Primordial Era: I am a treasure trove, full of magical treasures.

"Destroy Penglai, annihilate the Celestial Court!"

Di Jun suddenly stood up from his throne, his sleeves fluttering even without wind. A long-lost sense of decisiveness and majesty, belonging to the Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Clan, erupted like a dormant volcano, dispelling the decadence and gloom brought about by a century of silence!

"The Eastern King Duke, relying on the personal appointment from the Dao Ancestor, has done absolutely nothing to maintain order in the primordial world for so many years. He occupies Penglai and acts arrogantly, gathering scattered cultivators to establish the Celestial Court. In the past, when the Wu and Yao tribes were locked in a standoff, we had no time to attend to other matters, allowing the Wu tribe to grow stronger. Now, the Wu tribe is powerful, and our newly established Yao tribe needs swift and decisive action to regroup our fortunes and re-establish our divine authority! Attacking Penglai will firstly avenge our past humiliations, secondly seize its island's spiritual veins to replenish our tribe's losses, and thirdly, proclaim to the primordial world—the majesty of the Heavenly Court cannot be lightly violated! Those who defy the divine authority, no matter how far away, will be punished!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" The demon saints in the hall were greatly encouraged, bowing down in unison, their eyes once again gleaming with bloodlust and greed. Yes, the Witch Clan was a tough nut to crack, but the Penglai Immortal Court, this piece of fat meat, was the most suitable prey at the moment! It could replenish the demon clan's strength after repeated blows, boost morale, and serve as a warning to others, stabilizing the demon clan's shaky hegemonic position in the hearts of all races in the prehistoric world!

"Taiyi!" Dijun looked at his brother.

"Big brother, I'm here!" Donghuang Taiyi stepped forward, and the Chaos Bell, sensing its master's surging fighting spirit, emitted a clear and resounding bell sound that shook the palace.

"I hereby appoint you as the vanguard of the expedition, commanding the elite forces of the 365 Star Lords, along with the armies of the six great demon saints—Jimeng, Yingzhao, Jiuying, Feilian, Citie, and Shangyang—and hundreds of millions of demon soldiers. Set off immediately for the East Sea to blockade Penglai Island!"

"I accept the decree!" Taiyi clasped his hands in a fist salute, his body ablaze with the True Fire of the Sun, his eyes sharp as knives.

……

Penglai Immortal Island, Purple Mansion Prefecture.

This is not the main island of Penglai, but a core Daoist temple established by the Eastern King Duke using his power and attached to Penglai, the central location of the Celestial Court. One sees endless jade palaces and pavilions, jade flowers and precious herbs everywhere, and cascading waterfalls dotting the landscape. Cranes cry in the air, and deer roam freely—truly a magnificent celestial scene. The most magnificent palace, entirely cast from purple-gold divine jade—the Purple Palace—stands in the center of the state, with a plaque above it inscribed with the four characters "Purple Palace Grotto Heaven" in innate runes.

Inside the Purple Palace, pearls adorn the ceiling, and auspicious clouds emanate from it.

The Eastern King Duke sat high on the cloud-shaped throne, clad in a nine-chapter robe and wearing a purple-gold crown. His handsome face carried a hint of languor and intoxication. He leaned back on the wide throne carved from ten-thousand-year-old warm jade, holding a jade wine cup in his left hand, the amber-colored celestial wine shimmering with a hazy spiritual light; his right hand rested casually on the armrest, his fingertips tapping lightly in harmony with the ethereal celestial music playing in the hall.

Below, dozens of high-ranking officials of the Celestial Court and wandering immortals from overseas stood on either side, each with a sandalwood table before them laden with spiritual fruits, celestial dishes, and exquisite nectar. Further away, a group of fairies in flowing robes danced gracefully to music, their elegant figures and flowing sleeves creating a fragrant breeze. At a corner of the hall, several musicians played the zither and flute, completely unaware that the demon race was about to attack.

