In Mo Yun City, the Tiger Tai Sui roared with unbridled joy. His mad laughter echoed through the night sky, a tempest that threatened to drown out even the whispers of the Tian Xi Wasteland. Seated upon the broken city wall, the usual deep solemnity that clung to him like a shroud was utterly absent.

Too exhilarating! The cost had been immense, yet to pluck a supreme treasure from the heart of the battlefield… it was worth every sacrifice! He could not help but exult. How many years of intricate plotting, how many years of relentless toil? He had carried an ambition that none could comprehend, abandoning the comfortable life of a Zi Wu Hills lord to walk a solitary and arduous path. And now, success was within his grasp!

To forge a new race, how monumental a task was that? This was a shortcut, true, yet surpassing the ordinary and reaching the pinnacle of creation remained an immense challenge.

One needed only to delve into the hidden histories, to examine the struggles of the ancient sages who birthed humanity. In the zenith of the Demon race’s power, the Heavenly Court held sway over the eight directions, unifying all heavens and myriad worlds. To solidify their rule, the demon sages had exhausted the wonders of the Heavenly Dao, plumbed the depths of natural principles. With the perfect Demon race as their template, they forged the “humans,” a race capable of supporting the heavens and standing firm upon the earth. Intended as servants to assist the Demon Heavenly Court in unifying all heavens, their eventual counter-usurpation was, of course, a colossal unforeseen accident.

The Demon race paid the most tragic price for their arrogance and recklessness. Yet, none could deny the greatness of creating a new race, nor could anyone ignore the boundless potential a new race held.

In this era, with the Demon race ensnared for great eras, the birth of a Spirit race offered the possibility of turning the tides! And he, the Tiger Tai Sui, crossing through these great eras, enduring the Demon race’s plight within the heavenly prison, had accomplished such a feat! Though he had faced countless failures, though he had expended incalculable treasures, this single success validated everything.

To create a new race, especially one as perfect as the burgeoning “Spirit race,” what did it truly require? Demon marks and demonic qi from the Demon race, flesh and blood from humanity, a God infant from the Divine… and what else?

It required will! The will to endure over seven hundred days and nights of humiliation and torment, forging a body with perfect potential. And a heart that, at any moment, refused to abandon hope, that tirelessly sought opportunity and dared to struggle!

Someone like Ling Xi Hua, who surrendered to power prematurely, satisfied with a body that was merely patched together, seated upon a structure riddled with cracks, on the verge of collapse, yet reveling in premature glory and self-indulgence. He would remain thus for a lifetime. Even if he grew stronger, progressed further, he would still be nothing more than a pieced-together abomination.

Xiong San Si was not mistaken… he was merely a hybrid. But Xiong San Si succeeded! Xiong San Si was the world’s first Spirit race, and he would absolutely not be the last. Because in his burning himself to create the miracle of life, the Tiger Tai Sui had witnessed the final piece of the puzzle for the Spirit race’s formation. For this race to be truly born, to reach a state where it could self-propagate and flourish, was now merely a matter of time.

He, the Tiger Tai Sui, would also therewith ascend. The path to the absolute peak lay open before him! He thanked Xiong San Si!

Onlookers like Chan Fa Yuan wore complex expressions. In this game of Shen Xiao, each player had their gambits, each relied on their abilities. There was no need to belabor who won or lost. Alas, he had lost the Zhi Wen Bell, while the Tiger Tai Sui had beheld the Tong Tian Path!

Especially for Lu Xi Ming, a neighbor, she and Zhu Yi had already exchanged intelligence, possessing a certain understanding of the Tiger Tai Sui’s exceedingly wicked demonic heart. They had guessed that the Tiger Tai Sui’s grand scheme would likely target either Yu Xin or Zhu Ying. Now that Zhu Yi was out of the game, only she remained to witness the outcome… which was not entirely satisfactory.

The Tiger Tai Sui had indeed made moves upon Zhu Ying, but these were borrowed by Xing Nian Zen Master, ultimately yielding no merit for him. Whether he had made moves upon Yu Xin remained unconfirmed, as Yu Xin had not even emerged from the forest. Quan Xi Hua, who had undergone a similar transformation, was merely a tool for the Tiger Tai Sui to ensure his plans. Yet, his most crucial stratagem had fallen upon the suspected decoy, Xiong San Si.

What was false became true, and what was true, perhaps, was false. One had to concede the Tiger Tai Sui’s far-reaching plans. Who could have imagined that the final move in the Tiger Tai Sui’s game would be Xiong San Si’s spontaneous combustion? Even the other players, despite their targeted calculations, would have chosen to aid Xiong San Si, using minimal resources to achieve maximal effect. Just like Ji Xing Kong’s gift of the faith insect to Xiong San Si… this, paradoxically, only aided the Tiger Tai Sui!

The Heavenly Demons, each lost in their own thoughts, remained silent, merely observing his frenzied laughter. And the game of Shen Xiao continued.

Within the Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave. The Tiger Tai Sui’s path to the absolute peak was now clear. His joyful voice pierced through time and space, his vast future resonating with the birth of the Spirit race. This world of Shen Xiao seemed to celebrate with him.

