Chapter 28

After this tribulation, Lin Fan's prestige among the human race had reached its peak.

He had already become a supremely exalted figure in the hearts of all living beings.

Yet Lin Fan knew that the calamity was not over, and today's disaster might well repeat itself.

In the eyes of All Saints, Human Race Destiny was something worth fighting over.

Lin Fan then activated the laws of the five elements and reconstructed the Five Elements Grand Formation.

The formation had been severely damaged in the previous battle.

If the demon race attacked again, it might not hold, so it urgently needed repairs.

Lin Fan drew upon the Power of Five Elements between heaven and earth and poured it into the formation.

With the abilities of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, rebuilding the formation was naturally incredibly swift. It was completed in an instant.

Once everything had settled, Lin Fan traveled with Houtu to Buzhou Mountain.

At that time, in the chaos beyond the domain.

The battle among the Saints continued.

Nuwa had reached the third level of Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal, and her magical power was overwhelming.

Even with the Four Saints joining forces, they could not gain the upper hand.

Now that Sect Master Tongtian had joined the fray, they felt even more strained.

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

Within the chaos, strange light tore through the sky like sharp blades, cleaving time and space apart and returning all things to nothingness.

Taishang Laojun was in a wretched state and could only repeatedly hide within the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda for protection. On the other side, Sect Master Tongtian had already summoned the Heaven Punishing Divine Sword. Countless sharp rays shot into the heavens, their might changing the color of heaven and earth.

This fierce offensive surged toward the Two Sages of the West like a tide, filling them with dread. They nearly cursed aloud: Why was Tongtian so determined to kill them all?

"Nuwa! You indulged your biological brother in disrupting the order of heaven and earth." Taishang Laojun sternly rebuked her, placing all the blame on her shoulders. "Will you not stop now? Could it be that you truly wish to provoke a war among Saints?"

This scheme had completely failed due to the interference of Nuwa and her brother, and he had lost all face before everyone. As the head of the Mystic Gate, when had he ever suffered such humiliation?

"Junior Sister violated Heaven's Will by interfering in the tribulation. She should take the initiative and confess her guilt." Venerable Yuanshi also spoke up in admonishment, assuming an imposing manner.

Nuwa sneered at his words. "You are the ones truly destroying order, aren't you? My brother is the leader of Human Teachings. What is wrong with him fighting for the human race? As for you, Taishang, scheming against your junior—what a disgrace to the title of Saint!"

These cutting words were like oil on fire, making the battle even more intense. The aftershocks from the collision of divine powers in the chaos instantly reduced billions of stars to ash.

Just as Taishang attacked with all his strength, Nuwa suddenly controlled the Human Creating Whip and transformed it into a streak of golden light that lashed out. Taishang was caught off guard, and even his saint's body was violently shattered. Agonizing pain struck his primordial spirit as well.

This merit treasure was astonishingly powerful in Nuwa's hands. Even a Saint's body could not withstand it. The injured Taishang's face was ashen, and his fury grew even greater.

The Taiji Dao Diagram evolved the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth, sweeping forth with crushing force toward Nuwa.

Suddenly, a mysterious sound shook the void. The divine might of the Taiji Diagram dissipated completely, and it drifted back into Laozi's palm.

"Stop."

"You Saints fight so relentlessly. What sort of conduct is this?"

Dao Ancestor Hongjun stepped through the chaos and descended.

The battle among the Saints had escalated without end, and its world-destroying might was already impossible to contain.

How could the Dao Ancestor stand by and ignore it?

Upon seeing Hongjun appear, the six Saints solemnly ceased fighting and stepped forward to pay their respects.

"We pay respects to the Dao Ancestor."

"We beg the Dao Ancestor to render judgment."

"Nuwa indulged her biological brother in disrupting the principles of the Mystic Gate and recklessly altering the Heavenly Mandate of the tribulation."

"How could such a grave crime go unpunished?"

Laozi was the first to strike, accusing Nuwa.

This was the tactic of a villain accusing first.

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

"My brother is the leader of Human Teachings. What crime has he committed by fighting for the human race?"

"As for you, a Saint who bullies the weak and seizes treasures by force, you are so shameless that you are truly contemptible."

Laozi's face darkened like black iron. So furious was he that his daoist robe billowed, and his Saintly might was about to rise again.

Hongjun shouted in a deep voice,

"Do not speak recklessly."

"Everything that happened today was destined."

"Disperse at once. If you stir up conflict again, heavenly punishment shall descend."

Seeing the Dao Ancestor's fury, the Saints did not dare act rashly and withdrew their auras before returning to their places.

After the Saints departed, Hongjun stood alone in the chaos, a thoughtful expression appearing between his brows.

That child Lin Fan had actually stirred up such tremendous turmoil, far beyond his calculations.

Yet this variable was rather difficult to handle.

