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

"We were ready to fight to the death, why did Your Majesty surrender first!"

Qingling Gong gave a bitter laugh, a mournful laugh that sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silence of the battlefield.

He should have foreseen this outcome. The Eastern King Duke had started with great ambition, but after years of wasted time, he had long since changed, becoming cowardly and lacking any semblance of a great ruler. Trembling, he picked up the jade whisk that had fallen to the dust, gently brushing away non-existent dust, as if brushing away something he had upheld throughout his life. He no longer looked at the Eastern King Duke's retreating figure, but turned to face the ashen-faced, angry, or bewildered figures behind him, gazing upon the burning, weeping homeland of Penglai.

"Immortal Lord... no, since Lord Donghua has made his decision, this old minister... our paths diverge, we cannot work together." Lord Qingling's voice calmed, yet carried a desolate emptiness. "Since the beginning of time, I was born on an ancient vine in Penglai, nurtured by the island's spiritual energy, attaining enlightenment here, and guarding this place. As long as Penglai exists, Qingling exists; if Penglai perishes..."

He paused, the last glimmer of light in his eyes coalescing into a resolute spark: "I am willing to live and die with this island!"

Before he finished speaking, Qingling Gong suddenly soared into the sky, not to attack Taiyi, but to shoot straight at the core of the "Ten Thousand Immortals Formation," which was rapidly dimming and on the verge of collapse due to Dongwang Gong's surrender and loss of its core presiding over it! An unprecedentedly brilliant azure light erupted from his body, the purest Yi Wood essence, the essence of his Dao fruit accumulated over countless years of cultivation, which he now burned without reservation and poured into the broken core of the formation!

"Brother Qingling!"

"Lord Qingling!"

Several old ministers of the Celestial Court who shared the same deep bond with Qing Linggong and were determined to die for him, as well as some hot-blooded rogue cultivators, saw this and their eyes were about to burst with rage. They then roared in anger.

"Penglai nurtured and raised me; today I shall return to it!"

"Demons, if you want Penglai, you'll have to step over my dead body!"

"Let's fight them!"

Hundreds of figures followed closely behind Qingling Gong, transforming into streaks of resolute light. Some rushed towards the crumbling array nodes, forcibly stabilizing them with their own flesh and blood and magical power; others fearlessly lunged at the approaching, astonished demon battle formations, choosing the most tragic self-destruction!

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Thud—!"

In an instant, explosions, like those of martyrs, echoed throughout Penglai. It was a final act of despair, an ultimate outburst after the collapse of faith. Brilliant yet fleeting bursts of magical light, mingled with blood and gore, bloomed into poignant flowers of flesh and blood amidst the black torrent of demons. While unable to reverse the overall situation, it did halt the demons' advance, leaving behind even more casualties and devastation.

In truth, these people didn't want to die; it was simply that they had long seen through the demon race. They feared that if they surrendered, they would inevitably become cannon fodder, dying in some unknown corner. They were originally idle cultivators; without freedom, they would rather die!

Dongwanggong's body trembled violently, but he kept his head bowed, not daring to look back. He could feel the familiar fluctuations of primordial spirit within the aura of the self-destruction, and he could hear the shouts filled with contempt and determination. Each explosion was like a heavy slap across his already bloodless face. His nails dug deeply into his palms, drawing blood, but he felt no pain, only boundless coldness and self-loathing, and… a trace of relief that he himself was unwilling to admit—thankfully, he had surrendered, and he wouldn't have to suffer like them…

"They have some backbone, but alas, utterly foolish." Taiyi coldly appraised those who still dared to resist, his gaze returning to the trembling, yet stubbornly maintaining a bowed posture, Dongwanggong, his contempt deepening. "Very well, now that they have submitted, they are subjects of my demon race. Dongwanggong, have your men lay down all resistance, activate the restrictions on the Purple Mansion Palace and all the secret vaults, spirit herb gardens, and scripture pavilions in Penglai, and have them stand by, awaiting receipt. If there is the slightest disturbance… Hmph."

