Conspiracy

Willow Daoist...

Li Xuan listened to this name, feeling it was somewhat familiar.

Thus, he furrowed his brow slightly, thinking for a moment...

Then, his body stiffened.

He looked at Willow Daoist and forced out a smile, saying, "May I ask, elder, are you the one known as Great Immortal Willow, the Great Immortal Willow?"

Great Immortal Willow stroked his beard and chuckled, "You lad, you actually know This Poor Daoist's name? Strange, This Poor Daoist rarely appears in the world, and only a scant dozen or so know of my name."

"Ah hehehe..."

Li Xuan licked his lips and let out a dry laugh.

As if, who doesn't know your name, Great Immortal Willow?

Rumor has it that even Hongjun suffered a loss at your hands.

But in the end, you weren't as cunning as Hongjun.

When fighting Demon Ancestor Luohu, you became the main force, used as a pawn.

You bore the brunt of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation's power, suffering irreversible severe injuries.

Only then did you retreat into Chaos, vanishing forever.

Becoming one of the fifty that fled away.

Li Xuan's face was now piled with reverence, his gaze sincere.

He looked at Great Immortal Willow and spoke with emotion and praise, "Grandpa Immortal, you don't know, your reputation has long spread across the Primordial Wilderness. Who doesn't know of your might, Great Immortal Willow? For this lad to meet Grandpa Immortal is truly a blessing of three lifetimes! A lifetime of honor."

"Hahaha, you lad, you're quite well-mannered."

Willow listened, beaming with joy, his white beard fluttering, his plump face full of delight.

He then said, "Since that's the case, follow This Poor Daoist later, and I'll grant you a bit of fortune."

"This lad thanks Grandpa Immortal!"

Li Xuan's heart leaped with joy upon hearing this, and he immediately bowed deeply to Willow.

That Hongjun thigh he had missed back then.

Now he had to cling tightly to this Willow thigh.

Even though this Great Immortal Willow's future wasn't great.

It didn't stop him from latching on now.

"Lad, aren't you going to ask This Poor Daoist what fortune I'm giving you?"

Willow was even more pleased with Li Xuan's attitude, asking cheerfully.

"Whatever fortune Grandpa Immortal gives, no matter what it is, it's a great boon for this lad, so naturally I don't need to ask."

Li Xuan grinned, speaking as if it were only natural.

"Good lad."

Willow smiled, then said, "The fortune This Poor Daoist intends to give lies within this battlefield. Whether you can obtain it depends on your own fate."

Li Xuan's eyes twitched at that, and he nearly cursed in his heart.

Within the battlefield? Are you giving me fortune, or sending me to die?

Great Immortal Willow seemed to see Li Xuan's awkwardness and laughed, "Lad, you came just to watch the excitement, but do you know why this great calamity has come?"

"Ancestor Dragon and Primordial Phoenix fighting over territory."

Li Xuan had some understanding of the specific cause of this calamity.

It was due to Demon Ancestor Luohu's scheme.

He wanted to use the killing force of the calamity, the blood and flesh essence, to stir fate.

At the same time, break the seal within Pangu's belly and obtain the Four Swords of Zhu Xian.

But in front of Willow, he couldn't say that, or his life would be at risk.

As for spoiling the plot for them? Making them shocked and admire him?

As if, these big shots would probably directly soul-search you on the spot!

Did he really think they were kind-hearted?

Did he really think he was something of a realm?

So he just curled his lips and muttered as if unconcerned.

"Hahaha!"

Willow burst into laughter, simply saying, "You lad, you're quite naive."

With that, Willow clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the battlefield, saying calmly, "This great calamity is a scheme. As for what scheme, you don't need to know. You only need to know that within the ten-million-li range of Phoenix Mountain, This Poor Daoist Willow guards the east, Daoist Hongjun guards the south, Daoist Luohu guards the west, and Daoists Qiankun and Yin Yang guard the north. The purpose is to ensure not a single living being escapes..."

Willow's words were calm, his gaze indifferent.

Yet it sent a bone-deep chill through Li Xuan!

A range of ten million li?

Within that range, a full hundred million living beings were locked in battle!

