Volume One: The Lich's Calamity Chapter 202: The Queen Mother of the West Departs the Celestial Court, Journeying Once More to the Divine Realm

“Fellow Daoist Hong Yun!”

Seeing that Zhen Yuanzi was about to continue speaking, Hong Yun swiftly interrupted him.

“Brother Zhen Yuanzi, I won’t say anything else! Among all in the Primordial Era, you are the only one who regards me as a fellow Daoist.

Now you have your own path to follow. If my trivial matters were to delay you, that would be unbearable for me!”

In the end, Zhen Yuanzi could only fall into silence.

Hong Yun did not want to entangle him in his own thoughts—he was not naive. Ultimately, Hong Yun left Wanshou Mountain.

He knew that without a fateful opportunity, he might never progress beyond the late stage of Semi-Saint cultivation.

As a seeker of the Dao, he was no longer as innocent as when he was first born.

While Hong Yun embarked on his own path of seeking the Dao, Zhen Yuanzi continued his arduous destiny.

---

In the Heavenly Court, at the Lingxiao Palace, countless Demon Saints, Demon Kings, and even Demon Emperors—save for Nuwa, the Empress of the Wa—had gathered.

Emperor Jun cast a glance across the hall and noticed that, at some unknown point, Nuwa’s presence in the Heavenly Court had grown increasingly rare.

Seeing that Nuwa had not come, his eyes instantly hardened, his pupils darkening with an emotion no one could decipher.

“This expedition to Zifu Continent must succeed. Failure is not an option!”

After Emperor Jun spoke, the many powerful demon beings in the hall fell into silence.

Having suffered multiple defeats, the demons knew well that Emperor Jun’s patience was wearing thin.

Finally, it was Bai Ze who stepped forward.

“Your Majesty, rest assured, we vow to seize Zifu Continent this time.”

Afterward, Bai Ze glanced at Xi He beside Emperor Jun.

Seeing this, Emperor Jun’s expression darkened slightly as he spoke.

“Does the strategist have any plans?”

Bai Ze nodded.

“Your Majesty, as far as I know, since the Western Queen Mother joined Zifu Continent, she has not been deeply involved in its power struggles. We can strike from her side.”

“Oh! But to my knowledge, she seems to harbor great dislike for our Heavenly Court as well!”

At this moment, Emperor Jun did not forget that if he hadn’t hoped to draw this great immortal into the Heavenly Court, and thus have demon tribes occasionally harass the Western Kunlun’s female immortals, the Western Queen Mother might not have so readily accepted the Eastern Duke’s invitation.

“This matter we cannot handle directly, but isn’t there the Heavenly Queen Mother?”

Bai Ze, seeing this, could only propose this to Emperor Jun.

“Your Majesty, the strategist’s plan is sound. Let me try it. After all, there’s little risk for us.”

---

Hearing Xi He speak this way, Emperor Jun had no choice but to consent.

In the end, neither Emperor Jun nor the demon factions knew exactly how Xi He persuaded the Western Queen Mother.

Shortly after, news came that the Western Queen Mother had returned to Western Kunlun with some of her female immortals.

It was also said that the Eastern Duke had thrown quite a tantrum over this.

Upon hearing the news, Emperor Jun immediately led the Heavenly Court’s demon forces straight to Zifu Continent.

Now that the Western Queen Mother had left, Zifu Continent’s strength had diminished by about three or four-tenths.

“Eastern Duke! Come out quickly and meet your death!”

Taiyi stepped forward and challenged the Zifu Continent.

“So it’s you, Eastern Emperor of the Heavenly Court! Are you demons here to test the might of Zifu Continent’s great formation?”

Taiyi sneered coldly.

“Whether this grand formation can still be set up is another matter entirely!”

This was not the first great battle between them; both sides were intimately familiar with each other’s capabilities.

Within the Zifu Continent’s celestial court, various immortals and gods displayed their divine powers and treasures, engaging fiercely with the demon forces.

When the Thunder God and others appeared, countless thunderstorms spread out. With every movement, bolts of lightning flashed, directly confronting a Demon Saint.

At the same time, the Eastern Duke quickly arranged the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.

However, the celestial court’s forces were notably weaker now. Emperor Jun then summoned the Hetu and Luoshu talismans.

Seeing this, Fuxi took control to arrange the Heliotrope Formation.

Though these treasures were Emperor Jun’s companions, none knew the Heliotrope Formation better than Fuxi, the Demon Emperor.

For a moment, it seemed as if all the stars were under his command as he rapidly organized the formation.

The entire celestial court of Zifu Continent was swept up in this fierce battle.

In an instant, the heavens and earth were shaken, seas churned violently.

The ferocity of the clash attracted countless great beings of the Primordial Era to turn their gaze toward this place.

Meanwhile, Kunpeng manifested its true form, a colossal body stretching across the horizon. With each breath, it swept away numerous Zifu Continent immortals.

Emperor Jun and Taiyi were enveloped in scorching solar fire.

Balls of fire, formed from solar flames, rained down from the sky, battering the barrier of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation.

After several strikes, countless cracks appeared in the formation’s barrier.

“Attack with full force!”

At Emperor Jun’s command, countless Demon Saints charged into Zifu Continent.

In an instant, the defenders were overwhelmed by the demon horde.

Sensing danger, the Thunder God transformed into countless bolts of lightning and swiftly fled Zifu Continent, heading toward the Thunder Marsh.

---

“I did not expect the Thunder God’s speed to be so fast. I underestimated him.”

Taiyi snorted coldly.

“Forget it, he won’t affect the overall situation. Breaking through Zifu Continent is still our priority.”

Emperor Jun hurriedly said to Taiyi.

Together, they plunged back into the celestial court of Zifu Continent.

Under the fierce assault from the Heavenly Court, the grand halls and palaces were reduced to ruins.

Seeing this, Emperor Jun and the others hurried toward the direction of the Eastern Duke’s escape.

“Emperor Jun, don’t be arrogant. Since you leave me no way out, I won’t make things easy for you!”

The Eastern Duke sneered viciously at Emperor Jun and his companions.

“Not good!”

But it was too late. The Eastern Duke struck with his dragon-headed staff.

He then detonated countless spiritual treasures he had stored.

In an instant, Emperor Jun and the others were battered and covered in dust from the shockwave.

Seeing that these attacks could not defeat Emperor Jun and the others, the Eastern Duke unleashed all his spiritual power and self-destructed.

In the end, only a wisp of primordial spirit remained, carrying the pure yang essence, fleeing toward the mainland.

Emperor Jun and his companions suffered grievous injuries from the Eastern Duke’s self-explosion and helplessly watched his primordial spirit escape.

---

In Western Kunlun.

“Fellow Daoist Western Queen Mother, for the sake of our shared path, please save me!”

The Eastern Duke fled to Western Kunlun and begged the Western Queen Mother for help.

“Save you? What benefit would I gain?”

The Western Queen Mother easily captured his primordial spirit in her hand.

Already weakened from self-destruction, the Eastern Duke’s spirit was even more feeble.

“Ah! What are you doing?”

The Western Queen Mother began to extract the pure yang essence from his primordial spirit.

“Rest assured. For bringing me this pure yang essence, I will grant you a favorable next life!”

With a blank expression, the Western Queen Mother said this and cast his primordial spirit into the Six Realms of Reincarnation.

Thus, a great celestial emperor’s life came to an end.