The Blood Sea churned with turbid waves and scarlet demonic aura. The Anti-Demon Alliance's main camp sprawled across a vast plain, with countless tents scattered haphazardly across it. Brahma stood atop the highest point of the hall, the star-gazing platform, clutching a Jade Talisman he had just received. The blood-red eyes unique to the Asura Race gleamed with excitement, and the Asura Cloak behind him snapped in the bloody wind.
"Bai Ze and Eastern Emperor Taiyi are being held in check by the Human Race, and more than half the Demon Race forces on the Blood Sea front have been redeployed. Now is the perfect moment to launch a surprise attack!" Brahma turned around, his voice ringing with authority. "Though Ancestor Minghe says we should wait and see, the opportunity will be gone in an instant! If we can defeat Bai Ze's forces, all the factions beyond the Blood Sea will join together and fall under the Alliance's control. Then we can march east and encircle the Demon Race with the Dragon Clan and the Human Race. The balance of power in the Primordial World will be completely rewritten!"
The leaders of the various races standing below murmured among themselves. One wolf-headed demon general spoke in a low voice. "Lord Brahma, although the Demon Race has redeployed some of its forces, five Quasi-Sages still guard the Blood Sea. Bai Ze is also unmatched in strategy. If we attack rashly, we could fall into an ambush. Besides, Demon Master Kunpeng suffered heavy losses when the Demon Race surrounded him, and he still hasn't made a move. We..."
"Kunpeng?" Brahma sneered, running a finger over the Asura Blade at his waist. "If he dared to send troops, he would have shown himself by now! When the Demon Race surrounded him, did anyone stand up for him? Now is the perfect chance for him to avenge himself, yet he still cowers in his cave, barely clinging to life. A coward like that doesn't deserve to discuss our plans with us!"
As soon as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps sounded outside the hall. An Asura Scout bowed and reported, "My lord! We've spotted unusual activity on the outskirts of the Blood Sea. The Demon Race is moving troops on a large scale. Judging by their formation, they intend to reinforce Blackwater Bay, and Bai Ze plans to lead the troops there himself!"
A glint flashed in Brahma's eyes. "Excellent! Once Bai Ze leaves, only Taiyi will remain to oversee the Blood Sea defenses! Taiyi is no Bai Ze. If we can draw him out, we might be able to crush the Demon Race army in one fell swoop!"
"Understood!" the leaders of the various races answered in unison. They turned and left to deploy their troops, leaving Brahma alone in the hall, a confident smile curling his lips.
Meanwhile, at Wuzhuang Temple, beside the Spirit Spring beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, Zhenyuanzi watched Hong Yun, who was determined to leave, his face stern. He held an Innate Spiritual Treasure in his hand and said gravely, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, the Primordial World is in chaos. The Demon Race and the Human Race are locked in fierce battle, and powerful figures from every side are making plans in secret. You carry the Primordial Violet Qi, so this journey will surely be fraught with danger. Why risk it on a whim?"
Hong Yun wore red. His face was honest and his gaze resolute. He flicked his horsetail whisk and smiled. "Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, we've known each other for years. Don't you know how restless I am by nature? Wuzhuang Temple is a fine place, but it's far too quiet. The Primordial World is changing by the day. Wouldn't it be a shame not to go out and see it for myself? Besides, the Human Race and the Demon Race are at war. If I can mediate between them, perhaps fewer lives will be lost."
"Do you think anyone covets your ability to mediate?" Zhenyuanzi said urgently. "The Primordial Violet Qi is aura of Sainthood. Countless powerful figures in the Primordial World dream of obtaining it. The moment you leave, everyone will make you a target! You already incurred people's resentment when we listened to the Dao at Purple Tenuity Palace. Now you're going out alone. If you're ambushed, the consequences will be unthinkable!"
Hong Yun waved a hand, his manner carefree. "The Great Dao is in Heaven; life and death are fated. The Primordial Violet Qi is precious, but it can't be obtained by force. If someone really comes after it, I, Hong Yun, may not fear them. Say no more, my mind is made up." With that, he turned into a streak of red light, broke through Wuzhuang Temple's barrier, and sped toward the East Sea.
Zhenyuanzi watched him disappear into the distance and let out a heavy sigh. The Innate Spiritual Treasure in his hand trembled faintly, and his eyes were filled with worry. He knew that Hong Yun's departure would send shockwaves through the Primordial World.
As Hong Yun left, a Human Race disciple dressed in blue quietly took out a pitch-black Communication Ring and sent a message: Hong Yun had ignored his master Zhenyuanzi's warning, left Wuzhuang Temple, and headed toward the East Sea.
At the other end of the ring, Jiang He was discussing military affairs with Ao Guang at the Undersea Camp in the East Sea. He felt a jolt at the news and set down the map in his hands. "Hong Yun... He's left the mountain at a time like this." Ao Guang's expression shifted as well. "Everyone in the Primordial World knows he carries the Primordial Violet Qi. Now that he's shown himself, those powerful figures lying in wait may no longer be able to hold back."
