Sowing Discord Between Gonggong and Zhu Rong

The shockwave from the Witch-Slaying Sword and Witch-Slaying Saber exploding simultaneously directly shaved off three thousand li from the peak of Buzhou Mountain.

Countless shattered stones rained down, mixed with fragments of the two vicious weapons—each piece still carried the terrifying malevolent aura that could obliterate Ancestor Witches and suppress the Demon Clan. Even a fragment the size of a fingernail would be enough to make a Grand Unity Golden Immortal tremble in fear.

Lu Chen, carrying the Qiankun Diagram, moved like a fish in water amidst the falling "fragment rain."

He specifically picked out the larger pieces.

A sword tip fragment from the Witch-Slaying Sword—fist-sized, blood-red, and ice-cold to the touch, its malevolent aura almost tangible. Good stuff, I'll take it.

A hilt fragment from the Witch-Slaying Saber—half a foot long, ink-black, with the resentment of Witch Clan vital blood still clinging to its surface. Not bad either, I'll take it.

And then there were the scattered Demon Clan vital blood, Witch Clan souls, and fragments of spiritual treasures left behind on the battlefield...

Lu Chen was like a diligent squirrel, frantically sweeping the edges of the battlefield. The "junk pile" inside the Qiankun Diagram expanded at a visible rate, quickly piling up into a small mountain.

But he didn't dare venture too deep into the center of the battlefield—there, Di Jun and Dijiang had already gone mad.

The two vicious weapons had exploded, but the war had to continue.

Having lost their greatest reliance, the Witch Clan and Demon Clan were instead spurred into a frenzy, engaging in the most primitive close-quarters combat. The Witch Clan relied on their powerful physiques, while the Demon Clan depended on their numerical advantage. Every breath saw tens of thousands of lives extinguished.

Blood stained Buzhou Mountain.

Lu Chen clicked his tongue, "This fighting... it's too brutal."

Hun Yuanzi floated nearby and whispered, "Master, we've picked up almost everything. It's time to leave. The Saints' gazes are already upon us."

Lu Chen looked up and indeed sensed several faint Saintly divine senses hovering above the battlefield—Lao Tzu was observing, Yuanshi was frowning, and Tongtian seemed to want to intervene but was somehow held back.

Nuwa's divine sense was the most complex, carrying compassion mixed with helplessness.

Jieyin and Zhunti... those two were sneakily "saving souls" on the edge of the battlefield, collecting merit along the way.

"No rush, I have one more thing to do." Lu Chen put away the Qiankun Diagram and used Brick Escape to sneak towards the depths of Buzhou Mountain.

He was going to see two people.

Gonggong and Zhu Rong.

These two Ancestor Witches, injured from the previous great battle, were ranked at the bottom among the Eleven Ancestor Witches. They were currently assigned to the flanks of the battlefield, responsible for tying down the Demon Clan's auxiliary troops.

When Lu Chen found them, the two were sitting in a mountain hollow, healing their wounds, their expressions grim.

Zhu Rong had bandages wrapped around his chest—a wound from the Great Formation of the Stars that had yet to heal. Gonggong was in a worse state; his entire left arm was gone, and traces of Solar True Fire's burning still remained at the wound.

"Seniors," Lu Chen revealed himself.

"It's you?" Zhu Rong looked up, his eyes complex. "What are you doing here? To mock the Witch Clan's plight?"

"You jest, Senior," Lu Chen sat down cross-legged and took out two bottles of Three Lights Divine Water. "This junior is here to deliver medicine."

He pushed the divine water towards them. "This water can heal wounds. Please try it, Seniors."

Gonggong took a bottle, sniffed it, and his eyes lit up. "It really is Three Lights Divine Water! Young friend Lu, thank you!"

He unhesitatingly drank half a bottle. Flesh and blood began to writhe at his severed arm, showing signs of regeneration.

Zhu Rong, however, looked at Lu Chen suspiciously. "Showing kindness for no reason... What is your objective?"

"Senior, you see clearly," Lu Chen grinned. "This junior does have a small favor to ask of you both."

"Speak."

Lu Chen lowered his voice. "May I ask, Seniors, have you ever considered... why the Witch Clan always suffers losses in every major battle?"

Zhu Rong frowned. "The Demon Clan is cunning, relying on formations and magical treasures..."

"Not entirely," Lu Chen shook his head. "This junior has observed that the Witch Clan's biggest problem is internal disunity."

Gonggong and Zhu Rong's expressions changed simultaneously.

"What do you mean?!"

"I'll be blunt, then," Lu Chen spread his hands. "Among the Twelve Ancestor Witches, Dijiang, Qiangliang, Tianwu, and a few others are the strongest and hold the most authority. They always charge to the front in every battle and take the most credit. As for injured Ancestor Witches like yourselves, who are slightly weaker, you are often assigned to the flanks or rear, receiving the least credit while facing no less risk."

