Refining Sha Qi, Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity

The "Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy" clung to him like bone-gnawing maggots, madly assaulting Zhou Ming's fragile nascent Primordial Spirit.

Each impact brought a tearing sensation that pierced deep into his soul.

It felt as if, in the next moment, his consciousness would sink utterly into the boundless fiendish energy.

Zhou Ming's nascent Primordial Spirit flickered unsteadily, like a candle in the wind, on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.

The excruciating pain tested the limits of his endurance without respite.

"I can't... I can't give up!" Zhou Ming clung desperately to his last shred of clarity.

If he lost himself, his Primordial Spirit would dissipate completely—the advantage of his transmigration, his modern memories, his foreknowledge of the Witch Clan's future... all would vanish like smoke!

At the critical moment, the System Core, fused deep within his True Spirit, emitted a warm and profound fluctuation.

This fluctuation acted like an unbreakable dam, arduously resisting the torrent of fiendish energy.

At the same time, the insight into the Law of Strength, belonging to Father God Pangu and engraved deep within his True Spirit, also lit up with a faint glimmer.

Though merely a trace of the Law's imprint, it carried supreme authority, exerting a natural suppression over the violent fiendish energy.

"Now!" Zhou Ming keenly seized this thread of hope. Enduring the searing pain of his Primordial Spirit tearing, he marshaled all his focus.

Using the System Core as a shield to protect his Primordial Spirit from destruction, and the Law of Strength insight as a guide, he attempted to channel and refine the pervasive Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy.

It was an excruciatingly difficult and painful process.

The fiendish energy was wildly violent, its essence being destruction and chaos.

Each refinement felt like cutting his soul with a dull blade.

Failure, then another attempt.

Failure, then another attempt.

His consciousness oscillated repeatedly between clarity and the brink of collapse. But only one thought filled his mind: survive, and keep myself intact!

Who knew how long passed—perhaps an instant, perhaps eons.

Hum!

A faint tremor echoed from the depths of his Primordial Spirit.

A wisp of Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy was finally, arduously refined and absorbed by him.

Though insignificant, once refined, this wisp of fiendish energy transformed into pure energy, nourishing his nascent Primordial Spirit.

The originally violent torrent of fiendish energy thus developed a tiny breach.

The pressure on his Primordial Spirit suddenly lightened!

Zhou Ming gained a moment to catch his breath, and his consciousness cleared considerably.

"Success... the first step!"

With this breakthrough, Zhou Ming's confidence soared. He continued enduring the pain, immersing himself in the task of refinement.

His Primordial Spirit, like a parched sponge, greedily absorbed this energy, gradually growing stronger.

Time passed in the monotonous and painful process of refinement—perhaps years, perhaps eons. Zhou Ming had completely lost track of time.

Finally, the last wisp of fiendish energy was fully refined and merged into his Primordial Spirit.

Zhou Ming's nascent Primordial Spirit had now expanded several times in size, radiating unprecedented stability and agility.

With the fiendish energy within him refined, his perception also improved, beginning to extend outward.

Through the thick Blood Cocoon, through the walls of Pangu Hall, he could faintly sense a trace of the outside world's aura.

It was a... chaotic, murderous presence, steeped in boundless bloodshed and resentment!

Vaguely, it seemed that earth-shaking dragon roars, phoenix cries, and qilin howls echoed across endless time and space, as if exploding right beside his ears!

These sounds were filled with brutality and madness.

"Dragon... Phoenix... Qilin?" Zhou Ming's heart sank heavily.

Combining this with the fragments of Primordial Era memories in his mind, a terrifying term instantly surfaced in his thoughts—

The Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity!

The three clans of Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin fought for dominion over the world, slaughtering until the heavens dimmed and blood flowed like rivers, countless beings perishing!

No wonder the fiendish energy outside was so dense, the murderous aura almost solidified.

Zhou Ming's heart plummeted to the very bottom.

The Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity! This was a terrifying great calamity that crippled even the innate three clans, caused countless mighty beings to fall, and reshaped the very structure of the world!

An era before sages emerged, where Great Luo filled the land and Tai Yi were as common as dogs.

The Primordial Era at this moment was a vast, bloody, and brutal meat grinder!

The cruel Dragon-Phoenix-Qilin Calamity reminded him of the Sorcerer-Devil Calamity—a great calamity no less severe, where the world shattered, the heavenly pillars collapsed, and the Witch Clan was nearly annihilated.

An immense sense of crisis instantly overwhelmed Zhou Ming.

The tragic fate of the Witch Clan in the future seemed to materialize into a tangible shadow, looming over his heart.

Zhou Ming forced himself to suppress the shock and terror in his heart, quickly beginning to sort through his current situation.

The advantages were clear:

He possessed knowledge beyond this era, aware of the general direction of the Primordial Era's great trends. He had the System Core refined by Father God Pangu guarding his Primordial Spirit, granting him affinity with the Great Dao and limitless potential.

He had inherited a sliver of Father God Pangu's comprehension of the Law of Strength, laying a deep foundation. He was situated in Pangu Hall, the sacred ground of the Witch Clan, a natural sanctuary that offered temporary safety.

But the disadvantages were equally fatal:

His strength was currently negligible—he hadn't even completed his transformation, still in the early stages of refining fiendish energy.

Looking across the Primordial Era, he stood alone, without any allies.

What worried him even more was this: if refining the Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy was already this difficult and perilous for him, what about the other twelve Ancestor Witches in the future?

They had no System Core guarding their True Spirits, no clear consciousness from a later age.

Would they truly have any chance of birthing a Primordial Spirit?

Zhou Ming dared not imagine it.

If the twelve Ancestor Witches couldn't birth Primordial Spirits, couldn't engage in deeper thought and planning, then the fate of the Witch Clan would likely be very difficult to change!

How could he, relying on himself alone, contend with the entire momentum of the Primordial Era?

"No! I have to find a way!"

He had to not only survive himself but also protect these twelve blood-related "younger siblings"!

Changing the fate of the Witch Clan had to start by solving the root problem!

And this Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy was the greatest shackle binding the Witch Clan!

The System Core could guard his True Spirit... could it also, in some way, assist others?

Since the comprehension of the Law of Strength could naturally suppress fiendish energy at its core...

Then could he deduce a more universally applicable method to help the other Ancestor Witches suppress, or even refine, the fiendish energy and condense their Primordial Spirits?

Though doing so would scatter his focus and slow his own cultivation progress, Zhou Ming didn't hesitate for a moment.

After all, he had no certainty of becoming a Saint before Hongjun. Being a step earlier or later might not be the key—the overall future of the Witch Clan was what mattered.

A preliminary plan gradually took shape in his mind.

First, improve his strength as quickly as possible and complete his transformation early!

Second, study the System Core and the Law of Strength, deducing a method that could help the other Ancestor Witches refine fiendish energy and condense their Primordial Spirits! Even if it only added a sliver of possibility, he had to try!

Finally, and most importantly: lie low! Before he had enough strength to protect himself, he would never step out of Pangu Hall. Keep a low profile, accumulate power, and wait for the right moment!

He attempted to carefully extend his consciousness, which had only just regained clarity, outward. He probed toward the other twelve enormous Blood Cocoons in the blood pool of Pangu Hall.

His consciousness, like a pebble thrown into the sea, was instantly drowned by the equally violent and chaotic fiendish energy inside the Blood Cocoons.

But he still caught twelve faint yet potential-filled life essences.

They were all sleeping, all instinctively absorbing Pangu's essence blood and the energy of the blood pool, nurturing themselves.

But likewise, they were unconsciously enduring the erosion of the Heaven-Opening Fiendish Energy.

"Wait for me..." Zhou Ming silently withdrew his consciousness.

"No matter how hard it is, I will try—to fight for our Witch Clan a different future."