"The Jie Sect Personal Disciple Token!"
Di Jun's pupils contracted sharply. For the first time, clear shock appeared on his dignified face.
Beside him, the Solar True Fire that had been roiling around Eastern Emperor Taiyi also faltered.
His grip tightened slightly around the Chaos Bell. The killing intent on his face froze, turning into utter disbelief.
The personal token of Sage Tongtian!
There was no faking this item. The distinctive Jie Sect Dao Rhyme and Sage Aura upon it were unique in the Great Wilderness!
Xuandu... was actually a personal disciple of Tongtian?
The two brothers had descended in person, full of thunderous fury, intending to kill this wretch with overwhelming force.
That would avenge Ghost Chariot and restore the Demon Court's dignity, while also striking fear into the Great Wilderness.
Ghost Chariot was one of the Ten Great Demon Saints, a figure of lofty status.
If his death were simply brushed aside, what dignity would the Demon Court have left? How could they command the Myriad Demons and vie for supremacy in the Great Wilderness?
But for all their calculations, they had failed to account for one thing: this Human who bore the Primordial Dao Fruit had the Sword Dao's peerless master, Sect Leader Tongtian, standing behind him!
Of course!
If he were not a Disciple of a Sage, how could he have gained such a Heaven-Defying Opportunity, rising from an ordinary mortal to the Hunyuan realm in a hundred years?
That pure aura of the Shangqing Dao Method from earlier explained everything!
Di Jun's face darkened, his thoughts racing.
If this had been an ordinary rogue cultivator, even one who had reached Golden Immortal of the Origin, they could have killed him and borne the Karma. The Demon Court could afford that.
But their opponent was a Sage's Personal Disciple!
That changed everything!
Beneath the Sages, all were ants.
This was no empty boast.
Though the brothers stood at Quasi-Saint Peak and commanded an Innate Supreme Treasure, making them the mightiest beings beneath the Sages, they were still no more than ants before a true Heavenly Dao Sage.
If they ignored the token and insisted on attacking Xuandu...
It would no longer be a private grudge. It would be an open provocation of the entire Interception Sect and an insult to Sage Tongtian!
It would be tantamount to the Demon Court declaring war on the Interception Sect!
The consequences were far too grave.
The Witch-Demon Tribulation had reached a critical stage, and the shadow of the decisive battle with the Witch Clan loomed over the Great Wilderness.
If they now incurred the undying enmity of a Sage's lineage as well...
Even with the Demon Court's deep foundations, they could hardly withstand a war on two fronts.
The fearsome reputation of Sect Leader Tongtian's Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, which only the Four Sages could break, was well deserved.
Was it worth facing a Sage's boundless wrath for Ghost Chariot and a little dignity?
Di Jun's eyes flickered rapidly as he weighed the consequences. For a moment, he was rooted to the spot, unable to advance or retreat.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's face had turned equally livid. His heart, too, was clearly in turmoil.
He was fierce and domineering by nature, always believing in overwhelming others with force. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Yet the wisps of Sage Sword Intent emanating from the token forced him to suppress his killing intent.
They might still dare to challenge a Golden Immortal of the Origin, but a Sage's Personal Disciple... was untouchable!
Below, before the altar.
Ci Tie stood with his mouth agape, his bronze-bell-sized eyes almost popping out of their sockets. His head was buzzing.
He stared at the token hovering in the air, feeling the Sage Dao Rhyme that made his Demon Soul tremble.
Then he stole a glance at the two Majesties, who stood silent with grim faces, and was completely dumbfounded!
Good heavens!
A personal disciple of the Interception Sect!
A Sage's Personal Disciple!
Xuandu... damn it, he should have said so sooner!
If he'd revealed that identity from the start, Ci Tie wouldn't have dared storm in with such bluster—not in a million years. He certainly wouldn't have thrown a punch at a Sage's Personal Disciple!
Remembering his earlier scolding and the full-force punch he'd thrown...
Ci Tie felt cold sweat instantly soak his back, and his burly frame went weak.
Beating a Sage's Personal Disciple—this Karma, this crime... How could a mere Demon Saint like him possibly bear it?
The two Majesties might not even be willing to take a Sage's wrath for his sake!
Thank goodness... Thank goodness the two Majesties had arrived in time!
That's right. When the sky fell, the tallest would hold it up!
The two Majesties had been in charge of this matter, and it was their order to seal off the East Sea Coast. He had only been following orders...
