The Inescapable Fate of the Witch-Demon

While the human race gradually sank into the revelry surrounding the birth of the Literary Way, the two sages far away in the west could only covet the human race's fortune. Yet Nuwa was far stronger than the two of them, leaving them unable to make any move.

At that moment, as the two sat meditating on Mount Sumeru, a figure suddenly appeared before them. His indifferent gaze swept over Zhunti and Jieyin. Their cultivation had been interrupted by this sudden visitor, and when they saw his face clearly, their expressions changed drastically. They hurriedly rose and bowed. "Teacher!"

No one knew what the visitor said to Zhunti and Jieyin. Once he departed, the two sages wore bitter expressions, seemingly wanting to say something but fearing they would be discovered. In the end, both let out a sigh.

Sun Star

After Di Jun and Taiyi of the demon race entered seclusion, the entirety of the demon race's main forces withdrew into the Demon Secret Realm to cultivate. All affairs were left to Demon Empress Xi He.

As time passed, Xi He became increasingly overwhelmed by official duties and gradually forgot to care for her ten newborn sons. They were left on the Sun Star under the care of the Fusang Tree.

On this day, for some unknown reason, the Ten Golden Crows, who had always obediently remained on the Sun Star, suddenly flew toward the Primordial World. Having been born only recently, they could not control the Sun Fire within them. Wherever they passed, raging flames ignited across the land, leaving weak living creatures wailing in misery!

Buzhou Mountain

Since the Witch Race had migrated entirely into the Underworld, they had nevertheless left several Great Witches behind to take turns guarding Buzhou Mountain due to its special nature. One Ancestor Witch was also stationed there year-round.

That day, ten enormous suns slowly flew toward Buzhou Mountain. Flames blazed into the heavens along their route, and the roaring fire gradually spread to the foot of the mountain!

The one guarding Buzhou Mountain at that moment was the Great Witch Kuafu. At the sight of the ten Golden Crows in the sky, rage surged through him. His body rapidly expanded, and the peachwood staff in his hand transformed into a streak of golden light that shot toward the Golden Crows!

The Golden Crows, who had been laughing and playing, were startled by Kuafu's sudden appearance. They hastily flew higher into the sky, rising until Kuafu could no longer strike them. Then they vented their fury on him. Kuafu gave chase while the ten Golden Crows fled, all the while driving True Sun Fire toward him. The violent flames rapidly intensified, scorching the Primordial World until the earth cracked and the rivers began to evaporate.

Relying on his Witch Race true body, Kuafu did not defend himself. He had seen Jiang He wield similar power before, and he did not believe he would be unable to withstand it.

Yet he did not know that the Ten Golden Crows' True Sun Fire was far more powerful than Jiang He's had been. Not only had Jiang He's cultivation been insufficient at the time, but ten Golden Crows exerting their power together was no mere matter of one plus one. The violent torrent of flames struck Kuafu and set him ablaze in an instant!

"Ah!"

As the flames scorched him, Kuafu was shocked. He had been careless! But by the time he tried to defend himself, it was already too late. The ten Golden Crows had formed the Golden Crow Great Formation, arranging themselves into a spinning wheel in the sky. An immense golden blaze came crashing down. Even the formidable Witch Race true body could not endure it, and before long, the Great Witch Kuafu fell still!

"You beasts! How dare you!"

A furious shout came from afar. Before the voice had faded, the arrowlight had already arrived. An arrow shadow shot swiftly toward the nearest Golden Crow.

"Ah!"

With a shriek, one Golden Crow was shot down.

"Little Seven!"

The other Golden Crows fled rapidly upward in terror.

Then one arrow after another shot toward the remaining Golden Crows. Every Golden Crow that was targeted was struck down.

Just as Houyi prepared to shoot down the last Golden Crow—

"How dare you!" A furious roar rang out as a golden figure swiftly blocked the Little Golden Crow. With a casual wave, he knocked away the incoming arrow!

"Father! Eldest Brother and the others... sob...!"

Still shaken, the Little Golden Crow looked at the newcomer and burst into tears.

Several more figures descended from the sky. "My sons! You damned Witch Race barbarians, I will make you pay with your lives!"

The newcomer was Xi He, mother of the Ten Golden Crows. Gone was her usual dignified grace. Like a madwoman, she charged at Houyi!

Just as Houyi was about to fight her to the death, a hand pressed down on his shoulder. Then a voice came from behind him. "Good. Your demon race brought disaster upon the Primordial World and caused the death of a Great Witch of my Witch Race. Your demon race must give us an explanation as well!"

Houyi turned around and found that it was Di Jiang, the Ancestor Witch stationed at Buzhou Mountain.

