Honghuang: Fire De Huaguang, I am the Horse King of Human Education

It is the ancient ferocious beast suppressed here by the Primordial Celestial Venerable – the Ancestral Qilin!

"Old man Yuanshi... you've finally remembered me?"

Zu Qilin's voice was like a muffled thunderclap, carrying undisguised sarcasm and resentment.

Its enormous head drooped, its crimson eyes looking down at the tiny lamp, an invisible pressure making the lamp gasp for breath.

Suppressing his discomfort, Ran Deng said in a deep voice.

"By the decree of the Headmaster, I request that fellow Daoists come out of seclusion to assist me in propagating the teachings..."

"Assisting the Chan Sect?"

The Ancestral Qilin let out a deafening roar, its murderous aura soaring into the sky.

"That old bastard Yuanshi suppressed me back then, and now he wants me to serve him? Dream on!"

Just as Ran Deng was about to speak again, suddenly!
The entire primordial world trembled violently without warning!
An indescribable, vast, and profound will, seemingly bearing the weight of countless ages of the primordial earth, descended with a thunderous roar!

Above the sky, endless auspicious clouds gather and transform into billions of golden lotuses, which slowly bloom!

Beneath the earth, the earth's veins surged, coalescing into nine colossal, dark yellow dragons that stretched across the heavens and earth, roaring to the sky! Flowers rained down from the heavens, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth!
A sacred, solemn, yet all-encompassing supreme pressure permeated the hearts of every living being!

"This is... the pressure of a saint?!"

Ran Deng was horrified and looked up abruptly!
High above, a majestic figure formed from primordial yellow energy slowly appeared!

The figure stood tall and imposing, its face blurred, yet it exuded an eternal aura that was as long-lasting as heaven and earth and as radiant as the sun and moon!
He held an ancient scroll in his hands. As the pages turned, the earth's veins shifted, and the mountains and rivers changed! It was none other than Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of the Earth Immortals!

"Zhen Yuanzi...has attained sainthood?!"

Ran Deng gasped in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief and... an indescribable sense of loss!

At the same time, all living beings across the primordial land, regardless of whether they were immortals or mortals, or of any race, felt that vast will originating from the very source of the earth!
They involuntarily stopped what they were doing and bowed in respect towards the figure in black and yellow!
This is reverence for Mother Earth, and even more so, pilgrimage to the newborn saint!
Ran Deng stared blankly at the dark and yellow figure high in the sky, worshipped by all spirits, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Envy? Jealousy? Disappointment? A mix of emotions surged within them.

He cultivated for ten thousand years and went through many tribulations, but he was always stuck at the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm and could not make any progress.

And Zhen Yuanzi... actually attained sainthood in the Netherworld! Opportunity... the Great Dao... how unfair!
"Western religion..."

A thought began to take root in his mind. The two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, had repeatedly hinted that there was a great opportunity in the West, where one could be saved by destiny... Perhaps... that was his final destination?
But... Yuanshi Tianzun... Randeng thought of that gloomy and violent face, and that terrifying Pangu Banner, and the thought that had just arisen in his mind was instantly extinguished.

He doesn't dare! At least not now...
"Hmph! A sage? He's nothing but a usurper of the power of heaven and earth!"

The roar of the Ancestral Qilin interrupted Randeng's thoughts.

Its crimson giant eyes swept over the dark yellow figure in the sky, filled with disdain and contempt.

"Back then, the three races of Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin fought for supremacy, shattering the primordial world, yet not a single sage dared to utter a sound! Now, however, they've all become rulers of heaven and earth? How laughable!"

It was even more resistant to the arrangements of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, its huge hooves scratching the ground impatiently, crushing the hard rocks into dust.

"That old bastard Yuanshi wants me to be his henchman? No way! Unless... he comes begging me in person!"

Deep within the Netherworld, at the core of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The primordial energy slowly receded, and Zhen Yuanzi's holy aura subsided, returning him to his original, unadorned state.

He opened his eyes, and his gaze seemed to reflect the changing landscape and the passage of time.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist! Congratulations on your attainment of the Primordial Chaos Realm and your attainment of the Sainthood!"

A voice filled with excitement and joy rang out.

A Taoist priest dressed in a red robe, with a gaunt face and eyes that conveyed a sense of vicissitude and liberation, stepped forward quickly. He was none other than the Old Ancestor Hongyun (formerly Yunzhongzi), who had been rescued by Zhenyuanzi from the seal of Yuanshi Tianzun and had his true spirit reunited.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun!"

Zhen Yuanzi smiled sincerely and stepped forward to support Hongyun Patriarch's arm.

"Congratulations! Your escape from your predicament and the reunion of your true spirit is a great joy! The karma of the past has finally been resolved today!"

Ancestor Hongyun's eyes were filled with tears, overwhelmed with emotion.

"If it weren't for your help, fellow Daoist and the Empress, Hongyun would have been annihilated long ago, and there would be no Hongyun today! This kindness and virtue will never be forgotten!"

