The ancient Emperors of the Nine Heavens had truly never anticipated that Five Phoenixes was on the verge of completing its Immortal-Martial transformation.

  How did they know?

  They were all Emperor-level powerhouses, and deep within the rift lurked even a peak Emperor.

  Their divine senses were immensely powerful, capable of probing Five Phoenixes’ condition.

  Moreover, the Nine Heavens had once qualified to attempt the Immortal-Martial ascension, so they were intimately familiar with the current state of Five Phoenixes.

  Most importantly, they could clearly observe the changes in the living beings and the world of Five Phoenixes.

  Every life-bearing star that had given birth to a secondary Heavenly Dao signaled that Five Phoenixes was about to complete its Immortal-Martial transformation.

  “Was it because of that mysterious existence? That strange immortal sound accelerated Five Phoenixes’ Immortal-Martial transformation?”

  Ancient Emperor Hao’s eyes flickered uncertainly from deep within the rift.

  He had originally thought they had tens of thousands of years to slowly prepare their “swap the prince for the civet cat” plan. Now it seemed time was running out for the Nine Heavens.

  Once Five Phoenixes fully completed its Immortal-Martial transformation, it would become far more difficult for the Nine Heavens’ Heavenly Dao to devour its Immortal Origin.

  After all, the Nine Heavens’ Heavenly Dao had already passed its peak and was in decline.

  Buzz…

  A terrifying storm of divine sense swept through the rift.

  Every ancient Emperor turned their heads toward the depths.

  Their eyes gleamed with sharp light.

  It was as though a long table had been set up in the rift, where the ancient Emperors conducted a fair and open discussion about who should step forward.

  After fierce debate, the decision fell on the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor.

  She would traverse the Nine Heavens, venture into the Primordial Starry Sky, and ally with numerous innate gods and demons.

  It was an arduous task.

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor had been thrust into the role at a critical moment. Originally, they had wanted to plan carefully—allying with gods and demons was no simple matter; it was walking a tightrope over an abyss.

  But the accelerated transformation of Five Phoenixes was an unexpected development, forcing their plans to change.

  Boom!

  From within the rift,

  A torrent of water surged forth. In the next moment, it coalesced into the form of a stunningly beautiful woman—noble, graceful, with ribbons of water swirling around her like silks.

  Her deep blue hair floated gracefully, carrying a mature, enchanting charm.

  She glanced back at the rift, her red lips curving slightly.

  “Hao, wait for my good news.”

  Her voice was gentle, like a soft stream flowing through the heart.

  Then, she transformed into a streak of deep blue light and stepped into the Nine Heavens.

  Tearing through space, she sped toward the outer reaches of the Nine Heavens.

  …

  Lu paid no particular attention to the actions of the Nine Heavens’ ancient Emperors.

  At this moment, he was quietly consolidating his power on Heart Island.

  After handing the highly toxic immortal herb “Immortal Mandala” to his father, Lu Changkong, Lu no longer concerned himself with it.

  With his father’s extreme poison physique, there shouldn’t be any major problems.

  The eleventh layer of Qi Refining had been an utterly ordinary breakthrough.

  For Lu, it hadn’t brought much increase in combat power.

  After stabilizing his cultivation,

  Lu shifted his gaze toward Five Phoenixes Continent.

  Compared to Lu himself, Five Phoenixes’ transformation was truly massive. The number of cultivators had increased dramatically.

  Thanks to the Voice of the Quasi-Saint, even many mortals who had previously been unable to cultivate had suddenly gained the ability to do so, as if they had awakened in a single moment of insight.

  Moreover, Five Phoenixes Continent now held a supreme position across the entire Five Phoenixes Universe—much like how the Nine Heavens had once been the upper realm.

  The goal of cultivators on the many life-bearing stars was to ascend to Five Phoenixes.

  On Five Phoenixes Continent, they could access superior cultivation conditions and environments.

  Lu was quite satisfied with this. The entire world of Five Phoenixes was brimming with boundless vitality. Countless cultivators were advancing rapidly under the assistance of the Immortal Origin.

  Of course, an Immortal-Martial world required powerhouses to support it.

  After the battle in the void abyss, Zhu Long had returned to Buzhou Peak and entered seclusion.

  It seemed that under the pressure of the Immortal-tier god and demon Evil Eye, combined with the insights from the Voice of the Quasi-Saint, she had found the opportunity for breakthrough.

