Nuwa heard this and scoffed, not bothering to reply, directly ignoring Di Jiang.
Di Jiang's expression darkened. Though angry, he was a wise Ancestral Witch, with all twelve looking to him for leadership, not just for his strength, but for his intellect and guidance.
The Wu clan were intelligent, able to resist temptation, patient enough to suppress their killing intent until the Five Emperors appeared, forcing the Emperors to reveal themselves.
They could raze the Heavenly Court. But once the Yao clan was destroyed, they would become a rootless race, and the Five Emperors would no longer engage them in a fight to the death. On the contrary, by preserving the Heavenly Court, the Five Emperors would surely fight the Ancestral Witches to the death to protect it.
The decision not to kill Kun Peng, but merely to gravely wound him, in front of the myriad demons, meant that if the Five Emperors did not intervene, the entire demon race would fall into despair. When the Yao clan faced catastrophe, only the Demon Master would fight desperately to protect his kin, while their revered Five Emperors would not appear, not even to save the Demon Master.
All these circumstances were predetermined, ensuring a decisive battle between the Wu and Yao clans!
The current situation dictated that someone would die.
As for who would die, it would be decided by combat prowess, not by cultivation level!
Buzhou Mountain, the foremost mountain in the Primordial World, eternally silent and pure, was today stained with the blood of Wu and Yao!
On the nine heavens, blood rained down, coalescing into a river that cascaded towards Buzhou.
Within the Sea of Blood, Ming He roared with wild laughter, "Kill! Die! Slaughter to your heart's content!"
In the East Sea Ancestral Cave, Ao Guang cautiously inquired, "Ancestor, will you intervene?"
The Ancestral Dragon Huang Long said calmly, "Why should I intervene?"
Ao Guang's heart relaxed. The Dragon clan could only rely on this elder ancestor now. If this ancestor were to join a battle of this magnitude, even peak powerhouses might perish!
As for the Yao clan, the Dragon clan was merely a nominal vassal, and there was no true loyalty.
In Kunlun, Lao Zi and Yuan Shi Tianzun sat facing each other, playing a game of Go. Beside Yuan Shi, the disciple he had taken in the Peach Blossom Nunnery years ago, now a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, served his master respectfully.
Outside the mountain, the air was thick with the stench of blood and battle; within, birds sang and flowers bloomed in serene contentment. Yuan Shi placed a stone and said, "Senior Brother, it seems improper for Sister Nuwa, a Saint, to involve herself in the Wu-Yao calamity."
Lao Zi replied expressionlessly, "Though we are Saints, we have not yet attained true sainthood. This vast, calamitous world still deeply entangles us!" With that, a black stone entered the game. The black stones, linked in a complex formation, instantly transformed the previously peaceful board into a scene of ambush, with Yuan Shi's white stones on the brink of collapse.
Yuan Shi was taken aback. "Senior Brother's Go skills are indeed superior."
Lao Zi shook his head. "While the art of Go is profound, with our divine senses as great cultivators, there would be no error. Even playing for ten thousand years, we would not determine a winner.
Ultimately, it is because your heart is not still, Junior Brother. In this, you must learn from Tong Tian. Though he is fond of action and battle, he can maintain his inner peace."
Yuan Shi furrowed his brow upon hearing this. "Senior Brother speaks truly. However, I am merely concerned about the one atop Jianmu.
The demons, through some unknown fortuitous encounter, have seen Tai Yi and Nuwa both step half a step into the Hunyuan realm ahead of us. This is bearable. But the Lord of the Earthly Dao is also about to achieve Hunyuan!"
"If Jianmu is not felled, it is an act against heaven, and thus heaven cannot tolerate it. I, for one, can never sever my third corpse with my own Dao!"
Lao Zi fell silent at these words. "Indeed, he carries a sliver of Pangu's destiny. Back on Buzhou Mountain, he also held some camaraderie with us Three Pure Ones.
I cannot help you."
Yuan Shi's heart leaped. "Can it be that Senior Brother can tolerate the Yao clan?
If Di Jun and Tai Yi of the Yao clan remain, if Xi He is immortal, how can you, Senior Brother, sever your third corpse with your own Dao? Could it be that Senior Brother intends to sever the third corpse with the merit of heaven-cleaving?"
