Bride Snatching

Above the Heavenly Court, immortal music grew ever more melodious, while auspicious light and rosy mists billowed.

Countless immortal maidens carried flower baskets, scattering showers of colorful petals that filled the air with fragrance.

The immortals and gods chatted and laughed, raising cups and exchanging toasts amid an atmosphere of peace and celebration.

Then a clear dragon roar suddenly rang out from the horizon!

A second, then a third followed... nine dragon roars echoed throughout the Thirty-Three Heavens!

Their sound shook the universe, vast and majestic!

The immortals and gods all looked up.

Far off on the horizon, beneath the wondrous sight of the sun and moon shining together, nine colossal creatures burst through the sea of clouds and charged forth!

Each was ten thousand zhang long, with golden scales gleaming beneath the sun, crimson whiskers like fire, eyes like blazing torches, and awe-inspiring divine might!

They were nine ancient divine dragons with profound cultivation and pure bloodlines!

Behind the nine divine dragons, they pulled an incomparably magnificent and dazzlingly radiant imperial chariot!

The chariot was forged entirely from Solar Divine Gold and Lunar Frost Jade, inlaid with countless star gemstones that shimmered with flowing light.

Its surface was densely covered in Dao patterns, evolving the forms of the sun, moon, and stars, mountains and rivers, and emanating boundless imperial majesty and the Dao resonance of yin and yang in harmony!

It was the Heavenly Emperor Dijun's wedding chariot!

Dijun wore the Heavenly Emperor's ceremonial robes and a sun-crown. Standing before the chariot, his face was like polished jade, his eyes bright as stars, his bearing majestic and his spirit soaring.

Solar True Fire flickered around him, blazing like the great sun hanging overhead!

"What a grand display!" an immortal god exclaimed.

"Nine dragons pulling the chariot, with sun and moon shining together—this is a heavenly phenomenon that displays the Heavenly Emperor's majesty!" another agreed.

Dao Xuan watched quietly and thought to himself, Dijun had truly spared no expense for this heavenly wedding. He had created quite the spectacle.

The nine dragons pulled the chariot at lightning speed, racing straight toward the cold and luminous Lunar Star.

Before long, the chariot returned from the Lunar Star.

Two peerlessly graceful goddesses now stood upon it.

The one on the left wore moon-white palace robes. Her temperament was as cool and pure as moonlight, and her beauty was unparalleled. She was Changxi, the Moon Goddess.

The one on the right wore pale golden palace robes. Her gentle bearing held a trace of regal elegance, and she too possessed beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. She was Xihe.

The two goddesses stood at Dijun's side, their sun and moon radiance interweaving in a sight of incomparable beauty.

Pulled by the nine dragons, the chariot followed its appointed route through the vast starry sky, speeding toward the Lingxiao Treasure Hall of the Heavenly Court.

The immortal music grew more impassioned, and the flower rain became denser.

In the Heavenly Court's plaza, all the immortals and gods rose to welcome the newlyweds.

Dao Xuan also set down his wine cup, his gaze fixed on the magnificent chariot drawing ever closer.

At that moment!

A sudden change occurred!

Rumble—!

From the boundless prehistoric earth below came three earth-shaking roars!

The roars contained limitless baleful aura and violent power, instantly scattering some of the auspicious clouds and immortal music!

"Dijun, you brat! You're making this much noise just to get married? You've disturbed your grandpas' peace!"

A rough, violent voice resounded between heaven and earth!

Immediately afterward, three enormous figures that towered between heaven and earth abruptly blocked the Nine Dragon Imperial Chariot, carrying terrifying force capable of burning heaven and boiling seas, overturning rivers and seas, and tearing apart the firmament!

The leader was:

Ten thousand zhang tall, with fiery red hair standing straight on end!

His face was dark red, fangs protruded from his mouth, and his eyes were like bronze bells, spewing scorching flames!

He wore crimson-scaled fire dragon armor and stood upon two ancient fire pythons. Flames blazed around him as though he would ignite even the void itself!

He was Zhurong, the Fire Ancestral Witch!

To his left stood another:

He too stood ten thousand zhang tall, his entire body indigo blue, with dragon-like muscles bulging across his frame!

His face was blue-black, his beard and hair flared wildly, like raging waves in the deep sea!

He wore black heavy-water armor and stood upon two savage water dragons. Water vapor swirled around him, while monstrous waves rose to the sky as if they could drown everything!

