This was Ling Xiao's conclusion. The Ancestral Witches had arrived at his door; a battle was now inescapable. Regardless of his choice, the ultimate result would be the same.
With that thought:
"System, I choose One!"
Ling Xiao made his decision without hesitation. The Five-Colored Divine Light, capable of brushing away all things, was an incredibly appealing Divine Ability.
The second choice—the Primordial Violet Qi —had actually made Ling Xiao doubt his recent premonitions. He had wondered if that "opportunity" to reach Grand Unity Golden Immortal (Saint) was, in fact, just this treasure. After all, the Violet Qi was the foundation for Achieving Sainthood.
"However... when I, Ling Xiao, Achieve Sainthood, I will use my own Great Magic Power to shatter all constraints and attain the Primordial Chaos!"
In this moment, Ling Xiao suddenly understood what his true opportunity for Achieving Sainthood was.
In the current world, cultivating a Law was inherently a "Heaven-Defying" path—cultivating one's own strength and one's own Dao, breaking free from the shackles of the world, and achieving absolute transcendence.
This meant that if he wanted to take that final step, he must undergo a trial that pushed him beyond his limits. He needed to use his own magic power to physically shatter the barrier of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. Otherwise, even if he remained nestled within the Sun Star for billions of eons, it would still be difficult to take that last step.
This wasn't just a matter of Cultivation; it was a matter of Mindset—a mindset of indomitable, relentless, battle-hungry resolve. Without such great will and perseverance, one simply had no right to become a Saint.
"I understand..." Ling Xiao smiled faintly. His thoughts were crystal clear, and his gaze was profound, appearing to pierce through the past, present, and future.
This was also why he had long been at Hun Yuan Golden Immortal Perfection (Quasi-Saint Peak) yet remained trapped in place, unable to take that final step.
When all was said and done, he was simply missing a satisfying, hearty battle.
And now, the Twelve Ancestral Witches were at his door.
He could use them to forge his own being.
"So, this is the opportunity for my Enlightenment!" Ling Xiao whispered to himself, finally grasping why he had premonitioned this not long ago. There was a method to this madness.
With everything sorted out, Ling Xiao stood up. He did not prepare to wake Di Jun and Tai Yi; the two brothers were currently at a critical juncture.
Outside the Sun Star
The Twelve Ancestral Witches surrounded Bai Ze, looking down upon him from their towering forms as if he were already a dead object.
"Bai Ze, I will ask you one last question: where are the other Great Powers of your Yao Race hiding?"
"As long as you cooperate and lead them out, I can spare your life!"
Di Jiang stated his interrogation plainly. Even standing outside the Sun Star, he still planned to purge any remnants of the Yao to eliminate any future threat.
"Di Jiang, you don't look like a fool. Why do you speak such idiocy? I already intended to die; what need do I have for your 'sparing'?"
Bai Ze's expression was resolute. Under the combined pressure of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, even his Divine Soul was trembling, but he still dared to rebuke the leader of the Witches. Since he wasn't afraid to die, he naturally didn't lack the courage to face the Ancestral Witches. This was true even though his figure was like dust before them, utterly not worth mentioning.
Hearing this, Di Jiang's face darkened instantly, and a surge of killing intent boiled up.
"Bai Ze, you are unwilling to reveal the information about your companions, yet you are currently deep in this danger zone, and not a single one has come to save you," Candle Nine Nethers added, a faint smile on his face, though his words were filled with an inexplicable irony.
"I came today to meet my death; I do not require saving," Bai Ze said plainly. As his voice fell, his gaze flickered over the Ancestral Witches. "My life, Bai Ze, is not worth much. But to be treated with such personal attention from the Twelve Ancestral Witches—it is worth it!"
At this time, Bai Ze had already been confined in place, his life and death controlled entirely by the Witches.
On the vast Great Desolation to the east, Ji Meng's face was contorted with rage. His eyes were wide and rounded, and his chest felt as if thousands of mountains were pressing down on it, making his breathing ragged. He wanted to shatter everything and kill every single Witch.
"I cannot bear this!"
