The Great Battle Rages

Ao Guang and the many Dragon Clan and water-dwelling creatures watched, their hearts shaken and their admiration unending.

Between the sea and sky, treasure light and fiend qi intertwined and clashed, roaring like thunder!

Dao Xuan sat steadily on the Qilin's back. Beneath the Blue Gauze Headband, his face was like mutton-fat jade, his eyes bright and brows clear.

His pale yellow cloud-patterned daoist robe exuded a refreshing aura, making him appear even more refined and elegant.

Above his head, the Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus radiated divine light, rendering him impervious to all magic!

In his left hand, the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal blazed with treasure light, nine dragons coiling around it. Their roars shook the heavens, fiercely suppressing Kuafu's mountain-splitting might!

In his right hand, the Four Symbols Banana Fan, with its four-colored divine light, swept through the air. The fundamental origins of earth, water, fire, and wind became chaotic, nullifying Chi You's sky-burning, sea-boiling fiend fire into nothingness!

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler hung by his side. Mysterious Yellow Qi intertwined with golden merit light, forming a barrier that easily blocked Hou Yi's cunning and vicious soul-stealing divine arrows!

The three Great Witches' attacks were like a storm, ferociously powerful!

Kuafu's giant staff crackled with dark light, tearing through the void. His Law of Strength was pushed to the extreme; each blow seemed capable of shattering stars!

Chi You's twin axes burned the sky with fiend fire. The Law of Fire raged wildly, and two sky-burning fire dragons roared and tore at each other!

Hou Yi's bowstring sang continuously, dark light tearing through the void. Each arrow pursued souls and snatched away spirits, vicious and cunning!

However, Dao Xuan's magical treasures were profound and mystical, operating as he willed.

Initially, although Dao Xuan's magical power was immense and his treasures sharp, he was still slightly inferior to the combat experience of these top-tier Great Witches.

Between offense and defense, there were occasional moments of hesitation, preventing him from fully unleashing the power of his late-stage Grand Unity magical power and treasures.

He could only rely on the advantage of his treasures to maintain a steady defense and counterattack, remaining undefeated.

But what kind of person was Dao Xuan?

The Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique circulated ceaselessly, his Primordial Spirit clear, his comprehension extraordinary!

Under the pressure of this life-and-death struggle, he was like a sponge absorbing water, rapidly accumulating combat experience!

Every use of a magical treasure, every flow of magical power, every clash of laws, became nourishment for his growth!

Gradually.

That sliver of hesitation vanished.

The suppressing power of the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal became more fluid, drawing upon the power of heaven and earth, causing Kuafu to roar repeatedly, and the void beneath his feet to crack even more!

As the Four Symbols Banana Fan swept through the air, the Four Symbols origins were no longer merely defensive; they transformed into invisible shackles, wrapping around Chi You's twin axes, causing his sky-burning fiend fire to flicker and dim, its power greatly reduced!

The barrier drawn by the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler was no longer passively defensive. It sometimes transformed into a Mysterious Yellow whip, lashing out at the bone arrows shot by Hou Yi, deflecting their trajectory, and even sending them flying back!

Dao Xuan grew stronger with every battle!

The Three Flowers phantom above his head became increasingly solid, and the Five Qi within his chest surged like dragons!

His late-stage Grand Unity magical power was rapidly refined and sublimated in the battle!

His control over his own power and magical treasures improved at a visible rate!

The tide of battle quietly turned!

Dao Xuan began to transition from defense to offense!

The Four Symbols Banana Fan was no longer limited to defending against Chi You. With a sweep of its divine light, the powers of earth, water, fire, and wind transformed into four roaring dragons, which then swept back towards Kuafu!

While the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal suppressed Kuafu, the nine dragon phantoms on the seal roared and flew out, spewing treasure light and bombarding Hou Yi!

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler transformed into a streak of Mysterious Yellow silk, weaving through the battlefield. At times, it measured the heavens and stabilized the earth, reinforcing space; at other times, the golden merit light surged, purifying the fiend qi!

The three Great Witches suddenly felt immense pressure!

Their proud combat instincts and fierce assaults were being gradually suppressed by the opponent's endless, mysterious magical treasures and his rapidly improving combat skills!

"Roar! This old Daoist... how is he getting stronger the more he fights?!" Chi You's twin axes forcefully cleaved open a water dragon, but he was scorched by the fire dragon that followed closely behind, his beard and hair singed. He was both shocked and enraged.

"Damn it! His use of magical treasures... is becoming more and more exquisite!" Hou Yi shot several arrows in succession, but they were all blocked or deflected by the Mysterious Yellow Ruler, returning without success. His expression was grim.

