Infiltrated the Lin Family estate, made contact with Lin Nuhao, and confirmed that Lin Nuhao had not been fully mentally controlled by Qiong Qi. Moreover, Wu Wang managed to persuade Lin Nuhao to betray his allies a second time...

The sleep-inducing plan was proceeding very smoothly.

At this moment, Wu Wang no longer cared whether the various powers in the Human Domain would murmur about him being too dominant; holding the great authority that Elder Shen Nong had given him, he directly issued orders to the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and the Four Seas Pavilion. If anyone disobeyed his commands, they would be severely punished.

If need be, after successfully stopping Emperor Shun, Wu Wang would not seek any benefits and would continue his secluded cultivation at the Annihilation Sect. By his side, he would have a Fairy Immortal to accompany him in cultivation and a charming old aunt to take care of his daily needs. Occasionally, he could see Elder Miao, the enchanting female demon, flutter by; watching the female disciples of the Black Desire Door would please both his body and mind. And what was even more important was that he could always tease the Blue Bird.

What else could I ask for?

What do I lack?

The only thing I lack is a transcendent Dao Realm, to be free from this bizarre illness early on, allowing unobstructed contact and the cultivation of true emotions!

「Inside a crevice beneath the Lin Family grounds.」

The Thunder Snake used a Divine Skill similar to the Mustard Seed Heaven and Earth, and Wu Wang's group hid in a 'temporary cave dwelling' that was relatively spacious.

While secretly observing the Lin Family's movements, Wu Wang's thoughts drifted slightly, and a faint smile touched the corners of his mouth.

This puzzled Ling Xiaolan, who was a few feet away. She asked softly, "Has the Head Manager taken the bait?"

"Ah, not yet." Wu Wang instantly straightened up.

Ling Xiaolan blinked, her long lashes fluttering. Her delicate skin, which seemed like it would break at a touch, glowed with a crystalline sheen—a result of being fortified with immortal power. Her smile was suggestive, and her spirited eyes held a touch of playful annoyance as she said, "Then why are you smiling?"

"I just remembered something pleasant," Wu Wang cleared his throat, somewhat guiltily steering the conversation towards their subsequent plans.

And so, they waited quietly until noon the next day.

During this period, news that the Lin Family had captured spies from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion and the Four Seas Pavilion had spread everywhere, further exacerbating the already tense atmosphere in the northwestern Human Domain. This was similar to the "first battle" Wu Wang had experienced. Both sides began amassing their forces. The Heaven Palace appeared to have mobilized a large number of experts from the Hundred Races and over a dozen strong gods from their ranks, but they had not tapped into their true foundation.

If they were truly set on a decisive battle with the Human Domain, those slumbering Innate Gods would surely awaken.

Evidently, the order the Head Manager had received, or rather the objective he intended to achieve using the Lin Family, was to wear down the Human Domain's combat strength.

Through the Divine Skills of the Thunder Snake, and with Liu Baiyi by his side, Wu Wang continuously issued 'micro-management' directives, creating the illusion that the Human Domain was going all out to extinguish the flames of rebellion. In reality, the various forces of the Human Domain maintained a considerable distance from the Lin Family. All preparations were complete, but Wu Wang had not anticipated an unexpected development on the Lin Family's side.

Just before the scheduled execution of the dozen or so spies, Qiong Qi, disguised as a middle-aged man, arrived at the Lin Family fortress with several minor gods from the Heaven Palace.

The Head Manager... suddenly wasn't coming.

Lin Nuhao's shrewdness was on full display at this moment. His eyes showed regret, tinged with a hint of helplessness. Soon after, Lin Nuhao nodded to Qiong Qi, then led his men away from the execution ground, thereby expressing his dissatisfaction.

Qiong Qi merely smiled without a word, taking the main seat. Looking at the more than ten figures hanging from the stone pillars, he chuckled, "Then let's kill them all. What are we waiting for?"

