Hongjun Appears, Great Battle Halted

Di Jun, Taiyi, Minghe, Kunpeng! Zhenyuanzi watched the few figures vanish before his eyes, pondered for a moment, then turned and headed toward the Human Race's territory.

Zhenyuanzi's form flickered, and he instantly appeared outside the Human Race camp at Blackwater Bay, requesting an audience with Jiang He. Inside the tent, Zhenyuanzi held that wisp of Primordial Spirit in his palm and bowed deeply to Jiang He: "Daoist Jiang He, Daoist Hongyun was ambushed and perished by self-destruction, leaving only this remnant of his Primordial Spirit. I wish to join the Human Race and beg you to allow Hongyun to reincarnate as a human, granting him a chance to start anew."

Jiang He gazed at the faint, fragile Primordial Spirit, his heart stirring. Zhenyuanzi was the Ancestor of Earth Immortals; if he could be brought under the Human Race's banner, their strength would greatly increase. More importantly, Hongyun was a man of integrity—reincarnating as a human might add a powerful ally for the Human Race in this Tribulation of Calamity.

He recalled Empress Nuwa's instructions, then looked at the earnest plea in Zhenyuanzi's eyes, and slowly nodded: "Daoist Zhenyuanzi, I agree. I will arrange for Hongyun's Primordial Spirit to reincarnate smoothly!"

South of the Blood Sea, Inside the Anti-Demon Alliance's main camp, Brahma paced restlessly. A scout's urgent report came from outside the tent: "Alliance Leader! The battle at Blackwater Bay is over. The Human-Dragon allied forces and the Demon Race have reconciled and withdrawn separately!"

Brahma spun around, a flash of elation and resentment in his eyes: "Reconciled? Fine work, Bai Ze! Letting the Human-Dragon forces retreat unscathed! But no matter—while the Demon Race's main strength is tied up at Blackwater Bay and the East Sea front, their defenses must be hollow. A surprise attack now will surely break through the Blood Sea and annihilate the Demon Race!" He immediately gave the order, "Pass my command: the entire army moves out. Target the Demon Race's central command. We must crush their defenders and take the Blood Demon Race!"

The Anti-Demon Alliance's army assembled in an instant. Hundreds of millions of Asura Race warriors, backed by cultivators from various subjugated races, surged toward the Blood Sea with ferocious momentum. Brahma gripped a massive battle-axe, his body wreathed in towering Sha Qi, his heart filled with certainty: "Bai Ze schemes against the world, but he doesn't know I've seen through his bluff! The Demon Race's elite have all gone to Blackwater Bay—only the old and weak remain at the Blood Sea. This time, the Demon Race will pay!"

Yet when the Anti-Demon Alliance's army reached the edge of the Blood Sea, the sight before them made Brahma's heart sink. The Blood Sea was not the empty defense line he had expected. Instead, countless Demon Race warships crowded the waters, the Three-legged Golden Crow totems on their sails gleaming under the blood-red sky. Tens of thousands of elite Demon Race soldiers stood in formation, their auras condensed like an iron wall. At the forefront were ten terrifying Demon Saints, their demonic aura surging skyward—the Ten Demon Saints of the Demon Race. Behind them, three hundred and sixty-five Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals were arrayed according to the positions of the stars, forming a vast and overwhelming formation.

"Brahma, did you truly think the Demon Race would be unprepared?" Bai Ze's voice rang out from the center of the Demon formation, still clear and steady. "Under this Tribulation of Calamity, your petty tricks were already within my calculations. Rescuing Blackwater Bay was merely to lure you into the open."

Brahma's face turned ashen, rage blazing in his heart: "Bai Ze! You dare toy with me! Today, I'll see the Demon Race annihilated here!" He raised his axe and ordered the charge, "Full assault! Break the Demon formation! Slaughter them all!"

The Asura warriors roared as they charged the Demon formation, blood-red blades slicing through the sky, Sha Qi coalescing into a sun-obscuring black cloud. But the moment they neared the formation, the Ten Demon Saints struck simultaneously. The three hundred and sixty-five Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals channeled their power, and the Star Array of the Heavens activated in an instant!

In that blink, countless star projections appeared in the sky. The Power of Stars poured down, transforming into myriad dazzling beams of Sword Qi that swept across the Anti-Demon Alliance army. Where the starlight passed, Asura warriors fell in droves, screams rising and falling. The Blood Sea was instantly carpeted with corpses. The Alliance's assault crashed against an iron wall—not only failing to advance a step, but being ground down by the stellar power, suffering catastrophic losses.

"Impossible! This is impossible!" Brahma watched his army retreat in defeat, madness and disbelief in his eyes. "How does the Demon Race have such elite troops? Such a terrifying formation?"

At that moment, a ferocious aura of extreme violence erupted from the depths of the Blood Sea. Old Ancestor Minghe appeared, clad in blood-red battle armor, wielding the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords, his body shrouded in dense deathly Qi and Sha Qi. Behind him followed millions of elite Asura warriors and all the subjugated races of the Blood Sea, their momentum even more terrifying than Brahma's army.

