Chapter 111: Survival Becomes a Problem

When these five phenomena merge, the released power shakes heaven and earth, and even the Preheavenly Treasure Chaos Bell cannot fully stabilize the surrounding space‑time.

This is also why Taiyi Shen is angry; as the supreme of the Demon Race, even after brandishing the Chaos Bell, he could not pose any threat to Zhou Yi.

Moreover, under Taiyi Shen's gaze, Zhou Yi unleashed a world‑shaking attack on the Great Peng Bird.

Even though Taiyi Shen intervened personally, he could not protect the ancient Demon Master Great Peng Bird. If this spreads, Taiyi Shen's reputation would surely suffer.

Regarding the Demon Master Great Peng Bird, Zhou Yi left in haste and did not verify its life‑or‑death status.

Nevertheless, as a powerful being that has survived since antiquity, the Great Peng Bird clearly possesses extraordinary abilities.

In the forthcoming War of Witch and Undead, although Taiyi Shen and Demon Emperor Di Jun have fallen, the Great Peng Bird can still survive unharmed, which proves its strength.

Although Zhou Yi used the Ji Secret and the Lin Secret to deliver a heaven‑shaking strike, the chance of completely eradicating a powerhouse like the Great Peng Bird is vanishingly small.

Nevertheless, even if the Great Peng Bird luckily escaped, Zhou Yi is convinced that this encounter forced the Great Peng Bird to pay a heavy price.

It is estimated that it will take several thousand, perhaps tens of thousands of years to recover enough to act again, let alone cause further trouble.

With the third War of Witch and Undead looming, the Great Peng Bird's severe injury undoubtedly weakens the Demon Race's power.

For the Human Race, the pressure in the upcoming great war will correspondingly lessen, which is undoubtedly good news.

Then Zhou Yi swiftly traversed the Vast Wilderness World, found a hidden spot to hide, and shouted, "Ming He Ancestor and the Great Peng Bird have withdrawn; Daoist friend, why not come out to meet?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, a slightly ethereal figure appeared before Zhou Yi—it was the Wan Huo Ancestor who had just undergone self‑detonation rebirth.

"Thank you, Daoist friend, for saving my life!" Wan Huo Ancestor, his face gloomy, bowed to Zhou Yi in gratitude.

At this moment he is left only with his soul, in a terribly poor condition, and could dissipate into heaven and earth at any time.

After countless years of cultivation, he finally reached the quasi‑Saint realm and possessed the enviable vast primordial purple Qi, yet now he has fallen to such a state, showing how tumultuous Wan Huo Ancestor's fate is.

In fact, when Wan Huo Ancestor chose self‑sacrifice, he thought he would vanish completely. He did not fall entirely; he believed it was all because of Zhou Yi's aid and felt deep gratitude.

However, the truth is that even without Zhou Yi's assistance, Wan Huo Ancestor might have retained a sliver of life.

This is mainly thanks to his vast primordial purple Qi and his Preheavenly Spiritual Treasure Nine‑Nine Soul‑Scattering Gourd.

These factors helped Wan Huo Ancestor fend off fatal danger, and even in the self‑detonation scenario he did not completely vanish.

The Preheavenly Spiritual Treasure called Nine‑Nine Soul‑Scattering Gourd played a crucial role, allowing Wan Huo Ancestor's soul to be preserved rather than instantly dissipating.

Wan Huo Ancestor mistakenly thought it was all because of Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi did not proactively clarify the misunderstanding.

"You are too courteous, Daoist friend. In the Vast Wilderness World, who doesn't know that Wan Huo Ancestor bases himself on kindness, widely forms good ties, and is a truly benevolent gentleman!

In contrast, Ming He Ancestor and the Great Peng Bird are notoriously infamous and ferocious. When injustice arises, they draw swords to help—that is exactly what we should do; I certainly will not stand by idly!" Zhou Yi said.

"Daoist friend, your righteousness soars to the heavens; it's a pity the vast primordial purple Qi left on its own for unknown reasons, otherwise I would have presented it to you as a gift." Wan Huo Ancestor said regretfully.

In reality, after the vast primordial purple Qi helped Wan Huo Ancestor escape disaster, it was destined to leave this world and fade into the endless void.

However, Zhou Yi's purpose on this journey is to locate the vast primordial purple Qi and intercept it as it is about to vanish.

Although intercepting the vast primordial purple Qi is almost an impossible task, fate sometimes makes unexpected choices.

Because Zhou Yi possesses the Five Supreme Phenomena, even the Preheavenly Treasure Chaos Bell that can freeze space‑time cannot stop him, so successfully intercepting the vast primordial purple Qi is not difficult for him.

Even so, Zhou Yi currently lacks time to study the vast primordial purple Qi in depth; he has merely sealed it temporarily within his golden Sea of Bitterness.

Although he no longer fantasizes about attaining Sainthood through the vast primordial purple Qi, he believes that studying it may yield unexpected gains.

"Gain and loss are all destiny. Losing the vast primordial purple Qi may not be a bad thing for you, Daoist friend." Zhou Yi said with a smile.

"Oh? Where does that come from?" Wan Huo Ancestor asked puzzledly.

"As far as I know, Daoist friend has spent an entire cycle trying to comprehend the vast primordial purple Qi, yet seems to have made no substantive progress.

Focusing all energy on studying the vast primordial purple Qi while neglecting one's own cultivation is not the path to becoming a Saint.

Moreover, this also caused a fatal crisis; does the vast primordial purple Qi truly bring any benefit to you, Daoist friend?" Zhou Yi explained.

Upon hearing this, Wan Huo Ancestor was stunned, wanted to retort, but could only let out a long sigh.

"Alas! Only now do I realize how absurdly wrong I was. As you said, Daoist friend, the vast primordial purple Qi turned out to be a disaster rather than a blessing for me.

Regret, sorrow, lament—everything is already too late; my foundation has been destroyed, and seeking the Great Dao in this life is now a luxury." Wan Huo Ancestor said helplessly.

Now, Wan Huo Ancestor retains only a fragment of a lingering soul, unable even to perform body‑snatching rebirth; his foundation has been utterly shattered.

"Daoist friend, even with only a lingering soul left, there is still some hope to continue cultivation." Zhou Yi comforted.

"Are your words sincere? As far as I know, unless Dao Ancestor or a Saint intervenes personally, this is absolutely impossible." Wan Huo Ancestor replied in shock.

"Friend, allow me to keep this confidential for now; everything will be revealed in due time." Zhou Yi said with a smile again.

"Oh? In that case, I entrust it to you! If a future chance to return to the Great Dao arises, I will repay your kindness abundantly!"

Wan Huo Ancestor pondered for a long time, still unable to fathom Zhou Yi's true intention, and again offered sincere thanks to Zhou Yi.

Indeed, unless a Saint or Dao Ancestor intervenes personally, given Wan Huo Ancestor's current state of only a lingering soul, not only returning to the Great Dao but even survival is a problem.

However, Wan Huo Ancestor does not know that soon, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, the Houtu Ancestral Witch, will sacrifice herself to become the Way of Reincarnation.

Since ancient times, between Honghuang Tian Di, the souls of all departed beings return to the Sea of Blood; they cannot be reborn, only wander within the Sea of Blood.

This causes the Sea of Blood to be filled with resentment and filth, placing a huge burden on the entire Vast Wilderness World.

Fortunately, the Houtu Ancestral Witch, transformed into the Way of Reincarnation, found a place of rebirth for those souls with nowhere to settle.