Kuafu was even more so, suppressed by the Nine Dragon Seal and the Four Symbols divine light, roaring repeatedly. He swung his giant staff, but it was like struggling in a swamp, unable to break free!

Dao Xuan had already begun to suppress the three top-tier Great Witches!

On the other side.

The thousands of Witch Clan warriors who were arrayed in formation, seeing their three leaders being suppressed and outmatched by a seemingly frail Daoist priest, were all aghast!

"Lord Kuafu and the others... are actually being suppressed?!"

"That Daoist's magical treasures are too powerful!"

"No! We can't just watch our leaders suffer!"

"Brothers! Let's go together! Kill that Daoist and save our leaders!"

The Witch Clan were fierce. Seeing their leaders in a predicament, they no longer cared about fighting individually.

Thousands of Witch Clan warriors roared in unison, their fiend qi coalescing into a bloody cloud!

Like a breached dam, they brandished their giant axes and bone clubs, stepped on the waves, and rushed towards the center of the battlefield, intending to surround and attack Dao Xuan!

"Halt!"

A fierce shout rang out!

It was Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea!

Seeing the Witch Clan warriors about to gang up, he was both shocked and enraged, with a hint of ecstatic joy!

An opportunity to show off had arrived!

He stomped forward fiercely, his silver-moon-like face filled with "righteous indignation." Pointing at the surging Witch Clan warriors, he berated them in a stern voice:

"What a bunch of shameless, barbaric witches! Your leaders, three against one, attacking our Xuanmen's orthodox immortal Dao Xuan, is already an unfair victory, bullying the weak with numbers!"

"And now, seeing you're losing, you're actually ordering your subordinates to attack together?!"

"This is utterly shameless! A disgrace to Father God Pangu!"

"Do you really think my Xuanmen's subordinate, the East Sea Dragon Palace, is empty?!"

Ao Guang's voice was loud, echoing through the sea and sky, emphasizing the words "Xuanmen's subordinate" with great force!

He abruptly waved the sleeve of his dragon robe:

"Dragon Palace warriors, hear my command! Form ranks! Meet the enemy!"

"We absolutely cannot let these barbaric witches, bullying with numbers, profane the majesty of Xuanmen! Or disturb the immortal as he eradicates demons and upholds the Way!"

"Follow this King—Charge!"

Before his words had even finished, Ao Guang led the charge, transforming into a silver dragon hundreds of feet long. His dragon roar shook the heavens as he was the first to rush towards the Witch Clan's battle formation!

"Charge! Protect the Immortal! Uphold Xuanmen's majesty!"

"Kill all these barbaric witches!"

Tens of thousands of elite aquatic creatures from the Dragon Palace, inspired by the Dragon King's "righteous" scolding and his personal charge, immediately had their morale greatly boosted!

Shrimp soldiers thrust their halberds, crab generals swung their pincers, whale warriors beat the war drums, and mermaids blew their horns!

The shouts of battle shook the heavens and earth!

Like a blue tide, they fiercely crashed against the blood-red torrent of the Witch Clan!

Boom—!

The two torrents collided instantly!

Fiend Qi and demonic energy (aquatic creatures' demonic energy) clashed, weapons rang against each other, and roars shook the heavens!

The sea surface instantly turned into a battlefield of carnage!

Flesh and blood flew, limbs were severed!

Ao Guang, transformed into a silver dragon, charged and weaved through the battle formation, tearing with his dragon claws and sweeping with his tail. He even remembered to shout:

"Xuanmen above! Dao Ancestor protect us! Slay the barbaric witches!"

"For Xuanmen! For the Immortal! For the Dao Ancestor! Charge!"

His fawning devotion to Xuanmen was laid bare for all to see!

In the center of the battlefield.

Dao Xuan's peripheral vision caught sight of Ao Guang's "loyal display of protecting his master," and he chuckled inwardly.

This old dragon's ass-kissing skills have improved!

However, the timing was perfect!

Just as Chi You, distracted by the chaos below, caused a barely perceptible hesitation in his fiery twin axes!

A sharp glint flashed in Dao Xuan's eyes!

"Now!"

He formed a hand seal with his left hand. The brilliant light of the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal suddenly retracted, no longer suppressing Kuafu with full force. Instead, the nine dragon shadows instantly withdrew back into the seal!

Kuafu, who was fully resisting the suppression, suddenly felt the pressure lighten. His body involuntarily stumbled forward!

Dao Xuan's right hand, the Four Symbols Banana Fan, abruptly changed direction!

No longer targeting Kuafu, it was instead aimed at Chi You, who had revealed a flaw due to his distraction. Dao Xuan poured all his strength into it and fanned fiercely!

Whoosh—!!!

This time, it was no longer an invisible force!

