A continuous descent, deeper and deeper.

  Like a stone dropped into a bottomless well.

  It fell endlessly.

  Thump!

  As if the stone finally struck the bottom, plunging into icy water and sending up a spray.

  The array disc thrown from the void rift sank into the Abyss of Nothingness like a stone tossed into a deep well. After an unknown span of time, it finally reached the bottom.

  The array disc began to bloom, like a flower bud unfurling in the endless darkness, radiating blinding brilliance.

  BOOM!

  A tearing sound exploded outward. Razor-sharp edges sliced through the Abyss of Nothingness.

  The array runes swirled, and soon a deeper, darker passage was forced open.

  The passage was profound and fathomless, leading to some distant, unknown place.

  ROAR!

  An earth-shaking roar echoed from the far end of that abyssal tunnel, rolling forth without end.

  …

  On the Five Phoenix Continent,

  Thick clouds seemed to blanket the entire sky, pressing down with suffocating weight.

  With the fall of one Witch King, the hatred between the Witch Race and the Demon Race became utterly irreconcilable—like fire meeting ice. Unless the fire was extinguished or the ice melted, the conflict would never end.

  Lu Mudui stood in the temporary palace within the Demon Race royal court.

  His hair fluttered in the wind as he gripped his bamboo staff, looking somewhat frail.

  Beside him stood Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, Empress Ni Chunqiu, and other Heavenly Origin Profound Immortals.

  At this moment, they all sensed something wrong—an immense tide seemed to be sweeping toward them.

  “This great heavenly tribulation… it will engulf every living being, every cultivator.”

  Lu Mudui exhaled slowly and spoke.

  Then he turned and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing swiftly.

  With Witch King Zhu Yan dead, the Demon Race royal court now faced the terrifying vengeance of the Witch Race. The old grudges had been completely engulfed by the flames of hatred.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  War drums thundered between the Western Continent and the Demon Race royal court.

  The twelve tribes of the Witch Race gathered in full force, weapons in hand. The Witch Race possessed incredibly powerful physiques and qi-and-blood vitality—even a newborn child had strength comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

  They were truly a divinely blessed race.

  While the Demon Race was no weakling, they still fell short of the Witch Race in terms of bloodline strength. However, the Demon Race vastly outnumbered them.

  On the throne of the Demon Race royal court,

  the Golden Crow Demon Saint stood, his aura weakened from forcibly seizing the Demon Race’s destiny.

  But Lu Mudui had already sought out master alchemists from the Great Xuan Divine Dynasty, and the pills they refined quickly restored much of his strength.

  Now, Lu Mudui had chosen to stand with the Demon Race. To survive this great tribulation, he had to carve out a single thread of survival through hardship.

  He had fully tied his fate to the Demon Race.

  The Golden Crow Demon Saint’s aura soared into the sky, and the entire destiny of the Demon Race swirled like a vortex.

  He was calling out.

  As his call spread, demons scattered across the Five Phoenix Continent sensed it and began migrating back to the royal court.

  A monstrous demon tide surged!

  This phenomenon shocked the entire world.

  Human cultivators were stunned.

  The Demon Saints were exhilarated, and the lesser demons returned with wild excitement, ready to fight for their race.

  Soon, the Demon Race royal court gathered demons from every corner of the continent. Almost all demons within the Great Xuan Divine Dynasty’s borders had converged.

  An overwhelming demon army formed.

  The remaining eleven Witch Kings were cold and ruthless.

  Leading the Witch Race army, they marched across the land, crushing everything in their path.

  Even facing a tsunami-like demon army, the Witch Race showed no fear.

  The auras of the eleven Witch Kings soared. Terrifying qi-and-blood power roared.

  Each unleashed their innate divine abilities, overwhelmingly powerful.

  In the Demon Race royal court, the Demon Saints refused to be outdone, releasing their own auras. Demon Saints were no weaker than Witch Kings.

  The clash of momentum alone caused mountains and rivers to tremble.

