Chapter 965: Chapter 984: Challenge to Luo Hou
"You are absolutely right. Nuwa and Wutian are nothing more than pawns, merely tools for you to test me. However, you’ve neglected one critical point—I’m not someone you can easily toy with, and I don’t yet see you as qualified to cooperate with me."
Ye Xuan spoke indifferently, leaving no room for negotiation, because he realized that he lagged behind Demon Ancestor Luo Hou when it came to manipulating people’s hearts. If he were to truly cooperate with Luo Hou, he would undoubtedly suffer the loss.
Ye Xuan was greatly self-aware; he himself was a person with deep scheming and foresight. Naturally, he maintained significant vigilance against someone like Luo Hou. Although Luo Hou’s words appeared sincere, they were infused with vast ambition and intent.
"Ye Xuan, you truly refuse to cooperate with me?" Luo Hou said coldly.
"The so-called cooperation is, of course, possible, but you need to show some sincerity. If all you have is mere empty talk, isn’t that a huge joke?" Ye Xuan smirked playfully, pouring himself another drink and downing it in one go, then looked toward Luo Hou.
Weighing the pros and cons, negotiating with a tiger, Luo Hou was a double-edged sword. Used well, he would be invincible; used poorly, he would harm himself.
Of course, Luo Hou might be the tiger, but Ye Xuan was not a sheep either; he was also a fierce tiger. Ye Xuan understood the wisdom that two tigers cannot inhabit the same mountain. Though they appeared harmonious, they were wary of each other and both desired to utilize one another.
"Daoist, what sincerity would you have me show?" Luo Hou replied indifferently.
"What I want is very simple: merely pass on the Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique to me," Ye Xuan said with a slight smile.
"You...?"
Luo Hou’s expression changed instantly, a surge of anger visible on his face.
"It seems Daoist is greatly wary of me, seeking to seize my Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique!" Luo Hou said with a cold smile.
"Heh heh."
Ye Xuan laughed, his face playful as he looked toward Luo Hou and said, "Did you not wish to seize my Undying Immortal Scripture? Am I right, Demon Ancestor Luo Hou?"
"Haha."
Luo Hou was first stunned and then burst into laughter, "What a Ye Xuan, I’m growing more and more fond of you. How about we be frank with each other?"
Both were deeply scheming, their words laced with hidden edges. At this moment, Ye Xuan bluntly exposed Luo Hou’s intent, making Luo Hou realize that continuing to use words to ensnare Ye Xuan was utterly futile.
"I want your Myriad Feet Red Dust Technique, and in exchange, I will give you the Undying Immortal Scripture," Ye Xuan said bluntly, looking at Luo Hou with indifference.
"An exchange of equivalent value, that’s quite satisfactory and aligns with my intentions as well."
Luo Hou was not one for unnecessary words; he directly agreed with Ye Xuan, though his eyes flickered slightly, suggesting that it was not that simple.
"Alright, it’s a deal," Ye Xuan nodded slowly.
The verbal grappling concluded in silence, leaving the following to be simple: waiting for Ziwei to attain sainthood, after which the two would privately exchange their techniques.
Rumble!
Golden rain fell from the sky, sweet water surged from the ground, and the Heavenly Dao Saintly Might permeated the Three Realms. The brilliant Heavenly Dao Saint Light blossomed around Ziwei, and the once shattered Heavenly Vault was now being restored.
Ziwei had become a Saint!
Cloaked in Heavenly Dao Saint Light, empowered by the force of the Heavenly Dao, Ziwei stood proudly in the Heavenly Vault. His eyes were slightly closed, carefully sensing his transformation. Around him, an extremely terrifying saintly presence spread, evoking awe at a mere glance.
"Salutations to Saint Ziwei."
The Heaven and Earth in all directions bowed in worship. The moment Ziwei became a Saint, the situation was set, and no one could change this outcome. From that moment onward, he would be the second most powerful in the Heavenly Court.
