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

"I have a suggestion. Why don't you lead your demon clan to join my Western Sect? My Western Sect has the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, which can help the demon clan's children wash away their demonic and malevolent aura and rebuild their foundation."

Furthermore, there is an unparalleled and wondrous method that can help you comprehend the Great Dao and restore the prestige of the demon race! At that time, the Western Sect will be the new home of the demon race, and you will be the Dharma Protector and Bright King of the Western Sect, holding a revered position and sharing its destiny with us. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"To be incorporated into Western religions? To be protected by Dharma protectors?"

Lu Ya was stunned for a moment, then his eyes burst with wild joy!

He was worried about having nowhere to go and no one to rely on! If he could join the Western Sect and become a Dharma Protector King, backed by the lineage of the sages, wouldn't that be a hundred times better than being a demon emperor in name only in Beiju Luzhou?!

As for washing away the demonic aura? As long as we can gain power and revitalize the demon race, what is this small price to pay!
"Disciple Lu Ya! I am willing to lead the demon race to submit to the West! I pay my respects to my Sage Master!"

The golden crow that Lu Ya had transformed into instantly retracted its true fire, transformed into human form, and bowed to Zhunti, its voice filled with excitement and gratitude!

"Good! Good!"

Zhunti's smile widened, and he reached out to offer his support.

"Now that you have entered my Western Paradise, you are a Dharma Protector King of my sect. You should address each other as fellow disciples. Rise."

"Thank you, senior brother!"

Lu Ya stood up, his face full of relief at surviving the ordeal and anticipation for the future.

However, behind Lu Ya, Bai Ze, who had been silent all along, now had deep worry and vigilance in his eyes.

As an ancient demon god with extraordinary wisdom, how could he not see through Zhunti's scheme? What Dharma Protector King, sharing destiny?

They only coveted Lu Ya's demonic destiny and the remaining demonic power under his command, wanting to use him as a pawn for the Western Sect!

Once incorporated into the Western Religion, the demon race will likely never have another day of independence and will be completely reduced to a tool for the rise of the Western Religion!

Bai Ze sighed inwardly, seeing Lu Ya's tearful gratitude, knowing that it was useless to try to dissuade him now.

He lowered his head silently, his eyes filled with determination.

He couldn't stand by and watch the last spark of the demon race be completely subjugated by others!

He must find a way to break away from Western religion!

"Fellow Daoist, now that this matter is settled, come with me back to Beiju Luzhou to reorganize the demon race and then we can discuss the matter of conversion."

Zhunti spoke to Lu Ya, while his gaze swept over Bai Ze seemingly without his noticing, as if he saw through his thoughts but did not point them out.

"I will follow my senior brother's orders!"

Lu Ya quickly replied.

With a flick of his sleeve, Zhunti unleashed a beam of Buddhist light that carried Lu Ya, Bai Ze, and the remaining tens of thousands of demon soldiers into the sky above the far north sea, leaving only the still raging waves to recount the earth-shattering battle between the saints.

Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Palace.

Inside the magnificent, golden hall, ethereal energy swirled and auspicious clouds drifted.

The Jade Emperor sat high on the Nine Dragon Throne, with the Queen Mother of the West sitting beside him.

Below, Kunpeng stood respectfully, dressed in a brand-new black celestial court robe embroidered with gold patterns. Although his face was still pale and his aura was weak, he was much better than when he was in the far north sea.

"How are your injuries, my dear minister?"

The voice of the Supreme God of Heaven was calm and concerned.

"Thanks to His Majesty's great blessing, I have taken the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir bestowed by the Goddess of Yaochi. My injuries have stabilized, and I only need to rest for a while to recover."

Kunpeng quickly bowed in response, adopting an extremely humble posture.

"Well, so good."

The Jade Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the Kunpeng with a profound meaning.

