Chapter 324: The Hunyuan opportunity must naturally be exchanged for Hunyuan

Subject Rahu pays respects to the five Majesties.

Subject Ji Du pays respects to the five Majesties.

Above the high seats, in the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, Qi sat together with Di Jun and Fuxi, while Taiyi and Nüwa had no interest in this matter and thus did not participate.

Seeing the two standing, Qi did not speak; with outsiders present, the one in charge of the Heavenly Court is Di Jun, and Qi and Fuxi would not interfere too much.

Qi and Di Jun, at a glance, could see Rahu's peculiarity at this moment, after all, after severing the three corpses, his displayed state was completely different from before.

Gazing at the two before him, Di Jun, feeling quite interested, opened his mouth and said.

"Originally, Star Lord Rahu's covert emergence from the Heavenly Court this time was to sever the three corpses; yet, having such a good thing, he deliberately left the Heavenly Court—does he feel the Heavenly Court is incapable of protecting his Dao?"

"Or does he think the Heavenly Court will harm him? If so, then that would be my fault—I actually let the Heavenly Court's subjects feel that the Heavenly Court is not safe."

Rahu immediately bowed, 'in fear,' and said.

"I, your subject, certainly have no such intention; I merely have some private matters that are unsuitable for colleagues to see, after all I cultivate the demonic path, my breakthrough method is special, inevitably somewhat bloody, unsuitable for others to witness."

"As for leaving the Heavenly Realm without permission, that is my fault; however, there are also difficulties involved, unsuitable to speak of, and I hope Your Majesty will deal with it leniently."

Di Jun pondered, then said: "If so, after this incident, you shall go to the Thunder Department and receive twenty lashes; then this matter will be considered settled."

Rahu, hearing this, was delighted; such a light punishment shows Di Jun does not wish to investigate deeply, and he also understood Di Jun's meaning—matters of the demon realm and the evolution of heavenly demons can be discussed! Di Jun's voice sounded again, only hearing him say: "Although this matter can be settled, Rahu Star Lord's unauthorized departure—do you not wish to explain yourself?"

Rahu understood, and seeing no one else present, he immediately said: "Replying to Your Majesty, I naturally ought to explain; please allow me to elaborate."

"Your Majesties also know my purpose; now the position of Demon Dao Lord is vacant, I having lost it, naturally also wish to reclaim it."

"This departure, going into Chaos, is precisely for this matter; fortunately all proceeds smoothly, the demon dao affairs should encounter no obstacles."

"After all, whether cultivating the immortal path or the demonic path, I believe they should also fall under the Heavenly Court's governance, and I consider myself capable of undertaking this task, to relieve Your Majesties' worries."

Di Jun nodded and said in approval.

"This also shows you have sincerity; placing the demon dao under the Heavenly Court is indeed proper; I do not know, Fuxi and Qi, how do you view this?"

Rahu also wore an expression of agreement, but his gaze signaled to Qi and others, hoping to let Ji Du, standing aside, depart.

Although Fuxi doubted—clearly it was his own three corpses—why Rahu acted thus, he still chose to comply, saying: "This also shows sincerity, but we also have arrangements for you; however, given this matter, we can only postpone it."

"Ji Du Star Lord has just entered the Heavenly Realm and is not yet familiar with the Heavenly Court's posts; it would be fine to wait outside the hall for a moment, then after we decide, we can arrange accordingly."

Although Ji Du's location could not see Rahu's gaze, his heart had already determined that Rahu certainly did not want him to know; but since Fuxi had spoken, Ji Du could only comply.

"I, your subject, naturally have no objections."

Having said that, Ji Du turned and left first, leaving Rahu alone in the great hall.

Having accommodated his wish, Fuxi then asked: "Rahu Star Lord, Ji Du has left; what matters do you wish to discuss? Is it possible to speak now?"

Rahu laughed and said.

"This is natural; I observe that in the wilderness, cultivators are countless, their hearts inconstant, merely consuming the wilderness's primordial source."

"If I sever the three corpses, transforming obsession into the primordial heavenly demon, I intend, beyond the wilderness in Chaos, to open the demon realm, evolve heavenly demons, and obstruct those without resolute heart from attaining the Dao."

"This is the tribulation of cultivation, namely a heart tribulation; passing it brings freedom from all worries."

"However, if light, then heart demons entwine the body, nature greatly changes, falling into the demonic path; if heavy, one becomes fodder for heavenly demons, a resource for cultivation."

Di Jun and Fuxi, hearing this, both secretly frowned; after all, such an outcome is overly grim, the cost too great—if the Heavenly Court were to support it, the wilderness would surely erupt in curses.

Qi, upon hearing, instead felt it had considerable merit, beneficial to the wilderness's future, and thus spoke in refusal.

"Cultivation is one's own affair; although nourished by heaven and earth, it is also one's own ability; lifelong calamities are inappropriate, and for the Heavenly Court, it is also of no benefit."

Rahu, however, spoke: "Cultivators seize heaven and earth's creation; this is inherently to go against heaven. If there were no calamities and difficulties, none would seek progress; undertaking this heavenly-defying act without a martyr's heart, how could one behold the Great Dao?"

"If one's whole life merely seeks smoothness, why not follow heaven's decree, and undergo birth, aging, sickness, and death?"

"The matter of heavenly demons merely sweeps away those who rely on slight talent, look down on cultivation, and do not seek the Great Dao."

"Although this matter is presently disadvantageous to the Heavenly Court and to the wilderness's development, if viewed in the long term, it is indeed a righteous undertaking for the world."

The more Qi looked, the more he admired; if it were an ordinary person, he and Di Jun would likely have already agreed, but unfortunately it is Rahu.

