While the battle raged in the Abyss of Nothingness, Lu naturally sensed it.

  His brows lifted slightly. In his eyes reflected scene after scene: Tantai Xuan and Lu Jiulian clashing with the Emperor Realm being trapped at the passage entrance.

  “This is… an Innate Divine Demon?”

  Lu was momentarily stunned.

  He had never expected an Innate Divine Demon to appear in the Abyss of Nothingness.

  With a turn of thought, he quickly pieced together the sequence of events.

  The corners of his mouth curved upward in a faint smile as he shook his head.

  Was this a case of being too clever for one’s own good?

  What did Lu lack at this moment?

  Precisely what he needed most: Innate Divine Demons.

  The system’s task required him to slay ten of them. He had been racking his brain over how to accomplish it—never expecting someone to deliver them straight to his doorstep.

  “The world… is still full of good people.”

  Lu sighed with genuine feeling.

  From his deduction, the appearance of the Innate Divine Demon was undoubtedly the work of those ancient Great Emperors in the void rifts.

  “The Five Phoenix Continent has become independent of the Ninth Heaven. Therefore, the Ninth Heaven no longer wishes to shield the Five Phoenixes from the Innate Divine Demons of the Primordial Starry Sky. They deliberately opened a passage connecting the two.”

  “And noticing the great tribulation raging within the Five Phoenixes, they seized the moment—activating the passage while the Five Phoenixes were too divided to unite against an external threat, hoping to bring utter ruin upon them.”

  “A clever scheme… but they underestimated the Five Phoenixes.”

  “Internal strife is internal strife, but from its humble beginnings as a low-martial world to what it is today, the Five Phoenixes have always united against foreign enemies.”

  Lu narrowed his eyes.

  Still, the ancient Great Emperors’ move had saved him a great deal of trouble.

  He had originally planned to wait until the great tribulation concluded, until a new generation of Golden Immortals was born, and then lead them into the Primordial Starry Sky to hunt Innate Divine Demons.

  Now…

  It would be much easier.

  “Those ancient Great Emperors can so easily control a passage to the Primordial Starry Sky—even summon Innate Divine Demons…”

  “Could there be some collusion between them and the Divine Demons?”

  “Hmm. Divine Demons vary in strength depending on the laws and rules they comprehend. The stronger ones rival Great Luo Immortals, while the weaker ones are comparable to Emperor Realm beings…”

  “How can I turn these Divine Demons into an opportunity and benefit for the Five Phoenixes?”

  Lu furrowed his brows.

  Although the great heavenly tribulation was proceeding according to his plan, it had not unfolded as beautifully as he had hoped.

  The birth of Golden Immortals was far more difficult than anticipated.

  Thus, the tribulation’s benefits to the Five Phoenixes remained limited. While many Human Immortals and True Immortals had been born, high-end combat power was still scarce.

  “Perhaps I can use these Innate Divine Demons to bring this tribulation to its conclusion.”

  Lu’s gaze flickered.

  His fingers slowly tapped the armrest of the Thousand-Blade Chair.

  Moreover, the calamity brought by these Divine Demons could provide an opportunity for the powerhouses on other life stars in the void starry sky to grow stronger.

  With his mind made up, Lu sank into the Sermon Platform and began to deduce and arrange.

  The moment an Innate Divine Demon stepped out of the passage, it would be tainted by the destiny of the Five Phoenix Heavenly Dao.

  It would become… a prize every cultivator would crave.

  …

  Lu Jiulian transformed into a streak of light and swiftly returned to the Five Phoenix Continent.

  His expression was icy.

  The unexpected battle with Tantai Xuan had revealed something truly alarming.

  If this matter was not handled properly, it would be a grave crisis for the Five Phoenixes.

  According to the Nether Emperor’s deduction, what lay beyond that passage was likely a vast world. The number of Emperor Realm beings was unknown, but the threat they posed could not be underestimated.

  BOOM!

  The moment he returned, he sped toward the Eastern Sea.

  He needed to find Young Master Lu.