Among the Human Cultivators inside and outside the venue, about half of the stronger ones had a black-red divine light flicker in their eyes. Immediately, a group of cultivators charged towards Lin Qi.

「Below ground, within the hiding place carved out by the Thunder Snake.」

Wu Wang and Liu Baiyi wore strikingly similar expressions, both incredibly grim.

"Wu Wang, the Head Manager is on guard."

"It's possible Emperor Shun sensed something and is secretly maneuvering against us."

"We must be patient now. A little impatience can ruin a grand plan..."

Before Liu Baiyi's voice transmission faded, Wu Wang had already crushed the Jade Talisman in his hand.

Almost simultaneously!

BOOM!

A drum-like sound echoed between Heaven and Earth. The mountains where the Lin Family's fortress stood suddenly trembled, and streaks of flowing light burst forth from the horizon, shooting rapidly towards this location.

That's... countless magic treasures!

The Human Domain's forces launched a sudden offensive. The protective arrays around the Lin Family's fortress surged with light, and the Lin Family's private soldiers and the Heaven Palace's Divine Guards, both inside and outside the city, fell into brief chaos, caught completely off guard by the Human Domain.

Within the Lin Family's Stone City, figures dashed towards the city's defenses!

It seemed those dozen or so spies might survive, but as Qiong Qi swept its palm across, the divine souls of the dozen or so Human Domain cultivators, whose cultivation wasn't high, turned into wisps of black gas that flowed into Qiong Qi's nostrils.

Qiong Qi let out a soft, somewhat intoxicated sigh of praise.

Underground, everyone witnessed this scene. Some clutched their weapons tightly, while others' pretty faces turned cold with fury. In short, they were all extremely incensed.

Only then did Wu Wang say, "The backup plan has begun. We'll feign an attack on the city to lure out the Head Manager."

If the Human Domain wanted to use the Absolute Heavenly Array left by Emperor Fuxi, it had to be within the Human Domain's borders; the long wall served as the demarcation line.

The atmosphere in the 'temporary cave dwelling' created by the Thunder Snake was somewhat oppressive.

Liu Baiyi said in a low voice, "I truly wish we could obliterate this fiend immediately!"

"As you said, Pavilion Master, a little impatience can ruin a grand plan," Wu Wang replied. "The overall situation is paramount."

Everyone nodded.

Looking at the Lin Family's fortress, countless streaks of flowing light filled the sky, converging from all directions. Large groups of Immortal Soldiers formed ranks, drawing their bows to fire enchanted arrows. Heavenly Immortals invoked curse methods, summoning meteor showers and hailstorms. On the Human Domain's side, numerous Transcendent experts revealed their own Great Dao, their power pressing down on the several-hundred-li area encompassing the Lin Family's fortress.

The light and darkness of Heaven and Earth constantly shifted, and minute fissures appeared in the fabric of reality. The Lin Family's Protective Array erupted with dense speckles of light. Despite tens of thousands of cultivators inside trying to reinforce it, it was already on the verge of collapse. The Daoist Essence of the Human Domain's experts permeated the sky and the earth, completely suppressing the Lin Family's allied forces.

Wu Wang was truly anxious at this moment. Sacrifices had already been made, and casualties incurred. If the Head Manager truly didn't appear, all his plans would have to be scrapped and restarted.

Could it be that the Head Manager had seen through their calculations...

"The Human Domain, truly impatient."

That clear, resonant voice sounded from high above, parting the white clouds and sweeping away the dust. The rich Daoist Essence of the Lifespan Dao enveloped the countless living beings below.

High in the sky, a middle-aged scholar in simple azure robes stood quietly with his hands behind his back. A faint smile graced his lips as he looked down upon the creatures between Heaven and Earth.

Contemplating the insignificance of all living beings, sensing the infinity of Heaven and Earth. Gods are the creation of Heaven; spirits, the extension of Earth.

His mere presence seemed to slow all the Human Domain's attacks considerably.

