The abyss split open, revealing a passage. Everyone stepped inside, and the scene before them changed abruptly.
Nine Dragon Bone Altars floated in the boundless expanse.
A Dragon Pearl rested on each altar, radiating a different source of power.
Ao Gan and the others each sensed the altar that corresponded to them and flew toward it.
Qing Xuan, meanwhile, walked toward the smallest altar at the center.
The Dragon Pearl atop it was dim, yet concealed a trace of Chaos Qi.
As Qing Xuan approached, the Dragon Pearl suddenly blazed with light.
A fragment of memory surged into his sea of consciousness—it was left behind by the Ancestral Dragon before his fall.
As it turned out, the Ancestral Dragon had sensed that a great calamity was coming and had separated a wisp of his source power in advance.
That wisp had been hidden in the Dragon Tomb, awaiting someone destined to inherit it.
Qing Xuan carried the bloodline of the Chaos Azure Lotus, making him uniquely suited to merge with this source power.
"To receive my inheritance, you must shoulder the Dragon Clan's Karma," the Ancestral Dragon's Remnant said.
Qing Xuan pondered. The Dragon Clan's Karma was far-reaching, but this opportunity was rare.
At last, he nodded. "This junior is willing to bear that responsibility and restore the Dragon Clan to its former glory."
The Dragon Pearl turned into a streak of light and sank into Qing Xuan's brow as Chaos Qi erupted.
Dragon shadows appeared around him, intertwining and merging with the illusory image of the Azure Lotus.
Seeing this, Nuwa and the others hurriedly stood guard nearby, keeping watch over their surroundings.
The inheritance lasted forty-nine days. At last, Qing Xuan opened his eyes.
His aura was now profound, and he had broken through to the Mid-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.
Even more remarkable, a chapter called the Chaos Dragon Chapter had appeared in his Nascent Soul.
It was created from the Ancestral Dragon's insights into Chaos and pointed straight toward the Dao of the Origin.
Ao Gan and the others also awoke, each having gained a complete ancient inheritance.
Their cultivation had surged, and all eight had reached the Mid Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, with their source powers restored.
As they left the Dragon Tomb, the abyss slowly closed, and the Dragon Souls all let out long cries.
It seemed they were saying farewell, while also placing their hopes for the clan's restoration in the group.
On the way back, Qing Xuan felt something and looked toward the Primordial Continent.
Radiant clouds filled the sky above Buzhou Mountain, and the Demon Court had already been established.
At the same time, Malevolent Qi rose from every corner of the land, and the Witch Tribe's various clans responded in turn.
The first signs of the Witch-Demon confrontation had emerged, and the aura of the calamity began to spread.
Nuwa asked worriedly, "A great calamity is about to begin. What should we do?"
Qing Xuan replied calmly, "Focus on cultivation and wait for the right moment."
He knew that the Witch-Demon Calamity was ordained by the Heavenly Dao.
Interfering rashly would only entangle them in Karma and bring trouble upon themselves.
But when they returned to Fangzhang Island, they saw the Island Protection Grand Formation trembling.
A phantom of the River Diagram and Luo Book hung above the island, while Di Jun and Tai Yi stood in midair.
"Qing Xuan, please come out and meet me," Di Jun called.
Qing Xuan frowned. The Demon Emperor Di Jun had come in person, so this was likely no trivial matter.
He flew out of the formation and cupped his hands. "Demon Emperor, forgive me for failing to welcome you properly."
Di Jun got straight to the point. "Do you know that Hong Yun is with you?"
"I do," Qing Xuan replied frankly. "He is a guest elder of Fangzhang Island."
Tai Yi said coldly, "Kunpeng is the Demon Master of our Demon Clan. I hope you'll do me this favor."
"Hand Hong Yun over, and the Demon Court will remember your kindness."
Qing Xuan shook his head. "Since Hong Yun entered my island, he has been one of its people."
"If the Demon Emperor insists on taking him, perhaps you should ask the ruler in my hand."
A phantom of the Eastern Emperor Bell appeared behind Tai Yi. "You insist on this, fellow Daoist?"
The atmosphere grew tense, and the two sides' auras collided in midair.
Just then, a hearty laugh rang out from the horizon. "What a lively scene!"
The Sanqing arrived on clouds. Laozi smiled. "Fellow Daoist Di Jun."
"Hong Yun's matter is a personal grudge. Why bring the might of the Demon Court to bear?"
Yuanshi interjected, "The Dao Ancestor bestowed the Primordial Violet Qi for a reason."
Tongtian simply nodded to Qing Xuan in greeting, then stood a little farther away.
Di Jun's expression darkened slightly. "Do you three intend to interfere, fellow Daoists?"
Laozi swept his horsetail whisk. "I'm only reminding you not to go against the Heavenly Dao."
