Battling Three Great Witches Alone

Meanwhile.

Deep within the Great Desolation, the Kuafu tribe.

Inside a crude stone hall built from massive beast bones and rocks.

Three figures with imposing auras and sky-piercing Fiend Qi were gathered around a stone table laden with large portions of bloody meat and strong liquor.

They were none other than Great Witch Kuafu of the Kuafu tribe, Great Witch Chi You of the Chi You tribe, and Great Witch Hou Yi of the Hou Yi tribe!

Kuafu, with a face like ripe dates and a beard like needles, grabbed a charred beast leg and tore into it with gusto.

Chi You, with a face like purple copper and a fiery red beard, was sharpening his two gleaming, cold-blue giant axes on a whetstone, sending sparks flying.

Hou Yi, with a face like a full moon and eyes like bright stars, was meticulously polishing his ancient, oversized bow, his gaze focused.

The hall was filled with a strong scent of blood and a rugged atmosphere.

Suddenly!

"Report--!!!"

A Witch Clan warrior, over ten feet tall and covered in blood, stumbled into the great hall, collapsing to the ground, his voice hoarse with grief and indignation:

"Lord Kuafu! Lord Chi You! Lord Hou Yi! Disaster! Tao Qin... Great Witch Tao Qin... he... on the shores of the East Sea, was... was slain by a Daoist with a horned hat riding a Qilin!"

"What?!"

BOOM!

Kuafu leaped to his feet, crushing the half-eaten beast leg in his hand into a mess of meat and bone fragments!

His eyes instantly turned crimson, like burning copper furnaces, and a violent Fiend Qi erupted, pulverizing the stone stool beneath him into dust!

"Tao Qin is dead?! Killed by a horned-hatted fellow?!" Kuafu's voice boomed like thunder, making the entire stone hall vibrate.

"Y-yes! My Lord!" The reporting Witch Clan warrior wept profusely, "That Daoist's methods were ruthless! He unleashed a treasure fan, and with just... just one sweep! Great Witch Tao Qin and several brothers... were... were all gone!"

"ROAR--!!!"

Chi You let out a heaven-shattering roar, like a wounded ferocious beast!

The whetstone in his hand shattered, and his two giant axes hummed and trembled, unleashing boundless killing intent!

"How dare he! How dare that horned-hatted fellow! To dare kill our Witch Clan's Great Witch! This is a hatred that cannot be shared!"

Hou Yi's hand, which had been polishing his bow, froze abruptly. Cold light shot from his eyes, like two icy arrows piercing the void!

He slowly raised his head, his voice chilling to the bone: "Do you know the Daoist's name? What does he look like?"

"R-replying to Lord Hou Yi! This subordinate heard those Dragon Clan members call him... Immortal Dao Xuan! His appearance... he wears a blue headscarf, has his hair in a double bun, wears a yellow robe, his face is like white jade, and he rides a Five-Colored Qilin!" the warrior hastily replied.

"Dao Xuan?!"

"Riding a Five-Colored Qilin?!"

Kuafu and Chi You roared almost simultaneously!

"It's him! It's that horned-hatted fellow who snatched the Banana Fan at Buzhou Mountain!" Kuafu gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with immense hatred!

"Old grudges and new! Today, we settle them all!" Chi You crossed his giant axes, grinding out ear-piercing sparks!

A flicker of understanding and solemnity also crossed Hou Yi's eyes. He slowly slung his great bow over his back and gripped his painted-handle halberd.

"Assemble the troops!" Kuafu's voice was like a great bell, his Fiend Qi sweeping across the entire tribe!

"Gather the young men! Follow me to the East Sea! We will flatten the Dragon Palace! And tear that horned-hatted fellow to shreds to avenge Tao Qin! And avenge Buzhou Mountain!"

"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"

The entire Kuafu tribe erupted in an instant! Fiend Qi soared to the heavens!

Soon.

The elite warriors of the Chi You tribe and the Hou Yi tribe were also summoned.

The three top Great Witches, leading thousands of fierce Witch Clan warriors whose Fiend Qi merged into a single bloody cloud, advanced like three torrents of destruction, crushing mountains and rivers, their killing intent directed towards the shores of the East Sea!

Wherever they passed, the earth trembled, Fiend Qi permeated the air, startling the black birds in the forests and forcing the beasts in the mountains to hide!

Target—East Sea Dragon Palace! Capture and kill Dao Xuan!

