Great Formation of the Stars, Lunar Star's Change

The day after Lu Chen slipped back into Wuzhuang Temple, Zhen Yuanzi summoned him beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree.

"You brat, what good deed did you do again?" Zhen Yuanzi expressionlessly pushed a cup of tea towards him. "A message came from the Lunar Star, Changxi sent word thanking you for sparing her life last time, and even gifted her two bottles of Three Lights Divine Water for her injuries."

Lu Chen took the tea and chuckled, "Senior, don't put it so harshly. This junior was simply showing compassion and cherishing the fragile."

"Cherishing the fragile?" Zhen Yuanzi raised an eyebrow. "Then how do you explain Changxi's message also mentioning that you left a 'Brick Mark' at the core of the Lunar Star, saying she could seek help with this mark if she was ever in danger?"

Lu Chen's tea-drinking paused.

This Changxi... why does she spill everything?

"Ahem, Senior, please let me explain." He put down his teacup and said seriously, "I was considering the overall situation of the Primordial Era."

"Oh? How so?"

"Think about it," Lu Chen began counting on his fingers. "The core of the Great Formation of the Stars is the Solar Star and the Lunar Star. The Solar Star is tightly controlled by Di Jun and Taiyi, impossible to penetrate. But the Lunar Star is different—although Changxi and Xihe are Di Jun's wives, they are kind by nature and not aligned with those bloodthirsty fiends of the Demon Clan."

He paused and lowered his voice. "When I snuck into the Heavenly Court to steal the River Diagram and Luo Book last time, I saw a Jade Slip left by Changxi. She was worried about the future of the Demon Clan. This shows she isn't wholeheartedly devoted to the Demon Clan. That's why I left a mark, consider it... planting a seed."

Zhen Yuanzi narrowed his eyes. "Planting a seed? You intend to subvert the Lunar Star?"

"Subvert is too strong a word," Lu Chen shook his head. "But if, in the future, the decisive battle between the Witches and Demons reaches a critical moment, and the Great Formation of the Stars requires the Lunar Star's full cooperation, if Changxi could 'hesitate' for just a moment, or 'make a mistake' just once... wouldn't that change the course of the battle?"

Zhen Yuanzi fell silent.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, "Lu Chen, you are playing with fire. If Di Jun discovers this, Changxi will surely die."

"That's why this junior acted with extreme discretion," Lu Chen said earnestly. "That mark is hidden within the innate restrictions at the core of the Lunar Star. Unless a Saint investigates meticulously, no one will find it. Moreover, I only gave Changxi one-way communication permission—she can send me messages through the mark anytime, but I cannot contact her proactively, nor can I control the Lunar Star through the mark."

This was considered leaving a fallback for Changxi and adding an insurance policy for himself.

Zhen Yuanzi stared at Lu Chen for a good while before finally sighing, "Fine, have it your way. But Lu Chen, within a Calamity, causes and effects are intertwined. The karma you sow today will surely bear fruit tomorrow. I hope you will conduct yourself wisely."

"This junior understands," Lu Chen cupped his hands.

After leaving the Ginseng Fruit Tree, Lu Chen did not return to his residence. Instead, he used Brick Escape to go to the East Sea.

He was going to see someone else—the little Golden Crow.

The little Golden Crow, born from Primordial Phoenix's sacrifice that year, had been hidden by him deep within the Solar Star and had been dormant for a hundred years.

The surface temperature of the Solar Star was extremely high, making even Grand Unity Golden Immortals hesitant to approach. However, Lu Chen had the Morning Bell protecting him and the Chaos Brick clearing the path, allowing him to barely infiltrate the core region.

In a sea of scorching Solar True Fire, he saw a curled-up Three-legged Golden Crow.

The Golden Crow was not large, only about ten feet long, entirely golden yellow, with Solar True Fire flowing over its feathers. It slept with its eyes closed, but the pressure emanating from its body had already reached the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

"Wake up, it's time to get up," Lu Chen knocked on the Golden Crow's head with the Chaos Brick.

"Caw?" The Golden Crow groggily opened its eyes. Upon seeing Lu Chen, a flicker of confusion flashed in its eyes, which then turned into familiarity. "Father... Father God?"

It spoke, its voice still carrying a childish tone.

"How many times have I told you, don't call me Father God, call me Big Brother," Lu Chen rubbed its head. "How was it, did you sleep comfortably?"

"Comfortable," the little Golden Crow nuzzled Lu Chen's hand. "Just a little hungry."

Lu Chen took out a large handful of "Solar Essence Crystals" from the Qiankun Diagram—these were the essence naturally condensed by the Solar Star and a great tonic for the Golden Crow.

The little Golden Crow swallowed them in one gulp and let out a satisfied burp.