Exactly!
Ci Tie frantically reassured himself.
His once-straight back bent a little, and his arrogant, domineering air had vanished without a trace.
Without drawing attention, he began edging backward, bit by bit.
His massive body moved with unusual clumsiness and caution, as if he feared attracting even the slightest notice.
At last, he managed to shrink behind the towering figures of Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. He even quieted his breathing, with nothing left in his heart but fear and relief.
On the altar.
Xuandu took in Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's shifting expressions, as well as Ci Tie's comical retreat, and sneered inwardly.
As expected, being a Sage's Personal Disciple was the best protection one could have in the Great Wilderness.
He had deliberately kept his identity hidden at first, waiting for the two Demon Emperors to arrive.
Revealing it to Ci Tie alone would have meant little and might even have alerted the others.
Only by presenting it openly before Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi could he make the strongest possible impression!
He had gambled that, at this critical juncture of the Tribulation, the Demon Court would never dare completely break with the Interception Sect.
Now, it seemed he had wagered correctly.
He slowly put away the token. Pure and Bright Immortal Light flowed around him, faintly resonating with the token and lending him an even more transcendent air.
Meeting Di Jun's complicated gaze with calm eyes, he spoke evenly:
"Your Majesties, do you still intend to go through with this?"
His voice rang clearly through the silent world, carrying an unmistakable challenge.
Di Jun felt a tightness in his chest, a simmering frustration he could not vent.
As Demon Emperor and ruler of the Heavenly Court, when had he ever been interrogated so brazenly by a junior?
But the situation was against him.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger and humiliation.
Then he managed a strained smile, his voice rougher than he realized:
"So... you are a distinguished disciple of Sage Tongtian."
"It seems I... failed to recognize you."
Those words amounted to acknowledging Xuandu's identity. They also implicitly admitted that, whatever had happened today, the Demon Court could no longer force the issue.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi snorted coldly and turned his head aside. The light of the Chaos Bell in his hand dimmed, clearly signaling that he accepted his elder brother's stance.
Seeing this, the Myriad Demon army fell silent as well. Their earlier overwhelming ferocity had already died away, leaving only confusion and unease.
Around the altar, the Myriad Human Race had stood stunned for a moment. Then they erupted in wild, relieved celebration!
"Master Xuandu! He's a Sage Disciple!"
"We're saved! The Human Race is saved!"
Their cries rang out again, more fervent than before and brimming with hope.
Suiren Shi, Youchao Shi, and Ziyi Shi exchanged glances. Each saw profound shock and relief in the others' eyes.
They had known Xuandu had joined the Interception Sect, but they had never imagined he was a personal disciple of such exalted status!
They had made the right move after all!
Xuandu gave a slight nod. Di Jun's response came as no surprise, but he did not press his advantage. He simply said:
"If so, Your Majesty, could you order your troops to lift the blockade?"
His gaze swept over the Demon Clouds that still filled the surrounding sky. His meaning was obvious.
Di Jun's expression darkened further, and his fists clenched inside his sleeves.
Withdraw the troops?
They had come in force today. If they slunk away now, what dignity would the Demon Court have left? What would become of his authority?
But if he refused... would he really set himself against the Interception Sect for the sake of these Humans?
Just as Di Jun struggled to decide, unable to reach a conclusion—
"Boom!!!"
A mighty War Drum, filled with boundless power and fury, suddenly sounded from the distant horizon, breaking the standoff!
The beat struck at the heart of every living being, carrying the will of a primeval age!
Then came a second beat, a third... The sound rolled on without pause, growing louder and drawing nearer!
"Wuuuu!!!"
A desolate horn sounded next, intertwining with the War Drum and surging into a torrent that swept across heaven and earth!
At the breach in the Demon Clouds sealing off the Eastern Sky, baleful energy soared into the heavens!
Dense Blood Qi spread across the sky, staining half of it a deep crimson!
One towering figure after another emerged from the baleful energy.
Banners whipped in the wind, each emblazoned with fearsome Ancestral Witch Totems that radiated a heart-shaking, primeval aura!
The figures at the front were terrifyingly powerful, their auras in no way inferior to Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi's. Among them was Di Jiang, leader of the Twelve Ancestral Witches!
The Witch Clan army had brazenly arrived at this very moment!
The Demon Clan's massive mobilization and blockade of the East Sea Coast had clearly alerted the Witch Clan long ago!
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