The Scarlet Dawn Demon King's own feathers slowly burned, each destroyed plume making his Scarlet Dawn True Flame grow more powerful.

Standing amidst the sea of flames, the Scarlet Dawn Demon King recalled his conversation with the Happy Old Man from ten thousand years ago.

"........"

In the Hundred Flowers Garden.

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King casually plucked a flower spirit.

"Such scenery cannot be seen in the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory."

"If you wish to see it, I'll give it to you," the Happy Old Man said offhandedly.

"Don't speak of just this one - even if you gave me a whole pond of flowers, what would it matter?" The Scarlet Dawn Demon King chuckled.

"After our task is accomplished, I promise you one human state from the Eastern Desolate Demon Territory."

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King remained silent.

"To fight Lingxu, who knows how many of my demon race's top combatants we'll lose. I want two human states."

The Happy Old Man shook his head, but then nodded.

"Fine!"

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King looked at the Happy Old Man and suddenly laughed as if seeing through his thoughts.

"I know what you're thinking."

"Oh?"

The Happy Old Man seemed unbothered by having his schemes exposed, instead watching with interest.

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King said, "No matter how outrageous my demands, you'd agree. In your eyes, I'm already as good as dead - someone to trade lives with Lingxu, right?

If I die, our agreement naturally becomes void. You could even betray our pact."

The Happy Old Man nodded. "Clever."

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King's crimson pupils flashed as he stared at the old man.

"Aren't you afraid I'll back out, being so honest?"

The Happy Old Man clasped his hands behind his back and laughed heartily.

"This old man isn't afraid. I believe you have the courage - the question is whether you dare gamble. Do you dare step onto this gaming table?"

The Scarlet Dawn Demon King pondered briefly.

"It seems this lord has no other choice. I'll take this gamble!"

A gamble that after surrounding and killing Lingxu, I'll survive.

Returning to the present, the Scarlet Dawn Demon King took a deep breath.

A single sword, stranded in Cangzhou, cut off from the Great Dao.

No reinforcements ahead, no allies behind.

Six demon kings at the peak of Tribulation Transcension.

Demon race cultivation is harder than human cultivation, their physiques more resilient.

A demon's heavenly tribulation is thirty percent stronger than a human's at the same realm. Humans can use pills to break through, while demons must devour essence blood of their kind.

Thus after cultivation, demons grow stronger.

Plus the Happy Old Man's schemes and contingencies.

An entire Burial Armament City, plus eight Tribulation Transcension experts including City Lord Wen Yuan.

Lingxu, this lord refuses to believe you have no limits!!!

".........."

Mount Shushan.

The Phoenix Princess pulled the rusted iron sword from the ground and vanished.

"How strange... what was that feeling when touching the sword?"

The Phoenix Princess flexed her hand.

The Sword Spirit also gave her a peculiar look.

Lu Ziyin, master of Silver Sword Peak, had perished, his soul cast into three thousand minor worlds by the Sword Spirit at the last moment.

A sliver of hope preserved.

Lin Wanqing severely wounded.

Yunran and Pei Qi gravely injured.

The thirty-some Profound Sword Sect disciples who ambushed them were slain by the Phoenix Princess.

Three Fusion Transcension experts - two killed, one severely wounded.

Though by all accounts Mount Shushan came out ahead, Lu Ziyin was dead.

Along the way, the Profound Sword Sect had laid many traps.

Had Li Xuanxiao not sent the Phoenix Princess and Sword Spirit together, returning to Mount Shushan would have been difficult.

Not just Silver Sword Peak disciples - many branches had been attacked.

As news came in, Mount Shushan shook.

They'd thought the Xuantian Sword Sect's leader had gone mad, daring to attack Shushan disciples.

Now it was clear - this had been planned long in advance.

A shadowy hand manipulated everything, specifically targeting Mount Shushan.

The whole world as enemies!?

"........"

"Of the Five Great Immortal Alliances, the Profound Sword Sect, Tiandao Alliance, Qingyun Sect, and Xuantian Sword Sect have rebelled.

Buddhism's Thirty-Six Treasure Temples and Confucianism's Seventy-Two Academies declared neutrality...

Many dynasties have denounced Mount Shushan, though the Great Sui and Daxia remain neutral..."

Though most factions chose to wait and see.

Silence itself implied ambiguity.

Now even among the Five Great Immortal Alliances, four raised banners against Shushan.

In an instant, Zhongzhou's skies had changed.

The Happy Old Man couldn't rally the entire world.

But he understood human nature.

What Mount Shushan had done these years was plain for all to see.

Shushan sought to establish Zhongzhou's rules differently from other realms.

But clearly, years of indoctrination failed.

Cultivators still wished to be celestial beings.

Viewing mortals as ants, becoming immortals upon the cultivation path.

Zhongzhou's peace these years existed only because Shushan's strength suppressed dissent.

But human hearts cannot be suppressed.

Once someone rebels first, Shushan would face the avalanche.

Yet to overthrow Shushan - forget the Four Great Alliances.

Even if all Zhongzhou's forces united and attacked together.

None would return alive!!!

Everyone knew this.

Shushan's Tribulation Transcension cultivators comprised eighty percent of Zhongzhou's, with even more in Fusion Transcension.

Each Shushan disciple was battle-hardened.

A Transformation Spirit cultivator like Lu Ziyin killed one Fusion Transcension expert and gravely wounded another.

Lin Wanqing at Transformation Spirit single-handedly slew a Fusion Transcension expert - proof of Shushan's might.

Not to mention the Shushan Sword Formation.

Thus most waited and watched, gathering information.

Wondering where they found the courage to challenge Shushan.

".........."

Zhongzhou's top astrologer Goushengzi looked up at the twin suns in the sky, raising a hand as faint talismans flickered in the void.

A lotus flower bloomed with dazzling light.

Then the hidden paradise realm beneath began collapsing.

This small pearl gradually revealed itself to the world.

The Six Paths of Rebirth clasped his hands as memories originally his began awakening.

Not just him - all in the paradise realm recalled their purpose in coming to Zhongzhou as it collapsed.

Fifteen Tribulation Transcension experts.

Forty Fusion Transcension masters.

".........."

Meanwhile, outside Zhongzhou.

Now, the seven peak masters commanding Shushan's sword formation.

With the sect leader absent, Deputy Leader Wushangzi acted in his stead.

Seven Dharma Bodies appeared beyond the realm.

A colossal Dharma Body descended from beyond the heavens, followed by countless figures.

The Western Paradise Heaven, Star Palace's Literary Star Pavilion, Ink Pool Sect from the Profound Yellow Continent, the Ascendant Descendants from the Primordial Chaos Continent - all gathered beyond Zhongzhou.