East Sea Dragon Palace.

Dao Xuan was deep in thought.

Suddenly, he heard a world-shattering commotion from outside the Crystal Palace!

"Report--!!!"

A shrimp soldier scrambled and tumbled, practically falling into the great hall, his helmet askew, his armor disheveled, his face pale, his voice choked with tears:

"Reporting to the Dragon King! Great trouble! Great trouble!"

The celestial music in the hall abruptly ceased, and the singing and dancing stopped.

The smiles on the faces of all the Dragon Clan and aquatic creatures instantly froze, turning to fear.

Ao Guang's heart leaped, and he forced himself to remain calm: "What's all the panic? What could cause such alarm? Don't you see the Immortal is here?!"

The shrimp soldier collapsed on the ground, trembling violently.

"R-report to the Dragon King! It... it's the Witch Clan! A large group of the Witch Clan has arrived at the shores of the East Sea!"

"Leading them are Great Witch Kuafu of the Kuafu tribe! Great Witch Chi You of the Chi You tribe! Great Witch Hou Yi of the Hou Yi tribe!"

"The three Great Witches are leading thousands of fierce witches, radiating murderous intent, and they've specifically named... named Immortal Dao Xuan! They also want to flatten my East Sea Dragon Palace to avenge... avenge their fallen tribesmen!"

"Boom!"

It was like a bolt from the blue!

Ao Guang felt his vision go black, his legs went weak, and he almost slid off his throne!

His face turned ashen, his lips trembled, and not a trace of the Dragon King's majesty remained!

Kuafu! Chi You! Hou Yi!

These three were no ordinary Great Witches!

They were the most powerful and notorious elite Great Witches under the Twelve Ancestral Witches of the Witch Clan!

Each of them had slain Demon Clan Marshals in battles, their ferocity renowned!

Now, with all three arriving together, and bringing thousands of Witch Clan elites!

This... this was simply a disaster of apocalyptic proportions!

"It's over... it's over..." Ao Guang muttered to himself, utterly dejected, his gaze involuntarily falling upon Dao Xuan on the main seat, filled with despair and pleading.

The hall fell into dead silence.

All the Dragon Clan and high-ranking water tribe officials turned pale and trembled.

It was as if the end of the world had arrived.

Dao Xuan sat calmly in the main seat, his expression serene and undisturbed.

As if the three fearsome gods mentioned by the shrimp soldier, capable of shaking the Great Desolation, were nothing more than mere chickens and dogs.

He put down his jade cup and looked at Ao Guang, whose face was ashen, and said calmly:

"Dragon King, worry not."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a peculiar calming power, allowing Ao Guang's wildly beating heart to settle slightly.

"A mere few Great Witches, what are they worth?"

"Since they are here for this humble Daoist, this humble Daoist will go and meet them."

"Immortal!" Ao Guang's voice trembled, "Those three... they are not to be trifled with! They are all capable of fighting Demon Marshals! You... your esteemed person..."

Dao Xuan smiled slightly and rose.

Beneath the Blue Gauze Headband, his face was like fine jade, his elegance and refined features as before.

His light yellow daoist robe with cloud patterns moved without wind, and pure energy swirled around him.

"This humble Daoist has not properly stretched his muscles and bones since entering the late stage of Grand Unity."

"Today, it is a good opportunity to test them."

His tone was plain, yet it contained immense confidence.

Ao Guang looked at Dao Xuan's composed demeanor, and a glimmer of hope inexplicably arose in his heart.

He gritted his teeth, stood up abruptly, and a hint of the Dragon King's decisiveness returned to his face:

"Immortal's righteousness is admirable! How can this lowly dragon let the Immortal venture alone!"

"Sound the troops! Issue the order! Gather all the elites of the Dragon Palace! Go forth with the Immortal to battle! To boost our morale!"

"Yes!" Turtle Prime Minister and other important water tribe officials were also stirred to courage, responding in unison.

A moment later.

The shores of the East Sea.

Vast waves stretched for miles, but now, murderous intent permeated the air!

Above the sea, a dense mass!

Thousands of Witch Clan warriors formed a battle array.

Each stood over ten feet tall, their muscles bulging, radiating murderous energy that reached the heavens!

Some had faces like the bottom of a pot, with fiery red hair and bared fangs; others had faces like indigo, with beards like cinnabar; still others had tiger-like bulging eyes, their ferocity fully revealed!

