"Everyone, you are not from Mingjiang Prefecture. If you made a mistake, you still have a chance to leave. Later, the Music Master and I will try every way to send you out."

The Painter bowed once again to King Xishan and said, "Old Xi, we've been friends for many years. Thank you for demonstrating your divine power today. As Night Patrol Deities, we swear to fight Star Covering to the death. You also have unfinished matters; the Fox Clan's Divine Bone is still unattended. It would be better not to stay. Later, we will also send you out."

"Old Hua..." King Xishan wanted to say more, but couldn't utter another word.

The Painter, reaching this point, turned his head decisively and said, "Fellow Mingjiang Traveling Gods, our cultivation is insufficient and our means are lacking. Today, we cannot defeat Star Covering and Zhao Qingxiao, which is our incompetence,

but as Day and Night Wandering God, we are meant to safeguard peace and protect the city. Incompetent as we may be, today we pledge to live and die with Mingjiang Prefecture."

"Ancient texts hold a method; by sacrificing the lives and souls of a whole prefecture's Traveling Gods to the Ancestor Tree and the Golden Bell, the Ancestor Tree and Golden Bell will unite, creating a true Ancient Tree Golden Bell, unleashing incredible power, quelling all foes within the prefecture."

"I, the Painter, and the Music Master, are willing to sacrifice ourselves, using our lives to facilitate the union of the Ancestor Tree and the Golden Bell. If any fellow deities share our resolve, please stay; if there are any unwilling to die here, step aside with Lord Jian and others—we will send you out later."

Shang Wenjun, Hua Qingying, Li Chengfeng, Gu Ling, Xia Jin, and others—none had the intention to leave. In their eyes, there was nothing but determination, determination, and determination again.

Besides them, all the other Night Patrol Deities, large and small, also clenched their lanterns, their gaze resolute, ready to face death.

"Good, you're all commendable. In cultivation, we may lack aptitude, but in courage, we have never feared anyone."

The Painter abruptly turned his head, raised his arms, and called out, "Shang Wenjun, Hua Qingying, gather the Witch Sect's Traveling Gods and any willing Witch Disciples, sound the Soul Summoning Bell."

Shang Wenjun and Hua Qingying received the order and feigned sleep, their souls leaving their bodies, dispersing all over their bodies' Heartless Red Silk, using the red silk as strings, their souls as bell tongues, they shook their souls, striking against the bell body.

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

"Dong!"

The union of the Ancestor Tree and the Golden Bell, Peng Sheng naturally knew of this method—none of those partaking in the union could survive.

Yet he had no qualms, for this time, when the Tree Clan came from Peng Town to Gangfeng Cave to help Zhou Xuan slay the God "Gong Zheng," they were already prepared for the entire clan to perish.

Only the plan couldn't keep up with the changes, "Gong Zheng" wasn't slain, but rather tangled into this chess game of Heaven and Earth.

"Painter, Music Master, Peng Family Tree Clan leading the Ancestor Tree's union."

The myriad branches of the Peach Blossom Ancestor Tree pierced the ground and, when withdrawn, were all hung upside down Tree Clan members.

Upon arrival, Peng Sheng and the White Deer Priest had already arranged that the clan's children and their mothers would stay in Peng Town, and the rest would join the battle.

So, they had no concerns for the aftermath, each clan member vigorously swung the branches, turning the Peach Blossom Ancestor Tree into a massive umbrella.

The Peach Blossom Ancestor Tree then slowly began to rise, countless roots carrying the fragrance of soil, seeking new anchoring earth.

When the Ancestor Tree soared above the Golden Bell, those roots, like countless powerful tentacles and claws, pierced into the Golden Bell.

Before the Buddha Power empowered the Golden Bell, it lacked vitality and couldn't endure such connection from the Ancestor Tree, but now with the Buddha Power vitality from Master Wu Ya, it could proceed with "union."

The power of the Ancestor Tree and the Golden Bell is in the same lineage, and now united, a sense of the Jing Country's foundational power's austerity was cast forth.

The scroll of ancient roads from the Ancient Era also unfurled slowly as the Ancestor Tree connected with the Golden Bell.

"Bell souls return to position, Ancestor Tree linked, first send out Ping Shui You Shen, Guan Niang, and King Xishan!"

The Painter roared.

The remaining Witch Goddess also feigned sleep, letting their souls travel into the Golden Bell, becoming the Ancient Witch Cloud Pattern on the bell.

The cloud pattern shimmered, and the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell was propelled to ascend ten or so zhang high, then suddenly descended, landing on the ground, a forceful austere momentum creating a one-person wide crack over the Dragon Prison Well.

"Send Lord Arrow, Old Xi, and others away."

The Painter flashed onto the bell wall of the Golden Bell, melding with flesh and blood, becoming the wild beast cloud pattern on the bell.

