How had Hongjun become young again? What kind of divine ability was that?
Hongjun: This is the Great Dao. I can do whatever I want.
You transmigrated into someone else's body and still expect your appearance to reflect your inner self?
At that moment, in Mount Sumeru, Luohu was doing exactly as Hongjun had said: extracting the Western spiritual ley lines.
The Western Land, once rich in Spiritual Qi, had now become a desolate wasteland.
The fertile soil had turned to wasteland, and every flower, blade of grass, and tree had withered.
Zhunti and Jieyin gazed from afar at the endless barren Western Land. Heartbroken, they clutched their heads in anguish (a small detail) and wept miserably.
"Daoist brother, what on earth happened to the Western Land? Why are its spiritual ley lines growing fewer and fewer?"
"It's Luohu, it must be Luohu. Demon Ancestor Luohu has extracted every spiritual ley line in the Western Land. Sob, sob, sob... Can anyone even live here anymore?"
"What suffering! Why must the lives of the Western Land's creatures be so wretched?"
The two wept together, but there was nothing they could do about Luohu.
In fact, they should count themselves lucky that Luohu hadn't come over and pulled out their roots as well.
Which Western cultivator or innate being hadn't joined Demon Ancestor Luohu's sect?
Well, those two hadn't.
It wasn't that they were particularly principled. It was simply that Luohu didn't think much of them.
Besides, the two of them could sense that their opportunities lay outside the Devil Dao. That was the only reason they hadn't shamelessly tried to join Demon Ancestor Luohu's sect.
But now, with the Western Land's Spiritual Qi completely depleted, they were finished. Their paths forward had been cut off.
Beneath Mount Sumeru in the Western Land, a group of powerful figures had gathered.
Hongjun, Yin-Yang Ancestor, Qiankun Ancestor, Wangshu, and Old Ancestor Yang Mei—the five ancestral figures of the Primordial World—stood together.
Of course, Shi Chen was also there, spying from some unknown mountain.
Looking at the endless Mount Sumeru before them and the barren land stretching for a hundred million li, Wangshu sighed:
"I still remember how most of us Chaos Demon Gods were slain by Pangu back then. We, however, were one step ahead. We gave up our cultivation and reincarnated into Pangu's world.
"After cultivating anew in Pangu's world, we found ourselves restricted. We could never again break through to our original Demon God realm.
"We were already lucky, unlike those fellow cultivators who couldn't even rest in peace after death and became ferocious beasts. They were all slain during the Beast Calamity."
"Looking at this mountain, I can still vividly recall the Beast Calamity. That terrifying scene was much like what we see here, though today's devastation far surpasses what came before.
"Who would have thought that we, who once stood against Pangu, would one day stand here to protect his world?"
"Those whose paths differ cannot work together."
Hongjun smiled.
"Back then, our paths differed from Pangu's, so naturally we became his enemies. But now, we have all become creatures of this world...
"We can reflect on all that later. We've reached Luohu's lair, and he must be ready by now. His power is earth-shaking, so everyone should be on their guard."
"Daoist Hongjun speaks the truth. Luohu! Your old friends have come. Come out at once and kneel to welcome us!"
Yang Mei stepped forward and taunted him.
His voice echoed throughout Mount Sumeru.
Among the five, Yang Mei had the highest cultivation, followed by Hongjun, then Qiankun Ancestor and Yin-Yang Ancestor. Wangshu was the weakest of them all.
As Yang Mei's words faded, a torrent of baleful energy erupted from Mount Sumeru and shot straight into the clouds.
The clouds roiled violently, and the void trembled. Mixed in with that terrifying baleful energy was Chaos Sword Qi!
The dreadful aura hadn't even reached them, yet it was enough to make their expressions change.
Amid the endless baleful energy, a formation diagram slowly rose. It expanded continuously in the void, as though it would shroud the entire world.
In an instant, Mount Sumeru vanished from view, swallowed by a sea of murderous and baleful energy.
At the same time, Luohu's voice rang out through the void:
"Hmph. Old Yang Mei, you're not worthy of running your mouth at me, Luohu."
Luohu continued:
"Hongjun, you've finally arrived. I've just finished refining the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. I wonder, do you have the guts to test my sword energy? Hahahahahaha!"
Luohu laughed arrogantly.
The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was formidable, but it had one obvious weakness: it depended heavily on its formation diagram. Once the diagram had been set up, it could no longer be moved.
So Luohu had no choice but to invite them inside to break the formation.
And among them, the only one Luohu truly cared about was Hongjun.
From the first time they met, he'd vaguely sensed that Hongjun would be his lifelong nemesis.
Yet, by some absurd twist of fate, the two of them had joined forces to fend off the Beast Calamity.
It was ridiculous.
After the Beast Calamity, Luohu had begun to consider killing Hongjun.
He hadn't killed Hongjun back then because he'd had a premonition.
If he attacked Hongjun by force, the weaker Hongjun might suddenly unleash tremendous power and kill him instead.
Later, he learned what such a situation was called. According to the information his spies had brought back from the Dragon Race, this kind of explosive power was known as—"powering up at a critical moment"!
Now that Luohu's scheme had been exposed and the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was complete, he had no choice but to fight Hongjun to the death.
A certain mountain.
``` [ Ding! The Immortal Slaying Sword Formation has been completed. The God-Tier Drudge Choice System is activating its choices. ]
[1: Enter the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation with Old Ancestor Yang Mei and the others. Reward: Hongjun will loot the spoils while shedding tears. ]
[2: Observe in secret and wait for an opportunity to act. Reward: Shi Chen Bamboo Flute upgraded. ]
[3: Shout, "I, Shi Chen, can crush you, Luohu, with ease!" Then enter the formation alone. Reward: Wangshu's favor and admiration, and a tomb on Moon Star. ]
Shi Chen: "..."
Shi Chen really hadn't expected the God-Tier Choice System to show up at a time like this.
But of these choices, anyone with a brain would know to pick number two, right?
Surely nobody would choose one or three, right? Right?
Surely transmigrators didn't really all think they were the main character, did they?
Ever since Luohu had scared him off last time, Shi Chen had realized how dangerous the Primordial World was. He'd never stick his neck out unless he had to.
"I choose two."
[The drudge host has successfully chosen. Reward issued.]
[Ding! Shi Chen Bamboo Flute has been upgraded to a Chaos Spirit Treasure, on par with the damaged Jade Disk of Creation.]
"Awesome!"
Shi Chen couldn't help exclaiming inwardly.
He, Shi Chen, was no longer poor!
"Luohu! If you've got the guts, come out!"
Yang Mei shouted toward Mount Sumeru:
"You've got the guts to scheme against people, but do you have the guts to come out? What, can't you come out? What kind of ability is hiding behind the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation? If you've got the guts, come out and fight Daoist Hongjun one-on-one!
"Fists to flesh, every move lethal—what could be more satisfying?"
"Uh..."
The group beside him couldn't help staring in shock.
Why was Yang Mei suddenly acting like this?
Hongjun's head was spinning. Why did that sound so familiar?
"Pfft..."
Watching the shabby old man Yang Mei taunt Luohu, Wangshu couldn't help laughing.
The sight was just too funny. He looked a bit like... like... a clown!
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