Wielding giant axes, bone clubs, and stone spears, they exuded killing intent, churning the waves and changing the wind and clouds!

In front of the formation.

The three Great Witches stood like three ancient divine mountains between the sea and the sky!

On the left, one of them:

Stood dozens of feet tall, his face like ripe dates, with a beard like steel needles bristling upwards!

He wore a ferocious helmet forged from the skull of an unknown giant beast, and a simple yet incredibly thick bronze plate armor!

Muscles bulged like dragons, seemingly containing infinite power to split mountains and crack the earth!

He held a giant staff, as thick as a house beam, completely black, made from some unknown divine wood!

It was the Great Witch of the Kuafu tribe—Kuafu!

To his right stood another:

Equally several zhang tall, with a face like purple bronze and a fiery red beard below his forehead!

He wore the Nine Cloud Blazing Beast Crown (crafted from fierce beast skulls and blazing refined gold), a chainmail armor, and a great red battle robe that flapped noisily!

A white jade belt cinched his waist, and he rode a beast resembling a Qilin, but fiercer, wreathed in dark red Fiend Qi—a Fire-Eyed Golden Beast!

In each hand, he held a giant axe the size of a door panel, radiating cold light and entwined with Fiend Qi!

It was the Great Witch of the Chi You tribe—Chi You!

The one in the middle:

His build was comparatively lean, his face like a full moon, as if painted with vermilion, his eyes like bright stars!

He wore a golden crown to tie his hair, a golden forehead band shining brilliantly, with two magnificent pheasant tail feathers.

He wore a great red robe over gold chainmail, an arrow quiver at his waist, and a simple, ancient giant bow on his back!

He strode on the waves as if walking on flat ground!

It was the Great Witch of the Hou Yi tribe—Hou Yi!

The three Great Witches' auras were connected, their Fiend Qi soaring to the heavens, like three primordial fierce beasts, locking onto the direction of the East Sea Dragon Palace!

Just then.

The surface of the East Sea split open with a roar!

Columns of water shot up into the sky!

Tens of thousands of elite aquatic creatures from the East Sea Dragon Palace, personally led by the Dragon King Ao Guang, emerged in formation!

Shrimp soldiers wielded halberds, crab generals wore helmets, whale warriors beat drums, and merfolk blew conch shells!

Banners fluttered, armor glinted menacingly!

Though their aura was far less fierce than the Witch Clan's, they had adopted a stance of fighting to the death!

In front of the formation.

A Five-Colored Qilin was carried by auspicious clouds.

On the Qilin's back sat Dao Xuan.

He wore a Blue Gauze Headband and a pale yellow cloud-patterned robe, his feet shod in Cloud-Treading Boots.

His face was like mutton-fat jade, his bearing refined, his eyes and brows clear.

Compared to the three ferocious-looking Great Witches opposite him, he seemed out of place, yet possessed a calm, imposing presence.

"Nose-picker! It's really you!"

Kuafu's giant eyes widened, his voice like a thunderous bell, making the waves churn!

He recognized Dao Xuan at a glance!

"Tens of thousands of years ago, on Buzhou Mountain peak, you stole a spiritual root and ruined our Witch Clan's opportunity! Today, you've killed our people again! Old and new grudges will be settled today!"

Chi You's rage made his hair stand on end, and the Fire-Eyed Golden Beast, sensing its master's fury, let out a heaven-shaking roar!

"Little thief Dao Xuan! The hatred from stealing treasures back then hasn't faded, and today you slaughter our Witch Clan's sons! Take your life!"

Hou Yi, though silent, his eyes were as cold as knives, his Halberd of Painting Rods raised slightly, his killing intent locked onto Dao Xuan.

Facing the overwhelming fury and killing intent of the three Great Witches, Dao Xuan's expression remained calm.

He gently patted the Qilin beneath him and smiled faintly:

"I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be mere defeated opponents of mine."

"The spiritual root of the past, whoever has the affinity obtains it, what talk of stealing?"

"As for today, your clansmen have wantonly hunted my Xuanmen's affiliated Dragon Clan. Are their actions any different from demons? I acted on behalf of Heaven, what wrong did I commit by executing them?"

"Stop your sophistry!" Kuafu roared, the giant staff in his hand erupting with black light, "Today, I will surely annihilate your body and soul!"

"Why waste words with him! Kill!" Chi You could no longer hold back, shouting loudly!

"Roar!"