  The collision between the two races had long drawn the attention of human cultivators.

  And on this day of decisive battle,

  Lu Mudui disappeared. Tapping his bamboo staff lightly, he left the Demon Race royal court and traveled across famous mountains and great rivers.

  He knew that, compared to the Witch Race, the Demon Race royal court had no guarantee of victory.

  So he would raise their odds to absolute certainty.

  Dressed in white robes, bamboo staff in hand, he crossed the Dragon Gate and arrived in the Northern Domain.

  On the peak of a snow mountain, he found Kong Nanfei.

  Currently, there were only a handful of human Profound Immortals. If Lu Mudui wanted reinforcements, he had to seek them out.

  Lu Mudui sat with Kong Nanfei on the mountain peak. They talked for a long time.

  But in the end, Kong Nanfei refused to help the Demon Race.

  “The great heavenly tribulation is both disaster and opportunity. No one can remain uninvolved. If you want a share of the turbulent destiny, you must enter the tribulation and seek that single thread of survival within it.”

  Lu Mudui said.

  Kong Nanfei, dressed in his shabby scholar’s robes, waved his hand and smiled.

  “We scholars debate with words, not fists.”

  “Seek help elsewhere.”

  Seeing Kong Nanfei’s firm refusal, Lu Mudui had no choice but to leave the Hao Ran Sect.

  After Lu Mudui departed, the sloppy demeanor in Kong Nanfei’s eyes vanished.

  Meng Hao Ran soon appeared, seemingly puzzled by Kong Nanfei’s decision.

  Meng Hao Ran had also sensed the shifting destiny of heaven and earth. He believed Kong Nanfei must understand it even better.

  “Clear the snow from your couch and wait for the fated one.”

  Kong Nanfei smiled and closed his eyes.

  As if waiting for something.

  Lu Mudui left the Hao Ran Sect and continued seeking allies. He visited many sects, and thanks to his status, human cultivators treated him with courtesy.

  Indeed, he managed to rally quite a few human cultivators to aid the Demon Race.

  Unfortunately, not a single Profound Immortal could be persuaded.

  Each Profound Immortal’s destiny flowed like a mighty river; they would not easily involve themselves in such a destiny-shaking war.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  And so the war between the Witch Race and the Demon Race erupted.

  Countless mountains were leveled, the vast sea was filled in, and the landscape itself was reshaped by the conflict.

  Mo Tianyu sat in the Witch Race camp. With his divinations and calculations, the Witch Race gained a massive advantage at the start of the war, forcing the demon army to retreat again and again.

  The Witch Race was simply too strong. Every member possessed terrifying qi-and-blood power.

  A single witch was worth an army.

  Even Mo Tianyu couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

  The Witch Race excelled in the physical body. At the same level, even the Hegemon would struggle against a Witch King’s brute force.

  The Witch Race army advanced like a hot knife through butter.

  But soon their momentum was broken.

  The human reinforcements that Lu Mudui had rallied joined the fray.

  With so many human True Immortals and Human Immortals entering the battle, the Witch Race suffered heavy losses!

  The eleven Witch Kings were furious.

  Mo Tianyu sighed. He had hoped to keep the human race out of this, but he had been naive.

  This was the perfect moment for the Demon Race’s destiny to surge. Human True Immortals seeking to break through to Profound Immortal would never miss such an opportunity.

  What was called a calamity was also an immense chance.

  The Witch Race, however, was completely passive in this tribulation—because they were untouched by destiny.

  Helping the Witch Race offered almost no benefit.

  The Witch Race’s first offensive was repelled, and they were forced back to the Western Continent.

  Mo Tianyu discussed with the Witch Kings and decided to personally leave the Western Continent to seek reinforcements from the human race.

  If the Demon Race could call for help, so could the Witch Race.

  Witch King Wu Qi naturally did not object.

  Mo Tianyu departed gracefully.

  Lu Mudui had seized the initiative by rallying allies first.

