In the Primordial Starry Sky,
The passage mouth of Five Phoenixes hung alone in the void.
It was as though a faint gleam pierced through endless darkness—like a lone white spark in the black night, glaringly conspicuous, drawing the gaze of creatures lurking in the shadows.
The Overlord, Tang Yimo, the Twelve Witch Kings, Mi Jia, and the other powerhouses sat cross-legged at the passage mouth, all bearing wounds and breathing heavily.
Outside the passage, gods and demons were bound by the chessboard domain—Young Master Lu’s divine ability restraining them completely.
Each god and demon retained its primal savagery, igniting the battle lust within the Overlord and the others, fueling their desire to fight and grow stronger through combat.
Suddenly, they sensed something.
Raising their heads, their gazes followed the dim, oppressive darkness of the Primordial Starry Sky into the distance.
Far away, on distant primordial stars, powerful figures slowly emerged. Cold eyes filled with ferocity and greed fixed upon the Five Phoenixes passage.
“Immortal-tier!”
Mi Jia narrowed her eyes, staring into the distance.
Then her pupils shrank.
Gradually, she realized… there wasn’t just one god and demon in the far reaches of the Primordial Starry Sky.
She shot out of the passage and hovered in the void, sweeping her gaze around.
Her expression changed drastically.
“We… are surrounded.”
Mi Jia spoke gravely, her voice heavy.
The Overlord, Tang Yimo, and the others also rose into the air, scanning their surroundings. Like Mi Jia, their eyes were filled with solemnity.
Centered on the Five Phoenixes passage, the surrounding void was ringed by Immortal-tier gods and demons, each radiating terrifying aura pillars.
So many Immortal-tier beings—how could they not feel dread?
The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor appeared.
Her graceful form, wrapped in deep blue gauze, materialized in the starry sky.
The Immortal-tier gods and demons occupied one primordial star after another, not immediately approaching the Five Phoenixes passage.
Perhaps the fate of Kui Si had made them wary.
After all, both Evil Eye and Kui Si had fallen in Five Phoenixes—a major shock for them.
Though Immortal-tier gods and demons varied in strength, most were roughly equal.
Moreover, they could still feel the lingering shockwaves of battle. The pungent scent of blood filled the starry sky—a pressure on their souls that made them tremble.
The blood of an elemental god and demon had been spilled here!
That made them even more cautious.
Thus, they had agreed to the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s proposal: wait until all Immortal-tier gods and demons gathered before striking.
The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s stunning face carried a cold edge.
“Feel the despair of being surrounded…”
“Being stared down by so many ferocious beasts—that sleepless, restless feeling will drive you mad…”
“Lu Ping’an, who loves to toy with minds… let him taste what it’s like to have his own mind toyed with.”
The Water Tribe Ancient Emperor’s red lips curved slightly.
Then her body dissolved into a stream of water and vanished into the void.
Like a silken ribbon carried by the wind, she swiftly disappeared into the distance.
She still had to persuade and recruit more Immortal-tier gods and demons. The current army was only a third of the total.
The more she persuaded, the deeper her admiration for Ancient Emperor Hao grew.
At first, she had worried about the danger of so many Immortal-tier gods and demons gathering.
If they became greedy and turned against the Nine Heavens, it would be catastrophic.
But during the persuasion process, Ancient Emperor Hao’s will repeatedly possessed her body. Each time, these Immortal-tier gods and demons were deeply wary.
Clearly, Ancient Emperor Hao had anticipated this. Considering their fear of him, he must have already prepared countermeasures.
Or perhaps he possessed some trump card that terrified these Immortal-tier gods and demons.
Thus, the Water Tribe Ancient Emperor continued recruiting with peace of mind.
And after Kui Si’s fate, she was certain these Immortal-tier gods and demons wouldn’t act rashly—lest they share his end.
…
Lu naturally knew what was happening in the Primordial Starry Sky.
Yet he was quite dissatisfied. These Immortal-tier gods and demons… not a single one dared to make a move. They all crouched on distant stars, watching Five Phoenixes.
As if they planned to crush Five Phoenixes with sheer pressure.
Lu felt they were practically mocking him. Compared to Kui Si, they had even less guts.
