Chapter 22: Crisis

The remnants of the Non-Intervention Sect withdrew from the Great World of Zhuolu, marking their crushing defeat.

Hmm?

The Black Robe Divine King and Demon Hand Ancestor, leading the remnants back, were feeling deeply distressed when they both froze.

The Demon Lord summons us? The Divine King was puzzled.

Why is Wind Demon summoning us? He rarely interferes, doesn't he? Demon Hand Ancestor was also puzzled, but they didn't hesitate. Both extended their consciousness into the Myriad Demon Realm and manifested avatars.

...

At the top floor of the Wind Demon Palace in the Myriad Demon Realm, surrounded by clouds and mist, four figures gathered—the true leaders of the Non-Intervention Sect.

They were the Myriad Demon Lord, Huanshu Master, Demon Hand Ancestor, and the Black Robe Divine King.

Uncle Master summons us; may I ask for what purpose? The Black Robe Divine King, the lowest in status among them, asked respectfully.

Huanshu Master and Demon Hand Ancestor also looked at him.

The Myriad Demon Lord said solemnly, "The Heart Demon appeared earlier and had a talk with me."

Everyone present felt a tightening in their hearts.

The Heart Demon... was the undisputed king of the Non-Intervention Chaosworld. Wherever he went, war followed. No enemy was beyond his ability to handle. His mastery over hearts and control of situations were unmatched. In the past, when he led the Non-Intervention Chaosworld in battle against the Pangu Chaosworld, he had forced the Pangu Chaosworld to retreat step by step.

At the critical moment,

the hidden hand of the chaotic alien race, the 'Lord of All Things,' intervened. Then Nuwa broke through to become a Pangu God, sweeping everything with absolute power, and the Heart Demon fell to that outcome. But no one denied the Heart Demon's terror.

He appeared? Huanshu Master frowned. "Now that he has merged with the Heavenly Dao, even if he appears, it's only an avatar condensed from the power of heaven and earth. He was the one who insisted on starting this war. What does he want now?" Huanshu Master, the most peace-loving among the Non-Intervention Sect, was very dissatisfied with the Heart Demon Lord's insistence on waging war.

But the fate revealed by the unseen also indicated that without war, only extinction awaited, so he couldn't oppose it.

Huanshu, the Myriad Demon Lord looked at him. "I know your nature, but you must understand that this is a time of calamity. You cannot afford to be soft-hearted. If you are soft-hearted, you are being ruthless to our brothers and old friends in the Non-Intervention Chaosworld! Now that we are at a critical moment of life and death, we must be even more ruthless!"

Huanshu Master nodded, his killing intent thickening. He nodded: "Rest assured, I won't be soft at the critical moment."

We lost the war in the Great World of Zhuolu, the Myriad Demon Lord said. "It was because of a major variable: Ji Ning. Though only a Celestial Immortal and True Immortal, he commanded the Luohu Formation with strength comparable to a top-tier Dao Ancestor, even completely suppressing the Envoy of All Things. Now Ji Ning has another Envoy of All Things, making him even more formidable. In the coming struggle for fortune, if Ji Ning appears, he can completely offset our advantage of having the Envoy of All Things."

Everyone present nodded.

Yes, he's too powerful, the Black Robe Divine King couldn't help but say.

How to deal with Ji Ning has always been your decision, Demon Hand Ancestor said coldly. "A little brat back then has grown into a major threat now. Hmph."

The Black Robe Divine King's expression changed slightly, but he suppressed his anger. Demon Hand Ancestor was always extreme; he hadn't even given face to the Heart Demon Lord back then. How could he show respect to a junior?

It's my fault, the Black Robe Divine King bowed his head in acknowledgment.

Enough.

The Myriad Demon Lord said, "In this struggle for fortune, the Nuwa camp has those three clan-protecting formations, and we have the Envoy of All Things. We could still fight. But now, with Ji Ning's appearance and the defeat in the crucial battle... if we continue the struggle for fortune, our chances of winning are slim."

Everyone felt heavy-hearted.

So, the Heart Demon told me... we should directly kill Ji Ning, the Myriad Demon Lord said solemnly.

Kill him directly?

This...

This could easily trigger the final battle, the other three were startled.

The Myriad Demon Lord said, "I initially disagreed, but after careful thought, the Heart Demon was right. If we kill Ji Ning, we can reclaim the Envoy of All Things. Even if the final battle starts immediately, we are the prepared side."

If the Nuwa camp doesn't want the final battle, even better.

