In a remote corner of the Chaos World, two figures fought fiercely.
The light of clashing laws illuminated the surrounding Chaos Void.
"Conquest Demon God, I am the Time-Passing Demon God under Dao Venerable Shichen! You dare steal my treasure?"
The speaker was a gray figure wreathed in faint images of passing years. Though he was a Lower Demon God, he belonged to the lineage of the Dao of Time, which gave him some standing.
His opponent was a burly figure radiating fierce battle intent: the Conquest Demon God, a Lower Demon God of a branch of the Dao of War.
"Hmph!" the Conquest Demon God snorted. "Don't wave Dao Venerable Shichen's banner at me. The path of war fears no threat! If you want the treasure, show me your strength!"
With that, he drove both fists forward. A gale of punches carrying the Conquest Law surged toward the Time-Passing Demon God's face.
The Time-Passing Demon God refused to yield. With a sweep of his hand, he sent out a ripple of passing years that weakened more than half the force of the punches. They traded blows without pause, locked in a furious fight.
Not far behind them, a Chaos Bone-Tempering Grass swayed gracefully, green from stem to tip except for the three purple petals blooming at its crown.
To the three thousand Demon Gods, the grass might have meant little. To a Lower Demon God, however, it was a precious treasure capable of raising his cultivation.
Just as their fight reached a deadlock,
the Dao of Time across the entire Chaos World suddenly surged.
A boundless pressure descended from above, as though an invisible hand had pressed down upon all of Chaos. The Time-Passing Demon God and the Conquest Demon God froze at once. Even the power of their laws was suppressed, unable to circulate.
Then a vast voice of the Dao rang throughout Chaos:
"All Demon Gods are to come to the Time Domain for deliberation within ten Chaos Eras. Any who delay shall be sent to dissolve into the Dao."
The voice was not loud, yet it struck their ears like a thunderclap.
The Time-Passing Demon God and the Conquest Demon God stopped fighting and stood rigid.
They looked at each other and saw the same shock in the other's eyes.
"Dao Venerable Shichen... is summoning every Demon God?" The Time-Passing Demon God swallowed, forgetting even the Chaos Bone-Tempering Grass on the ground.
"Could something terrible have happened in Chaos?"
The Conquest Demon God withdrew his battle aura, his brow furrowed.
"Who knows? The affairs of Dao Venerables aren't for the likes of us to meddle in. But if a Dao Venerable has given an order like that... the sky must be falling."
Moments ago, the two had fought tooth and nail for the treasure. Now neither gave it a thought. That commanding voice filled their minds.
The same shock rippled through every corner of Chaos.
Yang Mei's Dao of Space spread in all directions, and Pangu's Dao of Strength shook Chaos. With all three titans issuing summons at once, the entire Chaos World erupted into motion.
Countless Demon Gods woke from cultivation and set off for the Time Domain. Figures raced through Chaos in every direction, their laws' radiance weaving across the void into a magnificent tableau.
Before the Fate Domain, the Fate Demon God was about to depart when he sensed a familiar disturbance behind him.
Without turning, he said irritably, "Yin the Fifth, can you stop appearing behind me every time?"
The Karma Demon God stepped out of the void with a grin, toying with a Karma Thread.
"It makes us seem close."
"Who wants to be close to you?" The Fate Demon God rolled his eyes.
The Karma Demon God walked ahead with his hands behind his back. After a short distance, he stopped and looked back.
"Why do you think Shichen suddenly summoned every Demon God?"
The Fate Demon God snorted.
"Why else? The Chaos Origin has degraded. Even a fool knows trouble is coming."
"Then what do you think Shichen plans to do?"
The Fate Demon God fell silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"I can't guess. But knowing him, if he dared summon every Demon God, he must already have a plan."
"Oh?" The Karma Demon God raised an eyebrow. "You have quite a lot of faith in Shichen."
"It isn't faith." The Fate Demon God kept walking. "We have no choice but to trust him. If even Shichen can't solve the degradation of the Chaos Origin, we certainly can't."
For once, the Karma Demon God dropped his playful grin and followed in silence.
Ten Chaos Eras passed in the blink of an eye.
The Time Domain was already packed with Demon Gods.
The three thousand Demon Gods stood at the front, each occupying a place of their own, their auras distinct. Hundreds of millions of Lower Demon Gods filled the ranks behind them. Despite their numbers, all held their breath and made no noise.
Luo Hou stood in the fifteenth position. As his gaze swept the front ranks, it suddenly stopped.
Just below Shichen's side stood a white-haired figure in a Daoist robe.
Hongjun.
Luo Hou's eyes cooled. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the shaft of the God-Slaying Spear. The longer he looked at that old Daoist, the more he disliked him.
If they had not been in Shichen's Domain of Dao, he would have gone over and run the fellow through.
"Shichen, why have you summoned us?"
Mingyuan spoke first, breaking the silence. He stood in the fourth position, his tone carrying its customary arrogance.
Shichen raised his eyes and surveyed the assembly.
Every Demon God turned toward him.
He did not beat around the bush. His voice was steady, every word clear.
"The Chaos Origin has degraded into Chaos Spiritual Qi. I imagine most of you have already sensed it."
