Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Donghuang Taiyi's face turned deathly pale, and the Chaos Bell in his hand trembled with a buzzing sound, with the sun, moon, and stars flowing wildly on the bell's surface.

"Master! This bell is my life-bound possession, connected to my very being, and my soul is in perfect harmony with it!"

Donghuang Taiyi's voice was hoarse, almost squeezed out from between his teeth:

"If you forcibly seize it... this disciple's path to enlightenment will be ruined, and he may even die!"

"The fate of the Demon Court is also linked to this bell. If this treasure is lost, the power of the Zhou Tian Star Array will be greatly reduced. How can it then contend with the Witch Clan?"

He turned sharply towards Xuandu, his eyes blazing with golden flames.

"Xuan Du! I can understand your seeking justice for the human race!"

"You want the magic weapon? You want compensation? I can give you those!"

"But this Chaos Bell... is absolutely impossible!"

Each roar was a scream, each word a tear of blood.

Di Jun's face was also ashen. He stepped forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Donghuang Taiyi.

His entire body was engulfed in the true fire of the sun, which scorched the heavens and boiled the seas. His dark golden imperial robes fluttered wildly, and the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor was released without reservation.

"May the Dao Ancestor bear witness!"

"The Chaos Bell is one of the three treasures of creation, and it is the foundation upon which our demon race suppresses destiny and resists the witch race!"

"If this treasure is lost, the Demon Court is in grave danger, and the demon race is in grave danger!"

"At that time, the Witch Clan will become the sole power, the balance of the primordial chaos will be disrupted, and the prehistoric world will inevitably fall into even greater turmoil!"

"We urge the Dao Ancestor to reconsider!"

The two spoke earnestly, even with a hint of pleading.

They were genuinely afraid.

The importance of the Chaos Bell to the Demon Court far exceeds what outsiders can imagine.

It is not only Donghuang Taiyi's natal treasure, but also one of the core hubs of the Zhou Tian Star Array.

If this bell is lost, the power of the great formation will be reduced by at least 30%!

How will we withstand the Wu Clan's Heavenly Divine Array?

How to deal with the phantom of Pangu summoned by the Twelve Ancestral Witches?

Is the Demon Court's millennia-old foundation truly destined to be destroyed in an instant?

The atmosphere was completely different on the Twelve Ancestral Witches' side.

Dijiang stroked his giant axe, grinning broadly, his eyes filled with schadenfreude:

"Hahaha! Donghuang Taiyi, you've finally met your match?"

Gonggong, surrounded by the power of water, sneered:

"Without the Chaos Bell, who can your broken bell still shake?"

Zhu Rong added fuel to the fire:

"Dao Ancestor! Young friend Xuandu is right!"

"Donghuang Taiyi used the Chaos Bell to suppress and kill his mortal disciples. If such an atrocity is not severely punished, what justice can be found in the prehistoric world?"

"In my opinion, the Chaos Bell should be seized and handed over to Xuandu as a warning to others!"

Every word was sarcastic and every sentence was piercing.

Donghuang Taiyi was so angry that he trembled all over, and the Chaos Bell in his hand almost went out of control and blasted out.

But Di Jun held him down firmly.

To act now would be to defy the Dao Ancestor, with unimaginable consequences.

The six saints each had a different expression.

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's eyes were icy, and a faint hint of mockery played at the corners of his mouth.

Although he hated Xuandu, he was also happy to see the demon race suffer a setback.

Moreover... if such a supreme treasure as the Chaos Bell were to fall into Xuandu's hands, he might very well be able to devise some schemes for it in the future...

Lao Tzu kept his eyes closed, as if everything was irrelevant to him.

But the flat cane hidden in the sleeve trembled slightly.

Nuwa sighed softly, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Although she was a saintly mother of the human race, she also had a past connection with the demon court.

Faced with this dilemma, silence is the only option.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances secretly.

Zhunti held the Seven Treasures Tree in his hand, its light shimmering, and whispered:

"Senior brother, if the Chaos Bell changes hands... the primordial order will be reshaped."

The guide chanted the Buddha's name softly, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light:

"Let's wait and see."

The Tongtian Sect Leader stood before Xuandu, with the illusory image of the Qingping Sword hovering behind him, its sword intent concealed.

He did not speak, but simply looked at the Dao Ancestor, awaiting the final decision.

But the glint of sword light in his eyes already revealed his stance.

If the Dao Ancestor truly intends to award the Chaos Bell to Xuandu... he will fully support it!

And this moment.

Before the torrent of billions of people.

Xuandu remained calm.

He was unmoved by Donghuang Taiyi's roar, nor softened by Dijun's pleas.