He was Gonggong, the Water Ancestral Witch!

To his right stood another:

His massive frame was like a mountain, his skin earthy yellow, and he exuded an incomparably heavy aura of the earth!

His face was black as the bottom of a pot, his eyes flashed like lightning, and he wore Wutu Qilin armor. Rolling yellow sand churned beneath his feet; every step he took made the void tremble and the earth resonate!

He was Houtu, the Earth Ancestral Witch!

The three great Ancestral Witches had baleful aura shooting into the heavens. Like three ancient demonic mountains, they stood across Dijun's path to wed his brides!

The violent pressure of their true Ancestral Witch bodies made even the nine ancient divine dragons pulling the chariot let out uneasy cries, their dragon bodies trembling!

The Heavenly Court plaza erupted in uproar!

"The Witch Clan! The Ancestral Witches!"

"Zhurong! Gonggong! And Houtu! They actually dared to disrupt the Heavenly Emperor's heavenly wedding!"

"What audacity!"

The joy on Dijun's face instantly vanished, replaced by icy, piercing killing intent!

"Zhurong! Gonggong! Houtu! You seek death!"

The Heavenly Emperor's fury stirred the Solar True Fire into a boil, and the temperature of the void abruptly soared!

He stepped out of the imperial chariot, ready to suppress them personally!

"Big Brother!" Eastern Emperor Taiyi's voice arrived just in time.

Taiyi wore the Golden Crow Emperor's robe and a golden crown. His face was like polished jade, and his gaze was sharp as a blade.

He instantly appeared at Dijun's side and pressed down on his arm.

"The auspicious hour must not be delayed! Big Brother, quickly take your sisters-in-law back to the Heavenly Court and complete the grand ceremony!"

Taiyi swept his gaze over the three Ancestral Witches, cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Leave these three boors to me!"

Anger churned in Dijun's eyes, but he looked at the two goddesses beside him, then toward the Heavenly Court, and forcibly suppressed his rage.

"Fine! Second Brother, be careful! Do not get entangled with them—end this quickly!"

"Rest assured, Big Brother!"

Dijun hesitated no longer. Channeling his mana, he soothed the nine dragons, controlled the imperial chariot, circled around the three Ancestral Witches, and sped toward the Heavenly Court!

"Trying to leave? Did you ask your grandpas first?" Zhurong roared, throwing a punch. Boundless flames transformed into a roaring fire dragon that lunged straight for the chariot!

"Hmph!"

Taiyi snorted coldly. With a flash, he had already blocked the fire dragon's path.

At some point, he had produced an ancient, dusky yellow bell in his palm.

The sun, moon, and stars, Earth Water Fire Wind encircled the outside of the bell, while mountains, land, and the myriad races of the prehistoric world faintly appeared within it!

It was the Primordial Supreme Treasure—the Chaos Bell!

Clang—!

Taiyi flicked it with his finger!

A melodious and vast bell chime rang throughout the universe!

Wherever the sound waves passed, space solidified like rippling water!

The ten-thousand-zhang fire dragon crashed against an invisible barrier and exploded apart, turning into sparks that filled the sky!

"The Chaos Bell!" Gonggong's pupils contracted, and a grave expression appeared on his face.

"Attack together! Smash that broken bell!" Zhurong paid no heed, stepping on his fire pythons as world-burning flames ignited around his fists and he charged again!

"Roar!" Houtu also let out a great bellow. Stepping upon yellow sand, he smashed down with a mountain-like fist carrying incomparable earthly gravity!

Gonggong raised towering waves that transformed into hundreds of millions of water blades. Tearing through space, they struck at Taiyi from every direction!

The three great Ancestral Witches joined forces: fire to burn, water to drown, earth to bury!

The violent forces of the three origin laws raged wildly, completely transforming that expanse of starry sky into a dead zone of destruction!

"Excellent!"

Taiyi showed no fear, and battle intent surged in his eyes!

The Chaos Bell hung above his head, with Mysterious Yellow Qi descending to shield his body.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The bell rang repeatedly!

Every chime shook heaven and earth, stabilizing Earth Water Fire Wind!

Dusky yellow sound waves spread outward, scattering the world-burning flames, calming the towering waves, and dispelling the earth's gravity!

