Chapter 48

Show me what you have learned in turn. Let me see how your cultivation has progressed.

She faced ten Golden Crows alone, remaining utterly composed.

Not bad. Among Taiyi Golden Immortals, you are already outstanding.

But you still lagged behind those Saints. You must cultivate diligently without pause and strive to break through to the Great Luo realm, or even the Quasi-Saint realm as soon as possible!

As princes of the Demon Race, how could you fall behind others?

At the very least, you had to reach the level of those Saints!

She sternly pointed out the shortcomings of each Golden Crow.

The ten Golden Crows listened respectfully to her teachings.

Only after her reprimand ended did one Golden Crow timidly ask, "Mother Empress, when can we leave Tanggu Valley and go to the lower realm to play?"

"Since we were born, you have never allowed us to leave the Sun Star. We have not even set foot in the Heavenly Court!"

"That's right, Mother. Every day, it's nothing but cultivation. We want to go out and relax~~"

Changxi's expression immediately darkened.

She sternly said, "As princes of the Demon Race, countless eyes are watching you in secret. You must never leave Tanggu Valley on your own."

"Wait until you break through to the Great Luo realm and pass my test. Then we can discuss going to the Heavenly Court."

"Remember, focus on cultivation!"

The ten little Golden Crows immediately drooped in disappointment.

Changxi offered a few gentle words of comfort before leaving.

Ever since the Golden Crows had been born, Karma and Karmic Debt had become entangled around them. She guarded against danger day and night, terrified that they would leave the Sun Star and suffer some mishap.

She reluctantly looked back at the Sun Star before flying helplessly toward the Heavenly Court.

As the Empress, she also had to oversee the affairs of the Heavenly Court. How could she remain here forever?

Now, she could only hope Di Jun's prophecy would come true and that they would win the Witch-Demon War.

How wonderful it would be if she could transfer all the Karma and Karmic Debt upon them to herself before the war.

Unfortunately, this divine ability could only be used once every Kalpa. How could that be easy...

Changxi pondered silently.

Lost in thought, she failed to notice that two more figures had quietly appeared on the Sun Star.

Jieyin and Zhunti descended soundlessly upon the Sun Star. With a casual gesture, they dealt with two Demon Race guards. After reading their memories, they exchanged smiles. The situation of these Golden Crow fledglings... was simply a heaven-sent opportunity!

The instant the two entered Tanggu Valley, the ten Golden Crow princes summoned them over. "Guard Seventeen, Guard Eighteen, come quickly!" Disguised as guards, Jieyin respectfully replied, "Reporting to Your Highnesses, the Empress has already left." Hearing this, the leading prince deliberately coughed with an air of maturity. "You have been to the mortal realm. Quickly, tell us what interesting things there are in the lower realm." The other nine Golden Crows immediately chirped in agreement.

Jieyin and Zhunti worked in perfect coordination, describing the mortal realm in such dazzling terms that the little Golden Crows could hardly bear it. From then on, the two came every day to tell them stories of the mortal world. One day, three years later, they casually mentioned that a secret realm somewhere on the Sun Star concealed a teleportation array leading to the lower realm.

After the two left, the ten Golden Crows indeed followed the clues and found the array. As they activated it together, golden light flashed, and they finally set foot upon the Primordial World. Faced with an unfamiliar world, the overexcited Golden Crows revealed their true forms and soared freely through the skies. Hidden in the shadows, Jieyin and Zhunti curled their lips into sinister smiles.

Blazing suns hung high in the nine heavens. Ten scorching suns turned the Primordial World into a furnace. Witch Clan people wailed and collapsed beneath the Solar True Fire. Rivers evaporated, and spiritual plants withered. As the rulers of the land, the Witch Clan could not remember the last time they had suffered such a disaster.

The ten Golden Crow princes had just arrived in the mortal realm and were having the time of their lives. The stray sparks they scattered carelessly ignited towering seas of flame. Every race feared the Demon Race's power and dared not speak in anger, but the Witch Clan swiftly retaliated. Great Witch Da Yi crossed mountains and rivers, racing toward the place where the Golden Crows ran rampant...

Within the Witch Clan's sacred hall, the twelve Ancestor Witches and numerous Great Witches were discussing important matters. Powerful energy fluctuations filled the hall, and every Great Witch radiated astonishing might.

Dijiang said sharply, "Those two Western Saints secretly manipulated the Demon Race's Golden Crows into descending upon the mortal realm. First, they deceived Houtu into repairing the Western spiritual veins, and now they have made a move against the Demon Race. They are truly cunning."

