Atop Asking Heaven Peak.

  Everyone stared at one another in stunned silence. Dantai Mo Jie stood there, his robes fluttering in the wind.

  The aloof and proud Azure Dragon—no one had expected it to utter such vulgar words.

  The golden flames in Dantai Mo Jie’s chest leaped wildly, as though endless rage was erupting. Yet the Azure Dragon had already twisted its body and vanished into the heavens, leaving no trace.

  Dantai Mo Jie desperately wanted to flay and debone the dragon, but with his current strength, it was impossible for the time being.

  This sacrificial rite thus ended without resolution.

  In his fury, the enraged Dantai Mo Jie could only execute a few ritual officials to vent his anger.

  At that moment, an attendant rushed up from the base of the peak, delivering fresh intelligence to Dantai Mo Jie.

  “The calamity has changed again!”

  “Within three thousand miles of the imperial capital, beneath the blood-colored rivers, all manner of ferocious fish have emerged, slaughtering one another. The corpses of dead fish float on the surface, reeking abominably, while countless insects swarm and spread disease!”

  Dantai Mo Jie stared at the report, his face twitching slightly.

  No longer wasting time on Asking Heaven Peak.

  With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and departed.

  Faintly, realization dawned upon him.

  “Heaven unleashes calamities… to erode human fortune. The target is me.”

  Dantai Mo Jie sat high upon his throne, eyes cold and sharp.

  Lu Mudui had once struck at him, only to suffer severe backlash injury. The overwhelmingly powerful Overlord had appeared yet spared him.

  These events made Dantai Mo Jie dimly understand: as Human Emperor, human fortune shielded him.

  After all, he had studied the Daluo Immortal Scripture.

  The golden blood in his heart pulsed, surging energy to wash his body.

  Dantai Mo Jie could clearly feel his strength rising.

  In court.

  Many newly appointed officials dared not speak. Regarding the calamities around the capital, they offered no comment.

  They feared speaking—lest it displease Dantai Mo Jie and earn waist execution.

  Once, serving in the Great Xuan court was an honor. Now, officials feared words, dreading fatal consequences.

  Bold ministers—imprisoned or slain.

  The tyrant Dantai Mo Jie’s authority—none dared defy.

  Yet the calamity demanded response.

  “My dear ministers—nothing to say about this calamity? No measures or countermeasures?”

  Dantai Mo Jie smiled from his high seat.

  The ministers below trembled slightly.

  Yet someone had to speak.

  One minister stepped forward, face pale, bowing: “Your Majesty—this calamity is heaven’s punishment. To overcome it, we must appease heaven’s wrath. Thus… this minister begs Your Majesty to sacrifice to the heavens.”

  Many in the hall echoed agreement.

  “Sacrifice?”

  Hearing the word “sacrifice,” Dantai Mo Jie recalled the Azure Dragon’s taunt and insult.

  His face twitched. He waved his hand.

  Golden-armored guards entered the hall, dragging the minister out.

  Pfft!

  Blade rose and fell—a large head rolled.

  Disagreement meant death. Dantai Mo Jie’s tyranny silenced the court; officials dared not utter a word.

  Deep into the night.

  Between heaven and earth, the faint crisp sound of a chess piece landing echoed once more.

  The clear ring lingered in Dantai Mo Jie’s ears, jolting him from refining the golden blood.

  Looking outside—he saw the original night seem to accelerate, suddenly turning to blazing daylight with the sun high overhead.

  The calamity had shifted again. Centered on the capital—three thousand miles—no night remained. When elsewhere was dark, here it was day, with the sun hanging high, radiating scorching heat.

  The earth baked dry and cracked. Blood-colored rivers evaporated.

  Countless fish carcasses swarmed with insects…

  The people’s lives became unbearable. Water grew precious. By the seventh day, stored water in the capital’s surroundings was utterly depleted.

  Dantai Mo Jie dispatched cultivators to summon rain—yet it failed.

  Blazing daylight persisted a month—people tormented as though roasting under the sun.

  Dantai Mo Jie was helpless, yet indifferent. Staring at the sun—he coldly laughed.

  He continued diligently refining the golden blood, pushing his cultivation to its limits.

  He came to Buzhou Peak, seeking the Heavenly Dao Tree.

  One of the most vital treasures for cultivators.

  Dantai Mo Jie appeared—dispatching troops to seize it, expelling all cultivators.

  Many cultivators raged—yet helpless.

  Though Great Xuan endured calamities, the Black Tortoise Guards’ renown persisted.

