Nuwa Palace, Liu Ruyan walked slowly, gazing with a complex heart.
Having never sought or fought, she accepted the loss of humanity's destiny. Forced to endure in the mortal realm for three thousand years, it wasn't entirely without merit. Experiencing human warmth felt warmer than the heavens, and she even became someone's wife.
The vast palace, with only a few maids, felt rather desolate. She suddenly recalled the lively atmosphere of Twelve Gou Village. It held the scent of worldly life.
"Your Highness! You've returned! Did Old Lord of Heaven suspect anything?" Ling'er rushed forward and asked.
"Hmph! He had no choice. Whether he suspects or not, it makes no difference," Liu Ruyan snorted coldly.
"Then, what should we do now?" Ling'er inquired again.
"Of course, we must find a way to make Old Lord of Heaven and Primordial Heavenly Venerate fight each other," a killing intent flashed in Liu Ruyan's beautiful eyes.
Penglai Immortal Island, within the Biyou Palace, Lu Fan, who was cultivating in meditation, suddenly opened his eyes. A slight smile curved his lips. Liu Ruyan's return to Nuwa Palace was a joyous occasion.
"Master! The Qilin tribe is being pursued by Jiang Ziya and his men, and they are seeking refuge outside the immortal island," Li Jingjing suddenly ran in from outside and said.
"Let them in!" Lu Fan smiled faintly.
"Master! The Dragon tribe is being pursued by Jiang Ziya's people and is seeking help outside."
"Good! Jiang Ziya enfeoffed three hundred and sixty-five celestial gods, so our first battle will be against them!" Lu Fan smiled. It was time to fight back.
With a whoosh… Lu Fan, the Master of Heaven, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons, along with the people of Penglai Immortal Island and the assembled gods and demons, surged forth.
Outside, hundreds of jade qilin and hundreds of azure dragons faced Jiang Ziya's three hundred and sixty-five celestial gods, preparing for a desperate battle.
Back then, Jiang Ziya had enfeoffed three hundred and sixty-five divine generals, all of whom were controlled by the Investiture of the Gods. Although Jiang Ziya was neither a god nor a sage, he could command them and usurp the Jade Emperor's authority due to possessing the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip.
"Jiang Ziya! The appearance of the Qilin tribe signifies auspiciousness. Our tribe prays for the people, our merits are boundless. Why must you relentlessly pursue us to extinction?" the First Qilin shouted at Jiang Ziya, his words filled with helplessness.
"Jiang Ziya! Do not push us too far. If we fight you head-on, you will gain no advantage!" Ancestral Dragon's voice emerged from the body of an azure dragon. Clearly, he had possessed this body.
"Hmph! Betraying the Great Venerable is punishable by clan extermination. Kill them all, leave none alive!" Jiang Ziya raised the God-Beating Whip in his hand and roared.
"Jiang Ziya? You have quite the nerve to still dare to chase us to Penglai Immortal Island. Hmph! None of you will leave today." The Master of Heaven roared in anger.
The calamity of the Investiture of the Gods originated from the Investiture of the Gods, orchestrated by Jiang Ziya, the last disciple of Primordial Heavenly Venerate. This deep-seated hatred had been harbored by Lady Yunxiao for three thousand years. Now, even she could not suppress her inner rage.
"Hmph! I know you are not the Master of Heaven at all. Do you think you can act like a tiger borrowing its stripes by hiding in the Master of Heaven's body? Hmph! First, taste my God-Beating Whip." Jiang Ziya suddenly swung the God-Beating Whip in his hand, lashing out towards the Master of Heaven.
Swish… The God-Beating Whip, which was merely held in Jiang Ziya's hand, instantly became infinitely long and whipped towards the Master of Heaven.
"Hmph! How dare a mere Jiang Ziya be so arrogant." Lady Yunxiao let out a cold laugh. She sidestepped the God-Beating Whip and spurred her mount, the Kui Niu, forward. With a sword, she swept towards Jiang Ziya's neck.
"Kill…" The Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons roared, and the assembled gods and demons charged forward simultaneously. While they were no match for Primordial Heavenly Venerate or Supreme Old Lord, dealing with these minor figures was like slicing through vegetables.
The gods and demons, along with the great demons, swept through the front lines, and the hundreds of soldiers behind the Holy Mother of Lishan followed, plundering everything. In a short while, hundreds of people on the Investiture of the Gods list were either dead or wounded, while a few intelligent ones had long since fled.
Meanwhile, Jiang Ziya, holding the Investiture of the Gods and the God-Beating Whip, desperately parried the rain of sword shadows from the Master of Heaven. His body was already covered in wounds, leaving him in a sorry state.
Having gained the Master of Heaven's physical body, Lady Yunxiao's strength had also increased significantly. Now, all her pent-up rage was being unleashed. She didn't want Jiang Ziya dead; she just wanted to vent her anger with every sword strike.
Jiang Ziya, at this moment, wanted to escape but found it impossible. He was filled with shame, anger, shock, and fear.
"Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons! It is time to go to the Jade Void Palace," Lu Fan said with a smile to the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons.
"Hmph! I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. During the war between gods and demons, these fellows reaped the benefits. Now it is time for them to pay! Let's go to the Jade Void Palace!" the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons roared immediately.
Instantly, Lu Fan, the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons, and the assembled gods and demons, great demons, headed towards the Jade Void Palace. The Master of Heaven, on the other hand, led his people to guard Penglai Immortal Island and settle the Qilin tribe and the Dragon tribe.
"Master, aren't you afraid that someone from the Heavenly Court will come and seize Penglai Immortal Island?" Zhan Tai Ruomei suddenly asked from the side.
"No need to worry. Not a single reinforcement came when Jiang Ziya's three hundred-plus divine generals were annihilated. Now, everyone is keeping their distance from Primordial Heavenly Venerate. He is finished!" Lu Fan smiled faintly. Primordial Heavenly Venerate had lost the hearts of the people.
…
In front of the Jade Void Palace, Primordial Heavenly Venerate glared at Lu Fan and the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons and the assembled gods and demons, great demons. He couldn't understand how the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons had become two people. Behind him stood the avatars of the Twelve Golden Immortals and the disciples of the Jade Void Palace. However, Guang Chengzi was not among them.
Whoosh… A figure was thrown over and crashed onto the ground with a bang.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked and saw it was his last disciple, Jiang Ziya. At this moment, Jiang Ziya was covered in wounds, barely clinging to life. The God-Beating Whip and the Investiture of the Gods were both gone.
"Ziya!" A ferocious expression crossed Primordial Heavenly Venerate's face. He immediately ordered someone to take Jiang Ziya inside for treatment.
"Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons! Today, I will ensure you never return!" Primordial Heavenly Venerate roared at the sky, and with a wave of his arm, ten great mountains flew from the heavens, pressing down on the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons and the assembled gods and demons like a tidal wave.
"Hmph! Don't waste our time with such trivial tricks." Lu Fan let out a cold laugh. The God-Slaying Spear in his hand instantly flew out. With a series of bangs, the ten great mountains were instantly shattered, turning into countless falling debris.
"Primordial Heavenly Venerate, we will fight for three years today!" Lu Fan retracted the God-Slaying Spear with a raise of his hand and roared at Primordial Heavenly Venerate. The God-Slaying Spear fiercely stabbed forward.
"You? Not enough!" Primordial Heavenly Venerate snorted coldly. The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi appeared in his hand. With a wave of his arm, a great river instantly appeared before Lu Fan. The river grew wider and wider, separating Lu Fan and his companions far away.