Chapter 324

Chapter 324: Snatching the Chestnut from the Fire

Boom!

As Qi Yuanchu stepped into the chaos, his physical body began to rapidly swell like a demon god. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a giant millions of feet tall. Not the slightest surge of magical energy emanated from him. Symbols were carved across his body, as if he were the very giant who brought about the creation of the heavens and earth.

"A Witch Path cultivator…" Bai Muyue murmured, her expression shifting.

The Witch Path primarily focused on cultivating the physical body.

Thus, Qi Yuanchu’s origins were clear as soon as he made his move.

"Qi Yuanchu, you just couldn’t hold back after all," the Formless Demon Lord said coldly, grinning as he watched tigers fight from a mountaintop.

Roar!

The sixteen-armed Chaotic Demon God fixed its three eyes on Qi Yuanchu, malice radiating from its gaze. Even it seemed to recognize Qi Yuanchu’s might and charged at him with full force.

Yet, when its power of rules landed on Qi Yuanchu, it had no effect whatsoever.

This was because Qi Yuanchu, having reached the Witch Venerable realm, had truly become one with his body. It remained utterly impervious.

Not even the power of rules could alter a Witch Venerable’s essence.

Of course, those who had reached the Immortal Venerable realm were the same.

Upon reaching the end of the Great Dao, one commanded their own rules, enough to contend against a Chaotic Demon God.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The two colossal giants clashed within the chaos. It was a fierce battle, difficult to determine a victor. The chaos continuously vaporized, shattered by their relentless blows; the heavens shook and the earth trembled.

Everyone watched, stunned.

"The Witch Path truly has its unique strengths. No wonder it has endured until now," Pang Taiyue sighed with admiration.

"It’s just a pity," Li Ruoyu sighed in resignation, "that even the founder of the Witch Path has abandoned it."

"That old madman became obsessed with transcending everything. If he’d only continued down the path of the Witch, the cosmos today might be a completely different place."

Pang Taiyue nodded in agreement.

In the Primordial Era, the human ancestor, with unparalleled prowess, was revered by millions for generations.

But few remembered the Witch Ancestor, who lived in the same era and pioneered the Witch Path.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The battle between Qi Yuanchu and the Chaotic Demon God grew increasingly fierce. Qi Yuanchu’s expression was grave as he fought, simultaneously analyzing every characteristic of the Chaos Demon God.

After all, his goal in fighting it wasn’t necessarily victory; it was to learn, to complement his own strengths and fill in his weaknesses.

The Witch Ancestor had chosen a different path. With no master left to learn from, Qi Yuanchu could only seek the way forward and backward entirely on his own.

The Chaos Demon God was his subject of study.

"The Chaos Demon God is occupied. Perhaps we can try to seize that Chaotic Golden Lotus…" Gu Daojin muttered. He turned, expecting to see companions, and found only Su Mu beside him.

"Huh? Where’s Brother Ye?"

Gu Daojin jolted, suddenly alert.

While he hadn’t noticed, Ye Xu had already left.

Swish!

Ye Xu activated the Great Dao of creation, concealed his aura, perfectly merged into the chaos, and continuously approached the Golden Lotus of the Bitter Sea.

Although his cultivation was weak, the Great Dao of creation was exceptionally profound, allowing him to disguise himself.

However, this move carried certain dangers.

If he was affected by the power of the Chaotic Demon God, he might be assimilated on the spot.

Ye Xu’s action was no different from playing with fire.

"Utterly audacious," the Formless Demon Lord stared at Ye Xu. Although he was dissatisfied with the task Ye Xu had assigned him, he dared not ignore Ye Li.

If something really happened, he couldn’t justify it to Ye Xu.

When he saw Ye Xu charge into the chaos, the Formless Demon Lord immediately guessed that Ye Xu wanted to seize the Golden Lotus of the Bitter Sea amidst the turmoil.

The Formless Demon Lord was overwhelmed with worry.

"Immortal Golden Body!" As the chaos surged, Ye Xu activated the Immortal Golden Body. Strakes of the power of merit swirled around his body, making him impervious to all evil.

Boom! The shockwave from the battle of the two giants erupted, and Ye Xu was flung away helplessly, like a small boat on chaotic waves.

"The difficulty really isn’t small," Ye Xu frowned.

"Merit?" At this moment, Li Ruoyu also noticed Ye Xu.

That remarkable power of merit appeared especially vivid to Li Ruoyu.

"Interesting," Li Ruoyu’s gaze deepened, "Who would have guessed that someone is cultivating a merit-based technique…"

Pang Taiyue silently registered this in his mind.

"There’s still someone in the chaos!" Yu Ziyi’s expression tightened, her eyes shimmering with immortal light, and she instantly spotted Ye Xu lurking stealthily in the chaos.

"A true immortal…" When the crowd saw Ye Xu’s true strength, each was utterly speechless.

A true immortal actually dared to snatch treasures from a Witch Venerable and a Chaotic Demon God? Was this courting death? Did he find his life too long?

Su Mu’s mouth twitched, "No wonder he’s the Master’s illegitimate son—his courage is enormous."

"Damn it, why didn’t Young friend Ye invite me along?" Gu Daojin grumbled.

"So you could die together too?" Su Mu was dumbfounded and retorted irritably.

…

Gu Daojin chuckled incessantly. "There seems to be some logic to that…"

Boom!

The battle between the Chaotic Demon God and Qi Yuanchu neared its end. Qi Yuanchu fought with increasing ferocity, while the Chaotic Demon God seemed somewhat depleted. Under Qi Yuanchu’s assault, it was forced into a defensive stance.

"Just as I speculated," Qi Yuanchu analyzed mentally as he continued his attack on the Chaotic Demon God, "the innate strength of the Chaotic Demon God lies in its physical form. They possess no separate Primordial Spirit – because body and spirit have merged into one."

