She struggled, trying to break free,
but Tongtian's arms were like iron. No matter how she twisted, it was useless.
"Forget it. I let you escape last time, but it won't be so easy this time."
Seeing her embarrassed and annoyed expression, Tongtian's lips curved slightly, his smile carrying a hint of mischief.
"Let me go already. What if someone sees us?"
After several futile struggles, Nuwa could only plead in a low voice.
She was, after all, the Interception Sect's Grand Elder.
If someone caught her in such a state, how could she ever face anyone again?
She would be too ashamed to live!
"What are you afraid of? I'm a Saint. How could I fail to notice anyone approaching?"
"So what if someone sees us? Who would dare gossip?"
"So be good and watch this show with me."
As he spoke, not only did he fail to release her, he pulled her even closer.
Nuwa had no choice but to tacitly allow it, her face flushed red.
Fortunately, Tongtian's gaze soon shifted toward the Purple Mansion.
Otherwise, he would surely have noticed the faint smile and tenderness quietly blooming at the corners of Nuwa's lips.
"Big Brother, how should we deal with this now?" Although Taiyi moved through the formation with ease,
he was still unable to break the Myriad Immortals Formation for the moment, and his brows unconsciously furrowed.
The Myriad Immortals Formation was called "Myriad Immortals" not merely because it relied on East King Duke and several Grand Unity Golden Immortal elders,
but because it truly was a grand formation jointly set up by more than ten thousand cultivators.
The earlier battle had been too sudden, leaving them no time to gather the many cultivators of the Purple Mansion.
Now that they were on East King Duke's territory, people had already noticed something was wrong and hurried over to lend support.
Although the newcomers varied greatly in cultivation, with some as weak as merely Heavenly Immortals,
there were simply too many of them.
As wave after wave of Purple Mansion cultivators joined in, the power of the Myriad Immortals Formation continued to rise.
Feeling the pressure gradually increase, Dijun's expression remained unchanged.
The River Diagram and Luo Book, the two Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures in his hands, only spun faster and faster.
Not long after, a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.
He had found it!
Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately transmitted his voice to Taiyi, Kunpeng, Bai Ze, and the others.
The next moment, they all struck at once, attacking the four directions as well as above and below the formation.
Tongtian was not surprised that Dijun had found a chance to break the formation.
Back during the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, when Fuxi reincarnated as the Heavenly Emperor of the Human Race, he had relied on the River Diagram and Luo Book to deduce the Innate Eight Trigrams.
This showed that while the River Diagram and Luo Book were not tools of offense,
they possessed profound mysteries in defense and the Way of Deduction.
Moreover, East King Duke's Myriad Immortals Formation was still newly created, with many flaws yet to be perfected.
It was only natural that its weakness had been exposed.
If this had been the Myriad Immortals Formation from the era of the Investiture of the Gods, painstakingly refined by Tongtian and possessing heaven-shaking power,
it would have been capable of contending with Saints!
Even if ten more Dijuns came, they would never have been able to shake it in the slightest!
Boom—!
Bang!
The formation shattered.
The Purple Mansion cultivators instantly spat out blood, and screams rang out one after another.
East King Duke and the elders turned deathly pale, their eyes filled with terror.
Hiss—!
A collective gasp echoed through the void.
The great powers watching from afar were all stunned by Dijun's method of breaking the formation.
Just moments ago, they had been putting themselves in his place and thinking:
If they had been trapped within the formation, aside from surrendering without a fight, death would have been their only path.
Yet Dijun had actually forced the formation apart. It was simply unbelievable!
Even amid their shock, deep apprehension toward Dijun and the Demon Race arose in their hearts.
"No! Impossible!"
"How could you break my Myriad Immortals Formation?!"
"I don't believe it! This must be fake!!"
Having recovered from his shock, East King Duke, his hair disheveled, roared madly.
As the master of the formation, he understood the Myriad Immortals Formation's power better than anyone.
He had even secretly speculated that once the formation was perfected, not even Tongtian might be able to defeat it.
Now it had been broken so easily. How could he possibly accept that?
"Hmph! How can a frog at the bottom of a well speak of the heavens?" Dijun sneered, then his tone turned cold as he ordered,
"Kill them! Slaughter all who refuse to submit!"
"Yes!"
"Dijun, how dare you?! Aren't you afraid the Dao Ancestor will punish you?"
East King Duke's face instantly drained of color in terror.
Unfortunately, his words were like air to Dijun and had no effect whatsoever.
Kill!!!
Divine abilities crisscrossed the sky, illuminating heaven and earth.
The brilliant radiance of magical treasures reflected across the heavens.
Terrifying fluctuations erupted violently above the Purple Mansion island.
In an instant, earth-shaking power stirred up monstrous waves across the East Sea, stretching for countless billions of miles.
Countless sea creatures were reduced to ashes in the aftermath,
and blood dyed the entire sea crimson.
Looking at the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, at blood flowing like rivers,
the many great powers could not help but shudder inwardly.
They immediately listed Dijun and the Demon Race as forbidden existences second only to Tongtian.
"The Demon Race is actually this powerful?"
Leaning against Tongtian's chest, Nuwa parted her lips slightly, her face full of shock.
After Dijun and his people broke the formation, it had almost become a one-sided massacre.
There was not even the slightest ability to resist.
How could she not be astonished?
"That's perfectly normal," Tongtian said with a soft laugh, slowly explaining,
"Dijun has several times as many experts under his command as East King Duke,
and his resources far surpass those of the Purple Mansion.
With several Grand Unity Golden Immortals joining forces to besiege a single opponent,
if they still could not suppress them swiftly, the Demon Race would have long since perished in its struggle against the Witch Race."
They were, after all, one of the dominant races of the Primordial Wilderness.
If they could not even take down a Purple Mansion, it would be far too embarrassing.