"Now that you have submitted to the Heavenly Court, I will naturally trust and rely on you. The great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has begun, and the Three Realms are in turmoil. Although the Heavenly Court is the legitimate authority of the Three Realms, its power to deter others is still insufficient."

"I have heard that you, my beloved minister, were once an ancient demon master, wielding the Zhou Tian Star Array, your power shaking the primordial world. I wonder, can you now recreate this array?"

Kunpeng's heart skipped a beat!
He instantly understood Haotian's intention! The Heavenly Court had its eye on the Zhou Tian Star Array that he possessed!
The intention is to use this formation to enhance the Heavenly Court's deterrent power and gain the upper hand in the Great Tribulation!

His mind raced, but his face remained impassive as he spoke respectfully.

"Your Majesty, the Zhou Tian Star Array is an ancient Heavenly Court clan-protecting array, possessing immense and extraordinary power."

This formation requires 365 Great Luo Golden Immortals to hold the Great Zhou Heavenly Star Banner.

Arranged according to the celestial constellations, and supplemented by 14,800 Golden Immortals holding Small Heavenly Star Banners, forming a Small Heavenly Star Array as an auxiliary force, this array draws upon the power of all the celestial stars to unleash its earth-shattering might.

He paused and changed the subject.

"However, the core of this formation lies in the formation diagram and the master of the formation's control over the laws of the stars. The formation diagram was lost with the collapse of the ancient Heavenly Court, but as one of the former masters of the formation, I have a thorough understanding of the formation diagram and its operation."

If Your Majesty can provide sufficient manpower and resources, I... am confident that I can recreate this formation! Although its power may be less than one-tenth or one-twelfth of its former glory due to limitations in manpower and cultivation, it will be enough to deter villains and protect the Heavenly Court!

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West exchanged a glance, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes!

Recreate the Zhou Tian Star Array! Even with only one-tenth of its ancient power, it would be enough to give the Heavenly Court a pivotal position in the upcoming great calamity!
This Kunpeng is indeed a lucky general!
"Good! Good! Good!"

The Jade Emperor said "good" three times, a rare smile appearing on his face.

"My dear minister, you have indeed lived up to my expectations! The Heavenly Court will provide all the necessary manpower and resources! I hereby issue you this imperial edict immediately!"

He raised his hand and pointed, and a purple-gold imperial edict appeared out of thin air, hovering in front of Kunpeng.

The imperial edict was written in a flamboyant and elegant style.

"Imperial Decree: Kunpeng, the Demon Master of the Northern Underworld, is fully responsible for the reappearance of the Zhou Tian Star Array. All departments of the Heavenly Court must provide full cooperation in terms of resources and manpower, without fail! Anyone who disobeys will be punished for defying an imperial decree!"

"Your subject, Kunpeng, receives the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"

Kunpeng accepted the imperial edict with both hands, bowed deeply, and his face was full of "tears of gratitude".

"Your Majesty's grace is beyond my ability to repay even with my life! I will do my utmost to restore the Zhou Tian Star Array, to share Your Majesty's burdens, and to serve the Heavenly Court!"

However, deep within his lowered eyelids lay a cold calculation.

He knew that Haotian was using him, using the Zhou Tian Star Array to strengthen the Heavenly Court.

And wasn't he also using the Heavenly Court? Using the Heavenly Court's resources to recover from his injuries, recreate the grand formation, and enhance his own strength and status!

Both sides are simply taking what they need and exploiting each other.

As for loyalty? After being hunted down by Zhunti and receiving Haotian's "life-saving grace," those two words had long since vanished from Kunpeng's mind. Only power is eternal!

Deep within the Heavenly Court's Lingxiao Palace, on a magnificent array platform constructed from star-refined gold and nine-heavenly jade.