  She was preparing to charge straight toward the Ninth Revolution Golden Immortal realm.

  A Ninth Revolution Golden Immortal possessed peak Emperor combat power!

  Besides Zhu Long, Lu Jiulian, Mi Jia, and others had completed their Third Revolution Golden Immortal tempering and were now advancing toward the Sixth Revolution.

  Destiny cultivation had completely linked every Golden Immortal with Five Phoenixes, making them inseparable.

  After all, the billions upon billions of living beings on Five Phoenixes Continent were the source of their destiny.

  Their fates were intertwined with destiny. Thus, besides cultivation, every cultivator focused heavily on preaching and educating others to gain more destiny.

  Tang Yimo, the Overlord, Sima Qingshan, Bai Qingniao, and other newly ascended Golden Immortals had not returned to Five Phoenixes Continent.

  They had their eyes on the gods and demons sealed in the abyss by Lu.

  These gods and demons were the best training partners.

  The Overlord entered the abyss almost every day to battle gods and demons.

  And he didn’t seek out low-tier ones—he went straight for high-tier gods and demons.

  After each brutal fight, he would emerge battered and bruised, teetering on the brink of death, only to be dragged out.

  The high-tier gods and demons roared in fury, but bound by the formation and blocked by Mi Jia and the others, they couldn’t kill him.

  The very next day, the Overlord would be back—full of vigor—seeking out another high-tier god and demon.

  Tang Yimo, Sima Qingshan, and the others were much the same, focusing entirely on battles with gods and demons.

  Through combat, they continuously consolidated and strengthened their power and realms.

  The Twelve Witch Kings seemed to have been inspired by the Overlord. They hadn’t returned to the Western Continent.

  The conflict between the Witch Tribe and the Demon Tribe had temporarily subsided. Though minor skirmishes still occurred, they were harmless.

  Friction between races was inevitable.

  Humans and demons had coexisted for countless years—from mid-martial to high-martial and now into Immortal-Martial—yet small clashes between them never ceased.

  The Twelve Witch Kings were warlike by nature. Alone, they lacked Golden Immortal combat power and would be in mortal danger against even a low-tier god and demon.

  But they were unafraid.

  The Witch Tribe thrived on battle. When the twelve united into the Heavenly Witch, they entered the abyss to challenge low-tier gods and demons.

  Their fate was similar to the Overlord’s—each time they were carried out bruised and battered.

  Yet through these battles, the Twelve Witch Kings were growing stronger.

  Unlike humans, demons, and sea clans who cultivated destiny,

  The Witch Tribe stimulated their bloodline potential through combat. While others fought to master their power, they fought purely to grow stronger.

  Gu Mangran led the Sea Tribe. As the weakest of Five Phoenixes’ four major races, he was undeterred.

  The abyss battlefield was no longer suitable for the Sea Tribe now that the god and demon invasion had ended.

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  Gu Mangran led his people back to the vast ocean.

  He continued to spread cultivation techniques. With his Golden Immortal strength, he acted like a lighthouse in the sea, guiding the Sea Tribe forward.

  He selected talented individuals from the Sea Tribe and brought them to the continent, letting them join the cultivation sects in the blessed lands of heaven and earth to learn human cultivation methods.

  The Sea Tribe was gradually growing stronger. They possessed an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

  In the process of leading them, Gu Mangran discovered that the Sea Tribe’s greatest asset was the ocean itself.

  The countless sea beasts within the ocean were like a treasure trove in his eyes.

  He began researching methods for the Sea Tribe to control sea beasts.

  Unexpectedly, this unlocked the bloodline potential of Sea Tribe cultivators.

  The Witch Tribe, Demon Tribe, and Sea Tribe all had powerful bloodline potential. In comparison, humans were weaker, lacking innate bloodline power.

  By tapping into their bloodline potential, the Sea Tribe grew stronger.

  Gu Mangran even developed and refined unique Sea Tribe cultivation methods that allowed control of giant sea beasts.

  These giant beasts became tremendous assets. Many Sea Tribe cultivators formed contracts with them, becoming perfectly synchronized combat partners.

  Because of this, Gu Mangran received vast destiny blessings. The Sea Tribe did not disappoint him—many geniuses emerged, possessing exceptional cultivation talent and becoming the treasures of the Sea Tribe’s rise.

  The Witch Tribe of the Western Continent, the Demon Tribe under the Demon King’s Court, the human Great Xuan Divine Dynasty, and the Sea Tribe of the boundless ocean—

  Five Phoenixes Continent was gradually forming a four-way balance of power.