  Mo Tianyu had lost the first move because he had been reluctant to involve the human race, but it did not trouble him too much.

  He traveled to the Eastern Continent, walking through the lands of the Great Xuan Divine Dynasty.

  He had considered visiting the Hao Ran Sect first, but he did not wish to drag them into this. In the end, he still harbored some bias.

  He went to the Western Domain and found the Hegemon.

  The Hegemon was silent for a long time, recalling the days of close-quarters combat with the Witch Kings.

  In the end, he chose to fight—for the Witch Race.

  Tang Yimo also chose to join the Witch Race. The addition of two Profound Immortals would undoubtedly make the Witch Race far stronger.

  Profound Immortals could tip the balance of an entire battlefield.

  Mo Tianyu sighed deeply. Perhaps this had all been predestined. The great tribulation had long since enveloped everyone.

  If the Hegemon and Tang Yimo had not fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Witch Kings in the past and forged a bond of friendship through battle, they would never have gotten involved.

  After all, the Witch Race bore no destiny. Helping them offered no reward.

  But aside from the Hegemon and Tang Yimo, every sect Mo Tianyu visited refused him.

  Most had already been persuaded by Lu Mudui.

  Mo Tianyu was not disappointed. He had expected this outcome. The Demon Race held the advantage of destiny, and with human cultivators aiding them, it was no surprise.

  He looked up and pinched his fingers. He could sense that the human race’s destiny was also beginning to surge.

  Mo Tianyu did not seek out Kong Nanfei, but Kong Nanfei sent Meng Hao Ran to invite him.

  In the end, Mo Tianyu climbed the snow-covered peak and sat on the cleared couch opposite Kong Nanfei.

  They talked through the night. The snow on the mountaintop seemed to melt away.

  The next day, Mo Tianyu left gracefully.

  Behind him followed Meng Hao Ran.

  Kong Nanfei had sent Meng Hao Ran—who had already reached half-step Profound Immortal—to assist Mo Tianyu.

  Mo Tianyu also visited the Nine Phoenix Academy, but Bai Qingniao refused.

  He went to North Luo City as well.

  Nie Changqing and his son Nie Shuang both declined.

  With no other choice, Mo Tianyu returned to the Western Continent.

  With the Hegemon and Tang Yimo’s help, it was already a significant boost.

  On the way back, Tang Guo appeared carrying a bundle, looking around curiously. Tang Yimo’s expression changed drastically.

  With her special physique, Tang Guo had already reached half-step Profound Immortal.

  Tang Yimo did not want her to risk her life, but he could not persuade her.

  In the end, he could only sternly tell her to stay behind him and watch obediently.

  Tang Guo nodded meekly.

  Mo Tianyu returned to the Witch Race, bringing far fewer reinforcements than the vast number of human cultivators aiding the Demon Race. The Witch Race seemed almost deserted by comparison.

  But the Witch Race did not care.

  They planned another all-out assault.

  On the eve of the attack,

  the twelve tribes of the Witch Race gathered around the statue of the Heavenly Witch and began their sacrificial dance. Bonfires blazed into the sky. That night, it felt as though the entire Witch Race received the blessing of the Heavenly Witch.

  The next day,

  the Witch Race army marched forth in a grand tide, heading once more for the Demon Race royal court.

  War erupted across the plains.

  With the addition of the Hegemon and Tang Yimo, the Demon Race royal court immediately felt immense pressure.

  But the human cultivators persuaded by Lu Mudui were simply too many. Their overwhelming numbers repeatedly thwarted the Witch Race.

  The Hegemon and Tang Yimo were held back by the Heavenly Origin Profound Immortals.

  The eleven Witch Kings were blocked by the Golden Crow Demon Saint and the other Demon Saints.

  But without the Heavenly Origin Profound Immortals’ aid,

  the Demon Saints suffered heavy losses under the onslaught of the eleven Witch Kings.

