Within the Dragon Emperor's Palace! Inside the Sunset Glow Hall! Jiuyao Chongyang, Mochen, Chen Feng, Shenyin, Shenyi, Mo Hui, Mocha, and others were all consumed by anxiety, glancing constantly toward the veiled, hazy curtain! Jiuyao Chongyang, in particular, paced back and forth, utterly unable to settle. Meanwhile, on a nearby seat, the Queen of Qin, who had been crying so hard she looked ready to collapse, was nearly unconscious; had Shenyin and Yin Shuang not supported her, she surely would have fainted already!

After a long silence!

As the hazy curtain was drawn back, a figure of pure, exquisite clarity emerged. "What is Shenzhen's true condition?" A flicker of desperate hope crossed Jiuyao Chongyang’s ashen, lost face. The Queen of Qin (Xiaoman's mother) rushed forward quickly! Her eyes, already red and swollen from weeping, were fixed intently on the Divine Matriarch! Anxiety, unrest, hope, and longing! Never before had a pair of eyes conveyed such a complex tapestry of thoughts and emotions all at once. The Divine Matriarch felt as if a knife had been twisted in her heart! How could she possibly tell them? The Divine Matriarch sighed with helplessness, hesitating as she looked at the Queen of Qin before her. "His Highness’s vitality has completely vanished from his body; even his breathing and pulse have ceased."

Ah!

A wave of gloom washed over everyone; this outcome was not unexpected, yet hearing it confirmed by the Divine Matriarch’s own lips was tantamount to pronouncing Jiuyao Shen Zhen’s death sentence. Had their last sliver of hope been shattered? "How could this be?" Yin Shuang wept mournfully, swaying precariously. "..." The Queen of Qin was consumed by utter despair, her trembling lips unable to form a single word. "Logically, His Highness’s condition is already that of death, but..." "But what?" Yin Shuang, Jiuyao Chongyang, and the others instantly felt a surge of energy, staring fixedly at the Divine Matriarch. Hoping for whatever word she would utter next! And the Queen of Qin’s eyes snapped wide open! "But I can feel a force within his body." The Divine Matriarch took a deep breath, striving to compose herself. "Though it is faint, incredibly faint, I still sense its presence." "A faint force?" Yin Shuang looked confused; the others were equally bewildered. "Yes, this weak force seems to be flowing slowly within His Highness’s body. I don't know how to explain it, but I am certain that His Highness’s current state should not be considered death. This energy seems to be sustaining his life, preventing him from passing, but this force is growing weaker and weaker." "He isn't dead yet," Yin Shuang exclaimed joyfully. "..." The Queen of Qin was beside herself with emotion, gripping Shenyin’s arm tightly, as if afraid she had misheard. "Yes!" The Divine Matriarch nodded with certainty. "Otherwise, his body would have stiffened long ago." "That's wonderful!" Chen Feng rejoiced. "Then he can still be saved?" "This..." The Divine Matriarch let out a slight sigh, followed by a look of deep helplessness. "I am unclear about the exact nature of His Highness's condition, but... judging by his current life signature, he will likely never wake up." "Ah!" Yin Shuang gasped in dismay. "Does this mean he has to lie like this forever?" "..." The Divine Matriarch nodded slightly, then sighed heavily after a long pause. "Unless a miracle occurs, he may never awaken." "Isn't there any other way?" Shenyin asked mournfully. "I will attempt to use the spiritual energy of the Nine Dragons Pagoda to safeguard his heart meridian. This is the only method I can currently conceive," the Divine Matriarch said. "However, even this will only manage to preserve his life." "Right, the Nine Dragons Pagoda, the Dragon Vein Power of the Nine Dragons Pagoda." Jiuyao Chongyang’s expression was grim. "Divine Matriarch, you will take full charge of Shen Zhen's condition. You must save him." "That is natural," the Divine Matriarch responded solemnly. "Heaven has left a thread of life for His Highness; perhaps it does not wish for him to depart yet. A miracle will surely happen." "A miracle?" Shenyin murmured. "He will definitely awaken. Everyone says he is the embodiment of miracles; this miracle will descend again." "It will," Jiuyao Chongyang affirmed gravely. "The Divine Matriarch said that even if everyone in this world perished, it wouldn't be his turn. He absolutely can awaken." Indeed! As long as he was alive, there was still a chance! Even if it was infinitesimally small!

