The 28th Chapter

After this tribulation, Lin Fan's prestige within the Human Race reached its peak, making him an unparalleled and revered existence in the hearts of all beings.

However, Lin Fan knew that the tribulations were not over, and the disaster of today might repeat itself.

In the eyes of all Saints, the Human Race's Destiny was a prize to be fought over.

Lin Fan then circulated the laws of the Five Elements, reconstructing the Great Five Elements Array.

The array had been severely damaged in the previous great battle, and if the Demon Race were to attack again, it would be difficult to defend, requiring urgent repair.

Lin Fan summoned the Power of the Five Elements from heaven and earth, infusing it into the array.

With his power as a Great Luo Golden Immortal, rebuilding the array was swift and extraordinary, completed in an instant.

Once everything was settled, Lin Fan accompanied Houtu to Buzhou Mountain.

At that time, in the Outer Chaos.

The battle of the Saints continued.

Nuwa had reached the third level of the Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal realm, her magical power unparalleled.

Even with the combined efforts of four Saints, they could not gain the upper hand.

Now, with the addition of Sect Master Tongtian to the fray, they felt even more overwhelmed.

Nuwa circulated the Primordial Creation Scripture, her aura swallowing the universe.

Within the Chaos, strange lights slashed through the void like sharp blades, tearing through time and space, returning everything to nothingness.

Taishang Laojun was in a sorry state, forced to repeatedly hide within the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda for protection. On the other side, Sect Master Tongtian had already unleashed the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword, countless sharp edges soaring into the sky, its might causing heaven and earth to change color.

This fierce offensive surged towards the Two Sages of the West like a tide, instilling fear in their hearts, almost causing them to curse: "Tongtian, you scoundrel, why are you being so relentless?"

"Nuwa! You are indulging your biological brother in disrupting the order of heaven and earth," Taishang Laojun shouted sternly, pushing all the blame onto her, "And you still haven't stopped, do you truly wish to provoke a war between Saints?"

This scheme had completely failed due to the intervention of Nuwa and her brother, and they had lost face in front of everyone. As the head of the Xuanmen, when had they ever suffered such humiliation?

"Junior Sister, you have violated the will of heaven by interfering with the Great Tribulation, and should willingly confess your guilt," Venerable Yuanshi also admonished, adopting a stern posture.

Nuwa sneered upon hearing this: "Are you not the ones truly disrupting the order? My brother is the leader of the Human Way, what wrong is there in fighting for the Human Race? It is you, Taishang, who calculates against the younger generation, truly unworthy of being a Saint!"

These sharp words were like adding fuel to the fire, making the battle even more intense. The aftermath of the divine power collisions in the Chaos instantly annihilated billions of stars.

Just as Taishang was attacking with all his might, Nuwa suddenly controlled the Human Creating Whip, which transformed into golden light and struck. Taishang was caught off guard, his Saintly body was actually torn apart, and even his Primordial Spirit felt intense pain.

This treasure of Merit was incredibly powerful in Nuwa's hands; even a Saintly body could not resist it. The wounded Taishang's face turned ashen, his anger growing even fiercer.

The Taiji Dao Diagram evolved the universe and all phenomena, sweeping across heaven and earth to exert pressure on Nuwa.

Suddenly, a profound sound vibrated through the void, the divine might of the Taiji Diagram dissipated completely, and it floated back into Laozi's palm.

"Hold."

"For you Saints to fight endlessly like this, what sort of conduct is this!"

Dao Ancestor Hongjun descended, shattering the Chaos.

The battle of the Saints intensified, the destructive power was becoming difficult to contain.

How could the Dao Ancestor stand idly by?

Upon seeing Hongjun appear, all six Saints stopped their hands solemnly and stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor."

"We beg the Dao Ancestor to judge justly."

"Nuwa indulged her biological brother in disrupting the order of the Xuanmen and arbitrarily changing the Heavenly Mandate of the Great Tribulation."

"Such grave crimes, how can they not be punished?"

Laozi was the first to accuse Nuwa.

"This is the art of the wicked accusing first."

Nuwa's cold eyes were like frost, and she said indifferently:

"My brother is the Lord of the Human Religion, fighting for the Human Race, what crime is there?"

"It is you, a Saint, who bullies the weak and forcibly seizes treasures, such shamelessness is truly despicable."

Laozi's face was like dark iron, so enraged that his Daoist robes billowed, and his Saintly Might was about to erupt again.

Hongjun's voice was deep as he reprimanded:

"Do not speak recklessly."

"All that has happened today is predetermined."

"You all quickly disperse. If any further disputes arise, Heavenly Punishment will descend."

Seeing the Dao Ancestor's fury, the Saints dared not act rashly and each retracted their aura, returning to their positions.

After the Saints departed, Hongjun pondered with a thoughtful expression.

Lin Fan's ability to stir up such a storm was truly beyond his calculations.

However, dealing with this variable was quite tricky.

Now, Lin Fan's fate was intertwined with Nuwa's, and he held the authority of the Human Religion, which was tied to the Human Race's destiny.

