Chapter 2574: Surrounding and Attacking the Reinforcements

Xi He's heart sank as she felt that familiar, chilling sensation.

In truth, she had already suspected that the young man before her was likely an impostor, but she had clung to a sliver of hope. For someone so utterly devastated, you don't need to actively deceive them; just offer a glimmer of hope, and they will deceive themselves.

At that moment, the young man stared coldly at Zu An. "For the grand vision in my heart, I meticulously planned for countless years, yet I never expected you would nearly ruin it. For that alone, you have reason to be proud."

"What grand vision? It's nothing but your own selfish desires! You even killed your own son to forge this wicked array, and you still have the audacity to speak so self-righteously!" Zu An spat, clearly disdainful.

"What would an ant like you understand!" Di Jun sneered. "To eliminate the abominable Witch Clan, some necessary sacrifices are unavoidable. Besides, after we eradicate the Witch Clan, we will gain a new world, and they will live forever in that new world in another form. Isn't that better than before?"

"Madman, you're a madman!" Xi He could no longer restrain herself and burst out cursing.

"Xi He, you disappoint me greatly. You, the dignified Sun Goddess, wife of the next Heavenly Emperor, actually stooped to cavorting with a mere human. You truly have no self-respect." Di Jun stared coldly at her. "However, I am magnanimous; I will give you another chance. As long as you return to my embrace, I can overlook your past transgressions."

Xi He, infuriated, laughed instead. "You killed my sons. Do you truly think I could ever be with you again?"

"They are only temporarily dead," Di Jun stated calmly. "After I achieve Sainthood, reviving them will be no difficult task. Why do you care so much?"

"You can revive them?" Xi He's eyes lit up. All her plotting over the years, even crossing through time and space, had been to change history and save her sons from their tragic fates. If he could truly revive the Golden Crows after achieving Sainthood, it seemed even more valuable than all her efforts over the years.

"Of course. Having achieved Sainthood, do you think I would still be unable to do this?" Di Jun said proudly.

"I don't think you can," Zu An suddenly interjected.

Di Jun's eyes narrowed. "A summer insect cannot comprehend ice. How could an ant like you possibly imagine the power of a Saint?"

"Is that so? Not long ago, there was an example: After Zhulong's son, Yayu, was killed, Heavenly Emperor Zhuanxu immediately bestowed the Elixir of Immortality upon him. Unfortunately, although Yayu was revived, he ultimately became a monster who had lost his mind. So, can Yayu truly be considered revived?" Zu An, having now largely understood the various reasons, spoke with natural composure.

"Hmph, Zhuanxu hasn't reached Sainthood. Just because he couldn't revive him doesn't mean I won't be able to after achieving Sainthood," Di Jun said impatiently.

"But the Elixir of Immortality was born before the heavens and earth, containing the fundamental Dao of the universe. If even this spirit medicine, combined with the powers of Zhuanxu and Zhulong, couldn't fully revive him, what could you do after achieving Sainthood?" Zu An sneered. "The key to reviving the Golden Crows isn't whether you become a Saint; it lies in something else entirely."

"What 'something else'?" Xi He asked, both surprised and delighted, as his words seemed to imply a way to save her sons.

"You believe this pretty boy's smooth talk?" Di Jun sneered repeatedly. "Even Zhuanxu had no solution, and I myself would only gain this ability after achieving Sainthood. What cultivation level does he have now?"

Xi He immediately felt a cold splash of reality. He was right; although Zu An's strength was considerable, there were many in the Heavenly Court who surpassed him. The Heavenly Court's gods could, at best, revive a walking corpse. What method could he possibly have?

"The reason the Elixir of Immortality could only revive a walking corpse like Yayu before is that, currently, there is no Underworld or Six Paths of Reincarnation in this world. After people die, their souls easily dissipate into the world, which is why they only revived Yayu's body but couldn't retrieve his soul." Zu An looked at Di Jun. "Even if you achieve Sainthood, you would likewise only be able to revive the Golden Crows' physical bodies; you would have no way to retrieve their souls."

"Underworld, Six Paths of Reincarnation..." Di Jun frowned. "What is all this gibberish?"