Taiyi stood beneath the bell. Though his body was not as massive as the Ancestral Witches', his aura was like the sun at its zenith—radiant and impossible to look upon directly!

At times, he threw a punch, its mark like a great sun crossing the sky, blasting Zhurong back!

At times, he pointed a finger, its radiance piercing the void and ripping apart Gonggong's tidal wave of water blades!

At times, he moved through profound footwork, drawing upon the Chaos Bell's power to meet Houtu's heavy Wutu fist head-on!

For a time, divine light erupted through the starry sky as laws collided!

The Chaos Bell's chimes intertwined with the Ancestral Witches' roars, shaking countless stars and making all living beings upon the prehistoric earth tremble in fear!

This earth-shattering Quasi-Saint-level battle left the immortals and gods in the Heavenly Court plaza dumbstruck and exhilarated.

"Eastern Emperor Taiyi truly lives up to his reputation! Facing three alone, he has not fallen at a disadvantage!"

"The Chaos Bell truly deserves to be called a Primordial Supreme Treasure—unmatched in defense, with offense and defense as one!"

"The Ancestral Witches' true bodies are indeed terrifying. Every gesture carries the might to destroy heaven and earth!"

Zhenyuanzi stroked his beard and sighed. "This battle reveals much about the struggle between the Witch Clan and Demon Clan."

Old Ancestor Hongyun was somewhat worried. "Taiyi may be strong, but a prolonged battle will likely be unfavorable. After all, his opponents are three Ancestral Witches."

Kunpeng's eyes flickered, and no one knew what he was thinking.

In the west, Jieyin and Zhunti wore sorrowful expressions, but a glint of light flickered in their eyes.

Empress Nuwa's elegant brows furrowed slightly, while the great god Fuxi also wore a solemn expression.

Dao Xuan took in everyone's reactions, understanding them clearly.

As expected, most of them were merely watching the show. The Witch Clan's purpose was to disrupt matters and blunt the Demon Clan's momentum. They might not truly intend to fight to the death.

Just as Dao Xuan had expected.

Though the three great Ancestral Witches appeared violent and their attacks fierce, they were not truly fighting with their lives on the line.

Zhurong yelled loudly as flames filled the sky, yet they were always scattered by the Chaos Bell's chimes.

Gonggong's gigantic waves surged with immense force, yet they could not break through the Mysterious Yellow Qi's defenses.

Houtu's heavy fists were repeatedly diverted by Taiyi with clever precision.

After fighting for a while, they saw that Dijun's chariot had safely entered the South Heavenly Gate.

Zhurong suddenly drove Taiyi back with a punch and roared, "No fun! Dijun, you brat, has already run off! No more fighting, no more fighting!"

Gonggong also withdrew the waves filling the sky and snorted. "Taiyi, consider yourself lucky today! Your grandpas will play with you another day!"

Houtu gave Taiyi a deep look and said in a low voice, "Demon Clan, take care of yourselves!"

With that, the three great Ancestral Witches did not linger. Their enormous bodies took a single step, shrinking the earth into inches, and instantly vanished into the depths of the prehistoric land.

They had come quickly and left just as quickly!

Only a shattered starry sky, ravaged and filled with chaotic laws, remained behind.

Taiyi stood in the void, the Chaos Bell slowly spinning above his head as the Mysterious Yellow Qi withdrew.

His expression was cold and stern as he stared in the direction where the Ancestral Witches had disappeared, the killing intent in his eyes still unspent.

"Hmph! Clowns!"

Knowing it was not suitable to pursue them today, Taiyi snorted and transformed into a streak of golden light, returning to the Heavenly Court.

In the Heavenly Court plaza, the immortals and gods had mixed thoughts after seeing the battle subside.

Some regretted not seeing an even fiercer clash.

Some were relieved that the conflict had not escalated.

More of them turned their attention back toward the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Dijun had already brought the two goddesses, Changxi and Xihe, to stand upon the high platform before the hall.

Despite the twists and turns, the auspicious hour had not yet passed.

Empress Nuwa rose gracefully, holding an object in her hand.

It was shaped like an embroidered ball, entirely crimson red, with ten thousand rays of rosy light and a thousand streaks of auspicious radiance. Its Dao resonance was naturally perfected. It was the Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Red Embroidered Ball!

"The auspicious hour has arrived!"

Empress Nuwa's clear voice spread throughout the Heavenly Court.

