Chapter 181

Yang Mei and the others had somewhat recovered their condition, already waiting outside the formation; upon seeing the Zhu Xian Sword Formation collapse, they immediately rushed over with great enthusiasm.

Yet all that could be seen was Hongjun splitting into four, each holding a top-tier spiritual treasure, pierced through by a single jade sword; Rahu's breath was feeble, and he laughed wildly without cease.

Of the four Hongjuns, three figures vanished, re-converging into one, transforming into a mass of purple qi.

Hongjun walked out of the purple qi and said, "Fellow Daoist, your methods are truly excellent; had I not taken precautions, I would hardly escape this calamity today."

After Hongjun finished speaking, the Jade Disc of Creation atop his head manifested countless cracks, nearly covering the entire surface of the spiritual treasure.

"However, Fellow Daoist, if you have no other means, the battle between immortals and demons will end today."

Rahu's face filled with unwillingness, he turned and shouted at Yang Mei and the others:

"Hongjun deliberately delayed earlier; he is the true culprit who killed the Wuxing Daoist. Fellow Daoists, join me in attacking and slaying this wretch!"

"Yin Yang Daoist, you have always shared deep feelings with the Wuxing Daoist; how can you tolerate this wretch like this?"

As Rahu shouted, his black robe swept, a canopy of sky descended, upon which was depicted Hongjun's earlier explanation to Rahu.

Seeing this, the Yin Yang Old Ancestor's eyes instantly turned red; he took the lead, the Taiji Diagram revealing a golden bridge, pointing straight at Hongjun to kill him.

Yang Mei and the Qiankun Old Ancestor didn't even have time to intervene before the Yin Yang Old Ancestor had already rushed to attack Hongjun.

Rahu, meanwhile, wore a faint smile, a black light flickered in his eyes, he withdrew the World-Annihilating Mill, and meanwhile his qi subtly linked heaven and earth.

Hongjun frowned slightly, not understanding why the Yin Yang Old Ancestor would act so foolishly; seeing Rahu's cold smile, he realized Rahu was secretly manipulating things.

But the Taiji Diagram's attack was imminent, leaving no time for explanation; Hongjun, helpless, could only be forced to counterattack.

Facing the frenzied Yin Yang Old Ancestor, while resisting, Hongjun silently thought: "Now Yang Mei and the others, due to the shattered earth veins of Xifang Dalu, have karma entangled, calamity qi entered their bodies, and their spiritual platform has been obscured."

"Originally, because the Wuxing Old Ancestor had attained the Dao, his mind was unsettled; moreover, Rahu took advantage of the opening, secretly exerting influence from the side, the great calamity is about to end, and it seems the situation now leaves no room for holding back."

Having thought this through, Hongjun no longer hesitated and said: "Yang Mei Fellow Daoist, Qiankun Fellow Daoist, please restrain the Yin Yang Fellow Daoist; Rahu is secretly employing his schemes—do not fall into his plot."

"Regarding the Wuxing Fellow Daoist's matter, I will certainly give you all an explanation."

While Hongjun verbally demanded that Yang Mei and the others act, his actions grew increasingly ruthless; at this moment the Yin Yang Old Ancestor was like a mad demon, leaving no room for mercy.

Hongjun waited long for a reply, feeling doubtful, he turned his head and saw Rahu continuously chanting a scripture.

As for its content, Hongjun could not hear it, but Yang Mei and the Qiankun Old Ancestor were immersed in it, and killing intent permeated their bodies.

"Rahu, you deserve to die!"

Hongjun shouted in anger, for he saw the Qiankun Old Ancestor had already unleashed the Qiankun Cauldron, focusing his gaze upon him.

Yang Mei stood aside, unmoving, brows tightly knit, killing intent palpable, yet not directed at Hongjun but pointing toward Rahu's location.

Rahu, too, was drenched in cold sweat; Yang Mei had been on the verge of breaking free—once he did, Rahu knew he would surely die.

Yang Mei and Hongjun would certainly not let him go; he even dared not allow the Yin Yang and Qiankun to regain clarity.