A cold snort struck Dongwanggong's heart like a hammer blow. He immediately bowed even lower: "I dare not! Donghua respectfully obeys His Majesty the Eastern Emperor's decree!" Having said that, he took a deep breath, channeling his magical power. His voice echoed throughout the ruined Penglai, but it lacked any trace of authority, only servility and command: "Celestial Court... no, all cultivators of Penglai, heed my command! Immediately lay down your magical artifacts, disperse your magical power, and refrain from any further resistance! Open all forbidden area gates and await the Heavenly Court's takeover! Those who disobey... will be executed without mercy!"

This order was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. Most of the celestial soldiers and generals who were still putting up a sporadic resistance stopped in their tracks, bewildered by the chaotic scene of their comrades either dying tragically, self-destructing, or kneeling in surrender. Their last shred of fighting spirit vanished completely, and magical artifacts clattered to the ground. The few die-hards were either subdued by their colleagues or instantly killed by the merciless blades of the demon race.

The starlight of the Zhou Tian Star Array no longer poured down destructive light, but instead transformed into streams of light that bound and probed, sweeping across every inch of Penglai land and locking onto the aura of every remaining Immortal Court cultivator. Countless demon warriors, under the command of their demon generals, began to methodically take over key locations like a black tide: the Purple Mansion Palace, the array's core, the spiritual vein nodes, the alchemy room, the weapon-forging room, the treasure vault, the spirit plant garden…

Since only a few people were resisting, sporadic self-destructions could be heard intermittently in the air filled with the smell of blood and burnt flesh, but they were quickly drowned out by the orderly and heavy footsteps and shouts of the demon race.

Taiyi stopped looking at Dongwanggong and instructed Ji Meng, the demon saint beside him: "Ji Meng, you and Yingzhao are responsible for taking stock of all the supplies and books received from Penglai, registering them, and ensuring there are no errors. Jiuying and Feilian, lead your troops to wipe out the remaining enemies, and screen those who have surrendered. If any have ulterior motives or are guilty of serious crimes, deal with them according to the laws of the Heavenly Court. Citie and Shangyang, deploy defenses along the four borders, and be vigilant against the Wu tribe or other forces taking advantage of the chaos."

"Receive the decree!" The six demon saints responded with a roar and each went off to carry out their orders with great efficiency.

Taiyi stepped through the air and walked towards the now-open, yet still magnificent, Purple Palace. Dongwanggong followed closely behind, his back slightly bent. The former "head of the male immortals" now looked like a mere guide.

Stepping into the Purple Palace, one was met with utter chaos. Overturned tables, shattered jade cups, and spilled celestial wine lay scattered across the floor, mingled with dust and blood. The fairies in their flowing robes had vanished, trembling in fear. Taiyi's gaze swept across the scene, finally settling on the Eastern King Duke's purple-gold cloud bed in the center. Without a word, he walked over, flicked away the debris, and slowly sat down.

The Eastern King Duke stood below, hands clasped and head bowed, his posture extremely respectful.

"Donghua." Taiyi spoke, his voice echoing in the empty hall.

"Your subject is here," the Eastern King Duke replied hastily.

"From this day forward, Penglai Immortal Island will be renamed 'Donghua Prefecture,' serving as your Daoist training ground and the outpost for the Heavenly Court to guard the East Sea. Your position as 'Donghua Duke' will be honored with the offerings of the demon race's fortune, placing you above all the demon saints of the Heavenly Court. You may not bow to Emperor Jun or me. However—" Taiyi's tone shifted abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning, "Seventy percent of Penglai's output and resources will be handed over to the Heavenly Court's treasury, overseen and managed by personnel appointed by the Heavenly Court. Your former Immortal Court subordinates will undergo reorganization and screening; those who pass will be incorporated into various departments of the Heavenly Court, while the rest will be disbanded or reassigned. You yourself will remain in Donghua Prefecture for the time being, and are not permitted to leave without imperial decree. Is this achievable?"

The Eastern King Duke's heart bled. Seventy percent of his resources had been surrendered, his followers had been absorbed into his own ranks, and he was practically under house arrest… This was no longer the "Duke of Donghua," but a high-ranking prisoner and ATM! Yet, he dared not show the slightest expression on his face, instead feigning overwhelming gratitude: "Your Majesty, I kowtow in gratitude for Your Majesty's divine grace! Your Majesty's magnanimity has spared my life and bestowed upon me a position of honor in your Daoist temple. I am already endlessly grateful. Everything is at Your Majesty's and the Demon Emperor's disposal; I have no complaints!"

