Chapter 44

"There's nothing difficult about it! As long as it helps bring our two races together, I'm willing to do anything," Houtu answered without hesitation.

Li Peng proposed that the best way for the Human Race and the Wu Clan to accept one another was to promote intermarriage among their upper ranks. Once the two races formed familial ties, they would find it easier to accept each other.

Houtu was stunned at first, then quickly understood. Among the Twelve Ancestor Witches, only she and Xuan Ming were women, while the Human Race's upper ranks consisted of Li Peng and Nuwa. If the upper ranks were to marry, then either she or Xuan Ming would have to marry Li Peng. As for having her brothers marry Nuwa? Houtu never even considered it. Nuwa was already a saint; her brothers were not qualified to seek her hand. Besides, everyone in the primordial world knew that Nuwa and Li Peng had an ambiguous relationship. If her brothers truly entertained such thoughts, Li Peng would probably teach them a lesson before Nuwa even had the chance to refuse.

Thinking of this, Houtu asked curiously, "If you marry into the Wu Clan, will Fellow Daoist Nuwa agree?"

"I have my own arrangements for Nuwa. You need not worry," Li Peng replied calmly.

Houtu nodded. "Good! Choose an auspicious day, and I am willing to become Dao companions with you."

Li Peng froze when he heard that. He had not expected Houtu to agree so readily. Had he known, why would he have bothered racking his brains for an excuse? He could have simply said it outright. What a needless detour.

Having settled the matter, Houtu left at once. After seeing her off, Li Peng thought that since he was marrying Houtu, he could not favor one over another. How could Nuwa, Xihe, and Changxi, the three women he had known for so long, be placed after Houtu? Thus, he decided to hold a grand wedding, invite the primordial world's great powers to bear witness, and marry all four beauties—Nuwa, Houtu, Xihe, and Changxi—at once.

Once he had made up his mind, Li Peng summoned Nuwa, Changxi, and Xihe and told them that he intended to marry them alongside Houtu. Not only were the three women not dissatisfied, they readily agreed. Li Peng had prepared countless arguments to persuade them, but seeing them agree so easily left him momentarily stunned. Only after a while did he realize that this was the primordial world, where the strong preyed upon the weak, not the Earth of his past. In the primordial world, even if a powerful man had countless wives and concubines, no one dared criticize him.

The beings of this world had long grown accustomed to the strong possessing everything.

After discussing the matter with the three women, Li Peng raised his head and shouted, "A thousand years from now, I, Li Peng, will hold a wedding with Nuwa, Houtu, Xihe, and Changxi at the Human Ancestral Land. All are welcome to attend!"

His voice thundered across the primordial world.

Within the Heavenly Court, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi changed expression upon hearing this.

One of the brides was actually Houtu of the Wu Clan—this meant Li Peng and the Wu Clan would become natural allies, and the Demon Race's situation would grow even more difficult. Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's face darkened. "In that case, we must find a way to win over the other saints."

Di Jun said solemnly, "Indeed. Li Peng once seized the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus from the Western Second Saints and publicly humiliated the Three Pure Ones. Given the chance, they certainly will not pass up an opportunity to strike at Li Peng."

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's eyes lit up. "Which side should we approach first?"

Di Jun decided, "We split up. You go west, and I will seek out the Three Pure Ones. Even if we must pay a price, we must bring them into our camp."

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi answered and transformed into a rainbow, vanishing into the distance. Di Jun also disappeared in a flash.

On Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones all looked grim after hearing Li Peng's declaration.

Primordial Lord of Heaven said coldly, "Li Peng actually intends to marry Nuwa... Once their forces unite, they will become even harder to shake."

Laozi's face turned livid as he recalled the hatred of **. His scheme to sow discord had failed before it could even be carried out, and he could only sigh. "Things have come to this. We can only wait for the right opportunity."

Tongtian reminded them from the side, "Fuxi's Saint Position was originally granted by Li Peng. Now Nuwa is marrying him as well. From now on, Fuxi will surely follow Li Peng's lead."

Laozi's expression darkened further upon hearing this, but he had to admit that Tongtian was right.

Yet the matter did not end there. Primordial Lord of Heaven continued in a deep voice, "Did you not hear Li Peng clearly just now? Among his Dao companions are not only Nuwa, but also Houtu, one of the Wu Clan's Twelve Ancestor Witches. If he gains the Wu Clan's support as well, how will we Three Pure Ones contend with Li Peng in the future?"

Laozi and Tongtian both fell silent.

Neither of them had forgotten the terrifying power of the Twelve Capital Gods and Demons Formation.

"This cannot continue," Laozi said angrily. "If we keep allowing Li Peng to expand his power, where will there be room left for us Three Pure Ones in the primordial world?"