Lao Zi remained as calm as a clear stream without ripples. "Although my Great Dao of Tai Chi Yin-Yang cannot be perfected due to the existence of the Supreme Gods of Tai Yin and Tai Yang, my Dao is not solely reliant on Yin-Yang to achieve enlightenment.
When the time comes, the path ahead will become clear. Schemes and plans are but means, but to follow the natural course and pursue one's true self is fundamental."
Yuan Shi felt a tightness in his chest, and he abruptly stood up, exclaiming, "If Jianmu is not felled, I can only sever my last corpse with merit. Until the very end, I will not give up!"
Lao Zi remained silent for a moment before finally delivering the heart-wrenching words. "But if you do not become a Saint, you cannot fell Jianmu. Not even the Three Pure Ones combined can fell it. At this very moment, that individual is approaching the realm of half-Hunyuan!"
Yuan Shi's expression turned grim, and he fell silent.
Guang Cheng Zi sighed inwardly, "Martial Uncle, speaking so directly, you pierce Master's heart."
On Buzhou Mountain, the Twelve Ancestral Witches formed a circle. This circle was vast, encompassing the five Emperor-ranked figures of the Heavenly Court.
Xuan Ming gazed coldly at Nuwa. "I still remember that strike from back then. Today, it shall be repaid."
Nuwa raised an eyebrow. "Then shall I strike you a few more times?"
Xuan Ming roared, "You court death!"
"And so what? A defeated foe?" Nuwa retorted.
Zhu Jiuyin sneered. "Now there is no Ancestor of Dao to obstruct you. I shall see who protects you now!"
Fu Xi stepped forward, his expression stern. "I am still here."
Nuwa's heart felt a moment of solace. She smiled and said, "Brother, why argue with a half-blind man?"
Zhu Jiuyin's face instantly darkened. He could not open both eyes simultaneously. He could only adjust the opening and closing of his left and right eyes according to the cycles of the sun and moon. Otherwise, if both eyes opened at once, the backlash from the disorder of the celestial bodies would be more than he could bear, especially with the three great deities of Tai Yin and Tai Yang standing before him! Thus, his eyes were always half-open, half-closed, making his appearance rather peculiar.
However, as an Ancestral Witch who had slumbered for a long time, he indeed lacked the art of polite speech, and so he fell silent.
Tai Yi let out a hearty laugh. "Empress Wa, you possess great spirit!"
Nuwa's eyebrows arched into a smile. "A minor matter. These words cannot be spoken by our Demon Emperor and God of War, for they are gods in the hearts of the demon race. Moreover, I doubt the two on the Sun Star would utter such insults."
Houtu remained silent for a moment. It was a solemn moment for the great battle between the two races, yet the tide of conversation had shifted.
Fortunately, they had already established their positions while these few were speaking.
Houtu said calmly, "What is the use of mere words of power? Let us settle this with our hands!
Everyone, form ranks!"
The Twelve Ancestral Witches immediately revealed their true Ancestral Witch forms, arrayed around the majestic Buzhou in twelve cardinal directions.
Di Jun, though unaware of the Wu clan's true intentions, urged, "Everyone, attack! The Wu clan is peculiar; do not allow them to form their ranks!"
Tai Yi nodded, understanding instantly. The Eastern Emperor Bell vibrated, this time it was he himself who struck the primordial treasure. Rings of golden sound waves swept through the void, like golden waves surging forward, rolling towards Shebi She, Ru Shou, and Di Jiang, three Ancestral Witches. Simultaneously, he wielded the top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Heaven-Pointing Sword, obtained from the Treasure Cliff, and slashed towards Shebi She.
Di Jiang let out a long roar, raising his palms and striking with the Zichi Staff, shattering the space around him. The turbulent space spread out, blocking the sound waves for the two of them.
Shebi She extended a palm, his hand emitting a terrifying corpse qi, and directly grasped the sharp Heaven-Pointing Sword!
"I shall accept this sword on your behalf!"
Tai Yi sneered but remained silent, continuing to vibrate the Divine Bell.
In the next moment, the Heaven-Pointing Sword burst forth with golden divine fire. The vast flames encountered the corpse poison, yin and yang clashing violently, resulting in an explosion. Shebi She's palm was left bloody and mangled.