At least Kui Si had dared to roar a few times in defiance.
“Hm…”
“The Destiny Tower just opened, and it’s already consuming resources at an alarming rate. This number of gods and demons is far from enough.”
Lu frowned.
He examined the Destiny Tower’s raw materials. Gods and demons were the source material for the tower.
With so many Five Phoenixes cultivators participating in missions,
The supply from a dozen low-tier gods and demons was only enough for one round.
Lu urgently needed more gods and demons. It seemed he had to find a way to lure those Immortal-tier gods and demons perched on the primordial stars…
Lu narrowed his eyes, a cunning thought forming.
…
“Congratulations. You have qualified to undertake the special mission.”
The ethereal voice rang in Ni Chunqiu’s ears, making the Empress’s beautiful eyes light up.
“I’ve qualified?”
Ni Chunqiu said in delight.
“Due to your persistence. However, be warned: the special mission has only a one-in-a-million chance of success for you, with the risk of soul annihilation.”
The Destiny Maiden spoke, reminding her.
Though the Destiny Maiden was created by Lu, she possessed a very human touch.
After thanking her, Ni Chunqiu felt the black stele glow. A beam of light descended, enveloping her body.
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“Now proceeding to the sixth floor of the Destiny Tower. Best of luck with your mission…”
The Destiny Maiden’s light voice echoed, then faded completely.
Ni Chunqiu bit her red lip, her body trembling with excitement.
Logically, she should first complete easier missions to strengthen herself.
But…
She was afraid—afraid someone else would complete the special mission first and claim the chance to join White Jade Capital and receive Young Master Lu’s guidance.
Because there was only one slot for joining White Jade Capital.
That meant once this special mission was completed, no one knew when it would open again.
So even with only a one-in-a-million chance, she had to seize it.
Opportunities were fleeting.
She had waited far too long for this.
…
On the first floor, in the mission hall,
Du Longyang, Ye Shoudao, and Tian Xu Gongzi—the three Profound Immortal experts—did not immediately accept missions.
They exchanged glances, looking toward where the Empress had vanished.
“She really chose the special mission…”
“Too reckless. The special mission is on the sixth floor… that’s a zone only for Golden Immortals.”
“Sigh… we’ve been comrades with the Empress for so long, yet we can’t help her at all.”
The three felt a mix of emotions.
They all understood why Ni Chunqiu had made this choice—it was for the reward of the special mission.
For them, that reward was indeed irresistible.
Personal guidance from Young Master Lu, and… the chance to join White Jade Capital.
Even for Golden Immortals, this mission’s appeal was terrifying.
Who was Young Master Lu?
A being capable of thrashing Immortal-tier gods and demons and contending with peak Emperors.
And the status of a White Jade Capital disciple needed no explanation—it was supremely prestigious.
But they knew their own limits. With Profound Immortal cultivation, attempting the special mission offered no hope.
“I just hope Ni Chunqiu doesn’t die.”
Du Longyang shook his head. He placed his hand on the stone tablet. The Destiny Maiden appeared, and he began selecting a mission.
This Destiny Tower was equally useful for Profound Immortals and Golden Immortals, making it highly intriguing.
This was something personally released by Young Master Lu of White Jade Capital.
Beyond being the mysterious Lord of White Jade Capital, Young Master Lu had many other identities.
For example, Five Phoenixes’ greatest alchemist, greatest artifact refiner, greatest formation master, and so on…
So how could anything Young Master Lu released possibly be trash?
Du Longyang selected a Profound Immortal-level mission and was quickly teleported away.
Ye Shoudao and Tian Xu Gongzi also chose their missions.
As one figure after another was sent to different floors of the Destiny Tower, the mission hall gradually emptied and grew quiet.
Yet each floating stone tablet signified a cultivator currently tackling a mission within the tower.
…
The Empress’s red robes billowed. She opened her eyes.
Finally seeing her surroundings clearly, she drew a deep breath.
Terrifying pressure instantly enveloped her, as if her blood had frozen.
Her eyes were filled with shock as she looked around.
This was a primordial star covered in cracks—a unique environment simulated by the Destiny Tower.
At the center of the star crouched a colossal being, snoring loudly.