  The central island floated gently on the vast sea, carried by a giant whale. It moved slowly and unhurriedly.

  In stark contrast to the frantic pace of the world around it.

  The whale swam leisurely, as though savoring the quiet passage of time.

  Lu Jiulian landed on the vast sea and looked up at the central island.

  The mist parted.

  Ning Zhao stepped out gracefully and gave him a slight bow.

  “Young Master invites you in.”

  Ning Zhao said.

  Lu Jiulian nodded slightly.

  He gazed at the central island. For some reason, it felt faintly familiar—yet no memory surfaced.

  Once he stepped onto the island, Lu was already seated in his Thousand-Blade Chair within the peach blossom grove, warming wine.

  Petals drifted in the air. The rich fragrance of wine filled the space.

  Seeing Lu Jiulian, Lu gave a gentle smile and beckoned him over.

  Lu Jiulian sat cross-legged, took the warmed Heavenly Immortal Wine from Lu, and savored its deep, mellow flavor.

  After draining the cup, he finally spoke.

  “In the Abyss of Nothingness, there is a scheme laid by the ancient Great Emperors of the Ninth Heaven. It is very likely intended to destroy the Five Phoenixes.”

  His voice was grave.

  He described the Emperor Realm being he had encountered.

  Lu listened with a slight nod, sipping his wine and smiling as he heard him out.

  Ning Zhao quietly refilled the cups.

  Though Lu Jiulian’s words shocked her deeply, she remained composed, maintaining the calm dignity expected of Young Master’s attendants.

  “That was an Innate Divine Demon… from the Primordial Starry Sky.”

  Lu explained.

  “There are countless Innate Divine Demons. They have existed in the Primordial Starry Sky for eons. Their very existence is sustained by destroying worlds and devouring Heavenly Daos.”

  “They are embodiments of laws and rules, and their strength is immense.”

  Lu Jiulian’s pupils contracted.

  Sustained by devouring Heavenly Daos?

  Were these Innate Divine Demons truly so terrifying?

  “The Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor of the Ninth Heaven once stood guard in the Primordial Starry Sky precisely to hold back these Innate Divine Demons. Otherwise… the Ninth Heaven would have long been ravaged and reduced to ruins.”

  Lu took another sip of wine.

  Lu Jiulian felt the weight of the pressure.

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  “But the appearance of Divine Demons… is actually an opportunity for the Five Phoenixes.”

  “An opportunity?”

  “Divine Demons are born by devouring Heavenly Daos. Naturally, the Five Phoenix Heavenly Dao will sense the threat. When crisis arises, destiny will surge—just like the Age of Ferocious Beasts that was once opened. This time… it could be called the ‘Age of Divine Demons.’”

  “The Age of Divine Demons? You mean… slaying Divine Demons will grant immense destiny and allow breakthroughs?”

  Lu Jiulian’s eyes lit up as realization dawned.

  Lu nodded slightly.

  That was exactly what he intended: to tie Innate Divine Demons to destiny. That way, the cultivators of the Five Phoenixes would be motivated to fight them.

  And slaying Divine Demons would bring vast destiny—nothing but good for the Five Phoenixes.

  Lu Jiulian’s heart trembled slightly at Lu’s words.

  “Indeed, calamity and opportunity always coexist.”

  He nodded.

  “Now, the Nether Emperor is guarding the Abyss of Nothingness. Once I finish handling the tribulation here, I will go to his aid.”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  Lu nodded.

  Then Lu Jiulian asked for details about the great heavenly tribulation.

  He was certain Lu knew everything.

  He also asked where Tang Guo’s soul had gone—if not to the Netherworld, then where?

  Lu simply smiled.

  “This tribulation is actually an opportunity for the living. The dead are not truly gone. They will walk a new path of cultivation and grow even faster.”

  Lu said.

  “Go. When the tribulation ends, Tang Guo will return to life.”

  Lu waved his hand.

  Lu Jiulian paused, then asked no further questions.

  Stepping onto his green lotus, he transformed into a streak of light and departed swiftly.