No, not the second most powerful; from this day forward, Ziwei would preside over the entire Heavenly Court and the Three Realms, becoming the true sovereign shared by the Three Realms, while Ye Xuan would finally be free from the many mundane affairs imposed on him by the Heavenly Court, able to wholeheartedly advance toward the supreme sanctum of all Saints.
Ziwei’s refinement of stones to repair the Blue Sky resulted in an overnight ascension to a Heavenly Dao Saint. For the Heavenly Court, this was a tremendously auspicious event, informing various Daoist traditions and Quasi-Saints that the Heavenly Court had become insurmountably dominant; henceforth, it would be without rival.
"My virtuous brother."
Ziwei strode through the air, with the Heavenly Dao Saint Light steaming around him. Although he was now a Saint, his attitude towards Ye Xuan remained unchanged, as amicable as ever.
"Congratulations to my brother on becoming a Saint; from now on, the Three Realms and Heavens will regard my brother as the supreme," Ye Xuan said with a smile.
"Virtuous brother, I have an immodest request," Ziwei said with a solemn expression.
"Brother, feel free to ask," Ye Xuan replied.
"Though I have become a Saint today, I wish to ask for a match against Daoist Luo Hou. Would Daoist Luo Hou oblige?" Ziwei requested solemnly.
Seeing the earnest look on Ziwei’s face, Ye Xuan seemed to have anticipated this, smiling playfully as he looked at Luo Hou and asked, "What does Daoist Luo Hou think?"
At this moment.
Facing Ziwei’s challenge, Luo Hou’s expression remained unchanged, although he gave Ye Xuan a slightly unfathomable glance before smiling faintly. He replied, "Since Daoist Ziwei wishes to spar with this ancestor, it would be impolite for me to refuse."
As Luo Hou spoke, he stepped leisurely across the sky, and Ye Xuan slightly signaled with his eyes at Ziwei. Understanding immediately, Ziwei smiled coolly and directly pursued Demon Ancestor Luo Hou.
Ziwei’s challenge to Luo Hou was incited by Ye Xuan, for since Luo Hou had used Nuwa to test him, he naturally had to weigh Luo Hou’s worth.
As for Ziwei, Ye Xuan had no worries. Although Ziwei had just become a Saint, the position he attained was that of a Heavenly Dao Saint. He was strengthened by the power of the Heavenly Dao and faced no danger to his life. Even if he could not match Luo Hou, Ziwei could still withdraw safely.
Ye Xuan asked himself honestly, recognizing Luo Hou as a formidable enemy. Not only was his opponent deeply scheming, but even Luo Hou’s cultivation surpassed his own—this was something Ye Xuan understood well.
Thus allowing Ziwei and Luo Hou to battle was also to gauge the true extent of disparity between Luo Hou and him.
Nine Heavens Starry Sky, outside the Thirty-Three Heavens.
A battle between Saints could not occur within the Three Realms, as the destructive force of Saints was too terrifying. Only beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens could the battle unfold uninhibitedly.
Rumble!
Heavenly Dao Saintly Might shattered the starry sky. Ziwei, having ascended to sainthood, had already undergone a qualitative transformation, the Heavenly Dao Saint Power he unleashed causing the starry sky to oscillate for billions of miles.
The momentum to pierce through Heaven and Earth, suppress the energies from all directions—this was the power of the Heavenly Dao Saint, representing not just himself but the entirety of Heaven and Earth.
In contrast, Luo Hou’s expression remained indifferent. He stood with his hands behind his back on the opposite side of the starry sky, seemingly oblivious to the terrifying power Ziwei exhibited, as if from start to finish, he never regarded Ziwei as an opponent.
"Purple Qi from the East."
With a gesture, Ziwei summoned the boundless purple qi, which transformed into a Myriad Miles Heaven Sword, slashing toward Luo Hou.
"Impressive, truly a Heavenly Dao Saint."
Luo Hou smirked playfully. His palm explored forward with a thundering motion without emitting any power, yet the starry sky trembled for billions of miles as a giant handprint that overshadowed the sky began to condense.