"Body and spirit united, each physical form a universe unto itself… is this the ultimate realm of the Witch Path?" Qi Yuanchu murmured.

"It couldn’t be that simple."

If it were truly that straightforward, the Witch Ancestor wouldn’t have abandoned the Witch Path to cultivate the Immortal Path instead.

Broadly speaking, however, his reasoning was likely correct.

"Many thanks, Daoist friend."

Having reached this understanding, Qi Yuanchu decisively ceased his attack, no longer wasting effort against the Chaotic Demon God. He bowed respectfully from a distance, offering his gratitude for the Chaotic Demon God’s unintentional insight.

Thump!

The response to Qi Yuanchu’s gratitude, however, was a thunderous slap from the Chaotic Demon God. The blow sent waves of Chaos roiling forth, crashing into Qi Yuanchu and blasting him clean out of the chaotic void.

Simultaneously, the stalk of the Chaotic Golden Lotus drifted with those chaotic waves, floating towards Ye Xu’s location.

"My luck is with me!"

Ye Xu acted instantly. Manifesting a divine ability through the Great Dao of Creation, his hand traversed the chaos in a flash, firmly grasping the Chaotic Golden Lotus. He then darted off to flee.

"Utterly lacking in martial virtue."

Stinging pain lanced across Qi Yuanchu’s entire body; he was badly bruised all over.

While the Chaotic Demon God’s attack hadn’t endangered his foundation, its force was nothing to scoff at.

"Husband, are you alright?" Xin Hongxiu flew over, her face etched with concern.

Qi Yuanchu shook his head. "Just minor injuries."

"That youngster has impressive audacity."

Qi Yuanchu’s gaze followed Ye Xu’s departing figure. He chuckled lightly, not dwelling too much on the matter.

Xin Hongxiu gave him a bright smile.

To snatch the Chaotic Golden Lotus right from under the noses of multiple Immortal Kings was extraordinarily audacious.

"Obtaining the treasure is one thing, but keeping it is another," Xin Hongxiu remarked. "That group likely won’t let him walk away with the Chaotic Golden Lotus unscathed."

Qi Yuanchu remained indifferent.

It wasn’t his concern.

"Young man, treasures belong to the virtuous," spoke an Immortal King who materialized before Ye Xu the moment he emerged from the Chaos. "With your meager cultivation at the True Immortal Realm, possessing the Chaotic Golden Lotus is sheer waste in your hands."

The man wore blue robes and exuded a posture of supreme arrogance.

Bai Muyue and Zhong Ling were also walking towards him.

The two women weren’t virtuous types either.

The Chaotic Golden Lotus now rested in the hands of a true immortal, and naturally, the women wouldn’t resign themselves.

"Well? Planning to snatch this treasure from me?"

Ye Xu smiled.

He had anticipated this exact turn long ago and remained utterly unruffled.

"Amitabha Buddha."

An old monk in white robe descended from the sky, smiling gently. "Young friend, I perceive deep Buddhist roots within you. Why not join my school? Master profound Buddhist dharma and escape the sea of suffering."

"You bald donkey, spare us the false piety!"

Another Immortal King made his presence known. "Aren’t you all just after the Golden Lotus of the Bitter Sea?"

"In my view, we should simply take it by force!"

"A mere true immortal, as insignificant as an ant. No need for pleasantries with him."

Ye Xu stored the Chaotic Golden Lotus into his Purple Palace, folded his arms, and watched their performances calmly.

Laden with treasures, even if he couldn’t slay the handful of Immortal Kings confronting him outright, ensuring his own survival wouldn’t be overly difficult.

More importantly, there was the Formless Demon Lord.

If truly cornered, he could summon him. Though his identity as a Second Primordial Spirit Avatar might be revealed, only the Formless Demon Lord himself would know it.

"Trouble."

Su Mu felt utterly swamped. Like saying ‘a commoner’s crime is possessing jade’ – how could Ye Xu avoid coveting eyes after seizing the Chaotic Golden Lotus publicly?

"If the Master’s… illegitimate son falls, we’re finished too." Su Mu felt a crushing helplessness.

Gu Daojin drained of color.

He wished to intervene, yet he was weaker even than Ye Xu. Taking a stand now would also mean death.

"Little friend, hand over the Chaotic Golden Lotus, and I won’t trouble you."

A blue-robed Immortal King regarded Ye Xu with a smile.

Ye Xu met his gaze steadily.

"Want it? Then come take it for yourself," Ye Xu replied, smiling.

"You impudent fool!"

BOOM!

The blue-robed Immortal King swept his sleeve and formed his fingers into a sword. The Unlimited Great Dao merged into his Magical Powers. As the ‘sword’ descended, vast energies surged from the void, materializing thousands of sword energies.

ROAR!

Right then—

An enormous demonic hand descended from the heavens, effortlessly crushing the blue-robed Immortal King’s Magical Powers and clenching the Immortal King himself within its grip.

"Damn nuisance."

The Formless Demon Lord wore an expression of utter reluctance. He shoved the blue-robed Immortal King into his mouth.

Crunch, crunch.

The powerful life essence flowed into the Demon Lord, filling him with intense satisfaction.

"…"

The sudden shift sent shivers of terror through every Immortal King present.

Bai Muyue and Zhong Ling instantly halted, shocked.

How had a Demon Lord at the end of the Great Dao appeared out of nowhere?

The Formless Demon Lord’s gaze swept past the Immortal Kings before settling on the old monk in white robe. His smile turned bloodthirsty.

"Old monk, I’ve grown tired of meat," he drawled. "Crave a vegetarian streak. How about… enlightening me?"