A single misstep could alert Nuwa and potentially disrupt the subsequent plans for the Great Tribulation.

After Nuwa returned to Wa Huang Palace, she first observed the state of the Human Race tribes.

Seeing that the common people lived in peace and prosperity, she finally felt at ease.

She then began to deduce Lin Fan's whereabouts.

Lin Fan's movements made Nuwa's expression subtle.

He had already gone to the Witch Race?

She mused to herself, when did this person establish contact with the Witch Race? Even more intriguing was his seemingly close relationship with her old friend, Houtu.

Thinking of this, Nuwa unconsciously clenched her fist.

"You good-for-nothing Houtu, how dare you secretly win over my people..."

Meanwhile, Venerable Yuanshi did not return to Jade Void Palace but instead accompanied Laozi to his dojo.

This battle had completely changed the situation: Lin Fan had emerged, the Demon Race's plan had failed, Tongtian had sided with Nuwa, rifts had formed between the Three Pure Ones, and the Saints began to choose their sides.

Laozi harbored resentment towards Lin Fan and specifically discussed countermeasures with Yuanshi. His Xun Teaching, though rooted in the Human Religion, had failed to gain any of the Human Race's destiny. His direct disciple, Xuandu, faced cultivation obstacles, which in turn led him to resent Lin Fan, the leader of the Human Religion.

"I never imagined Lin Fan had reached such a realm," Yuanshi exclaimed. "A Twelve-petal Great Luo is indeed extraordinary."

Laozi nodded with a grim expression, clearly uneasy about this monstrous existence.

Yuanshi suddenly remembered something: "Senior Brother, do you know how Lin Fan manipulated his magical artifacts to injure Di Jun and the others?"

The two looked at each other in silence. Such a method, capable of evading the detection of Saints, was truly baffling.

Laozi gazed in the direction of the Heavenly Court, lost in thought.

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi's expressions were gloomy, and they remained silent.

Kunpeng stood to the side and spoke after a long pause:

"Heavenly Emperor, if this child remains, the future holds endless trouble."

He had no loyalty to the Heavenly Court to begin with; his targeting of Lin Fan was purely driven by personal grudges.

Di Jun said in a deep voice:

"Do I not know this? But that child possesses numerous magical artifacts and employs treacherous tactics. How can it be easy to eliminate him?"

Mentioning Lin Fan, both of them hated him to the bone.

Especially Di Jun, as the Lord of the Heavenly Court, had his authority trampled by a mere child.

Every time he thought of this, his Dao heart trembled.

"Although that child is strong, he is ultimately a mere child with an unstable will. We can set a trap to lure him in and kill him with a single blow."

Kunpeng suddenly showed a cold expression and offered his strategy.

Upon hearing this plan, both Emperors showed signs of being moved.

"Brother, this plan is feasible," Donghuang Taiyi urged.

"Immediately deduce the killing array. Once the great formation is complete, we will set a net from which he cannot escape."

Di Jun still hesitated.

"Although the plan is feasible, we must consider Saint Nuwa."

"Her regard for Lin Fan surpasses that for the Human Race. Killing him will surely incur the Saint's wrath."

Just as they were deliberating, a Saint's pressure suddenly appeared throughout the heavens.

Amidst swirling auspicious clouds, Laozi's figure appeared in the Heavenly Court.

"Greetings, Saint Taiqing," the three quickly bowed.

Laozi, who was already aware of their scheme but did not expose it, said calmly:

"Lin Fan's recklessness has gone too far. Nuwa's indulgence in his interference in the Witch-Demon conflict will ultimately bring ruin upon herself."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hatred in the eyes of the two Emperors intensified, but they quickly concealed it. Di Jun asked calmly:

"Saint Taiqing, what is the reason for this matter?"

"The Dao Ancestor had already issued an edict that Saints should not interfere in the Witch-Demon conflict. Why did Empress Nuwa suddenly intervene?"

Following the great war, Taishang Laojun personally delivered the Dao Ancestor's decree, ordering the Demon Race to resolve to slaughter the Human Race and forge the Witch-Slaying Sword.

However, the outcome far exceeded expectations.

The Demon Race mobilized their entire forces, yet not only gained nothing, but also suffered countless casualties.

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi were severely wounded by Lin Fan, completely losing face.

Di Jun's words carried a tone of questioning.

Taishang Laojun's expression was slightly awkward. He had intended to intercept Lin Fan and reclaim the Kongtong Seal, but he hadn't expected the opponent's methods to be so bizarre, escaping in an instant.

He also hadn't anticipated the Demon Race being so incompetent, unable to deal with even a Great Luo at the early stage.

"There's no need to worry."

"Hunyuan Sages will never directly interfere with a Great Tribulation."

Taishang Laojun's tone was firm, but Di Jun remained skeptical.

This was merely Taishang Laojun's word. If Nuwa, in her rage, were to settle accounts with the Demon Race, how could he believe she would protect the Demon Court?

