Heaven and Earth fell still, mountains, rivers, grass, and trees all trembled, and the hearts of countless living beings shook.
Such pressure was terrifying beyond measure, enough to make all beings bow down in worship.
Fortunately, the six of them stood upon Mount Buzhou Summit. Relying on Pangu's lingering pressure, they barely managed to endure without being forced to kneel.
Even so, their expressions were solemn and their gazes stern as they all ceased their movements.
Bei Ming and Di Jiang exchanged a glance, then tacitly returned to their companions' sides.
The next moment, sacred and ethereal Dao sounds drifted down from beyond the heavens, vast and distant, yet seeming to whisper directly beside their ears:
"High upon the Ninth Heaven's clouds I recline, upon a prayer mat I grasp the Dao's true meaning."
"Beyond Heaven and Earth, Mysterious and Yellow, I shall preside as the honored teacher."
"Pangu birthed Taiji, and Two Forms and Four Symbols followed."
"One Dao passed to Three Friends, while two teachings divided into Exposition and Interception."
"Leader of the Mystic Gate, one breath became Hongjun."
The heavenly voice echoed, blanketing the skies and shaking the endless Primordial Wilderness.
"This Seat, Hongjun, has attained the Dao and become a saint. Ten thousand years from now, I shall preach the Dao at Zixiao Palace within Hundun. Fated ones may come and hear the Dao!"
As the final Dao sound faded, echoes still lingered through the void, yet the terrifying pressure that had blanketed Heaven and Earth slowly receded, and tranquility returned.
Upon Mount Buzhou Summit, everyone wore different expressions.
Nüwa let out a soft breath. Gravity filled her beautiful eyes as she said quietly:
"Attaining the Dao and becoming a saint... it seems a senior has already taken the first step."
Bei Ming's expression darkened as he looked toward Di Jiang and slowly spoke:
"Three Ancestor Wizards, this is a matter of great importance. Shall we continue our duel?"
Ru Shou's tiger eyes widened as he sneered. "Become a saint? What an imposing display!
"I'd like to see what sort of person this is! Even so, we still have ten thousand years.
"Today's battle is today's business. There is absolutely no possibility of abandoning it halfway!"
Fighting spirit burned fiercely in She Bi Shi's eyes as he growled in a low voice:
"Didn't Hongjun just say so? Zixiao Palace lies within Hundun.
"And we are standing atop Mount Buzhou Summit, the peak of the Primordial Wilderness. Leaving for beyond the heavens is only a step away!
"Compared to other cultivators, we are already far ahead. Since that is so, we should settle victory or defeat!"
Di Jiang stepped aside and said steadily:
"Fellow Daoist Beiming, since that is the case, let the duel continue."
Though he said that, Di Jiang had no intention of making another move.
In the Returning Ruins, he had already admitted that he had lost this round. He would not go back on his word the moment they emerged.
Besides, the Wu Clan also needed to visit Zixiao Palace in Hundun to hear Sage Preaching, to see whether this so-called Saint could actually fart out anything worthwhile.
Perhaps they would encounter some enemies along the way, so Di Jiang had to seize the time to recover from his injuries.
As Di Jiang's thoughts shifted to Di Jun and Tai Yi, he could not help narrowing his eyes.
Although Di Jun was still in his developmental stage and had not formally established the Demon Race, his way of developing had already created some conflicts with the Wu Clan.
Whenever the Wu Clan expanded and attacked other clans, Di Jun seemed to have some kind of tracking ability. He often came with Tai Yi to obstruct the Wu Clan's expansion.
The two brothers avoided solid forces and struck at weak points. Rather than confronting the Wu Clan head-on, they waged guerrilla warfare and covered the relocation of other clans.
Using this method to build their reputation by stepping on the Wu Clan, Di Jun and Tai Yi had now become saviors sent from heaven in the eyes of the Ten Thousand Clans of the Primordial Wilderness.
As the Wu Clan's leader, how could Di Jiang fail to see the strangeness in this?
He suspected that the Three-legged Golden Crow Brothers were secretly brewing some enormous conspiracy against the Wu Clan.
