At the beginning of the tenth month, the old devil struck a long gash through Nii's face. The now single headed dragon flinched away. The old devil raised his free hand, his other being wrestled by Nuwa. His free hand extended numerous hair follicles as well to pierce Nii's body.
Nii's own catfish whiskers grew in response. They elongated and sprouted branches of their own. Across the sky, these hairs and whiskers whipped at each other in a flurry of lashes. Were the situation not so dire, this sequence of exchanges would actually look a bit comical.
Despite being so engrossed in combat, they all suddenly felt a shift in the air.
Within Kailong Chen and the surrounding areas, tons of fighting was happening. Depending on the level of the combatants, explosions that pushed apart enormous amount of water occurred regularly. In the city, so many buildings were ruined. Bodies lay on the streets, or floated in the water. Pieces of Nuwa's mud puppets also floated about.
One particular clash between a Great Unity Golden Immortal devil and a dragon created a bubble of air. As a consequence, turbulent seawater began rushing to fill the void. Mortal civilians shuddered at the oncoming doom. Any they would not be able to resist the force. Even to the experts fighting, they were a sad casualty.
But the hard hitting pressure never came.
Their bodies shimmered slightly but otherwise did not change. Instead, seawater passed through them before calming down once more. The experts fighting were all alarmed.
In fact, the sea seemed to calm despite all the fighting. No matter the spells used, be they from second order or third order celestial beings. Even a Chaos Immortal brawling against a dragon within the King of Four Directions formation felt the water around them still.
Then a group of ghost devils suddenly clasped their chests. They noticed their bodies being skewered by water condensed into swords. Even underwater, even among a vast ocean of water, these swords had an easily identifiable shape.
"What is," a ghost devil at the Golden Immortal realm muttered. He didn't get to finish as his body exploded into yin attribute gas clouds. Hundreds of thousands followed in his wake. A single stake each was needed to suddenly kill billions of ghost devils across the True through Golden Immortal realms.
Chaos Immortals resisted it, but felt greatly weakened. Their movements became strained even as they pushed their cultivation to the highest level.
"Hm?" The old devil glanced around. He heard a soft chime, a sonorous hymn that seemed to resonate with the Grand Dao. Concepts far more complex then he had encountered crossed through his ears. The only times he'd experienced such was when he met with his patriarch and similar level elders.
Nuwa and Nii both heard the same sonorous voice and both felt inspirations. Both serpentine creatures couldn't help but scan around for this wondrous feeling. The familiar identification of a Chaos Immortal was felt. But one whose Dao realm was so advanced that it easily surpassed the Primal Zenith Dao realm, which was already the final point of a personal Dao's improvement without relying on comprehending elements of Grand Dao.
The waters around the East Sea was forcibly calmed. No matter what conflict took place in its depths or above its surface, the sea could not be changed. It was as if any control of this body of water was wrestled away.
Even in the gentle movements of the waves, water arched into the sky. Stylized serpent heads rose from the water, made of water, and lacking in any body beneath the surface. They were projections from the East Sea a natural phenomena caused by an extremely powerful cultivator interacting with nature.
"No doubt about it. His excellency Oceanic Sea Suppression Heavenly lord," Nii said. The old devil narrowed his eyes at those words.
Across the ocean, ghost devils numbering in the billions perished. Those who could resist the area of effect was helpless as their dragon and seafolk opponents turned their full power on them. By grasping this opportunity, the outnumbered defenders eliminated much of the invaders.
"GUH!" The four Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal Devil Great Emperors were also not spared. Hundreds of swords skewered their bodies allowing Zulong's sons to take the advantage. Their current existence as ghosts was ended rather quickly. Several clean blows were all that was needed once they were immobilized.
As the sonorous hymn got louder, more ghost devils perished. The old devil swiped his hands to take action against it but was stopped by Nuwa and Nii. He could only watch as all the ghost devils were quickly eradicated.
"Limitless Supreme Chaos Immortal," he spat. "It has to be you isn't it? Tian Hai?"
The effects on nature, this sonorous voice was only a byproduct in the end. Something Da Hai or similarly leveled experts unintentionally caused when releasing their unrestricted cultivation base. His knowledge into the nature of the Grand Dao was displayed for all to see.