As it turned out, the Sanqing had come to help Qing Xuan out of a tight spot.
Qing Xuan understood. Tongtian must have said something to his brothers after returning.
After weighing his options for a moment, Di Jun finally gave a cold snort. "Very well."
"We'll set Hong Yun's matter aside for now, but your Karma with the Demon Clan remains unresolved."
With that, he left with Tai Yi, the Eastern Emperor Bell's peal shaking the land for a thousand miles.
The Sanqing descended from their clouds, and Laozi said to Qing Xuan, "You've gotten yourself into trouble, young friend."
Qing Xuan bowed. "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoists."
Yuanshi glanced at Fangzhang Island. "You certainly know how to pick a place."
Tongtian said quietly, "Thank you for your advice at Treasure Distribution Cliff that day."
After returning, Tongtian had thought carefully about Qing Xuan's words and gradually grown uneasy.
He had begun to wonder whether he had been too compliant with his two elder brothers.
He had come to help Qing Xuan partly to repay the kindness Qing Xuan had shown him that day.
The Sanqing didn't stay long and soon took their leave.
When Qing Xuan returned to the island, Hong Yun was overcome with gratitude. "I've dragged you into this..."
"There's no need to say more," Qing Xuan said, waving a hand. "Just focus on your cultivation."
Yet he had a feeling that this matter wouldn't end here.
Now that the Demon Clan had set its sights on Fangzhang Island, they would surely make another move.
Sure enough, a few months later, news spread throughout the Primordial Wilderness: the Demon Court had been established.
Di Jun and Tai Yi formally proclaimed themselves emperors and appointed Kunpeng as Demon Master.
They began drilling the Myriad Stars Array, and Star Power descended upon Buzhou Mountain.
The Witch Clan refused to be outdone. The Twelve Ancestral Witches gathered at Pangu Hall.
The Heavenly God-Demon Array began to take shape, and Malevolent Qi surged into the heavens.
The Primordial Ten Thousand Races were forced to choose sides, and the aura of the calamity grew ever thicker.
Fangzhang Island remained peaceful for the moment, but it was the stillness before the storm.
Qing Xuan urged everyone to work harder at their cultivation while he himself studied the Chaos Dragon Chapter.
One day, as he watched the lotus by the pond, he suddenly felt a stirring in his heart.
He performed a divination and discovered that Nuwa's destined opportunity was approaching—the time for the Creation of Humanity was near.
At the same time, the Netherworld Spiritual Treasures in Houtu's hands began to tremble violently.
They all pointed toward the Sea of Blood, as if calling out to something.
Houtu came to find Qing Xuan. "The Spiritual Treasures are guiding me to the Sea of Blood."
Qing Xuan remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "I'll go with you."
He knew that Houtu's destiny to transform into Samsara was about to begin.
Perhaps it couldn't be changed, but at the very least...
He could accompany her on this journey and witness that tragic moment with his own eyes.
When Nuwa heard about it, she wanted to go too, and Fu Xi naturally followed.
The four left the island and traveled west, crossing the Primordial Continent toward the Sea of Blood.
Along the way, clashes between the Witch and Demon Clans grew frequent, and fighting began to break out. Flames of war had already appeared across the land; the calamity had officially begun.
Qing Xuan felt conflicted. He knew the Great Trend, yet lacked the power to turn it aside.
All he could do was protect the people by his side. The Sea of Blood lay in the distance, its towering waves churning as resentful souls wailed.
Ancestor Minghe seemed to sense their arrival and emerged from the Sea of Blood.
"What brings you all to my Sea of Blood?" His gaze fell on Houtu.
They all pointed toward the Sea of Blood, as if calling out to something. Houtu came to find Qing Xuan. "The Spiritual Treasures are guiding me to the Sea of Blood."
Qing Xuan remained silent for a long while before finally saying, "I'll go with you." He knew that Houtu's destiny to transform into Samsara was about to begin.
Perhaps it couldn't be changed, but he could accompany her on this journey and witness that tragic moment with his own eyes.
When Nuwa heard about it, she wanted to go too, and Fu Xi naturally followed. The four left the island and traveled west, crossing the Primordial Continent toward the Sea of Blood.
Along the way, clashes between the Witch and Demon Clans grew frequent, and fighting began to break out. Flames of war had already appeared across the land; the calamity had officially begun. Qing Xuan felt conflicted, knowing the Great Trend but powerless to turn it aside.
All he could do was protect the people by his side. The Sea of Blood lay in the distance, its towering waves churning as resentful souls wailed.
Ancestor Minghe seemed to sense their arrival and emerged from the Sea of Blood. "What brings you all to my Sea of Blood?" His gaze fell on Houtu.
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