Rise of Wu and Yao, Conflict Reappears

The sun and moon turned, the years stretched long, and more than a thousand Yuanhui had passed since the embers of the War of Dao and Demons scattered across the Primordial World.

That great war, which had leveled the Chaos Demonic Qi and shattered the Western Spirit Vein, once made every living being in the Primordial World fear for their lives.

Now, only the faint remnants of Innate Sha Qi lingering among the mountains and rivers served as reminders of that brutal past.

The Three Clans—the Dragon Clan, the Phoenix Clan, and the Qilin Clan—who had once dominated the core of the Primordial World, were severely weakened after the War of the Three Clans and the War of Dao and Demons.

In the end, they chose to retreat into the abysses of the Four Seas, the Immortal Volcano, and the Western Wasteland, fading from the mainstream of the Primordial World, leaving only scattered legends circulating among living beings.

With the Three Clans gone as a balancing force, the Primordial World instead enjoyed a rare period of tranquility.

Spiritual energy flowed slowly along the Earth Veins, which had shattered and then stabilized once more.

Innate Spiritual Roots spread their branches and leaves in secluded valleys undisturbed by anyone.

Ignorant living beings either hid in caves to cultivate or multiplied their clans on the plains.

But beneath this calm, undercurrents had long since begun to stir. Old powers withdrew, and new strong ones were destined to fill the void.

The most eye-catching were none other than the Witch Clan. The Twelve Ancestral Witches, born from Pangu's essence blood, were now the top Combat Power openly visible in the Primordial World.

Dijiang controlled space, his figure able to cross endless territories in an instant. Zhujiuyin governed time, able to glimpse the past and future with the opening and closing of his eyes.

Zhurong was wrapped in Southern Bright Leaving Fire, burning all vegetation wherever he passed. Gonggong was accompanied by towering waves, able to stir the tides of the Four Seas with a wave of his hand.

Tianwu summoned fierce gales with a gesture, leaving devastation in their wake.

Qiangliang mastered the power of thunder, and a single casual strike could annihilate countless demon beasts.

The other Ancestral Witches each had their own divine abilities, and their average cultivation had all reached the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Their physical bodies were also incomparably tough, and they could even draw upon the law power left behind by Pangu. Ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals could hardly break through their physical defenses.

Yet among all things in the world, no clan was invincible.

Some clans that sensed the threat of the Witch Clan spontaneously formed an alliance, led by none other than Dijun and Taiyi.

Within the Sun Star in the endless starry sky, a hall built from Sun God Gold stood at its core.

The hall was warm and cozy, without a trace of scorching heat. This was the residence of Dijun and Taiyi, and also the meeting place for the clan alliance.

Inside the hall, Dijun sat upright in the main seat, clad in a golden robe embroidered with the totem of the Three-legged Golden Crow, his face dignified and his eyes deep.

Taiyi stood to the left, his red robes like fire, the vertical eye on his brow slightly closed, True Sun Fire faintly flowing around him.

Below, a subordinate was bowing and reporting on a recent conflict with the Witch Clan.

"Reporting to the two leaders, the day before yesterday, our patrol encountered the Rong tribe of the Witch Clan at the shore of the East Sea."

"They were unreasonable and attacked directly. We lost three early-stage Taiyi clan members. Though we severely wounded two of theirs, we still came out worse."

"Outrageous!" Taiyi suddenly opened the vertical eye on his brow, the True Sun Fire aura surging, and the temperature inside the hall shot up instantly.

"These brutes of the Witch Clan—do they really think we're easy to bully?"

"Let me lead a team of clansmen, go burn down Kuafu's tribe on their turf, and teach these brutes a lesson!"

"No!" The refined strategist Bai Ze quickly stepped forward to dissuade him.

"Taiyi, please calm your anger. The Witch Clan's bodies are tough, and they are proficient in various laws. A direct fight will not benefit us."

"Now that the alliance has just formed, although the various clans are willing to submit, they are not yet fully united."

"If we start an all-out war with the Witch Clan now, it will only shake the alliance's foundation. The urgent task is to accumulate strength, not to fight for a moment's pride."

Dijun slowly nodded and raised his hand to suppress Taiyi's anger.

"Bai Ze speaks truly. The Witch Clan is powerful now, and all Twelve Ancestral Witches are at the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm."

"Although our alliance has the support of various clans, if we truly break ties, I fear it will be a mutual loss."

"For now, the priority is to integrate the clans and focus on improving cultivation."

Though still unwilling, Taiyi knew that Dijun and Bai Ze were right. He could only give a heavy snort and retract his True Sun Fire.

"Fine! I'll let them off for now. But..." He shifted the topic, his tone carrying a hint of confusion.

"Brother, don't you feel that after reaching the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, trying to take another step forward is like being blocked by an invisible barrier?"

"Clearly, I can sense that there are higher realms above, but I can't find the way. Even my law comprehension has slowed down during cultivation."

Hearing this, a trace of gravity flashed in Dijun's eyes. "You feel it too? I am the same."

"Ever since a strange celestial phenomenon suddenly appeared in the Primordial World over a thousand Yuanhui ago, I've vaguely felt that something is off about the Primordial World."

"In the past, the laws were within easy reach during cultivation, but now they feel like they're behind a layer of fog. Even the absorption of spiritual energy isn't as smooth as before."

The two exchanged glances, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

"Perhaps... after cultivating for a while longer, there will be a turning point?" After a moment of deliberation, Dijun gave an answer even he didn't believe.

Taiyi sighed and could only nod. "Other than that, there's no other way."

With that, the two discussed some internal alliance matters.

Things like absorbing new clans and dividing patrol territories. Only then did Taiyi take his leave, still carrying some frustration.

Atop Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones were also discussing the same confusion.

The spiritual energy on Kunlun Mountain was dense, clouds and mist swirling. Within the Jade Void Palace, Laozi sat cross-legged on a cattail cushion, his horsetail whisk swaying gently, his expression calm.

Venerable Yuanshi stood before the palace, gazing at the sea of clouds below the mountain, his brow slightly furrowed.

Sect Master Tongtian, meanwhile, wielded the Qingping Sword within the hall. As the Sword Light flowed, it always carried a hint of sluggishness.

"Two Junior Brothers," Laozi opened his eyes, his voice gentle yet tinged with gravity. "Have you also sensed that, after reaching the peak of the Great Luo realm, it is difficult to advance even an inch?"

Venerable Yuanshi turned around, nodding slightly, a trace of surprise in his tone. "Senior Brother feels this too? I have attempted to deduce the method for breaking through to the Golden Immortal of the Origin, yet I am always obstructed by an invisible force."

"No matter how I deduce, it is all a chaotic and hazy blur."

Sect Master Tongtian sheathed his sword and stood, his voice carrying a hint of impatience. "As I see it, I fear we must wait for Master to emerge from seclusion. Only by seeking Master's guidance can we learn the reason."

"Now, though we possess the peak cultivation of the Great Luo realm, we cannot find the path to breakthrough. If the Witch Clan or other forces come knocking in the future, we are likely to suffer."

Laozi nodded slightly. "It can only be this way. Master's understanding of the Heavenly Dao far surpasses ours. When he emerges from seclusion, there will surely be an answer."

What they did not know was that it was not just them—other top powerhouses in the Primordial World were also trapped by this bottleneck.

No matter how they cultivated, they could never touch the realm beyond the Great Luo.

It was as if the Great Luo had reached its limit, and some people seemed to believe in this feeling.

Yet more did not believe it, but had no good solution. For a time, many hearts were filled with sighs.