"Haha, excellent! Well done!" Dongwanggong downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, then casually tossed the jade cup to the attendant beside him, who quickly refilled it. He squinted at the fairies twirling like butterflies in the hall, and laughed loudly, "My Penglai Immortal Court, though not as powerful as the Demon Clan's Heavenly Court, nor as domineering as the Witch Clan's, still has its own carefree and joyful spirit! Gentlemen, let us drink this cup to the brim to celebrate the arrival of three more Great Luo Golden Immortals as fellow Daoists to my Immortal Court!"

As for why the Celestial Court has wine, it's all because of the Witch Clan. Ever since the Witch Clan learned to brew wine, they joined forces with all other races to attack the Demon Clan. The wine that the Witch Clan liked to drink naturally attracted the attention of all other races, and over time, all the races of the prehistoric world learned the method of brewing wine...

"Congratulations, Immortal Lord! Congratulations, Immortal Court!" The immortals in the palace responded in unison, raised their cups and drank together, their faces all flushed with intoxication.

Jade liquor poured, its amber light gleaming, celestial music swaying in the lotus-scented curtains. In the Purple Palace, the Eastern King Duke downed another cup of celestial wine. The "Ten Thousand Years of Azure Marrow," presented by immortals from overseas, slid down his throat, transforming into a warm current that permeated his limbs, adding a touch of intoxication. He squinted, watching the fairy gracefully dancing before him. Her flowing sleeves were like clouds, her waist like a willow, appearing and disappearing amidst the radiance of pearls and the misty spiritual energy. Truly, she was:

"Forget the primordial calamities and struggles, and only believe that this place is where immortality resides."

To His Highness's left, at the head of the table, stood an elderly immortal with white hair and beard, holding a jade whisk—the second-in-command of the Penglai Celestial Court, "Lord Qingling," his brows furrowed slightly. He glanced at the darkening sky outside the hall, then looked at the half-drunk Dongwanggong at the head of the table, and finally couldn't help but transmit his thoughts telepathically: "My Lord, recently there have been unusual stellar fluctuations above the East Sea. The patrolling yaksha reported that three days ago, a large group of demonic clouds swept across the west, though they did not approach Penglai, yet..."

"Hmph!" Dongwanggong waved his hand impatiently, his voice still booming despite his drunkenness, interrupting Qinglinggong's telepathic transmission. "Qingling, why are you so disappointing? A few demonic clouds are probably just the Heavenly Court having another quarrel with those barbarians from the Witch Clan, passing by. My Penglai Immortal Court is the legitimate seat of the Dao Ancestor, personally appointed as the 'Head of Male Immortals,' with ten thousand immortals from overseas paying homage, and protected by the Penglai Innate Grand Array. Even if Emperor Jun and Taiyi were to come in person, what could they do to me?"

With that, the Eastern King Duke raised his newly filled jade cup, surveyed the assembled immortals in the hall, and proclaimed in a loud voice: "Gentlemen! The Dao Ancestor once said that I am the head of the male immortals, destined to lead all the immortals of the primordial world and harmonize Yin and Yang. The demon race of the Heavenly Court is nothing but creatures with fur and horns, born from eggs in the wet. Relying on their numbers and power, they dare to presume to claim 'rule over the primordial world'? What a joke! Today, my Celestial Court has gained three more Great Luo Daoist friends, our fortune is even greater! Come, drink this cup to the brim, to celebrate my Celestial Court's longevity—as enduring as the heavens!"

"May the Celestial Court live as long as Heaven!" The immortals raised their cups again, their voices booming, completely drowning out the unease in the wine and music.

A middle-aged Taoist priest named Xuanjizi, recently recruited and dressed in a Bagua robe, flattered him with a smile, saying, "What the Immortal Lord says is absolutely right! In recent years, the Heavenly Court has suffered repeated defeats at the hands of the Witch Clan. I've heard that even many of its secretly cultivated strongholds have been wiped out by the Witch Clan, resulting in heavy losses. It is now only outwardly strong but inwardly weak. My Penglai Immortal Court, possessing a primordial Daoist field formed from fragments of chaos, has inexhaustible resources and numerous fellow immortals. It is precisely the time to bide our time and wait for the right opportunity. Once the Witch and Demon Clan are both weakened, the Immortal Lord can raise his arm and call upon all the immortals of the primordial world, and the fate of the world will be sealed!"