If a second order celestial immortal had risen to the surface for a clean look, their eyes would've been burned out of their sockets. Even Golden Immortals found it difficult to stay focused. What was surreal to all individuals present, was that Da Hai was still extremely far away.
When one looked westwards, they also perceive a shadow approaching in the distance. Roving clouds making up an ocean in the heavens. Serpents swimming among them filled with vitality. Da Hai appeared like the horizon, to far away to touch but fully visible to see. Distance seemed to distort was his shape did not get larger nor smaller, always constant.
Like many powerful individuals, Da Hai had his own advanced spell techniques. In the years since the Dragon, and Phoenix established themselves, numerous movements techniques had been developed such as the dragon's Auspicious Cloud Step, the phoenix's Instant Blaze Teleportation, the Riding Lightning Surf etc. Da Hai's own was called Roving Illusionary Cloud Trail.
The old devil wasn't tricked however. The optical illusion was very deceiving, but he could see that Da Hai's has not crossed the eastern coast yet. As much as he hated to admit it, only someone in the supreme command of the Devilish Dao can stop him.
"You will not stop me from killing them!" The old devil roared in a maddened daze. He could feel many pairs of eyes narrow at him. Killing intent as well as contempt rose from the clouds in the distance.
The old devil acted quickly. He executed his cultivated spells, giving rise to the same dull yellow energy throughout his body. Projections of a more primitive civilization occurred around him and he started to wrestle out of Nuwa and Nii's hold on him.
"This guy is so strong, why the hell was he not at Buzhou?" Nuwa couldn't help but comment. The muscles in her body, and tail were very sore. She felt incredibly fatigued from fighting this devil for such a long time.
Each punch from the devil was as if a primitive universe was slamming into her being. Nuwa, who did not posses a strong fleshy body to begin with, backed away at the astonishing force. Nii's dragon physique was comparatively among the best in the world. But the she dragon also felt unsure of surviving headlong clashes with these attacks.
The old devil desired to plunge down and destroy Kailong Chen in one go. To do this, his body started transforming into a tyrannical mountain. Its peak was aimed downwards like an arrow point. His power exploded once again, rising to another level entirely. Flame like trails followed his form as he transformed.
"No way, is he burning his Nascent Soul for power?" Nii was shocked. This wasn't even last resort territory, this was suicidal attack levels of madness.
Since time immemorial, burning one's own Nascent Soul for fuel was understood was a short sighted endeavor. It was a one way trip to dong irreparable damage to one's own being. Even short bursts of uses were deemed too dangerous.
A long time ago, Zulong performed a similar act for a quick power boost. Though he didn't show it then, his vitality had been hurt greatly. It wasn't until many years after, through alot of effort from Da Hai's adventuring into the Chaos Sea and using such resources to perform rituals on Yingzhou that Zulong was finally healed. Yet sometimes, the dragon still felt phantom pains.
"I'll crush you all!"
The mountain began descending much to either Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal's chagrin. Nuwa felt the mountain's edge smashed through her body. Her true form howled in pain as scales flew off along with blood. Nii attempted to drag the mountain back but felt as if her claws were being ripped from their sockets.
Gui Daiyu and all the others below became terrified. They were all willing to die in this fight, but for Kailong Chen to fall, Zulong's symbol of authority will be broken. The karmic luck he held and shared could be lost as well as his status as sovereign.
Even the King of Four Directions formation was shaking. Right now, the formation was akin to a soft membrane. The field where its power flowed quivered as it suffered the pressure beginning to press into it.
"Yes, yes yes!"
"Death to the dragons!"
"Victory for Luohu!"
Devils who remained alive cheered.
"Don't you see little empress," Intoxicating Dream said while pulling out blades imbedded into her body. "This is inevitable. No matter how desperately you resist, victory will always fall in us devil's hands."
"Really? I think you should look closer. It's your senior who's desperate," Gui Daiyu sneered. With her hammer, she pointed westwards where a streak of greyish clouds traveled through the sky.
