Primordial Era: A brick knocks Hongyun unconscious, and he seizes the throne at the start.

A hundred years is but a fleeting moment for the great beings of the primordial world.

The Wu tribe fought amongst themselves deep within Buzhou Mountain for ninety years. Zhu Rong and Gong Gong, together with four "cooperative" ancestral witches, fought more than three hundred battles against the Di Jiang lineage. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. Finally, under the "mediation" of the Dao Ancestor's illusory figure, a ceasefire agreement was barely reached—but the rift was already irreparable.

The Heavenly Court of the Demon Race was not idle either. Emperor Jun poured all his resources into forging the 2.0 version of the Witch-Slaying Sword. On the day the sword was completed, blood-red light soared into the sky, staining the entire East Sea red, and wiping out all life in the billions of miles of sea. But when Emperor Jun held this sword, he always felt that the violent aura within the sword was growing stronger and stronger, so strong that it made him feel a little uneasy.

"Brother, is this sword... really okay?" Taiyi asked worriedly.

"It's alright." Di Jun suppressed his unease. "This sword is specifically designed to counter the Witch Clan. Even if there are some side effects, it's worth it."

He paused, then asked, "How's the optimization of the Zhou Tian Star Array going?"

"The optimization has been completed according to the plan given by that anonymous expert," Taiyi replied. "The power has increased by 30%, but... I still feel that something is not right."

"Something's not right?"

"I can't quite put my finger on it." Taiyi frowned. "When the formation is in operation, it occasionally 'snags' for a moment, though only for a split second, but..." He shook his head. "Maybe I'm overthinking it."

Di Jun didn't pay much attention. With the centennial deadline approaching, he didn't have time to dwell on these details.

Meanwhile, Lu Chen was making final preparations at Wuzhuang Temple.

"Over there, Chenlong, Chenhu, and Chenbao have disguised themselves as 'Kunlun rogue cultivators' and signed up for the first round of the final battle," Hunyuanzi reported. "Their cultivation levels have all been suppressed to the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, but their true combat strength is at the early stage of Quasi-Saint. With the simplified version of the 'Twelve Yuan Chen Grand Formation,' they can easily take on three opponents at once."

"Where is the Fireworks Department?"

"Three thousand Avengers have infiltrated the outer perimeter of the Buzhou Mountain battlefield in batches and set up the 'Demon-Slaying Trapping Formation.' As long as the demon army enters the area, at least 30% of their forces can be trapped," Yan Chen continued. "In addition, the people planted by the Underworld are already in place. Once the great battle breaks out, they will prioritize 'guiding' the souls of the Witch and Demon races—of course, they will prioritize those with potential, such as the essence of the Ancestral Witch and the souls of the Demon Saints."

Lu Chen nodded: "What about Chang Xi?"

"The 'Lunar Essence Disorder Seal' at the core of the Taiyin Star has been activated and can be detonated at any time," Hunyuanzi said. "In addition, she sent a message saying that Dijun has been frequently drawing Taiyin Star's essence to enhance the Slaughtering Witch Sword, and Taiyin Star is already somewhat unstable."

"The more unstable it is, the more spectacular the explosion will be," Lu Chen grinned.

He stood up and walked to the center of the cave—where a sand table was set up, simulating the terrain of the Buzhou Mountain battlefield.

"Tomorrow marks the centennial anniversary." Lu Chen pointed to the sand table. "According to the rules set by the Dao Ancestor, the final battle will be divided into three phases, and the location will be at the northern foot of Buzhou Mountain, in the ruins of the former battlefield."

"But there is a loophole in the rules—the Dao Ancestor only said 'three matches to determine the winner,' but did not say that the three matches must be played 'continuously.' In other words, there can be a 'halftime break' between each match."

Yan Chen's eyes lit up: "What I mean is..."

"We need to create some 'unexpected' situation after the first game to prolong the halftime break." A glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "Ideally, we should drag it out until dark—that way, the effects of our backup plans will be maximized."

