All Demons Gather, the Dao Body Scheme

In a remote corner of the Chaos world.

Two figures were locked in fierce combat, the radiance of colliding laws illuminating the surrounding chaotic void.

"Conquest Demon God, I am the Time-Passing Demon God under Dao Venerable Shichen! How dare you snatch my treasure?"

The speaker was a gray figure, faint streams of passing years swirling around him. Though he was a lower-ranked Demon God, he belonged to the lineage of the Dao of Time and usually carried himself with some confidence.

The figure opposite him was burly and imposing, radiating savage fighting intent. He was the Conquest Demon God, a lower branch of the Dao of War.

"Humph!" Conquest Demon God snorted. "Do not wave Dao Venerable Shichen's banner around. The Dao of War fears no threat! If you want the treasure, show me what you can do!"

With that, he shook both fists, his punch wind wrapped in the Law of Conquest as it shot straight at the Time-Passing Demon God's face.

The Time-Passing Demon God refused to yield. With a sweep of his hand, ripples of passing years spread outward, weakening more than half of Conquest Demon God's fist force. The two exchanged blow after blow, fighting with no end in sight.

Not far behind them, a Chaos Bone-Tempering Grass, emerald green from stem to leaf and crowned with three purple petals, swayed gracefully.

This grass might have meant little to the three thousand Demon Gods, but to lower-ranked Demon Gods, it was a precious treasure capable of raising one's cultivation.

Just as the two were locked in an inseparable battle,

the Dao of Time throughout the entire Chaos world suddenly surged.

An immeasurable pressure descended from above, as though an invisible giant hand had pressed down upon the whole of Chaos. The Time-Passing Demon God and Conquest Demon God both froze, feeling even the power of laws within their bodies suppressed beyond circulation.

Immediately afterward, a vast Dao voice resounded through Chaos:

"All Demon Gods are to gather in the Time Domain within ten Chaos epochs to discuss matters. Any delay will result in dissolution into the Dao."

The voice was not loud, yet it exploded beside their ears like thunder.

The Time-Passing Demon God and Conquest Demon God stopped fighting at once, standing rigidly in place.

They stared at each other, each seeing shock in the other's eyes.

"Dao Venerable Shichen... has summoned all Demon Gods?" The Time-Passing Demon God swallowed, even forgetting about the Chaos Bone-Tempering Grass on the ground. "Could something major have happened in Chaos?"

Conquest Demon God also withdrew his fighting aura, his brow deeply furrowed. "Who knows? Matters concerning Dao Venerables are not something people like us can interfere with. But for a Dao Venerable to issue such an order... the sky must be falling."

The two who had just fought as though they would kill each other no longer had any thought of seizing treasure. Their minds were filled with that majestic Dao voice.

The same upheaval played out throughout Chaos.

Yang Mei's Dao of Space spread in every direction, Pangu's Dao of Strength shook Chaos, and the three great giants issued summons at the same time. The entire Chaos world instantly boiled over.

Countless Demon Gods awoke from cultivation and set off for the Time Domain. Figures rushing through Chaos could be seen everywhere, all manner of law-light weaving and crisscrossing through the void to form a magnificent tableau.

Before the Fate Domain, the Fate Demon God was preparing to depart when he suddenly sensed a familiar fluctuation behind him.

Without even turning his head, he said irritably, "Yin the Fifth, could you stop popping up behind me every single time?"

The Karma Demon God emerged from the void with a smile, idly playing with a thread of karma in his hand. "Doesn't it make us seem closer?"

"Who wants to be close to you?" The Fate Demon God rolled his eyes.

The Karma Demon God walked forward with his hands behind his back. After going some distance, he stopped and turned back. "Tell me, why do you think Shichen suddenly summoned every Demon God?"

The Fate Demon God gave a cold snort. "What else could it be? The Chaos origin has degraded. Even a fool knows trouble is coming."

"Then take a guess. What does Shichen intend to do?"

The Fate Demon God fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I cannot guess. But with his temperament, since he dared summon every Demon God, he must already have a countermeasure."

"Oh?" The Karma Demon God raised his brow. "You have quite a bit of faith in Shichen."

"It is not faith." Without slowing, the Fate Demon God said evenly, "It is that we have no choice but to believe. The Chaos origin has degraded. If even Shichen cannot resolve it, then we certainly cannot."

For once, the Karma Demon God put away his playful grin and silently followed after him.

Ten Chaos epochs passed in the blink of an eye.

The Time Domain was already packed wall to wall.

The three thousand Demon Gods stood in the front ranks, each occupying one side, their auras distinct. Hundreds of millions of lower-ranked Demon Gods stood behind them in orderly rows, densely packed, yet all held their breaths and dared not make a sound.

Luo Hou stood in the fifteenth position. His gaze swept across the front ranks, then suddenly stopped.

At the lower side beside Shichen stood a white-haired figure in Daoist robes.

Hongjun.

Luo Hou's eyes turned colder. His fingertips unconsciously stroked the shaft of the God-Slaying Spear, and the more he looked at that old Daoist, the more displeasing he found him.

If they had not been within Shichen's domain, he would have wanted to walk over and give that brat a spear thrust.

"Shichen, why have you summoned us here?"

Mingyuan spoke first, breaking the silence. Standing in the fourth position, his tone carried his usual arrogance.

Shichen raised his eyes and swept his gaze over the gathering.

Every Demon God's attention converged upon him.