  The Heavenly Dao Tree became his alone. Cultivating beneath it accelerated progress.

  His personal guards strengthened even faster.

  Yet Dantai Mo Jie sensed crisis—he needed allies, assistance.

  A profound immortal-level helper—and he would fear nothing.

  Even heaven eroding Great Xuan’s fortune—he would defy it.

  He thought of Buzhou Peak’s demoness.

  Intended to ascend personally—yet soon lost the path midway.

  At the foot—mortals had built a shrine to a closed-eyed, stunning girl statue.

  “This is the Buzhou Peak demoness? Truly beautiful…”

  “Immense power—saved Five Phoenixes from collapse multiple times!”

  “I lack an empress—only such a peerless powerhouse is worthy of my imperial status!”

  Dantai Mo Jie gazed at the statue—bold ambition soaring to the heavens.

  The ministers and cultivators following him—all changed expressions drastically.

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  This was grave blasphemy!

  The Buzhou Peak demoness was legendary—bloodthirsty, notoriously ill-tempered.

  An emperor blaspheming her—likely inviting even graver calamity.

  Boom!

  As his words fell.

  The Heavenly Dao Tree shook violently—countless branches whipping down.

  The earth seemed shattered.

  Dao Intent fruits about to fall—shattered one by one, reverting to dissipating Dao Intent.

  The world erupted in uproar.

  Yet Dantai Mo Jie remained indifferent—laughing even louder.

  Eyes gleaming—he sought to ascend Buzhou Peak. Yet at midway—a world-shaking terror aura spread.

  The entire peak swayed.

  Faintly—Dantai Mo Jie’s hair flew, body radiating golden light. Gazing at the suddenly appearing Zhu Long figure—his heart burned with fervor.

  Though he knew the answer—he now held a grander goal.

  …

  Origin Lake, Lake Heart Island.

  Lu was speechless—this Dantai Mo Jie was truly tyrannical to the extreme.

  The imperial blood possessing him—was clearly no good thing. Influencing him to this degree—inescapable connection.

  Daring to covet Zhu Long.

  Sooner or later—slap him dead.

  Lu narrowed his eyes.

  Lines danced within.

  Faintly—he seemed to hear the golden blood pulsing.

  As though seeing it surge vast energy—making Dantai Mo Jie ever stronger.

  And this…

  Was precisely what Lu desired.

  He sipped the Heavenly Immortal Wine.

  Rolled his sleeve—picked a piece.

  Piece fell on the board.

  The calamities… continued.

  …

  The endless blazing daylight gave way to yet another calamity.

  Endless locusts swarmed from the boundless sea—dense, blotting the sky from all directions, engulfing the entire capital.

  Crops devoured utterly clean—not even tree bark remained.

  The capital’s people suffered unbearably. Facing the locust plague, they could only hide in their homes, trembling.

  As locusts passed, the capital’s greenery vanished at visible speed.

  Dantai Mo Jie raged—dispatching cultivators to slay the locusts.

  Yet the locusts seemed endless—slay one swarm, another blotting the sky arrived.

  Slaying pace far lagged reproduction.

  Even the imperial gardens—stripped bare.

  This chilling scene terrified countless souls.

  But gravest—no food remained.

  Panic erupted swiftly.

  The people’s hidden grain—invaded by ubiquitous locusts, devoured.

  Wails echoed across the land.

  A minister finally could bear no more—petitioned Dantai Mo Jie to open the capital’s granaries.

  “No matter—the locust calamity will soon pass. I have dispatched the Black Tortoise Guards to eradicate them.”

  “I refuse to believe the locusts are truly endless.”

  Dantai Mo Jie said faintly.

  The minister gritted his teeth: “Your Majesty—your subjects are starving to death!”

  “Releasing grain is best!”

  Dantai Mo Jie’s gaze sharpened coldly.

  “You understand nothing?!”

  “I now battle heaven!”

  “I believe—with my ability—I can overcome these calamities… Release grain? That equals admitting defeat to heaven?!”

  Dantai Mo Jie stood—raging.

  The hall fell utterly silent.

  Attendants all lowered heads—daring not speak, fearing the emperor’s might.

  The minister turned ashen.

  “You, Dantai Mo Jie—are unworthy to be Human Emperor! Unworthy!”

  “Human Emperor must not cultivate! Must not! Once cultivating… all falls to chaos!”

  The minister suddenly roared madly—as though inner conscience awakened.

  Glaring at Dantai Mo Jie.

  Dantai Mo Jie shrouded in golden light—rage surging.

