These words, once spoken, instantly stunned Patriarch Kunpeng, Daoist Sanye, and the master and disciple.
The master and disciple, having considered themselves bold, never expected to be so outdone by Sun Kong, making them seem like model students in comparison.
The system also chimed in with a fresh prompt.
[Ding! Host has astonished the Great Demon Master Kunpeng's eldest disciple, Daoist Sanye, causing a drastic shift in his attitude towards the host, turning it into one of reverence and utmost care.]
[From this point forward, the host becomes the second most important person in Daoist Sanye's eyes, second only to his master.]
[Reward: Reverence from Daoist Sanye, 10 points!]
This reward related to Daoist Sanye was something Sun Kong was accustomed to and didn't place much importance on.
However.
The next reward, related to the Great Demon Master Kunpeng, was of considerable significance!
[Ding! Host has astonished the Great Demon Master Kunpeng of the Northern Darkness Sea, shifting his attitude from cold indifference to surprise and awe. Although he inherently trusts no one, a sliver of admiration has indeed been generated.]
[Reward 1: Reverence from the Great Demon Master Kunpeng, 5 points!]
[Reward 2: Northern Darkness Qi from the Northern Darkness Sea, 100 units.]
[Note: This Northern Darkness Qi is an inherent element present since the primordial creation of the Three Realms. Although currently held by Patriarch Kunpeng, it does not belong to him. It is one of the many mysterious energies alongside the Primordial Five Elements Qi.]
[Legend states that even before Pangu's creation of the heavens and earth, there was the concept of Primordial Five Elements Qi and the Hunyuan Four Symbols Qi.]
[The Primordial Five Elements Qi refers to the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—including the Primordial Earth Element Qi that formed the "Book of Earth." Each possesses miraculous power and a corresponding spiritual treasure crystal.]
[The Hunyuan Four Symbols Qi, though not widely known, is a power no less significant than the Primordial Five Elements Qi. It is divided into four parts: Northern Darkness Ancestral Qi, Blood Sea Ancestral Qi, Yellow Spring Ancestral Qi, and Netherworld Ancestral Qi.]
[These Four Ancestral Qi, along with the Primordial Five Elements Qi, existed during the era of Pangu and the Three Thousand Demon Gods. However, Pangu's creation of the heavens and earth caused them to be damaged.]
[The Primordial Five Elements Qi evolved into various spiritual treasures, including the "Book of Earth."]
[The Four Ancestral Qi, due to varying opportunities and degrees of damage, had different subsequent fates. Blood Sea Ancestral Qi evolved into the current Blood Sea where Old Ancestor Minghe resides.]
[Yellow Spring Ancestral Qi evolved into the current Yellow Spring River where Old Ancestor Yellow Spring resides.]
[Netherworld Ancestral Qi evolved into the current Netherworld River where Old Ancestor Netherworld resides.]
[The greatest contribution of the latter three was the birth of their respective Old Ancestors, adding three Quasi-Saints to the primordial Three Realms. The first, Northern Darkness Ancestral Qi, had a more peculiar outcome.]
[Northern Darkness Ancestral Qi did not give rise to an Old Ancestor or any other sentient beings. Instead, as it gradually merged with Northern Continent, it evolved into the current Northern Darkness Sea and Northern Darkness Qi, which Patriarch Kunpeng then occupied.]
[During the Lich Cataclysm era, Patriarch Kunpeng was merely at the Great Perfection of the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal stage. Later, after stealing the Hetu Luoshu and incorporating the Northern Darkness Qi, he managed to sever two corpses and achieve the middle-grade Quasi-Saint realm!]
Sun Kong wasn't overly concerned with most things, only two matters occupied his mind.
First, could he accumulate reverence from Kunpeng and others to eventually exchange for ancient demonic arts of the demon race, such as the Heaven's Sight and Earth's Hearing Technique?
The system's answer was no.
The reason was simple.
The ancient demon race predated the current era by several kalpas, making them far superior to the disciples of the six Saints. Not even later generations could uncover the true secrets of the ancient demon race.
Even Nuwa, the only figure connected to the demon race and currently the Mother of the Human Race, had established her own sect long before the ancient demon race formed its Heavenly Court.
Due to limited knowledge.
There were only two possible avenues to find related clues: one was to become a disciple of Patriarch Kunpeng, which Sun Kong would absolutely refuse.
The other was to find an opportunity to visit the Fire Cloud Cave and seek out Emperor Fuxi, one of the Three Sovereigns.
During the Lich War.
There was a saying of three Emperors and two Demon Masters among the demon race.
The two Demon Masters were Patriarch Kunpeng, the Left Demon Master, and Ancestor Nuwa, the Right Demon Master, who later established her own sect, created humans from the Nine Heavens Clay, and attained sainthood as Empress Nuwa!
Among the three Emperors, besides Emperor Jun and Emperor Donghuang Taiyi, there was another equally powerful figure, Emperor Fu, Fuxi!
"So, the demonic arts of the ancient demon race cannot even be exchanged with reverence, nor can I ask my own mother?"
"In the past, I truly believed that the demon race was utterly defeated in the Lich Cataclysm, but I never considered that their high-ranking members were contemporaries of the Saints."
"With such innate conditions, how could they be weak?"
"As I said, the victor takes all is true, but it doesn't mean the victor earned it all. The loser pays all is also true, but back then, if not for Patriarch Hongjun, the Three Pure Ones, and the two Sages of the Western Teachings showing favoritism."
"It's unlikely the Twelve Ancestral Witches would have necessarily defeated the demon race. It was a matter of time and destiny. The Great Dao offered them a glimmer of hope, but alas, they couldn't commit to it as I do, to go all out or not at all."
"To alter karma, sow chaos, fish in troubled waters, and reap benefits, one must create the biggest stir, even deceiving the Heavenly Dao. Why be timid like them, only to counterattack at the last moment? Is that useful?"
Sun Kong was indeed Sun Kong.
Despite not having courted disaster for over five hundred years, his mind had never forgotten the two "inherent skills" of courting disaster and altering karma.
However, compared to the constant torment and abuse of the Buddhist monks of Spirit Mountain in the beginning, he had increasingly absorbed various experiences and lessons.
From ordinary disaster-courting to advanced disaster-courting, and now, he had learned to analyze pros and cons, allies and enemies, strengths and weaknesses, and power levels.
He had gradually entered the third realm of disaster-courting.
Top-tier Disaster-Courting!
Not for the sake of courting disaster.
But for the sake of the outcome.
Not choosing an unlucky time to court disaster.
But creating conditions to court disaster in a grand fashion!
Although this third realm was not yet perfectly practiced and had only just begun, it was enough for Sun Kong to be proud of.
If nothing else.
How he dealt with Zhen Yuanzi last time, and how he now courted Patriarch Kunpeng.
These were all manifestations of his top-tier disaster-courting!
"System, one more question: if I were to find the Northern Darkness Ancestral Qi, could I emulate the other three ancestral qi and cultivate a Northern Darkness Old Ancestor comparable to them?"
Sun Kong's question hit the core of the matter, and the system's answer was direct.
It was possible.
But the probability was not high, and the difficulty was sky-high!
"Understood!"
Sun Kong thanked the system, then coldly turned his gaze to Patriarch Kunpeng and Daoist Sanye, delivering a sentence that maximized the provocation.
"Do you two seem to think this matter is difficult to handle?"
"Difficult? Then don't bother. Then just get lost. That last bowl was on the house. From now on, don't mention your involvement in the Journey to the West."
"This old grandson won't have trouble finding others..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Patriarch Kunpeng was the first to panic!