Dao Ancestor Hongjun's prediction was correct; everything was orchestrated by Xu Fang.
At this moment, Xu Fang traversed the Primordial heavens and earth. The Heaven Measuring Ruler approached him and spoke.
"Little Xu, according to our plan, the Wu clan has completely relocated into the Chaos Bead's realm, and the Chaos Bead has successfully returned."
"It's said the Demon clan is still questioning their existence at the Wu clan's main camp. Do you want to go and see?"
The Heaven Measuring Ruler reported the situation to Xu Fang. As the Ruler explained, the Ancestral Witches and the Wu clan members left behind to deceive the Demon clan initially intended to stay and mock the demons.
However, this suggestion was ruthlessly rejected by the Chaos Bead, which unceremoniously forced them to enter its realm.
Just as the Demon clan initiated their fated battle, preparing for a grand confrontation, the Chaos Bead, with the Wu clan members, teleported back.
"Excellent. This way, the Heavenly Dao's plan cannot be implemented. With the Wu clan collectively disappearing, who will the Demon clan fight?"
Xu Fang chuckled upon hearing the Heaven Measuring Ruler's report.
He had previously discussed with the Ancestral Witches. Since the Wu clan did not wish to fight the Demon clan to the death, nor be slaughtered by them, the best course of action was to temporarily leave the Primordial heavens and earth.
Of course, with the Wu-Demon tribulation underway, a full migration of the Wu clan would be too conspicuous. The Chaos Sea was out of the question, as the Heavenly Dao would surely seal it, preventing the Wu clan from leaving the Primordial world.
If the Wu clan were to go to the Underworld, Pingxin and the Earthly Dao might not be able to protect them. Instead, they might provide the Heavenly Dao with an excuse to bring the conflict to their doorstep.
Fortunately, Xu Fang had already created a realm within the Chaos Bead. Although it was far from as vast as the Primordial heavens and earth, it could accommodate the Wu clan.
The Ancestral Witches, marveling at Xu Fang's silent ascension to sainthood, adopted his proposal and decided to migrate their entire clan to the Chaos Bead's realm.
Thus, in the Primordial heavens and earth, it appeared as though the Wu and Demon clans continued their struggle. The Wu clan dwindled in number, while the Demon clan advanced triumphantly, believing they were destined for greatness.
Little did they know that those Wu clan members were not perishing on the battlefield, but were following the Ancestral Witches' orders, relocating to the Chaos Bead's realm in batches.
The so-called main camp of the Wu clan, where the Demon clan's forces lay siege, was merely the Ancestral Witches and a small contingent of Wu clan members, deceiving the Demon clan.
Seeing everything proceed according to plan, Xu Fang was overjoyed.
Did the Demon clan want to be the overlords of the Primordial world? Then let them have it, let them continue their arrogance under the guise of being the Primordial overlords.
In any case, the Heavenly Dao's scheme of pitting the Wu and Demon clans against each other had failed, and its plan to strengthen itself was ruined. The strategic objective had been achieved.
"As for the Demon clan, let them remain bewildered. We shall head to Kunlun Mountain."
Although Xu Fang wanted to witness the Demon clan's expression of having gained something yet not entirely, he knew that the Heavenly Dao was undoubtedly observing them closely. He decided to abandon the idea.
Coincidentally, everyone's attention was focused on the Wu clan's main camp. He could stealthily go to Kunlun Mountain and open the Nine Gates, to discover what lay within.
In Zixiao Palace, the form of the Heavenly Dao had not dispersed, causing Dao Ancestor Hongjun much distress, wondering how long this would continue.
On the other side, the Demon clan had already seized the opportunity to declare their overlord status. The disappearance of the Wu clan was an unchangeable fact, and further investigation was proving difficult.
Yet, the Heavenly Dao was unwilling to accept this reality, unwilling to admit defeat so easily.
After painstakingly planning for so long, and even accelerating the Wu-Demon war, all to minimize variables, it had ultimately failed at the last hurdle!
How could the Heavenly Dao be willing to accept this?
"Impossible! How could the Wu clan vanish without a trace? I previously investigated the Wu clan and found that although they suffered heavy losses, they still possessed the strength to contend with the Demon clan."
"With so many of their clansmen dead, would they be willing to leave the Primordial heavens and earth?"
The Heavenly Dao repeatedly shook its head. The Wu clan's willingness to depart so readily was already hard to believe, and even more incredible was how they managed to evade its perception and disappear successfully.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun watched silently, offering no comment.
Forget it, forget it. They had schemed for so long, and just as their plan was about to come to fruition, unforeseen circumstances arose. Was it not permissible for them to complain a little?
The Heavenly Dao mumbled to itself, then suddenly frowned.
"Wait! The Nine Gates of Kunlun Mountain! What is Xu Fang planning?"
The Heavenly Dao's gaze instantly sharpened, and it turned towards the Primordial heavens and earth.
On Kunlun Mountain, Xu Fang landed before the first of the Nine Gates, key in hand, eager to proceed.
The doubts of so many years could finally be resolved. He really wanted to see what was hidden within, haha!
Once he was sure there were no hidden dangers, he could continue making arrangements and await the final battle with that individual!
Just as Xu Fang was contemplating this, a thunderous clap echoed, and an incomparably majestic voice boomed.
"Xu Fang! Stop! What are you doing?"
This voice reverberated throughout the entire Primordial heavens and earth, clearly heard by all beings, who exclaimed in shock.
"The voice of the Heavenly Dao!"
Having witnessed so many saints ascend, everyone was familiar with the voice of the Heavenly Dao.
Hearing the target of this voice's interrogation being Xu Fang, the master of Penglai Island, they were even more astonished.
They wondered what had caused this destined guiding teacher of sainthood, this witness to ascension, to anger the Heavenly Dao.
Following this, a vision unfolded where dark clouds gathered at the boundary between the east and west of the Primordial heavens and earth, and divine lightning poured down in torrents, a magnificent spectacle.
A figure dodged and weaved amidst the countless heavenly tribulations and divine lightning, struggling to cope. It was none other than the renowned master of Penglai Island, Xu Fang!
The gazes of the great powers of the Primordial world were instantly drawn to the Kunlun Mountain region. Watching Xu Fang struggle and charge through the heavenly tribulation and divine lightning, they were filled with emotion. "This fellow actually has the power to resist the heavenly tribulation and divine lightning?"
"Wait! He has already attained the Golden Immortal of Grand Unity, equivalent to a saint!"
"This fellow is truly accumulating wealth in secret. However, being targeted by the Heavenly Dao, it should be a fleeting moment!"
Everyone was astonished that he had already attained sainthood, and also lamented his recklessness in provoking the Heavenly Dao.
They believed this was likely the first and last time he would display his saintly demeanor!
Everyone was confused. Hadn't this Xu Fang previously been the destined guiding teacher and witness of sainthood? Why was he being treated so harshly by the Heavenly Dao?
Was this a case of using someone and then discarding them, or had Xu Fang overstepped his bounds, making it impossible for the Heavenly Dao to spare him? Xu Fang, caught in the heavenly tribulation and divine lightning, was also in a state of panic.
He never expected that merely opening the Nine Gates of Kunlun Mountain would draw such an attack from the Heavenly Dao!
This was unprecedented in the Primordial world. Even when the Heavenly Dao intended to target a being, it would do so subtly, causing their demise without them even realizing it. How could it be so drastic as to unleash heavenly tribulations directly?
"Could it be that the matter of the Nine Gates of Kunlun Mountain concerns the Heavenly Dao?"
Xu Fang had a feeling that otherwise, the Heavenly Dao would not have become so agitated!