Lin Fan and Nuwa were now entangled by karma, and he also held authority over Human Teachings, which concerned Human Race Destiny.

If he carelessly alerted Nuwa, he might disrupt the arrangements for the coming tribulations.

After returning to Wa Huang Palace, Nuwa first observed the state of the Human Tribe.

Only when she saw all living beings living and working in peace did she finally feel at ease.

She then pinched her fingers and calculated Lin Fan's whereabouts.

Lin Fan's movements gave Nuwa a subtle expression.

"He has already gone to the Witch Race?"

She pondered in secret. When had this person formed a connection with the Witch Race? More importantly, he seemed to be quite close to Houtu, his former dear friend.

Thinking of this, Nuwa unconsciously clenched her fist.

"Houtu, you actually dared to secretly win over my person..."

Meanwhile, Venerable Yuanshi did not return to Jade Void Palace. Instead, he followed Laozi to his cultivation ground.

This great battle had completely changed the situation: Lin Fan had emerged into prominence, the demon race's plans had failed, Tongtian had sided with Nuwa, cracks had appeared among the Sanqing, and the Saints had begun choosing sides.

Laozi harbored deep resentment toward Lin Fan and deliberately discussed countermeasures with Yuanshi. The Xun Sect he had established was in an awkward position—it was based on Human Teachings, yet had failed to receive even a fraction of Human Race Destiny. His direct disciple Xuandu's cultivation had been obstructed, and this had also caused him to resent Lin Fan, the leader of Human Teachings.

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

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

Yuanshi suddenly recalled something. "Senior Brother, do you know how Lin Fan manipulated his magic treasures to injure Di Jun and the others?"

The two looked at each other in silence. Such methods, capable of evading a Saint's detection, were truly baffling.

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

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi wore gloomy expressions as they faced each other in silence.

Kunpeng stood to one side and spoke only after a long while,

"Heavenly Emperor, if this child remains alive, he will bring endless trouble."

He had never been loyal to the Heavenly Court. His targeting of Lin Fan was entirely driven by personal resentment.

Di Jun said in a deep voice,

"How could I not know? But that child has many magical artifacts and bizarre techniques. How could it be easy to eliminate him?"

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

Especially Di Jun, the master of the Heavenly Court, whose dignity had actually been trampled by a mere child.

Whenever he thought of it, even his Dao heart trembled.

"Though that child is strong, he is ultimately immature and weak-willed."

"We can set a killing trap to lure him in and kill him with one strike."

Kunpeng suddenly revealed a cold expression as he offered his plan.

Upon hearing this strategy, both emperors showed signs of interest.

"Brother, this plan can work."

Donghuang Taiyi said urgently,

"Immediately deduce a killing formation. Once the formation takes shape, we shall lay a net from which he cannot escape, even with wings."

Di Jun still hesitated.

Though the plan was feasible, they had to consider Saint Nuwa.

She valued Lin Fan more than the human race itself. If they killed him, they would surely incur her Saintly wrath.

Just as he was wavering, Saintly pressure suddenly appeared throughout the heavens.

Amid swirling Auspicious Clouds, Laozi's figure appeared in the Heavenly Court.

"We pay respects to Saint Taiqing." The three quickly bowed.

Laozi had long known of their scheme but did not expose it. He merely said indifferently,

"Lin Fan's reckless conduct has gone too far. Nuwa indulges him in interfering with the conflict between the witches and demons, and she will eventually bring disaster upon herself."

At these words, hatred deepened in the eyes of the two emperors.

Yet they concealed it in an instant. Di Jun asked with feigned calm,

Two Hundred and Eight

"Saint Taiqing, what exactly is the meaning of this?"

"The Dao Ancestor long decreed that Saints must not interfere in the conflict between witches and demons. Why did Empress Nuwa suddenly intervene?"

During the previous battle, Laozi had personally conveyed the Dao Ancestor's decree, causing the demon race to resolve to slaughter the human race and forge the Witch-Slaying Sword.

Yet the result had far exceeded expectations.

The demon race had mobilized in full force, only to gain nothing and suffer the loss of countless lives.

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi had even been severely injured by Lin Fan, losing all face.

Di Jun's words contained an implicit challenge.

Laozi looked slightly embarrassed. He had intended to intercept Lin Fan and reclaim the Kongtong Seal, but he had not expected the other party's methods to be so bizarre that he escaped in an instant.

He had also never expected the demon race to be so incompetent that they could not even handle an early-stage Great Luo.

"There is no need to worry."

"A Hunyuan Sage will never directly interfere with a tribulation."

Laozi spoke with certainty, but Di Jun remained doubtful.

This was merely Laozi's word. If Nuwa, in a fit of rage, decided to settle accounts with the demon race, how could he believe Laozi would protect the Demon Court?

