In the Primordial Wilderness world, the long countdown of ten thousand Kalpa has now dwindled to just one hundred thousand years hanging over all living beings. The deadline set by the Dao Ancestor Hongjun in his ethereal voice is like an invisible yet heavier string than Buzhou Mountain, tightening in the hearts of Ten Thousand Races of the Primordial World.
But the land now presents a strange prosperity—the mountains and rivers that were once shattered and had their spiritual veins severed by the earth-shattering war Witch and Demon Races are now bursting with vitality that is almost wild.
Above the heavens, the Great Formation of the Stars operates day and night, absorbing and refining the raging Chaos Qi surging from the primordial void like a giant whale swallowing the sea, transforming it into wisps of pure and ethereal Innate Spiritual Qi that abundantly falls upon the mortal world.
Furthermore, the enormous remains of countless chaotic beasts that perished were crushed and decomposed by the great formation. The primordial power contained within them seeped into the scorched earth, silently nourishing this post-apocalyptic world like the most generous nutrients.
A strong stench of blood mingled with the earthy smell of soil permeated the shores of the Eastern Sea, where torrential rain was pouring down.
A thin, grayish-yellow figure was being relentlessly pursued by the thunderous aftershocks of a spell from behind—an enraged attack from a leopard demon general at the Golden Immortal realm.
The little demon Bao Qi's right hind leg had been blown open with a charred, bloody hole, and every time it stomped on the ground, it was excruciatingly painful.
In a panic, he stumbled into the depths of the wet vines, only to be tripped by something soft yet hard underfoot, tumbling out and swallowing a mouthful of salty, muddy water.
A pale bolt of lightning tore through the inky black clouds, instantly illuminating what was half-hidden in the mud puddle—the mangled corpse of a human cultivator, his head shattered, his empty chest filled with murky rain of blood.
The instinct for survival overwhelmed the demon's natural aversion to blood essence. Bao Qi let out a trapped beast-like whimper and swallowed the blood-stained mud along with the pieces of flesh without hesitation.
The scalding liquid slid into his stomach, initially burning like lava, causing him to curl up and convulse in pain.
But then, an indescribable stream of clear energy suddenly burst forth from the depths of the burning pain, rushing straight to the top of the head!
It was as if a thick layer of silt that had been accumulated for thousands of years was forcibly broken open by an immense force. The barrier that had hindered his cultivation for hundreds of years actually cracked with a crisp sound as blood and flesh mingled!
The demonic power surged and grew at an unprecedented speed.
He growled in disbelief, propped himself up, and his wounds began to heal at a visible speed in the dim, eerie Demonic Light.
Deep within the Cave Mansion of the Leopard King Lie Feng, Gale, the flickering blue flames in the bronze brazier projected a massive leopard shadow onto the rugged stone walls, swaying uneasily.
Lie Feng's eyes were sharp as knives as he stared intently at a small clump of pale golden human blood essence floating on the stone platform, emitting a faint glow.
Extending its claws covered in coarse, short hairs, it carefully picked up a small amount of the pure soul power emanating from it, causing even its demonic soul to tremble.
"Qi'er, are you sure... this is it?"
The sound of the fierce wind was accompanied by suppressed, heavy breathing.
"It's absolutely true, Chieftain!"
Bao Qi's wound was hastily wrapped in burlap, but his eyes burned with an almost fanatical flame.
"I tried just a little bit, and that blocked passage really... really loosened!"
A fierce glint flashed in Lie Feng's eyes, and he abruptly flicked the drop of blood from his fingertip into the mouth of a blue wolf that was tightly bound by fine iron chains below.
The blue wolf's cultivation had stagnated for a long time. The moment its essence blood entered its throat, its whole body trembled violently, and its Yao Qi erupted uncontrollably, breaking several cracks in the arm-thick chain!
Although a final breakthrough was not achieved, the unprecedented loosening of that barrier is an undeniable fact.
"Excellent! What a fine human spirit!"
Lie Feng slammed his hand on the stone table, shattering the hard rock with a crack, and the muscles on his mottled face contorted with excitement.
"Heaven has not forsaken my Leopard Clan! Quickly prepare the clouds, for I, the King, must personally go to the Heavenly Court to report to the Supreme God Bai Ze!"