Dense god shrines, one by one, dimmed, like the long night extinguishing the lights of myriad households.

Lu Qi Lang, suspended beneath the scattering net of divine light, no longer drew his sword. A complex expression slowly gave way to gloom. The God infant was dead, its divine essence scattered. Even the golden sea of divine power beneath the Eight Trigrams God Platform rapidly ebbed.

Xiong San Si knelt in mid-air, eyes closed in agony. He could no longer even grasp his spear tightly! Why such despair? Because he had personally helped the Tiger Tai Sui take the final step, allowing him to behold the path to the absolute peak. Even if he were to end his own life now, he could not alter this fact!

All his inner steadfastness and hopes, the flickering light that had sustained him through humiliation and torment, seemed to dim with the fading of those god shrines, gradually fading into nothingness. This Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave was so dark!

The wildly laughing Ling Xi Hua, without taking advantage of his weakened state, merely pulled himself from the pit, his body engulfed in black spiritual flames. He swayed unsteadily as he walked out, the laughter never ceasing, tears still streaming down his face. There was no need to kill Xiong San Si; that man was already dead. There was no need to strive for anything more; the path of the Three Evil Calamities Lord had manifested.

But wasn’t he, Ling Xi Hua, supposed to be the world’s first Spirit race? Had he never been?

Meanwhile, in the Mirror World, Jiang Wang was ignited by divine fire time and again, only to extinguish it each time. The calls from the Myriad Gods Sea continued unabated. He was now almost half-crouching in grass that barely reached his ankles. Though he tried to hide, anyone who turned their head could easily spot him.

The road home remained unclear, yet he could no longer conceal himself. The worst situation had arrived. He seized the last remaining moments, his mind frantically deducing possibilities. He had, of course, witnessed Yang Yu’s rage, Shu Ga Lan’s delight, and Zhu Lan Ruo’s composure… he had grasped the entire battlefield’s dynamics. He had also heard the commotion from the Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave. He had heard the line, “The Zi Wu Hills are without snow; I have been without holding a spear for thirteen years!” He had heard the sentence, “So it is! My Dao is achieved!”

The number thirteen held some significance, though he knew not the story behind it. Tiger Tai Sui had achieved his Dao – what Dao? Had the Spirit race truly formed?

At this moment, he could not afford to dwell on such matters. The Not Old Spring, the Mirage Dragon, the Flying Light, the Myriad Gods Sea, the Giant Ape God Phase, the Heavenly Demon Altar, the Bronze Giant Cauldron… countless clues flashed through his mind. He vaguely perceived a faint path, but before that, he wanted to take advantage of the fact that there were “no evils from outside,” to capitalize on the intense activity within the Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave that had drawn the attention of the multitude of demons… to clear as many threats as possible.

Surveying the demons present, the most dangerous was Zhu Lan Ruo. Possessing both divine power and wisdom, and having harvested the Not Old Spring, she was truly not to be underestimated… if a fight was inevitable, this woman must be eliminated first! Next was Yang Yu. If the power of the Zhi Wen Bell was to be harnessed, this monk who understood the bell and potentially possessed methods to control it had to be dealt with first. After that, the situation would evolve, and fate would decide who fared better.

A thought sparked in his mind. Jiang Wang was about to guide Pig Da Li forward, to strike decisively, catching Zhu Lan Ruo by surprise, and in one swift move, assassinate the most troublesome opponent, eliminating the threat of the Lan Yin Xu Guo.

A sharp whistling sound already reached his ears. A broken string whistled through space, traversing the entire mountain platform, from the stairs below the mountain to the stairs above, heading straight for Pig Da Li’s heart! The assassination plan of the ancient god surnamed Jiang, before it had even begun, was already thwarted. Zhu Lan Ruo had, in fact, struck first!

Perhaps when Yang Yu had struck the heart bell, this outcome was already predetermined. No, perhaps even earlier. When Yuan Lao Xi and his daughter perished, and the Faceless God’s whereabouts were grasped by the Tiger Tai Sui. There was karma in the darkness. How could he, Jiang Wang, possibly escape it? There were indeed no evils from outside, but Zhu Lan Ruo and the others, they all hailed from “outside”!

In Zhu Lan Ruo’s heart, there were actually doubts. Having already won the Not Old Spring, in the most psychologically advantageous position on the field, she could have completely stood aside, calmly observing each competitor. Not to mention she still possessed such terrifying divine power and such sharp eyes.

So she had detected something amiss early on. How could the continuous swallowing of divine power escape her notice? But… the Myriad Gods Sea was calling upon the Chi Yun Mountain God, an existence closely related to the Swift Wind Killing Sword, Chai A Si. Why was the source of the reaction, however, with the Tai Ping ghost messenger?

She had been focusing more on the Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave, her mind pondering the layout of the God infant, contemplating the arrangements of the Too Ancient Imperial City Seal God Platform. At the same time, she was unwilling to risk herself, preferring to wait, to see which other Demon Kings would test the waters.