"If Empress Nuwa attacks the demon race again, what should we do?"

"Rest assured. If she acts recklessly again, I will stop her."

Laozi responded calmly, then sneered,

"On the other hand, you are the mighty Heavenly Court, yet you could not defeat Lin Fan, a mere early-stage Great Luo. Could it be that you are nothing but a hollow name?"

Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi exchanged silent looks, their gazes turning cold.

Since Laozi had declared that he would shelter the demon race, they no longer needed to fear Nuwa.

As long as they killed Lin Fan, all future trouble would be eliminated.

Once the Witch-Slaying Sword was completed, the human race would have no power left to resist.

"Thank you for the Saint's guidance."

After a long while, Di Jun finally made up his mind.

The demon race's slaughter of the human race to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword, together with their enmity toward Lin Fan, had long reached the point of irreconcilability.

Given Lin Fan's potential, if he were to attain the Hunyuan Dao in the future, the consequences would be impossible to measure. He might even become an everlasting nightmare for the demon race.

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

Lin Fan took Houtu through the void, arriving at the foot of Buzhou Mountain in an instant.

The spatial divine ability he displayed secretly shook Houtu—this young man's control over laws far surpassed even Dijiang, the foremost of the Ancestral Witches.

Amid the towering mountains, Lin Fan summoned two primordial beasts from the Primordial Pearl.

Xiong Batian and Xiong Aotian.

The beasts had barely appeared when they raised their heads and roared. Their cries shook the clouds and drew a smile from Houtu.

But the two beasts soon wilted.

Under Buzhou Mountain's chaotic pressure, Xiong Batian, who had just been flaunting his might, panted heavily, while Xiong Aotian collapsed onto the ground.

Houtu laughed without mercy.

This stirred the ferocity of the two beasts, and they immediately bared their fangs in a threatening display.

They were answered by a fierce palm blast—this youngest Ancestral Witch had always been gentle only toward Lin Fan, but now she fully displayed the iron-blooded nature of the Witch Race.

Lin Fan could only take the two beasts back and continue onward lightly with Houtu.

Before Pangu Hall, Lin Fan gazed at the hall rumored to have been transformed from Pangu Heart, a probing look flashing through his eyes.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches came out together to greet them. After a warm exchange, Dijiang got straight to the point:

"Young Friend Lin possesses unparalleled talent, and your cultivation is unfathomable."

"Would you be willing to join hands with my Witch Race and resist the demon race?"

Dijiang confidently extended the invitation.

In his view, the demon race's massive assault on the human race had already placed them and Lin Fan at irreconcilable odds. After this fierce battle, there was no longer any room for reconciliation. Only the destruction of one side could bring it to an end.

The Witch Race and demon race had always been mortal enemies.

Now, both sides happened to share a common opponent.

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

Yet Lin Fan merely shook his head.

"The conflict between witches and demons may trigger a tribulation."

"Even my elder sister keeps her distance from such a major matter. How would I dare interfere rashly?"

He knew full well that the war between witches and demons was no small matter.

It was highly possible that it concealed arrangements by Hongjun and even the Heavenly Dao.

When the calamity descended, even Saints struggled to protect themselves, let alone other living beings.

Once one became involved, one would inevitably face the danger of perishing.

Though he had already transcended the River of Destiny and attained an immortal, indestructible body, he could not help but consider humanity.

His previous battle with the Demon Race had only been to prevent them from slaughtering humanity.

As the leader of Human Teachings, protecting humanity was simply his duty.

But if he formed an alliance with the Witch Race and completely took their side, the nature of the matter would be entirely different.

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

That scheming old man Hongjun would surely be the first to step in and stop it.

Thinking back to the first Witch-Demon War, the Twelve Ancestral Witches had joined forces to deploy the Twelve Heavenly Gods Fiend Formation, summoning Pangu's phantom and nearly destroying the Heavenly Court, with the Demon Race almost wiped out.

At the critical moment, Hongjun had forcibly intervened and protected the Demon Race.

His intentions had been obvious—he wanted to maintain the balance of power between the Witch and Demon Races.

The so-called million-year truce was merely favoritism toward the weaker Demon Race, helping them accumulate strength.

Until they truly possessed the strength to stand against the Witch Race...

If he wished to involve himself in the calamity's struggle, he would have to attain the Hunyuan Dao Fruit.

Only then, with Nuwa and himself, two Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortals, presiding over Human Teachings, could humanity be fully protected.

After thanking Houtu, Lin Fan accepted the withered spirit root.

Seeing this, Xuanming tried to reach out again, but Lin Fan nimbly dodged.

"Sister Xuanming, if you keep this up, I'm going to fight back." Lin Fan put on a stern expression, but that only made the two Ancestral Witches laugh even harder.

Within Pangu Hall, the stone walls wreathed in baleful aura glimmered with a dim crimson light.