Vast swathes of dark clouds appeared in the north of Heaven and Earth. Endless figures—the army of the Hundred Races belonging to the Heaven Palace—were either flying, running wildly on foot, or riding strange beasts. They surged over the long wall, now unguarded by the Lin Family, pouring southward like a tidal wave.

The Head Manager's eyes narrowed into slits, his lips revealing a faint smile. He noticed that the Human Domain cultivators who had launched the long-range attacks were now constantly retreating, seemingly reluctant to suffer too many casualties.

Afraid?

Or is it that the Human Domain is willing to cede this land rather than lose their effective fighting strength?

If that's the case, I should teach the Human Domain a lesson.

A gleam flashed in the Head Manager's eyes as two Great Daos within him gently collided. His monarch's admonition echoed in his ears.

"Head Manager, this world we created is riddled with holes.

There's only one way, and only one way, to fix it: upgrade the order of Heaven and Earth.

The new God of Death has collapsed again. This Great Dao, I feel only you can master. Over the years, you have continuously set limits for living beings, resonating with the Dao of Death.

If you can merge the two Daos, transforming them into the ultimate Dao for living beings, the order of Heaven and Earth can be stabilized by you."

"Your Majesty," the Head Manager murmured softly.

To bestow upon living beings their end, to assign meaning to their lives.

This path, I will surely see through.

In the high sky, the Head Manager's long sleeves fluttered. Layers of rosy light surged from behind him, spreading across Heaven and Earth.

Within a radius of thousands of miles, a light laughter suddenly resonated in the depths of every living being's heart, followed by a sensation as if their very heart pulse had been grasped...

All of a sudden!

"Head Manager!"

A loud shout erupted from the Lin Family fortress.

The Head Manager abruptly looked down, his pupils shrinking sharply. An indescribable rage swept through him, twisting his originally refined and smiling face into a snarl.

「In the very center of the Lin Family fortress, near the Lin Residence.」

The ground split open to reveal a huge hole. The blurry incarnation of the Thunder Snake, adorned with pale golden scales, slowly stretched its head towards the sky.

Wu Wang stood quietly atop this Thunder Snake incarnation, with the Thunder Snake herself, still in human form, standing behind him.

The Thunder Snake, her beautiful face cold and filled with killing intent, pressed down with a slender hand. All the Lin Family rebels and Heaven Palace Divine Guards who tried to rush over were blocked a hundred zhang away from the giant serpent's phantom. The phantom serpent's two pairs of wings fluttered gently, causing fine ripples in the fabric of Heaven and Earth.

The Head Manager shouted angrily, "Wu Wangzi! Have you truly come here today to seek death?"

With a calm smile, Wu Wang tilted his chin up at the Head Manager and said slowly, "Look up."

The Head Manager immediately looked up to see a clear blue sky without a cloud or breeze. He quickly realized what was happening and glared at Wu Wang with dark fury. A pitch-black orb of light formed in his left palm, while a grayish-white Treasure Bead appeared in his right.

With two Daos at my disposal, how can he possibly contend?

The Head Manager said calmly, "Wu Wangzi, this time, I will not show you the slightest mercy!"

"Is that so," Wu Wang chuckled, "you fool."

"Wu Wangzi!"

The Head Manager bellowed in anger. His body suddenly swelled, transforming into a giant several dozen zhang tall, standing between Heaven and Earth, glaring down at Wu Wang. "I considered you a worthy opponent, yet you resort to such foolish and nonsensical talk!"

"Aren't you a fool?" Wu Wang said with a smile.

"How many times have I used this tactic? Making a grand entrance to attract your attention, appearing in person with my own, not even Transcendent, combat strength, making you feel it defies common sense, thereby riveting your gaze upon me.

Head Manager, do you know how much effort I've poured into this moment, this time, this place?"

The Head Manager narrowed his eyes slightly.

Meanwhile, within the Lin Family fortress, Qiong Qi, hiding in the shadows, sensed something amiss and concealed himself even deeper.

