The Traitor

The lotus platform was purple-black from end to end, its surface ablaze with the fire of destruction. Purple-black light flickered, and scenes of the world's destruction seemed to flash within it, striking terror into the heart. It was none other than the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus.

This treasure was one of the four lotus seeds of the Thirty-Six-Grade Chaos Green Lotus, a chaos supreme treasure. An uppermost-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, it could defend against all spells and weaken physical attacks, but its most important function was refining baleful Qi and murderous Qi to improve its host's cultivation.

Thus, as long as there was enough murderous Qi between heaven and earth, Luohu could use this treasure to make a direct bid for the position of a sage.

This was also the most important reason he had constantly incited the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin Clans to fight one another.

Now, the great tribulation of heaven and earth had reached its final stage, and murderous Qi was incomparably dense.

With the help of the Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus, his strength had reached the pinnacle. Moreover, as the black lotus continued to refine murderous Qi, he was growing stronger at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Given just a little more time, the conditions for becoming a sage would be fulfilled.

Luohu's eyes opened slightly, and boundless demonic light shot from them. A vast presence rose from him, and immeasurable demonic Qi surged, throwing heaven and earth in all directions into chaos.

Compared to the past, Luohu's presence was far more terrifying. Clearly, his cultivation had reached unprecedented heights.

"Hmph, Hongjun, and Fuxi too, just wait for death!"

At the foot of Mount Sumeru.

Eight figures appeared abruptly. Their vast, weighty presences surged forth, their pressure bearing down on all creation.

The immeasurable demonic Qi was easily pushed aside, unable to advance an inch, and heaven and earth cleared.

Hongjun stepped out from among the others and looked toward the towering demon palace at the summit of Mount Sumeru. In a deep voice, he said,

"Luohu, you have defied the natural order and slaughtered countless beings. You even presume to destroy the Primordial World and sacrifice its innumerable living beings to achieve your own ends!"

"Heaven and earth cannot tolerate such deeds, and your crimes are beyond redemption. Daoist Luohu, today is the day you die!"

His resounding voice echoed throughout the entire western world, pinning countless members and descendants of the Demon Clan to the ground, unable to move.

As his voice fell, the eight figures unleashed their full might. Pressure far surpassing the cultivation of Daluo Golden Immortals burst forth, and the power of Quasi-Sages bore down on the four poles and eight desolations. Wind and clouds changed color, and heaven and earth wailed, as though this space could not withstand the terrifying pressure of the eight.

At the gates of the majestic, mysterious demon palace, Luohu stepped out with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over the eight Quasi-Sage experts, his expression utterly calm, showing neither joy nor anger.

"Very well. Since you wish to die sooner, I shall oblige you!"

At Luohu's words, Yang Mei, Qiankun, and Five Elements flew into a rage and cursed, "Arrogant fiend, death is upon you, yet you still dare to boast!"

"Death? It remains to be seen who will bag the deer today!"

Luohu shook his head lightly, his expression utterly indifferent.

"Daoist Luohu, surrender without a fight. We have eight Quasi-Sages on our side, while you are alone. I do not believe you can fight eight by yourself!" Hongjun called out.

Hearing Hongjun's words, Luohu could not help but let a smile of inscrutable meaning curl his lips. With perfect composure, he said,

"Are you certain? Fellow Daoists, if you do not strike now, what are you waiting for?!"

At those words, Destruction, Fate, and Bengtian suddenly struck, hurling the mighty attacks they had long prepared at the five, who were caught completely unaware.

Hongjun's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly cried out a warning.

"Careful! Traitors!"

At the same time, black and white flashed from within him. A Taiji Diagram appeared above his head, radiating immeasurable light. Within that light, a golden bridge manifested, raising a formidable defense.

This treasure was one of the three treasures formed when the Sky-Opening Axe shattered. It was an Innate Supreme Treasure, unrivaled in defense.

With this treasure to aid him, Hongjun could naturally rest easy.

But compared to Hongjun, the others were half a step too late.

Faced with meticulously prepared killing moves, they were utterly powerless to stop them.

Their hastily erected defenses shattered on contact, and they were instantly engulfed by the terrifying attacks.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Three earthshaking blasts rocked the entire western world. Even Mount Sumeru, spanning hundreds of millions upon millions of miles, trembled violently.

At the center of the attacks, space compressed and collapsed. A world-destroying presence filled the air, and the fate of death seemed to have long been sealed.

Suddenly, space collapsed inward without a sound, enveloping all the power before vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Only two figures were not drawn in, instead using their respective means to escape.

Besides Hongjun, who had defended himself with the Taiji Diagram, Great Immortal Yang Mei had also used his innate divine ability to evade the attacks, and he appeared to be unhurt.

Yang Mei's primordial spirit was that of the Space Demon God, who ranked first among the Three Thousand Chaos Gods.

When Pangu opened the heavens, the Three Thousand Chaos Gods all died in battle, but Yang Mei's true spirit entered the Primordial World. Relying on the uppermost-grade innate spiritual root, the Hollow Willow, he took form once more.

His origins and foundation, as well as his cultivation and magic power, surpassed even Hongjun's. He could be called the foremost being in the Primordial World.

But the three Quasi-Sages Qiankun, Yin-Yang, and Five Elements fell short in cultivation and vanished from heaven and earth.

Seeing this, Hongjun and Yang Mei were so furious their eyes nearly split. Eight Quasi-Sages had come, but in the turn of a hand, three had died and three had betrayed them.

Only two Quasi-Sages remained on their side, while Luohu's side had grown to four.

"Destruction, Fate, Bengtian, why have you done such a thing?"

Glaring at the three traitors, Hongjun was beside himself with rage and demanded an answer.

But faced with Hongjun's questioning, Destruction remained calm. He spoke slowly: "We had no choice but to do this!"

"Daoist Hongjun, you urged us to deal with Daoist Luohu not merely to stop him from destroying the Primordial World, but also for the position of a sage, was it not?"

"If you became a sage, how could we still enjoy a good life?"

"We would be better off helping Daoist Luohu destroy the Primordial World. Then heaven and earth would return to chaos, and we would no longer be subject to the Heavenly Dao. We could continue to follow the path of Chaos Gods. Would that not be carefree and joyous?"

"Good, very good. Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together. I have fallen this time."

Hearing Destruction's explanation, Hongjun had nowhere to vent his anger and felt stifled to the extreme.

In these circumstances, Hongjun was also filled with regret.

He had not expected to leave such an opening for Luohu to exploit.

And to think he prided himself on being the foremost schemer in the Primordial World, never fearing anyone in contests of strategy.

Yet now he had suffered a crushing setback.

"No need to waste words on them. Let us strike together and kill Hongjun and Yang Mei."

"Hongjun, today I shall show you the supreme killing weapon I forged through the Dao of slaughter."

Luohu burst out laughing. In an instant, the murderous Qi between heaven and earth surged. Terrifying bloodlight filled the sky, and endless killing intent rolled in like a river, engulfing Mount Sumeru for hundreds of millions of miles and swallowing the entire western world.

"Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, rise!!"

With an earthshaking shout, four unprecedented streams of murderous Qi soared into the sky from within Mount Sumeru!

Boundless bloodlight shone over mountains and rivers for hundreds of millions of miles. Terrifying killing intent bore down on the nine heavens and ten lands, and four dreadful killing swords hovered at the four poles of heaven and earth, instantly forming a fearsome killing formation the likes of which had never been seen since time immemorial.