62: Discussion on the Red Clouds

The two sat opposite each other as Qing Wu refined the Profound Origin Water Control Flag.

As for that mass of cloud, it was tightly bound by a vine, shrunk into a ball and floating beside them like a balloon.

Originally, Hongyun was floating high in the sky, but sensing that the two remained silent and had no intention of killing him, he slowly drifted down.

Leaning against their side, his cultivation seemed to become a bit smoother.

Qing Wu shook his head and ignored him, feeling somewhat speechless.

This guy's heart was truly too big; even after being captured, he wasn't anxious at all and instead began to Cultivate.

One didn't know whether to say his adaptability was strong, or... something else.

As the first red cloud born within the Primordial World and a rare Innate Sacred Being, his origins and blessings were naturally profound.

But this guy was notoriously restless; the dull and tedious life made him unable to resist drifting out to wander everywhere.

If that were all, it would be fine, but he actually came to join the commotion here with them, so he couldn't blame them for giving him a lesson.

After all, Hongyun's fate could be said to have been ruined by this meddlesome and commotion-seeking personality.

The incident of giving up his seat in the Zixiao Palace offended Kunpeng, leading to a great feud between the two parties.

Obtaining the Primordial Violet Qi made him a target for everyone, focusing all eyes on him for a time.

Finally, he met his downfall while out wandering.

All of this seemed full of coincidence, but in reality, it was an inevitable outcome.

As a Innate Sacred Being transformed from the first red cloud of the Primordial World, he could have been like the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and other great powers, cultivating diligently in his Dao field and waiting for the Opportunity to achieve sainthood.

However, his innate carefree Heart-Nature destined him to be unable to settle in one place.

This nature both made him and destroyed him.

The matter of giving up the seat in Zixiao Palace appeared on the surface to be caused by a momentary act of kindness.

In reality, it was driven by Hongyun's meddlesome nature.

This kind of personality might be harmless in normal times, but in the Primordial World where a great tribulation was approaching, it became a fatal weakness.

After obtaining the Primordial Violet Qi, he should have immediately gone into secluded cultivation. But Hongyun simply couldn't stand the loneliness and insisted on traveling everywhere.

This seemed like an accidental oversight, but it was an inevitability determined by his character.

In his bones, he couldn't practice quiet cultivation like Minghe or the Three Pure Ones.

This nature of being full of curiosity about everything was destined to drive him into constant danger.

His fall seemed to be caused by a sneak attack, but in reality, he had walked into a dead end step by step.

Just as he could now Cultivate peacefully after being captured by Yuan Feng, he always thought the Primordial World was stable everywhere and that one could reason with others, forgetting that in the law of the jungle within the Primordial World, excessive casualness is a path to death.

His blessings were indeed profound, but even the deepest blessings could not withstand continuous depletion.

Every seemingly accidental choice was reducing his Luck.

When constant misfortune arrived, there were no longer enough blessings to resist, and in the end, he could only meet the fate of death and the dissipation of his Dao.

Thinking of this, Qing Wu turned to glance at him.

"Senior..."

Perhaps thinking he had finally met a turning point, Hongyun shifted his body, the cloud mass opening and closing as if he were about to speak again to sell out his friend.

Qing Wu didn't want to hear his chatter, so he immediately used the Six Roots of Purity Flute to seal his six senses, letting him be quiet for a while.

He hoped this lesson would make him remember it a little better.

Then he continued to sink his mind and began refining the Profound Origin Water Control Flag.

...

When he opened his eyes again, Qing Wu had completed the refinement.

Putting away the Profound Origin Water Control Flag, he once again focused his gaze on this mass of red cloud.

He was thinking about how to deal with it now.

Releasing him directly was certainly possible; after all, Hongyun didn't know their names, and there was no Karma to speak of.

It's just... thinking that after this Great Tribulation, it would be the time for many Innate Sacred Beings to step onto the stage of the Primordial World.

And Hongyun was the first true Innate Sacred Being they had met.