At that moment!

HUMMM—

A ring of azure-blue ripples suddenly appeared in the serene blue sky, sweeping through Heaven and Earth.

Humming, shrieks, low growls, and chanting filled the air!

The Heaven and Earth around the Head Manager abruptly manifested numerous Great Dao, and almost at the same instant the ripples spread, he was frozen in place.

High above, hundreds of points of light twinkled, and a formation base disc with a diameter of over a thousand miles eerily appeared without warning. That disc was engraved with endless prohibitions. It depicted the mortal and immortal scenes of the Human Domain, the boundless rivers and mountains of the Nine Wildernesses of the Great Wilderness, and was branded with countless Great Dao.

In the Human Domain, there were once many sages who braved thorns and brambles to expand their territory; their deeds could be found on this disc. In the Human Domain, there were once many valiant warriors, unmatched in battle, who slaughtered Gods and eradicated evils; their silhouettes could be seen on this disc. These were not just traces left on the disc, but messages woven at this moment from countless Daos that had once appeared in the ancient Human Domain, originating from the cultivators themselves—messages that could be felt by later generations.

The ancients ran and shouted across the wilds.

The people of this era stood proudly between Heaven and Earth.

Absolute Heavenly Array: Mortal World!

This was the ace left by Emperor Fuxi, the Human Domain's ultimate protection, not to be used unless permitted by the Human Emperor! But today, it appeared without warning above the Head Manager's head, instantly sealing off the Heaven and Earth around him.

The Head Manager, in response, exuded sinister black qi. His long hair became disheveled, his face darkened, and black and white lights surged from within him, turning into shockwaves that swept in all directions as he forcibly gained a moment of freedom!

ROAR!

An urgent roar sounded from above. Before the Head Manager could look up, a fire claw hundreds of zhang long slammed down, swatting him to the ground like a fly. The fire claw surged with flames, solidifying into legs and a body, revealing the form of a fiery Azure Dragon. Atop the dragon's head stood Shennong, dressed in a straw rain-cape, his hands clasped behind his back.

In the next few breaths, too many changes occurred, too many clashes took place.

The Head Manager had appeared, and the grand army of the Hundred Races had swept southward. Suddenly, the Absolute Heavenly Array of Fuxi manifested in the Human Domain's sky. Emperor Yan of Shennong then appeared, directly stunning the Head Manager, who was subsequently trapped by the Absolute Heavenly Array. The Absolute Heavenly Array began to tremble violently as several powerful Great Dao started to assault it.

Two figures suddenly appeared in the northern part of the Human Domain. One was a young woman with a hesitant expression, a touch of confusion in her eyes; it was none other than the Young Master. The one currently striking the Human Domain's Absolute Heavenly Array, however, was the Heavenly Emperor's incarnation of Order—a tall figure with a solemn face, the master of the Heaven Palace.

Emperor Shun said, "The urgent task at hand is to retrieve your elder brother. Do not hesitate!"

The Young Master frowned slightly, not fond of the Heavenly Emperor's forceful tone. She had been staying peacefully within the Heaven Palace when the Heavenly Emperor suddenly summoned her, saying he wanted to discuss how to protect the living beings of Heaven and Earth. Before more than a few words had been spoken, the Heavenly Emperor's expression changed, and he directly tore open the void, bringing her to this place.

Emperor Shun attempted to blast open this massive array disc with a thousand-mile diameter, but an endless surge of fire erupted from beneath it. The Human Emperor appeared, and the Dao of Fire burst forth.

Emperor Shun's eyes were filled with Divine Light.

A broad-bladed Longsword suddenly appeared in his hands. He raised it high, and a thunderbolt shot into the sky, shattering Heaven and Earth before transforming into numerous Thunder Snakes that swept across the realm.

In the direction of the Heaven Palace, the Innate Gods who had been slumbering within the Great Dao were awakening in droves.