These words deeply pleased the Eastern King Duke, who laughed heartily and pointed at Xuanjizi, saying, "Fellow Daoist Xuanjizi is truly insightful about the timing of Heaven! A reward! I bestow upon him a low-grade innate spiritual treasure!"

His Highness was met with another chorus of congratulations and envy. Qingling Gong sighed inwardly, saying nothing more, silently finishing his cup of wine. The celestial brew tasted strangely bitter. His divine sense quietly probed out of the Purple Mansion Palace, extending towards the protective array surrounding Penglai Island. The array continued to operate, drawing spiritual energy from the East Sea's spiritual veins and Penglai's origin, forming a layer of seven-colored light shield, invisible to the naked eye yet incredibly resilient, firmly protecting the entire Penglai Immortal Island and its affiliated Purple Mansion Prefecture. This was an innate protective array that had existed since the beginning of time, refined and strengthened by Dongwang Gong over many years; he was confident that even several quasi-saints working together would find it difficult to break through in a short time.

"Perhaps... I'm overthinking it," Qingling Gong thought to himself. However, just as he was about to withdraw his divine sense, something seemed to flicker slightly at the point where the sky and sea met in the far distance.

That's not starlight.

……

Above the East China Sea, under a vast sky stretching for billions of miles.

The daylight's brilliance had silently faded, replaced by a deep, almost black, indigo blue. Yet, on this indigo canvas, a wondrous sight was unfolding, enough to send shivers down the spines of all living beings in the primordial world—

Three hundred and sixty-five enormous illusory stars, defying the natural order, manifested in broad daylight, hanging high in the sky above the East Sea! Each star projected a thick, condensed beam of starlight imbued with destructive energy. Within these beams, countless elite demon race figures, clad in star-armored armor and radiating murderous intent, could be vaguely seen. These beams of starlight were not random; rather, they were arranged and connected according to an extremely profound and mysterious trajectory, forming a magnificent net that enveloped the entire East Sea and even the surrounding endless seas and lands!

The Zhou Tian Star Array manifests in broad daylight, shifting star fields!

At the center of the grand formation, the illusory images of the Sun Star and the Moon Star shone most brightly. Within the radiance of the Sun Star, Donghuang Taiyi, clad in a golden crow battle robe and cradling the Chaos Bell, stood proudly. His expression was stern, golden flames burning fiercely in his eyes as he gazed upon the Penglai Immortal Island below, which resembled a piece of jade amidst the vast ocean waves, and the brightly lit and faintly melodious Zifu Prefecture on the island. A cruel smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Living a life of debauchery? Perfect, I'll send you to your eternal slumber!"

Beside Taiyi stood six great demon saints: Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, Jiu Ying, Fei Lian, Ci Tie, and Shang Yang, each commanding a portion of starlight, their killing intent almost tangible. Further back, three hundred and sixty-five star lords took their positions, and countless demon soldiers remained silent, the only sound the cold glint of their weapons flowing within the starlight, converging into a chilling tide of death.

"Your Majesty, the great formation has completely locked onto Penglai. The spiritual energy nodes and flow gaps of the outer innate protective formation are all within the calculations of the Hetu Luoshu." Ji Meng, the Demon Saint, reported in a deep voice, a command flag surrounded by starlight trembling slightly in his hand.

"Very good." Taiyi nodded, slowly raising his left hand. "My elder brother has ordered: This battle must be swift and decisive, and more importantly, it must establish our authority! We must crush Penglai with the force of thunder, letting all living beings in the primordial world know the consequences of angering the Heavenly Court! Issue the order—"

His voice, transmitted through the Zhou Tian Star Array, resonated clearly in the souls of every demon warrior:

"Starfall! — Zhu Xian!"

"Zhu Xian!!"

"Zhu Xian!!!"

The roars of billions of demon soldiers, transformed through the grand formation, became a silent yet earth-shaking wave of killing intent!

The next instant, Taiyi raised his left hand and pressed it down sharply!

"Thump—!!!"

The Chaos Bell roared! This time, the bell's sound was no longer clear and melodious, but heavy and violent, carrying a resolute determination to crush eternity! The bell's waves transformed into visible chaotic ripples, first impacting the seven-colored light barrier surrounding Penglai Immortal Island!