Empress Pingxin sat upright on the Wheel of Reincarnation, looking at her two old friends before her, a look of satisfaction on her face.

She opened her palm, and above it floated a faint but still radiant celestial light—a fragment of the remnant soul belonging to Yun Zhongzi, the only remaining part of his true spirit after he was stripped of his Red Cloud Origin.

“Fellow Daoist Zhenyuan,” said Lady Pingxin in a calm voice.

"What should we do with this soul?"

Zhen Yuanzi's gaze fell on the remnant soul, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

This remnant soul, carrying Yun Zhongzi's memories and karma, has been completely severed from Hongyun Ancestor.

Kill him? That would be against the natural order. Keep him alive? That might cause future trouble.

He pondered for a moment, then said.

"This soul is no longer Hongyun, nor is it the complete Yunzhongzi. Why not... send it into reincarnation, let it be reborn, settle its karma, and be reborn?"

The Old Ancestor Hongyun looked at the remnant soul with a complex expression in his eyes, and finally nodded.

"I will do as you say, fellow Daoist."

Inside the Jade Void Palace, there was deathly silence.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable sat high on his cloud bed, his face so gloomy it seemed to drip water.

His body was filled with a fierce aura, and the Netherworld Palm print on his left cheek was particularly glaring in the dim light.

The image of the Tongtian Sect Leader's decisive sword strike replayed repeatedly in his mind, along with the humiliating scene of being forced to flee in a sorry state. The more he thought about it, the angrier and more resentful he became!

But how can I get revenge? How can I save face?

He pondered and pondered, but could not find a perfect solution! Tongtian was no longer the Tongtian of the past; even he was wary of the sharpness of his swordsmanship!

A direct assault on Biyou Palace? The cost would be too high! Continuing to scheme against the disciples of the Jie Sect? That doesn't seem to be enough to vent our anger either!
Just then, a commotion came from outside the palace.

The Taoist Ran Deng led the unruly Ancestral Qilin, whose body radiated a fierce aura, into the main hall.

"Master, Fellow Daoist Zu Qilin has arrived."

Randeng bowed deeply, but inwardly he groaned. This Ancestral Qilin was terrifyingly ferocious and showed absolutely no respect for the Primordial Celestial Venerable. Bringing it back to the Jade Void Palace was tantamount to bringing back a chaotic divine thunderbolt that could explode at any moment!
He just wanted to get rid of this hot potato to Yuanshi Tianzun as soon as possible.

"Hmph!" The Ancestral Qilin exhaled two streams of white breath from its nostrils, and its crimson giant eyes swept over the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, making no attempt to conceal its mockery and provocation.

"Old man Yuanshi, you have suppressed me for ten thousand years, and now you are eagerly asking me to come out. What is the matter? Could it be that that brat Tongtian slapped you in the face, and you have no way to deal with it, so you want me to help you get revenge?"

Its enormous head was held high, and its voice was like muffled thunder.

"Want me to take action? Fine! Kneel down and beg me! I might consider it!"

"presumptuous!"

Yuanshi Tianzun was already burning with rage, and being publicly humiliated by Zu Qilin made him even more furious!

He suddenly stood up, and the phantom of the Pangu Banner appeared behind him, its terrifying holy power pressing down on the Ancestral Qilin!
The Ancestral Qilin showed no weakness, letting out a roar that shattered the void!

Its dark golden scales shone brightly, and a monstrous aura of ferocity originating from a primordial beast suddenly erupted, actually withstanding the holy might of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable!
The entire Jade Void Palace trembled violently once again!
The Taoist Ran Deng turned pale and quietly took a few steps back, lamenting in his heart: It's over! We haven't even dealt with Tongtian yet, and our own people are already fighting each other!

Deep within the Netherworld, the light of the Reincarnation Disc slowly circulated, illuminating the figures of Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun Patriarch sitting opposite each other.

After handing over the faint but stubborn remnant soul of Yuqing to Ancestor Hongyun, Lady Pingxin quietly left with Xingtian, leaving only her words echoing in the void.

"Now that this soul has been separated, how to deal with it is entirely up to you, fellow Daoist. As for that lamp, I need to carefully consider it."

Xing Tian, ​​carrying the coffin lantern, responded in a muffled voice and then disappeared.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun..."

Zhen Yuanzi looked at his old friend who had gone through many hardships and reunited with his true spirit, his eyes filled with emotion.

"Through countless cycles of time, the world changes. To meet again here today is truly a blessing from Heaven."

Ancestor Hongyun stroked the slightly struggling remnant soul of Yuqing in his palm, his face showing little excitement, only a calm and profound feeling after experiencing vicissitudes.

"Yes, after countless years, we've come full circle, and finally returned here. But..."

He looked up at Zhen Yuanzi, a complex smile curving his lips.

"This Hongyun is not the same Hongyun as before. The 'good guy' who only knew how to be kind to others and always yielded to them has long since died in betrayal and scheming."

Zhen Yuanzi remained silent, naturally understanding the meaning behind Hongyun's words.

