Hong Huang: I Kept Offering Poisonous Plans! Hou Tu Urged Me to Calm Down

Chapter 24: The Wu Race Manipulates the Saint Positions!

Zhen Yuanzi looked at Hongyun, who still held a slight glimmer of hope, and couldn’t help but shake his head with a sigh.

“You must understand that this is the position of a Saint. Even the slightest chance carries enormous consequences. What’s more, you and I both know that the speculations within that message are highly likely. Many Daoists have harbored suspicions over the years; they simply never dared to confirm them! The Saint position—while we may barely suppress our excitement, what about others? That Kunpeng certainly won’t be so easy to deal with! He once sat among the Saints but was persuaded to step down by you. This has created a grudge for obstructing his Dao! My friend, for now, you should temporarily stay here with me, or you may really face an assassination attempt!”

Listening to his friend’s words, Hongyun grew increasingly uneasy. Although he was used to being the good guy, he was not one to ignore advice. He couldn’t help but say, “How long do I need to hide? I can’t stay here forever! No, although I lost the Saint position, I helped two others gain theirs. This is a great favor. If I can secure the protection of two future Saints, Kunpeng wouldn’t dare to make a move against me!” Hongyun’s eyes lit up with an idea.

However, just as he voiced it, Zhen Yuanzi immediately dismissed it and reprimanded him.

“Foolish! Now that the deities know the significance of the cushion, its owner has instantly become a target for everyone. Since the Dao Ancestor has yet to assign the Saint positions, it is still just a cushion. But even the cushion can be fought for and schemed over. If you go now, you will truly be swept into the vortex! Mark my words; this world is about to see a great upheaval! The presence that spread this information in secret certainly has no good intentions. For them to sweep through the Primordial Realm in such a short time isn’t something an ordinary being could achieve!”

Hearing this, Hongyun found it hard to believe. “But those positions were set by the Dao Ancestor, and they are for future Saints. How could anyone dare?”

“Why wouldn’t they dare?” Zhen Yuanzi shook his head.

His friend, always trying to see the best in others, had a naïve perspective on these powerful figures. If not for Zhen Yuanzi’s own calm nature and his need to cultivate the ginseng fruit tree and protect his friend, even he might have been tempted to seize a cushion. How much more so for others?

The Primordial Realm was on the brink of chaos! A flicker of concern flashed in Zhen Yuanzi’s eyes.

The matters that Zhen Yuanzi could perceive were also clear to the other deities. The most important were the six owners of the cushions, who had immediately grown cautious.

In Mount Kunlun, the Three Pure Ones were all shaken. The rarely vocal Taiqing Laozi, who had long been in seclusion, even opened his eyes and sighed. “Troubled times!”

Shangqing Tongtian Daoist nonchalantly shook his head. “Just a few minor threats; why worry? The three of us brothers together are an unstoppable force. No one can take a cushion from us!”

But as soon as he finished speaking, Yuqing Yuanshi spoke with a mocking tone. “Eldest Brother and I are fine! But Third Brother, you have opened your sect and accepted many disciples. Those disciples may be your vulnerability! In my view, it would be best to expel them all from the sect to safely get through this tribulation!”

Hearing this, Shangqing Tongtian Daoist frowned in dissatisfaction. “Second Brother, you’ve accepted many disciples as well, so why only criticize mine?”

Yuqing Yuanshi’s brow furrowed, and he immediately rebuked, “How dare you! My disciples are all orchids and jade trees, truly dedicated to the Dao! But yours—what are they? Hatched from eggs, tainted by karma, bound to implicate the Xuan Sect sooner or later!”

Yuanshi’s words were blunt but not without reason. He was highly selective and admitted few disciples, even if there were minor issues, he could handle them. However, Tongtian Daoists accepted all kinds of disciples, not to the extent of the opening of the Jie Sect in the future, but still enough that disciples were already accepting their own disciples and totaled over a hundred in just a short time.

Given the impending tribulation, it was indeed possible that they might drag the Three Pure Ones into danger.

While Tongtian Daoists understood this point somewhat, he was unwilling to compromise his philosophy of welcoming all who sought the Dao. Instantly, he flared up and said, “Hmph, I will protect my disciples myself, so you needn’t worry! You should just look after your own disciples!”

Yuanshi’s face froze in anger. “Disrespecting your elder brother—is there no place in your eyes for me? I am doing this for your good! How dare you act this way!”

Yuanshi felt as though his sincere intentions had been trampled, and more than anything, his younger brother’s defiance stung.

Fortunately, Taiqing Laozi intervened as the peacemaker and calmed them down.

“No matter what, let us watch and wait. There are over two thousand years before the next lecture. Once we pass this period, the Dao Ancestor will naturally make a decision.”

Taiqing Laozi, rational and perceptive, could tell that Hongjun’s situation was precarious. But by the time of the lecture, once the Dao Ancestor was met face-to-face, there would be an opportunity to address these matters.

“Two thousand years—typically more than enough time for a single nap among the deities, yet from now on, every step will carry murderous intentions.”

Returning to his abode, Fuxi looked at his sister, Nuwa, and spoke to her with a bitter smile.

By now, Fuxi had adjusted to viewing his sister with calm. Whatever else was true, having a sister destined for sainthood was no small blessing, if only to keep the fortune within the family.

But it also meant that the future held grave danger.

“So that’s why that fellow was so direct. It must have been related to this. It seems that the one spreading the news is surely the Wu race. They’re strategizing for their future! That fellow is no simple character! At the very least, Hou Tu’s association with him must be due to more than just him being a junior. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have divulged this information to us. I wonder if this was his doing.”[PS: This is a Chinese Idiom that is used to describe a person who is outstanding and possesses noble qualities, often referring to someone with both talent and virtuous character, similar to how orchids and jade trees are seen as elegant and valuable in nature. The idiom is often used in literary contexts to praise individuals, especially in the context of education and moral integrity.]

The more Fuxi thought about it, the clearer things became, lamenting that his desire for the Saint position had clouded his judgment and prevented him from probing further.

Nuwa blinked, curiosity evident in her voice. “A mere Taiyi Golden Immortal—could he truly orchestrate such a scheme? Even a Da Luo Golden Immortal would hardly dare! This plan will undoubtedly offend future Saints and spark a bloody conflict. It could lead to the fall of multiple dities with great powers!”

Fuxi shook his head. “That’s why I doubt he’s behind it—such methods are too vicious! But, offending future Saints might not be the issue. From the Wu race’s standpoint, this is advantageous. The Wu race lacks a primordial spirit and isn’t a disciple of the Dao Ancestor, so they pose no competition. They’ve become the best aid in this scheme. If the Wu race’s protection is gained, even future Saints would have to honor this debt! After all, these are the Twelve Wu Ancestors! Twelve figures of tremendous power, one of whom is even a Quasi-Saint. They could dominate!”

The more he spoke, the more Fuxi marveled at the brilliance of the scheme.

Even Nuwa couldn’t help but be moved.

“Does this mean that the Wu race can decide who becomes a Saint, effectively controlling the Saint positions?”