The Year's Contest

This night had originally been a peaceful one.

Yet in the night sky of the Immortal Realm, a heavenly hound devoured the moon. The stars dimmed into darkness, and an oppressive air of deathly stillness hung over everything.

People from the Immortal Court and the Demon Realm had gathered before Water Curtain Cave. Every Immortal Realm expert wore a stern, grave expression. This night was not unfamiliar to them; long ago, through the endless ages, they had experienced it once before.

It had been the night before the immortals and demons fought to the death. The starry sky had looked exactly like this, as though foretelling the rise and fall of the Immortal Realm!

"It's exactly the same as back then. It seems this time, blood is destined to flow like a river again. Are we truly unable to escape it?" an Immortal Realm expert from the Demon Realm sighed as he gazed at the night sky.

"The Heavenly Emperor's ambitions are too great. He needs no one's allegiance—he trusts only himself. This time, I fear none of the living beings beneath heaven will escape." An elder of the Immortal Court spoke as well. By now, neither side had any mind left to dwell on past grievances.

"If not for the Heavenly Dao's protection back then, we might have all been suppressed and slain long ago. Who would have thought this day would still come?"

"Equal to Heaven possessed the strength to battle the Heavenly Emperor back then, but the Heavenly Emperor is no longer what he once was. If Equal to Heaven returns, will he still be a match?" They looked toward Water Curtain Cave, glowing with golden light, their faces filled with concern.

A moment later, Fat Daoist arrived before Water Curtain Cave once more. Now, every