"Today, the Heavenly Emperor Dijun upholds the essence of the sun and governs the order of the Heavenly Court."

"The Moon Goddesses Changxi and Xihe bear the spirit of moonlight, endowed with exquisite grace."

"Yin and yang unite, heaven and earth establish their order. In accordance with the Heavenly Dao, the heavenly wedding rite shall now proceed!"

"First bow to Heaven and Earth!"

Dijun, together with Changxi and Xihe, faced the vast prehistoric world and bowed.

"Second bow to the Great Dao!"

The three turned toward the unseen void and bowed again.

"Spouses bow to one another!"

Dijun, Changxi, and Xihe stood facing one another and bowed.

At the very instant the spouses' bow was completed!

Boom—!

A sudden phenomenon appeared in the Nine Heavens Above!

Endless auspicious clouds gathered, while thousands of streams of blessed aura descended!

The vast, boundless Mysterious Yellow Merit Qi poured down from beyond the Nine Heavens Above like an inverted Milky Way!

The Merit Golden Light shone brilliantly, dyeing the entire Heavenly Court golden!

The greater part of the merit, roughly seventy percent, fell directly into Dijun's body!

Dijun's aura surged explosively!

The auspicious cloud above his head churned, the Three Flowers swayed, and the Five Qi in the Chest roiled like an ocean!

The bottleneck at the middle stage of Quasi-Saint cultivation shattered beneath the impact of this immense merit!

An aura stronger, deeper, and closer to the Primordial Unity spread outward!

Dijun had astonishingly used the merit from the heavenly wedding to break through to the late stage of Quasi-Saint in one stroke!

He was now only a step away from severing his third corpse and reaching the peak of Quasi-Saint!

Another twenty percent of the merit fell upon the Red Embroidered Ball in Empress Nuwa's hand!

The Red Embroidered Ball radiated brilliantly, its Dao resonance flowing!

Empress Nuwa was struck by inspiration, and a compassionate smile appeared on her face.

"Good!"

With a clear cry, a stream of pure spiritual qi flew from Empress Nuwa's auspicious cloud and entered the Red Embroidered Ball.

The Red Embroidered Ball flashed, transforming into a female immortal dressed in crimson palace robes, holding a red thread. She resembled Nuwa by seventy percent, with a gentle and compassionate temperament!

She was the Good Corpse Empress Nuwa had severed using the Red Embroidered Ball as her vessel—the Matchmaking Fairy!

Empress Nuwa's aura also surged, and her cultivation advanced greatly!

The remaining ten percent of the merit split into two, descending into Changxi and Xihe respectively.

The two Moon Goddesses already possessed considerable cultivation. With the aid of this merit, the Three Flowers above their heads grew increasingly solid, and the tendency of the Five Qi in the Chest to return to their source stabilized.

Their auras rose simultaneously, and both of them severed a corpse, stepping into the middle stage of Quasi-Saint!

For a time, above the Heavenly Court, the auras of Dijun, Nuwa, Changxi, and Xihe, four Quasi-Saints, reflected one another, their might pressing down upon the primordial world!

The strength of the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court soared in an instant!

In the Heavenly Court plaza, immortal music rang out, heavenly flowers fell in profusion, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth!

The immortals and gods rose one after another, offering their congratulations in unison:

"Congratulations to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor on the completion of his heavenly wedding and the advancement of his cultivation!"

"Congratulations to Empress Nuwa on successfully severing her corpse!"

"Congratulations to the two Empresses on your great advancement in cultivation!"

Their voices surged like a tide, shaking the Thirty-Three Heavens!

Dijun was high-spirited as he accepted the congratulations alongside the two goddesses, his majesty growing ever greater.

Taiyi returned and stood at Dijun's side. Seeing his elder brother break through and the Demon Clan's might greatly increase, his eyes too were filled with satisfaction and pride.

Dao Xuan joined the other immortals and gods in offering congratulations, but his mind remained perfectly clear.

At the height of prosperity comes decline; when things reach their extreme, they reverse. Today, the Demon Clan has gained such great fortune, and its strength has soared. It may look like oil poured onto a blazing fire, like flowers added to brocade, but in truth, they have driven the Witch Clan completely into a corner. Are the Twelve Ancestral Witches the sort to swallow their anger?

His gaze swept over the primordial land below, as though it could pierce endless space and see beneath the towering Buzhou Mountain.

A greater storm is likely already brewing.