He exclaimed in shock and anger, "Even the Solar True Fire would not so easily break through my corpse aura!"
Tai Yi did not reply. This fire was what he had comprehended after becoming the Sun God, a more potent Solar Divine Fire than the ordinary Sun Fire!
With every step Tai Yi took, he struck the Eastern Emperor Bell once. The three Ancestral Witches were not only assailed by chaotic sounds but also engulfed by scorching Solar Divine Fire!
Among the three Ancestral Witches, Ju Mang was the most disadvantaged, as divine fire countered wood, his entire Wu magic was reduced by nearly half its strength.
Only Di Jiang, relying on his spatial abilities, fought Tai Yi to a standstill.
Di Jun pointed at the River Diagram and Luo Shu, actively engaging the powerful Zhu Rong and Gong Gong.
Zhu Rong brandished his Southern Ming Li Fire Banner, and endless Southern Ming Li Fire blazed, rolling towards Di Jun.
But Di Jun was inherently a god of fire. Even though the element was different, the Solar Fire was the progenitor of all fires in the world. Zhu Rong's fire could not harm him in the slightest.
Gong Gong angrily summoned the celestial waters, and endless water vapor formed a sea, trapping Di Jun.
Di Jun extended a finger, and the River Diagram and Luo Shu spun, reversing the heavenly and earthly stars. Gong Gong's summoned waters were directed towards Zhu Rong's Southern Ming Li Fire. Water and fire, incompatible, annihilated each other.
Di Jun and Tai Yi chose their opponents strategically, maximizing their advantages.
Nuwa once again brandished her saber and charged, the sky-filling crimson clouds breaking through layers of profound ice, parting the myriad curtains of rain, heading straight for Xuan Ming.
Xuan Ming was greatly alarmed. She had thought that after merging with the Heart of the Ancestor God, her strength had reached the level of a peak powerhouse, comparable to Nuwa. But she had not expected Nuwa's cultivation to advance again, far surpassing her previous level!
At this moment, Zhu Jiuyin opened his right eye, and a curtain of time, like a veil, wrapped around Nuwa's red-sleeved saber. His left eye closed, reversing time, causing the red-sleeved saber to backlash against its wielder.
Nuwa's expression turned cold. Her palace gown shed, replaced by a blood-red battle robe, blocking the backlash. She then flicked her wrist, throwing the Qiankun Cauldron. It flew out into the air, expanding to billions of feet, smashing towards Zhu Jiuyin.
Can time reverse spiritual treasures, but can it reverse a Primordial Supreme Treasure?
Zhu Jiuyin's expression turned grim, and he dodged. His Ancestral Witch true form suddenly exerted its power, and a river of time, ten feet wide, slowly emerged, flowing around him, diverting several portions of the Qiankun Cauldron's force. He then supported the Qiankun Cauldron with his hands, pressing towards the sky.
Zhu Jiuyin's feet instantly sank ten thousand miles into the earth, and he knelt on one knee, unable to support its weight.
Nuwa let out a cold laugh. Within the Qiankun Cauldron, she had filled it with no less than several billion stars of varying sizes. Their combined weight was likely heavier than half of the Primordial World, enough to crush even an Ancestral Witch!
Seeing Nuwa's fierce assault, Fu Xi's brow twitched. He strummed his zither, playing a supreme melody. The wheel of sound manifested behind him, each note like an endless blade, countless hidden needles, and yet also infinite, lingering silken threads, binding the Golden Ancestral Witch Ru Shou and the Wind Ancestral Witch Tian Wu.
Xi He raised her hand, and the waterfall of time behind her enveloped billions of bolts of lightning. The terrifying purple-black lightning met the pure white waterfall of time. Electricity and lightning were pushed to their limits, time flowed endlessly, and thunder and lightning roared through the boundless expanse of time.
In the Heavenly Court, Qi, wielding the Command Blood Saber, easily severed the head of a Wu Venerable. As the head fell, a few drops of blood splashed onto his stern face.
Qi looked back at the sky several times. The majestic true forms of the Ancestral Witches, even standing on the ground, reached heights beyond the twenty-ninth heaven. Thus, from his vantage point on the ninth heaven, he still looked up at the Ancestral Witches standing on the ground!
