Donghua stopped studying the great formation. What he lacked now wasn't insight into formations, but cultivation in the Dao Realm. His understanding of the Great Dao wasn't sufficient, so he ultimately couldn't set up this formation.
Though the Volcano of Immortality was extremely dangerous, it was truly a sacred place for cultivation.
The fire essence spiritual energy that was rarely seen elsewhere was everywhere here. Donghua took out his gourd spiritual treasure and began collecting it.
Before long, Yuanfeng said, "All right, young friend. The Person of Calamity has arrived!"
Donghua put away his gourd and looked toward the cave entrance. He saw Yuan Jin leading the West Queen Mother inside.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Taizhen. Tai Wei offers his greetings."
The West Queen Mother didn't return the greeting. She gave a cold snort and said, "You certainly have time on your hands, Fellow Daoist. You even have leisure to pluck the zither and play the flute."
Donghua, who'd been so eager a moment ago, got a cold reception. He had no idea how he'd managed to provoke this tigress.
He smiled to ease the awkwardness.
Seeing this, the West Queen Mother said instead, "After the Dao Ancestor's third lecture, didn't Fellow Daoist Tai Wei say he'd visit my West Kunlun so we could explore the Dao of Yin-Yang together? Why haven't you shown up? You're certainly good at wandering around and enjoying the scenery."
Donghua finally understood. He'd stood her up.
But it wasn't really his fault. It was his predecessor who'd made that promise, not him.
"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Taizhen. On my way back from the Purple Skies Palace, I crossed paths with Taiyi of the Heavenly Court and got into a fight with him. I was injured and only recently came out of seclusion."
"I missed our appointment. Please forgive me."
Taizhen hurriedly asked, "You were injured? Was it serious? Have you recovered?"
"I'm fine now. I've fully recovered. Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist."
"Since you were in trouble, why didn't you send me a message? If we joined forces, what would we have to fear from anyone?"
The West Queen Mother spoke with ringing conviction, her gaze full of disdain.
This was the bearing of the Primordial Wilderness's female cultivators. Whether Nuwa, the West Queen Mother, Houtu, or Xi He, none of the renowned female cultivators were ordinary.
Donghua and Taizhen had met during the Dragon-Han Period. Later, when they fought against the demons, the two had formed an alliance.
One was Yin and the other Yang. Each was a ruler in her own right, and they were naturally drawn to one another.
Taizhen's feelings were complicated. Their relationship had always been purely that of fellow Daoists and allies. But today, after hearing Qing Niao's words, she'd learned that Fellow Daoist Tai Wei had feelings for her and wanted them to become Dao Companions.
She didn't know whether she should agree. At their level of cultivation, the romantic feelings between men and women no longer mattered much.
Dao Companion—the Dao came before the companion. It was easy to see from this.
Their Great Daos complemented and nourished each other. If they practiced Dual Cultivation, they would surely gain a great deal. But the Primordial World was now a treacherous place, and the Witches and Demons had openly fallen out.
It was much like the war between the Three Clans back then. Fellow Daoist Tai Wei had always been ambitious, carried the Pure Yang Great Dao and an emperor's destiny, and was a ruler in his own right. Could he cultivate in peace without taking part in the struggle for supremacy?
Donghua had no idea how complicated Taizhen's feelings were. Instead, he began explaining the situation there, telling her everything he knew.
Taizhen had some knowledge of formations, but she wasn't especially proficient. She was more interested in the volcanic world beneath the earth.
She brought out the Kunlun Mirror, and a beam of light from the mirror shone down underground.
Before long, the subterranean world appeared in the Kunlun Mirror.
Earthfire formed a vast, surging sea of molten rock. The deeper one went, the more powerful the earthfire became.
A pitch-black space gradually appeared in the mirror, standing out in the world of blazing fire.
Demonic energy churned within the black space, and a giant tower reaching the heavens came into view.
The next moment, the tower sent out a stream of energy that scattered the light from the Kunlun Mirror.
Yuan Jin exclaimed, "The Sky Demon Tower!"
Donghua and Taizhen both looked at Yuan Jin.
After sighing, Yuan Jin continued, "The Sky Demon Tower is the Demon Ancestor Luohu's companion spiritual treasure. It was originally called the Heaven-Suppressing Tower, and it's a Top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasure."
"But I clearly remember this treasure was shattered when it was used to suppress Beast Emperor Shen Ni. How could it be here?"
Donghua didn't bother wondering about the Sky Demon Tower. There was no need. Luohu had obviously done this.