"The Origin is flowing out but not being replenished. If it continues to dwindle, the Great Dao will inevitably unleash a Tribulation. And the outcome of this Tribulation..."
He paused before slowly speaking the final words.
"Nearly every Demon God will dissolve into the Dao."
Boom!
The assembly erupted.
The Lower Demon Gods in particular turned deathly pale. They had only recently come into being and had barely begun to enjoy life. Were they about to be sent straight back to the womb?
"Dissolve into the Dao? How is that possible?"
"I only just condensed my law! Why should I dissolve into the Dao?"
"How can the Great Dao be so heartless?"
Voices rose one after another, swelling like a tide.
"What are you shouting for?"
The Chaos Demon Ape suddenly pounded his chest. His roar drowned out the clamor.
"It's just a Tribulation! Kill the Demon God of Disaster, and the Tribulation won't happen!"
The entire assembly fell abruptly silent.
Countless gazes snapped toward the Demon God of Disaster in the corner.
Even Pangu stroked his chin and studied the Demon God of Disaster for several seconds before slowly nodding.
"That... almost makes sense?"
The Demon God of Disaster went white.
He drew in his neck. Faced with a sea of hostile stares, even his voice trembled.
"N-no, it has nothing to do with me! I didn't bring on the Tribulation! I don't want it either!"
His True Spirit was shaking. He was terrified some fool would actually charge over and tear him apart.
"Ape, don't talk nonsense."
The moment Shichen spoke, all the noise died away.
"The Great Dao drives the Tribulation. It has nothing to do with the Demon God of Disaster. Killing him won't solve anything."
The Demon God of Disaster nodded again and again, as though granted a reprieve. He nearly burst into tears.
The Order Demon God stepped forward. Solemn in pink, she looked at Shichen.
"Since you've gathered everyone, you must already have a plan. Tell us."
The assembly quieted once more. All eyes settled on Shichen.
Shichen nodded slightly, then stepped half a pace aside, revealing Hongjun behind him.
"Hongjun devised the plan. He will explain it."
The Demon Gods were taken aback.
Hongjun?
Under a barrage of startled, doubtful gazes, Hongjun stepped forward and bowed. Then, neither servile nor overbearing, he laid out the plan to use Dao bodies for the Creation of Heaven.
They would condense Dao bodies to bear their laws. The Dao bodies would face the tribulation of the Creation of Heaven while their true selves withdrew into Chaos. That would satisfy the Great Dao's need to refine the Origin anew while preserving the Demon Gods' lives.
His reasoning was clear, the benefits and risks plainly set out.
Silence fell when he finished. Then murmurs of astonishment broke out across the assembly.
"Could that really work?"
"The Dao bodies dissolve into the Dao... That neither defies the Great Dao nor costs us our lives? What a plan!"
Gazes swung toward Hongjun, some surprised, most admiring.
No one had expected such an ingenious solution from the Immortal Demon God, who ranked near the bottom.
"Dao Venerable Shichen guided me. I merely put his thoughts in order and dare not claim the credit."
Hongjun lowered his head, his tone modest. He made no attempt to steal the spotlight.
"Hmph. Sycophant."
Luo Hou gave a quiet, mocking laugh nearby.
Shichen ignored these small reactions. Once the discussion subsided, he spoke again.
"The plan is one part of this. There are hundreds of millions of Demon Gods in Chaos, each acting on their own and accustomed to doing as they please. A handful of us cannot carry this through alone."
He looked around the assembly.
"I propose establishing a common place for deliberation, to bring all sides together against the Tribulation and address the many matters Chaos will face in the future. What say you?"
The Order Demon God's eyes flashed.
She knew Shichen was clearing a path for her way of Order.
She immediately stepped forward, her voice clear.
"I propose we establish the Hall of Gods. The three thousand higher Demon Gods will form its core. We will discuss major matters and decide them by vote. No one need surrender their autonomy, but we can act together and overcome this crisis."
The Demon Gods nodded one after another.
They would not have to submit to anyone, yet they would have a place to deliberate. Lower-ranking Demon Gods would have a way to make their voices heard, too. It was an ideal arrangement.
"That works."
"The Hall of Gods... I like the sound of it."
"Then it's settled!"
The matter was decided, with no further objections.
Shichen nodded.
"Everything has been announced. Once you return to your respective Domains of Dao, begin condensing your Dao bodies. Be sure to make them as perfect as possible for the Creation of Heaven."
After a few more cautions about condensing Dao bodies, he dismissed the assembly.
The Demon Gods departed in twos and threes. The fear they had arrived with had faded from their faces, replaced by a measure of confidence.
The plan to use Dao bodies for the Creation of Heaven had, after all, left everyone a path to survival.
Many more Demon Gods were already pondering how the Hall of Gods would operate, and thinking about the seemingly unremarkable Hongjun.
From that moment on, the balance of power in Chaos quietly changed.
Silence returned to the Time Domain.
Shichen stood atop the high platform, gazing into the vastness of Chaos, his eyes dark with thought.
The plan for the Dao bodies was settled. Next came the most crucial step:
negotiating with the Great Dao.
Before you continue