Almost simultaneously, the Zhou Tian Star Array activated at full power! The brightness of the 365 main starlight pillars suddenly surged, and from each pillar separated thousands of thinner, yet sharper and more refined "Star Fiend Immortal Slaying Divine Lights," like a meteor shower bursting forth at the beginning of the universe, or like the world-destroying light punishment descended by the wrath of the Heavenly Dao. Following a mysterious trajectory, avoiding the strongest point of the array, they precisely shot towards the subtle spiritual energy nodes and weak points in the flow of energy on the seven-colored light shield, as deduced by the Hetu Luoshu!

"Hiss hiss hiss hiss—!!!"

There was no deafening explosion, only a dense cacophony of countless tiny yet grating sounds of piercing, cutting, and annihilation! The Penglai Innate Protective Array, which was powerful enough to withstand the combined bombardment of several Quasi-Saints, now resembled a bubble pierced by countless red-hot steel needles. Its seven-colored light flickered and faded wildly, and at the points where it was struck, large swaths of the array's runes dimmed and shattered! The entire protective shield trembled violently, emitting a mournful cry of unbearable strain, and rapidly thinned and cracked at a visible speed!

"What's going on?!"

Inside the Purple Palace, the earth shook violently! Fine wines and nectar spilled, tables overturned, and celestial fruits and delicacies tumbled to the ground. The ethereal celestial music abruptly ceased, replaced by the groans of beams and pillars and the clatter of falling tiles. The dancing fairies screamed and stumbled, while the musicians fled in terror, clutching their heads. The immortals, who had been intoxicated just moments before, were instantly sobered by this sudden upheaval and the terrifying pressure emanating from the outside world—a pressure that made even their very souls tremble—that their intoxication vanished, and their faces turned deathly pale!

"Enemy attack!! It's the Zhou Tian Star Formation! The demon race has attacked!!" A Golden Immortal general guarding the palace gate stumbled into the hall, his helmet askew, his armor covered in dust, his voice filled with panic.

"What?!" The Eastern King Duke suddenly stood up from his cloud bed, his purple-gold crown askew, his lazy drunkenness replaced by shock and rage. He instantly spread his divine sense and felt the island-protecting formation collapsing at an unprecedented speed. The vast star power and boundless killing intent that enveloped the sky and sealed off the surrounding areas made even this veteran Quasi-Saint feel a chill in his heart.

But he was, after all, the Eastern King Duke, the head of the male immortals personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor. His initial shock and anger were followed by boundless shame, rage, and murderous intent: "How dare you! Di Jun and Tai Yi, how dare you invade my Penglai! Do you really think I, the Eastern King Duke, am made of clay?! Sound the alarm bell! Gather all the immortals and activate the Purple Mansion Ten Thousand Immortals Formation! I will make sure they never return!"

However, his order had only just been issued—

"BOOM—!!!"

An explosion even more violent than the previous Chaos Bell Chime resounded from the edge of Penglai Island! The seven-colored light shield that had enveloped the immortal island for countless eons finally reached its limit under the relentless and precise strikes of the endless "Star Fiend Immortal Slaying Divine Light," shattering like a broken glass lamp! Countless fragments of seven-colored light flew everywhere, but before they could fall, they were completely annihilated by the subsequent surge of starlight and killing intent!

Penglai Immortal Island, its gates wide open!

"The Demon Race... the Zhou Tian Star Array!" The Eastern King Duke was no longer the languid drunkard he once was. His handsome face was contorted with rage and horror. His purple-gold crown was now upright, his nine-chapter robes fluttered without wind, and a powerful aura befitting a seasoned quasi-saint erupted, shattering the overturned tables and wine cups around him into dust. "Di Jun, Tai Yi! How dare you?!"

His roar echoed through the shaking palace, but it could not drown out the increasingly clear and intense terrifying sounds coming from outside the palace—the innate protective array of Penglai Immortal Island, inherited from the chaotic era, was emitting its final lament of collapse under the precise and violent blows of the endless "Star Fiend Immortal Slaying Divine Light," followed by the "Immortal Slaying" battle roar of billions of demon soldiers like a landslide and a tsunami!

