This is Hongjun. Wielding a fierce blade, he nearly slaughtered the three hundred and sixty million Primordial Demon Gods born of the same source.

This is Hongjun, the master of the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, and other Saints—the one who raised Haotian and the Queen Mother to such lofty positions.

But he was not Hongjun; at least, not the Hongjun known to Gu Xichen.

Numerous Saints and countless Immortals and Buddhist cultivators cautiously retreated a great distance. Except for Haotian and the Queen Mother, all other Saints instinctively kept their distance from Hongjun. Especially the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti, their faces abruptly turned exceedingly grim.

In the void, only two crazed monkeys were still locked in desperate combat. The now-sainted Victorious Fighting Buddha was subtly gaining the upper hand over the monkey, continuously attacking with one staff strike after another, seeking to utterly defeat this clone that had taken form by borrowing a wisp of his own spiritual essence.

As the two monkeys fought, they roared and shrieked madly. Their furious ape cries shook the surrounding stars, and the sound of their twin staves colliding made everyone dizzy, as if they were inside a blacksmith’s forge where countless people were wildly hammering iron ingots.

“Heh, what a lively scene!”

Hongjun suddenly spoke, laughing. As he smiled, black mist surged around his body. A killing intent, despair-inducing and thick like viscous swamp water, capable of crushing any will to resist, spontaneously arose. Except for Gu Xichen’s subordinates protected by the Three-Tiered City, all Immortals belonging to other factions, regardless of their cultivation level, if they were within ten thousand miles of Hongjun, let out a single miserable cry and exploded, their bodies disintegrating.

The sky was filled with the flesh and blood sprayed from the bursting Immortals. Clusters of blood-light erupted simultaneously. The immense destructive force generated by the self-detonating Immortals subsequently injured or killed many of their companions or adversaries nearby. In the blink of an eye, within ten thousand miles of Hongjun, not a single living being remained, save for Gu Xichen and a few other Saints.

Threads of sinister light shot from Hongjun’s eyes. He coldly glanced at the Saints standing stiffly around him and nodded.

“Still missing one… Just one more Saint, and the Heaven Tower can repair over fifty percent, allowing it to heal automatically. If there were a few more Saints, that would be even better; the First Line Star Abyss could materialize early. That would be best of all.”

With a low chuckle, Hongjun tilted his head and sighed mournfully, “Still missing one Saint. Where can one find another Saint, or more?”

A sigh, like the icy wind blowing from the Nine Hells, caused everyone’s bodies, including Gu Xichen’s, to shiver violently.

Hongjun, enveloped in a sphere of black light, suddenly grinned widely. With a casual gesture, he pointed into the void, and hundreds of streams of light shot out, rapidly penetrating the bodies of the many Immortals present who had broken through the peak of the Great Principle Golden Immortal realm and stepped into the Grandmist state.

The battling monkey was also struck by one stream of light. Another stream shot far away towards the distant horizon.

Miserable wails and excited shouts of triumph erupted together. Within those streams of light was contained an immensely vast comprehension of the Heavenly Dao. If one could fully grasp this Heavenly Dao knowledge, even a mortal could instantly become a Saint. But how could ordinary Immortals possibly endure such colossal amounts of information?

Hundreds of Immortals pierced by the streams of light emitted hysterical screams. Their bodies rapidly swelled, and their heads shattered amidst muffled thunder. Immortal bodies collapsed, and Primordial Spirits disintegrated. Hundreds of powerful Immortals, just beneath the Saint realm, exploded almost simultaneously.

In the entire scene, only the monkey fighting the Victorious Fighting Buddha roared toward the heavens. A spiritual light soared from within his body, and an indescribable aura spread in all directions. The overwhelming pressure forced every Immortal present to involuntarily prostrate themselves in worship.

In a distant star field, an equally powerful aura faintly resonated. In that direction, Yang Jian, who was leading troops against the Golden Immortals of the Jade Void Palace, also successfully broke through, borrowing that spiritual light to ascend to the Saint realm.