  …

  The Grand Time Formation spun, accelerating the flow of time in Five Phoenixes.

  The only pity was that the Immortal-Martial transformation itself was unaffected by the time acceleration.

  But that was fine. With the boost from the Voice of the Quasi-Saint, the Immortal-Martial transformation was essentially in its final stage.

  Once Five Phoenixes completed the transformation and the Immortal Origin fully matured, the Five Phoenixes Universe would take shape.

  Leaning back in the Thousand-Blade Chair, Lu’s white robes fluttered gently.

  The island was peaceful and harmonious.

  Ni Yu was refining pills. Nowadays, her alchemy skills surpassed anyone in Five Phoenixes. Yet she was never satisfied and continued tirelessly researching and crafting new elixirs.

  Ning Zhao was practicing swordsmanship. Her cultivation had gradually fallen behind Nie Changqing, Tang Yimo, and the others, which filled her with a sense of crisis.

  As Young Master’s maid, she couldn’t afford to be so weak.

  It would disgrace him!

  So she trained alongside Yi Yue.

  They watched Ni Yu fail again and again at pill refining.

  The atmosphere on the island was perfectly harmonious.

  After a few relaxed days observing Five Phoenixes’ progress, Lu took out the Gold-Origin Insect Corpse that radiated thousands of golden rays.

  “The system said it’s food…”

  Lu frowned.

  Looking at the insect corpse in his hand, he pressed his thumb and forefinger together. Sticky fluid oozed from the corpse, carrying a strange fragrance.

  Yet visually, it was utterly unappetizing.

  Could this thing really be eaten?

  After some thought, Lu carried the corpse to where Ni Yu was refining pills.

  “Ni Yu.”

  He called out.

  Boom!

  The black pot exploded. A soot-covered little Yinglong, yawning atop Ni Yu’s head, crawled out with a blackened face.

  “Young Master, what’s up?”

  Ni Yu wiped her soot-covered face, looking utterly miserable.

  Lu smiled and held up the corpse for her to see.

  “Eww! So gross…”

  Ni Yu recoiled at the sight of the dripping Gold-Origin Insect Corpse, clearly disgusted.

  “It’s a type of food.”

  Lu said seriously.

  Ni Yu’s big eyes widened. She looked at the corpse, then at Lu, and instantly understood.

  Her mouth trembled.

  “I never thought you were that kind of Young Master…”

  Ni Yu flopped onto her side, dramatically clutching her flat chest.

  Seeing her add her own drama, Lu was speechless.

  “Young Master, are you planning to feed this bug to Ni Yu?”

  “Is this even something humans eat?”

  Ni Yu pounded her chest and stomped her feet.

  Lu froze. Her words struck him like a thunderbolt.

  Human food?

  His eyes grew brighter and brighter!

  Exactly! The system said it was food—but it never specified that it was food for humans!

  “If it’s not food for humans… then who is it for?”

  Lu stored the corpse away.

  He glanced at the still-thumping Ni Yu.

  His faint gaze made her instantly realize Young Master’s petty streak might activate. She quickly stood up obediently.

  “Young Master, I’ll eat it.”

  Ni Yu said meekly, terrified of being remembered by his petty side.

  Lu rolled his eyes and lightly knocked her on the head.

  “Eat my ass.”

  “Alchemy isn’t done in isolation. You need good materials. Take this god and demon corpse and practice.”

  With a wave of his hand, the massive corpse of Evil Eye appeared before Ni Yu.

  Ni Yu’s eyes immediately lit up!

  Meanwhile, looking at Evil Eye’s corpse, Lu fell into deep thought once more.

  He took out the innate spiritual treasure North Sea Fishing Rod and held the insect corpse again.

  His eyes grew even brighter!

  He seemed to have discovered the correct use for the Gold-Origin Insect Corpse.

  If it wasn’t food for humans… could it be food for… gods and demons?

  A bait to lure gods and demons?

  He had been using the North Sea Fishing Rod to whip people for so long that he had almost forgotten—it was actually a fishing rod, meant to fish gods and demons from the Primordial Starry Sky.

  What does fishing require?

  A rod, bait, and… fish.

  Fishing gods and demons was the same: a rod, god and demon bait, and gods and demons.

  A smile slowly curved across his lips.

  Lu suddenly understood.