  “Kill!”

  A golden-armored personal guard appeared beside the minister.

  Cold blade swept—the righteous, indignant minister’s head soared skyward.

  Blood sprayed the entire hall—filling it with bloody scent.

  Slaying the minister—the locust calamity intensified further. Then calamity shifted once more…

  Eternal night approached.

  The endless daylight finally ceased—heat faded, night descended.

  In dry riverbeds—pits appeared one by one. Countless snakes crawled from the ground.

  Yet not most chilling—this night was moonless—earth pitch black.

  As though冤魂 wails resounded.

  Ghost gates opened—hundred ghosts roamed the night.

  The capital’s people were terrified—hiding in homes, trembling.

  Yet Dantai Mo Jie remained unmoved. The golden flames in his chest pulsed—brilliantly illuminating the night.

  As though to light the entire capital—he ordered the people to kindle torches, making the capital bright as day.

  He dispatched cultivators to slay venomous snakes and capture the hundred ghosts.

  Battling heaven—Dantai Mo Jie was earnest.

  …

  Beiluo City.

  Now it sheltered countless refugees fleeing the capital.

  The calamities’ range spared Beiluo.

  Yet Beiluo was far from idle.

  One by one, Five Phoenixes immortals descended—terrifying auras as though reviving the entire city.

  Overlord, Tang Yimo, Lu Mudui, Mo Tianyu, and others—key figures this time.

  “Human Emperor unvirtuous—causing heaven to send punishing calamities: blood water calamity, plague death calamity, extreme daylight calamity, locust calamity… chilling to the bone. Fortunately, limited to three thousand miles around the capital…”

  “But human fortune teeters on collapse. Once collapsed… these calamities may engulf all Five Phoenixes land—then true misery for the people!”

  Mo Tianyu said.

  Fingers divining something.

  “I’ll just go slay Dantai Mo Jie—end everything.”

  Tang Yimo, arms bandaged, veins bulging—aura vast.

  “You cannot slay him. Though calamities erode Dantai Mo Jie’s fortune—he remains Human Emperor…”

  “Human fortune shields him. If you truly try killing him—you may go but never return.”

  Overlord said.

  He had considered it long ago—but upon meeting Dantai Mo Jie—knew it impossible.

  The fortune cloaking him—his best protection.

  As long as human fortune held—Dantai Mo Jie undying.

  “Then no solution?” Ni Yu, who had wandered the continent, now in Beiluo—frowned, asking.

  Little Yinglong perched on her head—claws clutching fruit, munching.

  “Or… return and consult the Young Master?”

  Yi Yue in flowing white robes—coolly asked.

  “Impossible—such trifles… why trouble the Young Master?”

  “If the Young Master wishes to act—he will. All under heaven—he knows.”

  Ning Zhao waved—halting the idea.

  Injured Lu Mudui pale—fortune backlash severe for Daluo cultivators.

  “There is a way.”

  Lu Mudui said.

  Staff in hand—as though writing on the ground, lightly tapping.

  Everyone’s gazes drawn.

  Curious about Lu Mudui’s method.

  Mo Tianyu smiled—he had guessed it.

  And it was the only way.

  “These calamities—heaven-sent. Purpose: slash Dantai Mo Jie’s fortune, thereby harming human fortune…”

  “Follow heaven’s intent, know heaven’s mandate… Dantai Mo Jie defies heaven—we need only comply.”

  “Dantai Mo Jie is Human Emperor—Five Phoenixes immortals cannot slay him. But… if he is no longer Human Emperor—he can be slain.”

  Lu Mudui said.

  Everyone stunned.

  “No longer Human Emperor?”

  “Could it be…”

  Overlord and Tang Yimo’s eyes narrowed slightly—frowning gazes.

  “Human Emperor must not cultivate. Dantai Mo Jie long ago embarked on the path—with human fortune aiding, his cultivation not low now. But… he is impure—defying heaven—no longer a pure Human Emperor.”

  Lu Mudui said.

  “Thus… what we must do—is crusade the tyrant.”

  …

  The Great Xuan Divine Dynasty suffered unprecedented calamities.

  Natural and demonic woes—utter chaos.

  Warfire ignited.

  From the western domain—the first rebel army raised the banner “Crusade the tyrant”—rising up.

  The entire Great Xuan Divine Dynasty plunged into turmoil overnight.

  Southern and eastern domains—rebel armies emerged.

  A single spark can start a prairie fire—and these armies gave the people a glimmer of dawn.

  News reached the capital.

