Aftermath of the Tribulation

The demon tide receded, leaving Ten Thousand Witch City in ruins. Large sections of the city walls had collapsed, countless buildings were destroyed, and the streets were littered with the corpses of the Witch Clan and the Demon Race, stained with blood, with cries of suffering echoing everywhere.

The surviving members of the Witch Clan began clearing the battlefield, tending to the wounded, and collecting the bodies of their fallen comrades. The air was filled with sorrow and exhaustion.

The Houtu Tribe, protected by Li Su's Star磐 Great Array, suffered relatively minor losses and immediately joined the city-wide rescue efforts.

Li Su activated the willow leaf gifted by Cihang Daoren, emitting a gentle green light of life that enveloped a large area. It helped stabilize the condition of the severely wounded and purified the lingering Demonic Qi and death qi, proving highly effective and earning him even more gratitude and respect from the Witch Clan.

The High Priest, dragging her weary body, directed the affairs of the tribe, her gaze towards Li Su filled with complexity.

She never expected that this bamboo she had chanced upon would play such a crucial role at this critical juncture, even drawing in a disciple from Jade Void Palace, thereby repelling the demon army.

"Young friend Mo Xing, we owe you a great debt this time."

The High Priest thanked him sincerely, "If you hadn't reinforced the array and stepped forward, my Houtu Tribe would likely have suffered heavy casualties. My tribe will never forget this kindness."

"High Priest, you are too kind. I was merely saving myself and doing what I could," Li Su replied humbly, then shifted the topic, "However, after this battle, Ten Thousand Witch City is severely damaged. Although the Demon Race has retreated, they may not be content. In the future..."

The High Priest sighed, her wrinkles deepening, "Indeed, the great war has just begun. The scale of this demon attack far exceeded previous ones; it was clearly planned for a long time. Although my twelve Witch Clan tribes are strong, they are scattered across the Primordial World and could be defeated one by one. We must contact the other tribes as soon as possible to discuss countermeasures."

She looked at Li Su, "Young friend, you are not of the Witch Clan, and you have already risked danger for our people. Now that a disciple of Jade Void has arrived, it is clear that in the subsequent great war, the Sages' orthodox lineages may intervene, and the karmic entanglements are complex. You are free to decide whether to stay or go; my tribe will have no complaints."

Li Su remained silent for a moment. He indeed needed to continue his travels, seek opportunities, and improve his strength. Ten Thousand Witch City was not a place to linger. Furthermore, the attitudes of Cihang Daoren and Yu Ding Zhenren indicated that Jade Void Palace adopted a "self-training" strategy for their nominal disciples, offering little direct protection.

"I do need to continue my travels to find a breakthrough opportunity," Li Su said, "However, before I leave, I am willing to assist your tribe in repairing some of the defensive arrays as a small contribution."

The High Priest nodded with relief, "In that case, thank you, young friend."

In the following days, Li Su continued to use the power of the willow leaf to help heal the wounded while also working on repairing the defensive arrays of the Houtu Tribe and some sections of the city walls. Having been tested in actual combat and used intensively, his mastery of array formations advanced further, and the repaired arrays were even more exquisite and stable than before.

During this time, he also learned more about the current situation from the Witch Clan. The Demon Race's full-scale offensive was not solely targeting Ten Thousand Witch City; many Witch Clan settlements across the Primordial World had been attacked, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The quantity of the tribulation's evil qi had reached an extreme. The Human Race and other weaker races had become mere fodder and sacrifices in the battles between the two sides, their situations dire.

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 fragmented stone tablet beneath the array's foundation. The tablet was inscribed with ancient Witch script, most of which was blurred and illegible, but a few words caught his attention: "Buzhou... Heavenly Pillar... collapsed... Gonggong... Zhurong..."

Gonggong's furious collision with Buzhou Mountain! Causing the heavens to tilt to the northwest and the earth to sink to the southeast! This was an ancient secret known to all in the Primordial World. However, this stone tablet seemed to record more details, mentioning that when Buzhou Mountain collapsed, fragments flew in all directions. One larger fragment fell near the "Flowing Fire Marsh" to the northwest.

