Chapter 145: The Eve

Hongyun stoppered the gourd, hanging it back at his waist just as before. With a slight ripple of his mind, that undying spiritual light of the Six-Yao Sword Immortal was casually sealed away into a small sword resting inside the gourd.

Although the Six-Yao Sword Immortal called himself "Six-Yao," he ultimately walked the path of the sword, which suited this small sword quite well.

If left entirely alone like this, through the evolution of time, this small sword might eventually transform into a standalone spiritual treasure.

And this strand of undying spiritual light might consequently undergo a transformation, becoming the sword spirit of this blade.

However, that would only be possible under permissive conditions.

Right now, it was inside Hongyun’s Nine-Nine Red Clouds Dispersing Soul Gourd, where all movements within were entirely subject to his will. How could he possibly squander such an undying spiritual light in that manner?

I’ll store it properly for now; perhaps it might come in useful someday down the road.

Thinking this to himself, Hongyun paid no further heed to the undying spiritual light, his mood growing considerably more refreshed:

Originally, his thoughts could only be described as somewhat unobstructed, but after such an episode, calling it complete would be no exaggeration.

Hongyun’s past nature as a pushover might have caused him to suffer minor slights, but he was content to let those go.

However, the "transaction" he had just pulled off had not resulted in the slightest loss for him.

Dong Wanggong, a mighty cultivator who had reached the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm—a personal favor from him!

The other party clearly had a use for the Six-Yao Sword Immortal, but that no longer concerned him.

A personal favor was akin to a karmic tie; such things could be treated as trivial if one wished, but if blown up to a larger scale, it seemed they could also carry considerable weight.

Just at that moment, a hoarse voice drifted over from close by:

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, what are you smiling about?"

Was I smiling?

Hongyun’s expression paused momentarily before returning to its usual placidity. He shook his head gently, though the smile in his heart remained impossible to completely conceal:

"It’s nothing much, just recalled some happy thoughts."

"Since that is the case, I shall press no further."

Ancestor Panwang had no intention of delving deeply into the matter either. Just as he was thinking of sitting quietly in solitary waiting, a sudden thought struck him, and he spoke up to offer a warning:

"I almost forgot just now. Seeing that Dong Wanggong has arrived, I thought I would remind Fellow Daoist Hongyun:

For some unknown reason, this fellow has been indiscriminately recruiting cultivators everywhere. By now, he already has some three or four Great Luo experts under his command, along with nearly scores of Taiyi Golden Immortals. I fear he harbors some ulterior motives."

This Dong Wanggong is consolidating his own forces?

Hearing these words, Hongyun felt a slight stir in his heart. After pondering carefully for a moment, he still offered his thanks, saying:

"Regarding this matter, many thanks to Fellow Daoist for the warning;

However, have you observed the meteorological aura surrounding Dong Wanggong's subordinates? Are there any notable changes of late?"

Ancestor Panwang thought carefully, making a brief comparison. Although he wasn't entirely certain of the specifics, he still maintained a trace of arrogance as he replied:

"Great Luo cultivators possess their own unique profoundness, or at the very least some minor tricks up their sleeves, though they are hardly worth worrying about;

As for the rest, they are merely ordinary cultivators. With the many treasures in my possession, I could simply scoop up a handful and swallow them whole in one gulp. Naturally, I can't be bothered to take them to heart."

Listening to that tone, he was practically ready to carve the words 'mobs like chickens and dogs' onto a plaque and present it as a gift to Dong Wanggong.

Thus thought Hongyun as he watched Ancestor Panwang's demeanor.

Yet though the phrasing was crude, the logic held true; the fellow was hardly exaggerating.

The treasures he spoke of likely referred to the toxic creatures he kept.

Although their spiritual wisdom had been eroded quite severely, there were still those whose cultivation had reached the Great Luo realm. Sweeping away all cultivators save for Dong Wanggong would naturally be an effortless task for him.

As a mid-stage Great Luo Golden Immortal, he possessed the strength to rival late-stage Great Luo experts, and perhaps even surpass ordinary mighty figures of the late Great Luo stage. It was naturally no problem for him to carry a bit of arrogance.