Kunpeng was dressed in a dark court robe, his face still somewhat pale, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

He held in his hands the core of an array plate formed from countless starlight runes, facing hundreds of Golden Immortals and Heavenly Generals drawn from various departments of the Heavenly Court, as well as the elite Northern Underworld demons who had just been reborn from the Immortal Cleansing Pool and whose auras were now pure. He solemnly issued his orders: "The celestial constellations are based on 365 principal stars and 14,800 auxiliary stars! The star banners in your hands are the conduits for communicating with the corresponding stars!"
The one wielding the main banner must be at least a Great Luo Golden Immortal in cultivation, drawing upon the power of the ancient stars! The one wielding the auxiliary banner must be at least a Golden Immortal in cultivation, stabilizing the celestial trajectories! Positions must be precise to the smallest detail! Operation must be flawless even for a moment! Otherwise, the formation will crumble and everyone will perish!

Kunpeng's voice was cold and majestic, carrying an unquestionable determination.

"I will obey the Demon Master's decree!"

The celestial generals below responded in unison, their voices resounding throughout the palace.

They looked at the figure on the platform, whose aura was weak yet seemed to resonate faintly with the stars in the heavens, their eyes filled with awe.

To recreate the Zhou Tian Star Array! What a magnificent feat! If successful, they will all become pillars of the Heavenly Court!

The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother of the West sat high on their thrones atop the clouds, overlooking the bustling scene below.

Haotian's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and a barely perceptible smile played on his lips.

"Once the Zhou Tian Star Array is completed, the majesty of the Heavenly Court will awe the Three Realms!"

Haotian's voice was deep and resonant, carrying an air of absolute confidence.

"Although the human way is prosperous, it must ultimately be governed by the Heavenly Way! The cycle of the Earthly Way should also be incorporated into the order of the Heavenly Way! Of the three paths of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity, the Heavenly Way should be the most supreme! This is the inevitable trend!"

The Queen Mother of the West nodded slightly.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. This formation is the cornerstone of the Heavenly Court's rule over the Three Realms. Although Kunpeng is arrogant, he is still capable. As long as we have this great formation, he will not be able to cause any trouble."

Haotian's gaze was deep, as if piercing through the endless void, and he saw the figure sitting in the Purple Cloud Palace.

"That is also Master's intention. Under the Heavenly Dao, how can other paths be allowed to usurp the throne? This Zhou Tian Star Array is a symbol of the Heavenly Court's authority to act on behalf of Heaven!"

The West, the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

At the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, chanting Buddhist hymns filled the air, and golden lotuses bloomed everywhere.

However, the atmosphere of this peaceful and serene place seemed somewhat unusual at this moment.

Lu Ya, now dressed in a moon-white monk's robe embroidered with gold patterns, wearing a Vairocana crown, sat upright on a golden lotus platform.

He was surrounded by Buddhist light, and his aura was more refined than when he was in Beiju Luzhou. The violent demon emperor aura between his brows seemed to have been washed away, but a faint sinister glint still remained deep in his eyes.

Behind him was Bai Ze, whose aura had also changed, but whose eyes still carried the wildness of the demon race, as well as tens of thousands of demon race members who had been baptized by the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, whose demonic aura had faded and whose Buddhist light had begun to appear.

"Amitabha."

The Daoist Zhunti stood beneath the Seven Treasures Tree, his face compassionate and solemn.

He clasped his hands together, and his voice, like a resounding bell, instantly pierced through the many spatial barriers of the Blissful World, echoing throughout the primordial world.

"Heaven is above, and all living beings bear witness! Today, the Demon Emperor Lu Ya, moved by the wondrous teachings of the West and enlightened by cause and effect, leads the entire Northern Sea Demon Clan to submit to our Western Sect! Fellow Daoist Lu Ya, you shall be our Sect's Protector King, commanding the demon clan's forces!"

From this moment on, the destiny of the demon race and the destiny of the Western religion merged, together pursuing the supreme path to enlightenment! This is the will of Heaven, a blessing for all living beings!