It was a giant beast-type god and demon. Even a single strand of fur on its body was like a sharp spear to the Empress.
Buzz…
Just as Ni Chunqiu held her breath,
A mission description and requirements appeared before her eyes.
“Special Mission Requirement: Survive three attacks from the Immortal-tier god and demon Kui Si.”
The Empress’s pupils shrank.
Immortal-tier?!
This giant beast god and demon was Immortal-tier?!
That was an existence only Ninth Revolution Golden Immortals could contend with!
Was this really a special mission?
This was a death mission. How could she, a mid-stage Profound Immortal, possibly survive the attacks of an Immortal-tier god and demon?
…
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor had also chosen a mission.
His Golden Immortal-level mission was on the sixth floor. When the mission began, his eyes suddenly shrank.
The surrounding environment had transformed into the royal city of the Great Xuan Divine Dynasty—where the Yu King’s Manor once stood!
But now, the entire city had become a living hell.
The ground cracked, buildings collapsed, mountains and rivers shattered, blood flowed like rivers.
“Illusion?”
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor clenched his fist, divine sense surging. He was certain this was all an illusion.
Yet his heart could not calm.
He exploded with extreme speed, rushing toward the Yu King’s Manor.
But the manor had already collapsed.
Standing before the ruins, Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor felt a chill pierce his body and soul. He had never felt so hollowed out.
He rushed into the rubble, quickly unearthing one corpse after another.
When he dug up the little princess’s body, all strength drained from him.
“Is this… how I felt after you died?”
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor murmured.
He gently stroked the little princess’s face.
Boom!
A terrifying shockwave struck, plowing terrifying furrows into the earth.
A tall, slender, sharp-armored figure resembling a long-armed ape—a low-tier god and demon—stood in the void. Seeing Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor, it revealed a cold smile.
“Die!”
The low-tier god and demon’s eyes blazed with extreme savagery.
It didn’t know where it had been captured to, but at least this place was far better than the abyss prison. At least here, it could easily tear apart these weaklings.
“God and demon…”
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor shot forward, cradling the little princess’s body and dodging the attack.
He landed in an open area.
He gently set the little princess down.
His gaze gradually turned cold. After fighting gods and demons for hundreds of thousands of years, he loathed them from the depths of his soul…
Whether this was all an illusion or not,
At least Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor’s rage had been ignited.
Perhaps one day, this scene would truly happen.
He had to grow stronger—strong enough to surpass his previous life, to reach peak Emperor level.
Only then could he protect everything he wanted to protect.
Bang!
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor shot forward, ferocious and unrelenting, clashing with the low-tier god and demon.
Two Emperor-level powerhouses battled. The surroundings were reduced to utter ruin. The ground was torn apart, and atop the wreckage, more terrifying destruction erupted.
After the clash,
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was filled with disbelief.
“This… is a real low-tier god and demon? Not an illusion?”
He had thought the god and demon was fake, but after fighting it, he realized it was exactly like those in the Primordial Starry Sky—flesh and blood.
It could be injured, enraged, and terrified!
“That bastard Lu Ping’an… wouldn’t actually be using real gods and demons to train Five Phoenixes cultivators, would he?”
Heavenly Spirit Ancient Emperor was dumbfounded.
He couldn’t help but marvel at the method.
Using environmental simulation to awaken his sense of crisis, then forcing him to unleash his potential through real combat with gods and demons.
This Destiny Tower… was truly fascinating!
Five Phoenixes was about to experience a massive surge in cultivator strength!
…
On Heart Island, all was quiet.
The purple bamboo grove rustled softly in the wind.
Ning Zhao, Ni Yu, and Yi Yue sat cross-legged in the peach blossom forest.
Their divine senses locked onto the entire Destiny Tower. Through the golden scale tokens, they could sense everything happening within.
The progress of missions, the methods each cultivator used to tackle them.
Since Young Master trusted them enough to leave the immensely important Destiny Tower in their care, they naturally took their responsibility seriously.
They compiled statistics on the first opening of the Destiny Tower and the completion rates of missions.
Ning Zhao frowned slightly. “The failure rate is as high as sixty percent. Especially in the Heavenly Human and Human Immortal zones… it’s even reached seventy percent.”
