61: Hongjun escapes

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun has sent so many Spirit Treasures to this poor Daoist, is he leaving so soon?

This poor Daoist hasn't even fulfilled his duties as a host. If other Fellow Daoists find out, wouldn't they mock me for not knowing how to treat guests?

Why don't you let this poor Daoist host you properly?"

Though Reincarnation said this, his actions were immediate as he stood up and pulled Hongjun toward the outside of the Dao Field.

This move blindsided not only Hongjun but even Xuan Qing, who was stunned by his Revered Master's behavior.

Good grief, you can actually do that?

His Revered Master is so black-bellied; Xuan Qing absolutely loves it.

Initially, hearing Reincarnation's words, Hongjun felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

But as he was being dragged irresistibly out of the Dao Field by Reincarnation, a nameless fire of rage rose within Hongjun once more.

Since the day he was born, Hongjun had never suffered as many humiliations as he did today.

At the same time, Hongjun was completely speechless at Reincarnation's actions, his mouth twitching.

"What kind of freak is this Reincarnation! Fine, I'll endure it.

Lest this guy uses it as an excuse to demand an exorbitant price again."

Hongjun was helpless and eventually resorted to his Endurance Technique.

Xuan Qing sighed once more; Hongjun was truly the Ninja Turtle of all Ninja Turtles!

"I appreciate your kindness, Fellow Daoist, but I still have to invite other Fellow Daoists, so I won't disturb you any longer."

Hongjun spoke with great politeness, showing no sign of being a punching bag.

"By the way, I wonder who else you have invited, Fellow Daoist Hongjun?

Have you invited Fellow Daoist Five Elements, Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang, and Fellow Daoist Yang Mei?"

Ancestor of Reincarnation asked quickly, as if he had just thought of something.

Xuan Qing also pricked up his ears to listen; he guessed that Hongjun must have invited Ancestor Five Elements, Ancestor Yin and Yang, and Ancestor Yang Mei.

And only at the very end did he come to invite his Revered Master, the Ancestor of Reincarnation.

"This is no great secret, so I shall tell you.

I first invited Fellow Daoist Five Elements, then Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang, followed by Fellow Daoist Yang Mei.

And finally, I invited you, Fellow Daoist Reincarnation."

"It is just as I thought. It seems that during the Dao-Demon Conflict, I will be able to fight side by side with Fellow Daoist Five Elements, Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang, and Fellow Daoist Yang Mei."

Ancestor of Reincarnation wore an expectant expression.

Xuan Qing showed a look that said 'as expected,' matching his own guess—or rather, matching his memories.

In the original Dao-Demon Conflict, Hongjun invited Yin and Yang, Yang Mei, and Qiankun to break the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.

Although Ancestor Five Elements and Ancestor of Reincarnation did not participate in breaking the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, they did take part in the great war of the Dao-Demon Conflict.

Hongjun's current account indeed matched the development in Xuan Qing's memory.

However, after Ancestor of Reincarnation said those words, an embarrassed look appeared on Hongjun's Face.

"Fellow Daoist Hongjun, what is with that expression?

Could it be that fighting side by side with Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang, Fellow Daoist Five Elements, and Fellow Daoist Yang Mei is something embarrassing?"

Seeing Hongjun's embarrassed look, Ancestor of Reincarnation spoke directly, giving Hongjun no Face whatsoever.

"Fellow Daoist Reincarnation, do not misunderstand; it is not as you think.

It is just that Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang and Fellow Daoist Five Elements did not agree to my request.

The Two Fellow Daoists will not be participating in the Dao-Demon Conflict to assist me.

I fear your hope of fighting side by side with Fellow Daoist Yin and Yang and Fellow Daoist Five Elements will come to naught."

Hongjun explained hastily, having grown accustomed to being lectured by the Ancestor of Reincarnation.

Being questioned in such a disciplinary manner by the Ancestor of Reincarnation and not retorting at all, but instead explaining in a hurry.

Xuan Qing watched from the side, completely stunned; he hadn't expected Hongjun to have such an unknown side to him.

No wonder this fellow Hongjun would discard his proud identity as one of the Reincarnated Experts of Chaos Demon Gods and insist on attaining the status of a Heavenly Dao Sage to become One who merges with the Dao.