The Fire-Eyed Golden Beast's four hooves tore through the air, enveloped in sky-burning Fiend Fire, like a meteor falling to the earth!

Chi You raised his twin axes, splitting the sky like cleaving Mount Hua! Two massive axe energies, tearing through the void, carrying the might of creation, struck directly at Dao Xuan's head!

"Well met!"

A sharp glint flashed in Dao Xuan's eyes!

He was just looking for an opportunity to test his Grand Unity late-stage abilities!

With a slight movement of his mind.

The Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus instantly appeared above its head!

The pure white lotus platform rotated slowly, casting down billions of rays of pure divine light, protecting Dao Xuan and the Qilin tightly!

At the same time.

Dao Xuan flipped his right hand!

The Four Symbols Banana Fan was already in his hand!

Facing the twin axes that were cleaving down like they were burning the sky and boiling the sea, he didn't dodge. He gave a mighty wave!

WHOOSH--!!!

Four-colored divine light flowed!

The primal powers of earth, water, fire, and wind erupted!

An invisible, formless, yet terrifying force capable of overturning the universe surged out like a tide of destruction!

RUMBLE--!!!

A world-shattering roar!

Chi You's axe light, capable of splitting mountains, collided with the might of the Four Symbols and shattered like ice meeting the scorching sun, instantly collapsing and disintegrating!

The violent shockwave swept in all directions, the sea surface was forcefully pressed into a huge concave pit, and monstrous waves surged!

Chi You felt an irresistible force surge back, his arms trembled violently, and the Fire-Eyed Golden Beast beneath him let out a pained roar, actually being forced to retreat repeatedly by the impact!

"A good treasure! A good technique!" Chi You was both shocked and enraged. He stabilized his form, his eyes filled with even fiercer malice!

"Eat my staff!"

Seeing that Chi You's attack had failed, Kuafu roared!

He took a step forward, his figure seeming to traverse space, instantly appearing on Dao Xuan's flank!

The black giant staff in his hand, carrying immense power, stirred boundless Fiend Qi. It was like a pillar supporting the sky collapsing, smashing down fiercely towards Dao Xuan's waist!

This staff strike was powerful and heavy, containing the gravitas of the earth Laws and the ferocity of extreme force!

Dao Xuan was not flustered.

He formed a hand seal with his left hand!

The Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal flew out from his Auspicious Cloud!

It grew against the wind!

Instantly transforming into the size of a mountain!

Nine dragons coiled around the seal, their scales and claws flying, letting out heaven-shattering dragon roars!

The treasure light was heavy, suppressing all heavens!

"Suppress!"

Dao Xuan shouted lightly.

The Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal, carrying the majestic divine power to suppress everything, pressed down towards Kuafu's head!

BOOM!

The giant staff and the treasure seal collided with a deafening crash!

It was like two primordial divine mountains colliding!

Space itself seemed to warp!

Kuafu felt an indescribable heavy pressure coming from above, as if the entire Great Desolation was pressing down on his shoulders!

He roared repeatedly, his muscles bulging, veins throbbing, and the void beneath his feet cracked!

The indestructible giant staff was actually being slowly pressed down by the treasure seal!

"A good Taoist! You have quite a few magic treasures!" Hou Yi's eyes narrowed.

Seeing that Kuafu and Chi You, two top Great Witches, could not take down Dao Xuan even when working together, and were even being suppressed by his magic treasures, he was secretly alarmed.

He knew he couldn't just watch anymore.

A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he silently took down the giant bow from his back.

This bow was ancient, neither metal nor wood, and mysterious patterns coiled around its body.

Then, like lightning, he drew a bone arrow from his quiver. It was entirely black, with a tip that gleamed with a cold, faint light!

This was the divine arrow he was famous for!

Hou Yi's movements were as swift as a phantom's. He drew the bow and nocked the arrow in one fluid motion!

The bow drew back like a full moon!

The arrow shot out like a meteor!

SWISH--!!!

A black streak of light, silent, tore through space!

As if ignoring the distance, it instantly appeared behind Dao Xuan's back!

The arrowhead pointed directly at a vital spot!

Vicious! Ruthless! Unbelievably fast!

This was Hou Yi's specialty, a surprise assassination!

"Careful, Immortal!" Ao Guang and the other Dragon Clan and water-dwelling creatures watched, their hearts cracking with fear, and cried out in alarm!

However.

The Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus above Dao Xuan's head shone brilliantly!