"How do you create an accident?"

Lu Chen smiled and took out something from the Qiankun Diagram—a purple Taoist robe, a whisk, and a... replica of the Zixiao Palace token.

"This, this is..." Hunyuanzi's eyes widened.

"The same skin as the Dao Ancestor." Lu Chen chuckled. "After the first match tomorrow, I'll disguise myself as the Dao Ancestor and announce that 'the halftime break will be extended by three hours.' I've already thought of the reason—'The heavens have changed, and we need to deduce good or bad fortune.'"

Yan Chen gasped, "My lord, you've got some nerve! Impersonating a Dao Ancestor, what if you get exposed..."

"It won't be detected." Lu Chen picked up the Daoist robe. "This robe was woven from the chaotic clouds surrounding Zixiao Palace, containing a trace of the Dao Ancestor's aura. The whisk is a 'fake' from Fenbao Cliff Shun, but it looks exactly the same. As for the token..."

He shook the replica: "I've studied this thing for a hundred years. Using the Chaos Brick and the Morning Bell to simulate it, it's so realistic that it's indistinguishable from the real thing—as long as the Dao Ancestor himself doesn't show up, no one can tell the difference."

Hun Yuanzi and Yan Chen exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

This guy himself has really taken courting death to an extreme.

"Alright, everyone get ready." Lu Chen put away his items. "The final battle begins tomorrow."

The next day, at the northern foot of Buzhou Mountain.

The former battlefield ruins have been cleared into a huge flat area, with three arenas suspended in the air above the flat area—each corresponding to one of the three duels.

Around the arena, the armies of the Lich and Demon races clashed, their murderous aura soaring into the sky.

High above, the six sages, in their avatars, remained hidden in the clouds, observing the unfolding events.

The illusory figure of the Dao Ancestor sat high in the center, speaking indifferently:

"The century-long period has arrived; the final war has begun."

"The first round is a three-way battle, with three people from each side. The winner will receive 30% of the luck. Begin."

As soon as he finished speaking, three figures flew out from the demon camp—the demon master Bai Ze, the demon saint Fei Lian (one of the four remaining demon saints), and a newly promoted demon quasi-saint, "Jin Peng".

On the Wu tribe's side, the three ancestral witches, Xuanming, Jumang, and Rushou, were sent into battle—the Iron Rod of the Dijiang lineage.

And the third party...

Three streaks of light flew in from afar and landed on the arena, revealing three cultivators dressed in Daoist robes with blurred faces, all of whom possessed the aura of peak Great Luo Golden Immortals.

"The rogue cultivators Chenlong, Chenhu, and Chenbao are willing to contribute to the human race." The leader bowed, his voice hoarse.

These are three of the twelve Earthly Branches, their disguises flawless.

"Approved." The illusory figure of the Dao Ancestor nodded.

The battle begins.

The process was more intense than expected, but also faster than expected.

Chenlong and his two companions gave neither the Lich nor the Demonic forces a chance to react. They formed a triangular battle formation right from the start and unleashed quasi-saint level combat power! Although Bai Ze and Xuan Ming were also quasi-saints, they were caught off guard and had their own agendas, so they were suppressed and beaten!

Thirty breaths later, Fei Lian was the first to be knocked off the stage.

After fifty breaths, Jinpeng was seriously injured and had to leave the stage.

After seventy breaths, Bai Ze, seeing the situation was unfavorable, took the initiative to admit defeat.

On the Wu tribe's side, Ru Shou attempted a sneak attack on Chen Hu, but Chen Bao knocked him unconscious with a brick (a fake one) and threw him off the stage. Xuan Ming and Ju Mang struggled to hold on for a hundred breaths, but were ultimately forced back by the combined attack of the three and fell off the stage.

In the first match, the third-party rogue cultivator won!

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

"Who are these three people?!"

"A peak-level Great Luo cultivator fighting a Quasi-Saint, and even one against six?!"

"When did the human race produce such a powerful rogue cultivator?!"