It turns out everything was predestined in the dark.

But what surprised Xuan Qing even more was that Ancestor Five Elements and Ancestor Yin and Yang had actually refused Old Thief Hongjun.

This was not normal at all.

Especially Ancestor Yin and Yang, who was the first to sacrifice himself for Hongjun, being the first to self-detonate within the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation.

It was precisely because Ancestor Yin and Yang was the first to self-detonate that Qiankun followed suit.

Ancestor Yin and Yang and Ancestor Qiankun could be said to have directly lifted Hongjun through the gates to become One who merges with the Dao with their self-detonations.

Now Hongjun was saying that the greatest contributors to his victory in the Dao-Demon Conflict were not going to participate.

Wouldn't this potentially change the general trend?

Xuan Qing really couldn't figure out which part of the process had gone wrong.

Hongjun was even more unable to understand it.

What Xuan Qing didn't know was that all these changes were because of him, or rather, his original body, Taiqing.

Because of Taiqing's act of worshipping Father God Pangu at the Buzhou Mountain Peak.

It had actually tipped the scales of the Dao-Demon Conflict.

Of course, this was also entirely to be blamed on Old Thief Hongjun's loose tongue at the Buzhou Mountain Peak at that time.

If he hadn't spoken out of turn and allowed Five Elements to see through him completely.

Ancestor Five Elements and Ancestor Yin and Yang would not have refused to help Hongjun through the Dao-Demon Conflict.

Every action has its consequence; it is all the cycle of Karma.

"Fellow Daoist Reincarnation, I shall take my leave now, as I must still go and invite other Fellow Daoists.

If Fellow Daoist Qiankun agrees, you will be able to fight side by side with him."

Hongjun left Old Ancestor Reincarnations Dao Field in a flustered hurry; he was afraid that if he stayed any longer, the Ancestor of Reincarnation would think of some other way to mess with him.

Everything would wait until the Dao-Demon Conflict; he, Hongjun, had plenty of means to deal with this fellow Reincarnation.

As the saying goes, only the one who wrongs you knows how much you've been wronged, and only the one who aggrieves you knows how much you've been aggrieved.

Ancestor of Reincarnation didn't even bother to ask Xuan Qing to see Hongjun out, let alone see Hongjun off himself.

As soon as Hongjun left the Dao Field, Reincarnation and his Disciple Xuan Qing burst into fits of laughter inside.

In fact, as Hongjun just stepped out of the Dao Field, he could still faintly hear the laughter of the two.

Hongjun departed quickly with a dark Face.

He looked as if he were fleeing from a disaster, as if something terrifying were chasing him from behind.

"Hahaha, how satisfying, how satisfying!

Today I finally made Old Thief Hongjun suffer at my hands.

Disciple Xuan Qing, you did a great job; your coordination with me was truly seamless.

We tricked Hongjun until he was dazed. Seeing that expression of wanting to be angry but not daring to be, I am truly satisfied.

We even scammed Old Thief Hongjun out of three Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and twenty high grade innate spirit treasures.

We've made a huge profit!"

Ancestor of Reincarnation slapped the small table in front of him, doubled over with laughter.

It was clear that having scammed Old Thief Hongjun, the Ancestor of Reincarnation was genuinely happy.

Xuan Qing was not much better than Reincarnation, laughing so hard that tears were almost coming out.

That Hongjun, who calculated against heaven, earth, and the very air—the future Dao Ancestor Hongjun who would be the One who merges with the Dao—had actually been scammed by his Revered Master into having such a dark Face.

Moreover, his Revered Master had lectured Hongjun like a child, and Hongjun didn't even have the temper to retort.

It couldn't be more refreshing.

The pressure that Taiqing and his Clone had felt in their hearts regarding Hongjun was significantly released at this moment.

"Revered Master, it is all thanks to you; your Disciple merely spoke a few words.

If you hadn't been standing in front of me, Revered Master, I probably wouldn't even have had the courage to Face Hongjun.

After all, with Hongjun's cultivation, a single look from him could probably turn your Disciple into ashes.

Where would I have had the chance to interject?"