He immediately gave the order, "Da Yi has been sent to hunt down those Golden Crows. Once he makes his move—Kuafu, head to the Sun Star at once and destroy the magic treasure the Demon Race is forging."

The towering Kuafu was overjoyed. "Excellent! I have long wanted to destroy the nest of those feathered beasts!"

Dijiang pressed down on the excited Kuafu. "Be patient. Once Da Yi succeeds, the Demon Race will definitely react. At that time, we will all move out to hold them back, and I will secretly open a spatial passage to help you launch a surprise attack. As the Ancestor Witch who controlled space, crossing the Thirty-Third Heaven was no difficult task for him."

Every Witch Clan warrior present rubbed their hands eagerly, wishing they could immediately charge into the Heavenly Court.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court had already noticed the disturbance.

Di Jun slammed his hand onto the table in fury. "Who dared secretly release the princes into the lower realm?" He knew his beloved wife Changxi had confined the ten princes to Tanggu Valley. There had to be something suspicious about this turn of events.

"Follow me to the lower realm at once!" Di Jun urgently summoned Taiyi, Changxi, Xihe, and the Demon Race's Saints, activating the grand teleportation array to rescue the princes.

However, it was already too late.

Da Yi had already drawn his bow and nocked his arrows. Nine divine arrows tore through the air, instantly shooting down nine Golden Crows. The sole surviving youngest prince fled in panic. Just as the tenth arrow was about to leave the bowstring—

Clang!

A heaven-shaking bell chime resounded through the universe, freezing time and space. Eastern Emperor Taiyi, clad in imperial robes and surrounded by blazing golden sunlight, appeared in time to protect the last little Golden Crow.

Burning with rage, he exerted force and snapped Da Yi's arrow in one grasp. Blazing Solar True Fire erupted forth, while the Eastern Emperor Bell unleashed boundless might, determined to slay Da Yi on the spot!

At that critical moment.

A vast force suddenly tore apart the frozen time and space. The Laws of Time and Space erupted simultaneously, forcibly blocking the Eastern Emperor Bell's might and freeing Da Yi from the temporal-spatial confinement!

Taiyi's expression turned icy.

Holding the Eastern Emperor Bell, his control over time and space was unrivaled in the present age. He had thought he could capture Da Yi first, but he had not expected the Witch Clan to have prepared an ambush and rescue Da Yi at the critical moment!

"Taiyi, it has been a long time!"

Dijiang laughed loudly.

The other Ancestor Witches had long been unable to restrain themselves and launched a joint assault on Taiyi. Taiyi activated the Eastern Emperor Bell's power and barely escaped.

In an instant.

Di Jun arrived with the Demon Race's powerful experts and stood shoulder to shoulder with Taiyi!

The situation changed abruptly. Even the most reckless members of the Witch Clan halted their attacks, confronting the Demon Race's experts.

Terrifying pressure swept in all directions, annihilating everything nearby.

The powerful members of the two races stood at sword's point, and a great battle was ready to erupt.

Changxi watched as her nine sons were pierced through by arrows. Grief and fury overwhelmed her, and she launched a fierce attack!

Yet this strike was easily dissolved by the Witch Clan's powerful experts.

Taiyi handed the surviving Golden Crow prince to Changxi. The tenth prince curled up in her arms, trembling and too afraid to raise his eyes.

Just as the Witch and Demon races faced off—

On Kunlun Mountain.

The Three Pure Ones watched coldly!

Dao De Tianzun's expression was grim.

He had completely understood—this Witch-Demon War had to have been secretly driven by the Western Teachings, who intended to end the calamity!

The Western Teachings had been acting frequently lately. If they could end the calamity, they would obtain an enormous amount of merit.

How could he possibly tolerate that?

During this Witch-Demon Calamity, he had gained very little, while the Western Teachings had seized every advantage!

No...

When exactly had the situation begun to spiral out of control?

And how had the Western Teachings manipulated the Witch and Demon races?

Dao De Tianzun's thoughts churned.

Suddenly, a name surfaced in his mind—

Lu Tian!

Ever since Lu Tian had entered the Demon Race Heavenly Court, the Western Teachings had maintained an ambiguous relationship with the Witch and Demon races, secretly colluding with them.

From that point on, the Western Teachings had made every move with calculated precision, seizing many opportunities and even using the situation to disrupt the calamity and hasten its end!

