Chapter Thirteen: Dragging the Three Pure Ones Into the Fray

Karmic force.

He actually had karmic force upon him now. But, thinking about it, it made sense—in the course of his battle with the Ancestral Dragon, everything within millions of miles had been laid to waste, countless innocent beings perished as a result. Accumulating karma was only to be expected.

Yet, understanding this did not make Li Tian feel any better. After all, karmic force was hardly a good thing. Once burdened by karma, cultivation would become twice as hard for half the result; fortune would wane; and, if the karma accumulated further, one would face the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, perhaps even heavenly tribulation and rampant inner demons... In short, all manner of troubles.

The simplest way to dispel karma was to gain merit, using merit to offset the karmic force...

Thinking of gaining merit, Li Tian narrowed his eyes. Aside from certain specific events, the easiest way to accumulate merit was to slay the truly wicked and evil.

And, when it came to the most notorious evildoers to target, who could be more fitting than the Dragon Clan?

"It seems I really am destined to clash with the dragons," Li Tian murmured to himself. Looking at things now, it seemed he would have no choice but to put his full effort into dealing with the Dragon Clan in the future.

...

A few days later, Nuwa made a natural breakthrough to the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. Li Tian and Fuxi both offered her their heartfelt congratulations.

It had to be said, Nuwa’s talent for cultivation was indeed remarkable. Once she set her mind to it, she broke through a minor realm in just a few days—no wonder she would one day become a Sage.

During these days, the situation among the Three Clans grew ever more tense. In the Phoenix Clan’s territory, the high-ranking members of the two clans frequently gathered to discuss affairs. Sometimes, Li Tian, Nuwa, and Fuxi were summoned as well, but they typically kept silent, their eyes lowered and minds withdrawn, feigning indifference to matters that did not concern them.

Li Tian already knew how things would end, so he saw no point in wasting effort. As for Nuwa and Fuxi, neither felt much affection for any of the Three Clans, and would rather see them fight each other to the death every day.

Besides, the two clans’ discussions never went beyond the same few topics, offering nothing constructive.

Though the Phoenix and Qilin Clans had formed an alliance, fundamentally they remained separate, each hoping to minimize their own losses and push the other to the front lines... How could this not breed discord? How could any consensus be reached?

In Li Tian’s view, their alliance existed solely under the pressure of the Dragon Clan. Remove that pressure, and they'd probably be at each other’s throats in an instant.

That day, the three of them were called to attend another meeting. They thought little of it, but upon entering the meeting hall, they immediately sensed a different atmosphere, realizing this was no ordinary gathering.

At that moment, the Phoenix Empress and the First Qilin sat at the head, while the other high-ranking members of both clans stood to either side, all with solemn expressions, none of the previous clamor remaining.

"You have arrived," the Phoenix Empress greeted Li Tian and the others with a smile from her lofty seat.

"Greetings, Your Majesty Phoenix, Your Majesty Qilin," the three responded with a respectful bow and withdrew to one side. Li Tian, puzzled, ventured to ask, "May I ask why Your Majesty has summoned the three of us today?"

"The Ancestral Dragon has just sent a declaration of war, challenging our clan to a final battle in ten years' time," replied the Phoenix Empress.

So the dragons were calling for war—no wonder the tension was so thick. The three exchanged glances, understanding immediately, yet still refrained from taking the lead. They offered their thanks and prepared to remain silent, observing as before.

However, this time, the Phoenix Empress seemed to sense their intentions and deliberately asked, "Do the three of you have any strategies for repelling the enemy?"

The three hesitated, clearly not expecting to be directly consulted. They exchanged thoughts through divine sense, and finally, Li Tian stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesties, the conflict among the Three Clans has become inevitable and must end in battle. Therefore, our only option is to amass all the strength we can gather and fight with our backs to the wall."

"Is that all?" The Phoenix Empress frowned, clearly dissatisfied with this answer.

Li Tian pondered a moment, then offered a suggestion: "If possible, Your Majesties might offer incentives to attract the many itinerant immortals, spirits, and even demons of the wilderness to join our cause. That could be a significant boost to our forces."

"A fine idea," someone immediately agreed.

The Phoenix Empress and the First Qilin exchanged glances and both nodded. After all, having dominated the wilderness for so many years, they lacked for nothing except treasures. If they could exchange treasures for strength, why not? Once the dragons were defeated, what would they not have?

"Do any of you know of any great powers in the wilderness worth recommending?" the Phoenix Empress asked Li Tian and his companions, as they were the only ones present not belonging to the two clans.

The three looked at one another and shook their heads. In truth, they knew no such formidable figures, and even if they did, they would not drag others into this pit for nothing.

But just as they were about to decline, Li Tian suddenly thought of three individuals—the Three Pure Ones.

He wondered, if he involved them, how might things develop?

After a moment’s thought, Li Tian bowed and said, "I know that in the west of Mount Buzhou lies the Kunlun Immortal Mountain, upon which reside three innate deities, born of Pangu’s primordial spirit, possessing boundless power. Perhaps Your Majesties could reason with them, move them with emotion, and invite them to join our cause."

"Oh, born of the Great God Pangu’s spirit?" The First Qilin exclaimed in delight.

At this time, it had only been a million years since Pangu opened the heavens, and his fame was at its height. Upon hearing that the Three Pure Ones were incarnations of Pangu’s spirit, all present were stunned, their hopes surging that if the Three Pure Ones could be brought in, victory would be assured.

"Indeed," Li Tian affirmed.

Yet, after a moment’s thought, he added, "However, since the Three Pure Ones are incarnations of Pangu’s spirit, they are surely proud and aloof. If we approach them rashly, they may not agree to leave their mountain."

"Then what should we do?" the Phoenix Empress asked with a frown.

"I have a plan..." Li Tian bowed and laid out a simple strategy.

...

After leaving the meeting hall, Li Tian and his companions returned to a palace. Though each had their own palace, they spent most of their time together.

"Who are the Three Pure Ones? Why have we never heard of them?" Nuwa asked curiously as they entered.

"That... I heard of them by chance," Li Tian replied vaguely. He could hardly say he had read about them in his past life, after all.

"Oh." Nuwa nodded and did not press further, though inwardly she grew more curious. What would it mean to be incarnations of Pangu’s spirit? How would they compare to her brother and Tian?

But her heart told her that Tian was still the stronger. As she recalled Li Tian’s confident demeanor as he plotted against the Three Pure Ones, a blush crept onto Nuwa’s cheeks, her maidenly shyness unmistakable.

...

Kunlun Mountain.

That day, the Three Pure Ones welcomed a group of strange guests, who claimed to be emissaries of the Dragon Clan, inviting them to join the dragons. Yet their words were arrogant, as though this invitation were a great favor.

The Three Pure Ones were all proud by nature and resented being slighted. Still, given the Dragon Clan’s current might, they did not lash out but declined politely.

The envoys, rebuffed, flew into a rage and threatened to lead the dragon army to level Kunlun. At that, the Three Pure Ones were thoroughly incensed.

The eldest, Laozi, cared nothing for worldly affairs and did not respond harshly. But Yuanshi was proud, and Tongtian acted as he pleased—having been provoked, they would not tolerate it. They promptly taught the emissaries a severe lesson and threw them out of Kunlun Mountain. Even so, they showed restraint and did not take their lives.