In the hearts of all Sages,
Above heaven and below earth, I alone reigned supreme!
The Sages of the Mystic Gate respected Hongjun because he had founded the Mystic Gate lineage and served as their guide to the Dao.
But they had never been the sort to blindly follow Hongjun's lead.
The Sages possessed immense pride.
They believed themselves to be the very best!
Even before Hongjun, they had the courage to fight—whether they could defeat him was another matter entirely!
Tongtian smiled.
"Fellow Daoists, I am reminded of the first Witch-Demon Calamity."
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa's expressions darkened even further.
Ever since Hongjun attained the Dao, he had rarely revealed himself before others.
Under ordinary circumstances, he remained high above the Nine Heavens, seated quietly within Zixiao Palace.
Among his few appearances, the most famous had been during the first Witch-Demon War, when the Twelve Ancestral Witches formed the Twelve Capital Gods and Demons Great Array and summoned the Pangu True Body, nearly destroying the Demon Court.
With a single finger, Hongjun shattered the Pangu True Body, instantly changing the course of the Witch-Demon War.
From then on, the great trend decreed by Heavenly Dao was established: demons governed heaven, while witches governed earth.
He had forcibly altered the course of the Witch-Demon War.
This also laid the groundwork for the second Witch-Demon War and the mutual destruction of the witch and demon races.
All three Sages had witnessed it firsthand. How could they not understand the impact of Hongjun's actions?
Hongjun wanted to reenact the course of the Witch-Demon Calamity!
How could the three Sages possibly look pleased?
Tongtian glanced at the jubilant Two Sages of the West and said leisurely,
"The Investiture of the Gods Battlefield is an Immeasurable Calamity."
"Even the Dao Ancestor said that Sages may enter the field and reveal their might."
"However, he forgot one thing..."
The three Sages looked at Tongtian simultaneously.
Hongjun's sudden intervention had unsettled them.
The three Sages were not afraid of facing Hongjun.
But could their disciples be unafraid?
The Primordial Era had a strict hierarchy, and cultivators' reverence for Sages came from the depths of their hearts.
All the more so when facing an Incarnation of Heavenly Dao!
Tongtian appeared remarkably relaxed, making the three Sages inexplicably want to hit him—disaster was at hand, yet he was still so calm?!
"A little ideological encouragement cannot change the entire situation."
"The Dao Ancestor's actions just now could at most be considered skirting the edge,"
"If they want to turn things around, they must still rely on the Western Teachings' actual strength."
"But their disciples..."
Tongtian shook his head in disdain!
Yuanshi calmly refuted Tongtian.
"Junior Brother, although Martial Nephew Duobao has set up the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, there are still more than six thousand Western Teachings disciples inside, all of them Daluo!"
"If they disregard death, they will eventually damage the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, won't they?"
If he had been the one presiding over the breaking of the array,
Yuanshi truly would not have cared about the Western Teachings' casualties.
The stakes were simply too great!
The victor could demand anything of the other party.
This was an enormous wager witnessed by the six Sages and acknowledged by Heavenly Dao!
Even if one side demanded that the other disband, there would be no problem!
Facing such a situation, Yuanshi thought to himself that if it were him, he would be willing to sacrifice ninety-nine percent of his cultivators' lives.
As long as he won and could directly order the Mystic Gate's great sect to disband, it would be worth it!
That was why he was worried.
Taishang and Nuwa felt the same.
Yuanshi simply could not understand where Tongtian's confidence came from.
Tongtian smiled. "Do not worry. They cannot break the Immortal Slaying Sword Array."
An inexplicable fire rose within Yuanshi. Was Tongtian really so confident in Duobao?
Tongtian declared decisively,
"Even if Minghe dares to exhaust the entire Western Teachings, he still will not be able to break the Immortal Slaying Sword Array!"
Hiss!!
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa's expressions changed drastically!
They could sense Tongtian's supreme confidence!
This confidence was not a false front put on to save face.
It was the confidence of someone who had everything under control!
Yuanshi immediately relaxed. "Then we must properly guard against a counterattack from the Two Sages of the West!"
His earlier doubts of Tongtian had not been an attempt to argue with him.
