Dijun Visits Phoenix Mountain

These words fell, and the forest fell into deathly silence.

The leering grins on the faces of the Witch Warriors froze, as if they had heard the greatest joke in the world.

The Bull-headed Witch Warrior at the lead was so enraged that every muscle on his body trembled.

"Little brat, what did you say?"

His eyes, as large as bronze bells, glared fiercely at Xuanqing, his voice rumbling like thunder.

Xuanqing spread his hands, a half-smile on his face.

"I said, I'm giving you a dignified death. Isn't that a pretty good deal?"

"Courting death!"

The Bull-headed Witch erupted in fury. He stomped his foot, and the very earth quaked.

The door-plank-sized great axe in his hand whistled through the air, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, as it cleaved straight down toward Xuanqing's head!

This axe strike was simple and direct—a pure manifestation of the Witch Race's physical strength.

The oppressive pressure drained the color from the faces of the Rabbit-eared Girl and the others in the distance, nearly suffocating them.

Xuanqing let out a cold shout.

A three-foot-long azure ancient sword materialized in his hand.

The blade was plain and unadorned, yet a faint, clear light flowed across its surface.

It was the Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, the Jing Shi Sword!

As the sword appeared, the bloody and Sha Qi-laden air of the Witch Race around them melted away like snow under the sun.

The Bull-headed Witch Warrior, bearing the brunt of it, felt his strength suppressed, his movements slowing by half a beat.

"Merit power?!"

He cried out in shock.

The Witch Race cultivated their physical bodies, not their Primordial Spirits. They were naturally attuned to the Turbid Qi of the earth, with deep Sha Qi within them.

Merit power, on the other hand, was a reward from the Heavenly Dao—pure, supreme yang, the perfect counter to their Sha Qi!

The Rabbit-eared Girl nearby also sensed that aura, and her heart was filled with even greater shock.

In this territory blessed by Empress Nüwa, she had seen many of the Demon Race, but never one who possessed such pure and vast merit power.

Was he really one of their Demon Race here?

As she was lost in thought, Xuanqing moved.

His figure blurred like an afterimage, vanishing from his spot in an instant.

The Bull-headed Witch Warrior's instincts screamed a warning. He saw a flash before his eyes, and the azure figure had already appeared at his flank.

"Such speed!"

He marveled inwardly, trying to swing his axe back to defend, but it was too late.

A cold, clear sword light swept past lightly.

"Pfft!"

The Bull-headed Witch's proud physique, comparable to a low-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, was utterly useless before the Jing Shi Sword.

The absolute crushing gap in realm caused the Bull-headed Witch's physical form to collapse instantly.

A wound deep enough to show bone appeared across his waist and abdomen.

"Ahhh—!"

Excruciating pain struck, and the Bull-headed Witch let out a scream.

But what terrified him more was the faint, clear light clinging to the wound.

The merit power burrowed into his body like carrion-eating maggots, madly searing his Witch blood essence and Sha Qi.

"All together! Kill him!"

The other two Witch Warriors, shocked and enraged, immediately flanked him from both sides, swinging their bone clubs and stone spears at Xuanqing.

Xuanqing's expression remained unchanged. He flicked his wrist, and the Jing Shi Sword traced a flower in the air.

Sword light poured out like water.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two crisp sounds rang out as the bone club and stone spear snapped in two.

Before the two Witch Warriors could react, they felt a chill at their brows.

Their expressions froze, the ferocity in their eyes dimmed rapidly, and their massive bodies toppled straight to the ground, lifeless.

The Rabbit-eared Girl and the Little Demons behind her stood frozen in place.

Those were Witch Warriors!

At the same realm, with invincible physiques and ferocious combat power—Witch Warriors!

... To think they were taken out with just two sword strikes?

The Bull-headed Witch saw his companion fall, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes. Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, he turned to flee.

"Thinking of leaving now? Too late."

Xuanqing's calm voice rang out behind him.

The Bull-headed Witch felt a chill at the back of his neck, and a beam of clear light pierced straight through his heart.

His massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

From the first strike to the end, only a few breaths had passed.

Three Witch Warriors, each at the Mystic Immortal level, had been cleanly and neatly dispatched.

Xuanqing casually waved his hand, sweeping the three corpses into his Sleeve Universe.