As he was thinking this, a voice suddenly announced from outside Biyou Palace.
"Reporting to Sect Master, someone outside requests an audience. She says she is West Queen Mother of West Kunlun."
"Bring her in."
A trace of amusement flashed through Tongtian's eyes, and the corners of his lips lifted into a faint, unreadable smile.
This West Queen Mother truly had some courage.
East King Duke had only just fallen, yet she had already rushed over in such a hurry.
Clearly, she had set out from West Kunlun the moment Dijun entered the Purple Mansion.
It seems the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness truly are not people to be underestimated.
Tongtian sighed inwardly. Rather than feeling wary, he found himself somewhat intrigued.
Even a comparatively peripheral great power like West Queen Mother possessed such foresight.
One could imagine how unfathomable those old foxes who survived the great Witch-Demon calamity, the chaos of the Investiture of the Gods, and the Journey to the West calamity truly were.
He had originally thought that after becoming a Saint, endless years would be bland and uneventful. Now, it seemed there might still be amusement to be found.
As the saying went: fighting Heaven brought endless joy; fighting Earth brought endless joy; fighting people brought endless joy.
If one's life was without amusement, then even endless years would be nothing more than wasted time.
"Someone is coming. Put me down quickly."
Upon hearing that West Queen Mother was about to arrive, Nuwa hurriedly twisted her body, her face full of coquettish annoyance.
If West Queen Mother saw her like this, who knew how much she would laugh at her inwardly?
Tongtian chuckled and released her.
"West Queen Mother greets Saint Tongtian and greets Fellow Daoist Nuwa."
West Queen Mother entered the hall and respectfully bowed.
"You are too polite, Fellow Daoist. Please sit.
May I ask what important matter brings you here today?"
Tongtian's gaze was calm as he looked at West Queen Mother, who wore palace robes and carried herself with extraordinary grace.
Although he had long guessed the purpose of her visit, he still appeared completely relaxed and unconcerned.
As he spoke, he casually gestured, and a cup of fragrant tea steadily landed before her.
Seeing how courteously he treated her, and seeing West Queen Mother's outstanding beauty, Nuwa could not help pouting, her face full of displeasure.
Tongtian could not help laughing at the sight, though there was nothing he could do about it.
As for West Queen Mother, perhaps out of reverence for a Saint, she had kept her eyes lowered ever since entering and offering her greeting. Naturally, she had not noticed Nuwa's little mood.
She sighed softly, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness.
"This humble one has come so presumptuously to ask the Saint for some protection. I hope the Saint will show mercy."
"You are quite straightforward. Aren't you afraid I might refuse?"
Tongtian raised an eyebrow slightly, rather surprised by her candor.
In the Primordial Wilderness, unless one's life was truly at stake, who would be willing to lower themselves and openly display weakness?
Such courage was indeed rare.
Of course, existences like Jieyin and Zhunti, whose skin was thicker than mountains, were not included in this discussion.
"Even if this humble one wished to conceal it, I could not hide it from the Saint's discerning eyes."
"Since I know I cannot hide it, why not be honest and avoid losing the Saint's favor?"
Hearing that he had not flatly refused, West Queen Mother felt somewhat relieved.
Nuwa, who had remained silent beside them, also cast her a slightly surprised glance.
"You should know that my Interception Sect does not lack people."
"However, you and I both once listened to teachings at Purple Heaven Palace, so we do share some karmic connection."
"If you can accomplish one thing, I can permit you to become an Interception Sect Elder."
Tongtian's tone was calm, his expression tranquil.
"Please enlighten me, Saint."
West Queen Mother's heart stirred upon hearing this, and she hurriedly asked.
So long as he had not rejected her outright, there was hope.
No matter how harsh the condition, it was better than having no path forward.
"It is very simple. Hand over your Plain Cloud Boundary Banner of the West, and c."
The instant those words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall froze.
Both West Queen Mother and Nuwa changed expression.
The Plain Cloud Boundary Banner had been bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. It was one of the Innate Five Direction Flags and a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
If all five flags could be gathered, their power would come close to that of an Innate Supreme Treasure.
Even if that price could barely be accepted, the demand that she offer up a wisp of her Primordial Spirit was truly too ruthless.
Once it fell into another's hands, her life and death would no longer be under her own control.
Unless one had truly reached the end of the road, who would be willing to entrust their life to someone else?
Nuwa opened her mouth, a trace of reluctance flashing through her eyes.
But when she saw Tongtian wink at her, she immediately understood something and remained silent.
To everyone's surprise, the moment his words fell, West Queen Mother only pondered briefly before her expression turned resolute. Without hesitation, she took out the Plain Cloud Boundary Banner and a wisp of her Primordial Spirit, offering them up with both hands.
Her decisive manner left both Tongtian and Nuwa stunned.
Sect Master Tongtian lightly waved his hand, pushing the Primordial Spirit and spiritual treasure back. A smile appeared on his face as he nodded in praise. "You are decisive indeed. Very good. You have passed my test."
West Queen Mother's face lit up with joy. She hurriedly bowed and respectfully said, "Thank you for your praise, Sect Master.
Before the Sect Master, even if this humble one cultivated to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm, I would still be no more than an ant, merely a somewhat sturdier one."
"Therefore, whether I hand over my Primordial Spirit is of no importance to the Sect Master."
"As for the Plain Cloud Boundary Banner, I had intended to present it to the Sect Master before coming here."
After hearing this, Tongtian nodded slightly, then cast Nuwa a glance, signaling for her to arrange lodgings for the West Queen Mother.
Nuwa understood and led the West Queen Mother away.
The moment the two women left, a familiar voice rang out in his mind.
[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained an elder at the early Quasi-Saint stage. Reward: one fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation.]
Before you continue