The four divine lights of cyan, red, white, and black on the fan surface blazed forth!

The earth's heaviness transformed into an invisible mountain!

The fire's ferocity turned into sky-burning flames!

The water's lingering flow became a monstrous tidal wave!

The wind's swiftness transformed into void-ripping gales!

The Four Symbols Origins manifested, intertwining into a storm of destruction!

It instantly engulfed Chi You and the Fire-Eyed Golden Beast he rode!

"Chi You! Be careful!" Kuafu and Hou Yi cried out in sheer terror!

RUMBLE--!!!

A world-shattering explosion!

The Fiend Fire scattered!

The Fire-Eyed Golden Beast let out a piercing shriek as its massive body was blown away, scales shattered, and blood spewed out!

Chi You was struck as if by lightning!

The interlocking chainmail on his body shattered inch by inch, and his crimson battle robe turned to ashes!

His purple-bronze face instantly turned pale, and he vomited a mouthful of blood mixed with internal organ fragments!

Like a kite with a broken string, he was violently flung away by the terrifying storm of destruction, crashing towards the distant sea surface and stirring up a thousand-zhang tsunami!

"Chi You!" Kuafu's eyes were about to split!

"Villain! Die!" Hou Yi, filled with even greater rage and shock, instantly drew his bowstring taut. Three black bone arrows, carrying all his fury and killing intent, tore through the void and shot directly at Dao Xuan's vital points!

However.

Without Chi You's support, Kuafu and Hou Yi's combined assault was as good as useless against Dao Xuan!

The divine light of the white lotus atop Dao Xuan's head steadily blocked the three life-threatening arrows!

With his left hand, he unleashed the Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal again. Its treasure light shone even brighter, carrying a heavier suppressing force than before, and smashed down towards Kuafu, whose mind was shaken by Chi You's severe injuries!

"Suppress him!"

BOOM!

Kuafu roared, raising his giant staff to meet the attack!

But without the advantage of initiative and with his mind unstable, how could he possibly block it?

His giant staff was knocked out of his hand by the treasure seal!

The treasure seal continued its momentum, fiercely stamping onto Kuafu's chest!

CRACK!

The sound of breaking bones was clearly audible!

Kuafu's imposing body, as tall as a mountain, was hit as if by an ancient divine mountain. Blood gushed from his mouth, and his massive form flew backward, smashing and collapsing a distant underwater mountain peak!

"Now it's your turn!"

Dao Xuan's gaze was icy as he instantly locked onto Hou Yi!

He raised the Four Symbols Banana Fan again, four-colored divine light flowing, and a storm of destruction began to brew!

Hou Yi's expression changed drastically. He held the Sun-Shooting Bow horizontally in front of him, channeling all his Fiend Qi for defense!

At this critical moment!

Dao Xuan's peripheral vision swept over the battlefield below.

The Dragon Palace water tribes led by Ao Guang, though numerous, were far inferior in individual combat strength to the ferocious Witch Clan.

Under the mad counterattack of thousands of Witch Clan warriors, they were already suffering heavy casualties, their formation in disarray!

Ao Guang, transformed into a silver dragon, was also being besieged by three ferocious Witch Generals, his dragon scales shattered, and he was in grave danger!

"Hmph! Courting death!"

Dao Xuan snorted coldly.

He temporarily abandoned attacking Hou Yi and, with a thought!

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler transformed into a stream of Mysterious Yellow light and instantly flew to the battlefield below!

"Measure the heavens and fix the earth! Merit punishes evil!"

Dao Xuan shouted clearly!

The Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler grew in size as it faced the wind, transforming into a thousand-zhang giant ruler!

Mysterious Yellow Qi permeated the ruler's body, and golden merit light shone!

He fiercely slashed towards the thousands of Witch Clan warriors who were madly slaughtering the water tribes!

SCREEECH--!

It was as if heaven and earth were being cut open!

A Mysterious Yellow Merit barrier, spanning across the sea and sky, suddenly formed!

On the barrier, the golden merit light shone like molten gold under the scorching sun!

The Witch Clan warriors enveloped by the golden light found their Fiend Qi melting away like ice and snow!

Their powerful bodies emitted "sizzling" sounds and billowed with thick black smoke!

"Ah--!"

Piercing screams erupted in a chorus!

Thousands of ferocious Witch Clan members, like wax figures thrown into a furnace, rapidly collapsed and disintegrated under the purification of the golden light of merit!

Their souls and true spirits were also thoroughly purified and erased by that magnificent power of merit!

In the blink of an eye!

Thousands of elite Witch Clan members turned into dust!

On the sea, only faint remnants of Fiend Qi and floating, broken weapons remained!

The battlefield was cleared!