Sensing Yang Jian’s ascension to sainthood, the expression of the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning instantly changed. He hurriedly flicked a finger and sent out a stream of spiritual light. With Yang Jian becoming a Saint, the disciples of the Jade Void Palace fighting him were like eggs smashing against a rock. If the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning did not quickly recall his disciples, Yang Jian would likely show no mercy in slaying them all.

But even if the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning issued the order in time, who could tell how many of his disciples might escape Yang Jian’s grasp?

However, before the spiritual light had traveled ten thousand miles, a black stream of light shot in from an oblique angle. Hongjun cleaved the light apart with his blade.

“A few disciples—if they are gone, you can always gather another batch,” Hongjun stated, looking at the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning calmly. “No matter how much you pity or care for those disciples, it’s not certain they are all loyal. Back when I contended with the Saints of this realm, who struck me from behind with the ‘Jade Clarity Nine Heavens Divine Thunder’?”

The Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning looked regretful, folding his hands into his sleeves, silent.

With a cold sneer, Hongjun looked at the Grand Supreme Elder and mockingly asked, “Who struck my shoulder with a carrying pole?”

The Grand Supreme Elder also remained silent. Hongjun then looked at the Master of the Heavens Sect and sighed deeply, “You too have learned to wound people from behind? The Four Swords of Execution of Immortals, piercing the heart—if Haotian and the Queen Mother had not sacrificed themselves to save me, if I hadn't possessed some means of preserving my life, I would have long since vanished into dust.”

The fierce blade in his hand hummed. Hongjun then looked at Jieyin and Zhunti and coldly sneered, “You two were also my disciples, yet you led your followers to hunt down Haotian and the Queen Mother for thirty thousand years! If I hadn't guided them to sainthood, and if Nuwa hadn't refined the Spiritual Restoration Pill, allowing me to recover a sliver of vital energy—heh, heheh. Thirty thousand years of ceaseless pursuit! Truly good disciples, good disciples!”

Gu Xichen and the others stood aside, listening dumbfounded, feeling cold sweat drenching them.

No wonder the relationships among these Saints were so complex, seemingly a complete mess. It turned out there was such a history?

It seemed that many of Hongjun’s disciples had betrayed him, and even attacked him. But why?

After a moment of contemplation, chaotic spiritual light flickered in Gu Xichen’s eyes. He mobilized his full divine ability and gazed toward Hongjun.

As he looked, Gu Xichen felt his heart sink. The Hongjun before him no longer possessed the image of a plump old Daoist; there was only a mass of thick, viscous black energy. Within the black energy, a blade shadow flickered indistinctly. Above that blade shadow, a figure sat cross-legged. The figure resembled Hongjun, yet it did not entirely resemble him. Its basic shape was similar, but with sharp horns on its head, wings on its back, and a long tail behind its hips—it simply did not look like Hongjun.

Sensing Gu Xichen’s gaze, Hongjun looked over in surprise. Black light flashed in his eyes. Hongjun nodded and smiled, “You people, you are the ones who became Saints in our original world, taking our place? Hmm, your cultivation techniques and mastery are top-tier. If only your magical power weren't slightly too low, my treacherous disciples truly wouldn't be your match.”

With a deep sigh, Hongjun pointed at Gu Xichen and stated, “Do not observe me with your Eye of Judgment, or I will gouge out your eyes!”

A casually spoken sentence, yet it was saturated with overwhelming killing intent, vicious beyond measure.

Gu Xichen gazed at Hongjun, the chaotic spiritual light in his eyes intensifying. He sneered, “You can try!”

With a cold snort, Hongjun’s figure suddenly moved. A pitch-black blade light swept down diagonally towards Gu Xichen’s eyes.

The Chaos Bell suddenly manifested above Gu Xichen’s head. With a single chime, the surrounding space became turbulent. Earth, water, fire, and wind, thunder and lightning all erupted, stirring the void into something resembling a pot of sludge. The blade light collided with the Chaos Bell, immediately shattering into dust. However, the Chaos Bell did not fare well either; a dark light flashed across its surface, and the blade light left a mark as deep as a finger.

His heart feeling as if struck by a massive boulder, Gu Xichen spat out a mouthful of blood on the spot.