"Then what does Big Brother mean?" Primordial Lord of Heaven and Tongtian asked in unison.

"Li Peng can ally with the Wu Clan, so we will ally with the Demon Race!" Laozi said through gritted teeth.

"But the Demon Race was already no match for the Wu Clan. Even with them added to our side, we still cannot defeat Li Peng's faction," Tongtian said helplessly.

"If the Demon Race is not enough, then we will also ally with the Western Second Saints," Laozi proposed. "They should not wish to lose their voice in the primordial world either."

Tongtian and Primordial Lord of Heaven both nodded in agreement.

At this moment, atop Western Spirit Mountain.

"Alas, Li Peng's power is growing by the day. Though we have become saints, we still cannot see any opportunity for the west to prosper," Zhunti sighed.

Jieyin smiled faintly. "Do not worry. The ones who should be anxious now are the Heavenly Court and the Three Pure Ones."

"What do you mean...?" Zhunti asked, confused.

"We only need to wait here," Jieyin said with a smile. "Before long, the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, and Tai Yi will come seeking our help. Then not only can we join forces against Li Peng, we can also demand some benefits from them. Would that not serve both purposes?"

Zhunti could not help laughing when he heard this.

As for the other Primordial Great Powers, they were initially stunned upon hearing of Li Peng's affairs, then began preparing wedding gifts one after another. The weaker beings of the primordial world could only sigh and continue living lives that had nothing to do with them.

Li Peng was busy preparing for the wedding, unaware that the Three Pure Ones, the Western Second Saints, and the Demon Race had already joined forces in secret. They merely waited for him to reveal a weakness, so they could make him lose face and suffer heavy losses.

After all, at their level, it was exceedingly difficult to defeat one another completely, unless someone could surpass sainthood and reach the realm of the Heavenly Dao.

Time flowed on, and a thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

The wedding of Li Peng, Nuwa, Houtu, Xihe, and Changxi was held in grand fashion.

The Three Pure Ones, the Western Second Saints, Di Jun, Tai Yi, the eleven Ancestor Witches, Minghe, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and other great powers all sent congratulatory gifts, leaving Li Peng with a considerable harvest.

The wedding proceeded in perfect peace. No one dared cause trouble at such a time. After all, anyone who dared disrupt Li Peng's wedding would have to face the full-force strike of three saints and the Pangu True Body. Even the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints would never dare act recklessly at this moment.

With Li Peng's wedding successfully concluded, intermarriage between humans and the Wu Clan officially began.

Under the leadership of Li Peng and Ancestor Witch Houtu, the Wu Clan and the Human Race entered a period of close relations.

Time flowed on, and three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

Over those three thousand years, countless human-Wu offspring were born. After birth, they had to remain among the Human Race to learn human writing, knowledge, and martial cultivation.

Once these human-Wu offspring reached the Profound Immortal realm, half of them would join the Wu Clan and become Wu Clan warriors.

All of this was a benefit Li Peng had secured for the Human Race.

In his view, as long as these human-Wu offspring recognized themselves as human from the bottom of their hearts, then no matter where they were, their hearts would always lean toward the Human Race.

It had to be said that the first generation of human-Wu offspring possessed exceptional talent. Over those three thousand years, more than ten million had broken through to the Profound Immortal realm, becoming the backbone of either the Wu Clan or the Human Race.

A small number of the especially gifted had even reached the Golden Immortal realm, though their numbers remained few.

With the addition of a massive number of human-Wu soldiers, the Wu Clan's strength grew even further.

Above the Heavenly Court,

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi said anxiously, "The Wu Clan and the Human Race are intermarrying on a full scale, causing the Wu Clan population to surge. If this continues, the Wu Clan's weakness of having too few members may disappear entirely. If we keep waiting like this, only death awaits us!"

Di Jun frowned deeply upon hearing this and pondered for a long time.

A moment later, he said with murderous intent, "It seems we must destroy the Human Race!"

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi said urgently, "Big Brother, that is impossible! The Human Race is now protected not only by the Wu Clan, but also by Li Peng, Fuxi, and Nuwa, three saints. How can we destroy the Human Race?"

Di Jun smiled calmly, full of confidence. "Naturally, I know all that. But do not forget that the ten-thousand-year period set by the Dao Ancestor has not yet ended. As long as we do not take the initiative to attack the Wu Clan, the Wu Clan can do nothing to us—unless they wish to suffer the might of heavenly punishment."

That would eliminate the threat posed by the Wu Clan.

As for the three saints, Li Peng, Nuwa, and Fuxi?

There was no need to worry. We had already reached an agreement with the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints.

Even if they cannot defeat Li Peng, Nuwa, and Fuxi, they can at least hold them back.