"Bai Ze, my brother! I, Ji Meng, shall accompany you to your death!" Ji Meng roared, exploding into the sky, releasing all his aura, and erupting with the most brilliant light he could manifest.
The world shook as a powerful, resonant Aura permeating all eight directions.
"Hehe! There's another one!"
The Ancestral Witches immediately laughed at this. It was an unexpected bonus—another one had come running for no discernible reason.
Was this not just a free gift?
"Is it you and Bai Ze, you Beast, who slaughtered my tribe?" Ru Shou (God of Metal) snarled with a grin.
As his voice fell, Di Jiang casually beckoned with his hand, activating his spatial magic. Ji Meng, who had been billions of eons away, instantly appeared right before the Ancestral Witches, standing beside a completely dumbfounded Bai Ze, not yet processing what had happened.
"Ji Meng, why did you have to come here to seek your death?" Bai Ze said with a bitter laugh, shaking his head and sighing softly.
"If you, Bai Ze, dare, then how can I, Ji Meng, not?" Ji Meng roared, holding his head high and looking at the Twelve Ancestral Witches with disdain. Since they had already reached this point, he might as well die with a magnificent Aura!
At this moment, the great demons hiding within the Great Desolation watched, feeling a bit sick at heart, but they lacked the courage to just pointless throw their lives away. Jiuying and Guiche looked especially grim—not only unmoved, but even slightly resentful. Bai Ze looked like he was sacrificing himself for the high nobility of the Yao; didn't this make them look like spineless cowards who feared death?
"Bai Ze, that fool, pointlessly seeking his death, yet thinking how great he is, just self-satisfying his own ego?" Guiche snarled, utterly despising Bai Ze's actions.
"Hunting for fame and praise!" Jiuying spat out four words, his only evaluation.
Meanwhile, with the addition of Ji Meng's free gift, the Twelve Ancestral Witches finally lost their patience.
"Since both of you want to die, then go together. I will make your companions join you, one after the other," Di Jiang said plainly, then looked toward Ru Shou.
"You take the strike. Avenge our fallen kin!"
"Understood, Big Brother!" Ru Shou was overjoyed. He had been impatient for some time and now, without hesitation, he threw his giant hand out, activating his golden Law (法则). Like a divine metal creation, it slammed down toward Bai Ze with an unstoppable momentum.
Boom!
A massive sound echoed as the Void Realm was obliterated. The space where Bai Ze and Ji Meng were standing turned into nothingness, but their silhouettes were gone.
"Hmm?"
The Ancestral Witches' expressions shifted slightly. Then, they suddenly looked in one direction.
The Sun Star was boundless and immeasurable, yet wherever one looked, there was only a limitless ocean of fire. Inside that sea of fire, a single golden silhouette quietly appeared.
His figure was straight and true, his hair dancing around him. His flawlessly handsome face naturally carried an innate arrogance. He wore a long robe that seemed to gather the sun, moon, and stars into its fabric.
"Ling Xiao!"
The faces of the Twelve Ancestral Witches grew solemn, and their eyes brimed with a deep killing intent.
"Acting wildly outside my Sun Star—do you think I do not exist?"
Ling Xiao said plainly, with a casual wave of his hand. The figures of Bai Ze and Ji Meng reappeared.
His use of Space Law had reached the level of pure, unadulterated mastery. Even Di Jiang was internally surprised.
But in that instant, Ru Shou (God of Metal) was completely consumed by rage. Bai Ze and Ji Meng were Yao that he was destined to kill, yet they had just been so casually and publicly rescued by Ling Xiao!
"You are seeking your death!" Ru Shou roared, his bellow echoing to the heavens. His golden Dharma Body shattered the Void Realm as he charged forward.
Ling Xiao took a single step forward, bringing his fist around in a fist-seal. The blood and Qi power of the countless inner-worlds within his body resonated together, and that one fist unleashed the Divine Power of countless worlds.
Boom—
The stars trembled and reversed their rotation; the Void Realm completely collapsed.
Ru Shou was sent flying backward. His golden Ancestral Witch body broke apart in mid-air, four pieces completely shattering. His blood splattered across the sky, transforming into a smoking mist of smoke and ash.