However, Golden Crow Transforming Rainbow was incomparably fast. If they focused solely on fleeing;
among the Ancestor Wizards, only the Space Ancestor Wizard Di Jun and the Wind Ancestor Wizard Tian Wu could match their speed.
Moreover, the brothers were powerful and possessed Spirit Treasures capable of Deduction. They had always avoided the Ancestor Wizards to prevent running into them.
On the few occasions they had met, they had not truly fought, merely observed one another from afar. The Ancestor Wizards had no way to probe their true strength.
Now that Sage Preaching was about to take place, Di Jiang was certain that these two Three-legged Golden Crows would never miss such an opportunity.
At this moment, atop Mount Buzhou Summit.
Heavenly winds howled, dark clouds churned, and murderous intent surged from the mountain peak into the sky.
With Bei Ming's arrival, the situation instantly reversed, and offense and defense completely switched places.
Since Ru Shou and She Bi Shi insisted on fighting, Bei Ming could not be bothered to say more. The Hongmeng Measuring Ruler swept out in his hand, every strike carrying the might of Opening Heaven and Earth.
Nüwa raised the Refining Heaven Furnace's defense. Its light barrier flowed and firmly enveloped Bei Ming, allowing him to attack with all his strength without needing to divide his attention to defense.
Fuxi was responsible for support. Qin notes surged as the Changge Sword tore through the air, sword and melody interweaving into a killing symphony.
The majestic Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, combined with the sharp notes of Fuxi's Qin, was the perfect cure for all defiance.
She Bi Shi and Ru Shou unleashed divine abilities one after another. Wild winds and torrential rain, lightning and thunder, and endless sharp golden qi poured forth, only to be shattered one by one.
Ruler Shadows streaked across the sky. Every descent smashed into the formidable Physical Bodies of the two great Ancestor Wizards, beating them until their Blood Qi churned, their flesh split open, and their bones and tendons broke.
Before long, She Bi Shi and Ru Shou's auras had weakened, their bodies swaying as they finally struggled to endure.
Though Bei Ming and Fuxi held every advantage, they still exercised sense of propriety. Their attacks eased, and they did not strike to kill.
The two great Ancestor Wizards staggered back, their auras unsteady. They returned to their Dao Bodies and went back to Di Jiang's side, both looking utterly miserable.
"Elder brother..."
Ru Shou wore a complicated expression, his chest heaving violently as he said in a low voice, "We... lost too."
She Bi Shi's face was ashen as he stared at the three across from him and said heavily:
"Just as Ju Mang said, his Spirit Treasure is extraordinarily powerful."
Di Jiang gazed at his two younger brothers. Though there was pain in his eyes, his voice still carried a measure of admonishment:
"Spirit Treasures are also part of one's strength. Though you lost this battle, you need not be discouraged.
"Now that the duel is over, you should carefully sum up your experience, so that you may make up for your shortcomings in the future."
"Sum up our experience?"
Ru Shou looked utterly confused, furrowed brows drawn tight as he failed to understand his elder brother's words for a moment.
What is there to sum up?
During the first half, She Bi Shi and he had clearly suppressed Nüwa and Fuxi;
although they had never managed to break through their defense, the opponents' attacks had amounted to little more than superficial wounds when they struck him;
even if he stood still and let them scrape at him, it would have been fine.
But in the latter half, Bei Ming had wielded that supreme treasure and forcibly beaten them down. There was no value in drawing lessons from it at all.
She Bi Shi's gaze darkened. Blood still covered his body as he muttered, "Our Physical Bodies are still not strong enough.
"If we could ignore the Measuring Ruler as easily as we ignore other attacking Spirit Treasures;
we would eventually break through their defense!"
At that point, a trace of unwillingness appeared on She Bi Shi's bluish-black face, and he clenched his fists until they cracked.
Ru Shou nodded heavily, his eyes resolute. "Elder brother, She Bi Shi is right!"
Bei Ming, Nüwa, and Fuxi exchanged glances. All three remained calm and dignified as they clasped their fists and called out:
"Three Ancestor Wizards, this battle is over. Until we meet again!"
Di Jiang stood with his hands behind his back, his expression cold. Then he raised his hand in a fist salute and replied in a deep voice:
"The three of you, we shall meet again at Zixiao Palace!"
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