Shaking his head, Hongjun sighed, “Is this just the Chaos Bell you forged yourself? Although it contains the original Bell Spirit and has devoured countless rare treasures, a replica is still a replica. It lacks some refinement. Not enough to impress, not enough!”

Hongjun pointed at Gu Xichen and nodded with a smile, “Given my status today, it is not appropriate for me to attack you further. Go back and cultivate diligently. Next time, I will definitely take your two eyeballs. Those thieving, gleaming eyeballs—I do not like them, not one bit.”

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Gu Xichen put away the Chaos Bell without a word. Hongjun was indeed Hongjun; his strength was terrifyingly absolute. A casual beam of blade light, and he was completely outmatched. Terrifying, truly terrifying.

As he was pondering how to counter Hongjun’s overwhelming power, Gu Xichen’s peripheral vision suddenly caught a strange expression on the face of the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning. His heart seized violently, and almost instinctively, he summoned the Chaos Bell. The Primordial Yang Mystic Orb and Primordial Yin Mystic Orb transformed into two masses of black and white light, guarding the Chaos Bell on either side.

A pitch-black blade light shot out silently from the void, heavily cleaving down upon the Chaos Bell. The Chaos Bell let out a mournful cry; the blade light pierced through its body, and a chill shot straight toward Gu Xichen’s heart. Under instinct, the Primordial Yang Mystic Orb and Primordial Yin Mystic Orb quickly shielded his chest. Two crisp sounds followed. The blade light pierced through the two Mystic Orbs and slammed heavily into Gu Xichen’s body.

Gu Xichen felt intense pain in his chest, and his figure was sent soaring backward by the blade light. Behind him stood countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals and disciples of the Nine Nether Dao. From where he stood all the way to the other end of the Three-Tiered City, at least one hundred thousand subordinates were smashed into pieces by Gu Xichen’s impact, and some even had their physical bodies explode.

“Hongjun!” Gu Xichen staggered to his feet, clutching his chest from which golden blood was continuously spurting.

Hongjun laughed strangely, looking at the Chaos Bell, the Primordial Yang Mystic Orb, and the Primordial Yin Mystic Orb—three Innate Supreme Treasures—all pierced by the blade light. He shook his head mockingly, “A pile of broken scrap metal, vulnerable to a single blow, so vulnerable. As for you, what body-tempering technique are you cultivating? The Indestructible Yellow Sprout Body? Doesn’t look like it, doesn’t look like it. But you should be cultivating the Indestructible Yellow Sprout Body, shouldn’t you?”

Gu Xichen spat out another mouthful of blood, staring fixedly at Hongjun, lacking even the strength to speak.

The three supreme treasures, including the Chaos Bell, were severely damaged. All three of Gu Xichen’s divided Primordial Spirits suffered grave injuries, and his main body was almost pierced through by the blade light. If his Pangu True Body hadn't reached a certain level of mastery, he would have already been slain by Hongjun’s single strike.

The Master of the Heavens Sect on the side scoffed, “Going back on your word in person and ambushing others—are you still our teacher?”

The Master of the Heavens Sect’s words resonated with the Grand Supreme Elder and the others. They all nodded simultaneously, looking coldly at Hongjun.

After a moment of thought, Hongjun ceased paying attention to Gu Xichen. Instead, he casually flicked the edge of the fierce blade and stated faintly, “This body belongs to Hongjun, this Primordial Spirit also belongs to Hongjun. Why am I not Hongjun? Why are you unwilling to be my disciples again?”

None of the Saints replied, merely backing away a great distance one after another.

Sighing, Hongjun shook his head and then looked back at Gu Xichen.

“It is truly sad. Everything these disciples possess comes from me, yet now they have all betrayed me. You should have cultivated the Indestructible Yellow Sprout Body; why does it lack the aura of that technique? Have you, too, betrayed me?”

Gu Xichen shook his head and laughed, “I was never your disciple, so how can it be called betrayal?”

Hongjun’s black light intensified around his body, and he suddenly snatched at the void with his hand.