A sword that flew much faster than Da Hai traveled. The clouds it left behind showcased an impressive amount of destructive energy. This power easily ripped apart reality wherever it gathered.
"Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword," Gui Daiyu said. "One of the few tools in this heaven and earth that could manipulate the universe destroying power of Chaotic Sword Qi. It's over."
Intoxicating Dream gasped. He looked up as the streak sliced cleanly into the tyrannical mountain. She concluded that Da Hai must've thrown the sword earlier knowing his spells fired from a distance cannot stop the mountain in time.
The devil who originally led the charge felt despair. She looked westward angrily. Da Hai had crossed the coast and entered the ocean. He'll be upon them all in minutes.
The pressure from his Dao grew incredibly heavy. The sonorous resonance with the Great Wilderness was screeching to Intoxicating Dream's ears.
The mountain collapsed and the old devil emerged once more. He appeared winded but still stood up. His power was still immense, a benefit from burning his own essence. He roared towards the approaching Da Hai.
The gorilla projection disappeared entirely, absorbed into the old devil's being. He jumped forwards toward Da Hai with a cocked fist. His body expanded into a titan that covered up the sky. He was so huge that he utterly dwarfed Zulong's natural form. He was like a continent in and of himself.
Da Hai wasn't phased however. He felt genuine respect for all this devil had achieved. But he didn't even blink at his move. Because the gap in power between them was too much to overcome.
Perhaps if this was a million years ago, when Da Hai had yet to begin understanding Wuji. Da Hai of that era will be terrified out of his mind. But so many yuanhui had passed and this current Da Hai did not fear this attack. All the old devil did by burning his Nascent Soul was close the gap.
Da Hai angled his right hand to face the old devil's fist. His Dao body also enlarged until he was the same size as the devil. His palm was open and a whirling character for 'big' appeared in the centre of it. With that he unleashed his own palm strike.
"RARGH!" The old devil roared.
Palm met fist. Reality shattered once again and a hole into the void appeared. While the Great Wilderness tried to repair itself, the clash was still ongoing. Their combined energies swirled through the sky, descending like arcs of electricity and shattering islands in the distance.
The old devil's body was full of veins. He screamed in pain and fire seemed to burn within him. Da Hai only scoffed.
"I don't know who you are, but you have alot of balls wantonly attacking my disciple's home." His giant palm clasped onto the old devil's fist. His fingers burning hair follicles on the old devil's arm.
The old devil screamed. His outstretched arm convulsed violently under Da Hai's pressure. "Damn you Tian Hai!" He spat.
Da Hai's eyes widened before narrowing. Why did this person call him by that name? His true name as Da Hai had been known by eons. Barely anyone even remembers the Tian Hai name. The only ones who should are either long dead or the godfiends.
"Curse you Tian Hai! It's always you! It is always you!"
BOOM!
Da Hai took a single step back as the old devil was blown away from him. His right arm had been pulverized leaving him with a bloody stump halfway up his elbow. Not allowing this chance to slip by, Da Hai called his sword back.
The Heavenly Cloud Gathering Sword spin around in the air. It flew towards the old devil aiming for his head.
Through tons of pain, the old devil reacted in time. His legs smashed the air and he jumped higher. This allowed Da Hai's sword to miss his head. However it still sliced through his waist, cutting his upper body off from his lower body.
The spinning sword retracted into Da Hai's hand while the old devil, in a last ditch effort unleashed a final attack. The hair follicles under his hood stretched out. They joined together forming the features of a snarling face.
"Tian Hai, for all the things you've done. DIE!"
"Have we met?" Da Hai couldn't help but ask. The face blasted him with a concentrated beam of devil energy. A beam the godfiend dealt with by unleashing the Ocean Swallowing Jug.
His natal treasure was now extremely powerful as well. Far more so than the middle grade xiantian spiritual treasure he obtained so many years ago. It drew in the blast the old devil.
The old devil's eyes widened in recognition. "That jug. You thief!"
But Da Hai tapped the jug only once. This sent a blast of vacuum through the old devil's hair face. It blast apart the hair construct and ripped into the remaining body of the old devil. This threw off the last of the old devil's robes revealing his ancient and withered face.
