Desperate chase

Ministers ran in a frenzy. Distant explosions frightened the bureaucrats who lacked the strength to fight on the front lines. Even as Ao Guang commanded them to man spiritual defenses along the palace walls, no one could clamp down on the fear of impending doom.

As early as the first engagement, Ao Guang knew they had to send distress messages out. But where to send? Every city, every clan compound, every outpost were all viable options. But none possessed the manpower to fully relieve the siege they found themselves in. Who knew if the other dragon palaces could even lend aid? For all they know they were also under attack.

This combined with the knowledge that it could potentially take years before such message reaches the West Continent, where the vast majority of their greatest experts were, soured their mood.

Even so, while their top experts were trying their best hold back the devil tide, various dragons have been trying to break out.

"Ao Guxuan, Ao Jin, and General Su have all been shot down," a dragon close to Ao Guang said. The dragon scion grimaced as he looked in the same direction.

Their hopeful messenger were splatters of gore floating just outside the King of Four Directions formation. Carriers of all types, living and magical based were all being intercepted. The devils outside were so numerous they they covered all corners where the eye could see.

"Ao Guxuan was a promising talent as well," Ao Guang groaned in despair.

Luckily for them, the palace has not been breeched. Ao Guang was the only third order celestial being remaining who had not taken to the field. This excluded the dragon commanding the formation of course.

'Think Ao Guang think,' he rattled his head for ideas.

More explosions interrupted his train of thought. Their two guests from the stars, Xihe and Changxi were standing in plain view.

'Oh fuck if those two died, grandmaster will kill me,' Ao Guang realized in despair.

Luckily for the aged dragon, it wasn't as if either goddesses were unskilled fighters. Changxi fit right in with the other Great Principle Chaos Immortal experts in fighting off these devils.

"Your highness," a turtle minister called for Ao Guang. "What should we do?"

"No choice, have to launch a message out," Ao Guang spluttered. "I'll do it, I have the highest cultivation and the most free time."

"But your highness, even you'll be overwhelmed!"

Ao Guang ignored the turtle minister. He was terrified, he was nowhere near a good fighter despite his cultivation. Still, he rushed out of the palace holding orbs of light containing their SOS.

"Disciple nephew, what's going on?"

As soon as he was outside, Xihe immediately questioned him. Changxi was in the background sending bolts of lunar energy at devils who'd made it through. Xihe being much weaker, stayed on the ground.

Bands of starlight and devil constructs clashed, throwing churning currents all throughout the formation interior.

"I'm sure you can already guess," he said aloud. His full attention meanwhile, searched for an opening where he could run out and throw the message. "Aunt masters, I have to send this message out. I'll have to request your aids."

Xihe probably couldn't do much, but Changxi will be appreciated. That was why he was thankful when Changxi nodded while descending.

"I won't lie," Ao Guang said first. "We'll probably all die. There are so many devils out there. And I can see as clear as day Primal Origin and Great Principle Chaos Immortals in droves out there."

"It's mind boggling. This reminds me of Mt Buzhou," Changxi said in awe. "There's a wrongness about them though. Even here I can smell it."

"Yeah, as if something perverting natural order," Xihe added. "Something that's directly affecting the all the laws governing existence within the Primitive World."

Ao Guang was surprised at their answers. Could even Xihe sense something he wasn't despite his superior cultivation? Thinking about it more, she was an innate god. Even with divination being in wonky right now, her connection with the world was much closer then his and allowed her to sense things he could not.

Soon, the three ran across the palace staying as lowkey as possible. The core of the fighting took place in the waters high above the palace and city. Hence, as numerous as devils were, that was where their strongest forces were. The outskirts though, showed an ocean of devils who had completely encircled the formation.

Golden mindless dragons, products of the King of Four Directions formation fought with gusto. But it was still hard to see a clear path. Even the spaces where dragon constructs had all be wiped out was filled with devils launching attacks at the barrier.

The space Ao Guang wanted to escape from was also filled with devils. But it was one where Chaos Immortals did not appear to be present in. Since sneaking away was aways going to be impossible, the three knew what they had to do. It was good as weaker devils were of no true threat to him in the first place.