This one, if inattentive, would pierce a great hole in the wilderness, causing countless calamities—Rahu—and moreover his former reputation was too poor; truly he cannot be lightly trusted.

Rahu, without much thought, knowing this is the moment to stake his chips, spoke: "Your Majesties are unaware; as early as the time of the Three Sovereigns, the starry heavens already possessed innate divine beings, who were on intimate terms with the Tai Emperor, named—Doumu Yuanjun. But in the wilderness at that time, the Earth Emperor was famed for his formations, yet this Doumu Yuanjun's attainment in formations was not inferior to the Earth Emperor's."

"In my early years, I followed before the Earth Emperor, and I once heard his idle talk: the starry heavens conceal a great formation left by Doumu Yuanjun, which is the foremost formation of the present wilderness, possessing power comparable to that of the Hunyuan Wuji Luo Tianzun God."

Qi, Di Jun, and Fuxi immediately raised their heads to look at Rahu; they naturally knew of the formation in the starry heavens, but no matter the angle or method of recording, they could never see its full extent.

After all, the starry heavens are excessively vast, nearly equivalent to the wilderness and the four seas; within it, stars, celestial bodies, and meteors are exceedingly numerous, all moving within the starry heavens.

Qi can be called the present wilderness's foremost expert in formations, yet regarding this formation he has never been able to grasp its essence.

Qi truly cannot comprehend: why a meteorite originally not under observation would suddenly appear within the operation, and moreover bear an extremely important function.

After that instant, that meteorite suddenly drifted away from the formation; destroying it would not hinder the operation, light or heavy, the core seemed always in transfer.

Qi frankly stated that up to now, his research on the formations in the starry heavens has never ceased, yet he has merely confirmed the 365 unchanging core stars.

And the formation's core has always relied on these 365 stars, continually shifting within the range—sometimes a meteorite, sometimes one of those stars themselves.

Regarding its crucial point, Qi has never grasped it; but Qi understands that if he could penetrate its variations, the Great Dao could be accomplished.

Because Qi, within this, perceived the marvels of the Hunyuan Great Dao; unaware, at this moment Rahu, gazing at Qi, seemed to see from his person the shadow of the former Earth Emperor.

Both equally obsessed with formations, after witnessing the great formation in the starry heavens, they realized it concealed the Hunyuan mystery.

However, compared to the Earth Emperor, Rahu felt Qi undoubtedly was born in a better era, an era possessing the opportunity to attain the Dao.

Facing Rahu's words, Qi almost immediately asked.

"Do you know this formation's pass? Indeed, you were formerly the wilderness's foremost formation expert, and have cultivated for so long; if you did not know, it would be astonishing."

Rahu, however, spoke with great difficulty.

"Your Majesty Qi overestimates me; if I knew, when I faced Hunyuan earlier, I would not have constructed the Slay Immortal Sword Formation."

Qi's eyes flashed a hint of disappointment, but Rahu's following words immediately excited him, only hearing Rahu say: "Although I do not know this formation's pass, I nevertheless learned from the Earth Emperor what the personal spirit treasure of Doumu Yuanjun was back then."

"I also know whose hands it is now in; I believe perhaps it hides clues to this formation, or perhaps directly records it—this is not impossible."

"But I believe this treasure must be profoundly linked to the great formation in the starry heavens!"

Speaking, Luo Hou focused his gaze on Qi and the three others; the meaning was clear: the two sides would exchange, Luo Hou offering the information he knew in return for the manifestation of the Demon Realm and the Heavenly Demon.

After thinking, Qi opened his mouth and said:

Not enough. Since this formation has already appeared, even without the true-or-false clues you speak of, I can still comprehend its profundities; at most it would just take a bit more time. Moreover, we are innate divinities, and what we lack least is time.

Luo Hou's heart sank; he realized that without shedding blood it wouldn't work. He had originally hoped to get something for nothing, but in the end he would still have to give up something genuine.

After a brief hesitation, Luo Hou opened his mouth and said:

The demonic path's method that I have founded can also be wholly offered in exchange for the birth of the Heavenly Demon and the Demon Realm; I do not ask for the Heavenly Court's support, only that it not oppose.

Qi, however, still shook his head and refused: "Not enough. Whether it is opening up the Demon Realm or evolving the Heavenly Demon, the impact and karmic ties involved are far too great; this must surely be the obstacle on your path to attaining the Dao."

Since it concerns attaining the Dao, we ought to exchange using the method to attain the Dao or the opportunity to attain the Dao; moreover, what use would we have for your Great Demonic Method?

Luo Hou remained silent, and only after a long while did he speak here:

Your Majesty Emperor Qi, why go to such lengths? The grudge of obstructing the Dao is no ordinary matter; although I have fallen into obscurity now, I am not someone who can be manipulated at will.

Qi said indifferently:

Whether it is your life or your chance to attain the Dao, both are tolerable only thanks to the mercy of the Heavenly Court.

No need for the Heavenly Court to act; without the Heavenly Court, you would have already lost your life, so where would any chance to attain the Dao come from? As for the grudge of obstructing the Dao, if we were to calculate it that way, the Heavenly Court should simply accept it.

All these transactions are solely because of you; you wish to return to the heavens above, yet you are unwilling to let go of your bargaining chips. Such a person, I do not believe can attain the Dao.

Luo Hou remained silent on this, and only after a long while did he suddenly laugh and say:

Luo Hou has received your instruction; Your Majesty Emperor Qi's grace and virtue are unforgettable for a lifetime; as for Your Majesty's request, Luo Hou will accept it.

As for those previous words, Luo Hou was merely probing; if Your Majesty does not believe it, Luo Hou can swear an oath here that the Demonic Path shall forever not contend with the Heavenly Court.

Qi paid no heed to this, merely opening his mouth to say:

(End of chapter)