The Thirty-three Heavens, the Demon Court.
The Lingxiao Palace was still as resplendent as ever, but the atmosphere was so heavy it seemed ready to drip.
Di Jun sat high upon the throne, his expression composed, though the golden flames flickering in his eyes betrayed his unrest.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi stood at his side. The phantom of the Chaos Bell shimmered faintly behind him, radiating an unnerving power.
A streak of white light flashed, and Bai Ze appeared in the center of the hall.
He had barely steadied himself before hurrying forward and bowing in greeting:
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, Eastern Emperor!"
His voice was urgent, with even a trace of trembling he himself had not noticed.
Di Jun's gaze immediately settled on Bai Ze.
"How did it go?"
The two words carried unquestionable authority.
Bai Ze did not dare delay. He swept his sleeve.
A flash of light, and the Primordial Unity Witch General, still unconscious, was carefully laid on the polished floor.
At the same time, he raised the White Jade Pure Bottle in both hands. The Human Race Blood inside rippled faintly.
"Your Majesty, as commanded, I captured a Primordial Unity Witch General and retrieved the blood essence of a hundred humans."
Bai Ze reported quickly. Then he drew a deep breath, his face turning more solemn than ever.
"On my way back, I took the liberty of using a drop of human blood to... conduct a small test on the Witch General."
At those words, Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi both fixed their gazes on Bai Ze.
"What was the result?"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi pressed him in a low voice.
Bai Ze raised his head. His eyes still shone with disbelief, and his voice was dry.
"This Human Race Blood... actually... actually restrains the Witch Clan's bodies!"
"It lasted only an instant, but it truly happened!"
"What?"
Di Jun shot to his feet!
Solar True Fire surged several feet around him!
The pressure of an emperor spread beyond his control, and the entire Lingxiao Palace trembled faintly!
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's pupils also contracted. His fingers tightened sharply around the Chaos Bell, which gave a low hum.
"Is this true?"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's voice carried an unprecedented severity.
The Human Race?
The race created by Saintess Nuwa, born frail.
A race that struggled to survive among the Great Wilderness Myriad Races, and was practically regarded as livestock for the slaughter?
Their blood... could actually restrain the Witch Clan?
How could that be possible?
What kind of origin did the Witch Clan have?
They had been formed from the blood essence of Great God Pangu, inheriting Pangu's Legacy. Their bodies were peerlessly strong; they cultivated no Primordial Spirit, only their physical forms!
The Twelve Ancestral Witches had even been born from twelve drops of Pangu's Blood Essence. They commanded the Heaven and Earth Laws, roamed the Great Wilderness, and stood as equals to their Demon Clan!
Their bodies were so powerful that even an Innate Spiritual Treasure could hardly pierce them!
And the Witch Clan beyond the Twelve Ancestral Witches had also been nurtured by Pangu Hall.
Yet now Bai Ze was saying that the blood of these insignificant humans could harm the Witch Clan's vaunted bodies?
This was even more unbelievable than Ghost Chariot's death!
Di Jun's chest rose and fell slightly, golden flames dancing wildly in his eyes.
He stared hard at Bai Ze, trying to find even the slightest trace of a lie.
But there was none.
Only absolute conviction.
Di Jun knew Bai Ze would never make such a claim without reason, much less deceive him about something this important.
But this was simply too absurd!
"What you have said is astonishing."
Di Jun slowly sat back down, his voice low and hoarse.
"It is not that I doubt you. This concerns the eternal dominion of my Demon Clan, so I must be cautious!"
His gaze shifted to the unconscious Witch General on the floor, then fell on the unremarkable-looking White Jade Pure Bottle.
"I must see it with my own eyes."
As he spoke, a golden glint flashed in Di Jun's eyes. He gave Bai Ze a slight nod.
"Bai Ze, verify it here and now."
"Yes!"
Bai Ze accepted the command solemnly.
He understood that words alone were no proof. Only seeing it with their own eyes would convince both Your Majesties completely.
He drew a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within him.
Holding the White Jade Pure Bottle, he released a wisp of magical power.
A dark red drop of blood slowly floated out of the bottle's mouth and hung in the air.
The blood was no bigger than a grain of rice. It gave off only a faint Blood Qi fluctuation, so insignificant beside the vast Demonic Qi filling the hall that it seemed no more than dust.
Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi fixed their eyes on the drop.
Bai Ze then guided it slowly toward the Primordial Unity Witch General lying on the floor.
The blood droplet fell gently.