"Us two are Great Principle experts, let's blast a way through," Changxi stated. Her figure seemingly merged with the water around her, turning seawater into something resembling stellar water. Bits of luminous lights sparkled throughout her figure. From within her abdomen, twelve tiny moons emerged rotating.

Ao Guang nodded hesitantly. Outside the palace back gates, the land outside was swarming with devils. It'll really be an all or nothing attempt.

Xihe's own variation of lunar magics appeared rudimentary however. But Ao Guang didn't really mind. His own humanoid dao body exploded into action.

His robes ripped off his scales, his humanoid physique disappeared. Scales emerged from skin, head elongated, arms and legs became claws. His true form slithered through the water at a size totaling ten thousand metres in length. As he swam, his entire body started resembling blobs of liquid, no longer appearing solid. In addition, his speed increased.

Ao Guang gulped as his swam towards danger. "Elders, open a pathway for me. I need to get through."

"Heaven bless you Ao Guang," the voices of dragons controlling the formation replied. "I have already updated her majesty and others on your intentions."

The son of Yinglong was never impressive at anything. He wasn't even that famous. His charge out towards the surface instantly drew the attention of billions of devils. But he was also a Great Principle expert himself. Unless a genuine Chaos Immortal, or a ridiculously powerful Great Unity Golden Immortal showed up, what were billions of ants going to do?

Ao Guang's watery form penetrated through numerous devils like a lawnmower through grass. His catfish whiskers stretched out like swords, opening up a wide breadth for him.

Changxi, and Xihe were only slightly behind. They already launched attacks while Ao Guang tried his best to swim through. Having risen higher towards the ocean surface, they all saw just how little of the devil army they had seen.

All across the ocean, from seafloor to surface, there were so many of them. Like a blanket of silvery clouds, devils existed in a detachment Ao Guang hadn't thought possible. 'They wish for our demise this much?'

The vast majority were only second order celestial beings. True Immortals, Profound Immortals, Heavenly Immortals. Even if a hundred billion of them wanted to stop Ao Guang, they couldn't. But what really mattered were the hundreds of thousands of third order celestial beings.

Ao Guang came to realize that there were even Primal Origin Chaos Immortals loitering beyond the sea, watching as their comrades died. While most took part in the core of the serious fighting, some did not. These experts who'd hidden themselves perked up upon seeing Ao Guang's form.

"Someone wants to flee?" These devils concluded. "Kill him like the rest!"

"Don't you dare!" Dragons across the sea roared. They could all identify Ao Guang's intentions, what he clutched preciously in his claws. Membranes of qi encased spiritual recording were rather easy to create after all. Hence, even devils would recognize it.

Dragon after dragon now attempted to secure a way for Ao Guang. Some successfully managed to disengage and make way for Ao Guang, others decided the need to prevent more devils from advancing into the capital to be of more importance.

Chi Wen brute forced his way out of the formation to make a mad dash to protect Ao Guang. Suanni who was already dashing in the waters outside the formation also made for him.

"Don't you fuckers dare touch him!" The lion dragon hybrid shaped Suanni demanded. His falems surged out, burning despite water surrounding him.

Hundreds of thousands of second order celestial beings perished with every step Suanni took. Golden Immortals, Great Unity Golden Immortals, even Great Principle Chaos Immortals couldn't get close to him.

Following his rampage, dragonic constructs emerged from the King of Four Directions formation

"Damned feline! You'll pay for your kind did," an advancing devil said. This was one of the Devil Great Emperors who perished on Mt Buzhou. His indignation at his own death matched Intoxicating Dreams.

"Get out of my way!" Suanni roared. Suddenly, he found himself entangled with no option to advance. A Primal Zenith expert whose abilities may only be a shadow of his former self, but was still more then capable of matching this Primal Origin princely cultivator. Their tussle quickly spiraled out of Suanni's control. A whirlwind of fire, water, and chilling yin wind began tearing a rift through the sea.

Ao Guang felt pain for Suanni. But he couldn't keep his eyes on him. He could feel Changxi fighting behind him, soon she'll like be entangled as well.