These words struck a nerve.

Indeed, the Witch Clan valued strength above all else. Top Ancestor Witches like Dijiang had the final say within the clan, received preferential treatment, and monopolized battle achievements. Ancestor Witches like Gonggong and Zhu Rong, who were injured and falling behind, became increasingly marginalized.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhu Rong gritted his teeth.

"This junior wants to say that if the Witch Clan wants to win, they must unite," Lu Chen shifted his tone. "But unity is predicated on fairness. Are you Seniors willing to remain supporting characters forever?"

Gonggong remained silent.

Zhu Rong sneered, "What if we're not willing? If our strength is inferior, who can we blame?"

"Strength can be recovered, and status can be fought for," a glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "This junior has a cultivation method called 'Dual Cultivation of Fire and Water,' which I obtained from a Chaos ruin. This method allows the two laws of water and fire to complement each other, doubling cultivation speed, and can be used for combined attacks with power comparable to peak Ancestor Witches."

He took out two Jade Slips and handed them to the two. "Seniors, one is the Ancestor Witch of Fire, and the other is the Ancestor Witch of Water. This method is perfectly suited for you. If you cultivate together, within a hundred years, you will surely return to your peak, perhaps even surpass Dijiang!"

Gonggong and Zhu Rong took the Jade Slips, and as their divine senses scanned them, their breathing quickened.

The cultivation method in the Jade Slips was real!

And it was extremely profound, truly a combined cultivation method specifically designed for the laws of water and fire!

"You... why are you helping us?" Zhu Rong stared intently at Lu Chen.

"Because I don't want to see the Witch Clan lose," Lu Chen said seriously. "The war between the Witches and Demons concerns the overall structure of the Primordial Era. If the Witch Clan is defeated and the Demon Clan unifies, there will be no place for us rogue cultivators to stand. Therefore, the Witch Clan must win, and to win, they need more powerhouses like yourselves to step forward."

Half of what he said was true, half false, but it was enough to stir them.

Gonggong and Zhu Rong exchanged glances, seeing the ambition in each other's eyes.

"Good!" Zhu Rong put away his Jade Slip. "We'll remember this favor!"

Gonggong also nodded. "Young friend Lu, if you ever need anything in the future, just ask!"

"Then I'll wish you both great success in your divine arts," Lu Chen said, cupping his hands before vanishing with Brick Escape.

After he left, the mountain hollow fell silent.

After a long while, Zhu Rong suddenly spoke, "Gonggong, how much of that kid's words do you believe?"

"The method is real," Gonggong said, stroking the Jade Slip. "As for his motives... it doesn't matter. What's important is that we have a chance to turn things around."

"But what about Dijiang..."

"Once we've mastered it, will we still fear him?" A fierce glint flashed in Gonggong's eyes. "The Witch Clan respects strength above all. By then, who knows who will be in charge!"

The two reached a consensus and began to enter secluded cultivation.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen had already returned to the outskirts of the battlefield.

Hun Yuanzi approached him. "My Lord, the method you gave them... is there something wrong with it?"

"Of course there's something wrong," Lu Chen grinned. "That 'Dual Cultivation of Fire and Water' technique is adapted from Luohu's demonic inheritance. It leads to rapid progress in the early stages, but once you delve deeper, it will provoke inner demons, making one irritable, prone to anger, and bloodthirsty."

Hun Yuanzi gasped. "You intend to..."

"I intend to make Gonggong and Zhu Rong the fuse for internal strife within the Witch Clan," Lu Chen's eyes turned cold. "Once their strength recovers, even surpasses Dijiang's, they will inevitably defy orders and vie for authority. Then, the Witch Clan will be embroiled in infighting, and the Demon Clan will get a breather—the war can be prolonged."

"Prolonging it will only lead to more casualties, won't it?"

"But the balance won't be broken," Lu Chen said calmly. "The Witch and Demon clans must both suffer heavy losses and decline. Only then will the Human Clan have a chance to rise, and the Saints will step in to clean up the mess—this is the true outcome of the Calamity."

Hun Yuanzi fell silent.

His Lord's move was truly ruthless and decisive.

"Let's go, it's time to withdraw," Lu Chen glanced at the center of the battlefield, where Di Jun and Dijiang were fighting fiercely. Both were covered in blood, yet neither was willing to retreat.

The war had to continue.

And the seeds Lu Chen had sown were already quietly sprouting.

A hundred years later, when Gonggong and Zhu Rong achieved their divine arts, the Witch Clan would inevitably face a world-shattering "family dispute."

That would be the best time for him to fish in troubled waters.

He activated Brick Escape, and his figure vanished.

The sounds of battle from Buzhou Mountain gradually faded.

But the gears of the Calamity were still grinding, slowly turning towards their predetermined direction.