The Ancestral Dragon, First Qilin, and others, though not inferior to these Innate Sacred Beings in terms of origins, were ultimately beings born with a mission to face the tribulation, making them somewhat different.

Therefore, meeting this Innate Sacred Being for the first time, it would be a pity not to have a Dao Discussion with him.

At this time, Yuan Feng also opened her eyes and looked towards Hongyun.

After a long while, she frowned slightly, "Wasn't he quite lively? Why isn't he speaking now?"

At this point, Qing Wu realized that Hongyun's six senses were sealed, leaving him in a state where he could not hear, see, or speak.

He took out the Six Roots of Purity Flute, activated it, and neutralized the seal.

He also removed the restraints placed upon him.

Immediately, the mass of cloud spread out instantly, enveloping the two of them within it.

Being inside, the two could hear the sound of breathing, which was extremely rhythmic.

Well then, having sealed him for too long, did he fall asleep?

Yuan Feng couldn't help but roll her eyes; this guy truly had something wrong with his head.

Suddenly, Hongyun jolted, waking from his slumber, and then continued to stretch his massive true form.

"It hasn't been this comfortable in a long time!"

Qing Wu opened his mouth but didn't speak.

Feeling comfortable while being tied up—does this guy have some peculiar penchant?

In that case, between him and Zhenyuanzi...

"This Poor Daoist can move!"

Sensing two slightly unfriendly gazes, Hongyun exclaimed.

"Two Seniors..."

Qing Wu interrupted, "Forget the 'Senior'; it makes it sound like we should be giving you a meeting gift. Since Fellow Daoist has deep origins and no small amount of blessings, we shall simply address each other as Fellow Daoists."

"Now, please reveal yourself."

Hongyun then realized he seemed a bit too casual and hurriedly retracted his true form.

The cloud body suddenly contracted, gradually transforming into a Daoist wearing a red cloud-patterned robe.

He had a handsome face, with a particularly striking red cinnabar mark between his brows. At this moment, he was bowing with a somewhat awkward smile.

"Hongyun greets the two Sen— Fellow Daoists. I offended you earlier; please forgive me."

Yuan Feng gave a light snort, "Fellow Daoist truly has a big heart, to be able to sleep soundly in such a state."

Hongyun scratched his head in embarrassment, "Well... it's easiest to fall asleep when the cloud body is stretched out. I'm used to it."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but yawn again, making Qing Wu shake his head with a laugh.

"Why did Fellow Daoist spy on me breaking the formation?" Qing Wu went straight to the point.

Hearing this, a flash of excitement crossed Hongyun's eyes, "I saw that Fellow Daoist's formation-breaking technique was mysterious, even able to trigger the resonance of the earth veins. I was fascinated for a moment..."

Then he suddenly realized he had misspoken and quickly added, "I absolutely did not intend to covet the treasures Fellow Daoist obtained!"

Qing Wu nodded, "Naturally. If it weren't so, I wouldn't have released you."

Hongyun nodded sheepishly. Through their conversation, some of the previous unpleasantness was resolved.

Of course, Hongyun didn't dare mention the matter of being restrained again.

Although they addressed each other as Fellow Daoists, the strength of the other two was much higher than his, and he wouldn't proactively court trouble.

"But meeting the two of you is also fate! Since the misunderstanding is resolved, why don't we have a Dao Discussion? I've wandered everywhere these years and collected some interesting things."

Qing Wu smiled, "I had the same idea."

Hongyun was overjoyed and immediately took three teacups condensed from cloud Qi from his sleeve, filling them with clear dew.

"This is Morning Glow Jade Dew I collected at the peak of Kunlun Mountain; it's most suitable for drinking during a Dao Discussion."

The three sat on the ground, and Hongyun was the first to speak on the Transformations of clouds.

"Clouds have no fixed form, yet they align with the Heavenly Dao. I have observed the cloud Qi of the Primordial World for thirty thousand years and realized the method of 'Gathering and Dispersing at Will'..."