Leaving the Sunset Glow Hall! They returned once more to the Quiet Heart Hall! "What is the status of General Zhuotian's injuries?" Although his mood was low, Jiuyao Chongyang remained deeply concerned about Jiuyao Zhuotian's condition. "Big Brother has lost an arm, but his life is not in danger. I thank Your Majesty for your concern," the Divine Matriarch reported. "Good! That's good!" Jiuyao Chongyang nodded slightly. "Your Majesty, we must now consider how to deal with the situation ahead," the Divine Matriarch worried. "The Phoenix Sky War God and the two Thunder Warriors have been killed; the Church will surely not let this rest." "Indeed!" Yueyao said solemnly. "They will definitely return." "But now that His Highness Shen Zhen is too gravely wounded to rise, and General Jidu is confined in the Forbidden Zone, how can we possibly withstand the Church’s retaliation with our current strength?" Luohu worried. "Don't forget," Yueyao and Jinyao interjected, "we still have the Temple Guardian Beasts." "That is our final trump card," Jiuyao Chongyang stated. "But the existence of the Temple Guardian Beasts has surely been exposed. I fear the Church will not be easily fooled." "If the Church learns that the creature which killed the Phoenix Sky War God was a Temple Guardian Beast from the era of the Divine Dragon Empire, they might hesitate to act rashly," the Divine Matriarch suggested. "But how long can we hold them off like this?" Jiuyao Chongyang pondered. "Although the Temple Guardian Beasts are powerful, they can only provide passive defense for the Imperial City. If too much time passes, the Church of the Holy Word will inevitably figure out a countermeasure." "We delay as long as we can," the Divine Matriarch advised. "What we can do now is buy as much time as possible for General Jidu to cultivate. Once he emerges and his strength has improved, if he wears the Phoenix Sky Armor, we will possess a Phoenix Sky Warrior. Coupled with the Temple Guardian Beasts, even if the Church attacks, we may not suffer a disadvantage." "Agreed, that is all we can do," Jiuyao Chongyang conceded. "Dispatch people into the King's Forbidden Land to inform General Jidu of everything that has happened. Also, send more people into the King's Forbidden Land to cultivate. Only by strengthening ourselves can we deal with the Church's experts." "Your Majesty, I should be included among those entering the King's Forbidden Land to cultivate this time," Yueyao said eagerly. "And I as well," Luohu added, unwilling to be left behind. "Furthermore, select some key generals from the Black Flag Army to enter the King's Forbidden Land ahead of time. They can cultivate while searching for the Night Pearl." "I had the very same thought," Jiuyao Chongyang sighed. "If not for these state affairs, I would very much like to enter the King's Forbidden Land for some tempering myself." "Your Majesty should remain centered in the Imperial Palace, commanding the overall situation," Jinyao advised. "Leave the rest to General Jidu and General Yueyao." "Indeed," Jiuyao Chongyang responded with great spirit. "This time, we depend on you." "Your subordinates will never fail Your Majesty's expectations," Yueyao and Luohu said in unison. Jiuyao Chongyang said nothing more, merely nodding heavily. "One more thing," the Divine Matriarch noted. "How should we respond to the outside world regarding His Highness Shen Zhen's condition?" "Announce that Shen Zhen was gravely wounded and died of his injuries," Jiuyao Chongyang decided after long contemplation. "Died of his injuries?" Yueyao and Luohu were both astonished. "Precisely. Our most critical need right now is to buy time," Jiuyao Chongyang asserted. "We absolutely cannot let the Church see that we are merely strong on the surface but hollow within." "But wouldn't that clearly tell them we are already hollow?" Luohu asked, confused. "What do you mean, hollow?" Yueyao felt like delivering him a sharp reprimand on the spot! "This..." Luohu managed an awkward, dry laugh. "What is empty, feign fullness; what is full, feign emptiness," Jiuyao Chongyang said confidently. "Do you truly believe the Church will accept our words at face value?" "..." Luohu was momentarily speechless! "Do not forget, during the Battle of Mancheng, Shen Zhen's residence feigned death to lure Mo Luo Yinfeng out of the city to pursue, resulting in a massive victory," the Divine Matriarch reminded them. "If we say this now, it would be strange if the Church dared to believe it." "Moreover, the world knows Shen Zhen excels at ambush and sneak attacks," Jiuyao Chongyang continued. "If this news gets out, the Church will only be suspicious and hesitant, thus daring less to launch an immediate attack." "I see now," Luohu quickly understood. "The Thunder Flame Legion, the Proud Sky Legion, even the Church’s Phoenix Sky War God have all suffered heavy losses at His Highness's hands, often due to his ambushes and covert actions. They surely won't dare to let down their guard and will hold back until they confirm His Highness's fate." "Exactly so," the Divine Matriarch confirmed. "I hadn't expected that even while bedridden, His Highness could still keep the enemy paralyzed with fear," Yueyao observed with feeling. "A man's reputation casts a long shadow. In this world, perhaps only Shen Zhen can keep the Church hesitant just by his name alone," Jiuyao Chongyang admitted with a hint of melancholy. "But this is not a long-term solution," Jinyao pointed out. "We delay one moment at a time," the Divine Matriarch said. "Once General Jidu emerges, we will have won for certain."

