Volume One: The Calamity of Liches Chapter 185: The Three Sermons Conclude, and Redcloud Transforms

“Elder Sister Bai Qian, you’ve finally come out! We were so worried about you!”

“All right, I’m here now, aren’t I? Who could have known the elder would discover us in the end? From now on, we can never return to our clan; we’ll have to join the Celestial Court.”

Bai Qian spoke to them with a deep, meaningful gaze.

“We’re not afraid, Elder Sister Bai Qian. Wherever you are, that’s where we’ll be!”

Upon hearing Bai Qian’s words, many of the fox tribe responded to her. In their eyes flashed emotions difficult to describe—a yearning for the outside world, and an ambition for power and strength.

“Rest assured. Since I’ve led you out, I will not let you down.”

Yet these foxes still did not know that what they anticipated was something altogether different from what they were about to face.

“All right, let’s not linger. We should hurry back to the Celestial Court!”

So the group made their way toward the Celestial Court.

Thus, the news of the Bai family of the fox tribe joining the Celestial Court quickly spread among many races of the Great Desolation.

“The fox tribe? Aren’t they rarely involved in such matters? Now they’re actually joining the Celestial Court?”

Those beings who had lived long recognized the fox tribe, especially the Tushan clan, which had once been renowned—not only for their formidable strength, but also as rare beauties of the Great Desolation.

Upon hearing this, many tribes who had been observing from the sidelines now sought to join the demon clan, or even the Celestial Court.

Of course, some were drawn by the allure of the fox tribe’s beauty.

This was precisely why the demon clan valued the fox tribe so highly.

The outcome did not disappoint; many tribes came to pledge themselves.

One could say that now, almost the entire Great Desolation belonged to the demon clan, save for a few who still chose to remain hidden and uninterested in the demon clan’s gains.

Meanwhile, at Buzhou Mountain, Ao Qing finally understood why he had sensed the presence of pure dragon blood when he discovered several flood dragons.

It turned out that the demon clan had previously set their sights on the Four Seas, recruiting many aquatic tribes into their ranks.

The dragon clan nearly fell under Emperor Jun and others, but ultimately, they could not enter the Dragon Palace of the Four Seas and gave up. Yet Ao Qing realized that perhaps Emperor Jun had not completely abandoned this ambition.

Purple Cloud Palace.

In the blink of an eye, Hongjun had been teaching the Dao for an entire epoch.

As Hongjun concluded his teachings, one by one, the attendees awoke from their drowsy states.

Hongjun gazed down at them all, his demeanor calm and inscrutable.

“This lecture ends here. Today, I sense that the Heavenly Dao is incomplete. I shall merge myself with the Dao to perfect it. If you have no further business, you may depart.”

Countless mighty beings, upon hearing Hongjun’s words, could only leave with faces full of disappointment.

In the end, only the Three Pure Ones and a few others remained seated on their meditation mats.

At this moment, Supreme One suddenly rose and addressed Hongjun.

“Master, after you merge with the Dao, will you be the Heavenly Dao, or…?”

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After speaking, Supreme One fixed his gaze on Hongjun above.

Hongjun, hearing this, glanced at Supreme One with an inscrutable look before replying.

“Hongjun is the Heavenly Dao; the Heavenly Dao is not Hongjun.”

With that, Supreme One sat back down.

“Master, please don’t abandon us!” Primal Spirit spoke up directly.

Hongjun, however, responded impassively, “Don’t be so sentimental. My mind is made up.”

The others wished to speak further, but at that moment, they discovered Hongjun’s figure was no longer in the hall.

In the end, the few remaining also took their leave.

Primal Spirit, seeing Reception preparing to rise, unconsciously tugged him back.

When everyone had gone, Primal Spirit began to gather up their meditation mats.

“Junior Brother, what are you doing?”

“Senior Brother, since our master is about to merge with the Heavenly Dao, there’s no point in leaving these mats behind. Better that we take them—they might help others comprehend the Dao!”

Primal Spirit hugged the mats like treasures.

Just then, the Three Pure Ones returned.

Seeing them, Primal Spirit looked awkwardly at the group.

Primordial Origin spoke, “See, I told you, they stayed behind for no good reason.”

Supreme One and the others stepped forward, demanding Primal Spirit hand over the mats or leave them in place for all to share.

With everyone watching him intently, Primal Spirit had no choice but to give up the mats to the Three Pure Ones.

Afterward, everyone departed Purple Cloud Palace and returned to the Great Desolation.

Upon returning, Red Cloud found himself utterly changed from his first meeting with Zhenyuanzi.

“Ah, I wonder if Brother Zhenyuanzi has finished his affairs.”

After a moment’s thought, Red Cloud decided to return to Fire Cloud Cave to continue his cultivation.

After listening to the Dao three times, he suddenly felt as if a great calamity was about to befall him.

Recently, Red Cloud found it impossible to calm his mind for cultivation, no matter what he tried.

He checked himself several times, finding nothing amiss.

Hundreds of thousands of years ago!

Back at Fire Cloud Cave, Red Cloud took out several items.

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These were given to him by Qingxuan after his departure.

Even without opening the jade bottle, he knew what it contained.

He then examined the other three treasures.

Red Cloud immediately recognized them as a set of innate spiritual treasures.

Among them was one supreme innate treasure and two high-grade ones.

“I know these are perfectly suited for me. But…”

Red Cloud could never make up his mind. He understood Qingxuan’s intentions in giving him these items.

He also knew Qingxuan meant no disrespect to his cultivation. He merely wanted to help, all for the sake of Red Cloud’s acquaintance with Zhenyuanzi.

Aside from the supreme innate Soul-Dissolving Gourd he obtained long ago, Red Cloud possessed no other treasures worth mentioning.

He had originally intended to use the Soul-Dissolving Gourd to sever his three bodies.

But now, seeing these three treasures, he hesitated.

“Could it be that Senior Qingxuan is hinting at something?”

Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Red Cloud as he gazed at the three treasures, murmuring to himself.

In the end, Red Cloud abandoned the idea of using the Soul-Dissolving Gourd to sever his bodies.

“Let’s do it. Surely Senior would not harm me. If my gamble is right, this will be my opportunity!”

Having made his decision, Red Cloud suddenly gained clarity on many things.

He fell into a deep state of enlightenment.

After a long while, Red Cloud opened his eyes, picked up the supreme innate treasure, and gave a command.

“Sever!”

In the next moment, an old Daoist appeared before Red Cloud, radiating a gentle aura.

He seemed like an ordinary man, yet Red Cloud’s face was suddenly covered with tears.

“So it turns out, I have never acted in accordance with my true heart. Instead, I’ve attracted much karmic entanglement!”

As Red Cloud spoke these words, his Dao heart nearly collapsed.

Suddenly, several unfamiliar auras pulled his thoughts back.

“What must come can never be avoided.”

Red Cloud could not help but sigh.