Aftermath of the Calamity

The demon tide receded, leaving Ten Thousand Witch City in ruins. Large sections of the city walls had collapsed, countless buildings within the city had been damaged, and the streets were strewn with the corpses of Witch Clan members and demons. Blood stained everything, and cries of grief filled the air.

The Witch Clan members who had survived the disaster began clearing the battlefield, treating the wounded, and collecting their companions' bodies. The air was thick with sorrow and exhaustion.

Protected by Li Su's Starstone Grand Array, the Houtu Tribe had suffered relatively few losses. They now joined the citywide rescue efforts as well.

Li Su activated the willow leaf Cihang Daoren had given him. It released a gentle green glow of life that covered a vast area, helping the severely wounded stabilize their injuries and purifying the lingering demonic and deathly aura. Its effects were remarkable, earning him even more gratitude and respect from the Witch Clan.

The High Priest dragged her weary body as she directed the tribe's affairs, her gaze toward Li Su filled with complicated emotions.

She had never expected that this bamboo she had encountered by chance would prove so useful at such a crucial moment. It had even drawn disciples of the Jade Void Palace here, forcing back the demon army.

"Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, we have you to thank for this."

The High Priest thanked him sincerely. "If not for you reinforcing the array and stepping forward, my Houtu Tribe would likely have suffered grievous casualties.

"We will forever remember this debt of gratitude."

"You overpraise me, High Priest. I was merely saving myself and doing what I could," Li Su said modestly. Then his tone shifted. "But after this battle, Ten Thousand Witch City has suffered severe damage. Though the demon race has retreated, they may not be willing to let matters rest. In the future..."

The High Priest sighed, the wrinkles on her face seeming to deepen. "Indeed. The great war has only just begun.

"This demon attack was far larger in scale than before. They had clearly planned it for a long time.

"Though the Witch Clan's twelve tribes are powerful, we are scattered throughout the Primordial World. We may be defeated one by one.

"We must contact the other tribes as soon as possible and discuss a response."

She looked at Li Su. "You are not of the Witch Clan, yet you have already risked yourself for our people.

"Now that disciples of the Jade Void Palace have arrived, the Sage's lineage may clearly intervene in the wars to come. The karma involved is complex.

"You may decide for yourself whether to stay or leave. My tribe will hold no resentment."

Li Su fell silent for a moment. He truly needed to continue traveling, seek opportunities, and raise his strength.

Ten Thousand Witch City was not a place where he could remain for long. Moreover, Cihang Daoren and Yu Ding Zhenren's attitudes had made it clear that the Jade Void Palace adopted a policy of "letting them train on their own" toward nominal disciples like them. They would not offer much protection.

"This junior truly needs to continue traveling and seek an opportunity for a breakthrough," Li Su said. "However, before I leave, I am willing to help your tribe restore part of the arrays, to offer what little assistance I can."

At that, the High Priest nodded in relief. "Then I thank you, fellow Daoist."

Over the following days, Li Su used the willow leaf's power to help treat the injured while also beginning to restore the defense arrays of the Houtu Tribe and several sections of the city walls.

After the trial of actual combat and intensive use, his attainments in array formations advanced another step. The restored arrays were even more ingenious and stable than before.

During this time, he also learned more about the current situation from the Witch Clan.

The demon race's all-out assault had not been aimed only at Ten Thousand Witch City. Many Witch Clan settlements throughout the Primordial World had been attacked, and both sides had suffered heavy casualties. The baleful aura of the calamity had already grown dense to its utmost limit.

The Human Race and other weak races had become blood food and sacrifices in the war between the two sides, left in a miserable plight.

One day, while Li Su was repairing an ancient teleportation array near the city wall—which had been abandoned for many years—he accidentally discovered a damaged stone inscription beneath the array foundation.

The inscription was carved in ancient Witch Clan script, most of it too blurred to read. Yet several words caught his attention: "Buzhou... Heavenly Pillar... collapse... Gonggong... Zhurong..."

Gonggong had struck Buzhou Mountain in fury, causing the heavens to tilt northwest and the earth to sink southeast! This was an ancient secret known to all in the Primordial World.