Above the Absolute Heavenly Array, Shen Nong's face was calm. He slowly raised his left hand, and the Fire Dragon let out a long, resonant cry. This sound swept through every corner of the Human Domain, as figures flew out from the land and the seas, converging towards the northwest.

Neither side hesitated; the figures of the Heavenly Emperor and Shen Nong flickered almost simultaneously and then vanished. But countless Great Dao began to boil, and Heaven and Earth themselves seemed to tilt slightly.

「Meanwhile, at the Lin Family fortress.」

The Head Manager fell from the sky, tumbling into a dense fog.

Deep within the earth, the Sleep God, wearing a light green sleeping cap and hugging a golden pillow, yawned. He snuggled his pillow and drifted off to sleep, yet a wisp of his Daoist Essence separated and wrapped around Wu Wang.

Dream—Begin.

…

What is this?

A dream realm constructed by the Sleep God?

Wu Wang examined his surroundings but could only see hazy mists, with occasional glimpses of strange landscapes floating within: oases in boundless deserts; lakes as smooth as mirrors; flowers and grass blooming on the edges of cliffs, with makeshift tents erected beside them…

"This Head Manager... the backlash he suffered is actually this severe."

A muttering voice came from behind. Wu Wang immediately turned his head and saw Brother Sleep God strolling out of the gray mist with his hands behind his back, winking at him.

"The Heaven Palace is in a hurry, so let's make this quick," the Sleep God said. "What do you want to do?"

Wu Wang asked, "Is the Head Manager currently in a deep sleep?"

The Sleep God replied, "Mm, this is a corner of his dream realm, essentially the edge of his sea of memories. Didn't you say you wanted to come here before?"

Wu Wang immediately asked, "Can we modify his memories?"

The Sleep God pondered for a moment and explained, "The Head Manager's will is bound to resist. The Dao of Sleep is very complex. It's like when you're asleep and someone slaps you, or when you're jolted awake by a nightmare—it's the same principle."

"Then let's proceed as we previously planned."

Wu Wang raised his hand and tapped his 'own' forehead, eliciting a faint green light. This was his own memory fragment: witnessing the Head Manager spew a black spear from his mouth, being obliterated by the God of Death, and having his Lifespan Dao absorbed by the Young Master.

Engage in a war of words with the Head Manager and make him repent?

That would be no less difficult than eliminating the Head Manager himself.

But to stir things up in his subconscious while he's dreaming... the effect would naturally be different.

The Sleep God led the way, and the two ambled through the hazy consciousness sea of the Head Manager. At this moment, Wu Wang, by carefully sensing his surroundings, could also perceive that he was walking within an illusionary formation, utterly different from reality.

The Sleep God whispered, "See these scattered scenes around us? Do you know what they represent?"

"What?"

The Sleep God said with a smile, "The Head Manager's will has already begun to crumble. Dealing with him now is hardly a challenge."

Wu Wang raised an eyebrow and looked at the Sleep God again. "Brother, you're truly capable. You can put even the Head Manager to sleep and enter his dream realm."

"In the words of your Human Domain, the Head Manager's Dao heart is so riddled by his inner demons it's like a sieve!"

The Sleep God shook his head with a sigh, his plump white hands fiddling back and forth as he said, "Look, this is what I saw in the Head Manager's dream realm. You can't directly look at his sea of memory in the dream realm, but you can see some of the things he cares about most."

On the path ahead, canvases appeared, the scenes within them constantly changing.

Wu Wang glanced at them and immediately raised an eyebrow. The figure of the Young Master appeared in most of them. It was even clear that the owner of these memories was always carefully protecting the Young Master, a long vigil spanning countless years.

Until...

In a corner of the Head Manager's memory, the figure of Emperor Shun became increasingly prominent.

The Sleep God said, "I've arranged these scenes for you in chronological order. Emperor Shun has been coveting the Head Manager's Great Dao for far longer than a day or two."

Wu Wang nodded, quickly absorbing the information.

