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Western lands.

Blood rain suddenly poured down from somewhere in the sky, while black clouds spread across the heavens.

Several old demons wreathed in baleful aura lurked within the demon clouds that blotted out the sky and sun.

"Heh heh heh, the heavens are quite lively."

"This ancestor will go have some fun as well."

These old demons were Western Demonic Path magnates who had survived the Dragon-Han Calamity.

Seeing the chaotic battle in the heavens, countless schemes flickered through their inscrutable eyes.

Black lotuses blossomed and bloody baleful qi surged. These old demons were unwilling to remain idle as well.

Yet at that moment, beneath the Bodhi Tree atop Mount Sumeru, two figures pressed their palms together and smiled kindly at the demonic elders.

"How good, how good."

"All living beings suffer. Fellow Daoists, there is no need for you to join the excitement."

As they spoke, Mount Sumeru suddenly erupted in golden light.

Auspicious clouds filled the air, accompanied by Sanskrit chants.

A golden lotus opened to establish the world, while the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree displayed its might.

"Jieyin!"

"Zhunti!"

The demons roared as a torrential rain of blood swept toward Mount Sumeru.

Heaven and earth descended into chaos.

The entire prehistoric world shook.

Heaven revealed its killing intent, and dragons and serpents rose from the land.

This was the first large-scale battle of this era.

Above the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

The Five Elements Great Dao rumbled as countless laws intertwined.

The celestial phenomena shifted, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring.

Five figures wearing imperial crowns and emperor's robes surrounded Fuxi and Nuwa.

They were the rulers of the Five Directions Divine Demon Imperial Dynasties.

All of them were existences who had attained the Innate Dao Lord realm.

"Fuxi, Nuwa, is your Phoenix Perch Mountain lineage truly determined to fight my Five Directions Divine Dynasty to the death?"

Emperor Golden Brilliance gripped a golden mace, sharp golden light glinting in his eyes. His every word carried boundless killing intent.

Metal governed slaughter. Emperor Golden Brilliance cultivated the Geng Metal Great Dao, and his killing aura was the strongest among the Five Directions Emperors.

"Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together."

Dao Lord Fuxi sighed softly, and the Fuxi Qin in his hands rang out.

Empress Nuwa held the Universe Cauldron above her head and the Red Embroidered Ball in her hand, her eyes overflowing with baleful intent.

Seeing Fuxi and Nuwa's attitude.

Emperor Golden Brilliance spoke no further.

"Since that is the case, we can only fight."

"Kill!"

Rolling thunder shook the Great Thousand Universes.

Following the Five Directions Emperors' cry of slaughter, the sky had already changed color.

Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind spawned destruction, while layers of karma shrouded the Great Thousand Universes.

Within the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range, countless cultivators bled and fell.

Mountain ranges shattered, and river channels ran dry.

Gods and demons lay dead, their blood flowing into rivers.

The entire land had been stained crimson.

Within the Wei River.

Zhou Yuan's primordial spirit reflected the Great Thousand Universes.

The black and white chessboard manifested all manner of scenes.

"Witch and demon, Divine Profound, Dao and demon—what else could describe it but chaos?"

He looked at the various disturbances in the sky, countless thoughts passing through his eyes.

"Tianshui Emperor has no time to concern himself with anything else now."

"Within the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty, there is likely no spare strength left to seek out a Wei River Water God like me."

Therefore...

Taking advantage of the current chaos, he could annex part of the water systems.

During such a chaotic period, presumably no Divine Demon Dao Lord would turn their gaze toward this remote corner.

As for what would happen after annexing the water systems.

"I joined the Myriad Races Alliance long ago."

"I even bear the achievement of killing a prince of the Tianshui Imperial Dynasty."

"Even among the demon clan, I have earned merit."

"Besides, I now control the Wei River and have attained Grand Unity."

"Would the Dao Lords of the Demon Clan Heavenly Court not protect a loyal Grand Unity Great Sage?"

Zhou Yuan's principles were flexible.

Although he had previously not wanted to join the demon clan or be drawn into the great calamity.

"But times have changed."

"Guarding one region and presiding over the Wei River is not bad."