It landed on the Witch General's exposed arm.
Di Jun, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and even Bai Ze, who was casting the spell, all held their breath.
The next instant.
"Ts!"
A faint sound rang out!
Where the human blood had landed, a tiny wound appeared on the Witch General's skin!
It lasted only a moment before the immense vitality and Blood Qi in his body forcibly healed it.
But that was proof enough of Bai Ze's claim.
Human blood truly did possess a natural ability to restrain the Witch Clan's bodies!
Silence!
Deathly silence fell over the entire Lingxiao Palace!
Every Demon God and Demon General standing at the sides gaped in astonishment.
If they had not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed such an absurd sight!
"Hum!"
Solar True Fire erupted around Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and the Chaos Bell rang of its own accord, shaking the void!
All doubt had vanished from his face, replaced by unparalleled shock—and, after the shock, wild delight!
"It's true!"
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's excited voice rang out.
Di Jun slowly rose from the throne once more.
Every emotion had disappeared from his face, leaving only an unfathomable chill.
He descended the steps one by one and stopped before the Witch General, looking down at the arm that had already healed.
Then he lifted his head and looked at the White Jade Pure Bottle in Bai Ze's hands.
"Hahahaha..."
"So this is your weakness!"
"And it lies in the Human Race, whom both you and we have regarded as nothing more than ants and blood food!"
Di Jun's voice was soft, yet icy.
He looked at Bai Ze, his eyes now filled with an unyielding resolve to kill.
"Bai Ze."
"Your servant is here!" Bai Ze bowed, his heart surging.
"This matter must not be leaked beyond those in this hall!"
Di Jun's voice was cold, his will beyond question.
"Yes!"
"Convey my decree!"
Di Jun's gaze swept across every Demon in the hall. Each one who met his icy eyes instinctively lowered their head, trembling in spirit.
"Secretly mobilize our elite forces and seal off the East Sea Coast and every major human settlement!"
"At all costs, gather as much Human Race Blood as possible!"
"Remember—as much as possible!"
He paused, then added, each word steeped in carnage.
"Kill anyone who resists!"
"I will use this blood to forge a Supreme Divine Weapon that will annihilate the Witch Clan!"
"If this weapon is completed, the Witch Clan's bodies... will all be reduced to dust!"
"The title of Great Wilderness Overlord shall belong to our Demon Court!"
Bai Ze and all the other Demons in the hall knelt as one, their voices shaking the heavens:
"Your servants obey!"
"Long live the Demon Clan!"
Golden Ao Island.
Immortal mists swirled, and spiritual energy surged like a tide.
Endless emerald waves surrounded the island. Lush mountains rose across it, and palaces appeared between the clouds.
Xuandu stepped out of the void and landed on the great flagstone plaza before Biyou Palace.
Though his heart was urgent, his stride remained steady.
He looked over the naturally formed Dao Charm of the palace ahead, and his mind settled somewhat.
He walked briskly toward the palace gate.
Two figures stood quietly on either side of it.
On the left was Jinguang Xian, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals.
On the right was Piluxian, one of the Seven Attendant Immortals.
Seeing Xuandu approach, they both bowed slightly.
"Senior Brother Xuandu."
Xuandu returned their greeting with cupped hands. His voice held a faint urgency:
"Junior Brothers, I have an urgent matter to report to Master. Please inform him at once."
At this, Jinguang Xian and Piluxian exchanged a glance, both looking troubled.
Jinguang Xian stepped forward with a rueful smile.
"Senior Brother Xuandu, at the moment... you may have to wait a little."
Xuandu's heart sank.
Could Master have gone into seclusion?
If so, and they delayed, then the Human Race...
His brows drew together slightly, and he pressed them:
"Is Master in seclusion, comprehending the Great Dao?"
His voice had grown somewhat anxious.
Seeing his expression, Jinguang Xian realized Xuandu had misunderstood and hurriedly shook his head.
Then he lowered his voice, his face filled with unprecedented reverence.
"It is not that Master is in seclusion."
He paused, his gaze unconsciously turning toward the tightly shut gates of Biyou Palace. His voice dropped even further.
"Dao Ancestor has arrived in person."
!!!
At those words, Xuandu's pupils contracted sharply!
Dao Ancestor Hongjun?
That Supreme Existence who had merged with the Heavenly Dao, governed the workings of the Great Wilderness, and stood above all the Saints?
He had come to Biyou Palace in person at this very moment?
Xuandu's mind was shaken. For a moment, he stood rooted to the spot.
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