Time and again, Ao Guang cursed the sheer volume of devils present. Dozens of them attacked his scaled body, some bouncing off, others cracking individual pieces. He roared in pain as parts of his scales ripped from his body.

'That Ao Guang, he'll die out there,' Hong concluded. 'Sister, help me get these things off me.'

Hong's dragon form had already been revealed. Dozens of small treasures flew around his form, supplementing his already great strength. By now, he was tied up with sixteen Primal Zenith ghost devil opponents. The latest in a long list of similarly ranked devils he'd already killed.

His upper body was hunched, his lower body stretched downwards. The spells he used to block attacks upon his face suddenly weakened dramatically. As such, Hong flinched when a combined attack caused his right out to bleed out.

"He's growing weaker!" His devil opponents said with glee.

Motes of crimson blood splattered into the ocean, little by little they disintegrated into particles of golden light. Hong grimaced at his injury, he quickly swiped his claw to push others away. 'We need to get to Ao Guang, he's being encircled.'

The Devil Great Emperors ganging up on him were gleeful at the prospects of slaying him. They hardly noticed a shadow rising from the depths of the ocean.

Nii emerged from deeper waters. Rather then saying she swam up, it was more accurate to say her form shimmered into being. Her jaws were already wide open, engulfing half a dozen Primal Zenith ghost devils in a single bite. They quickly descended her oesophagus into their joined stomach.

The remaining devils all jumped back wearily. Their shock at another Primal Zenith being appearing gave Hong enough of a headstart to dash for Ao Guang. It was only as he was swimming that these devils noticed Nii's neck was connected to Hong's body.

Hong's back legs had flipped around, revealing that they were not hind limbs. Rather they were for limbs. His tail was no longer there, instead it was another dragon who was nearly identical to him.

"DIE!" Nii unleashed a ray of rainbow colours from her mouth as Hong pulled her along. Her head whipped through the ocean disintegrating anything below the Chaos Immortal realm in droves. Even utmost revived powerhouses from the Devilsh Dao was flabbergasted.

"Wait a second, I've heard about this. Six yuanhui ago, rumours from the borders said a freak was born in the Primordial Celestial Dragon clan," a Devil Great Emperor said. "A pair of conjoined twin who couldn't be separated. So it was true after all."

"Thats the expert we were fighting? That rainbow dragon?"

Hong swam while Nii attacked. Why had they not done this earlier? Nii and Hong shared everything, even the same Dao. While they, as all third order celestial beings, possessed infinite energy to draw from. They had a limited output. To fight as they were now, they had to split what they could unleash.

Nii attacking with Hong present was less effective then Nii attacking on her own.

"Thank you sister," Hong said without looking back.

"Don't mention it, just focus on protecting Ao Guang."

With the distance being so small, Hong crossed that threshold and reached Yinglong's son in moments. That was also when Primal Zenith Devil Great Emperors sitting in reserve also descended. They could not attack Ao Guang effectively while this meddlesome rainbow dragon was in the way.

With the ten remaining Primal Zenith devils from earlier chasing after Hong, and Nii as well, their opponents more than doubled. Even his bands of rainbow light struggled to defend against this amount of attackers.

"Ao Guang, go to the surface and launch that message to the west. Here, take this!" Nii said.

While Hong engaged the swords of another devil, Nii relinquished control of a statue treasure into Ao Guang's grasp. It transformed into a four legged creature of unidentifiable origins.

"It'll bolster the speed of the message, get to an open space and launch it," she said before engaging more devils.

Having more support than ever, Ao Guang ascended further away from East Sea Dragon Palace and Kailong Chen.

Then, another arrived.

…

While all the excitement was going on in the ocean beyond the palace, the interior remained sparsely populated. No remaining dragon were able to detect a gust of wind moving through the premises.

Round maze like corridors, complex hallways, Shen Feng moved invisibly and quickly into deeper areas of the palace. His aura was extremely subdued.

The years had not been kind to him. Like all living godfiends, he had been restored to his peak. But unlike the likes of Qiankun, or Destiny Demon God, his power remained stagnant at the Primal Zenith level.