Ancestor Dragon and Primordial Phoenix—did those two even know they were cornered by five supreme powerhouses?

Swallowing his saliva, Li Xuan cautiously looked at Willow and said, "Then, this young one, I..."

"You? I have watched your journey clearly, after all, entry is permitted but exit is not. I thought you were just another ordinary being come to seek death, adding flesh and blood to the great calamity's sacrificial grounds. Yet unexpectedly, you managed to hold your mind steady—your nature is quite excellent."

Willow looked at Li Xuan, a glint of approval in his eyes, and said, "That is why I revealed myself. I originally intended to advise you to leave, but you, young fellow, are quite sharp, and you suit my taste. So granting you a bit of fortune is not out of the question."

But Li Xuan felt a chill run through him again and again...

Surrounded on all sides.

Entry permitted but exit not...

The great calamity's sacrificial grounds of flesh and blood...

What the hell were these beings!?

Every single one of them was a ruthless monster!

Who said these fellows were easy to talk to, that you could fool them like idiots!?

What a joke!

Which of them hadn't lived for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years, as ancient monsters!?

In this Primordial Wilderness, where you eat me and I eat you, with the weak preyed upon by the strong, where was there any kind soul?

Even if there was, how long could they survive!

It was utterly terrifying...

A trace of cold sweat appeared on Li Xuan's forehead.

Looking at the smiling, seemingly amiable Great Immortal Willow.

He felt that the next moment, Willow might just swallow him whole!

"May I ask, Great Immortal Grandfather, what does this young one need to do?"

Li Xuan swallowed his saliva and asked cautiously.

Willow, however, laughed and said, "No need to worry. Just follow me and watch. When the great calamity ends, fortune will fall on its own. If you can seize a bit or two, that will naturally be your great opportunity."

What else could Li Xuan do?

He could only nod and say, "This young one will follow Great Immortal Grandfather's lead..."

Willow chuckled softly, then calmly turned his gaze to the battlefield.

Li Xuan could only roll his eyes, think for a moment, and finally look toward the battlefield as well.

He had no choice.

By the side of a powerhouse like Great Immortal Willow, he had no options at all—only to wait.

Still, at least it was just an Incarnation Outside the Body.

Even if he died, it wouldn't matter.

With that thought settled, Li Xuan focused on watching the flow of the battle.

Under Ancestor Dragon's roar, the battlefield had boiled over. Countless low-level minor cultivators and beings slaughtered each other wildly.

Meanwhile, in the sky above, beings at least at the Golden Immortal level.

Also roared and killed, as if a rain of flesh and blood were falling.

But the most terrifying was the hundred-thousand-zhang colossal shadow.

Leading over a dozen other figures tens of thousands of zhang in size, it unleashed endless bolts of thunder, bombarding Phoenix Mountain.

Above Phoenix Mountain, Primordial Phoenix also cried out without cease.

Together with several handsome men and beautiful women, all of phoenix bloodline, she commanded the grand protective formation of Phoenix Mountain.

Slaughtering the overwhelming tide of beasts and Scale Armor Beings pressing in from all sides.

While also resisting the thunderbolts that seemed like an endless heavenly tribulation.

The battle raged on without pause!

It lasted a full hundred years!

Until nearly ten million beings were almost entirely dead!

Only a few tens of thousands of elite Scale Armor Beings and beasts remained, surrounding the tottering Phoenix Mountain!

Within a million li radius, it had nearly turned into a sea of blood.

Ancestor Dragon had now also appeared.

Clad in azure divine armor, he was tall and imposing, majestic and fierce, his gaze cold and sharp.

Behind him followed five people—three men and two women—all of his direct bloodline, Second Generation Dragon Clan.

Their strength was also all at the peak of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

As for the rest, they had fallen in battle over these hundred years.

But though his losses were great, Primordial Phoenix, the sovereign of all feathered creatures, had suffered even more grievously!

On Phoenix Mountain, barely any living beings remained!

Only Primordial Phoenix and Divine Phoenix, that husband and wife, along with a scant few creatures.

Yet despite their pale faces, they all stared coldly at Ancestor Dragon, their gazes holding not a trace of submission—only blazing battle intent!