  …

  Lu Jiulian arrived at the Netherworld.

  He had fought Tantai Xuan in the outer-sky battlefield and did not yet know Tang Yimo’s condition.

  On the banks of the Yellow Springs, amid a sea of rebirth flowers,

  Tang Yimo lay face-up. All strength had drained from his body. He was covered in blood.

  But he stared blankly at the sky of the Netherworld.

  The city lords of the dead hovered above. The Hell Hound blazed with flames, its terrifying aura sweeping over Tang Yimo, watching him warily.

  Tang Yimo was strong—but facing the entire Netherworld alone was beyond him.

  Each city lord was protected by karma; their current combat power was close to quasi-Emperor level.

  How could he suppress them all?

  Exhausted, he lay there.

  The Netherworld powerhouses did not kill him.

  They were waiting for the Nether Emperor’s return to pass judgment.

  The Nether Emperor had not returned, but Lu Jiulian did.

  After informing Tang Yimo of the situation in the Abyss of Nothingness, Lu Jiulian came before him.

  “Young Master Lu said that within the tribulation, there remains a thread of survival. Those who die will return when the tribulation ends.”

  Lu Jiulian’s words caused a flicker in Tang Yimo’s ashen eyes. Slowly, he sat up.

  “Really?”

  “Young Master Lu said it. If you don’t believe him, go ask.”

  Lu Jiulian said calmly.

  Tang Yimo scratched his head. Hope sparked in his eyes.

  “Forget it. I wouldn’t dare… Young Master Lu’s temper—if he knew I doubted him, who knows what he’d do to me.”

  Tang Yimo waved his hand.

  But since Lu had said it, there must be truth to it.

  The grief in Tang Yimo’s heart gradually eased. He saw hope once more.

  “What we must do now is end the tribulation…”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  “Azure Lotus Golden Immortal, this man wreaked havoc in the Netherworld and disrupted the path of rebirth… If we simply let him leave, where is the dignity of the Netherworld?”

  “You are on the same level as Lord Nether Emperor and can transcend the rules, but he cannot.”

  “He committed an offense and must face punishment.”

  The city lords spoke firmly.

  Lu Jiulian frowned.

  “If anyone could barge into the Netherworld and cause chaos, the Six Paths of Reincarnation would never know peace.”

  “If Lord Nether Emperor were here, he too would impose tribulation punishment.”

  The city lords’ stance was unyielding.

  Lu Jiulian glanced at Tang Yimo, who looked calm.

  “If I’ve done wrong, I’ll accept the consequences.”

  Tang Yimo said.

  Lu Jiulian nodded and turned to the city lords.

  “This is a time when we need every hand we can get. Let him stay by my side. When the tribulation ends and the disaster in the Abyss of Nothingness is resolved, I will personally bring him back to the Netherworld to face punishment.”

  Tang Yimo bowed to the city lords.

  “Once I confirm my sister’s life or death, I will return to the Netherworld of my own accord. Let the karmic flames burn me, let the Sea of Bitterness corrode me—for a hundred years—as atonement.”

  The city lords exchanged glances and fell silent.

  Karmic flames and the Sea of Bitterness were among the most severe punishments in the Netherworld.

  If they pressed further, it would become awkward.

  Lu Jiulian was, after all, a Golden Immortal on the same level as the Nether Emperor. Offending him came with a price.

  Lu Jiulian left, taking Tang Yimo with him.

  The disturbance in the Netherworld finally settled.

  Back on the Five Phoenix Continent, Lu Jiulian went straight to Mount Buzhou and found the hidden Micah.

  “In the Abyss of Nothingness, an Emperor Realm being has appeared. Young Master Lu says it is an Innate Divine Demon from the Primordial Starry Sky.”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  Micah’s expression changed drastically.

  As the former head of the Heavenly Spirit Clan’s Sacred Hall, he knew of Innate Divine Demons.

  Without delay, Micah transformed into a streak of light and shot out of the Five Phoenixes, heading for the Abyss of Nothingness.

