"Fellow Daoist, could it be that the Demon Race has already won over Fuxi and Nuwa?"

At this moment, Zhen Yuanzi, whose imagination was also running a bit wild as he sipped immortal wine, could not help but ask Hongyun in an astonished secret voice transmission.

Zhen Yuanzi had heard Hongyun mention that Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi had tried to recruit him. As for himself, although Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi had not visited him in person, Bai Ze had personally led a delegation to pay a visit and extend an invitation, subtly hinting at their desire to recruit him as well.

However, even though Zhen Yuanzi was quite wary of the Demon Race's immense power and did not truly wish to make an enemy of them, he possessed the pride inherent to a top-tier Innate God and Demon. Naturally, he had no intention of joining the Demon Race or submitting to Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi, so he had tactfully declined the Demon Race's recruitment.

In Zhen Yuanzi's eyes, aside from a tiny minority of more ordinary fellow Cultivators who might choose to join the Demon Race for special reasons, it was basically impossible for top-tier Innate Gods and Demons like them to be wooed into the Demon Race.

This, of course, included Fuxi and Nuwa.

Yet looking at the situation now, something seemed rather amiss!

Facing Zhen Yuanzi's secret inquiry, Hongyun's expression shifted slightly, but he still replied via voice transmission with composure: "It is hard to say right now, and even if it is true, it has nothing to do with us!"

"Moreover, Fuxi is skilled in the art of deducing heavenly secrets, and the two siblings possess extraordinary strength; they are by no means foolish or cowardly. If he truly joins the Demon Race, he likely has his own reasons. Why should we worry ourselves needlessly?"

"Instead, the gifts they presented interest me more. They are truly impressive, completely outshining the two of us. Ten High-Grade Acquired Spirit Treasures are already not bad, and adding four sets of Great Luo Formation Flags—which only a Daluo Golden Immortal can control, operate, and unleash their might—is lavish enough, not to mention that gourd of Three Lights Divine Water... tsk tsk..."

Zhen Yuanzi did not pay much heed to Hongyun's subsequent inventory of the gifts sent by Fuxi and Nuwa. If he and Hongyun had wanted to, the gifts they gave would not have been inferior to those of Fuxi and Nuwa; it was simply unnecessary.

Therefore, Zhen Yuanzi only took Hongyun's earlier remarks to heart, and reflecting on his own acquaintance with Fuxi, he knew that the man was indeed neither foolish nor timid.

Furthermore, unless influenced by some mysterious external factors, Innate Gods and Demons could hardly ever be associated with foolishness and cowardice. For a moment, he found Hongyun's words completely reasonable.

Thus, he merely lowered his head and frowned in contemplation, wondering what Fuxi was actually thinking to show signs of joining the Demon Race alongside Nuwa, which was truly bewildering.

As for Hongyun beside him, he gently swirled his wine cup, sometimes shaking his head and sometimes nodding, his specific thoughts unknown.

Fuxi and Nuwa joining the Demon Race was naturally nothing strange to Hongyun, but their motive for doing so was indeed worth pondering.

"Actually, looking at it from my perspective, the underlying reason might not be that difficult to guess. It should be that Fuxi deduced some heavenly secrets related to the Saint Position back in Purple Heaven Palace. With the Demon Race rushing to recruit them, Fuxi, thinking of Nuwa's future Dao path and wishing to eliminate any pressure and interference the Demon Race might bring later, formed the intention of joining them."

"Otherwise, given their status as top-tier Innate Gods and Demons, if one were to say they merely coveted high positions and power after joining the Demon Race, it would be quite difficult to explain why they joined. However..."

Just as Hongyun was pondering, Fuxi and Nuwa, led warmly by Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi, appeared before everyone.

Upon their appearance, many people grew even more perplexed, their thoughts churning all the more.

For Nuwa wore a cold expression throughout, giving off an aura that kept strangers at a distance and barely acknowledging Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi. The moment she arrived, she took her seat by herself and drowned her sorrows in wine. Only Fuxi appeared thoroughly adept at socializing, chatting enthusiastically with Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi as if they were biological brothers.

The entire scene looked exceedingly bizarre and incomprehensible.

"What is going on with this brother and sister? Are they putting on an act, or is it really like this? What exactly is their relationship with the Demon Race?" Many people swept their gazes back and forth across Fuxi and Nuwa, eyes flickering with strange light, filled with doubt and suspicion, not knowing the true nature of their relationship with the Demon Race.

"Interesting. It seems roughly in line with my guess. This Fuxi is truly capable; he may have genuinely deduced certain things and intends to borrow the Demon Race's momentum to protect Nuwa. As for Nuwa joining the Demon Race in the future, there are probably also some unknowable factors involved..."

