The Twelve Ancestral Witches immediately manifested their true forms, completely surrounding Guangchengzi, and the power of the great formation increased exponentially. Earth, water, wind, and fire, thunder and hail constantly erupted; the scene truly resembled the end of the world.

Moreover, the dark, oppressive clouds hung low, pressing down like colossal mountains, making it impossible to breathe. Countless demonic entities crawled out of the void—the most bloodthirsty of fiends, devoid of all feeling, knowing nothing beyond the most primal instinct for slaughter.

Guangchengzi was thus encircled at the very center of these myriad demons. On the periphery stood twelve gigantic, menacing figures, while at his side was a Chaos Body whose cultivation had advanced significantly. This array caused Guangchengzi’s expression to shift dramatically.

“Guangchengzi, long time no see. Your cultivation has indeed progressed,” seeing Guangchengzi’s changing face, Xingtian, who had the most direct history with him, spoke. Though his eyes were located on his chest, his gaze remained fiercely sharp, and the Gan Chi in his hands emitted chilling glints that were utterly captivating.

Beside him stood Hou Yi, gripping the Divine Bow of the Setting Sun. Although he wasn't drawing the string now, his gaze had locked onto Guangchengzi like an eagle’s eye; should Guangchengzi make the slightest move, he would instantly loose the most lethal arrow.

Hearing Xingtian’s words, which carried a hint of mockery, Guangchengzi did not become angry; rather, he quickly composed himself. Waving a hand toward the assembly, he spoke calmly, “Gentlemen, I trust you have all been well…” His demeanor suggested he was quite familiar with everyone present.

“Hmph. If it weren't for you self-righteous Qi Refiners, we would all be living quite peacefully!” Hearing Guangchengzi’s seemingly casual statement, which was, in fact, laced with subtle sarcasm, Zhurong immediately snorted. The two fire dragons beneath his feet roared mightily, their bodies churning as if ready to pounce and tear Guangchengzi to shreds.

“Heh heh, Great Venerable Zhurong’s strength is undeniable, but perhaps his defeated opponents are not so noteworthy. Speaking of which, Great Venerable Gonggong, I must thank you heartily for that fit of rage back then; otherwise, how could I have forged such a treasure as the Heaven-Overturning Seal!” Guangchengzi suddenly turned to Gonggong, who stood with both feet planted on two black dragons and a black python coiled around his arm, a faint smile on his face, though his eyes conveyed unspeakable sarcasm.

Back then, Gonggong had been defeated by Zhurong, and in his fury, had rammed Mount Buzhou, ultimately causing the mountain to collapse and leaving a massive hole in the sky, which the goddess Nüwa had to mend with five-colored stones to avert a human catastrophe. Guangchengzi, however, had used a peak of Mount Buzhou to refine the Heaven-Overturning Seal. This was arguably Gonggong’s greatest disgrace, yet now Guangchengzi deliberately brought it up—was this not slapping him across the face? “Guangchengzi, I always believed you to be one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, a figure of high prestige, but I never expected you to resort to such tricks of sowing discord. There’s no need for such maneuvering; if we are to act today, only I am sufficient to kill you!” Before Gonggong could redirect his anger toward Zhurong, Ye Jingyu stepped forward, letting out a cold hum. The sarcasm in his eyes was a thousand times more intense than Guangchengzi’s.

“Oh? You possess such confidence?” Guangchengzi indeed had the intention to sow discord. He understood that with the Eastern Emperor Bell sealing space, coupled with the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ Extinction Grand Array, his chances of escape were slim. If he couldn’t make the formation inherently flawed, he was likely doomed today. This was why he dredged up matters from tens of thousands of years ago, hoping to provoke discord between Zhurong and Gonggong.

He hadn't expected Ye Jingyu to see right through him. Though the attempt at provocation failed, it successfully enraged Ye Jingyu, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. As for the sarcasm in Ye Jingyu’s eyes, Guangchengzi completely disregarded it. At their level of cultivation, what was there left to be overly concerned about? Face? While important, what was it compared to one's own life? As long as he succeeded in becoming the player, controlling the life and death of all sentient beings, what did those past humiliations and stains matter?

He knew this was the greatest tribulation since Pangu split heaven and earth, a massive primordial era. In this calamity, many would perish. Though cruel, was this not also a time for a complete reshuffling? As long as he survived, he had a chance to draw good cards, a chance to become the player. Therefore, living was the most important thing to him.

As long as he lived, all hope remained.

“It has nothing to do with confidence, only determination!” Ye Jingyu said lightly. He could tell from Guangchengzi’s eyes that this man’s skin was exceptionally thick; no amount of ridicule would faze him.

He was utterly disappointed in these immortals. Were all the legendary immortals merely hypocrites hiding behind a facade of virtue? “Then do you dare dismantle the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ Extinction Grand Array?” Guangchengzi chuckled softly.