  If it truly was an Innate Divine Demon—and if more arrived—the Nether Emperor alone might not hold them back.

  Zhu Long was momentarily stunned.

  She had wanted to help, but Lu Jiulian stopped her.

  “You and I have already been involved in this great tribulation. Let us end it together.”

  Lu Jiulian said.

  After a moment’s thought, Zhu Long nodded.

  The war between the Witch Race and Demon Race had entered its most intense phase. Countless human cultivators joined in, turning the conflict into utter chaos.

  It engulfed the entire cultivation world.

  The eleven Witch Kings clashed fiercely with the Demon Saints above the vast sea.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, Ni Chunqiu, and even the newly ascended Profound Immortal Tianxu Young Master joined the battle.

  The Heavenly Origin Profound Immortals were too deeply entangled with the Demon Race.

  Many of them were master-disciple to Demon Saints, making it impossible to escape this karma.

  The great battle erupted across the vast sea.

  Waves surged, seawater evaporated into mist.

  Profound Immortal-level combat could reshape the land. Had the Five Phoenix Continent not grown strong enough to withstand such attacks, it would have long been shattered.

  The eleven Witch Kings once again formed the Heavenly Witch’s True Form and unleashed their innate divine abilities.

  Under extreme pressure, the Golden Crow Demon Saint burned his bloodline and stepped into quasi-Emperor realm.

  He erupted with astonishing power.

  The battle raged for half a month.

  Giant waves formed of seawater nearly reached the heavens.

  But with the intervention of Lu Jiulian and Zhu Long, the battle finally drew to a close.

  The eleven Witch Kings were gravely wounded, but their bloodlines had awakened, and their momentum soared.

  The Golden Crow Demon Saint had entered quasi-Emperor realm, and many Demon Saints had their bloodlines awakened in battle.

  Thus, the outcome was a draw.

  Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and the others withdrew from the fight.

  With the battle concluded, they breathed a collective sigh of relief. Had it continued, it might have spiraled out of control.

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu stood above the vast sea and looked at each other.

  They pinched their fingers.

  They could see the tide of destiny had shifted.

  Both revealed surprised expressions. It seemed the great tribulation had been altered by some event.

  Buzz…

  Both of them felt something. A voice seemed to echo in their ears—Lu’s voice.

  They froze.

  In the next moment, countless silver lights burst forth.

  Under the power of spatial mysteries, they vanished from the vast sea.

  When they reappeared, they were on the central island, standing before Lu.

  “Young Master Lu.”

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu were stunned and quickly bowed.

  Lu smiled and poured them each a cup of Heavenly Immortal Wine.

  After they drained their cups, he pointed toward the purple bamboo grove behind him.

  “The great heavenly tribulation is nearing its end. You two shall bring it to a close.”

  “Originally, the victor was to conclude it. Since there is no clear victor, you shall conclude it together… by conferring divinity.”

  Lu said.

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu’s expressions flickered.

  They approached the purple bamboo grove and saw the Conferred God Stele formed by the power of the Heavenly Dao.

  Names glowed upon the stele: Thunder Eagle King, Zhu Yan, Tang Guo, and others. Their brilliance shone brightly. Great witches, Demon Kings, human True Immortals—all were engraved upon it.

  Powerful soul fluctuations surged. Vast destiny poured down from the heavens, enveloping the stele.

  “The great tribulation is both calamity and opportunity.”

  “The dead are not failures. They will walk another path and gain another chance.”

  Lu sat in his Thousand-Blade Chair, white robes fluttering, speaking slowly.

  “Those who perish may be chosen by the Heavenly Dao to govern the order and rules of heaven and earth—to establish a divine court and uphold the laws of the world. This path is called the Divine Path.”

  Beside him stood Ning Zhao, Ni Yu carrying her black pot, and Yi Yue, who was like a shadow.

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu sighed deeply. They reached out and gently touched the Conferred God Stele.

  After nearly ten years, the war between witches and demons had finally ended.

  The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

  Mo Tianyu and Lu Mudui shook their heads. After years of taking sides, they could finally relax.

