Di Jiang's Inspiration, the Demon Clan's Civil War

After repeatedly weighing the pros and cons within Pangu Divine Hall, Di Jiang had to admit that unless he followed Zhenyuanzi when they went to Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao, then struck in Chaos afterward—

Otherwise—

The chance of accurately intercepting Zhenyuanzi in the boundless Chaos was simply too low. And if he acted upon the Primordial World's lands, Zhenyuanzi could rely on the Book of Earth's close connection to the Primordial World's earth veins. The moment he sensed danger, he could immediately set up the Book of Earth Formation and draw upon nearly inexhaustible earth-vein power for defense.

"I must find a place far from the core of the Primordial World's lands, where the Book of Earth's power will be greatly reduced, yet one Zhenyuanzi is certain to visit..."

Di Jiang's gaze swept across the Primordial World's lands before settling upon the Four Seas!

The Four Seas lay far from the Primordial World's main continent, where earth-vein power was relatively sparse and scattered. The Book of Earth's power would surely be greatly diminished there. But within the Four Seas, what place could certainly draw a Great Power like Zhenyuanzi?

In an instant, Di Jiang thought of an excellent location—the Penglai Immortal Island he had once searched for in vain!

"If East Prince Gong establishes the Immortal Court, then as the male immortal leader personally appointed by Hongjun, all the Great Powers who heard the Dao at Purple Heaven Palace, including Zhenyuanzi, will attend to offer their congratulations, whether out of courtesy or reason!"

"Whether on Zhenyuanzi's journey through the Four Seas to offer congratulations, or when he leaves Penglai Immortal Island after the celebration, both will be perfect opportunities to strike!"

The plan made Di Jiang's heart burn. Yet a practical issue immediately lay before him—East Prince Gong's Immortal Court had yet to be formally established!

Moreover, as the Demon Clan's influence grew ever larger under Candle Dragon and Kunpeng's management, continually squeezing the East Sea's sphere of influence, East Prince Gong's preparations for the Immortal Court had become increasingly difficult. His prestige was declining by the day, and the possibility of establishing it was growing ever slimmer!

"Only if the Immortal Court is established will Zhenyuanzi come, and only then will I have a chance to seize the Book of Earth."

For the sake of his grand plan for the Book of Earth, he actually needed to turn around and help East Prince Gong, pushing for the Immortal Court's establishment! Fate truly played strange tricks. He had never had any dealings with East Prince Gong and was even, to some extent, a potential rival. Yet now he had to secretly help him succeed.

For a time, Di Jiang had no ideas at all and could only set the matter aside for the moment!

Meanwhile, in the Southern Wilderness, near Immortal Volcano!

The skies, once scorching and savage, were now shrouded by two utterly different yet equally Vast and Mighty pressures. Killing intent filled the land in every direction, and even the ever-burning Southern Bright Leaving Fire seemed to have dimmed somewhat.

On one side stood Immortal Volcano, towering high and wreathed in blazing flames. Candle Dragon, Clan Leader of the Demon Clan, had personally led the expedition. He still appeared as that tall, thin Daoist in a black robe embroidered with dragon patterns, standing before the army with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

Yet merely standing there, he seemed to form a realm of space-time unto himself. Light twisted faintly around him, and even the boundary between day and night became blurred!

That ancient majesty, close to the peak Primordial Golden Immortal realm and wielding the Time Dao, pressed down upon the hearts of every living being present like an invisible tide. Having washed away his karma, his aura had become even deeper and more unfathomable.

Slightly behind him, Demon Master Kunpeng stood in the air, his face lean and his gaze sharp.

His mid-stage Two-Corpse Quasi-Saint cultivation was completely undisguised. Behind him, the mysterious phantom of Demon Master Palace faintly rose and fell. It was a Postnatal Merit Spiritual Treasure he had forged with the merit of creating Demon Script, while an unknown High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure intermittently appeared within his sleeve.

Farther behind stood the core combat forces of the Demon Clan's expedition: Kong Xuan, the Three Ancestors of Beasts, and six Dragon Clan elders of varying forms, all possessing mid- to late-stage Golden Immortal auras. Their overwhelming demon might merged into one.

The Demon Clan coalition not only held the numerical advantage, but also possessed formidable top-tier combat power. This gave them unparalleled confidence, and their momentum soared like a rainbow!

On the other side, the Sun Palace forces stood ready in formation upon a vast wilderness outside Immortal Volcano.

Di Jun stood at the center, wearing a sun crown and a Golden Crow imperial robe. His face was stern and majestic, and Imperial Dao energy radiated from him.

The Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure He Tu Luo Shu floated above his head, manifesting the phantoms of All-Heaven Stars, mountains, rivers, and lands in unfathomable profundity. The embryonic form of the River Luo Formation had already been laid, firmly protecting his camp.

Taiyi stood beside him, his face cold and his eyes as scorching and oppressive as the blazing sun. In his hand he held a Sun Gold Wheel that emitted ultimate light and heat. Though he no longer possessed the Chaos Bell, the pure and tyrannical power of Solar Origin still could not be underestimated.

Fuxi and Nuwa stood to Di Jun and Taiyi's left and right. Fuxi's expression was solemn, the ancient Fuxi Qin laid horizontally before him. His fingertips lightly touched the strings, and waves of sound laws silently spread outward, soothing the mental unrest caused among their side by the enemy's pressure.