Just hearing the name Beast Emperor Shen Ni reminded him of what he'd learned after seeing Taotie last time: the Four Fierce Beasts were still alive.
There was no need to say more about Beast Emperor Shen Ni. He had to still be alive. Could he be sealed inside the Sky Demon Tower?
No, that couldn't be right. Yuan Jin had said the Sky Demon Tower was shattered by Shen Ni, so it couldn't possibly be holding him.
Donghua felt as if his head were about to split. Beast Emperor Shen Ni and Demon Ancestor Luohu were both top Great Powers of the world.
Just then, Yuanfeng spoke:
"Don't overthink it. Beast Emperor Shen Ni isn't sealed inside the Sky Demon Tower. I can't tell you where he is, and you shouldn't ask."
"He's special. You shouldn't casually speak his name, either."
Yuanfeng seemed extremely wary of Beast Emperor Shen Ni. She was unwilling even to mention his name more than necessary.
While the group was talking at the Volcano of Immortality, Tongtian, Nuwa, and Fuxi also arrived in Southern Heaven.
"Yuan Jin, some fellow Daoists have arrived outside. Go greet them."
At Yuanfeng's words, Yuan Jin turned and went out. Before long, she returned with several people.
The three weren't surprised to see Donghua and Taizhen there.
It seemed Yuan Jin had already told them on the way.
The five greeted one another and exchanged pleasantries.
The five of them now stood on different sides, and their identities had changed considerably.
Yet meeting here today felt entirely natural, much like the old days when they'd listened to the Dao in the Purple Skies Palace.
After exchanging pleasantries, Donghua described the situation there in detail.
After hearing him out, they frowned and sighed. They'd already known things were bad, but hadn't realized they were this dire.
They each used their own methods and divine abilities to investigate the state of the Sky Demon Tower underground.
Tongtian's Dharma Eye surveyed the world as the Shangqing Dao of the Void circulated. He stared down into the earth.
Nuwa and Fuxi joined forces. Lesser Yang and Lesser Yin merged, forming a vast phantom Taiji Diagram that plunged underground.
Before long, the four suddenly withdrew their divine abilities and stepped back, falling silent.
After a long pause, they seemed to be assessing what they'd sensed.
Fuxi said, "There's a living being inside the Sky Demon Tower."
Tongtian nodded. "Its cultivation is probably at the Late Stage Quasi-Saint level, or even stronger. There also seems to be a Divine Sense."
They assessed the situation and brought together what they'd learned, then eventually fell silent.
Nuwa said bluntly, "Why look so dejected? Even if it's Luohu or Shen Ni in there, we're here today, and we'll cut him down."
Her voice was cool, and her words rang out like heavenly blades.
Tongtian sighed. "I call myself Tongtian, and yet I don't have Fellow Daoist Nuwa's boldness. I'm ashamed, ashamed."
Then his tone shifted. "Today, whoever's inside, I'll cut him down. Anyone who damages my Dao Heart dies!"
That heavy atmosphere was broken just like that. Caught up in the fervor, a long sword appeared in Taizhen's hand. "Then what are we waiting for? Fight!"
The Red Embroidered Ball appeared in Nuwa's hand, then transformed into a red saber. "Fight!"
Tongtian said nothing, but at some point, the murderous Qingping Sword was already in his hand.
Looking at the scene, Donghua felt a headache coming on. Why had the Heavenly Dao chosen such hotheads to deal with this?
Wouldn't someone like Taishang or Zhen Yuanzi have been a better choice?
Fortunately, Fuxi was still clearheaded and hadn't let impulse cloud his judgment.
"Fellow Daoists, don't rush, don't rush..."
Before Donghua could finish, Taizhen pointed the tip of her sword at him. "Are you afraid? If you're afraid, don't come in. The rest of us will charge inside."
Taizhen's gesture brought out Donghua's stubborn streak.
"Right, right, right. You're absolutely right. I'm afraid. Go on, get inside. You're all so impressive."
"Hurry in there and fight. Hurry up and kill that demon. It's just a living being at the Late Stage Quasi-Saint level, just Shen Ni or Luohu. Surely they're no problem for you?"
"Why not make the Volcano of Immortality erupt, destroy Southern Heaven, sink the south, and bring Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind back to the world? We might as well remake heaven and earth."
After hearing Donghua's sarcasm, they silently put away their spiritual treasures.
Taizhen awkwardly put away the Moon Sword and flicked it a few times.
"Honestly, why won't you listen? Next time, don't point at people."
They looked around at one another without speaking, all wearing the expression of people who figured that if they weren't embarrassed, then someone else must be.
* * *
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