He had just witnessed Hongyun's self-destruction at the East Sea shore, watched the Primordial Violet Qi vanish into nothing, and seen his lifelong pursuit turn to ash. The fury pent up in his heart had reached its peak. Already restless as the Tribulation of Calamity approached, he was now utterly consumed by rage, stepping fully into the abyss of the calamity, his eyes holding nothing but destruction and slaughter.

"Bai Ze! Di Jun! Taiyi! Your Demon Race has gone too far!" Minghe's voice thundered like a clap of heavenly thunder. "The Primordial Violet Qi's dissipation has cost me my chance to become a Sage—all because of you! Today, I will use the power of the Blood Sea to wipe out your Demon Race! Blood for blood!"

Before his words faded, Minghe raised his hand and activated the Blood Sea Array. In an instant, the Blood Sea churned, countless waves transforming into ferocious Asura fiends that lunged at the Demon Race's Star Array of the Heavens. The Blood Sea Array, steeped in endless slaughter and deathly Qi, clashed with the Power of Stars, producing a thunderous roar that shook the entire Primordial World.

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The two great formations faced off in the sky. The Power of Stars and the Blood Sea's Sha Qi intertwined and devoured each other. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth churned violently, space collapsing and reforming endlessly. Di Jun, clad in his Golden Crow battle armor, flames rising around him, used the River Map and Luo Book to evolve the stars, constantly reinforcing the Star Array of the Heavens. Eastern Emperor Taiyi wielded the Chaos Bell, its deafening toll shattering vast swaths of Blood Sea Sha Qi with each ring. The Ten Demon Saints each displayed their divine abilities, coordinating with the three hundred and sixty-five Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals to push the Star Array of the Heavens to its utmost limit.

Old Ancestor Minghe personally presided over the Blood Sea Array, the Yuantu Abi Twin Swords slashing endlessly. Blood-colored Sword Qi tore through the starlight barrier, and countless Asura warriors threw themselves forward, nourishing the Blood Sea Array with their lives. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. The Blood Sea was dyed an even deeper red, and the star projections flickered, on the verge of collapse.

The entire Primordial World was affected by the war between the two races. Great Experts from all over stepped in to stabilize the world!

At Buzhou Mountain, Buzhou Mountain blazed with dazzling light. Twelve figures appeared swiftly in the sky above—the Twelve Ancestor Witches! Empress Houtu, who had become a Sage of the Earth, immediately stabilized Buzhou Mountain. At that moment, the Three Pure Ones also appeared beside Buzhou Mountain and lent their aid. Soon, the mountain was steady once more!

The Twelve Ancestor Witches and the Three Pure Ones wore grim expressions as they watched the battling parties. They refused to believe that mere Demon and Blood Sea forces could shake Buzhou Mountain!

"Heavenly Dao! Hmph!"

They all snorted coldly in unison.

Just then, the entire Primordial World trembled violently. An aura vast and boundless, surpassing all living beings, descended. In the sky, a massive rift tore open, and a figure in gray robes with a blurred face slowly stepped out—it was Hongjun.

The moment Hongjun's form appeared, all the clamor of the Primordial World seemed suppressed by an invisible force.

Above the Blood Sea, the collision between the Star Array of the Heavens and the Blood Sea Array abruptly ceased. Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged glances, both seeing the gravity in each other's eyes. The light of the River Map and Luo Book and the hum of the Chaos Bell simultaneously receded. The Star Array of the Heavens slowly withdrew its star projections, revealing the weary but vigilant faces of the Demon Race soldiers.

Jiang He, too, felt the oppressive pressure of Hongjun Dao Ancestor from the Human Race's position, but something about it struck him as off.

At this moment, Hongjun Dao Ancestor spoke, his voice utterly devoid of emotion: "The conflict between the two races ends here."

Just six words, yet they struck like thunderclaps in everyone's ears.

"Dao Ancestor..." Taiyi stepped forward, hesitating. He wanted to ask why the Demon Race was stopped from pressing their advantage, but when he touched upon Hongjun's indifferent aura, all his words died in his throat. The Dao Ancestor before him showed no will to respond—his existence seemed only to execute some predetermined command.

Minghe, too, seemed to regain his clarity. Without a word, he began gathering his remaining forces.

"The Demon Race returns to the east. The Blood Sea is sealed. The Asura are forbidden to leave." Hongjun's voice remained cold and emotionless. "The Tribulation of Calamity is not yet over. Any who dare to wage private war again will be punished by the Heavenly Dao."

The hearts of all beings trembled once more. The Tribulation of Calamity wasn't over? After such a battle, it still wasn't over? And now the Blood Sea was crippled—who would be left to counter the Demon Race?

At that moment, the Three Pure Ones, Empress Nuwa, and Empress Houtu all appeared at Buzhou Mountain. Ever since Hongjun's arrival, they had sensed something wrong with him. The Grand Pure One let out a soft sigh: "The Dao Ancestor is no longer the Dao Ancestor of old."