Great Xuan Calendar 1756, New Year's Eve.

The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains dispatched troops to Dianchuan.

This operation was orchestrated by the Fuyao Great Saint of the Great Roc Clan.

Reinforcements for Dianchuan... one million strong!

The somber sky was abruptly torn asunder by a bizarre aura.

Countless Demonic Evil Cultivators had gathered, their innate malignancy and ambition driving them to trample a prosperous province underfoot. Like a relentless tide, they surged across the border, intent on devouring this fertile land.

Demonic miasma and dark clouds rolled in, blanketing the sky, incredibly dense. The entire sky, in that moment, transformed into a bizarre, shifting kaleidoscope of colors. The once distinct white clouds and azure sky were gradually stained with layers of gloomy purple, profound black, and a horrifying blood-red. These strange hues intertwined, painting one dazzling, unsettling pattern after another across the heavens.

As people gazed up at this suffocating, oppressive vista, an endless chill crept into their hearts. The once-warm sunlight was stifled, unable to penetrate the chaotic demonic clouds. Light itself seemed to become fraught with unease, struggling and twisting within the demonic miasma.

Demonic Evil Cultivators of all shapes and sizes, their faces ferocious—like envoys from the Netherworld—traced chilling, foreboding lines across the sky. They unleashed deafening, aggressive, and brutally savage roars that coalesced into a vortex of sound above the province.

Wherever the million Demonic Evil Cultivators passed, life was extinguished, and the flames of war blazed to the heavens!

The people watched helplessly as their homes were turned to scorched earth, powerless to resist. Desolation and panic erupted in every corner. Commoners wailed in despair, magnificent buildings crumbled into ruins, and fertile soil was trampled into barren wasteland...

The situation, which had been gradually improving, deteriorated once more with the sudden surge of troops from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. Reclaimed lands were lost once more. In just three days, Yang Mountain, Bai Wu, Shuyang, and Chuanping fell, and nearly ten million commoners perished at the hands of the Demonic Evil Cultivators.

And at this moment, the instigator of it all sat atop that lofty white jade tower, silently watching everything unfold.

"For Your Highness to orchestrate such a massive event without consulting us... it's somewhat lacking in respect for us old-timers, wouldn't you say?"

At the very summit of the white jade tower, five or six figures were seated casually. Their bodies, like surging seas, pulsed with immense power that resonated with heaven and earth. They sat with a relaxed, almost lazy demeanor, their expressions varied, yet each exuded an authority so potent it seemed to solidify the air around them. Behind them, phantoms of interwoven light and shadow flickered in the void—symbols of the power they had condensed over countless eons. The outlines of these extraordinary beings, who resided among the cosmic stars, circulating Divine Marvel Power and the essence of life, shone with particular brilliance under the sun. Every movement, every exchange of glances between them, sent out invisible ripples. The air was thick with a power that commanded awe, a power difficult to gaze upon directly. They seemed to be the most venerable and mighty existences in this world!

The one who had just spoken was a middle-aged woman with an impassive face. She wore a plain long dress and, at first glance, resembled a simple village matron. She slowly turned her distinct black-and-white eyes, her gaze falling upon the esteemed personage from Shangjing.

She was the Head of the Ingenious Mechanism Sect—Li Chanchan.

"Sect Master Li, you exaggerate. Although I am the Crown Prince, compared to you seniors, I am but a novice," the Great Xuan Crown Prince offered, his explanation somewhat pale, even bordering on perfunctory. "My original intention was merely to provoke the Fuyao Great Saint. It's just that this Great Roc is excessively proud. The 'fire' of my goading method was a bit too strong."

Everyone present was an old monster who had lived for millennia; how could they be deceived by such simple words?

"Heh, the Crown Prince is indeed accustomed to wielding the power of life and death," chuckled a man beside the village woman. He was draped in a robe as dazzling as a field of stars, wore a high crown, had a face like white jade, and kept his eyes closed. "A mere 'the fire was a bit too strong,' and my Dianchuan Province is plunged into the flames of war."

This was the current Cliff Master of Star Mansion Sea Cliff—Yu Xiu.

"Your Highness has long resided in Shangjing and is unaware of the hardships in our remote province," another voice chimed in. Squatting on the ground was a man in a simple flax-yellow short shirt, with a grizzled beard and swarthy skin, resembling an old farmer. He plucked a blade of wild grass from the ground and stuck it in his mouth. "Now, with the Fuyao Great Saint taking the lead, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains have sent reinforcements of a million troops. They are clearly determined to seize our province. We old bones have lived here for over a thousand years. Now, we might be forced to relocate. If Your Highness cannot give us a satisfactory answer, I fear we will have to go to the Mind-Nourishing Hall and raise the matter with the Emperor."

This was the Banner Lord of the Nature Banner—Zhao Gengyun.

Facing the simultaneous accusations from three Primordial Spirit experts, the Great Xuan Crown Prince remained silent for a moment before turning his gaze to Dongfang Qing, who sat in a corner, toying with a green jade thumb ring.

"Sect Master Dongfang, is there nothing you wish to say to me?"

Surprised at being singled out, Dongfang Qing looked up. Feeling everyone's gaze converge on him, he shrugged and smiled, "I'm the youngest and least senior here. I don't have much to say."