The Witch race was a treasure trove—their essence blood could refine the body, their bones could forge artifacts. No waste allowed.

At the same time, a double portion of Merit from the Demon Race surged up from the ground. Xuanqing, unnoticed by the few Little Demons, absorbed it on the spot. The Merit Golden Wheel within him spun for a moment before halting.

Only after finishing all this did he turn around to face the Little Demons, who were frozen in shock.

His face still wore that same gentle smile.

"Alright, problem solved."

The Rabbit-eared Girl snapped back to reality with a jolt. Her eyes, fixed on Xuanqing, brimmed with awe and gratitude.

She quickly led the other Little Demons behind her in a deep bow toward Xuanqing.

"Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives!"

"Senior?" Xuanqing rubbed his chin. "Do I look that old to you?"

The Rabbit-eared Girl froze, unsure how to answer.

Xuanqing chuckled, deciding not to tease her further.

"Alright, this place isn't safe. You should leave now."

With that, he turned to go.

He had saved these Little Demons and earned the Merit; there was no need to linger.

"Senior, please wait!"

The Rabbit-eared Girl mustered her courage and called out again.

"What is it?" Xuanqing looked back.

"Senior, your strength is formidable... Could you perhaps escort us part of the way?" the Rabbit-eared Girl asked timidly. "We want to go to Phoenix Mountain to gather some spirit herbs to heal our companions, but there might be more Witch tribesmen on the road."

Phoenix Mountain?

Xuanqing's heart stirred. Wasn't that on his way?

He glanced at these low-cultivation Little Demons, their faces full of hope.

"Fine. I was planning to head that way anyway. I'll take you along."

"Thank you, Senior!"

The Rabbit-eared Girl beamed with joy, bowing repeatedly in thanks.

Meanwhile, at Phoenix Mountain, within Nüwa Palace.

Auspicious Clouds coiled around, and the sound of Dao chants filled the air.

A woman of peerless grace sat cross-legged on a Cloud Bed.

She wore a simple palace robe, her features like a painting, her aura ethereal, as if she were one with the entire world.

This was the Great Sage of the Demon Race, Nüwa.

Yet on her exquisite face lingered a trace of unshakable melancholy.

Thousands of years had passed since she returned from listening to the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace.

She had secluded herself day and night, painstakingly pondering the method of attaining sainthood that Hongjun Dao Ancestor had taught, but she could never find the door.

She could clearly sense that a thin layer of paper stood before her.

The opportunity for sainthood lay right there.

But no matter how she deduced or contemplated, she could not pierce that final barrier.

This feeling left her restless and troubled.

Just then, the soft sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

A maidservant approached quietly and bowed.

"Empress, there is a guest seeking an audience outside the palace."

Nüwa slowly opened her eyes. Within her gaze, it seemed galaxies swirled. Her voice was cool and clear.

"Did I not say that during seclusion, no one is to be disturbed?"

The maidservant's body trembled, and she hastily knelt prostrate on the ground.

"Reporting to Empress, the visitors are the Demon Emperor Your Majesty and the Eastern Sovereign Your Majesty from the Heavenly Court."

Dijun? Taiyi?

Nüwa's brows furrowed slightly.

She naturally knew the intent of these two fellows.

Nothing more than wanting to use the righteousness of the Demon Race to bind her onto the war chariot of the Demon Court, adding weight to their Great Cause of unifying the Honghuang.

Seeing Nüwa silent, the maidservant cautiously added.

"Your Majesties said they have urgent matters regarding the future grand plan of the Demon Race to discuss—matters of great importance that must be reported."

"The grand plan of the Demon Race?"

Nüwa sneered inwardly.

That is your grand plan of the Demon Race. What does it have to do with me?

Her nature cherished tranquility and disliked conflict.

She had never been interested in Dijun and Taiyi's rhetoric about conquering the world.

If not for the sake of their shared status as great sages of the Demon Race, she would have long since turned them away at the door.

Still, she was currently at a bottleneck in comprehending the Great Dao, restless and irritable. Going out to see them for a change of pace might not be a bad idea.

"Forget it."

Nüwa stood up, her voice returning to its usual calm.

"Let them in."

"As you command, Empress."

The maidservant, as if granted a reprieve, quickly withdrew.