  Beside him, Ni Yu felt a sudden chill. Seeing Young Master holding the rod he used to whip people in one hand and the insect corpse in the other, smiling strangely at her, she felt a shiver run down her spine.

  After sending Ni Yu away, Lu’s mind stirred. Silver light flashed, spatial laws surged, and space tore open.

  He stepped through.

  Soon, he arrived at the abyss.

  Tantai Xuan had returned to the Netherworld to handle the vast and complex matters of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

  Mi Jia had chosen to remain stationed here.

  She occasionally entered the abyss to train.

  When Lu appeared, Mi Jia was stunned. She hadn’t expected Young Master Lu to suddenly show up.

  The Overlord and the Twelve Witch Kings were being carried out of the abyss by Tang Yimo, bruised and battered.

  They all spotted Lu.

  “Young Master Lu?”

  Everyone was puzzled.

  Could Young Master Lu be feeling itchy for a fight and come to beat up some gods and demons to warm up?

  “You all continue. I’m just passing by.”

  Lu smiled.

  Then he began preparing.

  With a thought,

  The Thousand-Blade Chair beneath him rapidly transformed.

  Clang clang clang.

  Silver blades shifted and reshaped, soon forming a silver boat.

  Lu sat atop the silver boat, condensing a bamboo hat from spiritual qi. His white robes fluttered gracefully.

  He shouldered the North Sea Fishing Rod.

  The silver boat slowly parted the waves in the air and sailed steadily into the depths of the abyss.

  Mi Jia and the others were dumbfounded.

  They couldn’t help but exclaim,

  “As expected of Young Master Lu—even beating up gods and demons is so ceremonial.”

  The bruised Overlord climbed to his feet and watched Lu’s departing figure, taking a deep breath.

  “Doesn’t feel like it. Young Master Lu looks like he’s going fishing.”

  Fishing?

  Everyone was confused.

  Then their gazes shifted, all landing on Lu who had entered the abyss.

  Within the abyss, formations hovered overhead. Lightning-like chains bound the gods and demons.

  The originally ferocious and roaring gods and demons instantly restrained their auras the moment Lu arrived on his silver boat. They didn’t dare breathe loudly.

  Lu had broken through, and the suppressive power of his God and Demon Hunter title had grown even more terrifying.

  They dared roar and threaten the Overlord, Mi Jia, and the others.

  But against Lu, they didn’t dare fart.

  Lu smiled.

  He took out the Gold-Origin Insect Corpse. The plump corpse glowed like a miniature sun, radiating golden light.

  He wanted to see how the gods and demons would react.

  Sure enough, the moment he produced the corpse, every god and demon in the abyss trembled and fixed their gazes upon it.

  They inhaled deeply. Then saliva poured from their mouths like cascading waterfalls.

  So fragrant!

  An absolutely supreme delicacy!

  Even Lu’s terrifying pressure couldn’t suppress their craving for the delicacy.

  Splash splash splash!

  High-tier gods and demons struggled against their chains, eyes wide, saliva gushing uncontrollably…

  Like stray dogs starved for days staring at a freshly roasted, dripping chicken leg.

  The gods and demons’ reactions confirmed Lu’s suspicion.

  “Oh ho…”

  Lu’s lips curved higher. This was getting interesting.

  He remembered that in the original description of the North Sea Fishing Rod, there was a line: it could fish elemental gods and demons.

  These ordinary gods and demons were beneath his notice.

  Lu smiled.

  He raised his hand and lightly traced in the air. A slender spiritual qi thread appeared. With a thought, a segment of the Phoenix Feather Sword detached and formed a sharp hook bound to the spiritual qi thread.

  He baited the hook with the insect corpse. The other end of the thread was connected to the North Sea Fishing Rod.

  And so, seated on the silver boat, Lu slowly advanced through the abyss under the stunned gazes of countless gods and demons and Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals.

  He arrived at the passage between the Primordial Starry Sky and Five Phoenixes.

  With a flick of his finger,

  The passage mouth was torn open, the seal shattered.

  The ancient, terrifying aura of the Primordial Starry Sky immediately surged in.

  “Young Master Lu is doing what?”

  “He opened the passage? What if he attracts gods and demons?”

  “I have a feeling Young Master Lu is about to do something huge!”

  The Five Phoenixes Golden Immortals stared wide-eyed, speechless.

  Holding the fishing rod with bait attached… was he planning to… fish?

  In the Primordial Starry Sky?

  Young Master Lu’s tricks just kept getting wilder and wilder!