Shi Di and the others beside Gu Xichen immediately released magical artifacts to defend themselves. Unexpectedly, where Hongjun’s hand grasped, he pulled the Indestructible Yellow Sprout Venerable Buddha out of the void. The Indestructible Yellow Sprout Venerable Buddha, happily gnawing on a lamb shank, stared blankly at Hongjun and instinctively asked, “Old Daoist? What are you doing?”

Hongjun smiled and turned to look at the Jade Emperor, saying with a laugh, “So that’s it. He cultivated the divine art of the Indestructible Yellow Sprout Body, but he actually expelled that divine ability to evolve into a human. In this way, he owes you nothing, and you cannot demand anything of him.”

With a long sigh, Hongjun clenched his hand, and the Indestructible Yellow Sprout Venerable Buddha instantly shattered into dust, his Primordial Spirit annihilating along with it.

Gu Xichen’s heart jolted, and his face instantly became extremely grim.

Hongjun sighed deeply, shaking his head, “Fortunately, fortunately, there is still one move left.”

His eyes widened, and Hongjun stared at Gu Xichen, barking sharply, “Your Heavenly Soldiers and Generals behind you, they all originate from the Immortal Registry Scroll! Hah! Submit quickly!”

Spiritual light flashed in the void, and the Heavenly Dao Wheel from that original universe materialized out of thin air, spraying out a massive expanse of rosy light to cover Gu Xichen.

Gu Xichen suddenly burst into loud laughter, pointing at Hongjun and saying, “The restriction in the Immortal Registry Scroll has already been broken by me! Hongjun, what other moves do you have?”

The rosy light sprinkled down by the Heavenly Dao Wheel remained unresponsive for a long moment. Hongjun’s expression could not help but change. He nodded and coldly sneered, “Good, very good. So that’s how it is. You brat are quite cunning, actually managing to nullify every contingency I left behind. Good, you can be considered to have successfully rebelled against my sect.”

Looking up at the sky with a long sigh, Hongjun suddenly looked at the Saints, including the Grand Supreme Elder, and shouted sternly, “I give you one last chance: obediently return to my sect and submit to my command, and you might keep your lives. Otherwise…”

The Master of the Heavens Sect said coldly, “Better to be shattered jade than intact tile. You are not Hongjun, you are not my master!”

The Grand Supreme Elder, the Heavenly Venerable of the Primordial Beginning, and the others remained silent, merely watching Hongjun with blank expressions.

Shaking his head, Hongjun sighed mournfully, “Then, I can only kill you all. It just so happens that the number of Saints in this realm is now sufficient. The Heaven Tower has already repaired over fifty percent of itself. The First Line Star Abyss is about to materialize… In a thousand years, at the First Line Star Abyss, we will fight with all our might. The victor controls heaven and earth; the loser’s soul is scattered. Do you youngsters have the courage?”

Without waiting for a reply, Hongjun laughed triumphantly and returned to the Heavenly Mansion with Haotian and the Queen Mother.

Nuwa’s expression faltered. She frowned in thought for a moment, then shook her head, transforming into a streak of spiritual light and rapidly departing, clearly showing an attitude of non-involvement in such matters.

Jieyin sighed deeply and suddenly flashed to the front of Gu Xichen.

“Fellow Daoist Gu, how powerful was Hongjun’s strike just now?”

Gu Xichen looked at Jieyin and stated calmly, “Ten thousand times stronger than us.”

Jieyin said calmly, “Back then, he was not this powerful. Having been separated from the Heavenly Dao Wheel of our original universe, his magical power and divine abilities were only a few times stronger than ours. If we joined forces, we could still resist him. But now, he has become so strong—he is no longer the Master Hongjun of that time.”

Slowly extending a hand towards Gu Xichen, Jieyin asked solemnly, “Are you willing to form an alliance to oppose him?”

Looking at the hand Jieyin extended, Gu Xichen suddenly burst into three loud laughs, turned with the people around him, and walked away.

Tier after tier of the Three-Tiered City broke open the void and fled into the distance. Gu Xichen sneered, “I have no interest in being someone’s hired thug or scapegoat!”

After a long time, Gu Xichen’s voice echoed faintly from afar.

“In a thousand years, at the First Line Star Abyss, I am also interested.”