The moment the words fell!
The entire Western Paradise trembled violently!
A vast and powerful aura of demonic destiny, imbued with a primal energy, surged forth from Lu Ya and the demonic tribes behind him like a river bursting its banks!

This energy collided violently with the originally pure and peaceful, yet somewhat weak, energy of Buddhism in the West!
No rejection! No conflict!
Under the guidance of the great power of the sages and the foundation of the Western Religion's grand aspirations, the two forces of destiny blended together like water and milk, quickly intertwining and merging!
A new aura, more powerful and profound, imbued with both Buddhist compassion and the resilience of the demon race, erupted in the sky above the Western Paradise!

Golden light shone brightly, illuminating billions of miles of void! At this moment, the fortune of the Western Sect surged many times over!
In the primordial world, countless powerful beings' caves were all alarmed by this sudden and tremendous change in fortune!

Inside the Nuwa Palace, the goddess Nuwa suddenly opened her eyes!

In those eyes that contained the power of creation, a raging fire instantly ignited!

She clearly felt that the fortune belonging to the demon race and connected to her bloodline had been forcibly stripped away and integrated into the fortune of the Western religion!

And all of this was orchestrated by Lu Ya, who was nominally a descendant of the demon race!

What's even more infuriating is that Zhunti dared to announce this so openly to the prehistoric world, completely ignoring her existence as a saint of the demon race!
"Zhunti! Lu Ya! How dare you act like this!"

Nuwa's voice was icy cold, filled with a world-destroying rage.

"Ignoring me and stealing the destiny of the demon race! Very well! Since your Western Sect insists on getting involved in the great calamity, I will grant your wish! I will remember this cause and effect!"

In the Eight Views Palace, Lao Tzu slowly opened his eyes, which were as calm as an ancient well.

Before him lay the void, reflecting the surging golden pillar of fortune from the west.

He frowned almost imperceptibly for a moment, then quickly regained his composure and uttered a single, understated sentence.

"The West, that's enough."

Then he closed his eyes again.

However, the slightly fluctuating flames of the alchemy furnace revealed the unease in his heart.

The surge in the fortunes of Western religions undoubtedly poses a challenge to the orthodox status of Taoism.

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace. The Primordial Celestial Venerable sat cross-legged on his cloud bed, his face so somber it seemed almost dripping with water!

Before him stood a mirror condensed from the Jade Purity Immortal Light, clearly reflecting the scene of the Western Paradise where fortunes intertwined and Buddha's light soared into the sky!

"Bastard!"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable slammed his hand on the armrest of the cloud bed, producing a dull, loud thud.

"Zhunti! Jieyin! How dare you so blatantly gather demons to strengthen yourselves! Do you treat my Xuanmen as nothing?! The Investiture of the Gods is an internal matter of my Xuanmen! You Western Sects are not qualified to interfere! And that brat Lu Ya deserves to die!"

His eyes flashed with a cold light, and a sharp, holy aura spread uncontrollably.

"It seems I was too merciful before! Did you really think that by gaining a little bit of luck, you could stand on equal footing with my Chan Sect?! Wishful thinking!"

Jin'ao Island, Biyou Palace.

The Tongtian Sect Leader sat cross-legged on a futon, his sword aura concealed and not yet unleashed.

Before him, the Qingping Sword floated in the air, emitting a soft hum.

The Master of the Heavens' gaze pierced through the void, landing on the soaring Buddhist light in the west, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Ha, Zhunti, he's still as shameless as ever."

The Tongtian Sect Leader's voice was filled with disdain.

"Taking advantage of the chaos of the Great Tribulation to fish in troubled waters and gather the remnants of the demon race, they've certainly played a clever game."

His gaze swept over the surging Western religious movement, but his eyes showed little emotion.

For him, the growth of the Western Sect was far less important than how to protect the disciples of the Jie Sect in the coming great eon.

With the Investiture of the Gods hanging overhead and the Chan Sect eyeing him covetously, this was his true greatest threat! (End of Chapter)