"That would be for the best." Taiyi gave him a deep look, his gaze seemingly able to see through his thoughts. "Remember, you are alive today because you are still useful, because you chose to submit. If you have any disloyalty, or if you outwardly comply but inwardly defy... this vast world will no longer have a place for you, the Eastern King, no, the Eastern Flower Duke. Those fools who self-destructed are a warning to us."

"Your Majesty, I dare not! My loyalty to the Heavenly Court and Your Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon!" Dongwanggong knelt down with a thud, touching his head to the ground, his voice trembling with sobs.

"Get up," Taiyi said indifferently. "Immediately organize and present the secret vaults, spiritual vein maps, and personnel rosters of Penglai. Also, hand over the Dragon Head Cane, the token of authority bestowed upon you by the Dao Ancestor as the 'Head of Male Immortals.' This item is no longer suitable for you to possess."

Dongwanggong's body stiffened, and the last glimmer of hope in his heart was extinguished. The Dragon Head Cane was not only a top-grade innate spiritual treasure, but also a symbol of his legal status as the "Head of Male Immortals"! Handing over this item meant that he had been completely stripped of the special identity personally bestowed upon him by the Dao Ancestor, independent of the demon race's Heavenly Court system, and had been completely reduced to a vassal of the demon race.

With trembling hands, he summoned the purple dragon-headed staff, which had developed fine cracks and dimmed spiritual light. Holding it with both hands, he raised it high above his head and crawled forward step by step on his knees to present it to Taiyi.

No one expected the war between the two forces to end so quickly. In just a few decades, which is truly just a blink of an eye in the prehistoric world, the Immortal Court, which was originally one of the top powers, vanished into thin air so easily.

Such a momentous event had occurred in the primordial world, so naturally the sages of the primordial world knew about it immediately.

In the Sanqing Hall of Kunlun Mountain, the three Pure Ones opened their eyes simultaneously. At this moment, the three Pure Ones were still using the merits they had just gained to improve their realm.

The more impulsive Tongtian spoke up directly, "Big brother, should we intervene?"

Yuanshi, who was standing to the side, also turned his gaze toward Laozi.

Lao Tzu did not speak, but gently shook his head.

In fact, after becoming a saint, one can see more or less the original structure of the prehistoric world. Although the prehistoric world has changed a lot, it seems that the Celestial Court is about to be destroyed by the demon race.

Seeing that Laozi shook his head and Tongtian remained silent, the Three Pure Ones closed their eyes again to meditate, not intending to interfere.

Not only the Three Pure Ones Nuwa and Houtu, but even the two from the West did not make any move, as if everything was as it should be.

Of course, nowadays, besides the Sage, the one who pays the most attention to the demon race is naturally the enemy, the Witch race.

Buzhou Mountain, Pangu Temple.

Above the blood pool, the crimson cocoon, which had pulsated for centuries, throbbed with ever-growing power, like a beating war drum. Each contraction caused the Pangu Blood Pool to surge, and the ancestral witch's malevolent energy coiled around it like a tornado. The eleven ancestral witches, including Dijiang, Zhurong, and Gonggong, sat around the pool. Although their auras had not fully recovered due to the depletion of their essence and blood, their gazes were fixed intently on the cocoon.

"Xingtian's aura... has completely stabilized at the early Quasi-Saint stage, and its resonance with the Earth's Fiend Qi, although not as strong as my little sister's, should have successfully broken through to the Ancestral Witch realm." Fragments of time flowed in Zhu Jiuyin's eyes as he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of weary relief. "At most, another 5 years, and he should be able to emerge from his cocoon. At that time, the Twelve Capital Heavenly Gods and Fiends Formation will reappear in the primordial world!"

"Alright!" Di Jiang replied in a deep voice, but his resolute face showed little joy; instead, his brows furrowed slightly. In his palm was an image crystal that had been urgently transmitted back by a great shaman who had gone out using a bloodline secret technique. It reflected the terrifying scene of the sun appearing in broad daylight and the great array sealing off the East Sea, as well as the subsequent scene of the great array of Penglai Immortal Island shattering and the purple aura mourning.