"My Lord! The island's protective formation has been breached! The demon vanguard has landed on the eastern shore of Penglai!" Another celestial general, covered in blood, burst through the palace gates. Half of his armor was charred black, clearly affected by the Star Array. "The Green Wood, White Stone, and Flowing Cloud patrol armies... have been completely annihilated!"

The hall fell into a deathly silence, which was then broken by a panicked uproar.

"The Zhou Tian Star Array is sealing off heaven and earth; this is an attempt to cut off my path to survival in Penglai!"

"Quick! Activate the teleportation array and evacuate..."

"Who dares to retreat?!" The Eastern King Duke, his eyes bloodshot and his beard bristling, slammed his palm onto the armrest of the cloud bed, shattering the millennia-old jade carving! "Penglai is the foundation of the Celestial Court, and I am the head of the male immortals appointed by the Dao Ancestor! How can I flee without a fight, handing over this accumulated wealth of countless millennia to horned and furry bastards? Today, there are only immortals who will fight to the death, not lords who will abandon their islands!"

His gaze swept across the assembled immortals in the hall like lightning. Those wandering immortals and plant spirits from overseas, who usually discussed metaphysics and lived carefree lives, were now mostly pale-faced and trembling with fear. Only a few dozen core ministers of the Celestial Court, led by Qingling Gong, and some rogue cultivators who still had some spirit and had old grudges against the demon race, suppressed their fear and their eyes burned with a resolute fire.

"Qingling!" Dongwanggong shouted.

"Your old minister is here!" Qingling Gong's white hair flew wildly, and he held a jade whisk in his hand. Strands of Yi wood spiritual energy circulated around his body, dispelling some of the stagnation caused by the broken formation and the erosion of star power.

"Activate the 'Ten Thousand Immortals Formation' immediately! With this formation and the advantage of Penglai's terrain, we might be able to contend with the demon race! Quickly proceed to the formation's core to take charge!"

"I obey the decree!" Qingling Gong did not hesitate. His figure transformed into a streak of azure light, smashed through the roof of the palace, and shot straight towards the core hub of the array in the center of Zifu Prefecture.

"Xuanjizi!" Dongwanggong looked at the newly recruited Taoist priest in the Bagua robe.

Xuanjizi's face turned pale, but upon hearing the voice, he forced himself to remain calm and stepped forward: "This humble Taoist is here!"

"You are well-versed in array formations. Quickly go and assist Qingling in controlling the distribution of array spiritual energy, focusing on defending the east and north directions where the attack has already been breached. You must slow down the demon race's advance!"

"yes!"

"The rest of you immortals!" The Eastern King's voice resounded throughout the hall, even echoing across the Purple Palace through his supernatural powers. "All those above the Taiyi Golden Immortal level, follow me out of the Purple Palace to confront the demon race and buy time for the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation to unfold! Golden Immortals, each lead your respective forces, relying on the mountain streams, spiritual veins, palaces, and pavilions of the island, to launch layered attacks and resist step by step! Celestial Immortals and below, enter your respective caves and secret treasuries, and according to the previous drills, hold your positions and await reinforcements, or assist in the relocation of important scriptures, spiritual roots, and alchemy furnaces! This is a battle for the survival of Penglai. Anyone who deserts in the face of battle, or betrays the enemy—will be annihilated, body and soul, and their true spirit will be banished to the Nine Netherworlds, never to be reincarnated!"

The last sentence was uttered by Dongwanggong with great magical power and the authority and Daoist rhyme of his status as the "Head of Male Immortals." It was like a vow from the Heavenly Dao, imprinted deep into the souls of every member of the Celestial Court. Many who were afraid shuddered and had to suppress their thoughts of fleeing.

"We will obey the Immortal Lord's decree!" In the midst of the chaos, they finally found a leader and reluctantly agreed, each following instructions and transforming into streaks of light that flew in all directions.

The Eastern King took one last look at the once vibrant and bustling Purple Mansion Palace, now a scene of utter devastation. A flicker of regret crossed his eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper ruthlessness.