The Music Master, Li Chengfeng, Gu Ling, Xia Jin, and others, also followed in suit,

using parts of their bodies to form decorations on the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell, simultaneously offering their lives, becoming a part of the will of the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell.

The Day and Night Wandering God's lanterns flew upward one by one onto the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell, then fused with the blood and vitality into the vibrant Golden Bell.

The Golden Bell, driven by them, blocked the one-person wide Dragon Prison Well crack with a powerful austerity.

The Ancestor Tree Golden Bell became a wall, both obstructing Star Covering's path out of the well, while also allowing Lord Arrow, Zhou Lingyi, and King Xishan, to exit the Dragon Prison Well via the Golden Bell.

After leaving the well, it was time to part ways.

King Xishan reached out to summon the Fox Slave, instructing this trusted fox to carry his gravely injured body toward East Market Street.

"Great King... Great King."

The Fox Slave was deeply distressed by King Xishan's severe injuries, hesitating to move quickly for fear of jostling him.

"It's just a small wound, it won't take my life. Fox Slave, hurry. I must deliver the clan's Divine Bone into Yun Cui's hands."

King Xishan had already set aside thoughts on preserving his life, concerned only with passing the Divine Bone, the Fox Clan's legacy, to its future custodian.

Lord Jian, Lord Jiu, and Lady Hong Guan then departed in different directions.

They hesitated to leave, but Zhou Lingyi persuaded them, "Three Masters, you must each go a different way and survive — the details of how Mingjiang's apocalypse occurred, someone needs to record them to carry out — all those in this city cannot die in vain."

"Especially you, Lord Jian and Lord Jiu, you were sent by the Tree Gate. Once Mingjiang's grand chess game ends, the Zhou Family Ancestor Tree will sense you immediately, and the Tree Gate will take you back to Ping Shui Prefecture. Strive to stay alive until the game concludes."

"What about you?"

Lord Jiu asked Zhou Lingyi.

Zhou Lingyi thought for a moment, and said, "I must wait for my brother."

Yuan Buyu too had to wait for his disciple; the two remained outside the Dragon Prison Well.

The Dragon Prison Well had already cracked open, and Shang Wenjun's soul once more struck the golden bell, almost howling, "The witch disciples willing to live and die with Mingjiang Prefecture, let their souls enter the golden bell, to manifest the supreme power of the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell."

Inside the Witch Sect, instantly hundreds pretended to sleep, their souls departing their bodies, crashing into the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell, some becoming floral motifs, others forming insect and bird patterns.

With each additional witch's soul entering the golden bell, its vitality heightened.

Then the scholars of the Bone Elder Association plunged their hands into their chests, attaching their robust flesh to the golden bell.

These normally bookish individuals now appeared like warriors, rushing toward the golden bell.

With each beast pattern crafted from the Bone Elders' flesh, the bell's power intensified.

The Ancestor Tree Golden Bell became a vast vessel, absorbing the flesh of Mingjiang Prefecture's Bone Elders and the souls of witches, consolidating into a Chaos Golden Bell from ancient times.

The Peach Blossom Ancestor Tree's fusion with the golden bell grew deeper, seeming to become a wooden handle for the bell, Ancestor Tree and golden bell perfectly merged.

Dong!

Dong!

Dong!

The golden bell tolled again, its low, fierce sound poised to challenge Star Covering,

And these three fierce tolls had already created cracks in the Dragon Prison Well; Zhao Qingxiao, the one presiding over the "Well Daoist Talisman," bore the backlash as the well shattered, leaving his five viscera damaged, instantly coughing up blood.

"These maniacs."

Star Covering gritted her teeth, cursing.

She never anticipated Mingjiang Prefecture's Day and Night Wandering Gods to truly fight for their lives.

"Master Star Covering, what should we do now?"

"Hide away for now. You and I cannot withstand this ancient Chaos Bell."

Star Covering was to vanish into the mist.

Zhao Qingxiao asked, "Isn't there a way to prematurely halt the forming of the Chaos Bell?"

Star Covering looked at Zhao Qingxiao as if he were a fool, "Didn't you see how the Dragon Prison Well shattered?"

At this moment, the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell had yet to fully merge, its offensive power limited, as long as one does not approach closely, it's manageable. To approach would be akin to seeking death.

After Star Covering and Zhao Qingxiao evaded, the Ancestor Tree's nine most resilient sinews wove through the golden bell's wall, penetrating each soul and flesh that entered the golden bell, crafting the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell's tendons and veins.

"These fools, once the Ancestor Tree Golden Bell is fully formed, they will forever become part of the bell, never to transcend."

Mo Ya Monk slammed the chessboard indignantly, shouting toward the golden bell...

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