  The current capital—still enveloped in eternal night.

  Rebel army news reached Dantai Mo Jie.

  He dismissed it with disdain.

  His aura now ever stronger.

  “Certainly those like Overlord and Tang Yimo—true immortals—scheming behind the scenes…”

  Dantai Mo Jie coldly laughed.

  Though he did not cultivate the Daluo Immortal Scripture—he had studied it closely.

  He knew Overlord and the others acted because the human fortune he bore had fluctuated.

  “Rebellion? Hah… a mob of rabble.”

  Dantai Mo Jie sneered.

  With a grand wave—the Black Tortoise Guards mobilized, along with his golden-armored personal guards and allied cultivation forces.

  A vast suppression army swept forth.

  Warfire spread across Great Xuan land.

  Black Tortoise Guards plus golden-armored—these were Dantai Mo Jie’s loyal core forces.

  Especially the golden-armored—nurtured by his golden blood, each possessed immense combat power.

  The rebel prairie fire—was actually suppressed.

  …

  Origin Lake, Lake Heart Island.

  Lu’s gaze gleamed brightly.

  His mouth curled slightly. Before him—the Spirit Pressure Chessboard hovered.

  Pieces fell one by one—as though luring prey step by step into the trap he had laid.

  He raised a hand.

  Eight imperial weapons emerged one after another.

  Though these eight had lost their imperial reserves…

  The lies Lu had woven earlier could continue. Perfect—pair them with the peerless beasts for this grand scheme.

  Whether Five Phoenixes’ immortals achieved a qualitative leap—depended on this game.

  Humm…

  The eight imperial weapons streaked forth as eight beams of light.

  Scattering across various parts of the Five Phoenixes Continent.

  Eight peerless beasts—deduced by Lu in the Preaching Platform—were brewing their descent.

  Lu smiled with some anticipation.

  The world as chessboard, all beings as pieces…

  The conflicts of this grand drama—with his falling pieces—were about to be pushed and escalated to their climax.

  …

  The rebel armies retreated steadily. Cultivation forces joined one after another.

  Yet Dantai Mo Jie had previously swept many forces—incorporating numerous into Great Xuan. His might peaked momentarily.

  The rebels were no match—each clash ending in devastating defeat.

  Finally—forces like Martial Emperor City and Qiannu Palace from the Tianyuan domain joined the fray.

  Barely holding back Dantai Mo Jie’s armies.

  As Dantai Mo Jie focused on the rebels—the Tiger Pass defending against demons fell into defeat.

  Tiger Pass lost.

  The demon army surged vast—from the plains, charging forth.

  Black clouds rolled.

  Yet at the horizon’s end—Overlord stood alone, axe and shield on back.

  One man blocked the entire demon army.

  The Demon Monkey King appeared—exchanging distant gazes with Overlord.

  Long moments later—both vanished.

  And the situation on Five Phoenixes Continent underwent another earth-shaking shift.

  The demon army… actually supported the rebels—beginning to oppose Great Xuan’s forces.

  When Dantai Mo Jie learned this news.

  The smile on his face gradually vanished.

  “My armies… cannot lose! Great Xuan cannot lose!”

  Dantai Mo Jie furiously slammed the desk.

  He knew clearly—what defeat meant for him.

  Losing human fortune’s protection—he would face encirclement and assault by Five Phoenixes Continent’s immortals.

  The shadow Overlord once cast—he still remembered!

  At this moment—the urgent need for allies sprouted once more in his mind.

  “Azure Dragon, Buzhou Peak demoness… damn it all!”

  Dantai Mo Jie gritted his teeth. These powerhouses refused aid—what could counter Overlord and other half-step profound immortal-level foes?

  Suddenly.

  An attendant cautiously rushed into the hall from outside.

  Presenting intelligence to Dantai Mo Jie.

  Dantai Mo Jie—irritated—unwilling to view, yet subconsciously glanced. This glance—left him stunned.

  Breath quickened.

  He came to the balcony—gazing into the pitch-black heavens.

  Clutching his chest—the golden blood within pulsed violently.

  Faintly—he sensed eight overwhelming auras.

  Sensing them—the golden blood grew even more excited.

  His mind recalled records of the world-ending beast Liu Ying.

  “Cannot gain aid from immortals or heavenly dragon species… but I can seek help from peerless beasts!”

  Dantai Mo Jie clutched his chest.

  He had an intuition…

  With the golden blood—he might… control these beasts!

  Then—with beasts as allies.

  It would be his moment—to defy heaven!