He had merely been offering Tongtian supplementary considerations from his own perspective.
One person's plan was short; two people's plan was long. That was the principle!
All the Sages agreed.
Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa devoted a small portion of their attention to the Two Sages of the West, while most of it remained focused on the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
The three Sages were exceedingly curious.
Tongtian clearly knew that Dao Ancestor Hongjun was guiding Minghe.
How could he still be certain that the Immortal Slaying Sword Array remained impregnable?
One had to know that the Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram had been forged by Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
After the Dao-Devil War ended, Hongjun had used Luohu's corpse to forge the Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram.
His understanding of the Immortal Slaying Sword Array surpassed even Tongtian's.
Who could guarantee that Hongjun had not left behind some hidden move?
Yet Tongtian looked utterly confident and fearless.
How could the three Sages not be curious?!
But since Tongtian did not say anything, they did not ask!
On the other side,
Hongjun's Light of Wisdom had not escaped the notice of the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate, and naturally, it had not escaped the Two Sages of the West either.
The two Sages were overjoyed!
Their disciples had been trapped within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array by Duobao.
The Western Teachings' Luck was steadily declining, leaving Jieyin and Zhunti frantic with worry!
They were entirely different from the Sages of the Mystic Gate.
Everyone was a Sage, and the Mystic Gate Sages could train leisurely according to their own plans.
But Jieyin and Zhunti could not!
When they attained the Dao, the foundations of the West had been insufficient to support two Sages.
Left with no choice, Jieyin and Zhunti made forty-eight great vows to Heavenly Dao, borrowing Merit to attain the Dao.
In other words, from the moment they became Sages, they had borne the Karma of Merit owed to Heavenly Dao.
Did the two Western Sages not wish to live freely?
How could that be possible?!
With Karma upon them, it was impossible for them to be free.
Repaying their Karma to Heavenly Dao became the obsession of the two Sages—the Rise of the West!
When Duobao unleashed the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, the hearts of the two Sages clenched. Then three thousand disciples perished, five great immortals fell, and the Western Teachings' Luck diminished.
The Two Sages of the West could not have felt more miserable!
Just as they were growing anxious, they actually saw Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Light of Wisdom?!!
"The Dao Ancestor still favors our Western Teachings!" Jieyin's heart settled at once!
"The Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram was forged by the Dao Ancestor. He must have a way to resolve it!" Zhunti also relaxed!
The two Western Sages exchanged smiles. With Dao Ancestor Hongjun supporting them from behind, their Western Teachings would absolutely not lose!
Within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, the Chan Jiao immortals' expressions changed drastically!
Manjushri asked in confusion, "Master Randeng, this radiance is..."
Randeng shook his head without speaking, indicating that he did not know!
But in truth, he did know.
Randeng was one of the Three Thousand Guests of Zixiao Palace. How could he not know what it was?
It was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Light of Wisdom!
Randeng felt waves of fear—did the Dao Ancestor also want the Western Teachings to win?
He had actually used the Light of Wisdom to assist Minghe!
Did the implication behind that even need to be stated?
The Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao's expressions changed drastically!
As disciples of a Sage, they were exceptionally knowledgeable. How could they not understand the significance of this Light of Wisdom?
This was the Investiture of the Gods Battlefield, an Immeasurable Calamity!
The Ten Thousand Immortals had all been trapped within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
Therefore, only Sages could enter and leave the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
On the Investiture of the Gods Battlefield, the Mystic Gate Sages far surpassed the Western Saints in both numbers and combat strength.
Would it have been the two Western Saints' turn to transmit the Light of Wisdom?
Only that person could break through the Eastern Sages' blockade!
It had to be said that although the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao were not particularly accomplished in cultivation, they were unmatched when it came to calculating human hearts.
They easily deduced the truth!
When Manjushri had asked Randeng just now, he had merely wanted confirmation from the side!
Unfortunately, they had touched upon the truth.
An incomparably immense despair enveloped the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao.
The eight true disciples of Biyou Palace were utterly speechless.
Their side clearly still held the advantage, yet the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Jiao had already lost all fighting spirit.
Fortunately, they had not been assigned to guard the Immortal Slaying Sword Array. Otherwise, would they not have surrendered before even fighting?