Lotus petals layered upon layer, pure world divine light flowing ceaselessly!

That death-seeking bone arrow, capable of piercing through the protective divine abilities of a Demon Commander, struck the divine light!

Ding--!

It let out a crisp ringing sound!

As if it had collided with the most solid barrier in the world!

The terrifying Fiend Qi and penetrating power contained within the arrowhead were ground away and purified layer by layer by the pure world divine light!

Finally.

The bone arrow let out a mournful cry, its brilliance dimmed, and it fell powerlessly into the sea.

It hadn't even touched the corner of Dao Xuan's robe!

"Hmph!"

Dao Xuan snorted coldly, his gaze like lightning, sweeping towards Hou Yi.

"The dignified Great Witch Hou Yi, resorting to sneak attacks from behind, shooting people with hidden arrows?"

"Is this the 'upright and honorable' conduct of the Witch Clan, the true descendants of Pangu?"

"Truly bullying the few with numbers and resorting to dirty tricks! A fine example of 'Great Desolation's righteous path'!"

The sarcasm was evident.

His voice clearly carried across the battlefield.

Kuafu, Chi You, and Hou Yi's faces instantly flushed red!

Especially Hou Yi, his sneak attack exposed in public, felt even more ashamed and furious.

Though they were fierce, they weren't entirely shameless.

Being mocked by Dao Xuan like this, their faces felt like they were burning.

"Stop your silver tongue!" Chi You said angrily, "As long as we can kill you, what methods we use don't matter!"

"Attack together! Go all out! Don't give him another chance!" Kuafu also roared.

The three Great Witches exchanged glances, their eyes devoid of any reservation, leaving only a mad killing intent!

Boom!

Kuafu's giant staff glowed with even more dark light, the Laws of Strength pushed to the extreme, smashing towards the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal again!

Chi You's twin axes ignited with blazing fiend fire, the Laws of Fire erupted, transforming into two fire dragons that burned the sky, attacking Dao Xuan from both sides!

Hou Yi no longer hid anything, his bowstring twanged repeatedly!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three dark lights, arranged in a triangular formation, tore through the void, heading straight for Dao Xuan's forehead, throat, and dantian – three vital spots! Utterly ruthless!

The three top Great Witches, having completely abandoned their pride, attacked with full force!

Dao Xuan's expression grew a little more solemn, but he showed no fear.

The divine light of the white lotus above his head flowed, impervious to all methods!

His left hand wielded the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal, its treasure light shining brilliantly, suppressing Kuafu!

His right hand brandished the Four Symbols Banana Fan, its four-colored divine light sweeping, causing the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind to become chaotic, dispelling Chi You's sky-burning fiend fire!

At the same time.

His thoughts stirred!

A ruler flew out from his sleeve!

Mysterious Yellow Qi coiled around the ruler's body, and golden light of merit flowed!

It was the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler!

The ruler flickered in the wind, transforming into a length of about ten feet!

It lightly swept towards the three death-seeking bone arrows shot by Hou Yi!

Chira!

As if it had cut open the boundary between heaven and earth!

A Mysterious Yellow Merit barrier appeared out of thin air!

Three bone arrows struck the barrier, as if sinking into a swamp, their speed drastically reduced. The Fiend Qi clinging to them was rapidly dissolved by the golden light of merit!

They finally fell powerlessly!

Dao Xuan was fighting three opponents alone!

All his magic treasures were unleashed!

The Four Symbols Banana Fan stirred wind, thunder, water, and fire!

The Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal suppressed the eight directions and six harmonies!

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler measured the heavens and fixed the earth!

The Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus was impervious to all magic!

No matter how strong Kuafu was, how Chi You's Fiend Fire burned the sky, or how Hou Yi's divine arrows stole lives!

He remained unmoving, seated firmly on the Qilin's back!

Dissipating the frenzied, storm-like attacks of the three Great Witches one by one!

Between the sea and sky, treasure light and Fiend Qi intertwined and collided, with constant roars!

Giant waves surged into the sky, and the wind and clouds changed color!

The center of the battlefield was like a giant meat grinder; ordinary creatures that approached within a hundred feet would be torn to shreds by the shockwaves!

Ao Guang and the other Dragon Clan and Water Clan members watched, dumbfounded and awestruck!

"Immortal... Immortal's divine might!"

"He... he can actually fight three top Great Witches alone and not be defeated!"