He did not beat around the bush. His voice was steady, yet every word rang clear.

"The Chaos origin has degraded into Chaos spiritual energy. Most of you have likely already sensed it."

"The origin only flows out and never returns. If it continues to weaken, the Great Dao will inevitably trigger a calamity. And the outcome of this calamity..."

He paused before slowly uttering several words.

"All Demon Gods will almost entirely dissolve into the Dao."

Boom!

The entire gathering instantly erupted.

The lower-ranked Demon Gods in particular went pale. They had only been born not long ago, had barely enjoyed any good days, and now they were going to be sent back to the womb?

"Dissolve into the Dao? How is that possible?!"

"I have only just condensed my laws! Why should I dissolve into the Dao?!"

"How can the Great Dao be so heartless?!"

The clamor rose and fell like an incoming tide.

"What are you making such a fuss over?!"

The Chaos Demon Ape suddenly hammered his chest, his roar drowning out the noise. "Isn't it just a calamity? Kill the Demon God of Disaster, and the calamity will not appear!"

As soon as those words fell, the entire gathering fell abruptly silent.

Countless gazes snapped in unison toward the Demon God of Disaster in the corner.

Even Pangu stroked his chin, seriously sizing up the Demon God of Disaster for several seconds before slowly nodding. "That seems... somewhat reasonable?"

The Demon God of Disaster's face went white.

He shrank his neck beneath the hostile stares filling the venue, his voice trembling. "N-no, it has nothing to do with me! I did not bring about the calamity! I do not want it either!"

Even his true spirit was shaking, terrified that some fool might truly rush over and tear him apart.

"Monkey, do not speak nonsense."

The instant Shichen spoke, all the commotion was suppressed.

"The calamity is driven by the Great Dao and has nothing to do with the Demon God of Disaster. Killing him will not solve the problem."

The Demon God of Disaster looked as though he had been granted a pardon. He nodded again and again, nearly bursting into tears.

The Order Demon God stepped forward. Dressed in solemn pink, she looked toward Shichen. "Since you gathered everyone here, you must already have a countermeasure. Speak plainly."

The gathering fell silent again, every gaze focusing on Shichen.

Shichen gave a slight nod, then shifted half a step aside, revealing Hongjun behind him.

"The specific plan was proposed by Hongjun."

All the Demon Gods were taken aback.

Hongjun?

Under countless doubtful and astonished gazes, Hongjun stepped forward and bowed. Then, neither servile nor overbearing, he slowly laid out the plan of using Dao bodies to open the heavens.

Condense Dao bodies to bear the laws, use those Dao bodies to answer the tribulation of opening the heavens, while the true bodies retreated into Chaos. This would both fulfill the Great Dao's need to reforge the origin and preserve the Demon Gods' lives.

The logic was clear, the advantages and disadvantages distinct.

When he finished speaking, the gathering was silent at first, then low exclamations burst forth.

"This can work?"

"Let the Dao bodies dissolve into the Dao... It neither defies the Great Dao nor costs us our lives? What an excellent plan!"

Countless gazes fell upon Hongjun, filled with surprise and, even more so, admiration.

No one had expected such an exquisite method to come from the last-ranked Immortal Demon God.

"It was merely Dao Venerable Shichen's guidance. I only organized it slightly and dare not claim any credit."

Hongjun lowered his head, his tone humble, showing no desire to steal the spotlight.

"Humph, bootlicker."

Luo Hou sneered softly from the side.

Shichen paid no attention to such trivial noises. Only after the discussion had quieted somewhat did he speak again.

"The plan is one aspect. At present, there are hundreds of millions of Chaos Demon Gods, each acting independently and long accustomed to disorder. If we truly wish to carry it out, the strength of only a few people will be far from enough."

He looked around the assembly.

"My intention is to establish a unified place for deliberation, to unite all sides and face the calamity together. It will also serve to address the many affairs of Chaos in the future. What are your thoughts?"

A gleam flashed in the Order Demon God's eyes.

She knew Shichen was paving the way for her Dao of Order.

She immediately stepped forward, her voice clear and bright. "I propose that we establish the Hall of Gods. With the three thousand higher-ranked Demon Gods as its core, major matters will be discussed together and decided by vote. It will neither seize anyone's right to autonomy nor prevent us from moving in unison to overcome this crisis."

The Demon Gods nodded one after another.

They would not need to submit to anyone, yet would have a place to discuss matters. Lower-ranked Demon Gods would also have a channel through which to speak. Nothing could have been more fitting.

"Feasible."

"Hall of Gods... it sounds good."

"Then it is settled!"

With the matter decided, there were no further objections.

Shichen nodded. "All matters have now been announced. Once you return to your respective domains, begin condensing your Dao bodies. You must condense the most perfect Dao bodies possible, in preparation for opening the heavens."

After giving several further reminders regarding the precautions for condensing Dao bodies, he declared the gathering adjourned.

The Demon Gods departed in twos and threes. The panic they had carried upon arriving had faded, replaced by a measure of confidence.

The method of using Dao bodies to open the heavens had, after all, left everyone a path to survival.

Yet even more Demon Gods were pondering the rules of the Hall of Gods, as well as the seemingly unremarkable Hongjun.

From this moment onward, the structure of Chaos quietly changed.

The Time Domain returned to silence.

Shichen stood atop the high platform, gazing into the boundless Chaos, his eyes deep and solemn.

The Dao body plan had been decided. Next came the most crucial step:

Negotiating with the Great Dao.