Among the Monster Race, Di Jun and Tai Yi took the lead as the Ten Great Demon Marshals led the monsters into position. Starlight filled the sky, and the entire formation became a seamless whole. All those watching this battle were stunned.
At the peak of Kunlun Mountain, Laozi exclaimed, "I never expected the Witch and Monster Races to possess such a powerful formation!"
"It is even stronger than the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation!" A gleam flashed through Tongtian's eyes. He was greatly interested in such a formation.
"Hmph, one is a beast born from wetness and eggs, while the other is a brute who does not cultivate the Primordial Spirit. What right do they have to possess such a formation?" Primordial Heavenly Venerate said unhappily. The Three Pure Ones were Pangu's true orthodoxy, yet they possessed no such formation.
"There is no need for this, Second Brother. When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Until the very end, no one knows who will win," Laozi said calmly.
At those words, Yuanshi's expression eased. In terms of origins and fortune, who in the Primordial Wilderness could compare to the Three Pure Ones?
Upon Western Spirit Mountain.
Jie Yin and Zhunti were also watching the great battle.
Greed filled Zhunti's eyes. "Senior Brother, it would be wonderful if these two formations belonged to our West."
"Junior Brother, do not let external things cloud your mind. Though these formations are powerful, one cannot be used by anyone outside the Wu Clan, while the other requires the combined strength of the entire Monster Race. What use would they be to us?" Worthy of being Zhunti's senior brother, Jie Yin saw through the flaws of both formations at a glance.
Zhunti sighed softly. "I had not considered it carefully."
The Pangu Phantom raised the Giant Axe in his hand and swung it downward.
"Heaven and Earth Split, cleave!"
"Zhou Tian Xing Dou, block!"
Di Jun controlled the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation. Endless starlight converged, forming a curtain of light before them.
Boom!
Axe light struck the light curtain, and a deafening roar echoed between heaven and earth.
Di Jun, Tai Yi, and the rest spat out blood, while countless monsters under the Ten Great Demon Marshals suddenly perished.
Fortunately, they had blocked the Pangu Phantom's attack. But just as Di Jun and the others thought they could breathe easy, the Pangu Phantom raised the Giant Axe once more.
"What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
Di Jun and the others cried out in shock. They had never expected the Pangu Phantom not to have dissipated—and to be preparing another strike.
"Three-legged Birds, let's see if you can block this one!"
"Heaven and Earth Split! Cleave!"
"Monster Race, heed my command! Give the formation everything you have!"
Di Jun roared as he controlled the formation.
"Zhou Tian Xing Dou, block again!"
Boom! Crack!
The Giant Axe struck the starlight curtain. The curtain resisted for a moment before shattering, and the Giant Axe continued downward toward the formation.
Boom!
The Giant Axe cleaved into the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation, shattering it instantly. Blood flowed from Di Jun, Tai Yi, and the others' five orifices as they were hurled backward. Hundreds of millions of monsters died beneath that single axe strike.
The Monster Race was left in a miserable state. The only good news was that the Pangu Phantom had dissipated, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches appeared where they stood, their faces pale.
"It is about to end," Qing Xuan murmured.
"Retreat!"
Enduring the pain wracking his body, Di Jun issued the order to the Monster Race. The purpose of this battle had been to use the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Formation to test whether it could withstand the Wu Clan's Twelve Capital Celestial Evil Formation.
Now, it seemed the results were not bad. Although countless monsters had died, such low-ranking monsters could be found everywhere in the Primordial Wilderness. After the next sermon, the Monster Race would surely rise again.
"Big Brother, we cannot let the Monster Race leave!" Zhujiuyin said with icy eyes.
"But we no longer have the strength to fight, while many Great Demons among the Monster Race are still alive," Gonggong said unwillingly.
"Come, return to Pangu Hall. It is time to begin the Wu Clan's second awakening!" Dijiang said to his younger brothers and sisters. Only he knew that Father God Pangu had left treasures for them within the Blood Pool.
After this battle, the Witch and Monster Races both fell into silence. As though by mutual agreement, Grand Unity Golden Immortals no longer showed themselves, while the members of both factions continued to suffer casualties.
Meanwhile, Qing Xuan and his two companions had wandered to Buzhou Mountain. Looking at the mountain peak that stretched beyond sight, all three sighed in succession.
"Buzhou Mountain, formed from Great God Pangu's spine. It truly is majestic and magnificent!" Zhen Yuanzi said.
"Have you ever gone up there, Fellow Daoist?"
"I have not. What, has Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan been there before?"
"Indeed. When I was still a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, I once climbed Buzhou Mountain. Unfortunately, Great God Pangu's lingering pressure remained upon the mountain. I only reached the halfway point before I could not advance another step!"
Qing Xuan sighed. The little cultivator of those days had now become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, with a lifespan equal to heaven's.
Zhen Yuanzi gave Qing Xuan a surprised look. He had not expected Qing Xuan to dare roam the Primordial Wilderness while only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. It was truly admirable.
The two then began discussing the precautions for climbing Buzhou Mountain. Yet as they spoke, they noticed something was amiss. By rights, someone should have been most interested in such a matter, but that person was now utterly silent. The two turned toward Hong Yun.
Hong Yun was staring blankly up at Buzhou Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun?"
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun!"
Qing Xuan called out in confusion. When Hong Yun did not respond, he shouted.
Hong Yun jolted and came back to his senses, smiling awkwardly.
"Hehe, it is nothing, nothing. I just suddenly felt that something on Buzhou Mountain seemed to be drawing me in."
Hong Yun spoke in puzzlement, deeply confused by the matter.
Hearing this, Qing Xuan's heart tightened. Hong Yun might not know, but how could he not? There was a great Opportunity for Hong Yun upon Buzhou Mountain.
Could it be about to emerge?
Qing Xuan remembered that the Primordial Gourd emerged after Hongjun's first sermon, though he did not know the exact time. Since Hong Yun had sensed it now, its emergence could not be far away.
The Seven Gourds... even if we cannot take them all, getting one each should not be a problem. Qing Xuan thought happily, then said to Hong Yun.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, with our current cultivation, such a feeling cannot arise without cause. Perhaps there is an Opportunity for you on Buzhou Mountain."
"Oh! Then let us hurry up the mountain, lest the Opportunity wait too long!" Hong Yun said impatiently, then rushed up Buzhou Mountain.
"Wait for the two of us! Sigh!" Zhen Yuanzi hurriedly waved, but Hong Yun acted as though he had not heard. Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi sighed helplessly, seeming to say, How did I end up with such a friend?
"Hahaha, stop calling. Let us go as well and see whether we can share in this Opportunity!" After saying this, Qing Xuan hurried after Hong Yun, and Zhen Yuanzi quickly followed.
The three wandered across Buzhou Mountain. Perhaps the time had not yet come; over the course of a hundred years, Hong Yun's senses flickered in and out. The three searched every inch of Buzhou Mountain, yet failed to find the Primordial Gourd.
Only Qing Xuan, at Buzhou Mountain's summit, broke through an Illusion Array and found a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Flowing Light Zither. This treasure was not of much use to Qing Xuan.
Although Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun also gained something, their harvests paled greatly beside this treasure. The two were immensely envious of Qing Xuan's good fortune.
Just as the three decided to leave Buzhou Mountain and return to Wuzhuang Temple, a seven-colored radiance shot straight into the sky. Hong Yun shouted excitedly.
"I sense it! This treasure is fated with me!"
Before you continue