Jiang He rubbed the bronze military token between his fingers, a grave look in his eyes. "Tell Bai Qi to speed up the purge of the Demon Race forces in Blackwater Bay, and keep a close watch on developments throughout the Primordial World. If any powerful figure makes a move, report it at once. Also, tell the Human Race outposts everywhere to quietly investigate Hong Yun's movements. Make sure their identities aren't exposed."
Deep within a great immortal mountain, a hazy figure watched the direction Hong Yun had gone, greed flashing in his eyes. At the foot of Buzhou Mountain, a powerful figure clad in a black robe appeared in secret, a sinister smile curling his lips.
Everyone knew that Hong Yun's departure meant the Primordial Violet Qi had appeared once more. A struggle for the chance to become a Sage was about to begin across the war-torn lands of the Primordial World.
The surface of Blackwater Bay was no longer peaceful. Turbid waves, dark as ink, rolled with scarlet demonic aura and the frigid Geng Jin Sha Qi, weaving a violent web of energy across the heavens and earth.
The former Water God Mansion still stood in the middle of the great river. A thick demonic barrier covered its halls, shimmering with a dark-blue glow. Behind it, Demon Saint Ji Meng's figure could be seen faintly. Clad in scale armor and holding Water-Dividing Spikes, he was surrounded by surging water vapor as he glared at the allied forces bearing down on the bay.
"Rumble—"
A deafening boom shook the surroundings. The Demon Race reinforcements led by Demon Saint Qin Yuan had finally broken through the White Tiger Legion's outer defenses. Qin Yuan's enormous form loomed like a mountain, with seven-colored poisonous wings growing from his back. He spat out poisonous needles that rained down on the Human Race warships. Each needle carried demonic power that could corrode the soul. When they struck the bronze ships, they ate through them in an instant, leaving hole after hole. The Demon Race soldiers behind him surged forward like a tide, roaring as they charged the allied forces and clashed with the Human Race soldiers clad in Black Iron Heavy Armor. The clash of blades and spears, the screams, and the furious shouts blended into a scene from hell.
"Fellow Daoist Ji Meng, I've come to reinforce you!" Qin Yuan's voice boomed like thunder. He beat his poisonous wings, sending a sea of toxic mist surging toward the Water God Mansion's barrier.
"Just in time!" A fierce glint flashed in Ji Meng's eyes. He swept his Water-Dividing Spikes, and the waters around the Water God Mansion suddenly surged, transforming into dozens of water dragons as thick as barrels. They roared toward the allied forces.
Just then, three golden dragon shadows burst from the seabed and shot into the sky. Their overwhelming draconic might instantly eclipsed the Demon Race's ferocious aura. At their head was Ao Cang, the Dragon Clan's Grand Elder. Clad in golden armor, with majestic horns, he held the Sea-Splitting Spear aloft and shouted, "Qin Yuan, Ji Meng! Today will be the day you meet your end!"
Ao Yuan and Ao Yan followed close behind. Ao Yuan held the Water-Calming Pearl, water vapor swirling around him; wherever he passed, the surging sea instantly settled. Ao Yan held a Dark Water Shield, its surface covered in Dragon Clan runes and radiating a powerful aura of defense. The three Dragon Clan Quasi-Sages stood shoulder to shoulder, their draconic might interweaving into an invisible pressure that filled the Demon Race soldiers with fear and slowed their assault.
"The Dragon Clan really sent three Quasi-Sages!" Qin Yuan furrowed his brow, beating his poisonous wings even faster. "But that still isn't enough to keep me here!"
Before his words had faded, Qin Yuan plunged down and beat his seven-colored poisonous wings, sending countless blades of poison flying. The blades transformed into venomous snakes in midair and hissed as they lunged toward Ao Qin. Ao Cang snorted coldly and shook his Sea-Splitting Spear. Golden draconic energy burst from its tip, forming the phantom of a spear that swept across the sky and shattered every poisonous blade. The spear's momentum did not abate. It thrust straight for Qin Yuan's heart, its fierce wind tearing through the surrounding toxic mist.
A look of alarm flashed in Qin Yuan's eyes. He twisted aside to avoid a fatal blow, and the poisonous spines on his wings suddenly grew, stabbing toward Ao Cang. Ao Cang neither dodged nor retreated. The Sea-Splitting Spear whirled like a dragon, the draconic energy coiling around its shaft forming a shield. The spines struck it with a series of sharp clangs, unable to harm him in the slightest.
The Sea-Splitting Spear in Ao Cang's hand danced like a dragon and serpent gone wild, its golden draconic energy tearing through the sky. Every thrust carried the force to shatter mountains and split seas. Qin Yuan's seven-colored poisonous wings had already been torn in several places by the draconic energy, and the toxic mist could barely spread beneath the crushing pressure of the dragons' might. "The Demon Race's fortune is spent! Your desperate resistance is futile!" Ao Cang roared, leveling the Sea-Splitting Spear at Qin Yuan's brow. Draconic energy gathered at its tip into the phantom of a golden dragon, which roared as it lunged at its foe. With nowhere to dodge, Qin Yuan could only summon his innate demonic essence. His poisonous wings folded together into a shield, but the golden dragon phantom smashed through it. His body flew backward like a kite with its string cut, blood gushing from his mouth.
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