Chapter Seventy-Five: Zhunti's Dilemma

“Hm?”

At the same time, the King of the East felt a sudden unease. He set down his wine cup, calmed his heart, and calculated with his fingers. The result widened his eyes in disbelief.

Redcloud was dead?

Kunpeng’s eyes narrowed as well—he too sensed something amiss. At their level, whenever something befell someone or something they cared about, they would naturally feel it. Following the threads of causality, it was easy enough to deduce the truth.

Now, both the King of the East and Kunpeng reached the same conclusion: Redcloud was dead.

Kunpeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, though on the surface he feigned shock and regret, then looked apologetically to the King of the East. “I’m sorry. I never expected this to happen. If only I hadn’t stood in your way back then…”

“This isn’t your fault,” the King of the East replied, shaking his head. After all, who could have foreseen such an event?

…

In the Heavenly Court.

Li Tian also sensed the disturbance and woke from his meditation. After all, Redcloud was now part of the Heavenly Court, his fortune tied to it.

“Something happened to Redcloud?” Li Tian murmured in puzzlement.

Yet deep down, his feelings remained calm, for he knew Redcloud would reincarnate as Shennong in the future, becoming one of the three sovereigns of humanity—a blessing within a curse.

“Truly, fate works in mysterious ways.”

Li Tian shook his head, recalling his earlier doubts: if Redcloud wasn’t to die, would Shennong ever appear in the prehistoric world? Now, his worries were laid to rest. Though the course of history had shifted, the outcome would likely remain the same.

Still, Li Tian couldn’t help but wonder: without the Primordial Purple Qi, who would risk offending the Heavenly Court to murder Redcloud?

His gaze pierced countless veils of distance, seeking the site of Redcloud’s demise. Upon seeing the truth, his expression turned strange.

“Receptionist? How could it be him?”

…

“Calm yourself, Great Immortal Receptionist.”

At that moment, Burning Lamp looked at Receptionist with trembling fear, for to his horror, he realized he could not escape Receptionist’s control!

---

“Where is the Primordial Purple Qi?”

Receptionist’s eyes were icy, his voice cold and murderous. Burning Lamp had no doubt that if he dared utter a denial, his end would be most miserable.

“Senior brother, awaken!”

Just then, a mellifluous sound echoed from the sky. Amid radiant light, a dignified Daoist descended and gently pointed a finger at the deranged Receptionist.

This Daoist was Zhunti. In truth, he had been silently watching everything unfold. As a Saint, he was sensitive to any matter concerning himself, so when Receptionist began plotting against Redcloud, Zhunti had already caught wind of it.

Yet he had no intention of intervening, for only thus could Receptionist be drawn back to the West. And even if Receptionist ultimately refused to return, it would not affect him in the slightest.

“What’s going on?” Bathed in the divine radiance, Receptionist shivered and instantly regained his senses. Gazing at the trembling Burning Lamp, he frowned and asked, “You say Redcloud’s Primordial Purple Qi was already offered to the Heavenly Court?”

“Yes, everyone in the prehistoric world knows this,” Burning Lamp replied, his voice quivering.

Sensing Receptionist’s murderous intent wane, Burning Lamp secretly sighed in relief, though his expression remained odd.

So Receptionist did not know Redcloud no longer possessed the Primordial Purple Qi. Was he willing to risk such a grave transgression to kill Redcloud… all for the Purple Qi?

No wonder he had lost his composure.

Understanding dawned on Burning Lamp, and as he glanced at Receptionist, there was even a hint of… pity in his eyes.

“Senior brother, return with me to the West.”

Zhunti stood above, gazing down at Receptionist and Burning Lamp, his tone bland. To stand behind the scenes, all-knowing and omnipotent, brought him great satisfaction—especially seeing the senior brother he once admired now humbled before him.

“Do I have any choice?” Receptionist looked up at Zhunti, forcing a bitter smile, his heart full of conflicting emotions. So many calculations, thinking nothing could slip by him, yet from the start it was all a farce—how could he not feel dejected?

Zhunti cared nothing for Receptionist’s feelings. Seeing his agreement to return West, joy filled his heart, though outwardly he merely nodded, then turned to Burning Lamp with a gentle question: “Friend Burning Lamp, would you care to join us in the West as well?”

“I would.” Burning Lamp had long desired to join the Western teachings; hearing this, he nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

---

“Very well,” Zhunti nodded, satisfied.

Excitement surged within him—he had gained two quasi-saint experts without lifting a finger!

Yet just as Zhunti was about to leave with Receptionist and Burning Lamp, he saw someone he least wished to encounter.

“Junior brother Zhunti, you’re here. Why not announce yourself instead of leaving in such a hurry?”

Li Tian appeared in mid-air, descended slowly, and spoke with a face full of mockery.

At the sight of Li Tian, Zhunti’s heart sank. He realized this matter would not be easily settled, but gritting his teeth, he forced a smile and stepped forward. “Greetings, Supreme Celestial Senior Brother.”

Li Tian cast him a dismissive glance, then turned to Receptionist. A vast, saintly pressure bore down upon him.

“Receptionist, do you admit your crime?”

“Heavenly Emperor…” Receptionist’s face turned pale as he murmured the title, then turned helplessly to Zhunti for aid.

Seeing this, Zhunti had no choice but to step in, smiling broadly. “Supreme Celestial Senior Brother, for my sake, could you spare my senior brother just this once?”

Li Tian smiled, then his expression turned stern as he spoke righteously, “Receptionist has committed the grave crime of insubordination and maliciously harmed King Redcloud, causing immense disruption to the Heavenly Court. If I do not mete out severe punishment, won’t everyone in the Heavenly Court follow his example and throw order into chaos?”

“Senior brother jests.” Zhunti immediately put on his shameless air. “Besides heaven and earth, only we few know what happened here. As long as none of us speak, who will ever know?”

“There are no secrets that never come to light. And this matter is grave indeed; I cannot take such a risk,” Li Tian replied, shaking his head. He eyed Zhunti up and down and then smiled slyly. “But… there might yet be room for negotiation…”

Zhunti’s lip twitched. Seeing Li Tian’s expression, he knew this would cost him dearly, but he was not willing to abandon Receptionist so easily.

“State your terms, Supreme Celestial Senior Brother,” Zhunti replied through gritted teeth.

Feigning difficulty, Li Tian pondered, then said, “I’ve heard, junior brother, that you recently refined your Bodhi Tree into a treasure called the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree. Why not gift it to me as ransom for Receptionist’s life, what say you?”

Zhunti’s lip twitched again, and he forced a smile as he looked at Li Tian. “Senior brother, isn’t this a bit too much?”

After all, the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree was refined from his original body, the Bodhi Tree—it held inexorable significance. Moreover, the West was barren; many Buddhist experts didn’t even have spiritual treasures for severing attachments. Even so, Zhunti had never contemplated bestowing the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree.

This alone spoke to the importance of the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree to him.

Besides, if the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree were given to a peak Golden Immortal for severing attachments, the resulting quasi-saint might not be any weaker than Receptionist himself…

Thus, Zhunti was left in a quandary.