Elsewhere, at Mount Buzhou.
As the strongest Great Shaman of the Houtu Tribe, Hou Yi commanded an influence second only to Houtu's. Before long, he had gathered a large force of the tribe's elites-roughly eighty thousand witches-and prepared to head for the Eastern Sea to reinforce Penglai.
"Brother Gungun, wake up. We're marching out." Hou Yi nodded in satisfaction at the imposing army of Witches before him, then spoke to Gungun, who was still sound asleep on his back.
"Then march out. Let me sleep a little longer," Gungun said listlessly.
"You! You'll get in my way when I fight the Demon Race later. Wake up. Can't you sleep after we return victorious?" Hou Yi pleaded, feeling a headache coming on.
"Ah!" Knowing that Hou Yi was determined to go now, and insisted on bringing him along, Gungun sighed.
Then he slowly opened his eyes, lifted his head from Hou Yi's shoulder, and yawned. Patting Hou Yi's shoulder, he said, "Great Shaman, saving the Eastern King really isn't that easy. Going too early won't help. Listen to me and go later, preferably when the Demon Race has destroyed Penglai and is basking in its triumph. We might even catch them off guard that way."
"No!" Hou Yi refused without hesitation. "The Eastern King was personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the Chief of the Male Immortals of the Primordial World. If he falls at the hands of the Demon Race, their prestige will rise to unprecedented heights, while our Witch Race will suffer a tremendous loss of face. I cannot allow that to happen."
Gungun: "..."
Why are you saying exactly what Houtu said? Your reasoning makes sense, but this is destined to happen. You can't stop it just because you refuse to let it happen.
"Ah!" With no other choice, Gungun sighed again, then gave his bearish body a vigorous shake to rouse himself a little. He jumped down from Hou Yi's back, snapped his fingers, and said helplessly, "Fine. Since you've already decided, Great Shaman, you're the boss here. We'll do as you say."
As soon as he finished speaking, two witch soldiers carried a Litter over to him and set it down.
Gungun clenched his fists and rubbed his still-drowsy eyes, then walked over to the Litter and plopped down on it. Leaning against its backrest, he propped his chin on his right hand and waited for them to depart.
When traveling with Houtu, he usually served as her mount. But when traveling with other members of the Witch Race, he happily arranged a Litter for himself to spare himself the journey on foot.
After all, he was a precious bear, and travel wore him out so easily!
"You jest, Brother Gungun. I know you advised me to go later for the Witch Race's sake, because you don't want so many of our people to die. But aside from our difference of opinion, the Ancestral Witch has already given her orders. We should obey them, shouldn't we?" Hou Yi walked beside Gungun's Litter and lowered his head to explain.
"Yes, yes, the Ancestral Witch reigns supreme. Great Shaman Hou Yi, I'm hungry. Do you have any spirit fruit?" Gungun asked, changing the subject rather than discussing it further.
Hou Yi paused, then a smile appeared on his face. He opened his hand, and a flash of divine light revealed a Jade True-Clear Fruit in his palm. Passing it to Gungun, he answered, "Of course. Here."
Gungun accepted the fruit and immediately began eating.
Seeing this, Hou Yi smiled and rubbed his head. Then he turned back toward the witches before him. His smile faded, his expression grew utterly solemn, and he raised his right hand, clenched it into a fist, and shouted, "All troops, march! Reinforce Penglai!"
"Witch! Witch! Witch! Witch!..." Eighty thousand witches roared in unison, their mighty voices ringing through Yunxiao.
Meanwhile, on Penglai Immortal Island in the Eastern Sea.
Boom! A beam of Jinguang fell from the sky and smashed into the ruins of the Immortal Court. It transformed into a pale-faced, middle-aged man in golden robes, kneeling on one knee. It was the Eastern King.
"So this is the Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Dragon-Headed Walking Stick?"
"Since this treasure takes the shape of a dragon's head, it rightfully belongs to our Dragon Race," Ao Yue said coolly, gazing at the Dragon-Headed Walking Stick in his hand after assuming human form. "You! This is a magical treasure bestowed upon me by the Dao Ancestor. You little brat, Ao Yue, if you dare claim it for yourself, you will surely face a sage's wrath one day!" The Eastern King rose to his feet, lifted his head, and shouted furiously at Ao Yue.
"Trying to use the Dao Ancestor to cow me? You can't even protect the treasure he bestowed upon you. Eastern King, I'd say you're the one who should face a sage's wrath!" Ao Yue retorted.
"You!"
"Enough of this 'you' and 'me.' I don't want to slaughter all of Penglai either. As long as you submit now and willingly offer a strand of your true spirit to the Demon-Summoning Banner, I can still spare your life." Ao Yue put away the Dragon-Headed Walking Stick, then pointed his Dragon God Heaven-Slaying Halberd at the Eastern King and delivered his ultimatum.
"Hah, hah..." Rage sent a sharp pain through the Eastern King's chest. He was the Chief of the Male Immortals of the Primordial World, personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor! Yet Ao Yue, a mere junior, dared act so arrogantly before him. This was... this was bullying an immortal beyond all endurance!
"Eastern King, what is your answer?"
"I..."
Bang! Just as the Eastern King was about to answer, the ground beneath his feet shook violently. Countless rocks rose from underground and hurtled wildly toward Ao Yue and the other demons.
"Do not panic, Fellow Daoist Eastern King. I've come to help you!" After Ao Yue and Meng Zhang, who stood behind him, were driven back some distance by the tremors, a cool voice rang out. Then Houtu appeared beside the Eastern King.
"Ancestral Witch Houtu!" The Eastern King's eyes immediately lit up with excitement at the sight of her.
You finally bloody came! If you'd waited any longer, I would have surrendered to the Demon Race.
"Something came up on the way and delayed me. Please forgive me, fellow Daoist," Houtu said to the Eastern King.
"What are you saying, Ancestral Witch? I am endlessly grateful that you came to my aid. Once we drive these demons back, Penglai Immortal Island is willing to ally with the Witch Race and stand together against the Demon Race!" The Eastern King bowed to Houtu and spoke solemnly.
In the sky, Ao Yue's brows immediately furrowed at those words.
Although he had already all but crippled Penglai Immortal Island, as long as the Eastern King lived, Penglai could not be considered a weak power. Moreover, he still held the title of Chief of the Male Immortals of the Primordial World, personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor. If he truly allied with the Witch Race, then...
At that thought, Ao Yue, who had remained unwilling to utterly annihilate Penglai and wanted to minimize the slaughter, finally made his decision.
He looked at Houtu and said, "Ancestral Witch Houtu, you should not have come."
"But I had to come." Without responding to the Eastern King's proposal of an alliance, Houtu met Ao Yue's gaze and spoke firmly.
"I once promised that before the War of the Liches, I would never initiate an attack against the Witch Race. But... today, Ancestral Witch, you struck first!" Ao Yue said. With that, he raised the Dragon God Heaven-Slaying Halberd high, then...
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