  “The Azure Lotus Golden Immortal said that a great enemy is invading from beyond the Five Phoenixes…”

  “No matter how much we fight internally, when a foreign enemy appears, we must stand united. That is the Five Phoenixes.”

  Mo Tianyu pinched his copper coins; Lu Mudui tapped his bamboo staff lightly.

  The two stepped before the Conferred God Stele.

  Their primordial spirits surged forth and merged into it.

  A profound, ancient sound seemed to ring out, as though bells and jade chimes were being struck.

  BOOM!

  From the Ninth Heaven, pillars of destiny poured down.

  Within the stele, departed souls manifested. Vast destiny converged into flesh. Heavenly Dao stars appeared, bestowing rules that became divine abilities mastered by each revived powerhouse.

  With a thought, they could command the winds, clouds, thunder, and lightning.

  They could govern the changing of seasons.

  Lu Mudui and Mo Tianyu looked solemn.

  “Today, we establish the Divine Court.”

  “We confer divine titles and cultivate the Divine Path.”

  As their words fell,

  familiar figures revived one after another.

  Zhu Yan, Thunder Eagle King, Tang Guo…

  Not only were they revived, but their cultivation had advanced.

  Zhu Yan’s bloodline had fully awakened, reaching half-step Heavenly Witch—quasi-Emperor level.

  Thunder Eagle King stepped into Profound Immortal realm. Tang Guo, blessed by destiny, also crossed into Profound Immortal.

  Most importantly, they now represented the will of the Heavenly Dao and wielded its rules.

  That was what set them apart.

  All those who had died in the tribulation were revived, their cultivation elevated, forming a formidable new force.

  Moreover, the Divine Path cultivation method appeared in their minds.

  This path offered them another route to the absolute peak.

  Lu smiled, quite satisfied.

  “Though the Divine Path is bound by the Heavenly Dao… cultivators of the world do not always follow common sense. There will always be astonishing geniuses who can shatter those restrictions.”

  Lu felt a quiet anticipation.

  This tribulation had opened the Divine Path, giving the cultivators of the Five Phoenixes a new road to walk.

  Of course, Lu himself had received an enormous increase in spiritual energy. The Five Phoenixes’ accumulation had faintly reached the edge of Immortal-Martial ascension.

  To ascend to Immortal-Martial… all that was missing… was the right契机.

  As the conferral took place,

  the vast destiny of heaven and earth surged downward.

  Demon Saints, Demon Kings, and human immortals all received blessings of destiny.

  Their cultivation advanced to varying degrees.

  The chaotic and turbulent destiny gradually stabilized.

  In the moment the departed were revived,

  Lu Jiulian and Tang Yimo both sensed it. They looked toward the Eastern Sea, feeling Tang Guo’s aura return. Their tense expressions softened.

  Young Master Lu had not lied to them.

  Since that was the case, next…

  The Five Phoenixes would unite against the external threat.

  They would slay the invading Divine Demons!

  Just as the Nether Emperor had said.

  Any foreign race that dared invade the Five Phoenixes would be killed!

  …

  In the Ninth Heaven,

  within the void rift,

  figures of ancient Great Emperors stood, tall and divine, shrouded in mystery.

  After a long silence, a voice echoed.

  “The Five Phoenixes are in chaos, locked in endless battle. This is our chance.”

  “Seize this moment. Activate the Divine Demon passage and guide the Divine Demons of the Primordial Starry Sky into the Five Phoenixes.”

  “Wait a little longer. Let more Divine Demons gather in the Primordial Starry Sky before activating the passage… That way, the Five Phoenixes will surely fall. Activating it now is too early.”

  “Lu Ping’an is cunning and treacherous. Is it possible that the current chaos in the Five Phoenixes is his deliberate arrangement—to bait us into acting prematurely?”

  “It shouldn’t… be, right?”

  The voices gradually fell silent.

  After a long while, a faint, uncertain murmur drifted through.

  “Besides… Lu Ping’an has no reason to lure us into acting early…”