  With Meng Hao Ran’s Song of Righteousness boosting their morale, the Witch Race army surged forward.

  They nearly broke through the combined Demon Race and human forces.

  The destinies of both the Demon Race and human race were in upheaval.

  In the critical moment, Young Master Tianxu, blessed by the turbulent destiny, broke through to Profound Immortal and joined the Demon Race, slightly turning the tide.

  This battle lasted far too long.

  Years of war pushed the conflict between the Demon Race and Witch Race into a white-hot frenzy.

  Meanwhile, the destinies of the human race and Demon Race underwent earth-shaking changes.

  During these relentless years of fighting, great witches fell and Demon Kings perished.

  But more often, new great witches and new Demon Kings were born.

  Many human True Immortals died, yet many more Human Immortals seized the surging destiny and broke through to True Immortal.

  This provided Lu with a considerable amount of spiritual energy.

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu’s chess match remained deadlocked.

  Lu Mudui even opened the Heavenly Gate and entered the Ascended Realm, persuading the immortals there to descend and fight.

  With the turbulent destiny at play, none of the immortals refused.

  The arrival of Ascended Realm immortals dealt another heavy blow to the Witch Race.

  Mo Tianyu was exhausted.

  The Witch Race was at too great a disadvantage. Lu Mudui clung tightly to the card of “aiding the Demon Race brings destiny,” recruiting far too many powerhouses.

  Mo Tianyu had thought of asking the immortals in the Heavenly Gate for help, but…

  With what could he persuade them?

  No benefits, just goodwill?

  Relying on poison hexes for protection might even get him beaten.

  How could those immortals possibly care?

  The only good news for Mo Tianyu was that Golden Immortal Lu Jiulian had not joined the fight. That, at least, was a relief.

  If a Golden Immortal entered the fray, the Witch Race would be doomed.

  The chaotic situation weighed heavily even on the Hegemon and Tang Yimo, who felt no hope in sight.

  That was why neither had allowed the armies of Xiliang or Nanjun to join the war.

  The crushing pressure made the Witch Kings roar furiously at the heavens again and again.

  Yet at a certain moment, the tide began to turn.

  Under extreme pressure, the eleven Witch Kings unleashed their divine abilities, transforming into eleven pillars of light that shot into the sky.

  In the next instant, their divine abilities fused.

  They became a colossal giant that stood between heaven and earth, wielding a massive axe.

  An aura comparable to a Golden Immortal swept across the land like a raging tide.

  This was… the True Form of the Heavenly Witch!

  Mo Tianyu had never imagined the eleven Witch Kings possessed such a trump card.

  The Golden Crow Demon Saint and the other Demon Saints were horrified.

  A Heavenly Witch was a Golden Immortal-level powerhouse.

  The appearance of the Heavenly Witch’s True Form seemed intent on ending this war once and for all.

  The giant axe radiated terrifying power. With a single swing, it felt as though the destiny of heaven and earth itself would be cleaved in two!

  This Heavenly Witch could sever destiny!

  All the Profound Immortals were shocked and felt immense pressure!

  The Heavenly Witch’s target was the Golden Crow who had killed Zhu Yan. The Golden Crow Demon Saint lured it away, leading it on a chase that scattered golden snow all the way to Mount Buzhou.

  Unfortunately, the Heavenly Witch possessed Golden Immortal combat power. Even fleeing was extremely difficult for the Golden Crow.

  In the end, he fell bleeding onto the Heavenly Dao Tree. The crimson blood caused the tree to radiate a strange dao charm, rapidly healing the Golden Crow’s wounds.

  The Golden Crow was overjoyed.

  But the Heavenly Witch’s True Form arrived. Raising its massive axe, it struck down toward the trunk of the Heavenly Dao Tree.

  Pfft!

  The axe struck true, and blood sprayed from the tree.

  This sight stunned the world.

  And this strike forced Li Sansui—the array master of the Dao Pavilion who had previously refused to enter the tribulation—to finally step in.