In addition, the appearance of numerous Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals in recent years was enough to deter his attempts to treasure hunt. Inwardly, he'd always lamented how frighteningly powerful the new generation of Primal Zenith experts were. Only with the majority of such figures gone, could he dare to freely move around the palace like this.

In truth, Shen Feng had been inside East Sea Dragon Palace for quite some time. Long before Da Hai returned in fact. He'd just been under disguise, and unable to maneuver around freely as Primal Zenith dragons remained on constant guard.

"Let's see, the deep areas of the palace should be…"

Shen Feng turned around a corner and passed through a doorway. He already knew where the main treasury was, but felt like the items in there wasn't good enough. Only a few top rank xiantian spiritual treasures were there, he felt like Zulong must've kept more in hidden parts of the palace, only using the ones in the main treasury as a distraction.

After exploring some more, he felt the ground shake. Expanding his senses, he felt cataclysmic energy surges from hundreds of ferocious clashes. He was careful not to be discovered by the dragons, seafolk, and devils fighting above him.

"There's some profound dao resonance around this part," he murmured after moving deeper. Gradually, his form began solidifying into that of an older, well dressed gentlemen. His green robes portrayed none of his sinister intent while also masking some old injuries.

Confident in his accuracy, Shen Feng approached a sealed door.

"This room, it's right above the natural layline East Sea Dragon Palace is built atop of. What could be inside?"

Shen Feng hungered for more treasures. Pangu's action eons ago robbed him of much of his wealth. Places with strong spiritual energy could be used to nurture treasures, herbs, or treasure embryos. The first and last option is most beneficial to him, the middle will only be good in transactions. He wasn't an expert in alchemy after all.

His curiosity piqued, he attempted to open the door. Only, he found many locks keeping it steady. Someone obviously didn't want the contents disturbed.

Now even more curious, Shen Feng began investigating a way to get through. Sneaking in and out like a gentle breeze was his specialty, far more then engaging in combat.

Thus, he rearranged his physical make up and transformed into a gust of wind. He did not pick any locks, nor dispel any barriers. He floated through the door like any breath of air. Manifesting on the other side, he caught sight of a floating painting.

His eyes widened in desire.

"Good treasure, good treasure indeed."

He surged forward with an attempt to grab the painting. Its structure emanated a mesmerizing feeling. One that captivated even his old monster. At a single glance, Shen Feng could tell this painting was special.

It's drawings depicted the natural world. An accurate representation of the mountains, and seas. Looking at it was like looking at a complete cosmos. By getting closer to it, even Shen Feng could tell that this painting contained an isolated universe.

"Definitely top grade xiantian," he said in amazement. His fingers reached up to touch the painting but instead of hitting a surface, his hand melted in as if it were a puddle of water. Shen Feng frowned and withdrew his hand.

He raised both hands to grab it. The same scene happened again. Despite reaching for the painting, he reached into it. Grunting in frustration, he summoned a tornado to suck the painting into his sleeve.

His streams of air also went into the painting. He narrowed his gaze as the painting began shaking.

"It's active?" He gasped as he felt a strong suction force. He immediately planted his feet and resisted the painting. However, in the next instant, the painting expanded its size to engulf him. The switch in tactics came so fast, Shen Feng didn't move in time.

He found himself no longer in the Dragon Palace, but atop a cliff overlooking a valley. A river ran down the valley and it was all muddy below. Above the valley, a woman with the top half of a person and the bottom half of a snake floated.

Her lower half coiled around as if she was sitting in a lotus position. Her eyes were wide open. Shen Feng felt her gaze on him and responded with his own glare. Shen Feng didn't know her, but this was Nuwa who had been cultivated in seclusion since the invasion westwards was launched.

"Did her majesty need anything of me?" Nuwa asked.

"You're the painting's owner," Shen Feng muttered. 'Need her? Was she in secluded cultivation here? But why? There's a war going on."

The snake woman floated towards him with a curious gaze. Shen Feng felt his heart tighten, this woman wasn't weak. Since she was barely restricting her power within this universe, Shen Feng could tell she was a Primal Zenith Chaos Immortal.

