The Barrier Shattered

So, in the end, was I just flattering myself?

How was this big fat bear worrying about me or looking out for me? It was clearly only worried about itself!

"Lady Ancestral Witch, you know how rare a bear as outstanding as me is in the Primordial World. Ao Yue said before that Eastern Emperor Taiyi really wanted me as his mount. He was even willing to offer the Jade Radiance Twofold-Unity Lamp for it. Tell me, if he intercepts me on the way while you're away, what am I supposed to do?"

As Gungun spoke, it affectionately rubbed its round head against Houtu's thigh and continued, "Gungun doesn't want to be ridden by a bird."

Houtu: "..."

"Besides, Eastern King is, after all, the leader of the Primordial World's male immortals, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor. He's a Quasi-Saint, and he has the supreme-grade innate spirit treasure, the Dragon-Headed Walking Stick. Surely he isn't so useless that he can't hold out until we return to Mount Buzhou, muster the army, and go rescue him?"

"Please, Lady Ancestral Witch? Don't make me return to Mount Buzhou alone. I'm still a child, not even two hundred thousand years old. I'm sca-"

"Hum~" Houtu swept her hand, and Gungun instantly vanished.

"Hmph, this stupid bear has been getting more and more cowardly lately... no, it's getting lazier and lazier. It won't even fly back on its own." Houtu abruptly realized something, and the corners of her eyes twitched a few times as she murmured.

Then she, too, vanished in a flash, heading to Penglai Immortal Island to support Eastern King.

Mount Buzhou.

"Hum~" Space rippled, and Gungun returned. A dizzying sensation of the world spinning sent it staggering back and forth uncontrollably. Then, with a thump, it landed on its backside. It simply tipped its whole body backward, spread its limbs, and lay there comfortably.

Immediately afterward, it closed its eyes, planning to sleep off the exhaustion caused by being so tightly wound all day.

First, it had worried that Houtu would attain the Dao and suddenly become Pingxin. Then it had encountered that broke bastard Zhunti and feared he would forcibly drag it to the Western Lands to suffer. For a national treasure like itself, which ought to live free of all worries, that was sheer torment.

Not to mention, it hadn't slept for four whole months. Now it really was so... so sleepy. Yawn~

What? Houtu told me to notify Hou Yi to lead an army to reinforce Penglai Immortal Island?

Come on, what's the rush? Reinforcements? Would they even help?

Eastern King is destined to meet his calamity in this battle. There's nothing to be done.

Besides, Ao Yue seemed to be commanding the Demon Race army. Penglai was in the East Sea, and the East Sea was the Dragon Race's ancestral homeland. Although the Four Dragon Kings appointed by the Ancestral Dragon couldn't bear to relinquish their power and refused to let Ao Yue inherit the title of Dragon Emperor, they would probably be willing to add flowers to his brocade and do him an easy favor.

To put it bluntly, they would send troops to help him.

With the Demon Race launching a massive attack from the skies and the Dragon Race, overlords of the East Sea, joining the battle from the waters, what could a mere Penglai Immortal Island possibly use to hold them off?

That Dragon-Headed Walking Stick in Eastern King's hands?

Give me a break!

They're both supreme-grade innate spirit treasures, but that walking stick of his is really... forget it. No more thinking. I'll just notify Hou Yi, then hurry up and sleep.

Gungun lazily moved its fingers and formed a spell gesture, about to send Hou Yi a message. However...

"Brother Gungun, why are you sleeping here? Something's happened in the East Sea. Did you know?" Footsteps suddenly approached. Having sensed Gungun's aura and hurried over, Hou Yi crouched down, nudged it, and asked.

Gungun: "..."

You certainly picked the perfect time to show up.

Gungun grumbled inwardly, then lazily opened its eyes and told Hou Yi in a very quiet voice, "Great Shaman, Lady Ancestral Witch orders you to lead the witches of the Houtu Tribe to reinforce Penglai. Off you go. Be careful along the way. If things can't be salvaged, come back promptly.

"Don't fight recklessly over there." With that, Gungun released its spell gesture, closed its eyes again, and began sleeping soundly.

"Snore, snore, snore~"

Hou Yi: "..."

What's this supposed to mean? Something this important, and instead of hurrying over to tell me, you're lying here sleeping?

And what do you mean, if things can't be salvaged? You think we can't save Eastern King?

With that thought, Hou Yi nudged Gungun again. Finding that it wouldn't wake, he hauled it off the ground with both hands and said, "Since the Ancestral Witch has given her orders, Brother Gungun, let's set out right now. You're a member of the Houtu Tribe too. Come fight alongside us, reinforce Penglai, and slaughter those demons."

"Huh? Great Shaman Hou Yi, I'm exhausted. Besides, I'm only a little bear, without even the strength to truss a chicken. Just spare me..." Gungun said feebly, its eyes closed.

"Let's go!" Having known Gungun for over a hundred thousand years, how could Hou Yi fail to recognize its act of misery? Without waiting for it to finish, he hoisted it onto his back and ran toward the tribal settlement, swiftly gathering the witches and mustering the army to march on Penglai.

Gungun had wanted to stay out of it, but Hou Yi insisted on carrying it there himself. It felt utterly helpless. I really don't want to attempt something I already know is impossible. Can't you just let me have a good sleep?

Once I wake up, I still want to find some time to deal with the remaining souls and all that resentment in my Spirit-Washing Cauldron.

"Ah!" Gungun sighed, then rested its head on Hou Yi's shoulder and discovered, Huh! Sleeping like this seems pretty good too. I can still fall asleep.

And so...

"Snore, snore, snore~" Snoring rang out beside Hou Yi's ear.

Hou Yi: "..."

Meanwhile, elsewhere, in the waters around Penglai in the East Sea.

"Boom!" Standing proudly high in the heavens, Ao Yue raised the Dragon God Heaven-Slaying Halberd, drawing on the power of the stars to form a thirty-thousand-meter thunderbolt. Then he swung his arm down, and the immense bolt descended from the sky, slamming savagely into Penglai Immortal Island's protective barrier.

The barrier shook violently, ripples spreading across its surface.

Seeing this, Meng Zhang, who stood about half a meter behind Ao Yue, narrowed his eyes and calculated inwardly, One more strike should break it.

"Eastern King, I'll ask you one last time. Will you submit to the Heavenly Court?" Ao Yue shouted toward Penglai Immortal Island below.

"Hmph, you brat Ao Yue, spare me your words. I've already sent a message to the Witch Race, and their reinforcements will arrive soon. If you know what's good for you, leave at once. Otherwise..." Hiding inside a pavilion of the Immortal Court, Eastern King spoke with an utterly cold voice, fierce on the outside but fainthearted within.

Otherwise? Otherwise what? He said no more, leaving the demons to guess for themselves.

"Fine. It's not that I didn't give you a chance. You brought this upon yourself." Hearing Eastern King's answer once again, Ao Yue finally made up his mind. He put away the Dragon God Heaven-Slaying Halberd, then leaped forward, transforming into a purple divine dragon millions of meters long and flying toward Penglai Immortal Island below.

"Bang!" An enormous dragon claw shimmering with divine light brutally struck the already unstable barrier. With a crash, the barrier shattered, scattering into specks of light.

"All Heavenly Soldiers, heed my command! Full assault!"

"East Sea Dragon Army, heed my command! Surround Penglai Immortal Island! Don't let a single person escape!"