Lu Tian...

Dao De Tianzun silently repeated the name, hatred quietly rising in his heart.

Recently, his attention toward Lu Tian had reached an extreme.

That person was simply too conspicuous.

Lu Tian had been involved in humanity's westward migration!

He had participated in repairing the Western Earth Veins!

Even the premature conclusion of the Witch-Demon Calamity seemed to have been secretly driven by him!

How could a mere Taiyi Golden Immortal stir the winds and clouds of the Primordial World and transform heaven and earth?

This boy was certainly not as simple as he appeared. He must be hiding an unknown secret.

Even Dao De Tianzun could not help but wonder: What exactly was Lu Tian?

The Witch and Demon races,

the two strongest races in the Primordial World, had deployed all their elites and now faced each other across the void.

One wrong move, and heaven and earth would collapse while the universe lost its color!

It was not only the Three Pure Ones.

Powerful figures throughout the heavens watched this place with rapt attention.

The previous Witch-Demon War was still avidly discussed by all living beings.

At that time, the Witch Clan had been unstoppable, beating the Demon Race until it collapsed in defeat!

How would this battle develop?

Solar True Fire burned fiercely in Di Jun's eyes as he looked down upon the earth with hatred, wishing he could tear the Witch Clan apart alive.

Fortunately, he still retained his reason and knew that was impossible.

"Changxi, endure for now!"

Di Jun transmitted his voice to her.

Changxi was already close to madness, her bloodshot eyes glaring at her husband.

Ever since the Witch Slaying Sword had begun to be forged, she had worried day and night that her children would suffer calamity and die before they could grow!

If they died fighting for the Demon Race, she would have nothing to say!

But if they broke before they had even grown strong, how could she possibly accept it?

"Di Jun!"

"Where is the Witch Slaying Sword you have tempered for so long?!"

"Draw it! Slaughter every one of these Witch barbarians!"

Clutching the young prince in her arms, she forcibly suppressed the last trace of reason and shouted through voice transmission.

Di Jun's expression was dark, but he did not argue.

He had delayed using the Witch Slaying Sword only because the time was not yet right.

The sword had been tempered for nearly an entire Kalpa, and its edge had almost reached its peak.

However—

The Witch Clan still possessed a trump card: the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Array!

If the Ancestor Witches joined hands to summon Pangu's phantom, even the current Witch Slaying Sword could not harm it in the slightest!

Fight, or not fight?

Di Jun's thoughts churned, but his expression remained calm as he coldly examined the Witch Clan's formation.

Then, suddenly,

he noticed something unusual.

The Witch Clan was missing a fierce general.

Great Witch Kuafu!

He was one of the Witch Clan's foremost combatants. Why was he absent from this battle?

Given the temperaments of those barbarians, how could he fail to come when there was fighting?

The other side also had a Great Witch skilled in space and speed. The time they had delayed was more than enough for him to arrive! Unless the Witch Clan had another scheme!

Di Jun's heart tightened. He immediately transmitted his voice to Taiyi. "Return to the Heavenly Court at once. Go to the Sun Star and check the situation first!" Before Taiyi could react, he heard Di Jun shout, "Move immediately! Confirm the Sun Star's safety before returning to the Heavenly Court!"

Taiyi did not dare hesitate. He immediately brought out the Chaos Bell, took control of time and space, and sped toward the Sun Star.

"Stop him!" Dijiang roared, exerting the Law of Space to intercept him with all his might. Zhu Jiuyin cooperated seamlessly, activating temporal confinement at the same time. With the two working together, Taiyi's movements immediately slowed considerably.

This scene left the powerful spectators in awe. Aside from Saints, perhaps only Taiyi, who wielded the Eastern Emperor Bell, could still manipulate time and space under the combined efforts of Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin.

The battle spiraled out of control in an instant as the Witch and Demon races erupted into fierce conflict.

Within the Western Pure Land, Lu Tian watched the battlefield from afar with his master's empowerment. "With the Witch Clan acting like this, this battle is unavoidable," Jieyin said indifferently. The war he had planned was destined to cause countless deaths and injuries, but he did not care in the slightest.

Lu Tian watched everything calmly. The rise and fall of the Witch and Demon races had nothing to do with him. He only needed to seek benefits at the appropriate time. That was the advantage of becoming a Saint's disciple—even if his strength was insufficient, he could still borrow their influence. Without a Saint's protection, how could he have obtained so many opportunities during the calamity?