"""

In ancient times, Gonggong Ancestor Witch violently collided against Buzhou Mountain, causing the Primordial Continent to split apart into the Four Great Continents.

In between the Southern Continent and the Western Continent, there was only one large river about 800 miles wide that separated them.

This river was located in the northwest of the Southern Continent and the southeast of the Western Continent. Its source was a mystery, and it was only known to eventually flow into the Returning Ruins Abyss.

Standing on the bank of the river, one could see layers of fine sand rolling over the surface of the water. Touched by a gentle breeze, the sand would elegantly dance upon the water before quietly merging into it.

This river was called the Flowing Sand River; its waters belonged to the Ruishui River, and the sand, to the soul-dispersing sand.

Those who have not achieved the status of a Golden Immortal would surely sink to the bottom.

The water bore floating sand, fine and light, ceaselessly drifting year after year, with the sand and water forever inseparable.

The sand followed the flow, and the water carried the sand away.

Goose feathers could not float upon it, and reed flowers would inevitably sink to the depths.

At midnight, the surface of the river was as dark as ink, with great waves shattering the clouds.

A white light traveled from the west, surrounded by divine halos, dazzling and bright, as if surrounded by a myriad of stars.

The white light stopped above the Flowing Sand River, the divine halos retracted, revealing a refined and handsome figure, dressed in white, with an elegant and graceful demeanor.

He held a folding fan in his hand, standing calmly above the river, his gaze fixed on the direction from whence he came, smiling, "Fellow Daoist, you have followed me for such a long time, are you not going to come out and show yourself?"

"Bai Ze Demon Saint..."

A deep voice resonated, and a common-looking Daoist in green robes slowly materialized.

"So it is Great Master Xuan Du who graces us with his presence, please forgive me for not having greeted you sooner."

Mr. Bai's eyes flashed with a hint of mild surprise, then he swiftly opened his folding fan and said with a smile, "I believe there is another fellow Daoist who should make an appearance as well."

Great Master Xuan Du's eyes flickered with surprise, and soon after, a figure of peerless elegance emerged nearby.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother's secret was uncovered, feeling somewhat embarrassed under Great Master Xuan Du's surprised gaze. Yet the presence of the Demon Saint Bai Ze before her stirred a more solemn respect within her.

Long ago, she had witnessed the might of the Demon Saint in West Kunlun.

In terms of meticulous thinking and profound scheming, this person ranked among the top ten of all Immortal Gods she knew.

Moreover, in the area of "by any means necessary, regard fame and disgrace as no difference," he was second to none, truly a ruthless and tricky figure who faced the world with utter shamelessness!

The thought that this person once appeared in the land of pleasures made her suspect even more troubling possibilities.

Seeing Great Master Xuan Du and Golden Spirit Saint Mother appearing one after another, Mr. Bai also felt his heart skip a beat and inwardly cried out that something was amiss, quickly calculating whether his own plans had been exposed.

His thoughts raced, but his expression remained calm, as he lightly smiled and said, "The Demon Court has been destroyed for so long; the title of Demon Saint probably no longer holds its necessity. Fellow Daoists might as well call me Mr. Bai.

However, I am curious as to what the two of you are following me for?"

Great Master Xuan Du turned to glance at the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, pondered for a moment, then looked solemnly at Mr. Bai and said, "Although the Demon Court has been destroyed, the bloodshed of that year has yet to be resolved...

I would like to know who told you that the Human Race possesses Saint Blood in their bodies? And who told you how to extract the Saint Blood from the Human Race in order to refine the Witch Slaying Sword?"

Golden Spirit Saint Mother's expression subtly changed, immediately understanding why Xuan Du was pursuing Bai Ze.

At the end of the last Calamity, the Witch Clan and Demon Clan were embroiled in bloodthirsty slaughter, and somehow it was rumored that the Human Race possessed the Essence Blood of Saints. This rumor led them both to wield slaughterous blades against the newly established footing of the Human Race in Primordial, decimating the population so drastically that only one in a hundred million survived.

If it weren't for the timely command from various Saints to their disciples to come to the rescue, the Human Race might have been utterly eradicated.

Back then, Great Master Xuan Du was meditating in the Eight Sceneries Palace; by the time he received the news and rushed to the largest dwelling of the Human Race, all he saw was wreckage and a sea of blood.

Those first-generation Human Ancestors who were born with him had all died in the battle to protect the Human Race, leaving only him behind!

And not long after, both the Witch Clan and Demon Clan were destroyed.

The command to massacre the Human Race came from Demon Emperor Emperor Jun and Ancestor Witch Emperor Jiang, both of whom had fallen, while the soldiers from both Witch and Demon Clans who carried out the orders met their gruesome end on the battlefield.

It appears that evil begets evil retribution, but the rage and guilt within Great Master Xuan Du had nowhere to vent!

He soon came upon a critical question.

Why would the Witch and Demon Clans abruptly move to massacre the Human Race?

With some simple investigations, he quickly found the answer—for extracting the Saint Blood from the Essence Blood of the Human Race!

The Demon Clan used it to forge the Witch Slaying Sword, while the Witch Clan used it to create the Slaughter Demon Banner.

However, how could both Witch and Demon Clans simultaneously obtain the methods to refine these two treasures?

Great Master Xuan Du sought this answer.