"But for me, the Demon Clan Heavenly Court offers a far broader world."

Although the Ancient Black Emperor, Ancestor Dragon, had already returned to the Dao and perished, the Four Seas Dragon Clan remained the undisputed overlords of the prehistoric world's water element.

They controlled the water transport of the four seas, and among the Rivers, Lakes, and Seas, countless Dragon Sons and Grandsons supported the dragon clan.

If Zhou Yuan wished to walk the Ancient Divine Path and attain the Water Element Black Emperor divine position, conflict with the dragon clan was unavoidable.

"Though the ancient dragon clan declines with every passing day."

"A starving camel is still larger than a horse."

"As one of the overlords of the previous era, the Four Seas Dragon Clan's foundation is likely even deeper and stronger than I imagine."

Zhou Yuan sighed sincerely.

How could the dragon clan, with its accumulation over several eras, fear a grassroots upstart who had started from nothing?

"Therefore, joining the demon clan and borrowing its shell to enter the market is also a path."

"If the Demon Clan Heavenly Court wishes to escape its embarrassing state of having a name but no substance, it must seize authority from the major powers of the prehistoric world."

"And the Four Seas Dragon Clan is clearly one of the demon clan's targets."

"When the time comes, would it not be perfectly reasonable for me, the Wei River Count, to serve as the vanguard against the dragons?"

He would use the demon clan's power to annex the Huai River.

"As for after annexing the Huai River..."

Zhou Yuan smiled faintly.

Once he attained the body of an Innate Dao Lord.

He would have far more room to maneuver.

With that thought, Zhou Yuan summoned Old Man Qingrong and several Heavenly Being Demon Gods.

"The prehistoric world now boils, and the Tribulation of Slaughter rises everywhere."

"All beings struggle to survive."

"I now issue my decree."

"Any who revere the Wei River may receive my protection."

Old Man Qingrong and the others hesitated briefly before cupping their hands.

"Rest assured, Divine Lord. We will immediately travel along the upper and lower reaches of the Wei River to spread your decree and gather the tribes and living beings."

Zhou Yuan nodded, then took out several Houtian Spiritual Treasures and bestowed them upon the four.

"Things are no longer as they once were in the prehistoric world."

"The Tribulation of Slaughter is upon us, and danger is everywhere."

"These Spiritual Treasures were forged after I attained the Grand Unity Great Sage realm."

"With these Spiritual Treasures in hand, ordinary True Ones will be unable to harm you."

"As long as you act carefully, your lives will not be in danger."

Old Man Qingrong and the others were overjoyed.

Their earlier hesitation had been because Calamity Qi filled the prehistoric world. Once they left the water manor, it would be difficult to ensure their safety.

Yet this was the first task Zhou Yuan had given them. Even knowing the danger.

Old Man Qingrong and the others dared not refuse, nor did they wish to refuse.

Now Zhou Yuan had considered their safety and bestowed Spiritual Treasures for their protection.

Eradicating even their final trace of concern.

"Divine Lord is benevolent."

Old Man Qingrong and the others sighed in admiration.

They saluted Zhou Yuan, then took their leave and urgently rallied the beings of the water manor, each heading toward the upper and lower reaches of the Wei River.

Watching the water manor's beings depart.

Zhou Yuan considered it and decided he still needed to recruit more manpower.

"The Wei River is vast, and the Huai River is even more so."

"Relying solely on these independent cultivators will ultimately make it difficult to maintain control."

"The twelve races on Chessboard Mountain may have a share of merit to accomplish in the future."

"They have rested in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range for nearly one epoch and can now be put to great use."

With that thought, Zhou Yuan no longer hesitated.

He immediately transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

He had now become a Divine Demon Cultivator at the Grand Unity Great Sage level.

The Divine Path Methods he possessed were far beyond what they had once been.

Under his formidable divine might, no fool dared trouble him.

As he drew closer and closer to the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

Zhou Yuan encountered more and more cultivators.

From time to time, enormous beasts resembling mountains pulled Bronze Chariots.

The chariots were covered in mottled bloodstains, telling of the war's brutality.

Zhou Yuan merely glanced at them before ignoring them.

At this point, these beings were no longer worthy of his intervention.