  The imprisoned gods and demons were equally dumbfounded.

  Lu ignored them all. Under everyone’s watchful eyes,

  He took a deep breath.

  Then swung the spiritual qi thread and hook.

  Whoosh!

  The hook, carrying the Gold-Origin Insect Corpse, turned into a streak of light and vanished into the Primordial Starry Sky.

  Lu sat there, bamboo hat on his head, white robes fluttering, exuding an immortal aura as he held the fishing rod.

  Fishing the starry sky.

  Fishing gods and demons!

  …

  In the Primordial Starry Sky,

  On a primordial star shrouded in ancient aura, the star had become a hellscape. Magma erupted in searing bursts.

  A colossal being crouched upon this primordial star. With every breath it took, its overwhelming aura turned into terrifying annihilation winds!

  A streak of deep blue light arrived.

  It dispersed, revealing the graceful figure of the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor.

  Her deep blue hair danced. She stared at the massive beast dominating the primordial star, sensing its oppressive aura. A trace of gravity flickered in her beautiful blue eyes.

  But mingled with the gravity was disgust.

  Boom boom boom!

  With her arrival, the gods and demons on this primordial star seemed to awaken.

  Low-tier gods and demons stood on the star, high-tier ones soared into the air, releasing ferocious auras and fixing their gazes on the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor.

  The colossal beast opened its eyes. Its sharp gaze carried coldness and confusion.

  “An ancient Emperor of the Nine Heavens?”

  Boom!

  In an instant, a terrifying aura erupted.

  A massive palm tore through space, appearing above the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor in the blink of an eye.

  The oppressive pressure caused explosive sounds in the void.

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s robes and hair whipped wildly.

  “Why aren’t you running? Did you come here to die on purpose?”

  The colossal beast spoke.

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s expression was cold and solemn. She slowly spoke.

  “Evil Eye is dead.”

  “A newly born Immortal-Martial world is about to emerge…”

  The colossal beast leaned down. Its aura of terror and destruction caused space to shatter inch by inch.

  “A newborn Immortal-Martial world?”

  “What the hell does that have to do with me?!”

  The colossal beast grinned. Then its killing intent exploded.

  The palm suspended above the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor accelerated.

  Boom!

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor was struck head-on. Terrifying shockwaves erupted in the void, rippling outward in circles.

  Her body instantly exploded into a spray of water.

  But soon, the colossal beast’s eyes showed surprise.

  It withdrew its palm. The water spray continuously reformed into a graceful figure. The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor reappeared, but her eyes had changed from deep blue to pitch black—profound and unfathomable, as if she were a different person.

  “Hao…”

  The colossal beast narrowed its eyes, then grinned. “Now that’s sincerity.”

  In the boundless Primordial Starry Sky, on the star, powerful divine fluctuations roared and clashed.

  Two figures slowly conversed.

  …

  Buzz…

  The “Travel” character formation word appeared in the void, forming a spatial passage that tore open.

  A massive spatial gate opened.

  On the primordial star closest to the passage between Five Phoenixes and the Primordial Starry Sky,

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor floated out, followed by the colossal beast and the many low-tier and high-tier gods and demons under its command.

  The beast’s aura was terrifying—on par with Evil Eye, an Immortal-tier existence.

  “That’s the entrance to the newborn Immortal-Martial world’s passage… but it’s been sealed by the powerhouse of that world.”

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor had returned to her original form. She raised her hand, her slender finger pointing toward the distant direction.

  But soon, her expression froze.

  “Where’s the seal? This Venerable can already smell the overwhelmingly soul-shaking fragrance wafting out from the passage mouth!”

  The colossal beast closed its eyes, face full of enjoyment. Terrifying arcs of fire danced across its massive body.

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s blue eyes were filled with disbelief.

  “That’s… Lu Ping’an?!”

  She could clearly see, at the passage mouth,

  A white-robed figure wearing a bamboo hat, seated on a silver boat formed from stacked silver blades.

  He held a fishing rod, completely motionless.

  As if fishing leisurely in the blue waves where sky met sea.

  “What… is this kid doing?”

  The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor was utterly baffled.

  Meanwhile, the excited colossal beast Kui Si stared at the creature on the fishing rod… and suddenly sucked in a cold breath.

  “That… that’s an elemental god and demon!”

  When he saw the white-robed youth drag the elemental god and demon onto the silver boat and start beating it savagely,

  His excitement drained away like receding tide.