Chapter 145: Zhunti parts ways with Hongyun! Severing karma! Bestowing the Earth Book!

The center of Honghuang, Wuzhuang Temple.

Along with memory orbs concerning the Battle of Mount Xumi and all manner of rumors, information spread throughout the ten thousand races of Honghuang, across the four seas and eight wildernesses.

Even Hongyun and his companion, who never stepped outside, gradually learned some relevant information from the cannon fodder arranged by the Star Court.

Although the versions of these rumors differed.

Speculation regarding Hongjun's conspiracy had evolved from the few types initially spread by the Star Court into hundreds now, passed from mouth to mouth!

But no matter how terrifying they became, the core remained largely the same.

All revolved around the path of the Quasi-Saint and the layout of the six strands of the Purple Qi of Hongmeng.

At first, Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi did not pay much attention.

However, as rumors flew and various false and true pieces of evidence circulated among all living beings,

the two had to admit that the problems they now faced had reached a point where they had to find a solution.

"Fellow Daoist, the situation in the world outside is turbulent."

"It is rumored everywhere that the Purple Qi of Hongmeng is a trap set by the Dao Ancestor, and that everyone who accepts it will become a stepping stone for him to ascend to the Hunyuan Heavenly Dao."

After much careful deliberation, Hongyun

sought out Zhenyuanzi, wanting to understand the other's thoughts.

If possible, he wanted to simply hand over the Purple Qi of Hongmeng.

This would not only avoid a life-or-death calamity,

but perhaps even exchange it for some benefits and resources!

"These rumors are already intensifying."

"To prevent them from becoming reality, why don't we hand over the Purple Qi of Hongmeng?"

"Once we hand it over, no matter how the outside world stirs, it will have nothing more to do with us."

Zhenyuanzi certainly wanted to hand over the Purple Qi of Hongmeng.

But sometimes, some things

were not matters that could be solved just because he wanted them to be.

Especially since the dharma treasure Hongjun had distributed to him was the Pangu Banner, the number one offensive innate supreme treasure!

From the moment he received that treasure,

his fate was no longer something he could control.

He himself was merely a chess piece in Hongjun's hand.

And if a chess piece acted on its own, the only outcome was death.

He was not actually afraid of death.

He only worried that his acting on his own would implicate his good friend, Hongyun.

As a chess piece, he could no longer control his own future.

He could only move as the player moved, until the moment his value was squeezed dry, at which point he could finally break free.

As for what he would face after breaking free—whether it would be the dissipation of his body and Dao,

or if he could linger on in the world,

that would only depend on how important he, this chess piece, was...

"Hongyun, the moment the Purple Qi of Hongmeng descended, everything was already beyond my control."

"Regardless of whether the rumors outside are true or not,"

"I have long been unable to extricate myself from this quagmire."

As Zhenyuanzi shook his head with a detached expression,

he took out his life-bound treasure, the Earth Book.

"The Purple Qi of Hongmeng is the puppet string that controls me."

"If I follow the controller's expectations,"

"I still have a glimmer of survival."

"If I were to cut the puppet string, I might gain a moment of peace."

"But that would only be a fleeting tranquility."

"Once the controller discovers the chess piece has broken free from control, that will be the time I am completely destroyed!"

The moment his voice fell, amidst Hongyun's shocked, bewildered, and panicked gaze,

Zhenyuanzi raised his hand and struck, directly severing all karmic connections between himself and the Earth Book!

In an instant, the sturdy barrier shrouding Wuzhuang Temple gradually dissolved into the world.

Zhenyuanzi's cultivation, under the backlash of forcibly severing the connection with his treasure, instantly plummeted to around the mid-stage of Da Luo Golden Immortal!

Furthermore, because the origin of the Earth Book and his own origin had long since fused,

stripping the Earth Book away completely was no different from self-mutilation upon his own origin!

This led to the loss of his cultivation,

which was only the smallest of the injuries he sustained.

The loss of origin and damage to his true spirit were the most severe injuries he currently suffered from the backlash!

If he did not find a way to recover both in a short time,

then Zhenyuanzi's fate would, at best, be stagnant cultivation, a fragile body, and a weak soul!

"Fellow Daoist, what are you doing!"

The moment Zhenyuanzi placed the Earth Book before him,

Hongyun finally recovered from his shock.

With a panicked expression, he hurriedly flashed to his side,

using his own magic power and origin to help him repair his damaged origin and soul.

"Hongyun, I am already trapped in the chess game and cannot escape."

"But you are still free."

"The Earth Book is the treasure with the strongest defense in heaven and earth."

"With it, no one can harm you in the slightest."

As he spoke, Zhenyuanzi forcibly pushed Hongyun away and shoved the Earth Book into his hands.

"Now, the defense of Wuzhuang Temple has failed."

"The pack of wolves already waiting outside will come to test us."

"Take it and find a place where no one is around to hide."

"If I can escape the chess game, I will naturally come to find you."

"But if I fall within the chess game,"

"no matter who the person who kills me is,"

"you only need to take my share and live on well."

"Do not ever think of avenging me, do you understand!"

Hongyun looked at the gaze in Zhenyuanzi's eyes, which was resolute yet carried a hint of pleading.

He opened his mouth several times but could not say the words to persuade the other to take back the Earth Book and leave with him.

He knew this was the result of the other's deep deliberation.

He also clearly knew what kind of person the other was.

If not for him being a burden,

the other might have long since attempted to break the shackles!

"You were always the carefree clouds soaring above, overlooking the human world."

"Now it is time to return to the horizon and roam the firmament."

Zhenyuanzi watched Hongyun struggling in silence.

He forcibly gathered his spirits and pulled a faint smile.

"Go, go as far as you can."

"Do not ever..."

However, just as Zhenyuanzi was persuading Hongyun to leave,

the cannon fodder who discovered the disappearance of Wuzhuang Temple's protection,

although they did not know what had happened,

knew that this was an excellent opportunity.

Having received the favor of the Star Court, they had a chance at rebirth.

Their closest family members no longer had any worries!

Even if Wuzhuang Temple was a dragon's den and tiger's lair at this moment!

They had to go in and take a walk!

To set an example for the rest of the hunters,

so that they would have no more scruples!

"Zhenyuanzi, hand over the Purple Qi of Hongmeng immediately!"

To ensure nothing went wrong and the acting was realistic,

the cannon fodder selected by Tongtian and Nüwa

were basically all at the late stage of Da Luo Golden Immortal.

The first cannon fodder to rush into Wuzhuang Temple was the strongest among them, possessing the cultivation of a Da Luo Golden Immortal Perfection!

The might of his entire body poured down without reservation,

instantly causing Zhenyuanzi, who was already suffering from backlash and had unstable energy, to spit out a mouthful of black blood mixed with internal organs.

His cultivation fell in an instant to the early stage of Da Luo Golden Immortal!

(End of chapter)