That was far too humiliating!
After Minghe received Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Light of Wisdom, a brilliant gleam flashed in his eyes!
He immediately understood the key to breaking the array.
That bastard Duobao had not deceived him. Only by removing all four swords simultaneously could the array truly be broken.
Yet Minghe did not think Duobao honorable in the slightest!
On the contrary, he found Duobao utterly detestable!
He had actually used such a method to mislead his judgment!
Who would dare trust Duobao's judgment?
If Duobao had not said those words, Minghe might have figured it out on his own.
But now that Duobao had said it, who would still dare believe him?
At least, Minghe did not dare!
Minghe was not pleased to have obtained the correct method for breaking the array.
After all, the combat strength Guiling and Zhao Gongming had displayed just now had truly stunned Minghe.
The two were genuine Quasi-Saints, and each of them was ruthless.
They did not even give the five immortals a chance to enter the Investiture of the Gods List.
Minghe no longer dared send the Western Teachings' Daluo disciples to their deaths.
In his view, sending Daluo disciples in would be no different from sending them to die!
That would not do!
Minghe was the next leader of the Western Teachings designated by the Two Sages of the West, so naturally he could not bear to let his disciples die.
But if sheer numbers could truly break Duobao's Immortal Slaying Sword Array,
Minghe would absolutely not be stingy with his disciples.
Before joining the Western Teachings, he had been the current Demon Sect Leader!
His style had always been cold and ruthless.
What delighted Minghe was the suggestion within the Light of Wisdom: use his strengths to break the array!
Minghe's greatest strength was that one person could equal countless cultivators!
Thinking this, Minghe said to Lu Ya, "Fellow Daoist, if I succeed in breaking the array this time, then everything will naturally be easy to discuss."
"If I fail to break the array, organize the disciples into a formation to protect themselves!"
Lu Ya was greatly startled. "Master, are you going to break the array personally?"
Minghe nodded heavily. "The Immortal Slaying Sword Array can only be broken by removing all four treasured swords at once."
"Otherwise... no matter how many disciples we lose, it will be useless."
Lu Ya hurriedly shook his head.
"Teacher, you cannot!"
"You are the commander of our sect. How can the overall situation be managed without you?"
"Go!"
Minghe smiled, a rare sight. For someone who rarely smiled, it made him look all the more savage and terrifying.
"No!"
"The eight fellow Daoists in Biyou Palace are all Quasi-Saints. Where am I supposed to find seven Quasi-Saints to work with you?"
Lu Ya was dumbfounded.
Would that not mean Minghe was slapping his own face?
Could he gather eight Quasi-Saints merely by entering the battle himself?
Minghe instructed, "Just do as I say."
Though helpless, Lu Ya still replied forcefully, "I obey your decree."
He was known as the Mad Immortal, yet he was also the Tenth Prince of the Demon Court. More than anyone, he understood the importance of discipline.
Minghe strode forward and said to Duobao, "Fellow Daoist, I have come to break the array!"
The great powers of the Mystic Gate were all stunned. Minghe alone?
Duobao did not dare underestimate Minghe in the slightest. After all, he was one of the foremost Quasi-Saints of the Primordial Era. "Please, Fellow Daoist!"
Minghe burst into laughter.
With a casual wave of his hand, seven Blood God Sons appeared before the cultivators.
With a slight sway—
Eight Minghes stood together.
The same appearance, the same aura, the same cultivation, the same Supernatural Powers!
The Ten Thousand Immortals erupted into an uproar.
This was unmistakably Minghe's signature technique—the Blood God Son Great Method!
Lu Ya suddenly understood.
How had he forgotten this?
Teacher Minghe possessed four hundred eighty million Blood God Sons!
That meant he had four hundred eighty million incarnations.
Of course, incarnations at the Peak Quasi-Saint level like these seven would certainly be few.
Even so, it was astonishing enough!
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings cheered loudly!
The previously low morale was swept away.
Their eyes burned with fervor. As expected of the teacher entrusted with such an important task by the two Sages.
One man was worth countless cultivators!
What Immortal Slaying Sword Array? It absolutely could not stop them!
Their confidence soared!