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, I originally wanted to visit you at Fire Cloud Cave, but alas, you were traveling far away, and Fire Cloud Cave was closed with no trace to be found. Yet now we meet here in the Heavenly Court." Suddenly, a voice that sounded incomparably radiant and holy reached his ears via transmission, interrupting Hongyun's thoughts.

Hearing this sudden voice, Hongyun was taken aback for a moment before looking toward Nuwa not far away, who was drowning her sorrows in wine while also looking back at him. It was indeed Nuwa who had secretly spoken to him via voice transmission just now.

Thus, Hongyun also sent a secret voice transmission to her ear, asking Nuwa, "Does Fellow Daoist Nuwa have an important matter in seeking this humble Daoist?"

"In truth, there is nothing in particular. It is just that since listening to the Dao in Purple Heaven Palace and dividing the Innate Gourds, I felt a certain rapport with Fellow Daoist. Having leisure time, I wished to visit you and discuss the Dao and expound on the Dharma together."

Hearing this, Hongyun's thoughts turned as he reflected, "Feeling a rapport is more or less true to some extent; after all, I did make a concession to her back in Purple Heaven Palace, so there is at least some goodwill."

"However, the so-called having leisure time, wanting to visit, and discussing the Dao and expounding on the Dharma with me is somewhat insincere. It is probably just an excuse."

Thinking thus, Hongyun glanced at Fuxi, who was still chatting warmly with Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi. After a moment's thought, he asked straightforwardly via voice transmission, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Nuwa has come regarding the matter of Fellow Daoist Fuxi and the Demon Race?"

Nuwa said nothing and merely drank her wine. When looking at Fuxi, deep helplessness showed in her eyes; when looking at the two brothers, Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi, she clearly showed repulsion and displeasure.

Seeing this, Hongyun found it hard to say anything. In the end, this was the business of the siblings Fuxi and Nuwa; if he meddled, he might end up pleasing neither side, so there was no need to ask for trouble.

Moreover, although Hongyun knew that Nuwa creating humans and Achieving Sainthood was a matter destined by Heaven, the rise of the Wu and Demon Races to hegemony over the Great Wilderness was also an inevitable, heavenly destined trend in the Great Wilderness.

If Fuxi and Nuwa did not join the Demon Race and lost the Demon Race's support, or perhaps even protection, then under the grand trend of the Wu and Demon Races, whether Nuwa could truly still create humans, Achieve Sainthood, and allow the Human Race to be born in accordance with destiny was something Hongyun dared not assert too rashly.

Since that was the case, letting everything run its natural course was the best choice; Hongyun had no desire to change anything in this regard.

Therefore, after some thought, Hongyun transmitted to Nuwa, "Fellow Daoist Fuxi possesses great wisdom and is skilled in deducing heavenly secrets. Perhaps he has deduced some crucial heavenly secrets and formed his own plans."

"Perhaps so. It is just that heavenly secrets are ultimately illusory and unpredictable. Those adept at calculating heavenly secrets are often easily calculated by them in turn. My brother... alas..."

As Nuwa spoke, she let out a sigh and said no more.

Listening to Nuwa's words and looking at Fuxi again, an unusual gleam flashed across Hongyun's eyes.

Indeed, those adept at calculating heavenly secrets were often easily calculated by them in turn. The heavenly secrets Fuxi deduced might indeed have been calculated by himself, but it was also not impossible that under the operation of the world's grand trend, the Heavenly Dao in the unseen had 'deliberately' allowed Fuxi to deduce them, thereby smoothly advancing or ensuring the development of certain events.

The Karma involved was truly difficult to unravel. Fuxi might also understand the nuances within, yet the choice remained his to make.

Looked at now, Fuxi had somewhat entered the game with his own body.

This was also the way of doing things in the Great Wilderness, where everyone spoke of Heaven's mandate and destiny, yet never resigned themselves to fate, fighting with their very lives instead.

Once matters were settled, if things went as one wished, it was following Heaven and responding to people—Heaven's mandate lay with me, I dictate Heaven's mandate, and it is hailed as the Heavenly Dao being supremely fair; if things fell short of expectations, then it was a heaven-defying act to change fate and dictate destiny, with only resentment that the Heavenly Dao is unfair, proclaiming, 'I shall be heaven-defying!'

Yet Heaven's will is like a blade; ruthless, it is naturally selfless, and only by being selfless is it supremely fair—how innocent the Heavenly Dao truly is!

Lost in a bout of wild thoughts, Hongyun was nearly brought to laughter by some of his own musings.

At this time, Fuxi had already taken his seat, and Hongyun's old acquaintances, Jieyin and Zhunti, also arrived at the Heavenly Court.

Immediately afterward, the herald's voice reciting the Demon Race's gift list rang out, causing many people's expressions to turn exceedingly strange at once as they began whispering amongst themselves.