However, it was difficult to tell how strong a Primal Zenith expert was without actively fighting. She could be as weak as a normal Great Principle Chaos Immortal or an elite dragon elder like Hong. It was a change in quality of Dao, so while rare, it was possible for newly ascended Great Principle cultivators to overpower Primal Zenith cultivators.

Shen Feng could only tell she was incredibly enlightened. He tightened his fist preparing to kill her quickly.

"I've made quite a but of progress here in my Myriad Miles River and Mountains. Though I don't think I'm supposed to leave so soon? I do have some things figured out but are you sure her majesty want's me to exit now?" She asked. She was treating him as of Shen Feng was just another member of Zulong's court.

"Well…"

Whatever Shen Feng was going to say, was interrupted by the sky above them distorting. Nuwa glanced up with a disturbed look. Sheng Feng's disturbing her by touching the Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains was the first time she'd become aware of the outside world.

The Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains' sky showcased a shaking roof. A scene Nuwa knew should be extremely unlikely.

Nuwa was in seclusion in the truest sense of the world. She became blind to the outside world in order to fully immerse herself in the Dao. Thus she had no idea the palace and capital was being attacked.

"Um, what exactly is happening?" She asked.

With her back turned, Sheng Feng immediately struck. His hand was coated in wind spinning around. The top of his fingers became a world ending strike.

Clasp!

Shen Feng growled. He was unable to hit Nuwa, rather his wrist was caught by her tail. The innate god turned around and eyed him in disappointment.

"You're not with the dragons are you?"

Shen Feng grew alarmed, he enlarged his body and unleashed his full might. Nuwa had to shield her eyes as the world around her uprooted. Within the confines of the painting, the universe became one giant hurricane.

Nuwa's lower body stretched as her human upper half drifted in the spinning wind. Her tail did not let go of Shen Feng's body.

"Little girl, I'll give you one chance. Hand over your xiantian spiritual treasure and you may yet live." Shen Feng's words were filled with disdain for the native species. A large part of him blamed them as extensions of Pangu. This woman actually did somewhat remind him of Pangu as well.

He couldn't quite explain it, but after being in her presence for a minute, it felt as if some part of Pangu was confronting him.

"You say that but you already tried to kill me just know. Are you the one assaulting the dragon's capital? How silly you must be," Nuwa retorted.

The universe around them contracted. Natural forces reached down to calm the hurricane and restore the peaceful world. Nuwa's palms stretched out, punching her left and her right dispelling large chunks of Shen Feng's power.

Yet the godfiend did not give in. Both of them stood at what the Chaos Godfiends deemed to be the pinnacle of cultivation. Both of them began attacking each other ferociously.

Shen Feng in particular clawed at Nuwa's body. His knowledge of battle was far superior than hers. Several clashes quickly informed her of this, hence she retreated to use esoteric spells to deal with him.

While the battle raged on between the dragons and the devils, Nuwa's own clashes with Shen Feng grew exponentially. It was causing the Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains floating in the room to shake violently.

Within, it could not even be called a world anymore. Shen Feng had destroyed all of the mountains, and seas. Seeing the beautiful scenery she was so used to being obliterated so carelessly, Nuwa screamed in agony.

"Stop this!"

Nuwa tried harder to drive Shen Feng away. In the time she spent cultivating within, Nuwa had experimented with moulding the earth. Within the painting, she'd used her powers to shape mountains, and fill seas. Seeing it all be torn up was aggravating for her.

"Get out!"

Her body exploded into a pillar of flesh. Shen Feng's alarm grew as the universe contained within the painting faded away. The building around him collapsed and scales slammed into the godfiend's body.

"GAH!"

Being pushed through layers of walls, Shen Feng was sent flying into open ocean. The imperial palace's left wing collapsed in on itself as a massive serpent swam out, coiling in the water. Nuwa's true form lacked arms, breasts, or any semblance of a a human torso. Just a woman's head glued to a snake's body.

Her mouth was lined with four fangs, two on the upper jaw and two on the lower. This commotion was easily seen by billions of devils. Gui Daiyu, her sons, and numerous dragons who were fighting also saw her emerging form.

The battle was so sudden that they had forgotten about her presence. The presence of two Primal Zenith Chaos Immortals caused their devil enemies no small alarm.