The Myriad Demon Lord swept his gaze over the three present. "In fact, you should all sense the immense threat from the unseen, a threat that makes every mighty one of the Non-Intervention Sect extremely tense—the threat of death. But the final battle is unavoidable; it will happen eventually. In this battle, stay close to me. If the situation turns bad, if variables appear, like chaotic alien races... as long as the situation deteriorates, I will immediately take you all away from the Three Realms. As long as we live, there is hope."

Mm.

The three present nodded.

Planning for defeat before victory—the Non-Intervention Sect, with the Myriad Demon Lord, was clearly adept at escaping.

Prepare for the final battle, the Myriad Demon Lord said. "Although I expect the Nuwa camp is less likely to start a war, we must still be prepared. Also, notify our ally. Once we move, his army must follow."

Of course, we won't let him reap the benefits without effort, Huanshu Master said calmly.

Mm.

Everyone nodded.

This operation against Ji Ning must succeed, the Myriad Demon Lord said. "Now the Nuwa camp is celebrating their great victory, and the army is feasting. Ji Ning is currently in the Imperial Palace of Xuan Yuan. We will strike directly in the Imperial Palace and kill Ji Ning."

Directly in the Imperial Palace?

Shouldn't we wait for Ji Ning to come out? If he comes out alone, it would be much easier.

Wind Demon is right. Now that Ji Ning is in the Imperial Palace, the Nuwa camp might be more at ease. If he leaves the Imperial Palace, he might be accompanied by Patriarch Bodhi. Even if we strike, Bodhi could instantly put Ji Ning away, giving us no chance, Huanshu Master agreed.

The Myriad Demon Lord nodded: "Although killing Ji Ning in the Imperial Palace is difficult, he is alone in his residence. By the time we strike, even if Bodhi and Xuan Yuan want to save him, it will be too late. Of course, striking in the Imperial Palace is also very difficult. Xuan Yuan has many formations and restrictions in his lair." He then looked at Huanshu Master.

Huanshu, you have many means. You alone can hold off the Three Sovereigns for a short time. So you must act to hinder the mighty ones of the Nuwa camp, the Myriad Demon Lord instructed.

Huanshu Master nodded and sighed: "Rest assured, I have sparred with those old friends countless times. If the Three Sovereigns come together, I can hold them off for a short time."

We also need to invite Dark Light and Shadowless, the Myriad Demon Lord added.

...

The top mighty ones of the Non-Intervention Sect began to make arrangements, formulating a detailed plan to kill Ji Ning.

They even prepared three layers of plans.

If the first failed, there was the second; if the second failed, the third. In short, they had to succeed in killing him and, incidentally, reclaim the Envoy of All Things. Killing Ji Ning was the top priority; reclaiming the Envoy was secondary.

...

The Nuwa camp was unaware of the Non-Intervention Sect's secret preparations.

Very few in the Non-Intervention Sect knew of this plan—no more than fifteen. Even many mighty ones of the Non-Intervention Sect were kept in the dark. Only a few leaders and the most loyal top-tier Dao Ancestors were informed. They prepared for the 'final battle.' Each of them commanded other Dao Ancestors. Once the final battle began, they would give orders, and the entire Non-Intervention Sect's mighty ones would act in an orderly fashion.

If the mighty ones were not in chaos, the Celestial Immortals and True Immortals below would naturally not be in chaos either.

...

In the Imperial Palace of the Great World of Zhuolu.

Ji Ning's residence.

The white-robed Ji Ning sat cross-legged in silence, cultivating the techniques of the 'Desolate World God.' If he could become a True God before the final outbreak of the calamity, his strength would greatly increase. Moreover, due to the 'Tao Wu Eighteen Divine Demons' and 'Only One True Body' techniques, he was now half a step into True God. If he truly broke through, he would be half a step into Ancestral God.

'Grand Dao Ancestor' was still far away, as he had to fully comprehend the Heavenly Dao.

As for True God, after fully comprehending a Grand Dao, there was hope.

But it was only hope. Among Celestial Immortals, more than eighty percent had fully comprehended a Grand Dao, yet how many became True Gods?

Ji Ning had now fully comprehended a Grand Dao—the 'Grand Dao of Thunder and Lightning'!

When he first emerged from the Moon Under the Lake, Ji Ning had quickly comprehended the complete 'Way of Rainwater' and 'Way of Thunderclap.' During the month of cultivating the Ice-Fire Quenching Golden Elixir technique, he had silently comprehended the Grand Dao of Thunder and Lightning! In contrast, the 'Way of Drops,' which he had once comprehended, still lacked a little; it would probably take another ten days or half a month.

The main reason was his high foundation.

Ji Ning's sword art realm was too high; when he turned back to comprehend these Daos, it was naturally astonishingly fast.