Back then, when the Old Ancestor Hongyun gave up his seat on the prayer mat, he incurred a tremendous karmic debt, ultimately leading to his death, the dissipation of his Dao, and the scattering of his true spirit. The scheming of the two Western Saints was the key factor in this.

"Those two from the West..."

Zhen Yuanzi's eyes were cold.

"They owe you an explanation for what happened back then! This cause and effect cannot be left unresolved!"

Ancestor Hongyun looked down at the remnant soul in his palm, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable firmness.

"The cause and effect must naturally be resolved. But not now. Only when I refine this soul, reunite my origins, restore my former cultivation, and perhaps even... advance further, will it be time to settle old scores!"

His eyes gleamed with a sharp light; he was no longer the mild-mannered good-natured man of yesteryear, but a strong man who had experienced life and death and understood the treacherous nature of the world!
"Hongyun! You dare touch me?!"

The remnant soul of Yuqing in his palm suddenly struggled violently, emitting a sharp and piercing roar of intent, full of resentment and threat.

"I am a direct disciple of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable of Jade Void Palace! A disciple of a sage! If you dare to refine me, you are making an enemy of the Chan Sect! An enemy of a sage! Your master will surely annihilate you, body and soul, and condemn you to eternal damnation!"

"Disciple of a saint?"

The old ancestor Hongyun's lips curled into an undisguised sneer.

"What a prestigious title! What a pity..."

He slowly closed his five fingers, and an invisible force instantly imprisoned the struggling remnant soul.

"Have you forgotten how your current 'master' treats you, his 'personal disciple'? You were the one who ambushed and killed Wen Zhong, weren't you? And you were the one who was abandoned in the Netherworld as a pawn, weren't you?"

Now only a wisp of your soul remains. Has your high and mighty master searched for you? Has he ever thought of saving you?

"No! Master, he..."

The remnant soul's will fluctuated violently, filled with panic and despair.

"Save it."

The Old Ancestor Hongyun interrupted it, his voice icy cold.

"Yuanshi Tianzun? He's probably busy plotting how to get revenge on Tongtian Jiaozhu and how to salvage his swollen face. He has no time to care about a useless remnant soul like you. Your backer has long forgotten about you!"

"As for sages..."

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Old Ancestor Hongyun.

"Today, I will show you that even a saint... is not omnipotent!"

Before he finished speaking, he made a gesture with his other hand!
A gourd, entirely crimson with wisps of eerie red clouds swirling around its mouth, appeared out of thin air!
It was his original companion spirit treasure—the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd!
"Scattered Soul Crimson Cloud! Refine!"

With a low shout, the Red Cloud Ancestor unleashed a torrent of crimson clouds from the mouth of the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd!

The swirling clouds carried a terrifying aura that was both soul-consuming and bone-corroding, capable of shattering one's true spirit, and instantly enveloped the remnant soul of Yuqing in his palm!
"what--!!!"

An extremely piercing scream of will exploded in the void!

The remnant soul of Yuqing was rapidly dissolved and disintegrated under the erosion of the scattered red clouds!
The Jade Purity Immortal Light that constituted his soul was stripped away and annihilated inch by inch! The memories, consciousness, and resentment belonging to Yun Zhongzi…

Everything vanished rapidly in that intoxicating, bone-melting red cloud!
"No! No! Spare me! Ancestor Hongyun! Spare me! I'll submit! I'll..."

The remnant soul let out its final wail and plea for mercy.

Ancestor Hongyun's expression was indifferent, and his eyes showed no emotion whatsoever.

"It's too late. From the moment you were chosen by the Primordial Celestial Lord to become his executioner, your fate was sealed. Rest in peace... return to your origin!"

He clenched his fists tightly!
puff!
The struggling remnant soul, enveloped by the scattered crimson clouds, burst open completely like a crushed bubble!

It transformed into an incomparably pure primordial spirit power, devoid of any further imprint of consciousness!
This power contains part of the cultivation essence of Yun Zhongzi, a peak Grand Luo Golden Immortal cultivator, and also carries the original aura that was forcibly stripped from Hongyun Ancestor himself!
"receive!"

Ancestor Hongyun opened his mouth and inhaled!
That pure primordial spirit power flowed continuously into his mouth!
His aura was rising at a visible speed!
The originally somewhat ethereal true spirit body quickly became solid and substantial!
A powerful pressure belonging to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal suddenly spread out!
They even faintly touched that mysterious barrier!
Zhen Yuanzi watched quietly from the side, his eyes showing both relief and solemnity.

Hongyun's move was undoubtedly the most thorough and trouble-free approach, but it also meant a complete break with Yuanshi Tianzun and the Chan Sect.

When the last bit of primordial spirit power was completely absorbed, Ancestor Hongyun slowly opened his eyes.

In the depths of his eyes, it seemed as if a river of stars flowed, or as if red clouds surged. His aura was as deep as the sea, several times stronger than before!
He opened his palm, and the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd floated above it. Amidst the crimson light flowing across the gourd's surface, a deep purple aura flashed by so quickly it was almost an illusion. (End of Chapter)