Hongjun saw the signpost and shouted towards Shangqing Peak, "This Daoist Hongjun, passing through your esteemed domain, offers his greetings!"
On Taiqing Peak, Li Yi heard Hongjun's voice and said to Primordial and Tongtian, "Second brother, third brother, we have a distinguished guest. Let's go out together!"
After speaking, Li Yi led Primordial and Tongtian to the front of Shangqing Peak.
Seeing a white-robed old Daoist standing before Shangqing Peak, Li Yi, Primordial, and Tongtian stepped forward, bowed, and said, "This Daoist Taishang (Primordial and Tongtian) greets Fellow Daoist!"
Hongjun saw that Li Yi and his two brothers possessed extraordinary bearing and no weak cultivation. He knew he had come to the right place.
He then said, "Forgive my presumptuous visit, three Fellow Daoists!"
Li Yi replied, "Fellow Daoist is too kind. All cultivators under heaven use the sky as their canopy and the earth as their bed, with the four seas as their home. Since we meet by chance, we are fated!"
Li Yi understood in his heart that Hongjun was likely seeking help after being defeated by Luohu. However, why didn't he seek out the surviving Chaos Demon Gods and instead come to his three brothers on Kunlun Mountain?
Although Li Yi was unwilling to participate in the conflict between the Dao and Demon factions, the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner were in Hongjun's hands, while the Four Swords of Zhuxian and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram were held by Luohu. These were of great importance to his three brothers.
Furthermore, Luohu's Dao was too extreme. If he were to achieve his Dao, the entire Primordial World might cease to exist. Li Yi could not rest easy even if he didn't participate. It was exhausting!
Li Yi continued, "Fellow Daoist has traveled far. Please come into the mountain for a chat. Please!"
He then made a gesture of invitation.
Seeing how amiable Li Yi was, Hongjun felt that inviting the three brothers to emerge from seclusion would not be too difficult.
Li Yi invited Hongjun into Taiqing Palace to entertain him.
After treating Hongjun with utmost hospitality, Li Yi observed that Hongjun only praised the beautiful scenery of Kunlun and made no mention of dealing with Luohu.
Li Yi desired the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner, but since Hongjun remained silent, it was difficult for him to speak. It seemed he needed to provoke him.
He then said, "Fellow Daoist, since you admire Kunlun's scenery so much, why not stay here for a few days?"
Hongjun was overjoyed upon hearing Li Yi's words and said, "Then this Daoist shall not refuse."
Li Yi smiled faintly and said, "However, my three brothers have recently had insights into our cultivation and will likely enter seclusion for a period. I will not be able to accompany you."
Primordial and Tongtian were puzzled, "What does Big Brother mean? Didn't we just come out of seclusion? Why are we going in again?"
Although Primordial and Tongtian were confused, with an outsider present, they did not voice their questions.
Hongjun became anxious upon hearing Li Yi's words. Cultivators' seclusion could last from a hundred or a thousand years to ten thousand or a hundred thousand years. Who knew when they would emerge? He could no longer conceal his purpose and spoke to Li Yi and the others.
"To be frank, this old Daoist came here on an important matter to discuss."
Li Yi feigned ignorance and said, "Oh? I wonder what matter it is, Fellow Daoist? You may speak freely!"
Hongjun sighed slightly, "I was originally a Qi cultivator from Yujing Mountain, but I have a mortal enemy named Luohu. Our Daos differ, and we cannot coexist. Recently, he obtained a treasure, and I am no match for him. Thus, I wish to ask the three of you for assistance!"
Tongtian indignantly said, "You can't defeat him, so you plan to gang up on him? My three brothers do not engage in such unprincipled actions. Please leave!"
Hongjun retorted, "Fellow Daoist Tongtian has misunderstood me! Luohu's method of achieving Dao is to destroy the Primordial World and refine it into the Demon Realm. That is why I have traveled throughout the Primordial World seeking capable individuals to prevent Luohu. It is not due to personal grievances between him and me!"
Upon hearing this, Tongtian relented.
Li Yi smiled faintly and said, "Even with your cultivation, Fellow Daoist, you are no match for Luohu. Our three brothers' meager skills would be too strained, wouldn't they?"
