Beyond her shock, the Queen Mother of the West looked toward the Interception Sect, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She had never imagined that a seemingly casual decision she had made earlier would save her life.
"Fellow Daoist Wine Sword Immortal truly is a genius without equal through the ages."
"To think he could see such future heavenly secrets as clearly as a blazing fire."
She could not help marveling.
When the Witch and Demon Clans fought for supremacy, keeping oneself safe was the wisest course.
If the Queen Mother of the West had harbored any doubts about those words before,
then now, not a trace of doubt remained.
At the same time, she quietly made up her mind.
In the future, she ought to cultivate a friendship with Gu Changqing.
At the very least, she must never become his enemy.
Otherwise, offending such an unfathomable being would be far too terrifying.
While the Queen Mother of the West marveled and reflected,
another unexpected change occurred on Penglai Island.
The battle had already ended, and Di Jun, Taiyi, and the others stood overbearing and triumphant.
But at a certain moment, Di Jun's expression suddenly shifted, as though he had sensed something.
Just then, he clearly sensed the Fusang Sword within his sea of consciousness suddenly emanating a mysterious, inexplicable aura.
Puzzled, Di Jun focused his mind inward.
A moment later, he discovered to his astonishment that a strange blood essence was flowing into the Fusang Sword.
As it did, the Fusang Sword revealed an ever-sharper edge, as though nothing could withstand it.
Beside him, Taiyi noticed Di Jun's unusual behavior and immediately asked about it.
Without wasting words, Di Jun summoned the Fusang Sword with a thought, allowing Taiyi to sense its transformation as well.
Taiyi's expression grew even more astonished.
"This... it seems human blood essence has entered the sword, causing the Fusang Sword to undergo an unknown transformation."
"Moreover, the Fusang Sword has not only become sharper, but also gained an inexplicable power to suppress blood essence."
As he spoke, Taiyi abruptly realized something.
"Ha ha! Good, good, good!"
"Brother, this is precisely how we can break the deadlock!"
Taiyi laughed heartily.
Di Jun looked at him in bewilderment.
"Oh? Break the deadlock? How?"
Taiyi replied excitedly:
"The Witch Clan possesses bodies of unparalleled strength, invincible in this world."
"But when you trace it to its source, they merely rely on the blood essence inherited from Pangu."
"If we seize more human blood essence and pour it into the Fusang Sword, we will surely be able to counter the Witch Clan's bodies."
At last, Di Jun understood what Taiyi meant.
Of course!
In their countless clashes before, the Witch Clan's indestructible bodies had been the Demon Race's greatest headache.
Yet who could have imagined that human blood essence, once poured into the Fusang Sword and merged with its solar aura, would gain the power to suppress blood essence?
So long as they followed Taiyi's suggestion, this sword alone could suppress the Witch Clan in one stroke and bring the witch-demon tribulation to an end.
Di Jun was overjoyed.
"Excellent, excellent!"
After a pause, Di Jun turned toward the Ten Demon Saints and the million demons.
"Hear your emperor's command!"
"From this day forth, all Demon Clan Beings shall mobilize, slaughter humans, and seize their blood essence."
"From this day forth, our Demon Race shall forge... the Witch-Slaying Sword!"
The heavenly mandate came rolling forth.
The name "Witch-Slaying Sword" surfaced naturally in Di Jun's awareness, like water flowing into a channel.
The Demon Clan Beings bowed in assent.
In an instant, an indescribably dense, chilling killing intent spread among the demons.
All who witnessed it wore grim expressions and silently grimaced.
The Demon Race truly was savage and merciless.
Having just destroyed the Purple Mansion Continent, they were now turning their blades upon humanity.
It seemed humanity could not escape a catastrophe that would shake the world.
Yet although everyone secretly despised the Demon Race's brutality, no one spoke up.
After all, humans were no more than ants at present.
No powerful being would care whether this race lived or died.
Except... for one man.
At that moment, on Golden Ao Island,
Gu Changqing appeared to be reclining in his Cave Abode, drinking fine wine in utter comfort and leisure.
Yet his drunken, hazy eyes remained fixed on Penglai Island.
A terrifying sharpness visibly flashed in his eyes, cold light surging within them.
"Heh, so no one cares whether humanity lives or dies..."
An inexplicable sorrow tinged his words.
As he spoke, a thought brought the Purple-Green Nine Heavens Sword he had acquired before into his hand.
"Heh, this sword can right the world's wrongs; this sword stands unashamed before those who bear shame..."
"Since everyone else watches with cold eyes, then... I shall take charge of this matter!"
Had anyone been present, they would surely have been astonished.
For thousands of years, Gu Changqing had usually presented himself as a drunken man, rarely wearing such a resolute, fierce expression.
As his words fell, Gu Changqing staggered to his feet.
"Ji Ren, come with me to visit humanity."
Hearing this, Ji Ren immediately approached, his face alight with joy.
By now, after being "tempered" by countless fine wines, Ji Ren had undergone a tremendous transformation.
With Celestial Immortal cultivation and a vast, expansive divine sense, he was no longer remotely comparable to the human youth who had possessed no cultivation at all.
But just then, boundless sacred light poured down, and a figure descended before Gu Changqing.
"Changqing, my disciple, do not go!"
"This matter... is ordained by the heavenly mandate, a trial humanity must endure."
The newcomer was none other than Saint Tongtian.
Without a single wasted word between them, Tongtian directly urged Gu Changqing to reconsider, his expression grave.
Clearly, he already knew what Gu Changqing intended, but did not wish to see his disciple drawn into it.
For Tongtian knew that the karma involved was far too staggering.
Upon hearing Tongtian's words, Gu Changqing showed none of his usual drunken haze or flippancy.
He merely spoke in a calm yet deeply solemn voice:
"Master, I have no choice but to go!"
At these words, Tongtian grew even more anxious.
"My disciple, you are not the only one born human."
"Xuandu of the Human Sect is human as well, yet he can remain unmoved and follow the heavenly mandate."
"You... why must you insist on defying it?"
Tongtian was not scolding him, but earnestly trying to persuade him.
This time, however, Gu Changqing wasted no further words. Taking Ji Ren with him, he stepped forward.
"Master, I am not Xuandu!"
"I cultivated the Dao for this very day!"
As he spoke, he had already taken Ji Ren outside the Cave Abode.
Tongtian turned to look, seeing only a resolute, unwavering back.
As though to reassure Tongtian, Gu Changqing waved with carefree abandon and laughed:
"Ha ha... I ride my sword upon the wind, slaying demons between heaven and earth. With wine, I roam in joyful freedom; without wine, I am wild all the same!"
"One draught drains rivers dry; another swallows sun and moon. A thousand cups cannot lay me low-I alone am the Wine Sword Immortal..."
His laughter brimmed with bold, unbridled spirit.
Behind him, Tongtian watched the scene, remaining speechless for a long time.
Before you continue