"The demon race... actually turned around and attacked the Eastern King Duke?" Zhu Rong grinned, his flames flickering, a mixture of mockery and anger on his face. "Those two bastards, Di Jun and Tai Yi, got humiliated here, so they went to bully the Eastern King Duke, who's easy prey? They're really something else!"

Gonggong sneered: "That good-for-nothing Dongwanggong, who calls himself the head of male immortals, occupies the innate Daoist temple of Penglai, which is formed from fragments of chaos, but all he knows is drinking and having fun, gathering a bunch of rabble. His celestial court, apart from its impressive name, is actually just a pretty face, all show and no substance. If the demon race were to launch a full-scale attack with the Zhou Tian Star Array, and if he had even a little bit of guts, relying on the Penglai array and the terrain, even if he couldn't win, he could at least break a few of the demon race's teeth and deplete their vitality."

He pointed to the image frozen in the crystal: the Eastern King Duke bowing respectfully before Taiyi, with the despair in the eyes of his trusted subordinates behind him. "So utterly pathetic! Defeated in a single battle, surrendering without a second thought! They've squandered their millennia-old foundation and the honor bestowed upon them by the Dao Ancestor! With such a heart, do they even deserve to be considered one of the great powers of the primordial world alongside our Wu Clan? Bah!"

Jumang shook his head and sighed, "Dongwanggong may have had ambitions in his youth, but after living in comfort for so long, his Dao heart has long been corrupted by wine, women, and power. Although he has some loyal followers, such as Qinglinggong, they are helpless because their lord is spineless. The demon race's campaign this time seems to be a thunderous victory, but in reality, they have chosen the weakest target to establish their authority. By annexing Penglai Immortal Court, the demon race can not only replenish its endless resources lost over the years, but also slightly alleviate the talent depletion caused by the exposure of the Slaughtering Witch Sword and the alienation of all races by incorporating some of the Immortal Court's scattered immortals. Dijun's move is both to stop the bleeding and to demonstrate his power."

Ru Shou's body resonated with the aura of Geng metal: "In this way, although the demon race's strength has been somewhat damaged due to the destruction of their previous stronghold, they have gained the foundation of Penglai and will likely recover quickly, perhaps even slightly. More importantly, they are using this battle to declare to the prehistoric world that the Heavenly Court is still the inviolable Heavenly Court, still possessing overwhelming power. Those vassal races that were fearful and hesitant about the demon race because of the matter of the Slaughtering Witch Sword will probably have to reconsider their actions upon seeing this."

"Hmph, what's there to be proud of in swallowing up a worthless Celestial Court?" Qiang Liang scoffed, lightning crackling across his body. "Once Xing Tian emerges from seclusion and the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Demons Formation is re-established, no matter how many scattered soldiers the demon race recruits, they'll all be nothing but chickens and dogs before the true form of the Father God! The most urgent task is to protect the Blood Pool and ensure Xing Tian's safe rebirth. Furthermore, we must continue to closely monitor the demon race's movements, especially the Sun Star and the Blood Essence Jade that was moved away!"

Dijiang nodded, his eyes swirling with spatial ripples as he gazed towards the East Sea, then seemingly piercing through the void to look at the Demon Court beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens: "The Demon Clan's actions are indeed unexpected, yet perfectly logical. After this battle, the all-out war between the Witch and Demon races may come sooner than we anticipated. Order all tribes to intensify preparations and practice battle formations. When Xing Tian is born, it will be the time for my Witch Clan to completely settle scores with the Demon Clan!"

……

Meanwhile, Xuanbao, residing in the underworld, could only lament the current state of the primordial world. "So, was the Celestial Court truly just a training ground for the demon race arranged by Hongjun?" he wondered.

The situation in the prehistoric world has changed drastically. The Celestial Court still couldn't escape this calamity, allowing the demon race, which was already at a disadvantage, to recover its losses.

I'm afraid I'll have to intervene in the Lich War, otherwise we'll probably be back to square one!