Deep within the Heavenly Court, in the "Hall of Myriad Manifestations" behind the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, the star map revolves in complete silence.
Bai Ze before a slowly rotating projection of Primordial Wilderness Sea of Stars, his wide white robe sleeves hanging down. His brows were slightly furrowed as he stared at the jade slip presented by Lie Feng, which recorded the extraordinary effects of human blood essence. The warm luster of the jade slip reflected the unfathomable worry in his eyes.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head, his voice deep and resonant, as if carrying the weight of countless stardusts:
"Essence, blood, and soul—actually like divine elixirs? This is a taboo of Heavenly Dao, and the beginning of Great Tribulation."
With a flick of his sleeve, his figure transformed into a condensed white light, piercing through layers of celestial clouds and shooting straight towards the supreme power center of the Primordial Wilderness world— the Solar Divine Palace.
There, the eternally burning Solar True Fire bestows upon the palace a magnificent golden-red glow, both intense and majestic.
Deep within the divine palace, Di Jun and Tai Yi sat facing each other. Behind them, a massive Sun Wheel totem silently rotated, flowing with a molten gold-like radiance.
Di Jun gently tapped the imperial desk, which was forged from the core of a single star, with his fingertips, producing a deep and rhythmic sound. His gaze fell on the jade slip brought by Bai Ze, his expression unfathomable.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi was intently wiping the Chaos Bell (Eastern Emperor Bell) that floated in front of his knees with a piece of pure white brocade. The ancient bell body flowed with a dark, obscure light under the brocade, and the bell seemed to contain the low hum of the beginning of the universe.
"Humans?"
Tai Yi stopped wiping, his fingertips tracing a fine Innate Dao Patterns on the bell, the sound as cold as metal clashing.
"Those weak creatures that Empress Nuwa casually created, crawling in the dust?"
"Their essence, blood, and soul have such miraculous effects?"
She tilted her head slightly to look at Di Jun.
"Brother, this matter... is utterly unbelievable."
Di Jun withdrew his tapping fingers, a tiny yet chilling golden flame of the Greater Yang gathering at his fingertips. He gazed at the leaping golden light and slowly said:
"Inconceivable, yet not without reason. The fierce wind dares not deceive Heaven, nor is Bai Ze a man of rash words."
His gaze shifted to Bai Ze.
"That tribe, nestled against the mountains and beside the river, borders the northwestern Witch Clan?"
Bai Ze lowered his head. "Indeed. It is named 'Youchao'), built along the mountainside, with many wooden houses and caves. It has long had dealings with the Gou Mang Tribe's shamans, and its atmosphere is mixed, not a place for pure-blooded humans."
The words were simple, yet they pointed out the key point.
"Very good."
A chilling glint flashed in Di Jun's eyes, and the golden flame of the Greater Yang flickered between his fingers.
"Then let's choose 'Youchao'! Where is the Demon Master?"
The light inside the hall seemed to distort for a moment, and the shadowy figure of the Demon Master Kunpeng silently appeared in the shadow beneath Di Jun's seat, his aura cold and silent.
"Send a squad of Golden Crow Guard to accompany the Demon Master to the mortal realm."
Di Jun's voice was resolute and decisive, brooking no argument. "Slaughter 'Youchao,' take its essence, flesh, and blood, and bring it back immediately! I want to see with my own eyes just how effective this human race's 'miracle' truly is!"
"As the Heavenly Emperor commands!" The Kunpeng's figure silently disappeared into the shadows once more, as if it had never existed.
Bai Ze's heart skipped a beat, and he stepped forward, his white robes fluttering even without wind.
"Your Majesty, this action may incur the wrath of Heaven! Though humanity is weak, it is ultimately..."
"What is it ultimately?"
Di Jun suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze like two condensed rays of Greater Yang, instantly locking onto Bai Ze. The temperature of the entire divine palace seemed to rise abruptly, and the air itself distorted slightly due to the terrifying heat.
"Was it created by the Saint Nuwa?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Or is it a key predetermined by Heavenly Dao...?"
He uttered the last two words very softly, yet they struck Bai Ze's heart like a heavy hammer.