He faintly sensed that there was an invisible hand manipulating everything behind the scenes, and regrettably, during the period of Calamity, the Heavenly Mechanism was chaotic, and even with the help of his master, Taiching Saint, he couldn't deduce the origin of that hidden manipulator.

Thus, this matter became a thorn in his heart, his greatest obsession, and also his greatest barrier to further progress!

Without resolving this matter, his mind could not find closure.

"""

Hearing Master Xuan Du's question, Mr. Bai "swish" snapped his fan shut and said irritably, "You've asked me this question many times already, and my answer has always been the same!

This question can only be answered by His Majesty the Demon Emperor, and now that he has perished, unless you can travel back to the past, it is impossible to find the answer!"

Master Xuan Du was not surprised by this response and looked at Mr. Bai expressionlessly, saying, "Since the destruction of the Demon Court, you must have investigated this matter, right?"

"Why should I investigate it?" Mr. Bai chuckled and unfolded his fan again, saying frivolously, "The Demon Court has already been destroyed; such a meaningless matter is not worth wasting my time on."

After a pause, he turned his head to the Golden Spirit Saint Mother, "And for what reason have you come following?"

Master Xuan Du also turned his head to look, seemingly curious as to why his junior sister would follow him.

The Golden Spirit Saint Mother's thoughts raced, and she rapidly calculated her response, replying coldly, "I wanted to see if you've devised any schemes in that place of gentle comforts!"

"You jest, fellow Daoist," Mr. Bai said with a gentle flick of his fan and a smile, "The land of gentle comforts is a place of romance and pleasure. I'm here only to drink and revel in romantic delights; what scheme could there be?"

As he spoke, he internally grimaced at the situation.

He did not expect the usually solitary Yu Yuan to have the protection of a senior from his sect this time.

Wouldn't this complicate his plans now?

Judging by the time, Qin Yuan should be making his move soon, right? And he wondered if there were any other Jie Sect disciples hidden in that place of gentle comforts...

The situation was starting to look grim!

Mr. Bai felt a heavy weight in his heart.

He could keep Golden Spirit Saint Mother and Master Xuan Du here, but if there were other Jie Sect disciples in the land of gentle comforts, Qin Yuan, acting alone, would likely reveal his presence whether he succeeded or not.

Then, it was highly probable that Qin Yuan would betray him!

By that time, his only chance of survival would be under the wings of that Saint!

But then, wouldn't he be back to hiding in the Northern Continent, afraid to show his face, just like before?

This outcome was unacceptable to him!

Before the great disaster truly arrived, he still had many plans to carry out!

Without any visible action from him, the Flowing Sand River below suddenly stirred into towering waves, and a dense white cloud floated up, resembling both an isle and a giant whale.

Upon this cloud was an exquisite and elegant palace surrounded by ancient towering trees, shaded greenery, mist-breathing Yao Grass, and fragrant wondrous flowers. At the front stood a maid with bright and gentle eyes, bowing respectfully towards Mr. Bai and calling with a delicate voice, "You have returned, sir."

Mr. Bai nodded slightly and, while Master Xuan Du and the Golden Spirit Saint Mother were distracted by the Cloud Whale, discreetly dropped a red feather into the Flowing Sand River.

"Fellow Daoists, if there is nothing else, please come in for some tea," Mr. Bai invited with a courteous gesture.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother had no intention to engage but Master Xuan Du did not hesitate to soar forward and land in the Immortal Palace on the back of the Cloud Whale.

After contemplating for a moment, she also followed suit.

Neither of them noticed that a striking feather in the Flowing Sand River sped under the water towards the direction of the Western place of gentle comforts.

...

Land of Gentle Comforts

Inside the secret realm of Tao Palace, where silver mist wafted and buildings and pavilions stood tall, reflected unblemished and mysterious under the moonlight.

At that moment, within the central Immortal Palace, Fairy Miao Yuan, with a needle on her brow, retreated rapidly, her clothes fluttered, and her shapely figure captivating.

Perhaps it was the effect of the Daluo Divine Needle, for her face, whiter than mutton fat jade, suddenly blossomed with a flush, her long eyelashes framed a pair of dewy peach blossom eyes that seemed to hook away the soul of anyone who gazed into them.

However, she quickly regained her composure, stretching out her hand to beckon, and the Daluo Divine Needle flew out from her brow.

Her face was cold, her gaze sharp as she stared at Yu Yuan, her heart far from calm.

"Why is my Daluo Divine Needle ineffective against you?"

This was the greatest mystery in Fairy Miao Yuan's heart.

The Daluo Divine Needle was forged from her own "Ultimate Needle" and possessed immense power, containing various deadly poisons, some targeting the flesh, and some targeting the Primordial Spirit...

In terms of the art of poison, she believed nobody could surpass her!

One needle prick could incapacitate even a Quasi-Saint.

Yet, Yu Yuan, having been pricked, was completely unaffected; even after she switched to two other deadly poisons, they were utterly useless!

Yu Yuan dropped the pretense, smilingly took off the ring on his hand, and transformed it back into a thin, hair-like silver needle.

"I, too, have a Daluo Divine Needle; would you like to try it?"

"You... that's impossible... The Daluo Divine Needle is unique... wait!"

Fairy Miao Yuan's expression changed drastically as she suddenly realized a possibility, her eyes flashing with incredible light.

"It was you!"

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