Seeing Li Yi's reluctance, Hongjun quickly said, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. I will handle Luohu. You only need to provide assistance from the sidelines!"
Li Yi inwardly grumbled, "Assist from the sidelines? If Qiankun hadn't been killed by our three brothers, perhaps Qiankun would have believed it. Li Yi clearly remembers Luohu's rampages. It was only when Qiankun self-detonated that Luohu was heavily injured. Assist? Heh heh!"
Li Yi continued, "That being said, my brothers would be risking their lives to help you, Fellow Daoist. Do you have no token of appreciation?"
Upon hearing this, Hongjun knew Li Yi was seeking benefits and followed his lead, wanting to know what Li Yi desired.
"Oh! Then I wonder what reward you seek, Fellow Daoist?"
Li Yi knew that his three brothers had no choice but to participate in the conflict between the Dao and Demon factions for the sake of the Primordial World. However, just because they couldn't avoid it didn't mean they couldn't extort some benefits from this old fellow.
Li Yi was straightforward and got to the point, "I observe that the Taiji Diagram in your hand has a connection with me, and the Pangu Banner has a connection with my second brother. I wonder if you are willing to part with them?"
Li Yi finished speaking with a faint smile.
Hongjun was greatly shocked. No one knew he had obtained the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner. He had only used them for the first time in Luohu's Zhuxian Formation. How did Taishang know? He even knew the names of these two spirit treasures. Luohu might not even know their names. This was unlikely to be a bluff.
Hongjun immediately said, "I wonder how you knew I possessed these two spirit treasures? If I recall correctly, I don't think anyone knows! Yet you even know their names. You are truly extraordinary!"
Hongjun then looked deeply at Li Yi.
Li Yi chuckled and said, "A humble person has his own unique methods. Fellow Daoist is overthinking it."
After speaking, he looked at Hongjun with a poker face.
Hongjun, seeing Li Yi's impassive expression, thought, "Although they are two innate supreme treasures, compared to my great Dao cultivation, the importance is clear."
Hongjun said, "Since they are fated with Fellow Daoist, it is not impossible to give them to you. However, it must be after Luohu is defeated."
Li Yi heard this and knew that these two supreme treasures would be obtained, but only after defeating Luohu. Otherwise, Hongjun would likely still not be a match for Luohu under the combined might of the God-Slaying Spear and the Zhuxian Formation.
He immediately said, "That is only right." Su Dan Novel Network
Li Yi and the others agreed to help Hongjun. Hongjun wasted no more time and bid farewell to Li Yi and the others to make arrangements. He only asked Li Yi to await his news and then left Kunlun Mountain.
After Hongjun left, Primordial and Tongtian were perplexed, "Big Brother, why did you agree? With Hongjun's cultivation, he is no match for Luohu. Why should we get involved?"
Li Yi laughed heartily and said to Primordial and Tongtian, "Second brother, third brother, have you forgotten what happened on Penglai Island?"
The two looked confused, "Big Brother means..."
"Precisely. Luohu is the very person who attacked us three brothers on Penglai Island back then."
Primordial and Tongtian said indignantly, "This time, we will surely let him know the capabilities of our three brothers."
Tongtian then added, "Big Brother is biased. Why did you only ask for two treasures? You said they were fated with you and second brother, but there's nothing for me."
Li Yi saw Tongtian's sulky expression and smiled, "Third brother, do not worry. Your elder brother will naturally bestow upon you a treasure no less significant than the Taiji Diagram and the Pangu Banner."
Tongtian was overjoyed, initially just complaining to his elder brother, but unexpectedly, there was indeed something. He excitedly asked, "Big Brother, is it true?"
Li Yi laughed and chided, "Would I lie to you?"
He continued, "On Penglai Island, you two have already experienced Luohu's power. So much time has passed, he is certainly not the same as before. You two should immediately return to your peaks and prepare yourselves well, or I will not spare you."
Primordial and Tongtian knew they were going to seek revenge on Luohu, and both were exhilarated. Since the three brothers had emerged from seclusion, it was the first time they had suffered a setback at Luohu's hands. Had it not been for Li Yi's great divine power repelling Luohu, they might not have returned.
Now that they were going to seek revenge on Luohu, they were naturally exceptionally excited and immediately returned to their respective peaks to prepare.