  Li Sansui knew exactly why the Heavenly Dao Tree was bleeding.

  Because Li Sansi was inside.

  Li Sansui arrived riding a cloud dragon, gathered the Demon Saints, and set up the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array.

  The array activated and actually blocked the Heavenly Witch’s True Form.

  After all, the Heavenly Witch’s True Form was missing Witch King Zhu Yan and was slightly weaker than a true Golden Immortal.

  Thus, Li Sansui managed to hold it back.

  If it had been full Golden Immortal power, even the Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array would have been unable to resist.

  Blessed by the destiny of both the Demon Race and human race, Li Sansui broke through his bottleneck in this moment and stepped into the Profound Immortal realm.

  The Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array grew even stronger.

  Unfortunately, the Heavenly Witch’s True Form remained unbroken.

  The blood-soaked Golden Crow looked at the collapsing Demon Race royal court and let out a mournful cry.

  He kowtowed repeatedly toward Mount Buzhou.

  On Mount Buzhou, Zhu Long’s eyelashes trembled lightly.

  She sighed softly. Since she had already intervened when the Golden Crow sought the dao, she could no longer stand by now.

  Thus, Zhu Long acted.

  Gripping her Innate Yin-Yang Grinding Disc, she slowly swung it.

  BOOM!

  The Heavenly Witch’s True Form swung its axe against the grinding disc. Terrifying energy erupted, shaking mountains and rivers, swaying the Heavenly Dao Tree.

  In that instant, destiny itself surged violently.

  The Heavenly Witch’s True Form shattered. The eleven Witch Kings coughed up blood and were sent flying backward.

  The Innate Yin-Yang Grinding Disc struck only once. After that single blow, it swiftly vanished, as if settling a karmic debt.

  With the Heavenly Witch’s True Form broken, it could not reform anytime soon.

  The Golden Crow Demon Saint was overjoyed. Leading the Demon Saints, he charged toward the eleven Witch Kings, determined to settle the battle before they could reassemble the Heavenly Witch’s True Form.

  For a moment, the Witch Race seemed on the verge of utter collapse.

  Mo Tianyu stood bare-chested, gulping down wine. When the Heavenly Witch’s True Form was shattered, he sighed deeply.

  The entire world had turned against the witches.

  To aid them was to go against the heavens.

  BOOM!

  This was a battle of Profound Immortals.

  It raged around Mount Buzhou and the Heavenly Dao Tree.

  It felt as though the heavenly river itself might be shattered.

  The Hegemon was suppressed by Li Sansui’s Ten Thousand Immortals Grand Array and could not break free. In the end, he sat cross-legged helplessly.

  Even with the array, Li Sansui could not kill the Hegemon.

  And the Hegemon could not break the array.

  On the other side, Tang Yimo battled the Demon Monkey King. The ground collapsed, mountains were flattened, and great rivers were overturned.

  The Demon Monkey King lay in a deep crater, battered and bruised, holding his staff.

  Tang Yimo had opened six meridians—he was simply too strong.

  After using the Eight Meridians Escapement, Tang Yimo fell into a weakened state, gasping for breath.

  At that moment, more than a dozen Demon Kings charged out.

  “No!”

  The Demon Monkey King, lying at the bottom of the pit, changed expression and roared.

  But it was too late.

  Tang Yimo felt the cold breath of death envelop him.

  In the final instant, however, Tang Guo appeared. Her God King Physique erupted, and she blocked the full-force attacks of the dozen Demon Kings in Tang Yimo’s place.

  In a flash, blood stained the wilderness—like a flower blooming in brilliant splendor, only to wither under the blazing sun.

  On the banks of the Yellow Springs, a flower of rebirth quietly bloomed.

  In the Ascended Realm,

  within the blooming green lotus,

  Lu Jiulian suddenly opened his eyes. In his gaze, life and death cycled endlessly.

  Golden Immortals do not enter the tribulation?

  Only because the time to enter has not yet come.