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He was a hairy creature. His bone age was openly exposed, dating back to the earliest periods of history. In a single glance, Da Hai could tell that this man was a few thousand years older then even him.
He was a connate lifeform, one of the earliest innate creatures to be born into this world. Sadly, he was born in an era where primordial beasts still roamed uncontested. Where godfiends remained indifferent to their plights and where cultivation knowledge was scarce. Da Hai took a few moments, but he realized that he also recognized this old man.
"Hou Pi," Da Hai whispered in shock. How could he not? This was a name who took part in a major turning point in his early life. Back when he was still a muddle headed child going by Tian Hai. He hadn't thought of him in a very long time.
But seeing Hou Pi now, this withered old devil, it brought a sense of nostalgia to Da Hai. Because through him, events led to where Da Hai met Huoyun.
"Curse you Tian Hai!" Hou Pi spat. "If it wasn't for you. If it wasn't for you none of this would've happened. It's always been you you piece of shit."
It was not an exaggeration to say Hou Pi blamed Da Hai for everything. At the start of history, Da Hai approached the little safe haven he and Hu Mei built. Da Hai stood paralyzed with inaction while his comrades were murdered. Da Hai was the one who arrested Hu Mei's treasure and killed the primordial beast only after everyone was dead.
Hou Pi did not understand why the oceans worshipped him. What has this scheming bastard ever done? After fleeing westwards, Hou Pi was among the first to enter Luohu's teachings. He saw what Luohu was doing in constructing his lineage as honorable. Because only in the West Continent, was there a protector who destroyed all primordial beasts and selflessly taught the people living there cultivation.
The West Continent was a haven. And now Da Hai was leading his followers to destroy it as well. Tian Hai or Da Hai, it was no difference. It was still the same scheming godfiend who saw the death of his.
On Da Hai's end, he felt sorry for Hou Pi. He did feel true guilt for what happened to this hairy ape back then. But that empathy quickly gave way to rage. At the end of the day, this ape had still invaded the East Sea, tried to destroy Zulong's capital, as well as followed the will of a man Da Hai hated.
"My name is not Tian Hai," Da Hai said. "Hou Pi, you unjustly blame me. You are irrational."
"Damn you! You are the monster who caused all of this. Trillions of innocents are dead by you invader's hands!" Hou Pi thought about all the people living in the west. All the living beings trampled on by the anti devil alliance. Despite having only one arm and lacking half his body, he wanted to rip Da Hai apart.
For over a million years, Hou Pi's cultivation was motivated by one thing. His Dao heart, his determination in seeking the Dao was created by his desire to preserve what he saw as a haven in the west. Da Hai the scheming villain also factored into it. He was a person with cause and effect with him. Sooner or later, Hou Pi would want revenge on him and reclaim what he took from Hu Mei so many eons ago.
But he knew that right now, he had to escape. His condition was too poor to continue any longer. In this battle, he had been reduced until he was on the verge of death. Therefore, despite every cell in his body desiring to kill Da Hai, he chose to flee.
Hou Pi shot towards one of the open cracks in reality. He dived for the void between realms in an attempt to let the currents take him to some hidden realm where he could heal. Despite his condition, he was still quite fast.
Hou Pi transformed into a beam of primordial light to escape Da Hai. Da Hai did not stop him. He stood aside and only watched the old ape escape. As Hou Pi flew by, Da Hai said softly.
"It could be said I've truly wronged you by bringing calamity to your door back then," he said. He only referred to the incident that occurred during their first meeting. "You may go. Our karma has been resolved."
Hou Pi did not respond. He disappeared into the void. Da Hai stood mid air breathing in and out. His almighty aura disappeared after killing every ghost devil still present. He waited there until Gui Daiyu rose out of the ocean.
Nii and Nuwa flew up to him with a puzzled face each. Dozens of remaining dragon elders and cultivators also shared the same sentiment.
Gui Daiyu's hammer had traces of yin qi. A result of her smashing a downed Intoxicating Dream apart once again. She did not appear happy at Hou Pi leaving. "Why?" She asked.