He discovered that the original Head Manager seemed to have been a rather gentle, refined, and polite 'model' Innate God. He was kind to all beings, cherished beauty, guarded the Young Master, and often watched her dance among flowers or converse with creatures.

But gradually, many chaotic scenes appeared in the world.

That must have been the war of gods.

And during this time, the Head Manager and the Young Master encountered that Innate God who exuded a warm glow—Emperor Shun.

Emperor Shun and the Head Manager became friends. Later, they fought shoulder to shoulder in the divine wars, gradually rising to prominence.

The Young Master, in contrast, began to watch the Head Manager from the sidelines. She saw him grow distant from his former self, and the original familiarity between the siblings faded.

Together with hundreds of Innate Gods, under Emperor Shun's leadership, they drove away the Candle Dragon and established the Heaven Palace.

Heaven, Earth, and spirits coexisted harmoniously for a long period. The Heaven Palace had few affairs, and life there was quite leisurely.

But gradually, without anyone noticing how, changes began to occur.

The Heavenly Emperor became increasingly imposing. The gods started to form small cliques, and many Divine Spirits, out of boredom, began to use living beings for amusement; tragedies started to unfold across Heaven and Earth...

One image, in particular, left a deep impression on Wu Wang.

Emperor Shun, wearing a simple, loose robe, sat in a high-backed stone chair. His face was somber as he held a liquor jug and said, 'You, let the creatures flourish.'

The Young Master frowned slightly at this. The Head Manager hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and responded, 'Yes.'

From then on, when before the Heavenly Emperor, the Head Manager lost the ease and smiles he once shared with a friend; he bowed his head more and more frequently. It was also from this time that hierarchies began to appear in the Heaven Palace, and the oppression of weak gods by strong gods emerged.

The inherent weakness in the Head Manager's character allowed the Heavenly Emperor to continuously press his advantage, rapidly consolidating his core of power. The Heavenly Emperor began to relentlessly undermine the Head Manager's confidence. Both openly and secretly, he exploited the value of the Head Manager's Great Dao and issued increasingly harsh commands. These commands led to the Head Manager's Great Dao ensnaring almost all races of living beings.

Then, as these races of living beings continued to proliferate and their numbers swelled, the Head Manager became overwhelmed. He bowed his head lower and lower, his demeanor towards the Heavenly Emperor growing ever more deferential.

And gradually, the Head Manager's temper became more peculiar. He grew more and more distant from the Young Master, but when he looked at her, his gaze still held warmth.

Step by step, the Head Manager...

"Was conditioned by Emperor Shun?" Wu Wang blurted out, his eyes filled with shock.

By his side, the Sleep God murmured, "Although I don't understand the specific meaning, those words 'conditioned' are indeed wonderful."

"This Heavenly Emperor! He's so... so...!" Wu Wang suddenly found himself at a loss for words.

He and the Sleep God had continued walking and could now see a gray ocean filled with starlight—the boundary of the Head Manager's subconscious, the source of dreams, the Sea of Memories.

The Sleep God said with emotion, "The terror of the Candle Dragon lies in its indifference to everything outside itself. The terror of Emperor Shun, however, lies in his meticulous mind and his invincible schemes. If not for encountering an inexplicable fellow like you, Emperor Shun would've won long ago."

"Emperor Shun hasn't lost yet either." Wu Wang said in a low voice,

"The Human Domain has played its trump card. Although there's hope of getting through this current trouble, the future situation won't be easy.

Emperor Shun has essentially won this round; it's just a matter of by how much."

The Sleep God nodded slightly, reached out to take the speck of light from Wu Wang's hand, preparing to throw it into the Head Manager's Sea of Memories.

"Hold on, Big Bro."

Wu Wang suddenly stopped the Sleep God. He stared at two ethereal shadows drifting out of the Sea of Memories and saw a scene within:

[In the back courtyard of the Lin Residence, the Head Manager arrived under the cover of night and stepped into Lin Nuhao's study.]