As long as Li Peng and the others are restrained, we will have the confidence to wipe out the Human Race in one stroke.

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's eyes immediately lit up after hearing Di Jun's analysis.

He had not expected his brother to devise such a plan, and admiration appeared on his face.

Seeing Eastern Emperor Tai Yi's expression, Di Jun's lips curled upward as he continued, "Not only that, we can use the slaughter of the Human Race to forge a supreme treasure of slaughter, one specifically meant to counter the Wu Clan's formidable physical bodies."

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi was stunned, then asked in surprise, "A supreme treasure of slaughter? Can we truly forge one?"

"Though it may not possess power comparable to the Immortal Slaying Four Swords, a weapon designed to break physical bodies will not be difficult to forge," Di Jun answered coldly.

"But forging such a weapon will likely require the sacrifice of billions upon billions of living beings!" Eastern Emperor Tai Yi exclaimed.

"The Human Race already numbers more than ten trillion. If we slaughter them all, the resentment, flesh, blood, and souls needed to forge the treasure should be sufficient.

If that is still not enough, we will use the aquatic races to make up the difference!" Di Jun said with murderous intent.

Eastern Emperor Tai Yi nodded. "Good! For the Demon Race's great cause, their deaths can be considered worthwhile."

"In that case, I will immediately go to Kunlun Mountain and discuss this matter with the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints.

Quickly gather all Demon Race forces and prepare to campaign against the Human Race," Di Jun ordered solemnly.

"Yes!" Eastern Emperor Tai Yi accepted the command.

Di Jun immediately used the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation Technique and sped toward Kunlun Mountain.

After meeting the Three Pure Ones, he laid out the entire plan and hoped to receive their full support.

"This plan is inappropriate. Slaughtering the entire Human Race is far too cruel," Tongtian said, somewhat unable to bear it.

"Cruel? The primordial continent is filled with killing everywhere, and living beings perish every day.

Here, there is no cruelty. There is only the supremacy of the strong," Primordial Lord of Heaven said calmly.

Laozi also nodded and said evenly, "Indeed. This plan is feasible."

"But... but..." Tongtian wanted to say more, but seeing that Laozi and Primordial Lord of Heaven had already made up their minds, he ultimately said nothing further.

Di Jun swallowed the words he had intended to say.

Seeing the Three Pure Ones agree, Di Jun said, "I still need to notify Zhunti and Jieyin. I shall take my leave first."

Laozi frowned slightly and said, "That would be too slow. Let me handle it."

With that, Laozi's divine sense descended upon Western Spirit Mountain. He sent a voice transmission to Zhunti and Jieyin, ordering them to come to Kunlun Mountain.

Upon receiving the transmission, Zhunti and Jieyin did not hesitate. They immediately opened a Space Channel and headed straight for Kunlun Mountain.

A moment later, the two emerged from the Space Channel.

The Three Pure Ones then explained Di Jun's plan to Zhunti and Jieyin.

Zhunti and Jieyin agreed without a second thought.

They had long harbored grudges against Li Peng, and now that they had a chance to make him suffer heavy losses, they naturally welcomed it.

Time flowed on, and two hundred years passed swiftly.

Over those two hundred years, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi gradually brought batches of Demon Race soldiers onto the primordial continent, secretly ambushing them near human settlements.

The reason the Demon Race's movements had not been detected through divination by the three saints, Li Peng, Fuxi, and Nuwa,

was that the Three Pure Ones and the Western Second Saints had joined forces to disrupt the Heavenly Secrets and conceal the disturbance.

Moreover, since the Demon Race had not yet officially attacked the Human Race, Li Peng sensed nothing unusual.

In a mountain tens of thousands of li away from a human tribe.

After calculating the time, Di Jun asked, "Are the other nine great Demon Marshals ready?"

Bai Ze answered respectfully, "Everything has long been prepared. Once the time appointed by His Majesty arrives, we will launch an all-out encirclement of the Human Race from every direction!"

Di Jun nodded. "The time is near. Begin."

Bai Ze accepted the order and immediately led the billions of Demon Race members in the mountain toward the human settlement.

Most of the Demon Race here had gathered after arriving on the primordial continent. Heavenly Court soldiers accounted for less than one-thousandth of them.

As Bai Ze led the army out, dark clouds instantly covered the sky, demonic winds howled, and their momentum was terrifying.

After flying for some distance, the Demon Race army spread out in a fan-shaped formation, intending to deal the Human Race a devastating blow in the shortest possible time.

Tuqi Tribe

That day, the tribe's people worked as usual. ** workers **, herders tended livestock, and everything was peaceful and serene.

Suddenly, dark clouds churned in the distance, and vast demonic aura spread out without the slightest concealment.