His gaze remained fixed on Hongjun Daozu.

In the void, only the unwilling hum of the Chaos Bell and the heavy breathing of Donghuang Taiyi could be heard.

All eyes of all living beings were focused on Hongjun Daozu.

We await the final judgment of this supreme being from the primordial era.

at last.

Hongjun Daozu slowly spoke.

The voice remained calm and still, yet carried an undeniable air of authority:

"The Chaos Bell is one of the three treasures of creation, and its karmic consequences are profound."

"Donghuang Taiyi used this bell to kill his mortal disciples, which was indeed against the fairness of the Heavenly Way."

Upon hearing this, Donghuang Taiyi's face turned deathly pale!

Di Jun's heart sank even further!

Dao Ancestor... could it really be...?

however.

The Dao Ancestor changed the subject:

"However, this bell is connected to the life of the Eastern Emperor, and is also involved with the fate of the Demon Court and the Zhou Tian Grand Array."

"If it is forcibly taken away, it will surely provoke a backlash from Heaven, causing the balance of the universe to be disrupted."

His gaze slowly swept over the crowd, finally settling on Xuan Du:

"Xuan Du, your act of seeking justice for the human race is commendable."

"But the matter of the Chaos Bell... should not be rushed."

Xuan Du's heart stirred slightly, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Please enlighten us, Dao Ancestor."

Hongjun Daozu said calmly:

"A great calamity is about to begin, and the witches and demons will contend; this is the destiny."

"The Chaos Bell is of great importance; its change of ownership at this time could disrupt the progress of the Great Tribulation."

He paused, then spoke clearly, word by word:

"This matter will be discussed again after the great calamity has passed."

This is not a rejection.

It's not about agreeing.

Instead... it's delaying!

Let's freeze this earth-shattering cause and effect for now, and make a decision after the dust of this great calamity has settled!

"What?"

The pupils of the Primordial Celestial Venerable shrank suddenly, and for the first time, an expression of disbelief appeared on his face!

The Dao Ancestor... didn't directly reject Xuandu's request?

Instead, they chose to postpone it?

What does this mean?

This means that the Dao Ancestor tacitly agreed to Xuandu's demand for the Chaos Bell!

The time is not right yet, so implementation should be postponed!

This is simply...

A barely perceptible ripple flashed across Lao Tzu's ancient and unadorned face.

He gave Xuandu a deep look, then looked at Daozu, and finally closed his eyes and remained silent.

Nuwa let out a soft sigh, her eyes filled with even more complex emotions.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and...contemplation in each other's eyes.

What was the deeper meaning behind the Dao Ancestor's actions?

The most shocked were Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi!

"Dao Ancestor! This..."

Donghuang Taiyi trembled all over, his eyes filled with confusion and resentment.

The Dao Ancestor did not directly refuse Xuandu, but instead postponed the matter...

Doesn't this mean that even after the Great Tribulation, the Chaos Bell could still change hands?

So, does he and the Demon Court... still have a future?

Di Jun's face was also ashen, and his fists were clenched so tightly they cracked.

But he was calmer and more clear-headed than Donghuang Taiyi.

Although the Dao Ancestor's words did not directly deprive the Chaos Bell of its power, they planted a fatal seed for the Demon Court!

After the Great Tribulation...

If the demon court wins, then everything will be fine.

But if the Demon Court is defeated... Donghuang Taiyi will die, and the Chaos Bell will become ownerless!

If Xuandu then demands it again, the Dao Ancestor can then rightfully award the treasure to Xuandu!

What a deep scheme!

What a ruthless plan!

Di Jun felt a chill run from his spine straight to the top of his head, and his whole body felt icy cold.

He suddenly looked up and met Hongjun Daozu's indifferent eyes.

Those eyes reflected the birth and death of stars, the rotation of the heavens, and even more so... the inevitable fall of the Demon Court!

"I see......"

Di Jun smiled bitterly to himself.

The Dao Ancestor had already foreseen that the Demon Court would be defeated and the Eastern Emperor would die!

So the reason we don't seize the bell now isn't because we can't bear to, but because... it's unnecessary!

When the Eastern Emperor dies and his Dao dissipates, the Chaos Bell will naturally be without a master. At that time, it will be awarded to Xuandu, which is a matter of course and no one can stop it!

What a powerful principle of Heaven!

What a magnificent figure Hongjun is!

Di Jun gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms, dark golden blood dripping from between his fingers, burning into wisps of blue smoke in the void.

Unwilling!

Overwhelming resentment! But what could he do?

To defy the Dao Ancestor? That's courting death!