No wonder Lin Nuhao was so easily controlled by Qiong Qi. The Head Manager made his move secretly long ago...

"What's wrong?" the Sleep God asked in a deep voice.

Wu Wang said, "Big Bro, can you fabricate dreams?"

The Sleep God replied, "Well, if it's for the Head Manager, I can conjure some simple, blurry images in my mind. It's possible. The Head Manager's will is so scattered now, his resistance in this regard is weaker than even a minor god's."

Wu Wang's gaze flickered as he whispered, "Using the images I just showed you as a base, add a scene where the Young Master is devoured by darkness. Big Bro, feel free to improvise, but make sure to emphasize the Young Master's tragic state.

Something similar to the Head Manager's current condition would be good."

"You do have a dark heart."

The Sleep God immediately understood Wu Wang's meaning and complied. After tinkering for a while, he finally projected the two orbs of light into the Head Manager's Sea of Memories.

Soon, sparks flew from the Sea of Memories, forming a curtain that displayed a series of images:

[The Head Manager was severely injured by Shen Nong. The God of Death suddenly launched an attack using the Dao of Death. The Young Master and Emperor Shun appeared simultaneously. The Young Master, tears in her eyes, took away the Head Manager's Great Dao…

Immediately afterward, the 'Young Master' was shown curled up in a corner, her body enveloped in a faint black mist.

In the distance, 'Emperor Shun' approached with a cold sneer, forcing the 'Young Master' to kneel and prostrate herself.]

The images abruptly stopped, and the surrounding gray fog began to boil!

The Sleep God quickly grabbed Wu Wang, uttered a sharp, "Let's go!" and they both vanished.

「Underneath the Absolute Heavenly Array at the Lin Family fortress.」

The Head Manager suddenly opened his eyes. His towering figure, which had been embedded in the earth, leaped up. His eyes were filled with astonishment, shock, unwillingness, and rage. He abruptly slapped his own forehead.

A gray shadow drifted out from behind the Head Manager!

The Dao of Death!

The Head Manager turned, glaring furiously at the gray shadow, yet he remained completely oblivious to the unnervingly quiet surroundings.

Right at that moment!

The array disc above the Head Manager's head bizarrely vanished. His figure soared into the sky, speeding towards the Heaven Palace, causing the chaotic battles throughout Heaven and Earth to pause momentarily.

But then, the thousand-mile array disc reappeared, this time trapping the Dao of Death beneath it.

Myriad Daos attacked as one!

Countless attacks erupted from beneath the array disc, bombarding the gray shadow—the Dao of Death. However, the shadow twisted continuously and eerily vanished, hiding within the void.

The full-scale war between Heaven and Humanity, which had not yet fully erupted, quickly fizzled out as the Head Manager extricated himself, though both sides had paid a heavy price.

At the Lin Family's estate, Wu Wang stood atop the Thunder Snake, staring blankly at the scene unfolding before him.

Is that it?

The 'Sleep Persuasion' plan for the Head Manager... succeeded so easily?

It all felt somewhat surreal.

Even though I only found this path after two disastrous failures, now that the matter was truly resolved, I couldn't help but feel a touch of emptiness.

A wave of fatigue washed over him.

And this... this was merely one of Emperor Shun's casual calculations...

Wu Wang said with a smile, "Indeed, fighting against the Heavenly Emperor is an endless delight."

"Ba'er, Ba'er?"

Before his voice faded, his mother's call suddenly resonated in the depths of Wu Wang's heart. At the same time, layers of understanding surged within him, and the Star God's Dao abruptly went berserk. He had no time to react before the Star God's Dao suddenly vanished, as if it had shattered within Heaven and Earth!

Cang Xue's extremely calm voice echoed once again in the depths of Wu Wang's heart:

"Mother feels that destroying the Heaven Palace is now the top priority. You and your father are Mother's only attachments.

