Chapter 20: Irreversible Ten Thousand Calamities

Taiyi Shen looked at it, eyes full of admiration. This Fire Raven is a fierce general he personally promoted, also of the Winged Tribe and proficient in the mysteries of fire, loyal to Taiyi Shen, already one of the Demon Race's top ten commanders, whose strength is renowned across the Honghuang lands.

"What can they possibly do? Lord Dong Huang, you can rest; I'll give them a 'warm‑up'." The Fire Raven bristled with confidence, not even giving Zhou Yi and his companions a proper glance.

Taiyi Shen laughed heartily, eyeing Zhou Yi's party with interest, "I've given you a chance, but it seems I must let you taste some hardship before you'll bow down."

Yao Yan's gaze burned like a torch, staring fixedly at Taiyi Shen as if to imprint his image in his mind, "Fortunes turn, Taiyi Shen; the Human Race will never show weakness."

The Fire Raven snorted with laughter; Yao Yan's words sounded utterly absurd to him. Yet Taiyi Shen, hearing that, grew even more delighted.

"Fine, then I'll grant you that. If you can defeat him, I'll cease the attack and give you a chance to catch your breath."

The Fire Raven grew anxious at the mention, "Dong Huang..." They were, after all, carrying out the Saint's command to eradicate the Human Race.

Taiyi Shen waved his hand, "No rush, eliminating them is only a matter of time. Watching a good show today isn't bad either. Or are you lacking confidence?" His words were laced with provocation. The Fire Raven's expression turned instantly to the worst.

"Leave it to me!" Taiyi Shen chuckled lightly, stepping back a few paces, hands clasped behind his back, assuming a posture as if ready to enjoy the spectacle.

Taishang and Nüwa watched, their expressions complex. They had never expected Taiyi Shen to play like this; perhaps they were overconfident.

As Saints, they had offered Dong Huang many incentives, the goal being the extermination of the Human Race.

But now, he not only hasn't seized the chance to strike, he instead has turned the encounter with the Human Race into a gamble.

"What kind of medicine is Taiyi Shen selling in his gourd?" Even the usually gentle Nüwa was somewhat annoyed. Seeing this, Taishang hurriedly whispered a consolation:

"Junior sister, we previously feared the Human Race's Heavenly Destiny, but now that that protection is gone, their three Great Luo Golden Immortals, facing a Fire Raven near the quasi‑Saint mid‑stage, are bound to lose."

Nüwa, though dissatisfied, also understood that now was not the time for rashness. She longed to join the fray herself, but considering the Human Race's stronghold had attracted much attention, if she and Taishang intervened again, where would the Saint's face be?

At this moment, above the Human Race's stronghold, Zhou Yi, Yao Yan, and Fang Yun, having heard Taiyi Shen's words, all turned their gazes toward the Fire Raven.

The Fire Raven's strength was unfathomable, his aura second only to Taiyi Shen.

Now, he locked eyes with the three, red light flickering dangerously yet enticingly in his gaze, as if a great battle were about to erupt.

Suddenly, Yao Yan felt his control over the Fire Law become chaotic, as if an irresistible force sought to replace it.

A mysterious smile curled at the Fire Raven's mouth corner as he calmly said, "Let me give you a lesson, teaching you how to truly master the Fire Law."

Before the words finished, he lightly waved his hand, and a blazing fire bird flapped its wings, bearing heat enough to melt steel, rushing fiercely toward the crowd.

Yao Yan's heart tightened sharply, and he hurriedly summoned his bone‑spirit cold fire to meet it.

The two flames clashed violently, like a volcanic eruption, deafening booms accompanying massive fire waves scattering.

Yao Yan was forced to retreat repeatedly by this force; after finally regaining his footing, he discovered the Fire Raven had silently slipped behind him.

"Your so‑called Buddha‑rage Fire Lotus is merely a simple stacking of two flames; though novel, it's not hard to replicate."

The Fire Raven whispered beside Yao Yan's ear, his voice tinged with chill, "Your understanding of the Fire Law is far too superficial."

At that moment, Zhou Yi stepped forward, slapping out a palm, launching an attack together with his method manifestation.

The two forces collided, the resulting shockwave flinging both of them backward.

Benefiting from the Human Race's Heavenly Destiny protection, Yao Yan sustained only minor injuries, while most of Zhou Yi's attack struck the Fire Raven.

However, the Fire Raven instantly turned to ash, vanishing without a trace.

Immediately after, Fang Yun shouted in terror, "Human Ancestor, be careful!"

He waved the pen in his hand rapidly, his face pale.

At that moment, the headless Xingtian reappeared, charging toward Zhou Yi's back like a raging thunderbolt.

Yet to everyone's astonishment, the Fire Raven had silently reappeared behind Zhou Yi at an unknown moment, gathering a strange flame in his hand—golden and crimson intertwined—instantaneously forming the shape of a Fire Raven, then forcefully slamming it into Zhou Yi's back, into his Heavenly Destiny method manifestation.

Zhou Yi felt his qi and blood churn, and immediately, Xingtian's massive axe descended from the heavens.

However, the Fire Raven turned to ash again, as if it had never existed.

"Such an attack is child's play," the Fire Raven said calmly, a flaming longsword materializing in his hand, its blade ablaze with fierce fire. He swung the sword abruptly, and Xingtian, not yet steady on his feet, was split in two.

Fang Yun was severely wounded as a result, spitting fresh blood, nearly falling, but was saved by Yao Yan's timely grip.

The Fire Raven let the flames swirl over Zhou Yi's body, causing Zhou Yi to collapse weakly onto the ground.

The hero in their hearts, the Human Race's war god, was defeated so easily by the Demon Race. This scene nearly shattered their belief.

Sui Huang and the others' eyes were filled with loss, their brilliance extinguished.

Although they had foreseen it in their hearts, when it truly unfolded they still could not accept this harsh reality.

"Boring," someone said dejectedly, "The Fire Raven truly lives up to being one of the Demon Race's top ten masters; these few humans are simply no match for him."

Someone even expressed respect for the Fire Raven: "I quite admire that Human warrior; he once said 'Fortunes turn', but unfortunately fate gave him no chance to overturn it."

When the battle's dust settled, discussions erupted, a myriad of opinions swirling.

Taishang Laojun and Nüwa, upon seeing this, exchanged smiles and nodded in satisfaction.

Taiyi Shen's several clever moves, though catching the two slightly off guard, sealed the victory, which was sufficient.

The defeat of these warriors signified the sudden collapse of the Human Race's final defensive line.

Cleansing Honghuang, purging the remaining remnants, everything lies within control.

The Human Race's years pass swiftly; after ten thousand years, who will still recall today's tumult?

"You give your all yet still refuse to bow, then I can only grant you your final journey," the Fire Raven said expressionlessly to the three exhausted, wavering warriors opposite. Yet in their eyes, that unyielding flame still burned fiercely.

Taiyi Shen gave a slight nod, and the Fire Raven readied himself, prepared to deliver a lethal strike.

"Give them a dignified end," Taiyi Shen ordered calmly.

Obeying, the Fire Raven's entire body of fire elements boiled, his palm gathering a dazzling fireball, flames raging, heat waves rolling, warping the surrounding space.

This strike was enough to render them irretrievably doomed.

Zhou Yi clenched his teeth, enduring the pain, standing up; the massive fireball slammed into his Heavenly Destiny shield, a piercing sound deafening, and the shield shrank rapidly.

Zhou Yi's eyes reddened, tears glimmering. Yao Yan and Fang Yun also stepped forward, together confronting the destructive force.