Both Di Jun and Di Jiang looked grim—they hadn't expected the third-party force to be so powerful.

But what they didn't expect was...

Just as the illusory figure of the Dao Ancestor was about to announce the result, a purple figure suddenly descended from the heavens!

The figure was dressed in a Taoist robe, holding a whisk, with a blurred face, and exuded an aura that was the same as that of the Taoist Ancestor!

"Wait a minute."

The "fake Dao Ancestor" spoke, his voice bearing a striking resemblance to the Dao Ancestor: "The heavenly secrets have changed, and the malevolent energy is gathering abnormally. The intermission will be extended by three hours, after which I will deduce the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness before proceeding with the second round."

Having said that, he waved his whisk, and the three arenas were enveloped in purple mist, temporarily sealing them off.

The Dao Ancestor's illusory image (true) seemed to be stunned for a moment, but said nothing and slowly dissipated.

The six sage incarnations also looked puzzled, but the aura of the Dao Ancestor emanating from the purple figure was too real for them to question.

Although Di Jun and Di Jiang were unwilling, they had no choice but to obey.

Three hours... is enough time to do a lot of things.

After the "fake Dao Ancestor" finished doing all this, he turned into purple mist and disappeared—in reality, Lu Chen escaped using the brick escape technique.

As soon as he returned to his hiding place, Hunyuanzi and Yanchen came to greet him.

"I have succeeded!"

"Both the Lich and Demon races are rushing to adjust their tactics. The Demon race is urgently repairing the Zhou Tian Star Array, while the Lich race is redistributing its Ancestral Witch fighting force... Neither of them has any doubts!"

Lu Chen grinned: "That's good. Next..."

He looked toward Mount Buzhou, a cold glint in his eyes.

"Detonate the first contingency plan - the Taiyin Star Disorder Seal."

"Let Chang Xi make a 'mistake,' drain three-tenths of the Taiyin Star's original essence and inject it into the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Array."

"I want to see how this formation, with its imbalanced Yin and Yang, will be used tomorrow."

Hunyuanzi accepted the order and left.

Three hours later, it began to get dark.

Above Mount Buzhou, the Zhou Tian Star Array lit up ahead of schedule—the demon race wanted to practice the array under the cover of night in preparation for the second round tomorrow.

But the formation had only reached 30% success rate...

"Buzz—!!!"

The Moon Star suddenly trembled violently! A thick beam of moonlight poured down uncontrollably, injecting into the core of the great formation!

Immediately afterwards, the Sun Star also showed signs of movement—the Star-Shifting Talisman on the little Golden Crow's neck was activated, and it was teleported to the Moon Star, while the Sun Star's origin... was missing a small piece.

Although it is only a tiny, insignificant piece, in the yin-yang balance of the Zhou Tian Star Array, this imbalance is magnified a thousand times!

"boom--!!!"

The grand formation has gone out of control! Billions of stars are scattering wildly, and 72 of the 365 main star array eyes are exploding simultaneously! The demon camp is in chaos, with heavy casualties!

"What's going on?!" Di Jun roared in fury. "Who's behind this?!"

"It's...it's a problem with the grand formation!" Taiyi reported, coughing up blood. "The yin and yang are out of balance, and the formation's core has self-destructed!"

The demon race was in complete chaos.

Meanwhile, on the Wu tribe's side, Di Jiang watched this scene with a look of joy in his eyes—the demon race was in trouble, this was a golden opportunity!

But what he didn't know was...

Inside the cave dwellings of Gonggong and Zhurong, the "Heavenly Demon Heart Bell" was trembling wildly.

The inner demons are about to erupt completely.

Lu Chen squatted on the mountaintop, looking at the chaos below, and nodded in satisfaction.

"The curtain has risen, it's time for the show to begin."

He took out his pocket watch (Fenbaoyashun's timekeeping magic item) and checked the time.

"Six hours to go, the second act begins."

"That's enough for me to plant a few more mines."