This order of Heaven and Earth... it's fine to do without it."

"Eh?"

Wu Wang was stunned. The world before his eyes turned into night; stars seemed about to descend upon the earth, ten thousand stars twinkling ceaselessly.

RUMBLE!

Cracks appeared in the corners of Heaven and Earth, and an unknown being within the Heaven Palace was rapidly awakening.

"Ah!"

Wu Wang clutched his forehead, his body curling up.

This familiar headache, this familiar process!

But this time, distinctly different scenes emerged from the depths of Wu Wang's heart:

[The earth was burning; the sky, like a shattered mirror, was riddled with cracks.

The massive body of the Star God fell from the depths of the starry sky, hurtling straight toward the towering Heaven Palace.

A corner of the heavens suddenly shattered. A dark red Dragon Claw pressed down, crashing onto the Western Wilderness, nearly sinking the land and causing innumerable deaths and injuries among its creatures...]

Again?

I resolved the issue of upgrading the world's order, but did I accidentally trigger the Candle Dragon's premature return?

"I'll handle it myself!"

Wu Wang roared, his hand gripping the Dao weapon Star Sword. His hair flew wildly, and a drop of essence blood burst from his forehead as he bellowed at the sky, "I... will prevail!"

WHOOSH—

"Young Master? Young Master?"

"I told you, fainting and sleeping aren't the same thing."

「Annihilation Sect, the twenty-seventh day. Inside the temple hidden by the Sleep God within the mountain cliff.」

Suddenly, Wu Wang's eyes snapped open, bloodshot. He looked down and violently coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. The sight scared the Sleep God into retreating dozens of zhang, and Lin Suqing's face turned deathly pale.

"Young Master!"

A large hand lifted. Wu Wang's voice was full of determination, "It's alright, don't mind me; everyone, follow me! Brother Xiao Jian, don't speak. The Lin Family has rebelled. Thunder Snake, open the Heaven and Earth passage for an audience with His Majesty."

[See the Human Emperor, finalize the plan to activate the Absolute Heavenly Array.]

[Rescue Xiao Deng, collect the backlash power from the God position.]

[Call Mother, not so much to implore her not to worry, but to repeat three hundred times that he wanted to go and challenge Emperor Shun.]

[Send messages to the Lin Family, mobilize the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion, persuade the Sleep God to act, reducing those privy to the plan to the absolute minimum of three people and one god. Everything was set up according to the previous successful layout, but with even more robust 'optimizations'...]

「After one day and two nights.」

Beneath the Lin Family estate, Wu Wang, along with the Sleep God, Liu Baiyi, and the Thunder Snake, waited in a subterranean Mustard Seed-sized Heaven and Earth realm, laying a trap for the Head Manager.

Perhaps it was due to overwhelming fatigue and excessive loss of vital energy, or perhaps because he had rewound time three consecutive times, touching upon the origin of some Great Dao.

Layers of understanding began to ripple within Wu Wang's heart. Before him, a door seemed to be pushed open in a daze, and two faint lights flew toward him. One of these tiny lights was already familiar to Wu Wang: the Great Dao mark left by Emperor Shun.

Therefore, Wu Wang first looked to his left. The faint light flickered before him and then died away. He felt as if he saw an old man in a straw rain-cape, holding a clay tablet, sitting in a place of nothingness. The old man let out a soft sigh of relief and put down his carving knife...

Before Wu Wang could fully comprehend it, Emperor Shun's figure was already before him.

An apparition, a low table, and a chessboard without any discernible rules.

Emperor Shun's gaze fell upon Wu Wang's face, a gentle smile appearing as he asked, "Fellow Daoist, will you play?"

Wu Wang's brows furrowed slightly.

This time, Emperor Shun looked directly at him. His voice was incredibly genuine, and their gazes collided, meeting.

"I will."

Wu Wang replied calmly. With his hands behind his back, he walked over to the low table and sat cross-legged on the cushion.

A minor problem.

...

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