"If Empress Nuwa attacks the Demon Race again, what then?"

"Rest assured, if she acts rashly again, I will surely stop her."

Taishang Laojun responded calmly, then sneered:

"On the other hand, your esteemed Heavenly Court cannot even defeat a mere early-stage Great Luo like Lin Fan. Are you all just famous for nothing?"

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi exchanged a silent glance, their eyes growing cold.

Since Taishang Laojun had declared his intention to protect the Demon Race, they no longer had to worry about Nuwa.

As long as Lin Fan was killed, future troubles would be eliminated.

By then, the Witch-Slaying Sword would be forged, and the Human Race would have no power to resist.

"Thank you, Saint, for your guidance."

After a long while, Di Jun's decision was made.

The Demon Race's slaughter of the Human Race to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword had already made their feud with Lin Fan irreconcilable.

Given Lin Fan's potential, if he were to achieve the Hunyuan Great Dao in the future, it would undoubtedly trigger immeasurable consequences, possibly even becoming an indelible nightmare for the Demon Race.

Since that was the case, it was better to act sooner rather than later.

Lin Fan, carrying Houtu, traversed the void and instantly arrived at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.

The spatial spiritual power he displayed caused Houtu to secretly tremble—this young man's control over the laws far surpassed that of Dijiang, the leader of the Ancestral Witches.

Amidst the majestic mountains, Lin Fan summoned two primeval giant beasts from the Primordial Pearl.

Xiong Batian and Xiong Aotian.

The beasts, appearing for the first time, raised their heads and roared, their sonic waves shaking the heavens, causing Houtu to smile.

However, the two beasts quickly deflated.

Under the chaotic pressure of Buzhou Mountain, Xiong Batian, who had been acting so imposing just moments ago, panted heavily, while Xiong Aotian slumped to the ground.

Houtu couldn't help but laugh heartily.

This ignited the ferocity of the two beasts, and they immediately bared their teeth in a menacing display.

Their response was a sharp gust of wind—this youngest Ancestral Witch had always been gentle only towards Lin Fan; now, she displayed the iron-blooded nature of the Witch Race.

Lin Fan had no choice but to recall the two beasts and proceed lightly with Houtu.

Before the Pangu Hall, Lin Fan gazed at the hall rumored to have been formed from Pangu's heart, a look of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches came out to greet them, and after warm exchanges, Dijiang got straight to the point:

"Young Friend Lin is a heaven-blessed prodigy, and his cultivation is even more unfathomable."

"Are you willing to join forces with our Witch Race to resist the Demon Race?"

Dijiang confidently extended the invitation.

In his view, the Demon Race's large-scale invasion of the Human Race had already put them at loggerheads with Lin Fan. After this fierce battle, there was no turning back for either side; only one could be annihilated to end it.

The Witch Race and the Demon Race were natural enemies.

Now, both sides had a common adversary.

Dijiang was certain that Lin Fan had no reason to refuse this proposal.

However, Lin Fan lightly shook his head:

"The conflict between the Witches and Demons might trigger a Great Tribulation."

"Such a significant matter, even my elder sister avoids it, so how dare I rashly interfere?"

He knew that the war between the Witches and Demons was no trivial matter.

It was highly likely that it contained the schemes of Hongjun or even the Heavenly Dao.

As the Great Tribulation descended, even Saints would struggle to protect themselves, let alone other living beings.

Once involved, annihilation was inevitable.

Although he had transcended the River of Destiny and achieved an immortal body, he still had to consider the Human Race.

His previous battle with the Demon Race was solely to prevent them from slaughtering humans.

As the Human Religion's leader, protecting the Human Race was his duty.

However, if he were to ally with the Witch Race and fully commit to their side, the nature of this matter would change entirely.

It would be equivalent to directly intervening in the conflict between the Witch and Demon Races, with unimaginable consequences.

Hongjun, that cunning old schemer, would undoubtedly be the first to obstruct him.

Recalling the first Witch-Demon War, the Twelve Ancestral Witches had joined forces to unleash the Dutian Divine Fiend Array, summoning Pangu's phantom and nearly destroying the Heavenly Court, almost leading to the Demon Race's annihilation.

At the critical moment, Hongjun forcefully intervened, protecting the Demon Race.

His intentions were obvious—to maintain the balance of power between the Witch and Demon Races.

The so-called million-year ceasefire was actually a way to favor the weaker Demon Race and help them accumulate strength.

When they could truly stand against the Witch Race...

To get involved in the Great Tribulation, one had to first attain the Hunyuan Dao Fruit.

At that time, with Nuwa and two other Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortals guarding the Human Religion, the Human Race could be protected.

Lin Fan thanked Houtu and accepted the withered Spiritual Root.

Seeing this, Xuanming reached out again, but Lin Fan skillfully dodged.

"Junior Sister Xuanming, if you keep doing that, I'll have to fight back," the young man said with mock seriousness, which only made the two Ancestral Witches laugh even harder.

Inside Pangu Hall, the blood-soaked stone walls emitted a faint dark red glow.