Yi Yue and Ni Yu also wore grave expressions. “True Immortal and Profound Immortal completion rates are acceptable, but weaker cultivators seem to lack battle awareness.”
“But that’s fine. These missions expose their shortcomings, allowing them to improve in the future.”
After exchanging thoughts, the three nodded.
“Yi Yue, record the overall situation. When Young Master returns from fishing, we’ll report it to him.”
Ning Zhao said.
Yi Yue nodded slightly.
Ning Zhao gave a gentle yet cold smile, then turned to Ni Yu.
“Ni Yu, how’s the situation?”
Ni Yu looked up, her chubby face serious.
“The Empress chose the special mission. Her current situation… isn’t good.”
“She might die.”
As Ni Yu’s words fell, both Ning Zhao and Yi Yue looked over.
…
In the Primordial Starry Sky,
The atmosphere was extremely tense.
The Overlord, Tang Yimo, Mi Jia, and the Heavenly Witch formed by the Twelve Witch Kings all stared grimly at their surroundings.
The pressure was immense, making their bodies tremble.
“What do we do?”
“Should we inform Young Master Lu?”
Tang Yimo asked gravely.
Mi Jia took a deep breath. “I’ve scanned the area. Around the Five Phoenixes passage… there are eight Immortal-tier gods and demons!”
Utter despair!
Eight beings comparable to Kui Si—Immortal-tier. If they attacked together, even Young Master Lu might not withstand it, right?
One Immortal-tier was equivalent to a peak Emperor. Multiple attacking together wasn’t as simple as one plus one!
“And… this isn’t even the final count. More Immortal-tier gods and demons are still gathering.”
Mi Jia said seriously.
“What exactly do they want? So many Immortal-tier gods and demons gathering—clearly the work of the Nine Heavens’ ancient Emperors! Have they gone mad?!”
The Overlord clenched his fists, cursing furiously.
Mi Jia’s heart was heavy. The Nine Heavens… was no longer the Nine Heavens he once knew. He couldn’t see through it anymore.
The ancient Emperors of the Nine Heavens were all shrouded in mystery.
What they were plotting, he couldn’t fathom.
“I’ll go inform Young Master Lu. You all… hold on until I return!”
Tang Yimo exhaled heavily.
Then he turned into a streak of light, intending to rush toward Five Phoenixes.
But the moment he moved,
A faint voice rang in their ears.
“No need.”
“This Young Master already knows what’s happening here.”
It was Lu’s voice.
The Overlord and Tang Yimo’s eyes lit up.
They respectfully bowed toward the void.
They released their divine senses but couldn’t locate Young Master Lu at all. Such a method left them in awe—at the very least, they couldn’t do the same.
“Only eight Immortal-tier… this Young Master is a little disappointed…”
Lu’s calm voice rang out again.
The Overlord, Tang Yimo, Mi Jia, and the others were speechless.
Was… was that even something a human should say?!
“And they don’t even dare to attack. This Young Master doesn’t even have an excuse to make a move…”
Lu continued.
After those two sentences, the fear and oppression of being surrounded by so many gods and demons instantly vanished.
It was as if Lu’s ease had infected them.
“Hm. There’s an elemental god and demon hiding in the spatial turbulence. This Young Master can’t stray too far from the passage.”
If Lu went too far and the elemental god and demon killed its way into the Five Phoenixes passage, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Since they won’t attack, then force them to attack…”
Lu mused.
The Overlord, Tang Yimo, and the others froze.
“Provoke these gods and demons. Lure them within a million miles of the Five Phoenixes passage.”
Lu thought for a moment and said.
The Overlord, Mi Jia, Tang Yimo, and the Twelve Witch Kings didn’t know what to say. Was Young Master Lu serious?
But soon, they exchanged glances, and their blood began to boil.
“Dancing on the edge of life and death… perhaps this is also a form of cultivation!”
The Overlord grinned, his blood surging with excitement.
He had a feeling he was about to take the most brutal beating yet.
“Do you know how to mess with minds?”
“Go mess with theirs. Provoke them into attacking. These gods and demons have short tempers—minds are easy to break…”
Lu’s voice rang out again.
“This Young Master will provide support.”
“Go boldly.”
