunpeng, cannot be trusted.

This point, he understood more clearly than anyone.

But right now he needed Kunpeng, needed him to check and balance the other forces within the Heavenly Court.

More importantly, he needed Kunpeng to serve as a qualified audience at the Discussion of the Dao Grand Assembly a hundred years later.

Thinking of the Discussion of the Dao Grand Assembly, Di Jun's eyes once again ignited with blazing flames.

According to what Younger Brother said, Sanctification was not solely the Ancestor of the Dao's path.