A fragment of Buzhou Mountain? Li Su's heart stirred. The "Bedrock Rune" he bore originated from Buzhou Mountain. If he could find a genuine fragment, it would undoubtedly bring immeasurable benefits to his comprehension and improvement! He might even be able to comprehend more of the mysteries of Pangu's creation of the world and the Law of Strength!

The Flowing Fire Marsh was said to be an extremely dangerous region, perpetually burning with inextinguishable heavenly and earthly fires, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to approach. But danger often went hand in hand with opportunity.

Should he go? Li Su hesitated for almost no time. His path was precisely to seek opportunities amidst peril.

A few days later, the repair work in Ten Thousand Witch City was preliminarily completed. Li Su bid farewell to the High Priest. The High Priest was not surprised. She gifted him a detailed map of the northwestern region (including some information about the Flowing Fire Marsh) and a bone token engraved with the Houtu Tribe's insignia:

"Young friend Mo Xing, the road ahead is arduous, please take care. If you encounter difficulties, you may use this token to seek help from the Witch Clan tribes along the way. May the Earth Mother protect you."

"Thank you, High Priest. Everyone, take care!" Li Su accepted the gifts and bid them farewell solemnly.

Under the grateful and blessing gazes of many Witch Clan members, he transformed into a stream of dark light and left the Ten Thousand Witch City, which had undergone a baptism of blood and fire, heading towards the Flowing Fire Marsh in the northwest.

Along the way, the landscape of the Primordial World became increasingly desolate and chaotic. Evil qi permeated the air, smoke rose from battles everywhere, and traces of conflict and fleeing refugees were visible. Li Su tried to conceal his tracks and avoid large-scale conflicts, but occasionally he had no choice but to slay some ferocious beasts or out-of-control demon soldiers blocking his path.

One day, he arrived at a desert stretching for a thousand miles. According to the map, this place was not far from the Flowing Fire Marsh. The air was filled with heat and the smell of sulfur. Just as he was about to accelerate through the desert, violent energy fluctuations and sounds of fighting suddenly came from ahead, mixed with a trace of a familiar... Jade Purity Immortal Method fluctuation?

Li Su scanned with his Immortal Sense and saw that beyond the sand dunes in the distance, three cultivators in Jade Purity Daoist robes (two men and one woman, all at the Early Stage Celestial Immortal cultivation level) had formed a Three Talents Sword Array and were desperately resisting the attacks of a black-robed figure. The black-robed figure was shrouded in dense Demonic Qi, wielding a white bone banner. With each swing, countless ferocious demons surged forth, pouncing on the sword array. His strength had clearly reached the Late Stage Celestial Immortal! The white bone banner was exceptionally sinister, capable of corrupting magical treasures and eroding Primordial Spirits! The three Jade Purity disciples were clearly in a precarious situation, their sword array's light flickering, on the verge of being broken!

"Devil Spawn! How dare you ambush my Jade Void disciples! When Senior Brother Yang Jian and Senior Sister Long Ji arrive, they will surely destroy your body and soul!"

One of the young male disciples shouted sternly, trying to buy time.

The black-robed figure let out a cackling laugh, "Yang Jian? Long Ji? They can barely protect themselves right now! Today, I'll use a few of you to sacrifice to my Myriad Demon Banner first!"

With that, he violently shook the bone banner, and a pitch-black demonic light shot out like a venomous dragon, fiercely striking the sword array!

BOOM! The sword array finally couldn't hold on and shattered! The three disciples simultaneously spat blood and were sent flying backward!

A cruel glint flashed in the black-robed figure's eyes. He controlled countless demonic heads and lunged at the three, who had lost their ability to resist!

At this critical moment, a bolt of Chaos Lightning Evil, as fast as lightning, struck from behind and precisely hit the demonic light, scattering it!

At the same time, a dark figure inserted itself between the two sides like a ghost. With a gentle sway of a bamboo branch, it laid down a simple sword array twinkling with starlight, temporarily blocking the surging demonic heads!

It was Li Su!