"I do feel somewhat responsible for that settlement's demise back then. But that was just an excuse," Da Hai said. He turned to face the experts from the sea with an indifferent look. "If he had died, some other devil will take his place. Then we'll have to deal with another devil on the borders of Limitless Supreme popping up in the west. The alliance doesn't need that kind of pressure."
"In this way, the current individual of that power remains alive. But he is largely indisposed and will not return for a long time. A chess piece on that power will remain off the board for the time being."
With the way devil cultivation worked, a cultivation level was identical to a position. While successors had to cultivate to obtain that position, those stuck unable to advance due to another occupying that position will immediately ascend as well. Da Hai honestly did not know if a living Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal fighting in the west will assume a dead Hou Pi's place. But at least this way, it won't happen.
Plus, Hou Pi was severely wounded. He won't show up again for a long time.
Da Hai descended to meet the others. He scanned all the people present and unleashed a wave of vitality restoring light. He worked to knit up all the wounds these defenders have suffered.
"Many thanks exalted one!" Numerous immortals cupped their hands and bowed. Gui Daiyu, Nuwa, Nii, and Zulong's sons were no different.
Suanni rose out from where he fell with an indignant look. "Grandmaster, it's clear this war has spilled out from just the west. We need to move out and protect all our territory."
"Suanni!" Gui Daiyu called out.
"No mother he is right. Grandmaster we can't be confined here any longer," Qiu Niu said.
Da Hai sighed. He waved his hand in a, 'come to me', motion. But he did not indicate the nine princes. Instead, thick clouds came from a place further east. Eventually, the immortal mountain Yingzhou revealed itself.
The people who had never seen Yingzhou before was awed. Da Hai waved his hands, moving Yingzhou on top of Kailong Chen and East Sea Dragon Palace. Now both lay under the celestial island's shadow.
"Nuwa, give me Ao Guang," he said.
"Uh sure." Nuwa had reverted to her half human half snake form. A single mud puppet floated next to her, the last remaining from her batch of soldiers. It was scorched black but remained mobile.
Nuwa handed a small orb to Da Hai. He godfiend heard a weak voice call out to him. "Grandmaster, I was useless."
"No Little Guang. You did well." Da Hai lifted the Nascent Soul and tossed him into Yingzhou. His Nascent Soul and spirit will be nurtured by the Fusang Tree. Hopefully he'll be able to restore his dragonic flesh soon.
"Daiyu. I leave Yingzhou to you. With it, you should be able to resist someone as strong as me. Plus this way I can feel it if Yingzhou is attacked," Da Hai informed the empress. He waved his hand to summon a talisman and handed it to her. "You boys. None of you are to enter the West Continent. Liberate the East Sea, go onto the continent if you desire. But the front lines are off limits," he addressed the princes.
"I see. You will rejoin my husband in the west?" She asked. Some part of her was disappointed Zulong was not the first one to arrive.
"Afraid so. Until I can break the devil's reincarnation formation, killing these ghosts will be pointless. We have to consider a direct assault on Sumeru." Da Hai turn his attention to several dragon elders. "You lot should be protecting the Sea Eye. It's pivotal it remains guarded. I know its hard but please assist the Heavenly Sea Suppression Needle again."
"As you will Heavenly Lord," these few dragons said. They summoned their auspicious cloud and flew off towards the Sea Eye.
Now Da Ha left further instructions to Gui Daiyu. Ultimately, he was unused to management roles. After he arranged for Yingzhou to protect Kailong Chen and East Sea Dragon Palace, his next move was to leave.
In the end, forty percent of Kailong Chen had been leveled. Multiple points of East Sea Dragon Palace had collapsed, and numerous dragons were dead. Gui Daiyu moved resources from Yingzhou to help both while her sons began moving throughout the East Sea.
They've lost communication with numerous settlements and now they desired to beat back the devils again. Da Hai allowed them to go as he'd sensed that most ghost devils converged on Kailong Chen. Still, he gave each of the princes talismans containing his spells as means of defense.
…
On Mt Yujing, a young boy was could not resist it anymore. Haotian appeared very young, only a small child. But each breath of his were heavy.
Through his own eyes, he saw millions of kilometres around him. The East Continent was being assaulted. Countless tribes were being attacked, with their strongest righters gone, they were easy picking for ghost devils.
