The Dragon-Han Calamity Intensifies, Leaving the Primordial World's Living Beings Devastated

Inside the main hall of Zichen Cave Abode, the atmosphere was grave to the extreme. Xuan Chen, Nüwa, and Fuxi sat facing one another. On the stone table before them lay a bagua diagram deduced by Fuxi. The territory of the Primordial World depicted upon it was covered in red lines that occupied nearly more than half the map, representing the spread of war.

"According to my deductions, the conflict between the three clans has completely escalated. The Dragon-Han Calamity has officially begun." Fuxi's expression was solemn as he pointed at the bagua diagram. "The Dragon Clan has joined forces with part of the aquatic races, occupying vast regions in the east and north of the Primordial World, and is expanding westward and southward. The Phoenix Clan has allied with avian living beings, stubbornly defending the southern volcanic ranges while continuously harassing the Dragon Clan's supply lines. The Qilin Clan is suffering the worst of it. Caught between the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, it has lost vast regions of spirit veins in the central lands and has been forced to migrate northwest."

He paused, a trace of unbearable sorrow in his voice. "Wherever the flames of war reach, living beings are plunged into misery. Vast numbers of low-ranking demonic beasts and ordinary living beings have died in the chaos of war. Even many innate sacred beings have been caught up in it. My deductions show that, on the outskirts of the western Kunlun Ruins, three innate sacred beings at the Golden Immortal level have already perished in the melee between the Dragon and Phoenix Clans. In the Northern Dark Sea, aquatic races are being forcibly conscripted by the Dragon Clan. All who refuse to submit are slaughtered, and even the seawater has been dyed red with blood."

At this, a glimmer of tears flashed through Nüwa's eyes. She thought of the early aquatic races and beast-type living beings she had taken in, her heart filled with worry. "Those weak living beings have no power at all to protect themselves in such a brutal calamity. Could we... could we gather in more living beings and offer them shelter?"

Xuan Chen shook his head and said heavily, "No. War is raging throughout the Primordial World now, and the three clans' scouts are spread across every corner. If we venture out rashly, we could easily be swept into the conflict. Furthermore, the cave abode has limited capacity. We have already taken in several thousand living beings. Any more would exceed what the cave abode can bear, and might even trigger abnormalities in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, exposing the cave abode's location."

Seeing Nüwa's distressed expression, he continued, "I know your heart is filled with compassion, but the great calamity of the Primordial World is part of the Heavenly Dao's cycle. It is not something human strength can reverse. What we can do now is protect the living beings inside the cave abode, shut our doors and remain within, and devote ourselves to avoiding the calamity. Only by surviving until the calamity subsides can we truly do something for the living beings of the Primordial World."

Fuxi nodded as well. "Senior Xuan Chen is right. My deductions show that the next hundred years will be the most brutal period of the Dragon-Han Calamity. The three clans will commit even more power, and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal-level experts may even take action. With our current strength, we simply cannot alter the course of the war. Forcing our way into it would only be seeking our own destruction."

Just then, a violent tremor suddenly came from outside the cave abode. The light curtain of the Primordial Unity Spirit-Gathering Defensive Formation flickered, letting out a humming warning sound. Xuan Chen's expression changed, and he immediately released his divine sense to investigate.

Within the range of his divine sense, a Dragon Clan squad and a Phoenix Clan squad were fiercely battling less than a hundred li outside the cave abode. The Dragon Clan squad had five golden dragons, while the Phoenix Clan squad had three fire phoenixes, all possessing Golden Immortal-level cultivation. Their divine abilities collided, producing enormous energy shockwaves that reached the cave abode's defensive formation.

"This is bad. They're drawing closer to the cave abode!" Xuan Chen said in a low voice. "It seems the war among the three clans has already spread to the area around Mount Buzhou. We must immediately seal the cave abode and reinforce every defense to avoid being discovered by them."

"This disciple will go assist in reinforcing the restrictions at once!" Nüwa immediately rose to her feet, determination flashing through her eyes. At this moment, she was no longer the frail sacred being who only knew how to pity living beings. She was a cultivator with supreme foundations and Golden Immortal-level strength, one who understood the importance of protecting herself and the cave abode.

"I'm going too!" Fuxi followed closely behind.

Xuan Chen nodded and took the lead out of the main hall. His hands swiftly formed seals as he chanted an incantation. Driven by the technique, the Chaos Spirit-Gathering Defensive Formation surrounding the cave abode blazed with brilliant light, its golden curtain becoming increasingly solid. The inner Primordial Unity Guardian Formation was also activated, forming a double barrier. At the same time, every entrance and exit of the cave abode was sealed by heavy restrictions, while the circulation of spiritual energy within the cave abode became self-contained and completely isolated from the outside world.

Following Xuan Chen's instructions, Nüwa and Fuxi placed Primordial Unity Stones and Innate Spirit Jade at crucial points throughout the cave abode, further reinforcing the restrictions. Nüwa even used her newly unlocked divine ability, Myriad Spirits Protection, merging a strand of gentle Myriad Spirits Origin power into the restrictions. This allowed them not only to defend against attacks, but also to resist the fierce Baleful Intent generated by the three clans' battles.

Half an hour later, the reinforcement work on the cave abode was complete. By then, the sounds of slaughter outside had drawn ever closer, and the energy shockwaves had grown increasingly fierce. The light curtain of the defensive formation swayed continuously, yet remained as steady as Mount Tai. Standing within the main hall, Xuan Chen used the formation's detection capabilities to watch the brutal battle outside, a chill flashing through his eyes.

"From this day onward, Zichen Cave Abode is to be completely sealed. No one is permitted to leave without authorization." Xuan Chen's voice spread throughout the entire cave abode. "The living beings within must maintain order and cultivate with all their hearts. Nüwa, Fuxi, the two of you will take turns standing guard and monitoring the formation's movements. I will enter seclusion to deduce the course of the calamity and seek an opportunity to break this deadlock."

"This disciple understands!"

"This junior understands!"

Nüwa and Fuxi responded in unison. The living beings inside the cave abode also sensed the danger outside. One after another, they calmed their minds and found places rich in spiritual energy, beginning to cultivate in earnest. The entire Zichen Cave Abode was like an isolated island cut off from the world, struggling to preserve a patch of peace amid the violent wind and torrential rain of the Dragon-Han Calamity.

Xuan Chen returned to his cultivation chamber and sat cross-legged, continuously deducing the future course of the Dragon-Han Calamity in his mind. He understood that sealing the cave abode was only a temporary measure. The Dragon-Han Calamity would last a long time, and they could not hide forever without fighting. While avoiding the calamity, they needed to rapidly increase their strength, await the opportunities within it, and prepare for their future rise.

Meanwhile, across the lands of the Primordial World, war raged and living beings suffered unspeakably. The dragons' roars, the phoenixes' cries, and the qilins' howls intertwined, composing a tragic elegy for an age of calamity. The Dragon-Han Calamity, the first large-scale conflict between races in the history of the Primordial World, was sweeping across heaven and earth with unstoppable momentum, changing the Primordial World's landscape and future.