Volume One: The Calamity of the Lich Chapter 119: The Azure Sky Rebukes the Heavenly Court; Zhunti First Entangles with Causality

“Oh, it seems Di Jun has indeed put in quite some effort!”
Gazing at the spiritual roots Bai Ze produced, Qing Kong spoke slowly.
Most of these spiritual roots were ones Qing Xuan had never encountered before, and he hadn’t expected Di Jun to find them.
“I’ve looked them over; there are indeed many rare spiritual roots here that I haven’t seen in all these years, and they’re all quite exceptional. Di Jun sent you to deliver them—does he not feel any reluctance at all?”
Qing Kong neither accepted nor refused, merely looking toward Bai Ze as he spoke.
“Please rest assured, senior. Since His Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor, instructed me to bring them, he harbors no ulterior motives. His Majesty sincerely wishes for reconciliation.”
“Speak, what other conditions does Di Jun have? I hardly believe he’d send so many spiritual roots and medicinal herbs just for this. If you’re here to talk about the rights to the Solar Star again, you may as well hold your tongue.”
Qing Kong glanced at the hundreds of radiant spiritual roots before him, some impossibly rare herbs among them, and questioned directly.
“Nothing escapes your insight, senior. His Majesty asked Bai Ze to inquire about the Fusang Divine Tree.”
“Di Jun’s intentions are clear—no wonder he’s so generous. But to think he wants to exchange these spiritual roots for the Fusang Tree, one of the ten greatest roots!”
Upon hearing Bai Ze’s words, Qing Kong couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh.
“Let me be clear: the Fusang Tree has already been relocated elsewhere. Such a spiritual root is of immense importance to the primordial world, and it is not his to command. Tell him to abandon this notion.
Does he think I don’t know his intentions? Even without me, they would have had no chance. If it weren’t unsuitable for placement on the Solar Star, I wouldn’t even covet a single Fusang Tree root!”
After Qing Kong finished speaking, Bai Ze broke out in a cold sweat.
“Speak, what else is there?”
“To answer you, senior, soon His Majesty will hold a grand celebration for the establishment of the Heavenly Court. He instructed me to deliver an invitation to you!”
Having finished, Bai Ze took out a golden invitation and handed it to Qing Kong.
After Qing Kong accepted it, Bai Ze nervously continued,
“And furthermore, His Majesty wishes to confer upon you the official title of Lord of Buzhou Mountain, as the Heavenly Court will govern the primordial world.”
No sooner had he finished than Qing Kong’s gaze turned furious and cold. His power surged forth, sweeping Bai Ze and all the spiritual roots he had brought out of Buzhou Mountain.
At the same time, his words echoed across the realm, heard by countless mighty beings of the primordial world.

“Take your spiritual roots and get out of Buzhou Mountain! As for attending the Heavenly Court’s celebration, that will depend on my mood.
Does Di Jun think himself another Pangu, bestowing upon me the title of Lord of Buzhou Mountain? Let him ask Hong Jun and the Heavenly Way if they dare challenge my words! Di Jun thinks that by becoming the Heavenly Emperor, he truly commands the primordial world?”
What Qing Kong did not know was that as his words spread from Buzhou Mountain, Di Jun, sitting firmly upon the throne of the Heavenly Emperor, was so enraged he smashed everything at hand.
Countless demon clan nobles and mighty beings could only look on, trembling, not daring to utter a word, even afraid to breathe too loudly.
Meanwhile, across the primordial world, countless great powers watched Di Jun’s embarrassment with amusement.

“He really does like to put on airs! Let’s see how he explains this now.”
At this moment, on Kunlun Mountain, Yuan Shi sat in the Jade Purity Palace, his gaze piercing through countless layers of space toward the Heavenly Court, eyes filled with mocking derision.
“But the Lord of Buzhou Mountain is quite bold, daring to defy even the Sages. From his words, it seems he doesn’t even regard the Heavenly Way.”
Yet Yuan Shi was unaware that before, Wu Yun had already clashed with the Heavenly Way.
Though it was only through Hong Jun’s body and not his full power, it could not change the fact that he had suffered defeat at Qing Xuan’s hands.
It wasn’t even Qing Xuan’s true self—merely an avatar.

Meanwhile, atop Mount Sumeru—
“Senior brother, that master is far too powerful, utterly disregarding the Sages and even the Heavenly Way. I wonder whether it’s due to immense strength or some secret reliance. If only we possessed such power…”
Zhun Ti’s eyes burned as he stared toward Buzhou Mountain, speaking incessantly to Jie Yin beside him.
“Such a master is beyond our imagination. Don’t concern yourself too much, little brother. We must first increase our strength, so Western lands may prosper.”
Jie Yin listened to Zhun Ti’s complaints and reminded him gently.
“Sigh, I understand, senior brother, but every time I think of how barren our Western lands are compared to the East, I can’t help but feel frustrated…”
Jie Yin sighed and said no more, believing Zhun Ti would eventually come to terms.

Yet he did not know that at this moment, Zhun Ti was facing an unforeseen change.
“Do you truly desire great power? Do you wish countless souls to revere you above all?”
Suddenly, Zhun Ti sensed a voice arising from within his heart, impossible to escape no matter what he did.
At first, he could ignore it, but as time passed—

These whispers clung to him, impossible to shake off, constantly tempting him.
“Come, as long as you trust in me, you will gain immense strength, without fear of any foe.”
The longer he was influenced, the more Zhun Ti seemed to completely trust the voice, believing its every word.
Eventually, Jie Yin noticed something amiss—Zhun Ti’s cultivation methods had changed drastically.
“Little brother, what has happened to you lately?”
“Senior brother, why do you say that? I’m still the same as ever, aren’t I?”
“Have you not noticed? Your recent cultivation is entirely different from before! If you encounter any trouble, tell me at once—it’s my concern as much as yours.”
Jie Yin looked at Zhun Ti sincerely, hoping he would share his thoughts.
“Senior brother, what are you thinking? My cultivation has been going smoothly, and my power has grown considerably!”
As he spoke, Zhun Ti displayed his current strength for Jie Yin to see.
Seeing this, Jie Yin realized Zhun Ti’s power had not diminished and could only voice his doubts.
“Ah, so that’s what’s troubling you! Recently, I discovered a method best suited for me, so I’ve been experimenting. Since you’ve noticed, I’ll share it with you!”
Thus, Zhun Ti revealed his recent enlightenment—the Way of Proving the Dao through Dreams—to Jie Yin.

Yet he was entirely unaware that this so-called method of proving the Dao came with hidden costs.
The path he now cultivated was gradually shifting toward the Way of Karma.
Fortunately, Zhun Ti’s aptitude for this path was quite good.
His rapid rise in power bewildered even himself.