"Right, there's something I need to tell you," Lu Chen crouched down and looked seriously at the little Golden Crow. "Your father... Di Jun, might be planning something big soon."

The little Golden Crow's eyes dimmed. "Father... is Di Jun going to war again?"

"Mhm," Lu Chen nodded. "The final battle between the Witches and Demons is imminent. At that time, the Great Formation of the Stars will operate at full capacity, requiring the Solar Star to provide endless energy. Di Jun might draw upon the Solar Star's origin to empower the formation—in that case, your hiding place won't be safe."

The little Golden Crow panicked. "Then what should we do?"

"Don't be afraid, I have a way." Lu Chen took out a Jade Talisman and hung it around the Golden Crow's neck. "This is the 'Star Shifting Talisman,' deduced from the River Diagram and Luo Book. Once Di Jun starts drawing upon the Solar Star's origin, this talisman will automatically activate and transport you to the Lunar Star—I've already spoken with Changxi, she will protect you."

The little Golden Crow looked down at the Jade Talisman, gratitude flashing in its eyes. "Thank you, Big Brother."

"Why be polite with me," Lu Chen stood up. "Remember, no matter what happens, staying alive is the most important thing. When your cultivation is sufficient, I will take you away from the Primordial Era and venture into the Chaos."

"Okay!" The little Golden Crow nodded heavily.

After settling the little Golden Crow, Lu Chen rushed back to the Buzhou Mountain battlefield without delay.

The Witch-Demon War was still ongoing but had entered a stalemate.

Both sides had suffered extremely heavy casualties. Of the eleven Ancestor Witches, only nine remained—Qiangliang and Tianwu had fallen in the previous chaotic battle. On the Demon Clan's side, six of the ten Demon Saints were dead, and their demon soldiers had lost more than half their numbers.

The entire Buzhou Mountain was a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, filled with surging resentment.

Lu Chen squatted on a hidden mountain peak, looking at the tragic scene below, his brow furrowed.

"Too slow..." he muttered. "If the battle continues at this pace, it will take another hundred years to determine a victor. I need to add something."

Hun Yuanzi floated beside him. "What does this Venerable wish to do?"

"Accelerate Gonggong and Zhu Rong's growth," Lu Chen's eyes flashed with sharpness. "They've been cultivating that modified technique for fifty years, it should be time for their 'inner demons to act up'."

He took out a black bell from the Qiankun Diagram—this was a replica of the "Heavenly Demon Heart Bell" from Luohu's treasury, specifically designed to provoke inner demons.

"Go, find an opportunity to 'lose' this bell near the cave where Gonggong and Zhu Rong are in seclusion," Lu Chen handed the bell to Hun Yuanzi. "Remember, do it naturally, as if it were accidentally dropped."

Hun Yuanzi took the bell, turned into green smoke, and disappeared.

Three days later.

Outside the cave where Gonggong and Zhu Rong were in seclusion, a black bell "accidentally" appeared.

Zhu Rong found it first. He picked up the bell and sensed the "Demonic Path laws" contained within. He frowned, "This thing... seems to resonate with our cultivation techniques?"

Gonggong took it and looked at it, his eyes suddenly lighting up, "It's the 'Heavenly Demon Heart Bell'! I've seen records of it in ancient texts. This item can help people quickly break through the heart demon barrier! Coincidentally, our cultivation has reached a bottleneck. Using this might allow us to break through in one go!"

Without any suspicion, the two brought the bell back to the cave and began cultivating with its aid.

What they didn't know was that Lu Chen had tampered with the bell—once activated, it would not only fail to help them break through but would instead doubly agitate their heart demons, causing them to completely lose control.

Another half a month passed.

Two earth-shattering roars suddenly erupted from the cave!

"Dijiang! How dare you suppress me!"

"Witch Clan, it's time for a new leader!"

Gonggong and Zhu Rong emerged from their seclusion. Their auras surged, and they had both broken through to the peak Ancestor Witch realm! However, their eyes were blood red, filled with violence and madness.

Their heart demons had completely erupted.

The two rushed out of the cave and directly towards the center of the battlefield—not to kill the Demon Clan, but to charge at Dijiang, who was currently fighting Di Jun!

"Dijiang! Make way!"

Zhu Rong's saber slashed towards Dijiang's back!

The battlefield situation instantly reversed.

Lu Chen squatted on the mountaintop, watching this "fratricidal strife" drama he had directed, a cold smile curling his lips.

"Fight, the more chaotic the better."

He shouldered his brick and prepared to go to the edge of the battlefield to continue picking up his "trash."

The final chapter of the Calamity was finally entering its climax.

And the instigator of all this had already prepared his melon seeds and bench, ready to watch the show.