At that moment, rumbling thundered across the horizon. Nine figures vast enough to blot out the sky and cover the earth tore through space as they arrived. They were the other nine Ancestor Witches rushing over from the Underworld. Flames coiled around Zhu Rong's body, igniting the very air wherever he passed; Gong Gong wore azure armor, water vapor billowing around him with the force of monstrous waves; Ru Shou held a golden spear, its metallic aura cold and sharp, its edge fully revealed; Ju Mang stood upon green duckweed, overflowing with wood energy, life force and killing intent existing side by side. Qiang Liang, She Bi Shi, Tian Wu, Yan Zi, and Xuan Ming followed close behind. The ten Ancestor Witches gathered atop Buzhou Mountain, and the Witch Race's fiendish aura hung like dark clouds, pressing down until people could scarcely breathe.

"Eldest Brother Di Jiang!" With a flash, Zhu Rong appeared beside Di Jiang. His gaze fell upon Kuafu's corpse, and fury surged in his eyes. "Kuafu actually suffered such a calamity! Demon race brats, you seek death!" He raised his hand, unleashing a boundless sea of fire toward Di Jun and Xi He. The flames contained the Ancestor Witches' unique origin fire, their power far surpassing ordinary true fire.

With an earth-shaking clang, the bell's chime became an invisible shockwave that scattered Zhu Rong's sea of fire. "So what if you are Ancestor Witches of the Witch Race? If my demon race does not seek justice today, will that not make others think us easy to bully?" As soon as he finished speaking, demon howls rose behind him. Countless demon race figures appeared in the sky, with Eastern Emperor Taiyi leading the Ten Demon Saints as they all arrived.

"Di Jun, Taiyi, your demon race indulged the Golden Crows in ravaging the Primordial World, slaughtering its living creatures and causing the death of a Great Witch of my Witch Race. Today, either hand over the culprits, or let my Witch Race flatten your Demon Heavenly Court!" Gong Gong roared, his Water God Halberd pointing directly at Eastern Emperor Taiyi. The water vapor around him transformed into countless water dragons, poised to strike.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi sneered as the Chaos Bell trembled once more, runes flashing across its surface. "Culprits? Nine of my nephews have already died. Is that still not enough? Kuafu pursued my nephews and died beneath True Sun Fire. He had only himself to blame! If the Witch Race wants war, then my demon race will accompany you to the end!" Behind him, the Ten Demon Saints roared in unison. Their demon power gathered together, forming a gigantic demon phantom that pounced upon the Ancestor Witches.

"Arrogant!" The killing intent in Di Jiang's eyes deepened. The ten Ancestor Witches simultaneously activated their origin powers, and the Witch Race Great Formation quietly began to operate. Savage Fiendish Qi condensed into tangible blades and collided with the demon race's demon power. Amid a thunderous explosion, heaven and earth changed color, sun and moon lost their light, and Buzhou Mountain shook violently. The heavenly pillar itself seemed to sway, as though it might collapse at any moment.

Far away in the Underworld, Ancestor Witch Houtu and the Time Ancestor Witch Zhu Jiu Yin watched the situation with faces ashen.

"Pfft!"

Zhu Jiu Yin suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood. Houtu hurriedly supported him and asked with concern, "Second Brother, how are you? Are you all right?"

Zhu Jiu Yin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said, "It is nothing! But I did not see any image of the future. Everything was shrouded in mist. It seems the river of time has been interfered with!"

Houtu's expression shifted slightly, and she seemed to realize something. "Hmph! I never thought that even after my Witch Race took the initiative to enter the Underworld and withdraw from the world, he still would not let us go. Since that is the case, then do not blame my Witch Race. We are not as easy to provoke as we once were!"

Zhu Jiu Yin's expression changed at Houtu's words. "Little Sister, you mean..."

"Who else could it be but him? Hmph, a mere household slave actually wants to devour his master." Houtu's face was full of indignation. She was now an Earthly Dao Sage, no longer the Witch Race woman who knew nothing of the past!

"Second Brother, go invite our three elder brothers, the Three Pure Ones, to discuss this... Forget it! Do not go out after all, lest someone plot against you. I will send them a message instead, and call Nuwa and Jiang He of the human race as well." Houtu seemed to think of something and abandoned the idea of having Zhu Jiu Yin go out.

Human Race Luo Shui City

Jiang He had originally been discussing the future arrangement of the human race's Literary Way with Feng Luo when reports came one after another that ten Golden Crows were wreaking havoc across the Primordial World. He had already resolved that if they dared bring disaster to human territory, then even if it meant going to war with the demon race, he would kill those Golden Crows. A powerful urge filled him—he had to obtain the corpses of those Golden Crows!

Yet after waiting for a long time, they went to Buzhou Mountain instead. What left Jiang He even more dumbfounded was that the Witch Race had already withdrawn entirely from the Primordial World, yet they had still encountered the demon race. Kuafu and the Ten Golden Crows, that fuse, had still collided!

Jiang He could not help wondering whether the human race would still walk the old path of his previous life in the future. Then he shook his head. The Primordial World had already been so thoroughly altered by him—could it still correct itself?

Impossible. The human race still needed to grow stronger, and it still needed allies. The Dragon Clan had returned to its proper place; it seemed he needed to hurry and visit the Phoenix Clan as well!