On the other side! Within the Imperial Palace of the Bichi Empire! "Phoenix Sky War God heavily injured, Jiuyao Shen Zhen, killed on the spot!" Jian Xing gripped the battle report in his hand, nearly leaping up. "A mysterious monster suddenly appeared and killed the Phoenix Sky War God." He stared intently at the Pigeon Steward. "What in the world happened?" "..." The assembled officials were all stunned; they had never seen His Majesty lose composure like this before. "Reporting to Your Majesty, secret agents stationed in Demon Dragon City confirm the report is accurate. The Phoenix Sky War God and Jiuyao Shen Zhen fought each other to mutual severe injury, and then a monster suddenly emerged."

Ten minutes later, the assembly finally pieced together the whole story through the Pigeon Steward's recounting. Even though it was a simple retelling, it was easy for everyone to imagine the perilous and bizarre nature of the events. Jian Wu and the other heavy combat generals were particularly aghast. "I can't believe Jiuyao Shen Zhen managed to severely wound the Phoenix Sky War God." "It’s a good thing he died. With his cultivation level, if he had worn the Phoenix Sky Demon Armor, who in this world could have resisted him?" Jian Ye mused. "..." Jian Qi, however, looked mournful. "And what about that monster that suddenly appeared?" Jian Huan said gravely. "We must investigate it thoroughly. To be capable of killing the Phoenix Sky War God, this monster is definitely no simple creature." "The Star Moon Mirror will arrive in half a month," the Pigeon Steward reported respectfully. "However, according to the description in the sound transmission via the Thousand Li Talisman, the monster’s attack method involved immense spikes erupting from the ground. This method is extremely similar to that of the Crimson Moon Demon. Therefore, we can preliminarily judge that this sudden monster is highly likely to be the Crimson Moon Demon." "The Crimson Moon Demon." Everyone was greatly shocked. "How is that possible?" Jian Wu was stunned. The Crimson Moon Demon's fearsome reputation remained undiminished, and they were certainly aware of its terror! But no matter how powerful the Crimson Moon Demon was, it should not have been able to ambush the Phoenix Sky War God, considering the Phoenix Sky War God's Phoenix Sky Armor was reputed to be the sturdiest armor on the continent! The Crimson Moon Demon's offensive power should not have been able to pierce it. Furthermore, if the Crimson Moon Demon truly possessed such terrifying strength, how could Jiuyao Shen Zhen, with his abilities, have subdued this ancient fiend? However, when recalling Jiuyao Shen Zhen’s secret excursion to the Crimson Moon Demon's Lair previously, their minds became unsettled again! All signs indicated that this monster was indeed the Crimson Moon Demon! But Jian Wu and the others clearly remembered seeing large chunks of flesh and bone fragments left in the Crimson Moon Demon's Lair—judging by the immense size of the creature and the fighting marks at the scene, the Crimson Moon Demon must have been killed by them back then, otherwise, it would be impossible to explain those towering piles of remains! Everything pointed toward an inexplicable, unsettling strangeness! "Even if it is not the Crimson Moon Demon, this monster is certainly linked to it in a major way, perhaps even being a terrifying creature that Jiuyao Shen Zhen brought out of the King's Forbidden Land." "A fine Jiuyao Shen Zhen," Jian Wu said grimly. "First that Mammoth King, and now this terrifying monster. How many hidden forces does the Demon Dragon Empire possess?" The others also sighed, already accustomed to the bizarre occurrences surrounding Jiuyao Shen Zhen. Because of this, everyone was half-believing and half-doubting the news of Jiuyao Shen Zhen's death! Did this fellow truly die? At least Jian Xing would not easily believe it. "Order the carrier pigeons and secret agents: investigate Jiuyao Shen Zhen's life or death with full force. Unless I see his ashes scattered, I will never believe he is dead." "Ah! Yes!" The Pigeon Steward was greatly surprised and hurried away to carry out the order. Everyone else readily agreed with Jian Xing's suspicion and caution! Indeed, even now, it was difficult for them to believe that Jiuyao Shen Zhen was dead, yet recalling the peerless combat strength of the Phoenix Sky War God, they felt the possibility was still high. As a result, Jian Xing and the others still dared not act rashly. Of course, regardless of the uncertainty, this outcome was undoubtedly good news! "This conclusion is the best opportunity for our Bichi Empire," Jian Wu stated seriously. "In this battle, the Church lost a Phoenix Sky War God and two Thunder Warriors, sustaining a major blow. As for the Demon Dragon Empire’s Jiuyao Shen Zhen—his life or death aside for the moment—they bear no hostility toward our Bichi Empire. Our Bichi Empire can take this chance to plan carefully." "Agreed," Jian Xing said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. The Church will now focus its attention on the Demon Dragon Empire. We can accelerate progress on the Termite Lair matter." "The rise of the Bichi Empire is just around the corner," Jian Hao exclaimed with spirit. "The Church of the Holy Word's strength is greatly diminished," Jian Ye noted. "The Demon Dragon Empire's situation is unclear. I worry that the Mo Luo Alliance will take this opportunity to target the Holy Word Alliance, disrupting our schedule." "You need not worry about that," Jian Xing said firmly. "With the shrewdness of the Mo Luo Pontiff, he wouldn't make such a mistake." "The current situation is that the Demon Dragon Empire and the Church of the Holy Word are locked in mortal conflict," Jian Wu observed. "In this scenario, the two sides are bound to have a death struggle. No matter the outcome, it will be highly beneficial to the Mo Luo Alliance, so they will certainly remain inactive for now." "Let's set aside the Demon Dragon, Holy Word, and Mo Luo issues for now," Jian Xing concluded. "We will make further plans after we enter the Termite Lair." As he spoke, Jian Xing could hardly conceal his excitement. "Jiuyao Shen Zhen only cultivated in the Forbidden Zone for one month, yet he managed to severely wound the Phoenix Sky War God. This shows how astonishing the power increase is for those who can cultivate there." "If we can enter the Termite Lair, even the Phoenix Sky War God might not be our match," Jian Wu exclaimed excitedly. "Hahaha, precisely so."