"Please senior brother, think of master's instructions. We must remain to guard Zixiao Palace!" Yaochi said grabbing his arm. But the white robed innate god ripped it out of her grasp.
'Master commanded me. He commanded me. They both want me to stay here.' "But how can you expect me to watch so much atrocities and do nothing?" he said aloud. "I have cultivated for countless years. I am not going to hide while the world ends."
"But senior brother!"
"Remain here then junior sister," Haotian said. As he walked away his form shimmered. Gone was his boyish body, out walked a young man in his mid twenties. Haotian had a sword sheathed by his side and wore bright white robes.
He ignored Yaochi's cries as he left Zixiao Palace's doors. The purple clouds in his way could hardly stop him. After all, Haotian's abilities allowed him to combat even living Chaos Immortals.
Each step he took was harsh with emotion. Clouds formed underneath him forming their own path towards the outside world. Yaochi called out again but could only watch as Haotian left her behind.
"Oh disciple."
Haotian stopped. "Master?"
"Only through voice projections. I am still tied down unfortunately," Hongjun said.
"I won't stop. I will take part in this war," Haotian stated.
"Hai," Hongjun's voice sighed through the purple clouds. "You've always had a righteous heart young disciple. A true righteous god. As your master, I want you safe. But I also understand your heart. You must know that even you can't change anything in this war."
"And how would you know master?" Haotian said aggressively. At this moment in time, he swore to not stay idle. "Since you know me, you know I have to help. The East Continent is my home. The Great Wilderness is my home. Countless living beings are suffering right now. I must aid them."
"Hai…" Hongjun kept quiet for a while. But the purple clouds around Mt Yujing opened up without Haotian's interference. Clearly, Hongjun was not acting to stop him.
"You must be very careful dear disciple. Stay out of figures like Luohu or Mara's way. They will end you in a second. While the former is still in retreat, I can sense the latter is back in this world." The purple clouds pulsated with pinkish lightning.
A set of armour emerged from the clouds, grafting itself onto Haotian's body. It was a high grade xiantan spiritual treasure with pure defensive features. Then a jade bangle came to him. Then numerous other spiritual treasures emerged. Haotian even recognized some as Hongjun's favoured tools to carry around when he lived inside Zixiao Palace.
"I was trying to refine something for you. Give me another yuanhai and that will be a top grade treasure. Unfortunately, this Rising Sky Armour, True Jade Bangle, and these lesser things are the only treasures I can bestow you at the moment."
Hongjun sighed, in the end top grade xiantian spiritual treasures were too difficult to come back. Haotian already had two, the Vast Heaven Sword and the Vast Heaven Mirror. But Hongjun wanted to gift his most beloved disciple more. After all, Haotian was his heir and will inherit his everything after he transcends.
Hongjun was extremely ambitious in cultivation. But he also came to love Haotian. In the Chaos Godfiend culture, creating offspring wasn't that common. Instead, disciples were seen as this next generation offspring. As a godfiend, this notion carried on with Hongjun.
Even Da Hai, subconsciously saw the same.
"Thank you…master," Haotian said. He did not expect to have Hongjun's blessing so easily. He felt rather emotional that Hongjun cared about him so much.
"Thank you master. I will not perish so easily. Rest assured, I will eliminate these evil creatures." Haotian did not linger long either. He immediately began traversing the East Continent slaying countless contingents of ghost devils.
In the advent of these ghost devils, living devils had also arrived albeit in smaller numbers. Haotian will eventually meet another person of interest. Someone who could lead to a solution to all these ghost problems.
…
In another part of the world, Hongjun sighed. Things were not turning out well anymore. With his defeat at the hands of Luohu, he is now forced to follow through with plan B.
"I wanted to use my own. But it's too damaged now. Oh little brother I've underestimated you too much. Forefather Pangu, I'll have to be rude."
Hongjun stood up from his seated position. Around him, the collapsed sight of Mt Buzhou surrounded him. Beside Hongjun, the last wisps of the Heavenly Dao's physical incarnation floated.
"Come on, let's get to work."