Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

As the golden light of merit gradually dissipated and the banquet began, while the guests and hosts were enjoying themselves, no one noticed that deep within the Heavenly Court, an even more secretive plot was quietly unfolding like a venomous snake.

Emperor Jun sat high on his throne, his knuckles tapping rhythmically on the cold armrests. His eyes reflected the lingering auspicious light of the wedding ceremony in the sea of ​​clouds below, but felt no warmth, only a profound chill. "A heavenly marriage… merit…" he murmured, his voice echoing in the magnificent yet desolate hall. "Fuxi's actions are indeed glorious, a sign of Heaven's favor."

"Brother, are you feeling aggrieved?" Taiyi emerged from the shadows, the illusory image of the Eastern Emperor Bell appearing and disappearing beside him, emanating a chaotic aura that suppressed all heavens. "Originally, this should have been your merit, elder brother, but Fuxi reaped the benefits."

"Injustice?" Di Jun slowly shook his head, a cold smile curving his lips. "It's not injustice, it's a wake-up call. Do you see? Those below the level of a sage are all ants. Opportunities that originally belonged to me can be taken away at will."

Moreover, merely by conforming to the will of Heaven and performing a celestial marriage, one can gain such immense merit, which aids in spiritual cultivation and stabilizes one's destiny. Nuwa created humans and became a saint, and the Three Pure Ones established their religions and became saints—all following this path—merit is a shortcut recognized by the will of Heaven.

He stood up, walked to the front of the hall, and looked down at the vast and boundless primordial land. His gaze seemed to pierce through endless void, landing on a crimson figure who was drinking and laughing with Zhen Yuanzi at a banquet. "But you and I, brothers, rule the Heavenly Court and command all demons. Aren't our actions also part of the great cause of maintaining the order of heaven and earth? Why have we been delayed in receiving the opportunity to become saints from the Heavenly Dao? Is it because our merits are insufficient? Or... are we missing that most crucial 'gate'?"

Taiyi frowned: "Brother means..."

"Primordial Purple Qi." Di Jun turned around, his eyes flashing with a terrifying light, his voice resolute, "The Dao Ancestor once said that Primordial Purple Qi is the foundation for becoming a saint. Back then, in the Purple Cloud Palace, seven streams of purple qi each had their own masters. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti have all attained enlightenment. Only the last one remains..."

If anyone else in the prehistoric world heard Di Jun's words, they would definitely jump up and smash his head in. Their demon race was notorious human traffickers in the prehistoric world, a species that everyone hated. In that state, they still wanted to gain merit. It was a miracle that they hadn't been killed by their karma...

The two brothers' eyes met in the air, and they simultaneously uttered a name: "Hongyun".

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly froze. Hongyun was a well-known good-natured person in the prehistoric world, peaceful and unassuming, with a wide circle of friends, including a close friend like Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of earth immortals. However, the Primordial Purple Qi in his hand, ever since the Dao Ancestor distributed the treasure, had become bait hanging over the hearts of countless powerful beings, and also a death warrant. But Hongyun's own cultivation was not weak, and he was inseparable from Zhen Yuanzi year-round; the Wuzhuang Temple was also easy to defend and difficult to attack, so no one dared to make a move easily.

"Hongyun..." Di Jun paced back and forth, his mind churning with calculations. "Although he is a quasi-saint, he is gentle and not good at fighting. His only reliance in life is his decent escape technique and the 'Earth Book' formation under Zhen Yuanzi's ginseng fruit tree. But now is the perfect opportunity."

"A golden opportunity?" Taiyi asked thoughtfully. "Brother, do you mean Hongyun is currently at Phoenix Perch Mountain?"

"Indeed." Di Jun nodded, his eyes deepening with calculation. "The Heavenly Wedding Ceremony is a grand affair, with numerous guests gathered. Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi are also among them. As the banquet draws to a close and the immortals return to their places, their routes become increasingly complex, making this the time when vigilance is at its lowest. More importantly, having undergone the baptism of merit from this Heavenly Wedding, everyone's minds are more or less immersed in the peaceful Daoist atmosphere, making them least vigilant. Furthermore, at this moment, the Heavenly Dao's attention has just shifted away from the Heavenly Wedding, making this a time when the secrets of Heaven are somewhat chaotic."