Xi He, however, recalled something she had heard in later generations about the Six Paths of Reincarnation. "Then do you have a method?"

"I can only try; I have no certainty," Zu An replied, unwilling to deceive her.

Hearing him say that, Xi He, surprisingly, breathed a sigh of relief. "I believe you. I am already very grateful that you are willing to help. Even if it fails, I am mentally prepared."

Di Jun, standing nearby, was furious. "Xi He, you used to be so intelligent. Why are you so easily deceived by this pretty boy's random gibberish? Have you truly fallen in love with this human?"

The Wushan Goddess's expression was peculiar, her gaze flitting between the three of them. It was truly a prime opportunity for some juicy gossip.

Xi He, her face flushed with anger, simply retorted, "He is indeed just an ordinary human, but he is a hundred times better than you, a beast who harms his own kin!"

Just then, Zu An spoke. "Xi He, don't let him manipulate your emotions. He's only saying all this to us to buy time. If I'm not mistaken, your main body is currently locked in battle with the Witch Clan. This body of yours contains only a wisp of a soul clone, and you're not fully confident in dealing with us. So, you were trying to win Xi He's assistance, weren't you?"

Di Jun's eyes narrowed. "You little bastard are indeed clever. I should have killed you sooner!"

(Anger value from Di Jun: 444,444,444...)

"It's time we properly settled our score!" Zu An stood up. The Five Luminaries Demon-Suppressing Heavenly Array had now successfully harnessed the purification power of the Heavenly Palace, so they no longer needed to maintain it.

"You're asking for death!" Seeing his scheme exposed, Di Jun could no longer restrain himself. He spread his wings, and his feathers transformed into golden arrows, directly enveloping the three in a saturation strike.

Zu An spread his hands, and large black holes appeared, swallowing the golden arrow rain.

He felt no joy, however, because Di Jun's figure had suddenly vanished from his sight. The very next second, he sensed his opponent had appeared beside the Wushan Goddess, swinging a golden light towards her neck.

Zu An's heart lurched, and he hastily cast 'Position Swap', exchanging places with the Wushan Goddess.

Di Jun's lips curved upward; he seemed to have anticipated this reaction. The golden light in his hand instantly transformed into a cage, trapping Zu An, and his eyes glowed golden, firing beams at him. Clearly, Di Jun realized the Wushan Goddess was the weakest point among the three. As long as he attacked her, Zu An would inevitably come to her rescue. Then he could prepare a deadly trap specifically for Zu An.

Previously, Zu An had nearly been annihilated by this very move. Fortunately, Zhulong had rescued him then, but this time, without Zhulong, he seemed doomed.

At that very moment, a figure stepped in front of him, intercepting the two eye techniques on his behalf.

Xi He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Fortunately, as the Sun Goddess, she possessed an extraordinary physique and a Heavenly Court divine essence. Moreover, Di Jun had hesitated slightly upon realizing it was her and held back a little, preventing her from being instantly annihilated by the eye technique. But with injuries compounded, she was now on the verge of collapse.

Witnessing this, Di Jun was both shocked and enraged: his own wife had actually risked her life to save another man!

(Anger value from Di Jun: 999,999,999...)

The only consolation was that Xi He was severely wounded, leaving Zu An without a helper. Di Jun no longer needed to hold back; using the two women to bait Zu An would make killing him as easy as turning his hand. Immediately, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes, and he continued to attack the Wushan Goddess, intending to kill her.

Zu An also clearly understood his opponent's objective. Fighting under such conditions, where he would constantly have to rescue the two women, put him at a significant disadvantage. So he decisively deployed his "Verbal Provocation" skill. As expected, Di Jun abruptly halted his attack and turned towards him, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"If you have the courage, let's have a fair and honorable duel between men. And you call yourself the Heavenly Emperor, yet all you know is how to bully women," Zu An scoffed.

"Die!" Di Jun knew full well that this was a provocation, yet for some reason, he completely lost control of his emotions. His only thought was to kill Zu An immediately.

Concerned that the battle's aftermath might harm the two women, Zu An flew directly away. Soon, a streak of rainbow light and a burst of golden light vanished into the distance.