Taking advantage of the moment when everyone's calamity qi had entered their bodies and their minds showed gaps, he forcibly influenced their thoughts and actions; once exposed, these fellow great gods of equal rank would surely prioritize slaying him. At this point Rahu was already riding a tiger he could not dismount; should Hongjun free his hands or Yang Mei break free of his bonds, Rahu's only recourse would be to attain the Dao.

Hongjun gazed at the Yin Yang Old Ancestor and Qiankun Old Ancestor locked in a deadly struggle, and sighed helplessly:

"It was not my intention; helpless as fate decrees, fellow Daoists, please take care."

The Jade Disc of Creation burst forth with divine light, its surface again showing fine cracks, and Hongjun's previously waning qi instantly began to rise.

Heavenly auspicious clouds continually spread, countless rosy qi tinged the sky, the plain-colored cloud boundary banner unfurled, depicted as chains tightly binding the two.

After Hongjun let out a mournful sigh, the Jade Disc of Creation emitted purple divine light, shining upon the two.

Instantly, flames of qi ignited on the Yin Yang Old Ancestor and Qiankun Old Ancestor, also setting Mount Sumeru ablaze; glazed pearls and jade alike were reduced to nothing in this fire.

Rahu, Hongjun, and Yang Mei thus remained locked in a stalemate, with no strength left for anything else.

Nan Fang Continent.

Yuan Huang took advantage of the current lull in the three-way conflict to begin organizing the Phoenix clan's internal affairs, only to discover that its losses were catastrophic, beyond her imagination.

Yuan Huang found it hard to believe, hastily summoned the Phoenix clan's members, yet discovered that the prosperous scene before the great calamity had long vanished.

The five chieftains—Red Phoenix, Mandarin Duck, Wan Feng, Qing Luan, and Hong Hu—had lost three; one lived a fate worse than death; upon careful recollection, Yuan Huang faintly recalled.

Red Phoenix perished at the onset of the great calamity at the hands of the dragon clan; for this, Yuan Huang flew into a rage, and the Phoenix clan battled the dragon clan at Tian Ting Plain, where seven thousand four hundred eighty-one clansmen died.

The Mandarin Duck, a young Phoenix clan member highly regarded by the two, went to aid during the mid-calamity when the dragon clan, led by the Ox Prisoner, besieged the Great Peng, and died in an ambush.

That time, Yuan Huang nearly vomited blood, raised a great army, first to reclaim the second-largest water system domain in Nan Fang occupied by the dragon clan.

Second, to avenge the innate divine sanctification of the Great Peng clan and prevent the innate divine beings from bearing grudges against the Phoenix clan.

Third, to avenge the Mandarin Duck with blood hatred, wishing to make the dragon clan pay the price.

In that battle, sixty-five thousand clansmen perished in the calamity, and the Phoenix clan's vital energy was severely wounded.

Wan Feng, after joining forces with the qilin, died in the first battle of the assault on the Eastern Continent, slain by the snake clan's innate divine ancestor serpent.

At that time the Phoenix clan was filled with triumphant ambition, sweeping away the previous situation of being suppressed by the dragon clan, and for the first time possessed a genuine counteroffensive momentum.

She and Yuan Huang, though grieving, failed to notice anything worth noting, instead immersing themselves in the continual stream of good news.

That counteroffensive mobilized all the elite of the flying beasts and the Phoenix clan; countless died, and even now over 1.9 million Phoenix clan members have perished on the Eastern Continent.

Hong Hu, the Phoenix clan member with the loftiest aspirations, attempted to rescue Wan Feng, was attacked by the heavenly serpent, poisoned with a strange toxin; though his clansmen rescued him in time and saved his life, to this day he has no hope of recovery.

When Yuan Huang now sees him, he is already aged to the point of resembling dry bones in a grave, showing no trace of vitality; his lofty aspirations and ambitions are shattered like a fleeting dream.

Yuan Huang felt a chill of fear for the first time, as well as dread of the great calamity.

Gazing at the thinning clansmen before her, she suddenly realized that the phoenix's lifeblood seemed to have already been completely drained!

(End of Chapter)