The cultivators of Chan Jiao turned pale.
When the Light of Wisdom fell into Minghe's Primordial Spirit Sea of Consciousness, they had already sensed that things were going wrong.
Sure enough, things had truly become worse!
Minghe had split into eight, each one a Peak Quasi-Saint. How were they supposed to fight this?!
The immortals of Chan Jiao wished they could flee the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.
Unfortunately, that was impossible.
Duobao laughed. "Fellow Daoist, let us see your methods!"
The eight Minghes shouted in unison. Dividing into pairs, they transformed into bloody rainbow escapes and shot toward the four treasured swords!
Randeng's thoughts raced. I cannot stop Minghe. I must put up a token resistance, then use some excuse to withdraw from the battle array.
Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Form the array! Repel the enemy!"
The immortals of Chan Jiao immediately accepted the order and formed ranks to face the enemy.
Duobao was greatly alarmed and shouted, "Fellow Daoists, retreat at once! They are Peak Quasi-Saints—you are no match for them!"
But it was already too late!
Minghe let out a strange, grating laugh and passed directly through the bodies of Chan Jiao's immortals, utterly unconcerned by the magic treasures striking him!
Duobao's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly roared, "Fellow Daoists, stop Minghe!"
But it was too late!
Amid the scattering blood mist, Chan Jiao's immortals fell to the ground with thuds.
In an instant, the Twelve Golden Immortals had lost five Great Zhenren: Taiyi Zhenren, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, Cihang Zhenren, and Juliusun.
Even Randeng, Chan Jiao's vice sect leader and one of the three thousand guests of Zixiao Palace, had failed to withstand Minghe's attack and turned into a cloud of blood mist!
Six True Spirits circled endlessly within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array, unable to dissipate!
The faces of the remaining Chan Jiao immortals darkened!
Had Duobao and the other Eight Immortals not rushed to their aid, Chan Jiao might have been wiped from existence!
The Ten Thousand Immortals of the Western Teachings cheered loudly!
Teacher Minghe truly was extraordinary. Whenever he acted, he always achieved results.
Even Randeng could not withstand Minghe. Could Duobao and the others manage it?
The morale of the Western Teachings surged!
Outside the array, Yuanshi's face turned green as he watched!
Was Randeng an idiot?
That was Minghe!
One of the three greatest Quasi-Saints in the Primordial Era—was he someone Randeng could stop?
Randeng's death did not matter, but he had dragged Chan Jiao's disciples along to their deaths. He deserved to die!
Yuanshi wished he could seize Randeng's True Spirit directly and imprison him for countless epochs!
The task Duobao had assigned him was to move about and observe the situation!
Did he not understand what that meant?
It meant telling him to get lost and stay out of the way, so he would not obstruct their grand array!
Seeing the Luck of his great sect weaken, Yuanshi was truly infuriated by Randeng.
What angered him even more was that Duobao had warned them!
Yet Randeng had still made such arrangements?
What else was that if not courting death?
How could Yuanshi know that Randeng merely wanted to take a risk and put on an act before withdrawing?
How could Randeng know Minghe would be this brutal?
In the end, he had thrown away his own life!
Taishang, Tongtian, and Nuwa wore rather strange expressions. They wanted to comfort Yuanshi, yet did not know where to begin!
Randeng's bizarre actions had all fallen under the eyes of the Sages.
He had done it all himself!
But if they examined the matter closely, no one could deny that Randeng had acted poorly!
During the Immeasurable Calamity, making one's sect renowned was more effective than at any other time!
It could only be said that Randeng had been too arrogant!
The Two Sages of the West saw through Minghe's plan at a glance, and they finally relaxed completely.
In their earlier tension, even the two Sages had forgotten—
The reason Minghe ranked among the three greatest Quasi-Saints of the Primordial Era—
Was precisely because of his extraordinarily mystical Blood God Son Great Method!
Now that he had unleashed it, he was truly unstoppable!
The Two Sages of the West exchanged smiles. "Our Western Teachings will surely win!"
They looked at Yuanshi with cold smiles. The worst was yet to come!
With a wave of his hand, Duobao protected Chan Jiao's immortals behind him and calmly threw a punch.
Before you continue