At the same time.

In the depths of Buzhou Mountain, upon the primordial land.

Inside Pangu Hall.

Baleful qi filled the air, while blood qi shot into the heavens!

Twelve towering figures sat in a circle. They were the Twelve Ancestral Witches!

At the center stood a massive water mirror, reflecting the grand spectacle of the Heavenly Court's wedding and the descent of merit.

When they saw Dijun break through to the late stage of Quasi-Saint, Nuwa sever her corpse, and Changxi and Xihe both advance to the middle stage of Quasi-Saint.

The baleful qi within Pangu Hall nearly condensed into substance!

"Roar—!" Zhurong was the first to fly into a rage. Flames burst uncontrollably from his body, scorching the stone walls of the hall red!

"This is outrageous! That brat Dijun merely got married, yet he gained such enormous benefits!" Gonggong roared as well, a phantom of surging waves churning behind him.

"The Demon Clan's strength has greatly increased! Taiyi was already difficult to deal with because of the Chaos Bell. Now Dijun has reached the late stage of Quasi-Saint, and there are Nuwa and those two women as well!" Jumang, the Ancestral Witch of Wood, wore a gloomy expression.

"And Red Cloud! Zhenyuanzi! Those two thieving Daoists from the west! They were all attending the ceremony in the Heavenly Court today, acting as though they were on friendly terms with the Demon Clan!" Rushou, the Ancestral Witch of Metal, said coldly.

Shebishi, the Ancestral Witch of Weather, said in a muffled voice, "If this continues, our Witch Clan will be in danger!"

Xuanming, the Ancestral Witch of Rain and Ice, radiated chilling qi. "We have to show them what we're made of! We can't let them consummate their marriage in peace!"

Tianwu, the Ancestral Witch of Wind, stirred up gust after gust of fierce wind. "Exactly! They strutted around during the day—how can we let them rest easy at night?"

Qiangliang, the Ancestral Witch of Thunder, crackled with lightning. "Attack the Hall of High Heaven! Flip over his wedding bed!"

Xizi, the Ancestral Witch of Lightning, sent electric serpents dancing wildly. "Right! Let's turn their heavens and earth upside down!"

Houtu watched her impassioned brothers and sisters, her brows knitting slightly, but she did not speak against them.

Dijiang, the Ancestral Witch of Space, sat high in the seat of honor, his face dark as water.

He swept his gaze over the Ancestral Witches, the laws of space flowing in his eyes, unfathomably deep.

Zhurong and the other two had caused a disturbance during the day, but they had failed to stop the heavenly wedding. Instead, they had allowed the Demon Clan to gain immense benefits.

How could the Witch Clan possibly swallow this grievance?

"What you brothers say is entirely right!"

Dijiang's voice was low, yet it carried unquestionable majesty, instantly suppressing the clamor within the hall.

"The Demon Clan is arrogant today, and its strength has greatly increased. If we allow them to stabilize their foundations, they will surely become a grave threat to our Witch Clan in the future!"

"Taking advantage of their wedding today, when their defenses may have relaxed, is the perfect opportunity for us to strike!"

He abruptly rose to his feet, his ten-thousand-zhang Ancestral Witch true form radiating terrifying pressure capable of tearing space apart!

"Pass down the order!"

"Gather all Great Witches! Muster the warriors of the Witch Clan!"

A fierce light blazed in Dijiang's eyes, and a savage smile split his lips.

"Follow us..."

"To give that brat Dijun—"

"a wedding-night raid!"

"Roar—!!!"

Within Pangu Hall, the Twelve Ancestral Witches roared in unison!

Baleful qi surged into the heavens, and battle intent tore through the firmament!

Below Buzhou Mountain, countless Witch Clan tribes moved at the news!

War drums thundered, their sound shaking the primordial land!

Countless Great Witches, hundreds or thousands of zhang tall, their blood qi like dragons, gathered with roaring cries!

There were also hundreds of millions of Witch Clan warriors, wielding massive axes, bone clubs, and stone spears. Their baleful qi condensed like clouds, forming terrifying torrents!

Led by the Twelve Ancestral Witches, this terrifying torrent of pure power and baleful qi surged onward, shattering mountains and rivers, tearing through the clouds, and charging straight toward the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court above the Nine Heavens Above!

A colossal war that would sweep across the primordial world was about to erupt on Dijun's wedding night!