Inside the Dao Palace, Han Xuanji slowly rose from the Chaos Azure Lotus. The lotus petals gently closed, and the Chaos Daoist aura flowing around him calmed down.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the palace walls, across endless time and space, and land on the twelve majestic figures stirring up the wind and clouds above the Nether Sea, especially the leader Di Jiang, whose aura was vast and had Hunyuan Wuji.
At this moment, the atmosphere above the Nether Sea was extremely solemn.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches manifested their true forms, their enormous bodies seemingly supporting the sky. Their boundless Blood Qi and the Power of Principle mixed together, forming a suffocating, invisible force field.
Di Jiang, with a human face and bird body, four wings and six feet, unleashed his overwhelming aura of the Hunyuan Wuji Realm, suppressing Shifang.
The Heavenly Emperor finally rose from his throne, took a step, and arrived outside the Southern Heavenly Gate, instantly appearing above the Nether Sea.
He exuded imperial power, and although his face was calm, thunder was brewing deep within his eyes.
" Haotian, so you are the Heavenly Emperor?"
Upon seeing the Heavenly Emperor appear, Di Jiang's voice, like eternal thunder, soared straight to the heavens:
"We have returned from the primordial slumber, not for destruction."
Our Witch Race is the spirit born of heaven and earth, in charge of the earth's veins and governing all spirits; it is rightful for us to regain control of the earth!
The Heavenly Court can still rule over the Tianxing, the wind, the clouds, and the rain. What's wrong with you and me jointly governing this realm and dividing heaven and earth?
His words resounded throughout the Immortal Realm, shaking the hearts and minds of countless beings.
Co-governance? Dividing the world?
That sounds nice, but this is supposed to completely overthrow the Heavenly Court!
The countless immortals and gods in the Immortal Realm were in an uproar.
Some veteran immortals showed anger and denounced his arrogance, while other immortals and gods had their eyes flickering, as if they were weighing their options.
To be honest, the fighting power displayed by this Witch Race is astonishing, and they have the leverage to negotiate with the Heavenly Court.
" Di Jiang."
The Heavenly Emperor spoke, his voice carrying an undeniable majesty that resounded throughout the universe.
"Heaven and earth are in order, yin and yang follow the way. Since the Dao Ancestor the order, the Heavenly Court has been entrusted with the mandate of Tianming to govern all realms, maintain the operation of the universe, and keep all living beings in balance."
If the Witch Race wishes to return to order and live in peace, the Heavenly Court may grant them a fiefdom, allowing them to recuperate and thrive.
However, the idea of 'co-governance' disrupts the fundamental laws of heaven and earth, triggering endless calamities and conflicts; such a proposal is absolutely impossible.
"Absolutely impossible?"
Di Jiang's four wings fluttered slightly, causing violent ripples in the space. His laughter was full of mockery and arrogance.
" Haotian, you are nothing but a puppet junior supported by the Dao Ancestor. How dare you discuss the laws of heaven and earth with me?"
In ancient times, our race roamed the earth, and all living beings bowed before us. At that time, what was the Heavenly Court?
What makes you think you're some kind of Heavenly Emperor? I have now attained the Dao of Wuji and returned to the world. The Witch Race will take control of this land!
If you know what's good for you, the sky will be yours, and the earth will be mine, and we'll live in peace.
If you don't know what's good for you...
His aura surged once more, and the eleven Ancestral Witch behind him roared in unison, their Sha Qi soaring into the sky. The entire Nether Sea and even several surrounding domains began to tremble violently, their Principle becoming disordered, as if the heavens and earth were about to collapse at any moment.
"Then let's have a showdown and see if your Heavenly Court can still hold onto its ruling position!"
The threat was made without any attempt to conceal it.
A hint of rage finally flashed in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes. The phantom of the Diagram of the Celestial Stars faintly appeared behind him, and the vast power of the Heavenly Dao began to gather.
Just as tensions were running high and a major battle was about to erupt—
"Tsk tsk tsk, why get angry? Why get angry?"
A soft, eerie voice, seemingly capable of stirring the deepest secrets within every living being, abruptly broke into the tense atmosphere.
The void of the Nether Sea seemed to have been torn open by an invisible hand, from which dense demonic energy flowed out.
The Devil Ancestor only manifested a blurry figure in black robes.
" Di Jiang has returned with great ambition; congratulations!"
His Heavenly Emperor governs effectively, which my ancestor greatly admires.
The Devil Ancestor's voice carried a hint of laughter, yet it was icy and chilling.
"Both of you are pillars of the Immortal Realm. Why waste your harmony and the vital energy of the Immortal Realm for a moment of anger?"
"In my opinion, Di Jiang's request is not entirely unreasonable."
The Witch Race is born of the earth and is close to it. If they were allowed to manage the mountains and rivers and nourish the earth's veins, it might greatly benefit the reproduction of the Immortal Realm.
The Heavenly Court, which governs the order of celestial phenomena and rewards good and punishes evil, is also indispensable.
Why don't you two each take a step back and find a compromise?
For example, the Witch Race could enjoy partial autonomy over the land, while nominally still respecting the Heavenly Court's rule. This would both fulfill the Witch Race's desire to return and preserve the Heavenly Court's prestige—wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
The Devil Ancestor's words seemed fair, but in reality, they concealed malicious intent.
The so-called right to autonomy has blurred boundaries and endless potential problems; in fact, it sows the seeds of division.
"Jointly govern the Immortal Realm? Rule the land?"
Han Xuanji chuckled softly.
"This Di Jiang has quite the appetite and audacity. Having just escaped from purgatory, he already wants to redraw the reins of power in the world."
Meanwhile, in the sky Nether Sea, Di Jiang saw the Devil Ancestor come to help and couldn't help but feel that this guy was quite reliable. He originally thought that the other party would stand by and watch, but he didn't expect him to actually step forward and put pressure on the Heavenly Emperor.
Seemingly sensing the Devil Ancestor's sincerity, Di Jiang stopped pretending:
" Haotian! And that cowardly Mystic Heaven Dao Venerable! My patience is finite! The Witch Race will take control of this land today! If they don't agree..."
"Then let us first use you, Heavenly Emperor, as a sacrifice for the first battle of my Witch Race's return!"
A major battle seems imminent.
Behind the Heavenly Emperor, the illusory image of the Diagram of the Celestial Stars suddenly shone brightly. At the same time, an ancient seal slowly emerged in his hand, exuding supreme majesty that ruled over all heavens and commanded all paths—it was the Heavenly Dao Imperial Seal!
At this critical moment...
"Gentlemen, would you please give this Heavenly Venerable some face?"
Han Xuanji's calm voice rang out, without any thunderous force.
However, it resounded clearly in the hearts of every living being above the Nether Sea. Whether they were Daluo Golden Immortal or Hunyuan Immortal Emperor, they could hear it clearly, like the imperial edict of the Great Dao, reaching the depths of their souls.
Immediately afterwards, to the astonishment of all who were watching, without any earth-shattering noise, a figure simply stepped out of the void above the Nether Sea.
He still wore his green robe, stood with his hands behind his back, and was not particularly tall. His long hair was not tied up with a crown, but only with a simple black ribbon. His hair was like flowing ink. His flawless appearance was unforgettable, but most importantly, he had an otherworldly temperament, which was an absolute height that transcended the level of ordinary life.
At this point, there's no need to hide his appearance anymore, because he's no longer afraid of trouble.
The person who arrived was none other than Han Xuanji.
His appearance, without any dazzling light or earth-shattering phenomena, plunged the entire battlefield of the Nether Sea into an eerie silence.