In the Holy Word Calendar Year 3752! This year was destined to be a special one remembered throughout history. The first year of the Divine Calendar! The defeat and death of the Phoenix Sky War God! Simultaneously, Jiuyao Shen Zhen was also reported dead. Both the Demon Dragon Empire and the Church of the Holy Word lost their strongest combat power at this moment, their strength sharply diminished! However, anyone could see that the Demon Dragon Empire had lost its balance of power against the Church of the Holy Word. If the Church were to seize this moment to launch a massive attack, the Demon Dragon Empire was surely doomed! But just then, news finally confirmed that the mysterious monster responsible for ambushing and killing the Phoenix Sky War God was the Temple Guardian Beast from the ancient Divine Dragon Empire. On the other hand, the Church’s inability to ascertain Jiuyao Shen Zhen’s life or death, coupled with the existence of the Temple Guardian Beast, kept the Church of the Holy Word from acting rashly. The formidable reputation of the Temple Guardian Beast was second only to the Demon Dragon Patriarch, hailed as the greatest demon of the ages. Furthermore, the Church was deeply wary of Jiuyao Shen Zhen's unpredictable methods and conduct. Thus, the imminent great war unexpectedly subsided! Following this engagement, the Demon Dragon Empire finally broke free completely from the control of the Church of the Holy Word, becoming a true, nominal empire! Meanwhile, the defeat of their strongest war god severely challenged the Church’s prestige. The world no longer viewed the Church as an invincible myth. Divine authority was no longer an untouchable, supreme existence. All Church halls across the Demon Dragon Continent were razed to the ground! Clergy members were widely hunted down! Almost overnight, the Church of the Holy Word completely vanished from the Demon Dragon Continent! And the Demon Dragon Continent completely abolished the Holy Word Calendar, adopting the legislative calendar used by the ancient Divine Dragon Empire—the Divine Calendar! This year was designated as the First Year of the Divine Calendar by the Demon Dragon Continent. Faced with the Demon Dragon Empire's series of provocations and hostility, the Church of the Holy Word, though furious, managed to restrain itself! What strange mystery lay behind this, no one could clearly say! But one thing was certain: the Demon Dragon Empire now dared to openly challenge the Church, and the Church was helpless to respond. The two-thousand-year standoff between the Holy Word and Mo Luo powers on the continent had been utterly shattered. The ascendant Demon Dragon Empire became a formidable nation able to stand side-by-side with the two great powers of the Holy Word and Mo Luo Churches! Historians of later ages would refer to this era as the Age of the Three Powers in a Triumvirate.