Yet this stone inscription seemed to record further details. It mentioned that when Buzhou Mountain collapsed, fragments scattered in all directions. One particularly large fragment had fallen near the "Flowing Fire Marsh" to the northwest.

A fragment of Buzhou Mountain? Li Su's heart stirred.

The Bedrock Rune he bore had originated from Buzhou Mountain. If he could find a genuine fragment, it would bring immeasurable benefits to his comprehension and advancement!

He might even gain deeper insight into the mysteries of Pangu opening the heavens and the Law of Strength!

Flowing Fire Marsh was said to be an exceedingly dangerous region, burning year-round with undying heavenly and earthly fire. Ordinary cultivators found it difficult to approach. But danger and opportunity often went hand in hand.

Should he go? Li Su barely hesitated.

His path had always been one of seeking opportunities amid danger.

Several days later, the restoration work in Ten Thousand Witch City was preliminarily complete. Li Su bid farewell to the High Priest.

The High Priest was not surprised. She gave him a detailed map of the northwestern region, including some information on Flowing Fire Marsh, as well as a bone token carved with the Houtu Tribe's mark:

"Fellow Daoist Mo Xing, the road ahead is perilous. Take good care of yourself. If you encounter trouble, use this bone token to seek help from Witch Clan tribes along the way. May the Mother of Earth bless you."

"Thank you, High Priest. Take care, everyone!" Li Su accepted the gifts and bade them a solemn farewell.

Amid the grateful and blessing-filled gazes of countless Witch Clan members, he transformed into a streak of inky light and departed Ten Thousand Witch City, which had endured the baptism of blood and fire. He headed northwest toward Flowing Fire Marsh.

Along the way, the Primordial World grew ever more desolate and chaotic. Baleful aura filled the air, fires of war raged everywhere, and traces of battle and fleeing refugees could be seen at every turn.

Li Su concealed his tracks as best he could and avoided large-scale conflicts, but he occasionally had no choice but to strike down Fierce Beasts or out-of-control demon soldiers blocking his path.

One day, he reached a vast desert of red earth. According to the map, Flowing Fire Marsh was no longer far away. The air was thick with scorching heat and the stench of sulfur.

Just as he prepared to speed through the desert, violent energy fluctuations and sounds of battle suddenly came from ahead, mixed with a familiar... fluctuation of the Jade Purity Immortal Method?

Li Su swept the area with his Immortal Sense and saw three cultivators in Jade Purity Daoist robes beyond the distant dunes—two men and one woman, all at the Early Stage Celestial Immortal realm. They had formed a Three Talents Sword Array and were desperately resisting the attacks of a black-robed man.

Demonic aura swirled thickly around the black-robed man. He held a white bone banner, and with every wave, countless ferocious demon heads surged forth and lunged at the sword array. His cultivation had clearly reached the Late Stage Celestial Immortal realm!

The white bone banner was even more sinister. It could defile magical treasures and corrode one's primordial spirit!

The three Jade Purity disciples were clearly at the end of their rope. The light of their sword array flickered unsteadily, on the verge of collapse!

"You demon spawn! How dare you ambush disciples of the Jade Void Palace! Once Senior Brother Yang Jian and Senior Sister Long Ji arrive, they will surely destroy both your body and soul!"

One of the young male disciples shouted sharply, trying to stall for time.

The black-robed man let out a sinister cackle. "Yang Jian? Long Ji? They can barely save themselves right now! Today, I will first use the three of you as sacrifices for my Myriad Demon Banner!"

With that, he violently shook the white bone banner. A streak of pitch-black demonic light shot out like a venomous dragon and slammed viciously into the sword array!

Boom! The sword array finally could not hold on and shattered! All three disciples coughed blood and flew backward!

Cruelty flashed in the black-robed man's eyes as he controlled the countless demon heads, sending them lunging at the three helpless disciples!

At that critical moment, a bolt of Chaos Lightning Evil, swift as lightning yet striking later, arrived first. It precisely struck the demonic light and scattered it!

At the same time, an inky figure slipped between the two sides like a phantom. With a gentle sway of bamboo branches, he laid down a simple sword array glittering with starlight, temporarily blocking the swarming demon heads!

It was Li Su!