But she had already marked the Tai Ping ghost messenger and Chai A Si together on her vigilance list. Just now, the karmic line she had arranged was triggered. Her reaction was swifter than the emergence of malice! Malice, of course, was directed at the Xu Guo, and she had already initiated the Lan Yin, striking first to secure a favorable beginning!

At this moment, the God infant was already dead, Yuan Meng Ji had already been devoured, yet the Giant Ape God Phase had not collapsed. Its furry large hand still covered the mountain platform, separating the stone stairs going up and down the mountain.

A broken string crossed the karma. Zhu Lan Ruo intended to kill the Tai Ping ghost messenger with the string! Pig Da Li had no idea what was happening, did not understand why Zhu Lan Ruo, who had been friendly, had suddenly turned against him. He was utterly unprepared.

But fortunately, the Tai Ping Dao Master had instructed him beforehand to keep the treasure mirror close. Fortunately, a senior expert from the Tai Ping Dao had made a move.

The explanation was slow, but the action was swift. The instant the broken string neared his body, the treasure mirror in the cloth bundle he clutched suddenly sprang out, and from the mirror leaped a person! Hmm? A person? Was the one who made the move perhaps the “Person” among the Tai Ping Nine Differences? The Nine Differences: Yin, Yang, Dragon, Demon, Person, God, Ghost, Evil, Sin. Was that “Person” indeed a “person”?

Leaving aside Pig Da Li’s bewildered state, She Gu Yu, not far away, glanced sidelong. The person who emerged had a shining bald head and wore a set of green robes. His figure was quite handsome, his movements elegant. He received the mirror with a backhand… and a sword cry, long and clear, severed the string! This cry was the clearest Pig Da Li had ever heard in his life. And the broken string, following the karma, twisted strangely in the air, like a snake cut at its seven-inch mark. Finally, unable to bear the immense force contained within the sword, it snapped with a loud crack!

After that, Pig Da Li witnessed body movements he had never seen before. This figure, like a wild goose flying upon snow, was elusive. In an instant, he didn’t know how many turns he made – eighteen? nineteen? thirty? He was clearly rushing towards Zhu Lan Ruo, yet with a single step of his long boots, he landed upon the Myriad Gods Sea.

The person in the green robes had at this point allowed Pig Da Li to see his side profile. His looks were undeniable. And with a hook of his little finger, a small bell rang. That small ancient bronze bell, no bigger than three fingers, could actually emit such a grand sound!

At this time, Yang Yu’s black flame bone spear had only recently shattered. He was wading through the Myriad Gods Sea, “persuading” the gods one by one, hoping to redirect the power of the Myriad Gods Sea back to the “right path,” to help him find the Zhi Wen Bell. He hadn’t even had time to exact revenge upon Ling Xi Hua. The whereabouts of the Zhi Wen Bell superseded all his personal emotions. It was nothing more than falling and getting back up, losing the way and pressing forward. No matter what obstacles he faced, he would certainly not allow the Zhi Wen Bell to leave Gu Nan Mountain. He would expend all his efforts, give his all! He would rather die here than spend the rest of his life chasing hatred.

Suddenly, he heard a familiar bell ring. He almost suspected he was suffering from delusions, experiencing illusions. But danger was already upon him! Who wants to kill me? What happened? What does it have to do with me? Alarms blazed consecutively in his heart. Yang Yu raised his palm in front of his body; the Bitter Sea turned back! At this moment, he reacted to the limit of his abilities. He pushed out a golden wall with one palm. Buddha light shone everywhere, forming a glazed umbrella. His mouth recited the Divine Residence Indestructible Curse, and a wooden hammer struck the sound of salvation.

But he only saw a sheet of oncoming fire. The red firelight illuminated his Buddha pupils; his world was left with only flames! What kind of flames were these? They actually made him feel naked, nowhere to hide. He suddenly realized – the Zhi Wen Bell! He had already been seen through by the Zhi Wen Bell! He instinctively responded with the town mountain treasure bell, but the traces of Gu Nan Mountain had already been wiped away by the karma fire.

He was about to adjust his defensive posture, about to evade first. But the sea of fire had already engulfed him. Within the red sea of fire, a single-footed divine bird spread its wings and flew. It seemed to have destroyed a world, and then burned out another! The long observation in the Mirror World was merely the foundation. At this moment, shaking the Zhi Wen Bell, his knowledge and insight were enriched to the limit. The Samadhi True Fire at this moment was completely seeing through Yang Yu’s Samadhi True God Fire! Understanding its three tastes naturally resolved it. What could it not burn?

His Buddha light, his wooden hammer, his Divine Residence Indestructible Curse, even his golden body – all turned to flying ash upon contact! Only a faint void remained, his last, angry cry—”Mount Sumeru!”

At this moment, Shu Ga Lan was still reveling in joy, Pig Da Li was still in a daze, and Ling Xi Hua was laughing madly as he emerged from the Flesh and Blood Myriad Gods Cave. At this moment, Zhu Lan Ruo was still on the stone stairs below the mountain, her beautiful eyes overflowing with colorful light, having just communicated with the power of the Not Old Spring, waiting to defend and counterattack.

And Yang Yu was already extinguished. The god sea remained calm, without waves.