Ao Guang and the surviving water tribesmen, having narrowly escaped death, looked at the Mysterious Yellow Giant Ruler suspended between the sea and sky, exuding magnificent divine power. They were filled with awe and shouted again:

"Immortal's divine might! Xuanmen is boundless!"

Dao Xuan retracted the Merit Ruler and swept his icy gaze over Chi You, who was heavily wounded and had fallen into the sea, Kuafu, who had collapsed a mountain peak, and Hou Yi, whose face was pale as he held his halberd in a defensive stance.

His killing intent was palpable!

"You savage witches, inherently cruel, slaughtering living beings and repeatedly defying my authority!"

"Today, I shall send you to see Pangu!"

Before his words fell!

Cold light burst from Dao Xuan's eyes!

The divine light of the Twelve-petal Pure World White Lotus above his head surged!

The Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal, the Four Symbols Banana Fan, and the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler, three supreme treasures, all shone brightly at the same time!

He intended to achieve victory in one decisive battle, to completely slay these three top Great Witches here!

"Die!"

Dao Xuan let out a cold roar!

The three supreme treasures, carrying world-destroying might, tore through space and blasted towards the heavily wounded Chi You, Kuafu, and the horrified Hou Yi respectively!

This strike contained all of Dao Xuan's late-stage Grand Unity magical power and killing intent!

It was meant to annihilate their forms and souls!

Chi You and Kuafu, heavily wounded and unable to move, showed despair in their eyes!

Hou Yi desperately raised his painted-shaft halberd, but knew it was impossible to resist!

At this critical moment, as the three Great Witches were about to perish!

Rumble--!!!

The entire East Sea shook violently!

It wasn't the surging of giant waves, but the entire space seemed to be fiercely squeezed by an invisible giant hand!

An indescribably heavy, vast, and all-encompassing aura suddenly descended!

This aura, ancient and vast, carrying the pulse of the earth, instantly filled the heavens and earth!

Hum--!

Dao Xuan's three terrifying, sure-kill attacks, just inches away from their targets, struck an invisible yet indestructible wall of heaven and earth!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three muffled, extremely heavy sounds!

The Myriad Treasures Nine Dragon Seal's treasure light dimmed, and it flew back!

The Four Symbols Banana Fan's divine light scattered, returning without success!

The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Merit Ruler's Mysterious Yellow Qi fluctuated violently, and the ruler body hummed!

Dao Xuan's ultimate killing blow, which contained his entire magical power and killing intent, was actually blocked by this sudden, vast aura!

It dissipated into nothingness!

"Hmm?!"

Dao Xuan's pupils contracted sharply!

He abruptly looked up, towards the source of the aura!

He saw that on the shore of the East Sea, a figure had appeared at some point.

It was a woman.

She wore a simple, earth-yellow linen dress and was barefoot.

Her long hair was casually unbound, tied only with a withered vine.

Her face was not stunningly beautiful, but gentle like jade, her eyes deep and serene, as if containing the vicissitudes and weight of the entire Great Desolation.

She stood there quietly.

There was no earth-shattering Fiend Qi, no dazzling treasure light.

Only an indescribable tranquility and vastness.

It was as if she was the earth itself, bearing all things, encompassing everything.

She merely raised her hand slightly.

And dissolved Dao Xuan's killing blow, one potent enough to slay a top-tier Great Witch!

"Ancestral Witch Houtu!"

The heavily wounded Chi You, Kuafu, Hou Yi, and all the surviving Witch Clan warriors, upon seeing this figure, were overcome with emotion. It was as if they had found their backbone, and they cried out in unison, filled with the joy and reverence of those who had narrowly escaped death!

Dao Xuan's heart trembled violently!

One of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Houtu!

She had actually come in person!

Dao Xuan's gaze sharpened. Far from showing fear, his fighting spirit surged instead!

Who cares if she's an Ancestral Witch or not!

She dares to stop me, Dao Xuan, from killing people?

My Grand-Teacher is Hongjun! My Teacher is Taiqing! Who do I have to fear?!

He steadied the Qilin beneath him, divine light from the White Lotus swirling above his head, three supreme treasures encircling his body, their radiance pulsing unstably.

His gaze was like lightning, directly meeting the gaze of the suddenly appearing Ancestral Witch Houtu without a trace of fear.

He spoke in a clear voice:

"Ancestral Witch Houtu? Are you also here to obstruct this humble Daoist?"

"Your tribesmen wantonly slaughtered my Xuanmen's affiliates and even attacked me. Their deaths are well-deserved!"

"Today, even if an Ancestral Witch herself arrives, you won't stop me from killing them!"

His tone was resolute, arrogant, and domineering!

Fully displaying the confidence of the "Number One Connected Person in the Great Desolation"!