“Jingyu, don’t dismantle it. This fellow is cunning; we must remain cautious!” At this moment, Luo Ruofeng had completely grasped the Way of the Emperor and successfully taken that crucial step. Hearing Guangchengzi’s challenge, he immediately spoke up.

Vaguely, he perceived more than he could before—a realization, an ineffable understanding. He felt that if the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ Extinction Grand Array were truly taken down, killing Guangchengzi would become incredibly difficult.

“Your Majesty, rest assured, he is fated to die today!” Ye Jingyu smiled at Luo Ruofeng, then turned and handed the Flag of Chiyou to Jiufeng.

“Feng’er, heal Xiyang first!” Seeing Ye Jingyu actually returning the Flag of Chiyou to Jiufeng, Luo Ruofeng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back. Ye Jingyu was his sworn brother; he should trust him, shouldn't he? Even an Emperor had the affections of brotherhood.

As Ye Jingyu passed the Flag of Chiyou to Jiufeng, the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ Extinction Grand Array retracted, though the silhouettes of the Twelve Ancestral Witches did not vanish. They still encircled Guangchengzi in the center, looking on like spectators at a show.

Jiufeng, Huyan Meng, Gongsun Xiangyi, and others stood to the side, their faces etched with worry. After all, Ye Jingyu was about to face the foremost Golden Immortal of the Primeval Era, Guangchengzi—a being infinitely close to becoming a player who controlled destiny.

Only Yao’er’s face was wreathed in smiles, the kind of smile born of absolute confidence. Having cultivated dual arts with Ye Jingyu, she understood precisely how powerful he had become. She believed her man would win, and win decisively.

“You all step back. Killing him, I truly am enough on my own…” Seeing that the Twelve Ancestral Witches had not moved aside, Ye Jingyu spoke again.

His voice was light and gentle, yet for some inexplicable reason, when the Twelve Ancestral Witches heard it, their hearts trembled. It was Ye Jingyu’s voice, but the feeling it evoked was akin to that emanating from that One.

Authority intertwined with boundless, benevolent affection… Yes, it was a feeling like paternal love, the sensation they had only ever experienced from the Sage Emperor Pangu. It was familiar, intimate, yet utterly ethereal…

Whether it was the hot-tempered Zhurong and Gonggong, the mild-mannered Jumang, the eccentric Xuanming, or even the charmingly seductive Hanba, they all respectfully retreated to the side. Their attitude toward Ye Jingyu was no longer as casual as before.

It could be said that even the Demon God Chiyou in his prime had never received such deference.

Seeing Ye Jingyu actually dismantle the Twelve Ancestral Witches’ Extinction Grand Array, Guangchengzi’s face registered surprise, yet a flicker of triumphant cunning appeared in his eyes.

“Are you prepared for the realization of your death?” Every flicker of Guangchengzi’s expression was observed by Ye Jingyu, but he remained unconcerned. His dual cultivation with Yao’er had allowed him to grasp many profound things, which he was eager to test out on Guangchengzi now.

“You truly have boundless confidence in yourself. Since that is the case, this humble Daoist shall spar with you a few rounds!” Hearing Ye Jingyu’s audacious words, Guangchengzi didn't grow angry but merely smiled faintly, already pointing a single finger. An iceberg covered in sharp spikes materialized above Ye Jingyu’s head, hurtling down to crush him.

“I advise you to use your full strength, lest you don't understand what happened even when you are dead!” Seeing that Guangchengzi was attacking him merely with mere spells, Ye Jingyu sneered and threw a punch across the void. The massive force of the blow pulverized the iceberg into dust.

Guangchengzi, unhurried, began chanting an incantation. The Heaven-Seizing Pearl ascended into the sky, its volume continuously expanding, growing larger and larger. In the blink of an eye, its diameter surpassed several thousand miles, and soon after, tens of thousands of miles…

This terrifying pressure forced Jiufeng and the others into continuous retreat, backing away tens of thousands of miles, almost reaching the base of Mount Tongtian. Yet, the Heaven-Seizing Pearl kept swelling, and from a distance, it was already larger than an ordinary planet…

All forms of energy between heaven and earth were frantically absorbed by this pearl; it truly lived up to its name, Seizing the Heavens, intending to devour the entire cosmos…

Gazing at the ever-growing Heaven-Seizing Pearl, Ye Jingyu merely offered a faint smile and said to Guangchengzi, “Believe it or not, I only need three moves to kill you!”

“Heh heh, I shall say the same to you: I only need three moves to kill you. Seize the Heavens, swallow the Heavens, go…” Guangchengzi laughed instead of showing anger, then pointed a single finger. The Heaven-Seizing Pearl, now the size of a massive star, plummeted directly downward…

“Heh heh, then allow me to show you my true power. Pangu True Body, Manifest!” Facing the unimaginably colossal Heaven-Seizing Pearl, Ye Jingyu’s face maintained a confident smile. As his words fell, a dazzling golden light suddenly illuminated his body, and his physical form began to expand rapidly…