He paused, then continued, "However, with the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains launching such a large-scale invasion of our province, for us—who are considered prominent figures in Dianchuan—to just stand by and watch these filthy curs cause trouble in our home... Heh, frankly, it's quite shameful."

Dongfang Qing's seemingly flippant words hinted at his stance. In other matters, given my youth and lower seniority, I shall not interfere. But concerning the invasion of Dianchuan by the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains... His implication was clear: he advocated for war!

Seeing Dongfang Qing had made his position known, a middle-aged scholar sitting not far from him, bolt upright and with the dignified bearing of a teacher, also spoke slowly, "I also agree with Brother Dongfang's words."

This was the Dean of the Great Righteousness Academy—Zhang Ping.

Aside from the absent Abbot of Dachan Temple, nearly all the Primordial Spirit experts from the ten Ancient Sect Nobilities of Dianchuan Province were present.

Slowly turning to face these individuals, who could be considered the very pillars of Dianchuan, the Great Xuan Crown Prince's lips moved slightly.

"I generally understand the intentions of you seniors. We've gathered today, ultimately, to discuss how to proceed. Regarding the Fuyao Great Saint, I indeed acted improperly. As compensation, I am willing to offer five measures of Heavenly Dew. I wonder if this is satisfactory to you seniors?"

Upon hearing the words "Heavenly Dew," the eyes of the Primordial Spirit experts all flickered.

"As expected of the Crown Prince, his resources are indeed substantial," Zhao Gengyun, the old farmer squatting on the ground, chuckled lightly. He spat out the grass root and nodded slightly, signifying his acceptance of the Crown Prince's compensation.

The other Primordial Spirit experts also nodded in succession, voicing no objections.

"Now that the matter of the Fuyao Great Saint is settled, let's discuss the current situation," the Crown Prince continued. "The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains have reinforced their ranks by a million, invading our Dianchuan Province. This is a great disaster, but also a great opportunity. The current Dianchuan is blessed with Human Path Merit. The number of Demonic Evil Cultivators that arrive corresponds to the amount of merit available for the taking. I know that since the beginning of this conflict, many disciples from your sects have descended from their mountains to enter the world, slaying demons and eliminating evil. However, as things stand, I fear this number is far from sufficient. I hope you seniors will permit all disciples from your sects and clans to descend and save the world. Why refuse this freely available Human Path Merit? Furthermore, I now make this pledge: if you assist me this time, once the situation in Dianchuan stabilizes, I can lead you all into the Great Xuan's Inner Palace to observe... the Great Dao Monument for three days!"

As soon as the Crown Prince finished speaking, the eyes of the five Primordial Spirit experts present lit up, and an immense storm instantly surged through the unseen void. Countless phenomena manifested in the sky, radiant with color, accompanied by the faint sound of Dharma conches and chanting.

The Great Profound Royal Family had truly invested heavily this time to regain control of Dianchuan Province.

Dongfang Qing paused his rubbing of the green jade thumb ring, inwardly astonished. The Great Dao Monument. The foundational treasure of the Great Profound Royal Family. That once remote, minor clan relied on this unexpectedly obtained treasure to defy fate, transform into a dragon, overthrow the previous Great Yan Dynasty, and establish the Great Xuan Dynasty, which has endured for over a thousand years. Rumor has it that the Great Dao Monument records three hundred supreme principles of the Dao. The higher one's cultivation, the greater the benefits from viewing it. It holds an immense attraction for those in the Primordial Spirit Realm.

Seeing the Primordial Spirit experts before him showing expressions of contemplation and interest, a slight smile touched the corners of the Great Xuan Crown Prince's lips.

The grand tides of the world dictate that what has long been united must divide, and what has long been divided must unite. Now, it seems, the time has come for the tides to turn...

Dark clouds pressed down from a gloomy sky.

A solitary county town flickered like a candle in the wind, its situation precarious. Outside the town, thousands of Demonic Evil Cultivators gathered silently like terrifying phantoms in the night, coalescing into an unstoppable force of malevolence. They were either bizarrely formed demons or ferocious-faced Demonic Cultivators, each exuding a soul-corroding malice. Demonic miasma and dark clouds intertwined, rolling forward like an unstoppable tide. This surging black wave seemed intent on engulfing all life between heaven and earth. Carried on the wind, waves of shrill, discordant howls and venomous curses swirled above the county town.

The cultivators who had rushed to aid in the defense stood on the town walls, their faces paling to an extreme degree at the horrific sight. The defending soldiers' eyes were bloodshot with fury as they gripped their weapons, but the cold sweat drenching their palms betrayed their profound panic and helplessness. The common folk huddled in their ancestral halls, praying for divine protection, weeping and begging for their fragile lives to be spared.

With a cackling roar of "KILL!", thousands of Demonic Evil Cultivators, shrouded in dense black mist, surged violently towards the county town.

But in the very next instant!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Countless bolts of lightning rained down like furious dragons, tearing across the blackened sky! The Demonic Evil Cultivators looked up in terror, but it was too late to dodge. Billowing black smoke and shattered remnants littered the ground, with mangled figures visible amidst the chaos.

After the blinding glare of the lightning subsided, a group of cultivators stood tall upon the town walls, clad in deep blue Daoist robes with wide sleeves and long lapels. Each was forming Seal Arts for Thunder Magic, and on the fluttering hems of their robes, two bold, majestic characters were embroidered:

Shenxiao!

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