He sensed that his elder brother had also returned. Seeing that his elder brother was not in the sky, he felt at ease. This was because Qi remembered his brother saying that as long as he was on Jianmu, no one could harm him.
Such a great battle, such Ancestral Witches, were truly terrifying. He did not wish for his elder brother to participate.
Even though Qing Ling was a Demon Ancestor of the Yao clan, he would undoubtedly fulfill his duty and responsibility when the Yao clan faced peril.
But in Qi's heart, Qing Ling was simply his elder brother, not the Demon Ancestor, not a peak powerhouse, just his elder brother. As long as he was safe, that was all that mattered.
The Immortal Steps of the Heavenly Court, thirty thousand *li* long, still could not contain the blood and corpses of Wu and Yao.
Countless Wu warriors ascended to the Heavenly Court from Buzhou Mountain, and then "flew down" from the Heavenly Court to Buzhou.
Innumerable Wu corpses were cast towards the Heavenly Court, turning to dust and returning to heaven and earth as they fell through the air!
There was no Wu warrior who feared death. The Twelve Ancestral Witches were their entire faith. Death, for them, was a return to their Father.
The entire world was opened by Pangu, and the entire world was transformed from Pangu. Therefore, in the Wu clan's faith, Pangu was heaven and earth, and heaven and earth were the Father God. Returning to heaven and earth after death was like returning to their Father God's embrace.
But the Yao clan was different. Apart from some brave warriors who had been tempered in the twenty-eight regions of the lower realms, many Saintly Demons and Great Demons in the Heavenly Court had become soft. Lost in the luxury and prosperity of the Heavenly Court, many of them had long lost the courage to fight to the death for their race.
Coupled with the fear instilled by the Wu clan's previous offensive, they became even more timid. Among them, many powerful beings who had defected also began to consider fleeing.
Therefore, despite the Yao clan having numerous Great Demons and far more Demon Saints than Great Witches, they still could not overcome the ferocious and advancing Wu clan, relying solely on the advantage of terrain to resist the Wu army.
Only a few brave warriors, or those loyal to the Yao clan, fought fiercely.
Qi was one such individual.
And Kong Xuan, son of the Phoenix Ancestor, unfurled his five innate tail feathers, sweeping the sky with five-colored divine light, forcing even Great Witches to yield.
In the Great Hall of the Heavenly Court, the Demon Master retreated, his injuries too severe to fight further. Though he still possessed the strength to fight, he would not go again.
Beside him stood Bai Ze, this unique existence who held a position among the Ten Great Demon Gods as a Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Hundreds of Demon Generals, relaying orders and coordinating, transmitted instructions to all corners of the battlefield.
Bai Ze was busy mobilizing the countless demon armies beneath the battlefield of the Five Emperors and could not focus on the Emperors' battle.
But Kun Peng kept watching. He noticed that both Nuwa and Tai Yi had stepped into the half-Hunyuan realm!
He, an old fellow who had cultivated diligently for countless years, was still a step behind these juniors.
However, he was close.
But this was contingent on the Yao clan still ruling the heavens.
He suddenly looked towards another area of the battlefield, where Houtu, who had not yet participated, stood.
As always, Houtu was outside the battlefield, empowering the Ancestral Witches with the strength of the earth, not engaging in combat.
Kun Peng had never underestimated this Earth Ancestral Witch. Among the Ancestral Witches, the four of Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and the Ancestral Witches of wind, water, fire, and earth were the strongest.
And Houtu was the most mysterious and benevolent of the Ancestral Witches, being the Ancestral Witch of Earth among wind, water, fire, and earth!
The Ancestral Witch of Earth? Kun Peng's mind suddenly snapped back, and his expression changed. He quickly transmitted a message to the five Emperor-ranked figures of the Yao clan: "Everyone, quickly repel the Ancestral Witches!
The eleven Ancestral Witches have arranged themselves according to some rule since the battle began, and they have not abandoned their powerful physiques to use Wu magic, standing firmly on the earth without moving. Houtu's actions are likely summoning some mysterious Wu magic! Where you are is the ancestral land of the Wu clan, Buzhou, formed from the great god Pangu!"