Hearing this, Hongyun nodded in profound agreement, choosing not to say anything further.

Ancestor Panwang was a true progenitor among the mighty cultivators of the Dao of Poison in the Primordial World. If his poison dao were ranked second, hardly anyone else could dare contend for the first place.

Had it not been for this, those renowned Great Luo Golden Immortals among the Monster Clan would not have ganged up to wage a mass brawl against this Great Luo master of poison.

As for facing Dong Wanggong... he himself had crossed paths with him sporadically long ago, but their actual interactions were truly minimal.

Speaking of combat prowess... it was genuinely hard to say.

Dong Wanggong was also a long-established Great Luo Golden Immortal who had lived in seclusion among the hundred thousand immortal islands of the East China Sea for ages, which alone spoke volumes of his capabilities.

Both held formidable reputations; who didn't have a few trump cards up their sleeves?

Even an Ancestor Panwang with a somewhat tainted reputation was not without friends. If a real fight broke out and both sides began calling upon their associates, it would truly be no small spectacle.

Yet in the end, if both sides really started summoning their friends, the fight wouldn't even happen anymore.

Unless there was a grudge concerning the blockage of their Dao paths between them.

Moreover, those capable of obstructing Panwang's Dao were mostly figures akin to immortal healers, and since the healing dao and the poison dao were interconnected, those opponents were likely eccentric old monsters of reclusive temperament anyway.

Ultimately, these were all just Hongyun's idle speculations. If a genuine war broke out, it would certainly require careful deliberation before any action was taken. What kind of landscape that would create then, who could possibly foresee?

...

Hongyun and Panwang conversed for a while longer, but due to Panwang's scarce desire for conversation, Hongyun gradually let the thought fade.

He looked toward his familiar fellow Daoists, feeling somewhat inexplicably idle.

The Three Pure Ones were sitting cross-legged amidst the chaos, comprehending something or other without even lifting their eyelids.

Brother Zhenyuanzi was conversing with a female Daoist fairy, chuckling softly by the looks of their expressions.

Since he had never met this female fairy before, she was likely simply seeking guidance on some specific issue.

Under such circumstances, it would be even less appropriate for him to go over.

Ancestor Styx was wreathed in rivers of blood, radiating a keep-strangers-at-a-bay aura, carrying a trace of lingering ferocity that suggested he had recently resorted to violence.

The Dragon Kings of the Four Seas had arrived long ago, accompanied by several powerful figures of the Phoenix Clan. Most of them were gathered in a corner, watching coldly from the sidelines.

Dong Wanggong was likewise surrounded by quite a few mighty immortals. Keeping their voices lowered amidst soft laughter, they formed an invisible barrier of their own.

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were ringed by layer upon layer of monster mighty figures guarding them, each immersed in quiet cultivation.

Not only that, but right at the innermost circle stood figures like Jiuying and Yingzhao at the very center, alongside Fuxi, Nüwa, and the gloomy-faced Ancestor Kunpeng.

They were in discussion with Di Jun and his faction, their massive influence causing many Great Luo immortals to keep a wide berth.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches, by contrast, were entirely at leisure; some were sleeping, some were chatting idly, and a few were even playfully scuffling with one another.

Yet within the chaos surrounding them, not a single Great Luo figure could be seen.

To barge in there now would simply be tantamount to jumping straight into the fiery pit of this great tribulation.

Many things needed to be carried out in stealth and shadow.

As the heavenly secrets grew increasingly obscured during the great tribulation, muddying the waters to fish in troubled seas was the most fitting course of action.

It wasn't that there was no one available for conversation; Zhunti and Jieyin were running about everywhere, trying to pull mighty figures into their orbit and forge karmic ties of affinity.

Yet most people avoided them like the plague.

Glancing left and right, Hongyun simply sat cross-legged himself, the profound-origin red cloud robe upon his body surging with light as it transformed into a miniature formation to shield him.

Ah well, enough is enough. Better to just wait quietly by myself.