Taiyi's eyes sharpened: "Brother, are you planning to finish halfway..."

"No." Di Jun raised his hand to interrupt, revealing a confident sneer. "A direct assault would be too drastic and easily blocked by Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book, leading to unforeseen circumstances. We need to devise a plan to make Hong Yun 'voluntarily' leave Zhen Yuanzi's side and enter the... perilous place we have carefully prepared for him."

With a flick of his sleeve, a primordial map formed from starlight appeared before him. Di Jun pointed to a spot: "Look, there are several paths leading back to Wuzhuang Temple from Phoenix Perch Mountain. One of them requires passing through 'Flowing Fire Ravine,' the boundary between 'Heavenly Flame Mountain' and 'Weak Water Marsh.' This place is naturally in disarray, with yin and yang in reverse, the five elements unstable, and the secrets of heaven obscure. It is most adept at concealing movement and can also greatly weaken the connection between the Earth Book and the spiritual veins of the earth."

"This place is indeed excellent," Taiyi agreed, then frowned. "However, how can we get Hongyun to deviate from the path she took with Zhen Yuanzi and go there alone?"

Di Jun's smile widened, tinged with a cold, playful glint: "Hong Yun is a sentimental and nostalgic man, easily influenced, and possesses a self-righteous, albeit somewhat 'public-spirited,' heart. What if he thinks he's going to rescue an 'old friend' in danger?"

Taiyi suddenly realized: "Brother means... to find someone to pretend to ask for help, to lure the tiger away from the mountain?"

"Indeed." Di Jun gazed at the endless starry river outside the hall and said slowly, "Among my demon race, there is a unique species called the 'Thousand Illusion Mystic Fox,' which is most skilled at transformation and imitation, even able to simulate aura and soul. What's more, its innate divine power, 'Illusory Emotion Guidance,' can silently arouse the most caring and tender emotions in others' hearts, amplifying their feelings of anxiety and urgency."

"The candidate... is found. When Hongyun was traveling through the primordial world in his early years, he once saved a 'Seven-Colored Skylark' from being devoured by a ferocious beast on the shores of the East Sea. Few people know of this, but it is the perfect opportunity. Let Xuanhu transform into the form of that skylark, feigning a near-death plea for help, and use my demon race's secret technique to transmit an 'Old Spirit Mark' that only Hongyun can discern, saying that it is trapped in the Flowing Fire Ravine, being hunted by enemies, and its life hangs in the balance..."

Taiyi clapped his hands: "Excellent! Hongyun cherishes old friendships. Hearing that his old friend is in trouble, he must be extremely anxious. The direction of Liuhuojian is slightly different from Wuzhuang Temple. He may excuse himself and go to the rescue alone. Zhenyuanzi may be suspicious, but given Hongyun's insistence and the fact that the banquet has just ended and guests are coming and going, it will be difficult to forcibly stop him in the short term."

The two brothers exchanged a glance, a fleeting glint of killing intent and resolve in their eyes. Di Jun gave a deep command: "Taiyi, you take the Chaos Bell and hide above the Flowing Fire Ravine, sealing off spacetime to cut off his escape route and also to prevent Zhen Yuanzi from forcibly rescuing him with the Earth Book. I will personally lead Ji Meng and Ying Zhao, carrying the 'Simplified Zhou Tian Star Array,' to set up the 'Small Zhou Tian Star Array' within the ravine. Although this array is not as powerful as the complete one, it will be sufficient to trap and kill an unsuspecting Quasi-Saint by utilizing the natural terrain of the Flowing Fire Ravine and the power of the stars!"

"We must strike with deadly precision, seizing their purple aura and annihilating their primordial spirit, leaving no trace or cause and effect. Afterwards, even if there are doubts, without evidence, who can identify the Lord of my Heavenly Court? Moreover, the Great Calamity is approaching, and the secrets of Heaven are in chaos; this is precisely the time to act."

Taiyi took a deep breath and nodded emphatically: "Brother's plan is thorough. I will go and make preparations immediately. That Hongyun... it is his destiny to face this calamity. The Primordial Purple Qi should belong to our demon race. Our demon race also needs its own sage."

......