Nuwa's pretty face was frosty. Though she held no powerful Spiritual Treasure, her early-stage Quasi-Saint cultivation and Dao aura of creation and vitality were forces not to be overlooked.

Behind them were the Sun Palace's Ten Great Divine Generals, led by Bai Ze. Every one of them exuded a fierce aura and possessed mid-stage Golden Immortal cultivation. The killing aura of their battle formation condensed like an unsheathed sword.

The two camps faced one another from afar.

On one side stood an ancient Dragon Venerable carrying overwhelming momentum, the orthodox lineage of ten thousand demons, with Time Law warping the void. On the other stood newly risen sovereigns deploying the Primordial River Luo Formation, brothers united as one, Solar True Fire scorching heaven and earth.

There were no unnecessary words, no clamor of challenges. The air froze like ten-thousand-year-old black ice!

Only invisible momentum collided and crushed against itself wildly, causing the space to hum beneath the unbearable strain. Below, the earth silently split open with countless bottomless fissures.

Candle Dragon's gaze, as though it could pierce time itself, calmly settled upon Di Jun. Di Jun returned his stare without fear, while the He Tu Luo Shu's rotation subtly accelerated.

The great battle seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

The murderous atmosphere had nearly solidified, yet Candle Dragon, standing at the front of the Demon Clan army, slowly spoke!

"Little friend Di Jun. It is not easy for all living beings of the Primordial World to cultivate. Now that the Demon Clan has only just been established and its fortune is gathering, it is precisely the time when everything must be rebuilt and talent is needed. You possess precious treasures and great ambitions, and you have fellow Daoists such as Taiyi, Fuxi, and Nuwa to aid you. You are truly an outstanding talent of heaven and earth."

"If you are willing to lead the Sun Palace into my Demon Clan, I can grant you the position of Great Elder of the Demon Clan, second only to Primordial Phoenix and myself, equal to little friend Kunpeng. From then on, Demon Clan Fortune will bless you, resources will be shared, and we may explore the Great Dao together. Would that not be better than wasting your efforts in this Southern Wilderness, meeting in battle?"

Upon hearing this, Di Jun's eyes, which contained Solar True Fire, showed not the slightest temptation. Instead, a trace of anger at being slighted flashed through them.

What kind of figure was he? He bore the fate of the Nine-Nine Supreme and harbored ambitions to command All-Heaven. How could he willingly remain beneath another? Moreover, when the clan had been established, they had not shared any merit with him. Now that they saw his rising power, they wished to subdue him?

Di Jun laughed aloud, his laughter carrying a trace of coldness as Imperial Dao energy faintly surged forth!

"Candle Dragon, you truly calculate well! When you established the clan and gathered fortune, I did not see you invite us to join the grand undertaking or share in the merit. Now that my Sun Palace has achieved a little stature, you wish to recruit us with the position of Great Elder and have us bow our heads in submission? How could there be such a thing in this world?"

Di Jun paused, his gaze sharp as a sword as it pierced directly toward Candle Dragon!

"If you sincerely wish to invite us and make the Demon Clan truly united, its fortune complete, then why not yield the position of Demon Clan Leader to Di Jun? I will surely lead the Demon Clan to reign over the Primordial World, bring all living beings to submission, and ensure eternal flourishing fortune! Would you be willing to part with it?"

"Presumptuous!"

Before Candle Dragon could respond, Kunpeng's expression changed drastically, and he shouted sharply!

"Di Jun! The Clan Leader is an ancient Dragon Venerable of great virtue and prestige, and he was the one who founded the clan! What virtue or ability do you possess to dare utter such wild words and covet the Clan Leader's position?"

Kunpeng had also held grievances against Di Jun at Purple Heaven Palace, and he seized this opportunity to condemn Di Jun!

"You want my brother to submit to another? Ask whether the Sun Gold Wheel in my hand agrees first! If you want to fight, then fight. Why waste words!"

As Taiyi spoke, he took another step forward. The Sun Gold Wheel in his hand erupted with dazzling brilliance, and scorching Solar True Fire swept forth, while his voice was as cold as ten-thousand-year-old black ice!

Faced with Di Jun's near-complete tearing away of all pretense and his counterattack, a faint trace of sternness surfaced on Candle Dragon's face. Yet it immediately returned to calm. He raised a hand, lightly stopping the restless Demon Clan coalition behind him.

"The position of Clan Leader concerns the Demon Clan's foundational fortune and the karma of its establishment. It cannot be treated as a joke. Since I founded the Demon Clan, I must bear this responsibility until the end of the Great Dao! Forgive me, but I cannot agree to your request."

Candle Dragon looked at Di Jun and slowly shook his head! His words completely cut off Di Jun's possibility of peacefully taking the position and made clear that he had no intention of yielding.

Di Jun showed no surprise upon hearing this. Only the chill on his face deepened!

"Since that is the case, then let our strength decide!"

The words had been exhausted, and there was no room left for battle intent to turn back. A time rune flashed through Candle Dragon's eyes, and his aura spread slowly outward like an awakened primordial starfield.

The He Tu Luo Shu above Di Jun's head burst with radiance, and the phantoms of mountains, rivers, seas, and lands abruptly solidified! The momentum both sides had accumulated for so long crashed together like volcanoes suppressed to their limits!

The great battle was ultimately unavoidable!